Dante Carrillo
A well-balanced diet is essential to keeping your horse healthy and happy. Horses are herbivores that survive on a forage-based diet while grazing. A horse's diet should consist of six main nutrients: water, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The most common sources of these nutrients are green grass and fresh hay. However, it is important to recognize that not all hay is the same, and nutrient levels can vary. To ensure your horse's diet is balanced, you should have your hay tested to determine its nutrient levels and choose a quality hay that meets your horse's specific needs. If your horse's diet is deficient in certain nutrients, you can supplement it with grain, commercial feed, or a ration balancer. Additionally, it is crucial to understand that a horse's energy and nutrient needs change throughout its life, and their diet may need to be adjusted accordingly. Working closely with a veterinarian and an equine nutritionist can help you develop the best nutrition plan for your horse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nutrients | Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water |
| Vitamins | Vitamin C, B-complex, vitamin A, D, E, K, and C |
| Minerals | Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, cobalt, and zinc |
| Omega fatty acids | Omega-3 (anti-inflammatory) and omega-6 (pro-inflammatory) |
| Selenium | Sel-Plex® is a source of 100% organic selenium |
| Beet pulp | A source of fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, and protein |
| Hay | Should be tested to determine nutrient levels; lower-quality hay may be sun-bleached and have lower vitamin content |
| Commercial feed | May be supplemented with fat in the form of stabilized oil |
| Ration balancers | Meet vitamin and mineral requirements without extra calories, sugars, or starches |
| Weight | Weighing feed can help determine if a horse's diet is balanced |
| Water | Horses should have access to water at all times; they may drink 5-15+ gallons per day |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of vitamins and minerals
A horse's diet should consist of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. While feed companies often balance the first five nutrients, it is critical not to forget about water. A normal, healthy horse will consume 5-15 (or more) gallons of water per day depending on temperature, humidity, and activity level. Water is the most important nutrient for an animal, as it makes up about 60-70% of an adult horse's body weight. Horses that do not drink enough water are more susceptible to dehydration, intestinal impactions, and other forms of colic.
Minerals are essential elements needed by the horse's body for essential life functions. Similar to vitamins, minerals are needed in small quantities in the diet, and each mineral plays a specific role. For example, calcium is an important component of bone. Other minerals found in a horse's diet include phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, cobalt, and zinc.
Vitamins can be divided into two groups: fat-soluble (dissolve in fat) and water-soluble (dissolve in water). Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K, while water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B vitamin group (thiamin or B1, riboflavin, B12, niacin, folacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and B6). The B vitamins are considered a group because they all have a similar function of assisting with cell metabolism. Fat-soluble vitamins have the potential for toxicity, while water-soluble vitamins do not.
Vitamin deficiencies can cause various health issues in horses. For example, a vitamin E deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, impaired immune function, reproductive failure, and neuromuscular disorders. A vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, watery eyes, bone and muscle growth defects, a dull coat, and reproductive problems. Low levels of vitamin D can result in reduced bone calcification, stiff and swollen joints, a stiff gait, and irritability.
Mineral deficiencies can also lead to health problems in horses. For instance, an iron deficiency may be caused by parasitic infection or chronic blood loss, resulting in low energy, decreased appetite, a fast heart rate, and horse anemia. Excessive intakes of certain minerals may be as harmful as deficiencies. For example, excessive selenium intake can lead to toxicity.
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The role of water
Water is an essential nutrient for horses and is often overlooked. It is, in fact, the most important nutrient for any animal. A horse's body weight is made up of 60-70% water, which is found within and outside cells. Water is critical to maintaining the correct balance of water in the body, and no animal can survive longer than a few days without it.
Horses need to consume between 5-15 gallons of water per day, depending on the temperature, humidity, and activity level. Clean water should be provided daily and should ideally be available at all times for the horse to drink when thirsty. If this is not possible, horses should be watered a minimum of twice a day and allowed to drink for several minutes each time.
Ensuring your horse is well-hydrated is essential for their health. Dehydration can lead to intestinal impactions and other forms of colic. Additionally, excess protein in a horse's diet can result in increased water intake and urination, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Sweating also depletes electrolytes, so supplementation may be necessary for horses that sweat a lot.
Water is also necessary for the detoxification of toxic substances, which occurs in the cecum, a part of the horse's digestive system.
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Fat, protein, and carbohydrates
Fat
Fat is an excellent and easily digestible source of energy for horses. It is the most dense source of energy, providing about 2.25 times as much energy as carbohydrates. Horses can easily use up to 20% fat in their diet, and it is normally found at 2 to 6% in most premixed feeds. Some higher-fat feeds will contain 10 to 12% fat. Supplemental fats include vegetable oils, hydrolyzed animal fats, and dry granular fats, which contain more than 98% fat and don't add other nutrients to the diet. Vegetable oils are more palatable than animal fats and have a lower chance of containing impurities.
If you are adding extra fat to your horse's diet, it is important to do so slowly, over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. This is to avoid causing obesity in your horse.
