The Natural Approach to Equine Nutrition

Horses evolved as grazers and browsers, eating with their heads and necks down, taking in small, near-constant quantities of a wide variety of grasses, twigs, scrub, leaves, etc.  These frequent small amounts of food keep them occupied and moving throughout the day.  In addition to the obvious benefit of reducing boredom related behavioral problems, the chewing increases saliva production.  Equine saliva is high in bicarbonate, which is a buffering agent - to help ward off the ulcers that are present in many domestic and traditionally kept horses.

Their stomachs are small; they can only hold approximately 3-5 gallons at any given time.  If the horse is not able to eat throughout most of the day, their stomachs empty fairly quickly, but the acid production continues. This unnatural eating pattern, combined with stall confinement, also contributes to ulcers, colic and behavioral problems.

In addition, horses were not designed to eat the very rich, high carbohydrate feeds nor the rich hay grown for the dairy market.  Most hay producers grow hay that is hardy, fast growing and drought and heat/cold resistant.  These very attributes mean higher sugar content in the plant.  Just like humans are not evolved to eat the high sugar, high carb foods available today, the horse's system can eventually suffer for these diets as well.  

Horses have large intestines with millions of beneficial bacteria helping to digest their feed.  If the horse was subject to a change that upsets this eco-system (dramatic changes in feed, full range of vaccinations at once, etc.), the bacteria can be killed off, and these exotoxins become a poison to the horse.  Laminitis and founder are lurking as a dangerous possibility should the horse "go toxic" and be unable to assimilate the overload.  You have probably heard that it is good to give your horse probiotics.  Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that would typically live in the horse’s gut. If your horse has been subject to a recent stressor that could have disrupted them (worming, antibiotics, a stressful trailering experience), a probiotic such as Fastrack^® is a good idea.  For long term treatment, it is recommended to feed your horse a prebiotic, which feeds the beneficial bacteria.  Farnam’s Yea-Sacc  is highly recommended for this purpose.

Grass hay, clean water and white iodized salt are great basics for your horse's nutritional needs.  Red or brown colored “mineral” blocks were created for cattle, not horses.  They tend to be high in iron, which most horse diets are already too high in, and have an imbalanced mineral profile as well.  A plain white salt block is good, or even better is adding ~2 tablespoons of iodized salt to your horse’s diet, which helps them get both the necessary salt and iodine, an important mineral.  Iodine is utilized by the body with hormones to help regulate basal metabolic rates.

Common deficiencies in the equine diet are copper, zinc and magnesium.  Copper is involved in the formation and regeneration of bone, cartilage and connective tissue.  It is also an anti-oxidant and is involved in pigment in the hooves and hair coat of the horse and mobilization of iron in the formation of hemoglobin.  One of the signs of a copper deficiency is a coat that tends to get sun-burned, and another is anemia.  (Anemia in horses relating to low iron count is virtually unheard of).   Note also that sulfur limits the absorption of copper.

Zinc is an important element in glucose metabolism, immune function, hoof and hair collagen.  One of the signs of zinc deficiency is poor hoof and hair texture and inefficient glucose metabolism. 

Magnesium is deficient in nearly all horses living in the southwest (K. Watts, safergrass.org).  It is anti-inflammatory and a deficiency sign is excitability and nervousness. 

As mentioned above, iron is often in excess in the modern horse diet.  In natural feeding programs, iron supplements have not been effective in improving the hemoglobin or oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells.  The practice of giving oral or injectable supplemental iron is not justified.  Such supplementation is mistakenly given, thinking that the hemoglobin or packed cell volume (PCV) will increase, thus increasing the horse’s oxygen carrying ability.  Iron toxicity is a real risk with such practices, and there can be an antagonistic interaction with other trace minerals.  Excess iron is stored in the liver or spleen, but horses have no system to eliminate these high levels.  Hepatitis and other forms of liver damage are possible.  (Frederick Harper, Extension Horse Specialist, U. of Tennessee)

Horses in Southern CA are often lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids, as these are most readily obtained through grazing live grasses and plants.  Supplementing your horse with ½ cup of fresh ground or a stabilized flax product (I recommend Omega HorseShine) can make an enormous difference in their skin and coat as well as overall health.  Horses on flax often display less symptoms of allergies and insect sensitivities as well.  {Note: flax will spoil and should not be ground ahead of time, and soaking is not recommended as it has been found to release trace amounts of cyanide.}

Another important anti-oxidant and commonly deficient dietary component is Vitamin E.  This can be added to your horse’s diet either through packaged Vit E supplements, or many horses will eat the gel caps for human use!   You can just throw them into their feed rations and they will eat them whole.

