Feed Program
The Feed Program helps you organize and track what each horse eats daily. Build your organization’s feed catalog once, assign specific items to individual horses with customized quantities and feeding times, then run each feeding from the Feed Board.
How the Feed Program Works
The Feed Program is built on a two-level catalog system, with feeding times and the Feed Board layered on top for daily use:
🗂️ Organization Feed Catalog
Create your organization’s master list of feeds:
- Grain/Concentrates: Pelleted feeds, sweet feeds, textured feeds
- Hay: Different types and cuttings
- Supplements: Vitamins, minerals, medications, joint supplements
This catalog is shared across your entire organization and used by all horses.
🐴 Individual Horse Feed Programs
Assign specific items from your catalog to each horse:
- Select which feeds this horse receives
- Set quantity per feeding
- Choose which feeding times the horse gets each item at (AM, PM, etc.) — or set a custom frequency for free-choice feeds
- Add specific instructions
- Manually sort items in feeding order
Key Concept: You build the catalog once (all available feeds), then pick from it for each horse. This ensures consistency and makes it easy to update feed information in one place.
🕖 Feeding Times and the Feed Board
On top of the catalog and per-horse programs, the Feed Program has two pieces that drive your daily routine:
- Feeding Times — your barn’s named feeding schedule (for example AM, Afternoon, PM, Night Check). You define these once for the whole organization, then tag each horse’s feed items with the times they apply to.
- The Feed Board — a per-feeding worksheet that shows, for one feeding time, every horse and exactly what it gets (grain, hay, supplements), grouped by stable. It’s the page your feeding staff actually work from, and it prints cleanly for posting in the feed room.
Setting Up Feeding Times
Feeding times are your barn’s named feeding slots — for example AM, Afternoon, PM, and Night Check. They’re defined once for the whole organization and shared by every horse. Tagging a horse’s feed items with feeding times is what makes those items show up on the Feed Board under the right feeding.
Every barn starts with a default set of feeding times: AM, Afternoon, PM, and Night Check. You can rename them, reorder them, add your own, or remove ones you don’t use — there’s nothing to set up before you can start.
Managing Feeding Times
You manage feeding times on the Feed configuration page (you’ll need permission to edit programs).
Open the Feed configuration page
From the Feed Program page (or the Feed Board), click the Settings (gear) button. This opens the configuration page, which has a Feeding Times section near the top (and a Feed Types section below it).
Add a feeding time
Type a name (for example “Lunch” or “Pre-Workout”) and click Add. New feeding times appear at the end of the list.
Rename a feeding time
Click a feeding time’s name to edit it. Renaming updates every feed item that currently uses that name.
Reorder feeding times
Use the up/down arrows to change the order. The order here controls the order of the tabs across the top of the Feed Board.
Remove a feeding time
Delete a feeding time you no longer use. Feed items that referenced it simply lose that assignment (they aren’t deleted).
Renaming affects existing items: Renaming a feeding time updates every existing feed item that uses it. Snapshots in a horse’s change history are kept as-is, so historical records still show the old name.
Building Your Feed Catalog
Start by creating your organization’s complete feed catalog.
Navigate to Feed Catalog
- Go to Settings → Feed Catalog
- Or from any horse’s Feed tab, click “Manage Feed Catalog”
Add Grain/Concentrates
Click ”+ Add Feed” and select Grain as the type.
Common Grain Types:
- Pelleted complete feeds (e.g., Triple Crown Senior, Purina Strategy)
- Sweet feeds (e.g., Nutrena SafeChoice)
- Textured feeds (e.g., Tribute Essential K)
- Specialty feeds (e.g., low-starch, senior, performance)
Information to Include:
- Feed Name: Specific product name and brand
- Type: Grain/Concentrate
- Manufacturer: Brand name
- Description: Key features or uses
- Default Unit: Pounds, scoops, cups, or quarts
- Cost per Unit (optional): For expense tracking
Tip: Include brand names in feed names for clarity: “Purina Strategy GX” instead of just “Strategy”
Add Hay Types
Click ”+ Add Feed” and select Hay as the type.
Common Hay Types:
- Timothy hay
- Orchard grass
- Alfalfa
- Mixed grass
- Coastal bermuda
- Second cutting timothy
- First cutting mixed grass
Information to Include:
- Feed Name: Type and cutting if applicable
- Type: Hay
- Source (optional): Farm or supplier name
- Description: Quality notes, protein %, cutting number
- Default Unit: Flakes, pounds, or sections
- Cost per Unit (optional)
Hay Naming Examples:
- “Timothy Hay (2nd cutting)”
- “Alfalfa Mix (80/20 Timothy)”
- “Orchard Grass (Local Farm)“
Add Supplements
Click ”+ Add Feed” and select Supplement as the type.
