Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Aimee,
Calf feed is high in starch and is not intended for horses. I would need to look at the label to see if the vitmain and mineral content is balanced -- which it likely is not if it is intended for calves.
Strategy is a sweet feed, which I do not advocate. Do you put sugar on everything that you eat? (rhetorical question 
) And it is very high in cereal grain.
Plain oats doesn't have all the added sugar, but should only be fed, in very moderate amounts, when a horse needs the extra fuel to do work. If your horse is in training on a daily basis, works daily on a farm, or is an athlete, then some oats would be acceptable. The majority of the diet, however, should be from forage (hay and/or pasture) all day long -- 24/7 -- as much as he wants.
However, horses that do not have this type of energy requirement, should be on good quality forage, a vitamin/mineral supplement to fill in gaps (for a hay-only diet) and if some extra calories are needed, choose a low starch feed. Too much starch, over time, leads to obesity and related health problems (insulin resistance, laminitis, etc.) or can cause ulcers, and colic.
Thank you for writing.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO