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Horse Nutrition Basics

Horse Nutrition Basics. By Mike Macartney BVSc. Digestive System Of A Horse. Large Caecum and intestine, small stomach. Designed for a high fibre diet, low in soluble carbohydrate and no sudden changes in diet. Evolution. Evolved on prairie/rangeland 10-20 km travel per day

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Horse Nutrition Basics

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  1. Horse Nutrition Basics By Mike Macartney BVSc

  2. Digestive System Of A Horse Large Caecum and intestine, small stomach. Designed for a high fibre diet, low in soluble carbohydrate and no sudden changes in diet.

  3. Evolution Evolved on prairie/rangeland 10-20 km travel per day Diet: high fibre, high in minerals, low protein. Energy mainly from volatile fatty acids not glucose.

  4. Is Modern Pasture OK For Modern Horses? NO! Modern pasture is designed for ruminants(cows). Thoroughbreds are more adapted to glucose, but the average horse is not modern. Lower fibre,high soluble carbs are good for cows, meat and milk production, not for horses

  5. So whats wrong with high soluble carbs/low fibre? Digestive disturbances, rapid fermentation Metabolic disorders, behavioural problems Acidosis, increased risk of laminitis and colic

  6. Can Pasture be a sole diet? It can be too good! It can provide enough energy and protein But what about vitamins and minerals?

  7. Minerals Spring pasture low in Magnesium Kikuyu has low Ca:P (do not feed only Kikuyu) NZ low in Copper, Selenium, and Cobalt

  8. Vitamins Fat Soluble Vitamins high in fresh forage Vitamin B & K synthesised by hindgut deficiencies may occur with low fibre pasture. Vitamin D – need the sun– its good to take the cover off on sunny days

  9. VS How much work is your horse doing? Feeding should be tailored to requirements No work = No carb supplements, just high fibre and minerals Working out every day = carbs + protein + minerals + fibre

  10. Ask us about which food is best for your horse

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