Common Supplement Categories:
- Vitamins/Minerals: Basic vitamin/mineral supplements
- Joint Supplements: Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM
- Digestive Aids: Probiotics, pre-biotics, ulcer preventatives
- Hoof Supplements: Biotin, zinc, methionine
- Senior Supplements: Comprehensive senior support
- Medications: Daily medications delivered in feed
Information to Include:
- Supplement Name: Specific product name
- Type: Supplement (with category in notes if helpful)
- Manufacturer: Brand name
- Description: Purpose and active ingredients
- Default Unit: Scoops, tablespoons, ounces, or servings
- Cost per Unit (optional)
Supplement Naming Examples:
- “Cosequin ASU (Joint)”
- “SmartPak SmartDigest Ultra”
- “Farrier’s Formula (Hoof Health)”
- “Adequan (Prescription - Daily)“
Review and Organize Catalog
After adding feeds:
- Review for completeness
- Check for duplicates
- Add any missing items
- Verify units are correct
You can always add more feeds later as needed.
Grain Examples
Sample Grain Catalog
Performance/Working Horses:
- Triple Crown Trainer’s Special (pellet)
- Nutrena SafeChoice Original (textured)
- Tribute Essential K (pelleted)
- LMF Super Supplement (complete feed)
Senior Horses:
- Triple Crown Senior (pelleted)
- Purina Equine Senior (textured)
- Nutrena SafeChoice Senior (textured)
- Dengie Alfa-A Complete (soaked)
Easy Keepers/Light Work:
- Triple Crown Lite (low NSC)
- Nutrena SafeChoice Special Care (low starch)
- Tribute Kalm Ultra (low starch/sugar)
High Performance:
- Triple Crown Growth (developing horses)
- Purina Ultium (race/competition)
- Nutrena ProForce Fuel (endurance)
Assigning Feeds to Horses
Once your catalog is built, assign specific feeds to individual horses.
Navigate to Horse’s Feed Program
- Go to Horses
- Select the horse
- Click the Feed tab
Add a Feed Item
Click ”+ Add Feed Item” to open the assignment form.
Select from Catalog
Choose a feed from your organization’s catalog:
- Browse by type (Grain, Hay, Supplement)
- Or search by name
- Select the feed to add
Set Quantity and Unit
Specify how much the horse gets:
Quantity: The amount per feeding
- Numbers (e.g., 2, 1.5, 0.25)
- Fractions are supported
Unit: What you’re measuring
- Defaults to the feed’s catalog unit
- Can be changed for this horse if needed
- Common units: lbs, scoops, cups, quarts, flakes, sections, tablespoons
Examples:
- 3 lbs Triple Crown Senior
- 2 scoops Tribute Essential K
- 5 flakes Timothy Hay (2nd cutting)
- 1 tablespoon Cosequin ASU
Set Feeding Times (or a custom schedule)
Tell EquineOps when the horse gets this item. There are two ways to do it:
Feeding Times (recommended for regular meals): Check the feeding times this item is part of — for example AM and PM, or just Night Check. The item then appears on the Feed Board under each feeding time you picked. You can choose more than one.
Custom schedule (for everything else): For schedules that don’t map to a feeding time — Free choice, As needed, Weekly, and so on — leave the feeding times blank and type a description in the Custom schedule field instead (e.g. “Free choice”, “As needed”, “Weekly on Sundays”).
Total Daily Amount: If a horse gets “2 lbs” of grain at two feedings, the total daily amount is 4 lbs. EquineOps calculates this automatically from the quantity and the number of feeding times.
Items with only a custom schedule (no feeding time) show up in the Unscheduled section of the Feed Board until you assign them a feeding time. That’s expected for free-choice hay and PRN items — see The Feed Board below.
Add Feeding Instructions
Include any special instructions for this feed item:
Instruction Examples:
- “Soak for 15 minutes before feeding”
- “Mix with applesauce”
- “Feed in slow feeder”
- “Top dress on hay”
- “Give with AM feed only”
- “Increase by 1 lb per week until at 6 lbs”
Save Feed Item
Click “Save” to add the item to this horse’s feed program.
Quick Editing: All feed items can be edited by clicking on them - a dialog opens so you can update quantity, frequency, or instructions without leaving the page.
