HOW TO FEED: At rest and at play.

BY KATERINE PARD, AGR., SENIOR EQUINE NUTRITION CONSULTANT

Whether a horse is at rest or work, they need the same elements in their diet: calories, protein, minerals and vitamins. On the other hand, their level of exercise along with ability to gain body condition and build muscle are variables that will affect their needs.

Horses often work less in winter and have less stress related to competition, so their needs decrease. When more regular and intense training resumes, it is important to adjust the ration to their increasing needs for calories and other nutrients.

Increased work also creates a greater demand for protein. During work, micro-tears occur in muscle which are quite normal; this is how the muscle becomes stronger. For your horse to become stronger, they need the materials to rebuild muscle fibre, and the only possible source is protein. It is important to note that the quality of the protein is more important than the quantity. In order to know if the feed and/or supplement contains quality protein, you have to take a look at the list of ingredients.

When work increases, the need for minerals and vitamins also increases. During exercise, oxidation occurs in the muscles and free radicals must be cleansed by antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium. However, all the elements are essential (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, etc.) and that is why it is recommended to feed a complete supplement versus only vitamin E and selenium. B-complex vitamins are also beneficial e.g., B1 reduces anxiety, B12 assists production of red blood cells, etc.

Hay remains the staple food of a horse. It is essential to serve quality, dust-free hay, with sufficient protein (12 to 14 per cent) and calories (more than two MCal/kg), digestible (lignin / neutral detergent fibre [NDF] ratio less than 10), and a calcium/phosphorus ratio close to 2:1. The better quality the hay, the less complete feed the horse will need. After only a few weeks of storage, the vitamins begin to deteriorate. Hay alone does not contain sufficient selenium, zinc, and manganese for daily requirements. Using a ration balancer such as Equilibrium Optimal or Equilizer is important.

Choose the right calories, depending on the type of exercise. If your horse does anaerobic exercise (of short duration and high intensity, such as barrel racing or cutting) then they often require a higher non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content, i.e., sugars and starches, than horses that do aerobic exercise (longer duration and less intensity like dressage). This is because sugars and starches are the only source of calories used during a “sprint.” If the horse tends to be excitable, low-sugar or sugar-controlled feeds will be good options. High-performance feeds are generally more concentrated in calories, minerals, and vitamins in order to meet the higher needs of sport horses.

Products such as Equilibrium Trimax and XCEL HD are controlled NSC options and Super Fibra Integri T is a low NSC option.

For any feed it is important to follow the feed tag instructions. Hydration is a key component to any program, but especially for higher fibre feeds.

Other supplements may be a consideration for the horse at work, such as Omega 3 to reduce inflammatory reactions, and pre/probiotics to stabilize the intestinal flora and strengthen the immune system.

It is essential to serve your horse a balanced ration yearround. When work decreases, so do their nutritional needs, but they do not disappear. Deficiencies accumulated during the winter can take up to three months to be filled, which will take you to about the end of the competition season before your horse is at its maximum potential. AB

Katerine Pard, AGR. Is a Senior Equine Nutrition Consultant with Purina Canada, Cargill Animal Nutrition/Cargill Ltd. Contact your Consultant Nutritionist today @Purina Connect, via Facebook on Purina Canada Equine, at 1-888-458-6914 or connect@equipurina.ca These will help you with the nutrition of your horses of all ages and types. They are there to share great moments with you for the good of horses in general.