Equine Nutrition

You don’t have to be an expert to provide your horse with great, balanced, healthy feed!

 Whether you know nothing about Equine nutrition or are already an expert, this article can help you make better and more informed decisions about the best feeding program for your horse.

Feeding horses for ideal health requires the blending of nutritional science and common sense. Remember, horses in the wild survive on the natural bounty of the land providing a balance of grasses, water and fruit.  Free to roam open lands, they have the benefit of a natural diet and plenty of exercise.  However, once we limit their ability to roam free and bring them into our lifestyles, the amount and content fed to each animal must be carefully considered by the person feeding the horse. Just like people, every horse is different!  Some have a high metabolism and need to expend lots of energy, some more sedentary and need to gauge their nutritional intake to their own lifestyle level.  Even two horses performing the same type of work may require different amounts of feed to maintain optimum health.  Keep in mind the determining factors:  age of the horse, body condition, type of hay available all year around and/or pasture, and seasonal times of year.

 The most important nutritional component is WATER. Almost all species can survive much longer periods of time without food than without water since the highest percentage of body make up is water. A lack of water has an immediate and dramatic impact on the well being of the horse=s composition than the lack of any other food nutrient. A horse can lose nearly all of its body fat and over half of its protein and still survive, but a losing just 10% of the body's water can result in serious health risk - even death. And contrary to popular belief or the presumption of a lack of importance, clean water is critical.  A lack of adequate clean water results in a horse limiting their food intake, leading to a decrease in natural growth, performance, attitude and health.

 Fresh water sources can be challenging, especially during the winter months when water commonly freezes up. Keeping water at a drinkable temperature obviously helps entice a horse to drink more. An average horse needs between 8 and 12 gallons (28‑40 liters) of water per day. As temperatures rise -- the need for drinking more water rises.  Hay and grain fed horses need more water than a horse grazing on lush green pasture, as pasture grass is a natural source of hydration.  Moderate work may increase the water requirement 60 to 80% and hard work by as much as 120%.  A lactating mare will also need more water for milk production. Feeding large amounts of dry feeds (hay and/or grain) usually increases water needs. Conversely, horses grazing on lush, green pastures may meet most of their requirement from the water in the grass. Growing grass will contain 60 to 80% water, naturally hydrating your horse.  High protein diets or diets with a high salt content will increase the water intake.

 Next, food results in body energy and digestible nutrients or calories transforms into physical energy. The horse gets energy from nutritional carbohydrates and fats (oils). Grains and fats are higher in transformed energy on a per unit weight basis, however pasture grasses and hay also supply good sources of convertible energy. Roughage can also supply most or all of needed energy, depending on the animal, use and living conditions.

 Each individual horse has a minimal need for energy used to sustain life. Gestation, lactation, growth and work greatly increase this requirement. The minimum energy requirements must be met before additional energy is used for any type of activity or work. If insufficient energy is consumed, the horse will use fat stores or even protein (muscle) to meet the energy requirement, resulting in poor

body condition and decreased performance. If excess dietary energy is consumed, it is stored as body fat, resulting in obesity. Like humans, some horses are easy keepers and the nutrition must be closely controlled to minimize any health problems.

The horse’s activity and job may play the most important role in determining the amount of energy each horse requires.  Although protein is required by all horses, it is especially important during growth. Protein is necessary for optimal muscle, bone, cartilage, hoof and hair growth. Optimum growth and development of a foal depends on a sufficient amount of quality protein in the diet.

Work does not increase the need for proteins. Any increase in dietary protein requirement is met by increasing the total amount of feed needed to supply the additional energy required. Protein content is often mistaken as an indication of the energy content of a feed. Using protein for energy is not only inefficient-but very costly, since protein sources cost much more than cereal grains or fats.

Minerals: Correct bone formation and skeletal growth are essential if the horse is to be successful as a performer, athlete or for pleasure. Calcium and phosphorus are the two minerals necessary for  bone formation. Adequate calcium and phosphorus intake is especially important to the young horse because of rapid skeletal growth and development problems. Phosphorus intake should not exceed the calcium intake, regardless of feedstuffs.  Other macro minerals needed in relatively large amounts, include sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium. These minerals are important in acid‑base balance, fluid balance and nerve function. Required in much lower amounts are iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine, and selenium.

