Feeding for respiratory health

KEEPING OUR HORSE’S AIRWAYS CLEAN AND HEALTHY IS A VITAL STEP IN ENSURING A GOOD LEVEL OF HEALTH, WELLBEING AND PERFORMANCE. STEPHANIE BATEMAN DISCOVERS WHAT MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING ROUTINES OWNERS CAN FOLLOW TO ENSURE OPTIMUM RESPIRATORY ROBUSTNESS.

Our horses are exposed to a variety of respiratory irritants including dust and mould spores, but what damage can they do and why is it important to limit exposure?

“Dust and moulds contained within feed, forages and bedding can cause hypersensitivity within the lungs,” explains Lucy Woods of Saracen Horse Feeds. “Providing dampened or steamed forage, as well as using dust-extracted bedding are simple management techniques that will help to reduce exposure to particles that could increase the risk of respiratory disease.”

Providing as much turn out as possible is also recommended, as is avoiding mucking out or sweeping yards when the horse is in t e stable and feeding fro t e fl oor if possible, to encourage natural respiratory drainage.

“In addition, feeding pelleted feeds which can be dampened or soaked, as well as using a ig uality c a ill el to furt er reduce the dust level,” adds Lucy.

Feed manufacturers have a responsibility to provide good, quality ingredients that are free from dusts and moulds.

“At Saracen Horse Feeds, quality control is ta en ery seriously fro eld to feed bag,” Lucy tells. “This starts with suppliers being selected to a required standard, with raw materials being screened to ensure that t ey eet s eci ed re uire ents suc as for moisture and dust. When processed, further measures are used such as storage bins being regularly dust extracted, as well as continuous screening for mycotoxins and other contaminants.”

LEFT: EATING AT GROUND LEVEL HELPS TO DRAIN IRRITANTS FROM THE HORSE’S UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT, AIDING BREATHING.

LEFT: HAYGAIN’S FORAGER SLOW FEEDER ENCOURAGES A LOWER HEAD POSITION WHEN EATING WHILE PREVENTING HAY FROM GETTING MIXED UP WITH BEDDING, MANURE OR URINE. BELOW: FEEDING PELLETED CONCENTRATE FEEDS WHICH CAN BE DAMPENED OR SOAKED HELPS REDUCE DUST.

infl a atory scores irsc in et al Most forti ed feeds a e good le els of antioxidants present, however additional supplementation of natural sources of vitamin E that has a rapid absorption rate will provide further support.”

Studies have also shown that supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids can help to further improve clinical signs of the disease and lung function.

“One study showed that Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation over a two-month period showed a 60% improvement in cough scores, as well as a 50% decrease in res iratory e ort ogradi et al says ucy ood sources of ega fatty acids can be found in both vegetable and marine based sources suc as in linseed s oil or algae.”

“When it comes to bucket feed, there is less researc on t e bene ts of da ening it but it is a widely held practice, and with good reason says ate ore utr ni al ni ec nol ert ead utritionist at ate er t e feed adding so e water is advised for most horses.

Feed should then be stored in a cool, dry place that is rodent-proof and used before the best before date. When looking for feed that has been produced to minimise the risk of irritants, selecting manufacturers that are members of the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) will show that quality systems are in place to minimise nutritional, microbial or physical hazards in the feed.

“Consumers can see if a manufacturer is registered with an organisation such as UFAS, by looking for the assurance mark as well as the company UFAS number on the bag itself o ers ucy s ell as uality ingredients, feeding a balanced diet will provide optimum levels of vitamins and minerals required for health and well-being, as well as good quality protein to support cell renewal, tissue, and muscle repair.”

Research has shown that external irritants can cause the release of free radicals, which can attack cell membranes, causing cell da age and infl a ation

“Impaired antioxidant capacity has been found to play a role in the de elo ent of conditions a ecting t e res iratory tract says ucy “Research has shown that when dietary antioxidants such as Vitamin E, C and selenium are administered, there is signi cantly i ro ed exercise tolerance and signi cantly reduced endoscopic

Water is really important to the horse, and when grazing fresh pasture, horses can get all of their requirement from grass; by comparison, an ad-lib hay diet may only provide a tenth of the water of fresh grass, and well below their daily requirement. While horses should always have clean, fresh water available to drink, it can be useful to also wet feed, as horses are naturally adapted to ta e in a signi cant a ount of t eir ater requirement through eating.”

