Horse Nutrition and Feeding

Factors Affecting Feed Requirements

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1. Size
   
   
2. Age
   
   
3. Work, gestation, lactation, rate of growth
   
   
4. Breed
   
   

   a) temperament (the nutritional needs of Arabians may be greater due to their more active nature)
   
   

   b) hair coat (the abundant hair of Shetlands provides excellent insulation, thus reducing energy needs)
   
   

5. Fat insulation
   
   
6. External parasites (mange, and lice that affect hair coat and sap the horse's strength)
   
   
7. Environment (heat, moisture, wind)
   
   
8. Internal parasites (blood suckers, bots)
   
   
9. Sharp teeth (these result in slobbered grain, reduced mastication, and undigested feed)
   
   
10. Vices (stall weaving or walking or cribbing increases nutrient requirements)

Knowledgeable horse nutrition involves providing for the correct dry matter intake and conventional forage:concentrate ratio as affected by a) size b) pregnancy or lactation c) work d) age e) fiber and moisture content of feed.

This mare is obviously well fed and in sufficient flesh to adequately nurse her foal. For rapid development, the foal should be creep-fed a palatable and nutritious grain mixture.

Horse breeders are always concerned about the amount and kind of feed to give their horses. Many variables can affect a horse's nutritional needs: 1) temperament and disposition, 2) present condition, 3) age, 4) body type and weight, 5) production stage (how many hours a day the horse is ridden, pregnancy, lactation), and 6) climatic conditions.

Knowledge about the nutritional requirements of horses is not as comprehensive as for cattle or swine. The nutritional requirements of a light horse may differ from those of a draft horse due to differences in disposition and temperament and particularly the peak energy demands of a horse ridden at fast gaits.

Fortunately, considerable research on the nutrition of light horses has been conducted in recent years. Results will help determine such things as the energy, protein, mineral, and vitamin requirements of horses; whether horses can absorb and utilize bacterially-synthesized amino acids and B vitamins, or whether they must be provided in the diet; why some horses are allergic to certain feeds; and what makes some horses sweat more, if indeed they do, when they are fed corn rather than oats.

A horse's digestive tract differs considerably from a cow's. In the cow, much of the digestion occurs in the rumen, which is a large fermentation vat in the forepart of the digestive tract. Synthesis of the B vitamins and amino acids also takes place in the rumen. The horse, on the other hand, has a relatively small, simple stomach and a large cecum and colon located between the small and large intestines. In the horse, synthesis occurs in the cecum and colon.

To a degree, the cecum and colon serve the same purpose for the horse that the rumen does for the cow. However, the cecum's location toward the end of the digestive tract probably reduces its contribution to the horse's overall digestive efficiency. Feed passes through the GI tract of the horse much faster than through the GI tract of ruminants. It is this faster rate of food passage that is largely responsible for lower digestion efficiency in horses than in ruminants.

Whether adequate synthesis of the B vitamins and amino acids occurs in the cecum and whether these nutrients are absorbed and utilized by the horse in sufficient quantity to assure optimum production (weight gain, work, and speed) have not been entirely resolved. However, most authorities believe the horse benefits greatly from the products of digestion that occur in the cecum and colon, including B vitamins, amino acids and, particularly, fatty acids. Therefore, if given good feeds, a horse will usually obtain an adequate supply of B vitamins and essential amino acids.

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To feed your horse adequately, you must understand the horse's nutritional needs and the nutritional composition and contribution of various feeds. Here are some terms you should know:

Dry matter—Most grains and hays contain 88-90 percent dry matter. If a horse receives insufficient dry matter, it may become bored and chew on its stall and eat bedding. However, if the feed has too much bulk (excessive amounts of fiber or water), the horse might not be able to eat enough to satisfy his nutritional requirements (carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and vitamins).

Energy value—Total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible energy (DE) are means of measuring the energy value of a feed. TDN is what keeps the horse going and puts the fat on its back. Most often, energy is the element lacking in horse rations. Grains and good quality roughages are the usual sources of energy. Digestible energy (DE) is measured in kilocalories (Mcal), and each pound of TDN is equivalent to two Mcal DE.

Protein—Protein is necessary for all life processes. Horses need a quantity of protein, but the quality is also important, particularly for young horses. Legume hays, pasture, soybean meal, linseed meal, and commercial protein supplements are the usual sources of protein. Legumes and soybean meal both provide protein that contains a good balance of the essential amino acids. Lysine is the amino acid that is usually first lacking. Weanlings definitely need a diet that provides a good balance of amino acids in sufficient quantity to attain maximum growth.

Minerals—Salt, calcium and phosphorus are the major minerals required by horses. Salt requirements increase with perspiration, and the loss may amount to one to two ounces of salt a day. Calcium and phosphorus should be provided in a ratio of one to one. The quantity of phosphorus should not exceed the quantity of calcium. According to Cornell University data, when phosphorus levels exceed calcium levels, abnormal bone development and hormone imbalance occur. However, research at the University of Minnesota indicates calcium levels may exceed phosphorus levels by as much as four to six times with no apparent harm. Required trace minerals are normally supplied in adequate amounts in a good horse ration. Commercial mineral blocks or a mixture of equal parts of trace-mineralized salt with selenium and bone meal or dicalcium phosphate are the usual sources of supplemental minerals. Mixing salt with bone meal (which alone is unpalatable) will assure adequate intake.

Vitamins—Vitamins A and D are both fat-soluble. Vitamin A must be supplied in the ration, but exposure to sunlight will usually supply adequate vitamin D. Feed that ordinarily contains vitamin A can have the vitamin A destroyed by oxidation. For instance, year-old hay has lost most of its vitamin A value. The various B vitamins are usually present in adequate amounts in good quality forage. Furthermore, synthesis in the horse's cecum provides adequate quantities of these vitamins under most circumstances. Vitamin E supplementation of 50 IU/lb of diet may also be beneficial. Under certain circumstances, though, it is possible for a horse to suffer from B vitamin deficiency (usually thiamine).

Knowledge about nutrition has expanded considerably since the days of draft and cavalry horses. But some people still harbor misconceptions about feeding horses. For example, many horse owners believe that timothy hay and oats are essential components of a horse ration, and that legume hay (alfalfa or clover) and corn or barley shouldn't be used. However, ample evidence indicates that legume hay is excellent for horses, and many successful horse trainers prefer corn or barley as grains. Just as false is the notion that all commercial feeds are poor investments. Commercial feeds may actually provide nutrients such as trace minerals, vitamins, and protein supplements in a less expensive form than the individual horse owner can provide.

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