Download GO TO THE SOURCE… ASK YOUR HORSE

Feeding the Hoof
• Certain minerals have had more focus:
• Zinc- low levels are found in horses with hoof
problems
• If feeding whole grains or forage only can
be deficient
• Low risk for toxicity so easy to supplement
• Watch your copper levels because it is
linked to absorption of zinc so too much of
one can interfere with absorption of the
other.
Feeding the Hoof
• Biotin-a B-vitamin that improves hoof
condition with ~20 mg/day
• Biotin only improves hoof horn growth,
not existing hoof
• It takes a year for an entirely new hoof
to grow
• Should see improvement after 6
months of supplementation
Recommendations for
Good Hoof Growth
• Use nutritionally balanced premium
horse feed and feed at recommended
rates
• Only use supplement for horses with
poor hoof quality
• Feed supplement containing multiple
nutrients (biotin, iodine, zinc, amino
acids)
What The Coat is
Saying…
• Coat quality relies on appropriate balances of
protein, vitamins, minerals and fats.
• Normal growth of hair and skin use 25-30% of
horse’s daily protein requirements
• Gastric ulcers, sand irritation, internal parasites
can compromise absorption of nutrients
Feeding the Coat
• Protein must be added to hay or pasture
only diet for horses with skin issues
• Poor hair growth and dull appearance
reflect deficiencies in protein (amino acids)
Feeding the Coat
• Minerals- Zinc most important mineral for
coat
• Zinc deficiencies can result in hair loss,
cracked and thickened skin
• Vitamins- Vitamin A is most important for
skin health- too much or too little leads to
scruffy coat
• Vitamin E also important for coat
• Both must be obtained from dietary sources
Feeding the Coat
• Fats & Fatty Acids- Omega 3s and Omega 6s
• Grass great source of Omega 3s
• Dietary fat supplementation is proven to help
absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A & E) which
contribute to healthy haircoat
• Fatty acids coat hair-protective oily barrier
gives coat shiny appearance
Behavior Issues
• Today’s equine stable
management practices
have contributed to many of
the horse’s behavior
problems
• Certain behaviors do not
exist in wild, free roaming,
grass fed horses
• Anxiety can induce
behaviors such as cribbing,
and weaving
Feeding for Better Behavior
• Behaviors that can be affected by
nutrition include:
• Excitability
• Behaviors related to ulcers
• Anorexia
• Agression
• Sterotypic (continuous, repetitive,
serves no purpose)
EXCITABILITY
• Research shows Higher
Starch and Sugar content
= Higher Excitability
• Higher fat in diet for
energy will help
• Dietary fat has a calming
effect
• Source of energy is
usually the culprit
• High Fat includes feeds
>6-10% fat
Southern States Feeds with
High Fat & Low NSC
Solution
Legends
Maturity
6% Fat
6% Fat
Legends
Performance
Pellet
20% NSC
19 % NSC
10% Fat
12.9% NSC
Triple Crown Feeds High in Fat &
Low In NSC
Low Starch
Pellet
Senior
Textured
Complete
Textured
Safe Starch
Forage
6% Fat
10% Fat
10% Fat
6% Fat
13.5 % NSC
11.7 % NSC
20 % NSC
8.7 % NSC
Behavioral Signs of
Ulcers
• Altered eating behavior, not
finishing meals
• Grinding of teeth (bruxism)
• Intermittent or recurrent colic
signs
• Change in attitude or behavior
• Decreased performance and
reduction in stride length
• Cribbing? Possible with grain
feeding
Feeding Management
to Reduce Ulcers
• Fat and fiber don’t ferment to lactic
acid like starch and sugar
• Acid destroys lining of stomach and
causes ulcer formation
• Select feed with digestive aids
(yeast culture and probiotics) to
maintain intestinal pH and digestive