Building a Complete Horse Feed Program
Start with Base Feed (Grain/Concentrate)
Add the horse’s primary grain or complete feed:
- Select the grain type
- Set quantity per feeding
- Set frequency (usually twice daily)
- Add any mixing instructions
Example:
- Feed: Triple Crown Senior
- Quantity: 3
- Unit: lbs
- Feeding times: AM, PM
- Instructions: “Soak for 10 minutes for better digestion”
Add Hay
Add hay types the horse receives:
Option 1: Specific Daily Amount:
- Feed: Timothy Hay (2nd cutting)
- Quantity: 4
- Unit: flakes
- Feeding times: AM, PM
Option 2: Free Choice:
- Feed: Mixed Grass Hay
- Quantity: (leave blank or note “unlimited”)
- Feeding times: (leave blank)
- Custom schedule: Free choice
- Instructions: “Available 24/7 in slow feeder”
Add Supplements
Add each supplement individually:
Example 1 - Joint Supplement:
- Feed: Cosequin ASU
- Quantity: 1
- Unit: scoop
- Feeding times: AM, PM
- Instructions: “Top dress on grain”
Example 2 - Daily Medication:
- Feed: Previcox (NSAID)
- Quantity: 227
- Unit: mg (specify in instructions if needed)
- Feeding times: PM
- Instructions: “Give with PM feed. Prescription required for refills.”
Manually Sort Items
Arrange feed items in the order you want them displayed:
- Drag and drop items to reorder
- Common sort order:
- Grain/concentrate first
- Hay next
- Supplements last
- Or group by feeding time:
- AM feeds
- PM feeds
- Free-choice / all-day feeds
Why Sort?: Feed lists displayed to staff show items in your chosen order. Sort them in a logical feeding order to prevent mistakes.
Review Complete Program
Check the horse’s complete feed program:
- All necessary feeds included
- Quantities are correct
- Frequencies make sense
- Instructions are clear
- Items are in logical order
Viewing Feed Programs
Individual Horse Feed View
Each horse’s Feed tab displays:
Current Feed Program:
- All assigned feed items
- Quantities and feeding times
- Special instructions
- Total daily amounts calculated
Feed Program Summary (at top):
- Quick overview of daily feeds
- Total grain per day
- Total hay per day
- Number of supplements
Printable Feed Cards
Generate printable feed cards for:
- Individual horses
- Groups of horses
- Entire barn
Feed Cards Include:
- Horse name and stall
- Complete feed list with quantities
- Feeding times (or custom schedule)
- Special instructions
Uses:
- Post in feed room
- Give to staff
- Share with new employees
- Backup during power outages
Feed cards are organized by horse (one card shows a horse’s whole diet). If you want a sheet organized by feeding — every horse fed at AM on one page — use Print Board from the Feed Board instead.
Feed Reports
Generate reports showing:
- All horses on a specific feed
- Supplement usage across barn
- Feed costs per horse
- Inventory needs
The Feed Board
The Feed Board is the daily feeding worksheet. Pick a feeding time and you see every horse and exactly what it gets — laid out as a table with Stall, Horse, Grain, Hay, and Supplements columns, grouped by stable. It’s the page your feeding staff work from each shift, and it prints cleanly for posting at the feed station.
The Feed Board works hand in hand with feeding times: each horse’s feed items show up under the feeding times you tagged them with.
Programs view vs. Feed Board
The Feed Program page has two tabs:
Using the Feed Board
Open the Feed Board
On the Feed Program page, click the Feed Board tab (next to Programs).
Pick a feeding time
Tabs across the top list your barn’s feeding times in order (AM, Afternoon, PM, Night Check — or whatever you’ve configured). Click one to see the horses fed at that time. The view is bookmarkable, so you can save a link straight to, say, the AM board.
Filter by stable (optional)
Use the stable filter to narrow the board to one barn or area — handy when different staff feed different stables. Choose All stables to see everything, or No stable for horses that aren’t assigned to one.
Feed your horses
Work down the list: each horse shows its stall number and its grain, hay, and supplements for the selected feeding, with quantities and instructions.
Make quick edits (optional)
Click any feed item on the board to open its edit dialog — adjust the quantity, tweak the instructions, or change which feeding times it belongs to. Items that don’t have a feeding time yet show a Set feeding times prompt.
Print the board
Click Print Board to generate a PDF titled “AM Feed Board” (matching the selected feeding time). Post it in the feed room or hand it to staff — it’s a snapshot, so it’s also a useful backup if devices are unavailable.
Unscheduled items
Feed items that have only a custom schedule (a free-text frequency like “Free choice” or “As needed”) but no feeding time appear in a separate Unscheduled section at the bottom of the board. This is normal for free-choice hay and PRN items — they aren’t tied to a specific feeding.
