Low-Starch/Low-Sugar Feed
For metabolic horses or those prone to excitability on traditional grain -- low-starch feeds provide calories and nutrition without the blood sugar spikes higher-starch feeds can cause.
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Why this fits you
- Your horse has a metabolic condition (insulin resistance, EMS, or Cushing's/PPID).
- Your horse tends to become excitable or hot on traditional higher-starch feed.
- You need calories and nutrition delivered without significant starch/sugar content.
Low-starch, low-sugar feeds replace traditional grain-based calorie sources (often high in starch) with alternatives like fat and fermentable fiber, providing energy without the blood sugar spikes that can be a genuine health risk for metabolic horses and a behavioral issue for horses prone to excitability. This is often a medical necessity for diagnosed metabolic horses, not just a preference.
How it compares
| Feed type | Calorie density | Best for |
| Ration Balancer | Low | Easy keepers on good forage |
| Senior Feed | Moderate-high | Older horses, dental issues |
| Performance Feed | High | Heavy consistent work |
| Weight Gain Feed | High (fat-based) | Thin horses needing condition |
| Low-Starch/Low-Sugar Feed | Moderate | Metabolic or excitable horses |
Buying checklist
- Essential, not optional, for diagnosed insulin resistance, EMS, or Cushing's/PPID horses
- Check the feed's actual NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) percentage, not just marketing claims of low starch
- Combine with low-sugar hay for genuinely comprehensive metabolic management
When this isn’t the right fit
Low-starch feed alone does not manage a metabolic condition, because hay, pasture and body weight matter too. If your horse is not metabolic and needs extra energy for hard work, a different feed may fit better. Check the actual NSC value on the label.
Other results from this quiz may suit your situation better:
- Performance Feed: for horses in heavy, consistent work
- Ration Balancer: for a healthy horse on good pasture or hay not needing extra calories
- Senior Feed: for older horses with dental issues or difficulty maintaining weight
- Weight Gain Feed: for thin horses needing to gain condition
Because this touches your horse’s health or comfort, check with your veterinarian before you act on a general guide like this one.
Run the numbers
Frequently asked questions
Is low-starch feed necessary or just a nice-to-have?
For horses with diagnosed metabolic conditions, it's a genuine medical necessity to help manage the condition safely -- for horses without a diagnosis but prone to excitability, it's more of a behavioral management choice.
Does a low-starch label on the bag guarantee it's safe for a metabolic horse?
Not automatically -- check the actual NSC percentage rather than relying on marketing language alone, and work with your vet on what threshold is appropriate for your horse's specific condition.
Should I combine low-starch feed with low-sugar hay?
Yes, for a metabolic horse, comprehensive management typically means addressing both the concentrate feed and the hay, since hay makes up the bulk of most horses' diet by volume.
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