Most draft horses are doing highly anaerobic work, meaning it is short term and intensive (pulling). The energy source for this type of work is mainly glucose which comes from digesting grains high in starch. So, grain choices would be barley, corn, and wheat mids, to name a few, that have high starch. However, too much starch at one feeding can cause digestive upset, so most diets are a mix of these type grains with chopped hay, hay cubes, or high-quality long-stem forage. If commercial mixes are available, choose one low in crude fiber (this will mean high in starch usually), and feed it with a timothy, alfalfa, or grass hay that was harvested in an immature state of growth. If you're feeding a single grain (barley, corn, and oats). you need to balance them for protein and minerals.
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