| |
Horse Nutrition
Every horse requires food and water in order to survive, and the amount of feed and water will vary depending on the amount of work being done, the age of the horse, the condition they are in and the climate.
Nutrition Groups
The correct quantity of protein, fats, carbohydrates, water, fibre, vitamins and minerals need to be carefully calculated to provide your horse with a well balanced diet that will match their needs.
Feed Types And Preparation
The different categories of feed are cereals, protein feeds, bulk feeds, compound feeds and forages.
- Cereals
These are energy giving feeds which have been treated to reduce the amount of starch that is present in them and to make them more digestible for the horse. Such treatments include rolling, boiling, micronisation and extrusion. Oats, Barley and Maize are all examples of cereals fed to horses.
- Protein Feeds
With the exception of milk pellets, protein feeds come from plants such as soya, beans, peas and linseed.
- Bulk Feeds
Bran, chaff and sugar beet are used to fill out feeds.
- Compound Feeds
Mixtures of cereals, protein feeds and bulk feeds. They can be tailored to suit the individual for example a coarse mixes can be high in fibre or high in protein.
- Forages
Types Of Feed
- Pony Nuts
These are made up of grass and molasses.
- Oats
Covered in an outer husk they come either rolled or crushed. Oats are high in phosphorus low in calcium and should therefore be used in conjunction with either sugar beet or a calcium supplement.
- Barley
Given to the horse either flaked, rolled, crushed or micronised. Barley is high in energy but low in fibre.
- Maize
Fed flaked or micronised. It is a very heating feed with a high starch content that is also low in protein and fibre and so should be fed carefully.
- Bran
By product of the milling process of wheat,which is high in phosphorous and low in calcium and so great care must be taken when feeding it. A calcium supplement should be fed with it such as limestone flour or alfalfa.
- Linseed
Product of the Flax plant which must be carefully prepared as it is poisonous if not prepared correctly.
- Sugar Beet
By product of the sugar extraction industry. Careful preparation needs to be undertaken before feeding to prevent the sugar beet from swelling up in the horses stomach. Sugar beet is high in calcium, sugar, energy and fibre and low in phosphorus.
- Chaff
Chopped hay and molasses sometimes with oat straw added.
- Molasses
By product of sugar, which adds energy and palatability to feeds.
- Coarse Mix
Compound feeds put together for a specific category of horse, such as high energy competition mixes, low starch mixes, yearling mixes, brood mare mixes and so on. Calculated to provide all the necessary ingredients in a balanced form
- Beans and Peas
High in protein and energy especially lysine.
- Haylage
Hay that has been sealed into bags immediately after harvest and left so that fermentation takes place, this process preserves the natural ingredients and quality of the grass Haylage therefore offers a dust free alternative to soaking hay. Care must be taken to check the bags for tears prior to opening and haylage must be used within three days of opening.
- Hay
Can be either meadow hay or seed hay. It should be clean and sweet smelling, avoid dusty, black and moldy hay. Meadow hay can vary in quality depending on which grasses there are available in the field that has been cut. The Rye grass in seed hay is higher in protein but due to the lateness in the time that it is cut it can be less digestible.
|
|
Specialist Feeds
- Milk Pellets
Contain Calcium
- Limestone
High in Calcium, it is used to balance out bran or added to diets requiring more calcium.
- Soya Oil
Given to increase stamina and bodyweight. Rich in Linoleic acid and Omega 6 fatty acids.
- Garlic
Aids the repertory and digestive system as well as having antibiotic properties.
- Biotin
Aids in keeping the horses hooves, coat and skin healthy.
- Mint
Aids in digestion and as a tasty treat to encourage fussy eaters.
- Cider Vinegar
Aids in good health and joint suppleness, it contains Potassium, phosphorous, sodium, calcium and iron.
- Cod Liver Oil
Supple joints with a healthy coat and shine.
- Msm
Methylsulphonylmethane is present in plants, it has to be added to the horses feed because it is destroyed in production. It is added to improve the general health of the horse, the immune system, hair and hooves, respiritory system, mobility of the joints of the horse.
- Herbs
Can be given to help improve the horses immune, respiratory, and digestive systems, as well as helping with calming, hormonal, mobility and pain relief. Herbs include Echinacea Pallida, Echinacea Purpurea, Cats Claw, Cider Vinegar, Devils Claw, Marshmallow Root, Chamomile, Aniseed, Licorice Root, Black Cohosh, Rosemary, Comfrey leaf and Buckwheat. These herbs will be dried and packaged ready to be directly placed into the feed. Different blends will help with certain ailments so read the labels carefully.
- Pre Biotic
Product that promotes the growth of certain bacteria within the horses large intestine.
- Pro Biotic
Product which aids the natural gut flora of the small intestine.
- Dietary Supplement
Provides missing nutrients that are required in the horse diet, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids.
- Glucosamine
This is made from glucose and amino acid called glutamine which is required for regeneration of tendon, bone, ligament, hair, cartilage and skin. Products with glucosamine in therefore help to fight against degeneration within the horse.
- Carrots, Apples And Swedes
These are given to brighten up feeds and provide something extra tasty as a treat or reward.
- Electrolytes
Made up of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and hydrogen carbonate. Usually administered as a powder which is added to either water or feed they act to replace the primary ions that the horse may have lost during strenuous exercise or extremes of heat.
|
|
