NUTRITION
Nutrition Pyramid for an older horse:
VITAMINS&& VITAMINS MINERALS VITAMINS & MINERALS MINERALS
Forage forms the foundation of any healthy horse diet. Whilst adequate forage usually provides enough protein for mature horses, older horses may need an additional protein source such as lucerne hay, soy or lupins. Horses who lose condition on forage alone can obtain extra calories from a hard feed of cereals, legume grains or super fibres. All horses need to have minerals added to balance the rest of their intake. Vitamin E should always be supplemented and older horses also need extra vitamin C. Horses often need extra omega-3 oils added to the diet to balance their intake of omega-6.
OIL OIL OIL
on hay for roughage and are fed large rations of omega-6 rich grains and hard feeds. Omega-3 rich supplements such as algal meal, fish oils, linseeds, linseed oil are the best way to improve the omega-3 to -6 ratio across the whole diet. Many older horses benefit from the addition of other supplements for assisting with particular conditions. Examples include oral joint supplements, live yeast probiotics, mycotoxin binders and antioxidants. It’s well worth having a qualified nutritionist check your older horse’s ration to ensure that it provides all the necessary nutrients and is well-balanced. Spending a little time and money on a good diet analysis often saves money being wasted on expensive, inefficient or unnecessary feeds. Larissa Bilston, BAgrSc (Hons 1), Nutritionist, Farmalogic.
Choosing Low Sugar Hay Forage for horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) requires constant, detailed attention to sugar and starch levels. y Ideally, choose hay which has been analysed and has a combined ESC + Starch value of less than 10%.
unknown, soak in warm water for 30 minutes or cold water for 60 minutes to remove soluble sugars.
y Avoid high production grasses such as ryegrass and do not feed cereal (oaten, wheaten) hay or chaff.
y Drain and discard soak water before feeding. Soaking hay can reduce water soluble carbohydrates by 30%.
y If carbohydrate levels of hay are
y Discard soaked hay after 12 hours if
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uneaten. It is the spike in blood glucose and consequently insulin levels that triggers laminitis, so horses with EMS can suffer laminitis without being overweight.
