Barley can be fed to horses in various forms, such as barley flakes, crushed barley or whole barley.
Like oats, barley has a boosting effect but is less explosive and more suitable for endurance performance due to its slow release of energy.
Due to its higher starch content and lower crude fibre content, barley contains more energy per kg than oats and should therefore be fed less. The starch in barley has a different structure than in oats and is therefore slower to digest. To improve digestion, it is often fed crushed or flaked.
Barley, like oats, has an uneven calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. In the case of a large proportion in the ration, calcium should be supplemented with alfalfa, for example.