Genetics and breeding play an important role in determining a horse’s nutritional requirements.

Many factors should be taken into consideration when caring for your horses nutritional requirements. The type and amount of feed required depends on factors such as;

  • Availability of roughage such as grass and hay
  • Quality of roughage
  • The horses natural energy levels
  • Exercise requirements
  • The horses fitness level
  • The horses natural metabolism
  • Age
  • Illness and injury history

But should we also be taking our horses breeding and genetics into account when deciding what to feed?

Research has shown that through genetic inheritance some breeds are more susceptible to certain illnesses or ailments than other breeds. This means that a horse with high genetic susceptibility to an ailment may be more sensitive to factors which contribute to that ailment, such as lacking essential dietary supplements.

Being aware of increased genetic risk to certain ailments due to your horses breeding may allow you to minimise the chance of the horse presenting with that ailment. By adding relevant supplements to the horse’s feed we may be able to avoid adding unnecessary risk factors and reduce the likelihood of the horse being affected.

Some examples of ailments with strong breed-specific genetic factors are listed in the table below;

Horse breed

Common ailments

Appaloosas

Eye issues

Arabians

Respiratory issues

Immune deficiencies

Draft Horse

Roaring

Friesians

Eye issues

Respiratory issues

Quarter Horse

Tying-up

Thoroughbreds

Tying-up

Orthopedic diseases

Warmbloods

Respiratory issues

Supplementing immune boosting, joint care, muscle care, or general wellness additives depending on your horse’s genetic susceptibility and dietary requirements can help reduce the risks posed by some genetic factors.

For example; Horses with high susceptibility to orthopaedic diseases may benefit greatly from supplementing additional glucosamine in the diet.

Glucosamine contains the nutritional building blocks which make up cartilage and joint fluid. It helps maintain, increase, and provide protection for cartilage and fluid surrounding the joints. This help toprevent breakdown of the joints and in turn this promotes optimum joint function, decreased joint pain, increased flexibility, and may decrease risk factors posed by genetic susceptibility, thus promoting greater performance further into the horse’s life.

Should you have any concerns regarding your horse’s genetic risk factors testing can often be conducted to evaluate the horse’s susceptibility to many ailments through your local veterinary clinic or breeding facility.