The most important rule is the amount of energy supplied in the diet, and its source. If a horse is not working in proportion to its feeding, the surplus energy “comes out of its ears” as nervousness and disobedience. This applies especially to fast-release energy from cereals rich in starch and sugars. Oats, barley and maize supply large doses of readily available energy, which often shows up as excitability. It is therefore worth looking at the starch content of the horse’s diet. If it works lightly or moderately and is still getting a lot of cereal concentrate, consider removing some or all of it and replacing it with a feed that is low in starch and high in fibre and fat. These work ideally:
✅ Cereal-free feeds – they supply slow-release energy, without the risk of excitability.
✅ Vegetable oils (linseed, maize) – sources of fat that increase the calorie content of the meal, while also having anti-inflammatory and calming properties.
✅ Unmolassed sugar beet pulp – it supplies fibre that ferments well and is eaten willingly.
✅ Grass pellets and lucerne – rich in fibre and good-quality protein, they can replace part of the concentrate.
✅ Feed yeast – it steadies the gut flora, which has a positive effect on the comfort of the digestive system and therefore on the horse’s behaviour.
Let us not forget that excitability can be the result of digestive discomfort or pain. Nervous horses are also often more sensitive to breaks in access to forage, so constant access to good-quality hay is essential. If the horse spends most of the day in a stable, give it a fine-mesh net, which lengthens eating time and satisfies its natural need to chew.
A diet that supports calmness should also contain the right level of magnesium, which affects nerve-to-muscle signalling and the work of the nervous system. Magnesium shortages often show up as irritability, muscle tension and sensitivity to touch. A good option is supplementation with magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate, at a dose matched to the horse’s body weight and diet. Some horses also respond very well to herbs with a calming, settling effect, such as lemon balm, chamomile or valerian. Note that valerian is a doping substance and it should be withdrawn at least 48 hours before a competition.
To sum up… A horse’s excitability is not only a matter of character or poor upbringing. Very often the cause is an unsuitable diet: too much fast-release energy, and shortages of magnesium and fibre in everyday feeding. If your horse is sometimes nervous or “difficult” in work, look at its feeding and ask yourself whether you are giving it too much “rocket fuel” in the form of starch and sugar. The right diet is the key to a calmer, more focused horse, and to greater safety and pleasure in the work you do together <3