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• Certain minerals have had more focus:
• Zinc- low levels are found in horses with hoof problems
• If feeding whole grains or forage only can be deficient
• Low risk for toxicity so easy to supplement
• Watch your copper levels because it is linked to absorption of zinc so too much of one can interfere with absorption of the other.
Feeding the Hoof
• Biotin-a B-vitamin that improves hoof condition with ~20 mg/day
• Biotin only improves hoof horn growth, not existing hoof
• It takes a year for an entirely new hoof to grow
• Should see improvement after 6 months of supplementation
Feeding the Hoof
Recommendations for Good Hoof Growth
• Use nutritionally balanced premium horse feed and feed at recommended rates
• Only use supplement for horses with poor hoof quality
• Feed supplement containing multiple nutrients (biotin, iodine, zinc, amino acids)
What The Coat is Saying…
• Coat quality relies on appropriate balances of protein, vitamins, minerals and fats.
• Normal growth of hair and skin use 25-30% of horse’s daily protein requirements
• Gastric ulcers, sand irritation, internal parasites can compromise absorption of nutrients
Feeding the Coat
• Protein must be added to hay or pasture only diet for horses with skin issues
• Poor hair growth and dull appearance reflect deficiencies in protein (amino acids)
• Minerals- Zinc most important mineral for coat
• Zinc deficiencies can result in hair loss, cracked and thickened skin
• Vitamins- Vitamin A is most important for skin health- too much or too little leads to scruffy coat
• Vitamin E also important for coat• Both must be obtained from dietary
sources
Feeding the Coat
• Fats & Fatty Acids- Omega 3s and Omega 6s
• Grass great source of Omega 3s• Dietary fat supplementation is proven
to help absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A & E) which contribute to healthy haircoat
• Fatty acids coat hair-protective oily barrier gives coat shiny appearance
Feeding the Coat
Behavior Issues
• Today’s equine stable management practices have contributed to many of the horse’s behavior problems
• Certain behaviors do not exist in wild, free roaming, grass fed horses
• Anxiety can induce behaviors such as cribbing, and weaving
Feeding for Better Behavior
• Behaviors that can be affected by nutrition include:
• Excitability• Behaviors related to ulcers• Anorexia• Agression• Sterotypic (continuous,
repetitive, serves no purpose)
EXCITABILITY• Research shows
Higher Starch and Sugar content = Higher Excitability
• Higher fat in diet for energy will help
• Dietary fat has a calming effect
• Source of energy is usually the culprit
• High Fat includes feeds >6-10% fat
Southern States Feeds with High Fat & Low NSC
Solution
6% Fat
20% NSC
Legends Performance
Pellet
10% Fat
12.9% NSC
Legends Maturity
6% Fat
19 % NSC
Triple Crown Feeds High in Fat & Low In NSC
Low Starch Pellet
6% Fat
13.5 % NSC
Senior Textured
10% Fat
11.7 % NSC
Complete Textured
10% Fat
20 % NSC
Safe Starch Forage
6% Fat
8.7 % NSC
Behavioral Signs of Ulcers
• Altered eating behavior, not finishing meals
• Grinding of teeth (bruxism)• Intermittent or recurrent colic
signs• Change in attitude or behavior• Decreased performance and
reduction in stride length• Cribbing? Possible with grain
feeding
Feeding Management to Reduce Ulcers
• Fat and fiber don’t ferment to lactic acid like starch and sugar
• Acid destroys lining of stomach and causes ulcer formation
• Select feed with digestive aids (yeast culture and probiotics) to maintain intestinal pH and digestive efficiency
Feeding to Reduce Ulcers
• Chewing increases amount of saliva to stomach, contains sodium bicarbonate (buffer that increases stomach pH) - feed adequate hay for saliva production, at least 1% of body weight daily
• Eliminate “grain-based” feeds and use “fiber-based” feeds that contain less starch and sugar and more added fat
• Feed as often as possible, smaller more frequent meals, to maintain higher stomach pH
• Feed free choice hay- alfalfa if you can as it has calcium for buffer
• High fiber feeds with beet pulp also help, easier to digest
• As much turn out as possible
Feeding Management to Reduce Ulcers
High Fiber Feeds >15% Fiber
18% Fiber 15 % Fiber 17% Fiber18% Fiber
ANOREXIA• Some research to support theory that
acidosis (too high acidity) in hind gut can cause anorexia in horses
• Usually a result of too much rich concentrate and not enough hay or pasture
• Hind gut designed to ferment fiber. When grain gets back there causes increase in acid
• Loss in weight difficult to regain• If you need high energy- feed high fiber
feed
AGRESSION• Related to establishing
dominance • Must consider feeding
management practices• Adequate space for
feeders• Separate horses and give
them time to eat in peace• Provide enough hay (and
piles) for every one
Abnormal-Sterotypic (continuous, repetitive, serves no
purpose)
• Tail or Mane Chewing• Weaving• Wood Chewing• Eating of Dirt or
Feces• Cribbing
Fiber Related Issues
• High fiber (lots of hay and/or pasture) reduces behaviors such as wood chewing, weaving, tail or mane eating
• Need to mimic nature as much as possible
• Reduce confinement or provide stall bound horses with GOOD hay
Mineral Deficiencies?
• Eating of Dirt or Feces has been shown to be related to a lack of certain minerals
• Lower copper and iron were found in horses with these behaviors
• Can be caused by boredom so rule that out first
• Blood levels by vet can check for these
Good sources for Vitamin and Mineral
supplementation:
Comes in bucket or block. No added
proteinVitamin, Mineral and
PROTEIN
CRIBBING
• Cribbing is an oral-stereotypy• Can have genetic or
environmental relationship• Not seen in the wild• Increases with low-fiber, high
concentrate diet• Irregular feeding schedule can
increase frequency
Cribbing can sometimes be a way for horses to increase saliva production to buffer stomach acid so may be related to gastric ulcers
High Fiber Feeds >15% Fiber
18% Fiber 15 % Fiber 17% Fiber18% Fiber
Southern States Forage Products
Hay Stretcher
Bagged ForagesForage
Cubes
Ingredients for Behavioral Problems in Horses
Problem Ingredients
Nervous, shying Magnesium, B1, B6
Nervous, aggressive Magnesium, B1, tryptophan
Very overactive, stallbound Magnesium, B1, B6, valerian
Slightly overactive, stallbound Magnesium, B1, B6, herbal blends
Mares - aggressive Valerian, herbal blends
Calming Ingredients and Uses in Horses
Ingredient Use
Chamomile Nervousness, anxiety
Hops Nervousness, anxiety
Lemon balm Anxiety
Magnesium Anxiety, irritability, depression (1 ounce magnesium oxide/day)
Thiamin (B1) Anxiety, irritability, depression (1,000 mg/day)
Tryptophan Anxiety, aggression (4,000 mg/day)
Pyridoxine (B6) Anxiety, stress
Valerian Anxiety, irritability
TAKE AWAYS
Feed Good ForageDon’t be afraid of proteinFeed well balanced, fortified feed in
correct amount for weight & activity or supplement
Too much energy (kcal) causes health and behavior problems
Use you feed company nutritionist!! We are FREE help for your horse!
