We all want to feed for success and ensure that our beloved animals diets contain everything they need.
With so many different feeds on the market, each catering to a slightly different nutritional profile, it is critical to ensure that owners have a sound working knowledge of the nutritional requirements of their animals.
Many owners select their feeds based on the manufactures promise and catchphrases on the bag. If you have a feisty horse, you may select a feed with buzz words such as “cool”, “calm” and “focus”. If your horse requires a bit more energy you may select a feed promising “performance”, “sport” or “endurance”. But do we really understand what these words mean for the way the feed is structured, and how they impact the wellbeing of our animals? While it is tempting to select a feed based on our horses’ personality traits and energy needs, it is also critical to ensure that you have a good working understanding of the nutritional requirements for your horse at its current stage of life and fitness.
Young horses biologically require more protein and chemical energy than older horses to ensure the proper development of the muscles, ligaments and bones. While young horses naturally have more energy that the rider wants to control and limit, it is important to ensure that this is not done at the expense of the horses longevity. Checking the calcium and protein content of the food should be just as important as monitoring the energy content when selecting a feed for young horses. Many veterinary journals refer to unsoundness issues stemming from poor development in early years causing a weakness of the biological structures, this is due to unbalanced nutrition during the critical growth periods of the horses life.
With older horses or those needing a bit more energy, selecting a feed with sustainable energy may be more effective than selecting a high energy feed that will burn off quickly. Checking the ingredients list of your feed will help you decide if you are feeding the correct energy type for your horse. Many owners tend to over-feed the horse that needs more energy, focusing on quantity rather than quality. This may cause excessive expense and be less effective than trying a different source of energy. Knowing your pasture/hay type and quality may also play an important role in keeping an older horse in good condition. Some rich pastures may travel through the horses digestive system too quickly, not allowing the horse to absorb the vital minerals it needs.
Ifyou have concerns for your horses nutrition or just want some extra help making sure you are preparing your horse for the future, contact your local vet or independent nutritionist for advice.