If something belongs in a feeding round, click the item in the Unscheduled section and assign it one or more feeding times. It’ll move up under those feedings.
The Feed Board is built for shared barn devices — a tablet on the feed-room wall or a kiosk anyone walks up to. If you run a shared device, see Kiosk Mode for staff PINs and an activity log of who changed what.
Batch Operations
Power Feature: Batch operations let you add or update feed items across multiple horses at once - perfect for seasonal supplements or organization-wide changes.
Adding Same Supplement to Multiple Horses
When you need to add a supplement to many horses at once (like adding a fly supplement to all horses in summer):
Open Batch Feed Assignment
- Go to Horses → Programs → Feed
- Click “Batch Add Supplement”
Select Horses
Choose which horses should receive this supplement:
- Select individual horses
- Select by group (all training horses, all boarders, etc.)
- Use “Select All” for entire barn
Choose Supplement
Select the supplement from your catalog
Set Default Quantity and Frequency
Set the typical amount and frequency:
- Most horses will use these defaults
- Can be customized per horse in next step
Customize Per Horse (Optional)
For horses needing different amounts:
- Adjust quantity
- Change frequency
- Add individual instructions
Save Batch Assignment
Click “Save” to add the supplement to all selected horses.
Seasonal Example: In spring, add SmartBug Off to all 25 horses in one batch operation. Set default of “2 scoops, once daily”, then customize the few horses that need different amounts.
Batch Updating Feed Amounts
When you need to adjust quantities across multiple horses:
Common Scenarios:
- Increasing winter hay amounts
- Reducing grain for horses in lighter work
- Adjusting supplement dosages
Process:
- Filter horses by the feed item
- Select horses to update
- Use batch update to change quantities
- Save changes
Managing Your Feed Catalog
Editing Feed Catalog Items
Update catalog items when information changes:
When to Edit:
- Manufacturer changes product name
- Cost per unit changes
- Description needs updating
- Default unit should change
How to Edit:
- Go to Settings → Feed Catalog
- Find the feed item
- Click “Edit”
- Make changes
- Save
Impact: Changes apply to all horses using this feed item going forward.
Important: Editing a catalog item updates it everywhere. If you need to track a different product, add a new catalog item instead.
Discontinuing a Feed
When you stop using a feed:
Don’t Delete: Deleting removes it from historical records.
Instead:
- Mark as “Discontinued” in the description
- Remove it from active horses
- Keep in catalog for historical records
Example: “Triple Crown Senior (DISCONTINUED - Switched to Purina Senior)“
Adding New Feeds
Add new feeds to the catalog anytime:
- New product becomes available
- You start using a different brand
- Special dietary feed is needed
- Seasonal feeds (senior mash for winter)
New catalog items are immediately available for assignment to horses.
Best Practices
Catalog Management
Be Specific: Use full product names and brands
- ✅ “Purina Ultium Competition Formula”
- ❌ “Performance feed”
Include Key Info: Add helpful details in descriptions
- “High fat, low starch. For hard-working horses.”
- “Senior complete feed. Can be soaked. 14% protein.”
Use Consistent Units: Pick one unit system and stick to it
- Decide: pounds vs. scoops vs. cups
- Document scoop sizes (“1 scoop = 1.5 lbs”)
Update Costs Regularly: Keep cost per unit current for accurate budgeting
Horse Feed Programs
Review Seasonally: Adjust feed programs as needs change
- Winter: Increase hay, possibly increase grain
- Summer: Adjust for pasture access
- Competition season: Performance feeds
- Off-season: Maintenance rations
Document Changes: Use instructions field to note:
- Recent changes and why
- Gradual increase/decrease plans
- Veterinary recommendations
- Weight management goals
Keep It Current: Update feed programs immediately when changes occur
- Horse moves up/down in work
- Weight changes
- Health issues arise
- Vet recommendations
Print and Post: Generate feed cards and post them:
- In feed room
- On stall doors
- In staff areas
- Digital copies accessible on any device
Team Communication
Clear Instructions: Write instructions that anyone can follow
- “Soak for 10 minutes before feeding”
- “Top dress supplements on grain”
- “Feed hay in slow feeder net”
Highlight Special Needs: Make special requirements obvious
- Medications in supplements section
- Dietary restrictions
- Soaking requirements
- Feed allergies
Update After Vet Visits: Change feed programs when vet recommends:
- Adding joint supplements
- Starting medications
- Changing grain amounts
- Special diets for metabolic horses
Common Questions
Q: Can I use the same feed name but different quantities for different horses?
