A horse's nutritional
requirements and his digestive system have not
changed since the time he was first domesticated thousands of
years
ago. However, due to a lack of knowledge, convenience considerations
and an over-zealous adoption of the scientific claims of the feed
industry, the way we feed a horse has changed dramatically. Often,
these methods contradict what natural horsemanship tells us about
feeding and result in health problems for the horse and management
problems for owner.
Certain principles of
natural horsemanship can be applied to choosing
a proper feeding program for the horse. Just as we studied aspects
of
horse physiology and psychology when approaching training techniques,
it is beneficial to think in these terms when we decide how to
feed
our horses. This will tell us both what to feed and how to feed.
It doesn't take an expert
in natural horsemanship or equine nutrition
to understand that feeding flakes of alfalfa and grain supplements
twice a day to a horse in a stall is not what Mother Nature intended.
Indeed, that approach completely ignores a few basic principles
that
every horse owner should know about their four-legged charges.
A horse's digestive system
is designed to obtain the maximum
nutritional benefit from a diet of high-fiber and low-energy grasses.
The foundation of a healthy, natural diet for a modern, domesticated
horse is grass and grass hay. A horse in his natural environment
will
spend many hours a day grazing. Most experts say that a horse
needs
to consume at least 1.5 - 2 lb. of good quality hay and grain
for
every 100 lbs of body weight. Much will depend upon the metabolism
of
the horse. Horses that are heavily worked, pregnant and lactating
mares will consume up to 3 lbs of dry matter for every 100 lbs.
of
body weight.
Grass hay is much preferable
to alfalfa for the bulk for the horse's
diet for several reasons. Alfalfa is a very rich or "hot"
feed for
the horse. It contains approximately 50% more protein and energy
per
pound than grass hay. Its phosphorous to calcium ratio is also
too
high for a horse's requirements. When fed with grain, as alfalfa
often is, numerous digestive problems including colic may result.
Alfalfa may be fed but only in small quantities almost as a
supplement, not as the predominant feed component.
Not all hay is the same.
The nutritional content of hay depends not
only on the variety of grass grown, but also on the soil and amount
and type of fertilizer used. Hay quality also can vary and should
be
examined prior to purchasing. Good hay exhibits the following
qualities:
1. Should be leafy as
opposed to containing too many stems. Most of
hay's protein is contained in the leaves.
2. Good-quality hay should exhibit a light green color. If it
is too
yellow or brown, it might have been harvested too late and may
not
contain proper nutrients.
3. The hay should smell fresh and sweet. Hay that smells moldy
or
musty should be avoided. Feeding moldy hay can result in colic.
4. Check for weeds and other non-hay matter. Good horse hay should
contain a bare minimum of weeds, sticks and debris.
Unfortunately, hay comes
without supermarket labels specifying
nutritional content, but often a reputable hay supplier will have
a
laboratory analysis available for a particular cutting of hay
he is
selling. Parameters to look for include:
1. Moisture: usually
averages around 10%. Higher than 13% may result
in palatability problems and even mold proliferation.
2. Crude protein: Legume hay will run 20% or more. High quality
grass hay might run as high as 12-15%. A minimum should be at
least
8%.
3. Digestible energy (DE): This is an estimate of the amount of
energy available to the horse from the hay. This figure will vary
depending upon the stage of growth at which the grass was cut
and
harvested. Young grass will have a higher DE. As the crop matures,
DE decreases as the lignin content increases. A DE reading of
less
than 1.65 Mcal/kilogram indicates a high level of indigestibility
and
should not be fed to horses. This could cause impaction colic.
4. Acid detergent fibre (ADF: Indicates the digestibility of fiber
in
the hay. ADF levels above 45% indicate poor nutritional levels,
while
values less than 31% indicate excellent quality hay.
When horses ran wild,
their food supply consisted of different kinds
of grasses grown in one pasture or field. Today we have lost that
natural variety. An improved pasture is more than likely to contain
just one variety of hay grass. Feeding just one type of hay can
limit the nutritional value of the horse's ration, especially
trace
minerals. Several different kinds of hay, ideally, should be fed.
This will not only provide a more balanced diet but will also
vary
taste and texture characteristics of the feed as well.