Protein
Protein is used in muscle development during growth or exercise. The main building blocks of protein are amino acids, which are found in soybean meal and corn gluten meal. Horses that are lactating or young foals require a higher amount of protein, at around 8 to 10%.
Carbohydrates
All horses need carbohydrates in their diets. However, the type and amount of carbohydrates can affect their health. Horses exercising, growing, pregnant in late gestation, or lactating need increased energy in their diet. Carbohydrates in the form of fermentable fiber or starch are the most common source of energy. Present in forage, cellulose is the most common carbohydrate in horse diets. Cereal grains like oats, corn, and barley are high in starch.
It is important to be careful with the amount of starch fed to a horse, as an overload can cause colic or laminitis, especially when suddenly added to the diet. The recommended upper limit on starch feeding is 2 grams per kilogram of body weight at each meal.
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Omega-3 and Omega-6
The typical modern horse diet, which includes hay and grain, can make achieving the ideal balance challenging. Fresh grass, which horses were built to thrive on, naturally contains more Omega-3 than Omega-6. However, access to fresh pasture may be limited, and fortified grains are typically high in Omega-6. Thus, a diet of mostly grain with little to no grass can lead to an imbalance, resulting in a chronic state of inflammation.
To address this, horse owners can consider adding an Omega-3 supplement, such as flaxseed, fish oil, or camelina oil. These supplements have been shown to reduce inflammation and support respiratory health, especially in horses with seasonal allergies and respiratory inflammation. Additionally, Omega-3 supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce joint pain associated with osteoarthritis.
It is important to introduce additional fat slowly into a horse's diet, over a period of 2-3 weeks. When increasing fat intake, it is crucial to ensure that other nutrient requirements, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, are also being met. Commercial feeds that are not supplemented with additional fats typically contain 2-4% fat, while those with added fat can range from 6-12% fat.
In summary, while the exact ratios are unknown, it is recommended that horses receive 2-4 times more Omega-3 than Omega-6 in their diet. Omega-3 supplementation offers a range of health benefits and can help maintain the optimal balance of fatty acids, supporting the overall well-being of horses.
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Forage and grazing
Forage is the most important part of a horse's diet, and hay is the most common type of forage. Hay can be classified into two categories: grass and legume. Grass hay is any grass that has been cut and dried, and it can make up a horse's entire daily serving of forage. It provides the minerals of fresh pasture and long-stem forage for healthy digestion and maintaining a healthy weight. However, it lacks some vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids found in pastures, so supplements may be necessary. Legume hay, such as alfalfa and clover, tends to be higher in calories, protein, digestible energy, and crude protein than grass hay. It should be fed in smaller amounts and is often used as part of a performance horse's diet.
The best type of forage for a horse depends on its lifestyle and needs. Wild horses can constantly graze and survive on grass. Equine athletes may require a forage that is higher in calories, such as alfalfa hay, while a horse with moderate activity may do well with "free choice" grass hay. Younger horses may need hay that is higher in calories due to growth, while older horses may only need grass hay or added calories from alfalfa cubes or pellets. Horses with endocrine disorders like Cushing's disease may need a forage low in starch and sugar, such as grass hay.
It is important to test your hay to determine its nutrient levels and choose a quality hay that meets your horse's requirements. Hay will vary depending on the time of day it was cut and whether fertilizers were used. If your horse is meeting most of its digestible energy requirements but lacks protein, choose a feed with a higher crude protein content. If your horse is deficient in all nutrients, select a feed that provides a balance without being overly high in one specific area. Commercial feeds will usually be nutritionally balanced, but if you are increasing fat in your horse's diet, ensure you are also meeting other nutrient requirements.
Mineral needs will change depending on a horse's age and status, such as whether it is working, gestating, or lactating. Most commercial feed companies balance their feed to meet these requirements. Forage will also provide minerals, and additional supplementation may provide desirable results. For example, biotin, zinc, and copper can improve hoof strength. However, excessive minerals may cause toxicities or interfere with the absorption of other minerals. If your horse does not receive a commercial concentrate, you may need to supplement additional vitamins and minerals with a ration balancer.
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Frequently asked questions
Horses need six key nutrients in their diet: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
The majority of a horse's diet should consist of hay. You can have your hay tested to determine its nutrient levels and choose a quality hay that meets your horse's requirements. If your horse is healthy and receiving good-quality forage with a commercial feed, its diet is most likely balanced for minerals. If you are concerned about a vitamin or mineral imbalance, you should work with a veterinarian and nutritionist.
Signs of protein deficiency include a rough or coarse hair coat, weight loss, and reduced growth, milk production, and performance. Excess protein can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. A diet too high in energy can cause obesity, increasing the risk of colic and laminitis.
You can select a commercial feed or ration balancer to meet the deficiencies in your horse's diet. For example, if your horse is lacking in protein, you can select a feed with a higher crude protein content. If your horse is deficient in digestible energy, you can select a feed with more calories or added fat.
