Who Needs Equine Nutrition Information?

Most horse owners can benefit from professional guidance when it comes to designing rations for their horses.  Contrary to popular belief, there is more to feeding a horse than just providing hay and water.  Ensuring horse nutrient needs are met is not just providing life support, but rather seeking the best way to provide balanced nutrients that allow horses to perform at their highest levels. 

Why should horse owners incorporate high technology into feeding programs when their horses are only used for pleasure riding or working cattle?  The answer is simple.  Providing state of the art nutrition can make a genuine every-day difference in a horse's ability to perform in a way that makes it more enjoyable for the horse owner.  And, regardless of the activity level and use of the horse, horse-feeding programs don't need to be complicated or expensive. 

Feeding horses correctly cannot make them faster than their inherent ability.  But, feeding them incorrectly can result in decreases in performance.  It is now possible to design total feed programs for horses, which result in genuine improvements in performance compared to the past in almost every type of horse activity.  Explosive energy for the sprinter, stamina for the endurance horse and practically every horse activity can be custom programmed into balanced rations for today's equine athletes.  The use of stabilized fats as an energy source to replace part or all of traditional grain-based feeds can have a very positive effect on horses that are sensitive to high dietary non-structural carbohydrate loads.  It is possible to have a top performing equine athlete without the "grain high" often associated with high performance feeding programs. 

Where Can One Find Answers to Nutrition Questions?

Advertisements - While advertisements may encourage horse owners to find out more about the products they represent, they seldom tell the whole story.  Every company has its own agenda when it comes to selling its products, and while some companies do offer a complete program of products that are formulated to function together, most do not.  This may lead uninformed horse owners to use combinations of products that do not complement each other.  The use of products never intended-to-be-fed together can upset important energy, protein, vitamin and mineral balances through omission or over-supplementation.  Nutrient amounts in some supplements may be valuable additions in some feeding programs, yet detrimental in others. 

Magazines and Books - Finding accurate information isn't complicated or expensive.  Look for nutrition articles in horse magazines that are not paid "infomercials."  Practical information presented by knowledgeable and well-respected individuals within the horse industry is routinely featured in widely-circulated horse magazines.  Keep an open mind when reading nutrition-related information.  Another avenue to understanding equine nutrition is using reference books.  A number of good resource books are available. 

Feed Companies - Another way to acquire needed information is to directly contact feed companies for specific recommendations using their products based on class of horse, activity level, feedstuffs available, etc.  The level of service one can expect varies from company to company.  Some companies will direct you to the nearest dealer and send product brochures, while others may provide complete analysis of the feed program and tailor a program to a horse's specific needs.  Working with someone who has a practical horsemanship background to go along with nutritional expertise can be a big advantage when it comes to designing a program that fits an individual's situation. 

Veterinarians and Nutritionists – Veterinarians are charged with maintaining the health of horses.  They usually know more about their clients’ horses than anyone, except the owners.  Many veterinarians have sound nutrition backgrounds, but with today's specialized clinics (i.e. large animal, small animal) some see very few, if any, horses in their practices.  Therefore, due to the demands of their specialties, they may be unable to keep abreast of recent equine nutrition research and new technology affecting horse feeding programs. 

Equine nutritionists who have attained the Ph.D. have the same amount of training as veterinarians, except the training is specialized in nutrition, biochemistry, physiology and horse production.  Equine nutritionists with Professional Animal Scientist (P.A.S.) certification are required to attend Continuing Education Courses to stay current in their field.  Equine Nutritionists can conduct seminars for veterinarians, making it easier for veterinarians to have access to the most current information.  To attain your horse’s best health and performance, your veterinarian and nutritionist should be involved as a team. 

Conclusion - Advances in both the understanding of how a horse utilizes feed and the technology which enables those feeds to be more effectively utilized can help horses perform closer to their potential than ever before.  These new generation feeding programs don't need to be complicated; however, they do need to be balanced to provide maximum effectiveness.  Educating yourself can pay large dividends by helping you choose the most effective feeding program for your dollar.  Don't hesitate to call and ask for help.  If the feed company that makes the products you are using cannot help, seek a company that can.  You'll be glad that you did, and your horse will benefit. 

For assistance in developing an equine nutritional program, call the ADM Alliance Nutrition HELPLINE at 1-800-680-8254.  Our equine specialists will assist you in developing a program specifically for your horses' needs.

This information was modified for Horse Sense from a former MoorMan’s Horse Feed Facts article. 

For More Information e-mail at AN_EquineHelp@admworld.com

or call toll free
EQUINE NUTRITION HELPLINE
1-800-680-8254
7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time

ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. 1000 North 30th Street P.O. Box C1 Quincy, IL USA 62305-3155