A horse will also nibble
eagerly on all kinds of vegetable matter. A
good idea is to provide your horse with tree branches with leaves
to
chew on. He will not only be able to derive needed nutrients but
will
use his teeth and wear them down naturally. A horse's teeth are
continually growing, and because of domestication and modern feeding
techniques, usually need to be rasped down once a year. In the
wild
the horse is apt to feed in such a way that the growth of his
teeth is
naturally kept under control.
In addition to being
perfectly suited to extracting maximum
nutritional value from grasses, a horse's digestive system has
other
requirements which are often ignored by owners. The relatively
small
size of the stomach limits the amount of feed that can be safely
consumed at one time. A horse is unable to vomit or belch. Eating
a
large volume of hay and grain concentrate twice a day, as most
horses
do, can be unhealthy and even dangerous. A horse should eat small
amounts, many times a day.
One of the unique features
of the horse's digestive system is that
even though he has but one stomach compartment, as opposed to
ruminants like cows, there is a large microbial population in
the
cecum and colon. These microbes have the ability to break down
and
utilize the nutrients contained in forage. The peculiar shape
of the
colon which bends back upon itself numerous times reduces the
rate at
which digested food is able to pass. This allows more efficient
utilization of roughages in the horse's feed, but also can cause
digestive problems when the horse is not fed correctly.
If you observe a horse
eating in a barn situation, you can readily see
that he prefers to eat off the ground. Most feeders require a
horse
to eat with their necks extended and their heads raised. This
is an
unnatural position for a horse to eat. Grass particles and debris
fall back into his face and eyes. The horse cannot properly chew
his
food, and respiratory problems can result when the horse constantly
inhales dust from the hay. It's better to place hay on the ground
in
small amounts and in different places.
A diet of high-quality
grass and hay should provide all the energy and
protein needs non-working horses require. However, if a horse
is in
training, shows in performance classes or is ridden frequently,
you
might want to supplement with grain. Although this might be
considered a departure from a purely natural approach to feeding,
riding and working a horse is a complete departure from what nature
intended as well.
In his natural environment
as a wild, prey animal, a horse consumed
very little grain. His very limited grain consumption took place
in
the fall from natural grasses that had gone to seed. This probably
served to put on extra weight before winter. However, our energy
demands on a horse have changed nutritional demands on him as
well.
If a horse needs more
energy, fat and protein in his diet than he is
receiving from a grass and hay-based diet, there are several ways
you
can get him that additional nutrition. It's a good idea to avoid
feeding the quantity of sugar and molasses present in many commercial
sweet feeds. Just as in humans, the ingestion of large amounts
of
sugar can play havoc with the horse's insulin-regulating mechanism.
Compounded grain products may also contain other undesirable
ingredients such as fish and animal by-products.
You can get your horse
the extra energy he needs through supplementing
with rice and wheat bran or oats and barley. Limit the horse's
intake
of prepared rations of grain except for pregnant and lactating
mares
and young foals. We want to feed naturally but we don't want to
reject out of hand advances in feed science. Educate yourself
and
choose supplements based on your horse's true needs. Do not overfeed
grain, however.
Natural supplements that
are useful to include in a horse's daily
ration include flaxseed. Flaxseed is a good source for important
Omega-3 fatty acids that are so important in human diets too.
Omega-3
fatty acids can play a role in alleviating chronic inflammation
and
strengthen the immune system. They can improve the condition of
a
horse's coat and hooves.
Food-grade diatomaceous
earth (DE) supplements is a lesser-known
source of trace minerals, internal and external parasite control,
improved feed utilization and fly control. DE is a desiccant and
can
be used as a feed supplement or can be spread around stalls and
the
barn and will kill 75% of flies, fleas and mites that come into
contact with it. Horse owners who use DE religiously claim that
feeding DE to their foals and grown horses eliminates the need
for
chemical worming.
Horses themselves can
be a judge of what trace minerals they need to
consume. Have you ever seen a horse digging in the ground and
begin
to lick some special rock they've found? He seems to know
instinctively what minerals he is lacking and where he can get
them.
This probably pertains more to a wild and varied environment than
to a
controlled and limited pasture environment. For that reason, it
is a
good idea to provide a free-choice salt and trace mineral product
especially formulated for horses.
When horses are first
offered this feeding option, they will initially
consume a considerable amount but begin self-regulating very quickly.
A supply of salt is essential to a horse's health and well-being.
In
the wintertime salt should be manually added to a horse's feed
in
order to ensure that he drinks the proper amount of water. Be
sure to
make available to the horse an unlimited supply of fresh, clean
water
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