A: Yes! The catalog stores the feed name and details. Each horse can have different quantities and frequencies of the same feed.
Q: What if my grain “scoop” is different from another barn’s?
A: Add the conversion in the catalog description: “1 scoop = approximately 1.25 lbs”. Then staff know what your “scoop” means.
Q: How do I track hay that’s fed free choice?
A: Add hay to the horse’s feed program, leave the feeding times blank, and put “Free choice” in the Custom schedule field with instructions like “Available 24/7 in stall” or “Access to round bale in pasture”. Free-choice items live in the Unscheduled section of the Feed Board — that’s expected, since they aren’t tied to a specific feeding.
Q: What’s the difference between the Programs view and the Feed Board?
A: The Programs view is one row per horse — use it to build and maintain each horse’s full diet. The Feed Board flips that around: pick one feeding time and see every horse for that feeding, ready to work from during the actual round. Both are tabs on the Feed Program page. See The Feed Board.
Q: Can each barn set its own feeding times?
A: Yes. Feeding times are configured per organization. Every barn starts with AM, Afternoon, PM, and Night Check, but you can rename, reorder, add, or remove them on the Feed configuration page.
Q: Should I add treats to the feed catalog?
A: Generally no, unless they’re daily dietary additions. Occasional treats don’t need to be in the formal feed program.
Q: How do I handle horses on custom mixed feeds?
A: Create a catalog item for the custom mix with full description: “Custom Mix - 50% Oats, 30% Beet Pulp, 20% Alfalfa Pellets”. Then assign to relevant horses.
Q: Can I track feeding times (6am, 6pm)?
A: Yes — set up named feeding times for your barn (like AM, Afternoon, PM, Night Check) and tag each feed item with the ones it applies to. They’re named slots rather than exact clock times; if you want to record “6:00 AM / 6:00 PM”, put that in a feeding time’s name or in an item’s instructions. Once items have feeding times, the Feed Board shows what to feed at each one.
Q: What about horses on weight management programs?
A: Use the instructions field to document the plan: “Currently at 3 lbs/feeding. Increase by 0.5 lbs weekly until at 4 lbs or until weight goal reached.”
Reporting and Insights
Feed Inventory Needs
Generate reports showing:
- Total quantity of each feed needed per day/week/month
- Feed usage by horse
- Reorder points and timing
Example: “Need 150 lbs/day Triple Crown Senior for 10 horses”
Feed Costs
Track feed expenses:
- Cost per horse per day
- Monthly feed budget
- Compare costs of different feeds
- Client billing for boarding (feed costs included)
Supplement Tracking
See which supplements are most used:
- Horses on joint supplements
- Horses receiving medications
- Seasonal supplement patterns
Special Diets
Identify horses with special needs:
- Metabolic horses (low NSC feeds)
- Senior horses (complete feeds)
- Performance horses (high energy feeds)
- Horses on restricted diets
Troubleshooting
Can’t Find a Feed in Catalog
Check:
- Search by partial name
- Check spelling
- Look in correct type (Grain, Hay, or Supplement)
Not There?: Add it to the catalog first.
Feed Quantities Not Making Sense
Verify:
- Unit is correct (lbs vs. scoops)
- The right feeding times are selected (one feeding vs. two)
- Total daily amount calculates correctly
Fix: Edit the feed item on the horse’s feed program.
A Horse Isn’t Showing Up on the Feed Board
Check:
- The horse’s feed items have feeding times assigned. Items with only a Custom schedule (free-text frequency) appear in the Unscheduled section, not under a feeding time — click the item to assign it one or more feeding times.
- You’re on the right feeding-time tab (AM vs. PM, etc.).
- The stable filter isn’t hiding it — switch it to All stables.
Feed Card Not Printing Correctly
Try:
- Check printer settings
- Use “Print Preview” to adjust
- Export to PDF first, then print PDF
Changes Not Showing for Staff
Ensure:
- Changes were saved
- Staff has refreshed their view
- Correct horse is selected
Next Steps
Now that you understand the Feed Program, explore related features:
- Expenses - Track feed purchases and costs
- Health Program - Link supplements to health needs
- Staff Management - Assign feeding responsibilities
- Tasks - Create feeding-related tasks
Need Help?
Questions about managing feed programs?
- Email: support@equineops.com
Remember: A well-organized feed program ensures consistent nutrition for your horses, prevents feeding errors, and makes it easy for all staff members to feed correctly. Build your catalog once, then easily manage feed programs for individual horses!