Feed Soaking Pros and Cons

Soaking feeds is one of those topics that sparks endless debate in horse groups, but the truth is far more balanced than the arguments suggest. This week, we’re breaking down the advantages, the drawbacks, and the actual research behind soaked vs. dry feeds - especially beet pulp.

Why Soak Feed?

1. Better Hydration

This study shows that soaking feeds does not increase total water intake. In short, horses adjust their water intake depending on weather, workload and salt in the diet. However, encouraging water intake by soaking feed can be a major advantage during hot Australian summers or for horses that don’t drink well.

This is especially useful for:

Travelling horses

Endurance or performance horses

Older horses with reduced thirst drive

2. Easier for Horses With Dental Issues

Senior horses, those missing teeth, or horses with poor grinding ability often struggle with dry pellets or chaff.

Soaking creates a soft mash that reduces the risk of feed refusal and helps maintain calorie intake.

3. Smoother Swallowing

Wet feed is easier to swallow and can help reduce the risk of choke in horses that bolt their feed or have mild esophageal sensitivity.

4. Better Supplement Delivery

If you’re a new client for Sound Advice we will generally send you a message encouraging you to soak - or at least dampen your feed. This is because none of our supplements contain flavours. Wet feed helps powders stick, prevents sorting, and ensures more consistent intake of minerals, and salts.

5. Reduced Dust

Soaking reduces airborne dust, which can benefit horses with respiratory sensitivity or those living in dry, windy regions.

Multiple peer‑reviewed studies clearly show that dust is a major cause of respiratory problems in horses, including equine asthma (IAD/mild–moderate asthma) and heaves (severe asthma). Dust exposure triggers airway inflammation, reduces performance, and can cause long‑term structural lung changes.

Why Not to Soak Feed

1. Spoilage & Fermentation

In warm weather, soaked feed can sour quickly — sometimes within an hour.

This increases:

Feed waste - if your horse has not completed their feed you will need to discard it or risk digestive upset. For most horses, especially those between 1 and 20 years old, colic is the leading cause of death.

Labour for preparing fresh batches

2. Time & Planning

Some feeds soften quickly, but others (like hay pellets) may need 20–40 minutes.

This adds steps to daily routines and can be inconvenient for agistment situations.

3. Winter Challenges

In cold regions, soaked feed can become icy or unpalatable, and horses may refuse it.

4. Nutrient Loss

Soaking can leach water‑soluble vitamins and minerals into the soak water.

If the water is discarded, nutrients go with it.

You will need to become practiced at adding the right amount of water so your supplements don't end up in a pool in your feeder.

5. Mess & Waste

Some horses fling soaked feed around or mash it into the ground, increasing waste.

It is important to thoroughly clean your feed buckets to prevent moulds.

What Does the Research Actually Say?

Some feeds are specifically designed for soaking like soy hulls and hay pellets. If the tag instructs you to soak, then you should do so.

When it comes to beet pulp, here’s the key point:

There are no peer‑reviewed studies showing that feeding dry beet pulp causes choke or expands dangerously in the stomach.

What we do have is research on beet pulp’s digestibility, safety, and metabolic effects - none of which support the myth.

That being said, here at Sound Advice we always soak beet pulp because many of our horses are geriatric with compromised dentition due to age, we value its hydrating benefits, and it is more appealing.

Macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma indicators of protein metabolism and mineral absorption in horses fed a ration rich in sugar beet pulp.

(Olsman et al., 2004 - Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition)

This is the main peer‑reviewed digestibility study available.

Six mature horses

Cross‑over design

Diet contained 25% beet pulp of total dry matter

Researchers measured:

Digestibility of macronutrients

Nitrogen balance

Mineral absorption

Plasma markers of protein metabolism

Finding: Beet pulp was highly digestible and did not impair nutrient absorption or metabolic markers.

Effect of Sugar Beet Pulp on the Composition and Predicted Function of Equine Fecal Microbiota - PubMed

This study confirm that beet pulp is a fermentable, safe, hindgut‑friendly fibre source.

Prebiotic effects study (2023)

Partial replacement of timothy hay with beet pulp

Increased beneficial hindgut bacteria

Supports the idea that beet pulp is readily fermented and well‑utilised in the hindgut

At the end of the day, most of the things people argue about online when it comes to horse feeding aren’t actually right-or-wrong issues at all. They’re simply different approaches that suit different horses, different environments, and different management realities. What works beautifully for one horse can be completely inappropriate for another, and that’s why these debates get so heated - everyone is speaking from their own experience, and many of those experiences are valid.

The real skill is knowing your individual horse, understanding the principles behind the choices, and choosing the option that fits their needs rather than the loudest opinion on the internet.