Pure Feed Is Now 100% Soya-Free: What Horse Owners Need to Know

Pure Feed has completed its move to a fully soya-free range. Condition Pellets, Veteran Pellets and Meadow Mash were the final three products to be reformulated, so every feed in the current Pure Feed range is now made without soya.

For owners who actively choose soya-free feeds, this makes the range simpler to navigate. It does not mean that every bag has the same nutritional purpose, however. A conditioning feed, senior feed and soaked hay replacer still do very different jobs, so the horse’s individual needs should remain the starting point.

What has changed?

Pure Feed began removing soya from its recipes over a period of time. According to the supplier, all of its mixes had moved to soya-free formulations by late 2024. The remaining three products have now followed:

• Pure Feed Condition Pellets;
• Pure Feed Veteran Pellets; and
• Pure Feed Meadow Mash.

The recipes and nutritional figures shown on the current product pages reflect the updated formulations. If you have an older bag in the feed room, check its label rather than assuming the ingredients and analysis are identical.

Why has Pure Feed removed soya?

Pure Feed says more owners are looking closely at ingredient lists and asking for straightforward feeds made from ingredients they feel confident using. Moving the complete range to soya-free recipes gives those customers a consistent choice across feeds for maintenance, condition, performance, veterans, breeding stock and forage replacement.

Soya-free should not be treated as a shortcut for deciding whether a feed suits a horse. It does not automatically tell you how much energy, sugar, starch, protein, fibre, vitamins or minerals the product supplies. Those details still need to be considered alongside forage, workload, body condition and any veterinary concerns.

The three newly reformulated feeds

Pure Feed Condition Pellets

Pure Feed Condition Pellets are designed for horses that need help gaining or maintaining condition. The current soya-free formula uses fibre and oil to provide slow-release energy and supplies 14.4% protein, 20% fibre, 6.5% oil, 4% naturally occurring sugar and 6% starch.

The pellets can be fed dry or prepared as a mash, making them a useful option for fussy horses or those that prefer a pelleted feed. They contain an added vitamin and mineral package, so the manufacturer’s stated feeding rate matters when balancing the complete ration.

Pure Feed Veteran Pellets

Pure Feed Veteran Pellets are formulated for older horses that need a nutrient-dense senior feed in pelleted form. They can be soaked to make a soft mash for horses that find chewing harder. The current recipe provides 12.66% protein, 20% fibre, 5% oil, 4% naturally occurring sugar and 7% starch.

The formula includes elevated vitamins and minerals, quality protein, prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides and live yeast. Age alone does not determine the right feed, so assess the horse’s teeth, weight, body condition, workload and forage before increasing calories.

Pure Feed Meadow Mash

Pure Feed Meadow Mash is a quick-soaking, high-fibre mash designed as a partial hay replacer. It contains no complete added vitamin and mineral package, which distinguishes it from the two fortified feeds above. The current formulation supplies 23% fibre, 4% naturally occurring sugar and 6% starch, and soaks in approximately five minutes.

It can be useful for older horses with poor teeth, fussy eaters, horses that need a low-dust source of fibre and situations where adding water to the ration is helpful. Read our fuller guide to using a soaked hay replacer for preparation and feeding considerations.

How to choose between them

Start with the job the feed needs to do:

• Condition and weight gain: consider Condition Pellets where additional controlled calories and a fortified ration are required.
• Senior nutrition: consider Veteran Pellets for an older horse that needs a fortified feed and may benefit from a soft mash.
• Soaked fibre or partial forage replacement: consider Meadow Mash where the priority is an easy-to-chew, low-dust fibre source rather than a complete vitamin and mineral package.

Do not select a feed on one label claim alone. Compare the digestible energy, sugar and starch, whether the product is fortified, the feeding rate and how it fits with the forage already supplied. A feed described as low in sugar or starch is not automatically suitable for every horse with laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome or PPID. Ask your vet or a suitably qualified equine nutritionist for individual advice.

Changing to a new formulation

Even when the product name stays the same, a reformulation is still a dietary change. Check the ingredient list, nutritional analysis and preparation instructions on the new bag, particularly if your horse has been eating an older version.

• Introduce the new feed gradually rather than changing the whole ration at once.
• Weigh the daily amount instead of relying on an unmeasured scoop.
• Follow the current bag instructions for soaking and feeding rates.
• Monitor appetite, droppings, body condition and behaviour during the transition.
• Keep forage at the centre of the diet and provide constant access to clean, fresh water.

Owners can now choose from the Pure Feed range knowing that the current formulations are made without soya, while still selecting the product according to the horse’s nutritional requirements.

Browse the Pure Feed range, or compare more options in our horse cubes, mixes and mashes collection.