Three decades ago, when Simple System was founded, feeding horses was often a matter of trusting that whatever came in a bag “just worked.” Owners relied on feed manufacturers to provide complete nutrition and rarely questioned ingredient sources, digestibility, or how the diet affected long-term health. 

Fast-forward to 2026, and the landscape could not be more different. 

‘‘Today’s horse owners are not just more informed - they’re inquisitive and increasingly evidence-focused’’ 

Just as nutrition science in humans has progressed significantly over the last 30 years, the equine world has absorbed new research that challenges traditional approaches to feeding and emphasises feeding to support the biological, species-appropriate needs of the horse. 

Then: From Straights to Trusting Scientific Compounds.

In the early 1990s, equestrian feeding practices were dominated by convenience and tradition. But, things were starting to change...

The traditional “straights” - oats, barley, bran, beet-pulp - were gradually being replaced by more scientific compound feeds, designed to deliver a complete nutritional profile.

At the same time, the landscape itself was changing. Mixed farming began to give way to arable systems, and grazing land became scarcer. 

As dairy farms diversified into livery yards, horses increasingly found themselves in individual paddocks, often on limited acreage and eating inappropriate ryegrass - or ‘cow grass’.

The result? Horses were, quite literally, being squeezed into smaller spaces - and feeding systems needed to adapt accordingly.

Now: Questioning What’s in the Bucket.

Fast forward to today, and we horse owners are almost as likely to consult scientific journals and equine nutritionists as we are to read feed labels - often applying the same level of scrutiny as we do to our own food. 

We talk frequently about fibre - but not necessarily the source of that fibre. Yet this distinction really matters. 

For horses, fibre comes from forage - which also supplies other essential nutrients. 

‘‘Fibre should not be the waste, by- or co-product of manufacturing’’

Modern compound feeds offer fixed levels of nutrients with the source varied according to cost and availability. With this, it is easy to overlook that the horse’s natural feeding patterns were shaped by movement, seasonality, and variety - grazing across changing landscapes and using their own ‘‘nutritional wisdom’’ as they browse.

The future?

In the last 30 years there has been growing recognition of the horse not as livestock, but as a sentient, sensitive partner.

The increasing promotion of the “three Fs” - friends, forage and freedom - reflects this shift. Encouragingly, attitudes are changing for the better. While there are still occasions where compromises are made, there is clear and steady progress towards giving our kept horses an improved, more natural way of life.

Feeding remains core to that evolution. As our understanding deepens, so too does the evidence that horses thrive on diets that truly reflect how they are designed to eat. 

For 30 years, Simple System has been at the forefront of changing attitudes - not just towards forage feeding, but towards managing horses in a way that fully respects their requirements. 

The aim is simple: to help every horse reach their full potential, whether as a happy hacker, an international competitor, or a much-loved paddock companion.

For feeding advice, or to discuss the range of Simple System feeds, contact the Feed Line on 01728 604 008 or complete our advice request form.