I would like to add my thoughts on calcium and phosphorous, due to the very high incidence of feeding either straight alfalfa or an alfalfa/oat hay diet in the SoCal area.  While many horses seem to do very well on this diet, it is not without its pitfalls and is difficult to balance.  It is especially not indicated for laminitic/foundered or insulin resistant horses.

Alfalfa is a high protein, high calcium hay.  An excess of calcium limits the body’s absorption of magnesium and phosphorous, among others.  A high Ca diet decreases prostocyclin (vasodilator) production and increases thromboxane (inflammatory response)… therefore, high Ca is pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive.  It is not typically high in sugars/starches compared to other hays, but many horses do not tolerate alfalfa for reasons that are probably a combination of factors.  Some theories relate to the high phyto-estrogens (plant hormones), tendency to fungi-toxins on the leaves, or even that the sugar the plant does contain is more readily accessible by the horse’s system.  Also, in mature horses thyroid hormone levels decrease with age and when excess amounts of protein are fed.  This might be a consideration in why some horses seem to tolerate it, or did for a time but no longer can.  Alfalfa is not all bad, though, it can be a good choice for adding protein to the diet and can usually be safely fed in small quantities.  One should think of it as the “grain” of the hay world, and feed it with awareness and consideration for the individual. 

Phosphorous deficiency in horses can show as bone demineralization and chronic shifting lameness.  Remember that calcium can limit absorption of phosphorous.  The correct ratio for a horse is considered to be 1:1 or 2:1 (Ca:P).  Something else to consider -- oat (and other cereal hays such as barley) are typically quite high in starches/sugars (NSC), don’t let the sometimes stemmy appearance fool you. 

Supplements such as vitamins, minerals, salt, and flax can be fed by mixing with soaked, unmolassed beet pulp.  Beet pulp is high in fiber and pectin, is highly digestible, and is a very low glycemic index feed.  Therefore, it can be safely fed to horses that need to lose weight as a “carrier” for their supplements, OR put on weight (due to high fiber and low index it can be fed in fairly large quantities as compared to grains – up to 30% of their fiber intake).  Soaking and rinsing the beet pulp ensures that any molasses used for dust control, flavor or as a binding agent has been removed, but additionally it is a great way to get more water in your horse’s system.  If you cannot have your minerals custom mixed for your horse to balance their hay, I recommend a good regional mix.  The one I use for my own horses is CA Trace Plus, you can read more about it here:  www.bare-hooftrim.com, which is the website for Sally Hugg who is a fellow trimmer in Butte County, CA. 

If you like to give your horses treats, there are delicious, tested low NSC, very healthy options out there which provide your horses with a safe and nutritious snack without being the equivalent of giving them a sugary candy bar.  I highly recommend Skodes treats - and my horses wholeheartedly agree!  www.skodeshorsetreats.com

Please also consider and do not underestimate the importance of how much movement your horse gets during the day.  Horses are creatures of movement and the herd life.  Isolated, "pampered" and unnatural lifestyles are not in their best interests.  Movement is essential and integral to their overall health, both physically and emotionally!

We can all only do what we can within our means and available options, but it's important to remember that these beautiful animals are relying on us to ensure their physical and mental health.  Give your horse as much movement and freedom as you possibly can, preferably with friends!  If you have your horses at home, please check out Jaime Jackson’s newest book, "Paddock Paradise".  It will help explain ways to make even a very small acreage provide the entire spectrum of your horse's lifestyle needs.  The positive impacts of getting your horse the proper nutrition and lifestyle are far reaching! 

Your horse will thank you!  J

We still do not know one-thousandth of one percent
of what nature has revealed to us.
Albert Einstein

 Recommended: 

• Orchard, Timothy, Bermuda or mixed grass hay – frequent small amounts are ideal
• Soaked, rinsed beet pulp or soaked bermuda pellets as a carrier for minerals, etc.
• CA Trace Plus minerals (copper, zinc, biotin, methionine, selenium, iodine, lysine, Vit E, etc.) – available through Sossity or direct from Sally Hugg)
• Yea-Sacc probiotics
• 1-2 tbsp. white salt
• Vitamin E
• Fresh ground or stabilized flax (Omega Horseshine)

For cutting edge information on laminitis, insulin resistance and Cushings in horses, please join the Yahoo group "Equine Cushings" moderated by veterinarian Dr. Eleanor Kellon.

 

 

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