Is protein heating in horse feed?

Anyone with any involvement with equines will have some understanding of the vast amount of diets available now on the market. Like human athletes, horses in work have more specific dietary and energy needs to ensure their optimum health and balance. If their food and energy levels are not correct it can result in poor performance, which of course is undesirable! This article will explore what is meant by ‘heating’ and ‘non-heating’ feeds and when they are used.  

What is ‘heating’ (sometimes ‘heated’) feed?

The term ‘heating’ when in relation to horse feeds does not mean that the actual food has been ‘warmed up’, but rather reflects the consequence of feeding certain feeds. Diets that are high in starch and sugar generate a ‘heating’ effect when they are rapidly digested and quickly become readily available as an energy source in the bloodstream. The higher the starch, the faster the energy release will be.

Oats are a common ingredient in many high energy horse feeds

Oats fall into the category of ‘heating’ feeds because of the effect that they can have on horses that eat them. Many horse owners also feed ‘coarse mixes’ containing a high amount of cereals which give a quick-release energy source. I suppose feeding higher energy feeds to horses is the equivalent of giving candy to children! Cereal grains are classed as moderate to low quality protein sources and as mentioned above, they are mostly included in a horse’s diet for energy; but they do provide protein and amino acids.

Horses which are regularly fed oats are often considered quite ‘hot headed’ and ‘fizzy’ and generally have greater energy levels. Additionally, feeding high quantities of oats or cereals can cause horses to be excessively exuberant and sharp. This behaviour may well be desirable, particularly in athletic horses which experience regular intense exercise such as