Feeding Your Horse in South Africa: A Complete Guide

From Highveld winters to coastal humidity — how to feed your horse correctly for South African conditions.

Horse Care · 2026-03-10 · 8 min read

Feeding horses in South Africa presents unique challenges. Our varied climate, seasonal grazing patterns, and the prevalence of African Horse Sickness all influence nutritional needs. Whether you keep your horse on the Highveld or in the subtropical coast, this guide covers what you need to know.

The Basics: Roughage First

The foundation of every horse's diet is roughage — hay, grass, and fibre. A horse should eat 1.5–2% of its bodyweight in roughage daily. For a 500kg horse, that's 7.5–10kg per day.

Common Roughage in SA

• Eragrostis (teff) — the most popular hay in SA. Good quality, widely available. R45–R80 per bale.
• Lucerne (alfalfa) — high in protein and calcium. Excellent for hard-working horses, growing youngsters, and broodmares. R60–R100 per bale.
• Oat hay — lower energy, good for easy keepers. R40–R70 per bale.
• Kikuyu/pasture grass — common in KZN and coastal areas. Good grazing but can be too rich for some horses.

Golden rule: Never restrict hay to control weight — rather use a slow feeder net.

Concentrate Feeds

Not every horse needs concentrates (hard feed). Horses in light work on good grazing may thrive on roughage alone plus a balancer pellet.

When to Feed Concentrates

• Horses in moderate to hard work
• Growing youngsters (1–3 years)
• Broodmares (late pregnancy and lactation)
• Thin or hard-keeping horses
• Competition horses

Popular SA Feed Brands

• Epol — widely available, good range from maintenance to performance
• Equus Feeds — popular in competition yards
• Spurwing — premium performance feeds
• Masterfeeds — good value, available at co-ops

Tip: Feed by weight, not by volume. A scoop of one feed may weigh twice as much as another.

Supplements Worth Considering

• Salt — essential year-round. Provide a salt lick or add 30g table salt daily
• Electrolytes — crucial in summer when horses sweat heavily
• Hoof supplement — biotin-based supplements help horses with weak hooves
• Joint supplements — glucosamine/MSM for older or hard-working horses
• Vitamin E & selenium — often deficient in SA soils

Seasonal Feeding in SA

Summer (October–March)

• Good grazing reduces hay needs
• Increase electrolytes and water access
• Watch for laminitis on rich grass (especially Kikuyu)
• Feed earlier in the day before peak heat

Winter (April–September)

• Increase hay by 2–3kg per day for warmth
• Consider adding a fat supplement (oil or rice bran) for condition
• Ensure water isn't too cold — horses drink less cold water
• Monitor body condition weekly

Common Feeding Mistakes

1. Overfeeding concentrates — more colic and obesity than any other error
2. Not enough roughage — leads to ulcers, colic, and stereotypies
3. Sudden feed changes — always transition over 7–10 days
4. Feeding mouldy hay — causes respiratory disease
5. Ignoring teeth — poor dental health means poor feed utilisation

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