Usually, horses receive most of their required vitamin A from the roughage portion of their diet, but this is quickly lost through oxidation (during storage)  making hay stored for long periods of time a poor source of this vitamin. Due to the loss of vitamin A in the roughage and the fact that many horses do not receive fresh pasture grasses; vitamin A is often added to the grain portion of the diet. Vitamin D is provided by exposure to sunlight and access to sun cured forages, required for proper calcium utilization and skeletal formation. Vitamin E is best known for antioxidant properties and the positive affect on the immune system. Vitamin K is obtained from plants important in blood clotting.  Relatively high levels of two B‑vitamins, thiamin and pyridoxine, have been shown to have a calming affect on some horses. Additional biotin may improve hoof growth in specific cases. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is also an antioxidant, affects the immune system, and is involved in bone matrix formation. Vitamin C is now added to feeds for the same horses as B‑vitamins.

General Feeding: Feeds are typically classified as forages (roughage) or grain (concentrate).

Roughage is important in supplying both nutrients and bulk (fiber) to the horse=s diet. Bulk is important in maintaining the workings of the digestive system, such as moving other nutrients through the digestive tract. Grains supply more energy per unit weight than forages and are lower in fiber.

Forage hay and pasture comprise most of the roughage in a horse=s diet. Some by‑products, e.g. soybean hulls and sugar beet pulp  are being used much more due to the high solubility of their fiber. That means these products are relatively high in digestibility. In addition to bulk, forages supply varying amounts of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Hays and pastures are classified as legume or grass. Legumes are generally higher in energy, protein and calcium than grasses. Examples of legumes include alfalfa and clovers. Timothy, orchard grass, and Bermuda grass are examples of grasses. Bluegrass, brome grass and most cereal grasses make good pastures for horses.

 Grains contain more starch and fat than forages and are higher in energy. Grains also add protein, but are usually low in calcium and various minerals and vitamin A.  Oats are the traditional grain fed to horses. This is due to relatively high fiber content and safety in feeding. They may be fed whole or processed, e.g. crimped or rolled. On a cost per unit of energy, oats are usually a very expensive way to supply energy to the horse.

 Corn is higher in energy than oats, but lower in protein and fiber. Corn contains more fat and will usually add Abloom@ to the coat. Corn is often considered by some horsemen to be Atoo hot@ for horses, but if fed in the proper amount and by weight not by volume, is an excellent grain. A one quart container of corn provided approximately twice the digestible energy supplied in one quart of oats.

Barley is another grain commonly fed to horses. It is similar to oats in feeding value, but contains less fiber and digestion is different between the two. This may affect nutrient availability to the horse. Grain sorghum (milo) is also used and should be ground, crimped, or rolled because of the small hard kernel. While some other grains may be used, these represent the majority of grains fed to today=s horses.

Supplements should be viewed as a means to provide the horse a nutrient or compound that cannot be added to the grain portion (feed bag). Not all horses require supplements, feed intake varies greatly between horses and not all horses receive grain and still need the supplemental product. Basically, the supplement should be designed for a specific purpose or a limited number of purposes at the most. However, one type of supplement every horse can use is a mineral mix containing salt, calcium and phosphorus, usually with the addition of micro minerals, designed for all classes of horses. This is because of the different quality, amounts, etc. of forages that comprise the diet. A loose mineral will encourage more consistent consumption than block salt.

Feed at the same time each day or at the same intervals between feedings if possible. This will also help minimize digestive problems. Always change the feeds gradually, allowing 7 to 10 days. This will minimize digestive problems. If you must make a quick change, it is safer to go from a nutrient rich feed to one not so 'hot'. Oats may be a safe substitute in this situation.

 Most importantly, like any nutritional program, healthy hair, hooves and skin will give you clues to the success of your feeding choices.  Pay attention! 

Remember    “Garbage in – Garbage out!”       Good Nutrition in, Great Performance out!

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