Dampening a feed can also help with palatability, particularly if, perhaps, there are a couple of powdered supplements being added. t does no ar to t e e cacy of t e supplement to wet them, though we would advise wetting the feed just before feeding, and not allowing it to sit over time,” adds Kate. “Lastly, particularly for horses who tend to eat quickly, wetting feed can be useful in reducing the risk of choke.”

Minimising the amount of respirable particles in the horse’s environment is critical to protecting respiratory health, and feeding clean hay is a big part of that.

“There is a lot of confusion about what ‘good quality hay’ means,” says Kim Miller of Haygain. “Nutrients are often the emphasis of ‘hay quality’ conversations, but we should think of hygiene, too. Forage is grown in dirt, harvested with heavy machinery, often transported long distances, then stored for long periods. Having a great nutritional ro le does not correlate to forage that is ‘clean’ when it comes to respiratory irritants.” Shaking a handful of forage reveals tiny dust particles that can contain mould, a wide range of allergens and bacteria.

“And the ‘dust’ we can’t see is even worse,” adds Kim. “Particles smaller than 5 microns in size can get past a healthy horse’s respiratory defences to settle deep in the lungs and cause irritation and infl a ation Haygain high temperature steaming reduces up to 99% of these particles. Unlike soaking hay to reduce respirable particles, Haygain stea ing does not signi cantly reduce nutrients.”

“Mother Nature intended for horses to eat food on the ground, with their heads in a lowered position,” Kim explains. “This allows irritants to drain naturally out of the upper respiratory tract while they eat. Hay nets are a common way to slow a orse s feeding ace and ee forage o t e fl oor but t eir osition does not allo t e respiratory drainage that happens when the horse eats with its head lowered. The Forager slow feeder, by Haygain, enables the lowered head position, while preventing waste of forage that gets mashed into bedding, urine or manure.”

Owners often turn to supplements to help support their horse’s respiratory systems, but is there any research to support their use?

“Using targeted nutrition through supplements to enhance respiratory health is well-known, with established research across species,” says Kate Hore. “In horses, the benefi ts of supplementing for respiratory health have been known for decades. An independent clinical trial on NAF Five Star Respirator at the, now sadly closed, Animal Health Trust further supported the use of antioxidants in respiratory-sensitive horses. Research certainly shows that, alongside good management, including a low dust regime and plenty of turnout, using the right evidence-based nutritional support of the respiratory system can be really useful in the management of the respiratorysensitive dressage horse.”

FIVE STAR RESPIRATOR BOOST provides nutritional support to the respiratory mucosal immune system and the delicate capillary blood vessels that surround the lungs. Research shows that by supplementing the diet with naturally sourced anti-oxidants, the horse's lungs can be given valuable support. Respirator contains a concentrated solution of natural anti-oxidants, alongside herbs such as ginger, rosehip and blueberries, chosen for their targeted support of healthy lung function. Echinacea is also included for immune system support. Respirator is also recommended where close contact with other horses showing respiratory stress may be cause for concern. Essential oils in Respirator Boost help maintain clear airways.

RRP: FROM £19.99 FOR 500ML | naf-equine.eu/uk

BAILEYS GARLIC SUPPLEMENT contains human-grade natural garlic oil, which provides a higher proportion of allicin – the component responsible for many of garlic’s properties – than some powdered garlic supplements. The potent garlic oil is combined with a nutritious base to create an easy-to-use powder that mixes and keeps well all year round.

RRP: £9.99 FOR 1KG OR £25 FOR 5KG | baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

HORSEHAGE HIGH FIBRE is a bagged forage containing no chemical additives, mould inhibitors, fl avourings, molasses or inoculants. It is dust-free which is vital for maintaining a healthy respiratory system. Made from a selected mix of grasses that have been grown specifi cally for this purpose, High Fibre HorseHage has Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS) and the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances (NOPS) certifi cation. Both these feed marks mean that the product is manufactured from premium ingredients which are fully traceable and that it has been produced under the highest industry standards.

RRP: FROM £7.99 | horsehage.co.uk

STEAMERS provide high temperature hay steaming that reduces up to 99% of the dust, mould, bacteria and other allergens found even in forage of good nutritional quality. Reducing respiratory and allergy risks are key benefi ts, along with boosting hydration and appetite.

RRP: £3,189 haygain.co.uk

FEEDER extends meal consumption time to better align with Mother Nature’s design for equine digestive function – and without frustrating the horse. Horses were also meant to eat in a lowered-head position. The Forager facilitates that while preventing hay waste and contamination.

RRP: £290 haygain.co.uk