Equine Nutrition Tips

Adapted from an article by Bob Peacock

Many feed supplements have been developed to address specific needs for horses. While they may lack definitive scientific support, anecdotal evidence shows that these supplements are indeed beneficial.

However, before we begin to worry about what supplements to feed our mounts we first need to have a basic understanding of what an equine needs in its general diet. This article hopes to address that.

What Horses Have to Have:

1. Water - it makes up over 50% of their body weight

2. Protein - made up of amino acids

a. 23 total amino acids
b. 10 essential amino acids
c. dl-methionine is the most important amino acid for hoof growth. It helps prevent edema and various infections, and works with choline to fight against tumors.

3. Fats - an energy source for the horse. Fats have 2.25 x more energy per gram than proteins or carbohydrates.

4. Minerals

a. Calcium and phosphorus
b. Magnesium
c. Sodium, chloride and potassium
d. Iodine - stops the spread of fungus and dreaded bacteria and viruses in the hoof and skin. Certain amounts work through the thyroid gland to produce helpful bacterial antibodies needed for good health.
e. Trace minerals. One of the most important is zinc. It helps
promote tissue growth at a faster rate. Helps fight infections.
f. Inositol - Helps to properly utilize choline. Promotes healthy hair, hoof and bones.
g. Selenium - A mineral essential in promoting hoof growth and quality. It is also required for proper muscle function and endurance. Selenium possesses anti-fungal qualities.

5. Carbohydrates

a. Starches
b. Sugars
c. Glycogen

6. Vitamins

a. Fat soluble: A, D, E, and K
Vitamin A - promotes tissue growth, strong bones, hoof, healthy skin, hair, teeth and gums. Helps build resistance to disease.
Vitamin D - Helps properly utilize vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus. Necessary for strong bones, teeth and hoofs.
Vitamin E - Helps to retard cellular aging; an anti-oxidant. Supplies oxygen to the cells for better endurance. Helps fight fatigue, accelerates healing and growth.

b. Water soluble: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine and biotin.
Niacin - Helps increase circulation of blood to areas of the body for faster healing and growth.
dl-biotin - Second most important nutrient in hoof growth and repair. Helps alleviate eczema and dermatitis through utilization of proteins.
Choline - Helps eliminate poisons from the system by aiding the liver; helps nerve response to aid the healing.

The  Plug

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