efficiency
Feeding to Reduce Ulcers
• Chewing increases amount of saliva to
stomach, contains sodium bicarbonate
(buffer that increases stomach pH) - feed
adequate hay for saliva production, at
least 1% of body weight daily
• Eliminate “grain-based” feeds and use
“fiber-based” feeds that contain less
starch and sugar and more added fat
• Feed as often as possible, smaller more
frequent meals, to maintain higher
stomach pH
Feeding Management
to Reduce Ulcers
• Feed free choice hay- alfalfa if you can as it
has calcium for buffer
• High fiber feeds with beet pulp also help,
easier to digest
• As much turn out as possible
High Fiber Feeds
>15% Fiber
18% Fiber
18% Fiber
15 % Fiber
17% Fiber
ANOREXIA
• Some research to support theory that
acidosis (too high acidity) in hind gut can
cause anorexia in horses
• Usually a result of too much rich
concentrate and not enough hay or
pasture
• Hind gut designed to ferment fiber. When
grain gets back there causes increase in
acid
• Loss in weight difficult to regain
• If you need high energy- feed high fiber
feed
AGRESSION
• Related to establishing
dominance
• Must consider feeding
management practices
• Adequate space for feeders
• Separate horses and give
them time to eat in peace
• Provide enough hay (and
piles) for every one
Abnormal-Sterotypic
(continuous, repetitive, serves no purpose)
• Tail or Mane Chewing
• Weaving
• Wood Chewing
• Eating of Dirt or Feces
• Cribbing
Fiber Related Issues
• High fiber (lots of hay and/or
pasture) reduces behaviors
such as wood chewing,
weaving, tail or mane eating
• Need to mimic nature as much
as possible
• Reduce confinement or provide
stall bound horses with GOOD
hay
Mineral Deficiencies?
• Eating of Dirt or Feces has been shown to be
related to a lack of certain minerals
• Lower copper and iron were found in horses
with these behaviors
• Can be caused by boredom so rule that out
first
• Blood levels by vet can check for these
Good sources for Vitamin and
Mineral supplementation:
Comes in bucket or
block. No added
protein
Vitamin, Mineral and
PROTEIN
CRIBBING
• Cribbing is an oral-stereotypy
• Can have genetic or environmental
relationship
• Not seen in the wild
• Increases with low-fiber, high
concentrate diet
• Irregular feeding schedule can
increase frequency
Cribbing can
sometimes be
a way for
horses to
increase saliva
production to
buffer stomach
acid so may
be related to
gastric ulcers
High Fiber Feeds
>15% Fiber
18% Fiber
18% Fiber
15 % Fiber
17% Fiber
Southern States Forage
Products
Forage
Cubes
Bagged
Forages
Hay Stretcher
Ingredients for Behavioral Problems
in Horses
Problem
Ingredients
Nervous, shying
Magnesium, B1, B6
Nervous, aggressive
Magnesium, B1, tryptophan
Very overactive, stallbound
Magnesium, B1, B6, valerian
Slightly overactive, stallbound
Magnesium, B1, B6, herbal blends
Mares - aggressive
Valerian, herbal blends
Calming Ingredients
and Uses in Horses
Ingredient
Use
Chamomile
Nervousness, anxiety
Hops
Nervousness, anxiety
Lemon balm
Anxiety
Magnesium
Anxiety, irritability, depression
(1 ounce magnesium oxide/day)
Thiamin (B1)
Anxiety, irritability, depression
(1,000 mg/day)
Tryptophan
Anxiety, aggression (4,000 mg/day)
Pyridoxine (B6)
Anxiety, stress
Valerian
Anxiety, irritability
TAKE AWAYS
Feed Good Forage
Don’t be afraid of protein
Feed well balanced, fortified feed in
correct amount for weight & activity or
supplement
Too much energy (kcal) causes health and
behavior problems
Use you feed company nutritionist!! We
are FREE help for your horse!
THE END!
THANK YOU !
Laura Stopper, PAS
(804) 814-1620
[email protected]