Madeleine Hull
Starch is a crucial component of a horse's diet, providing the energy needed for exercise, growth, metabolism, and other life functions. While starch is essential, it can be detrimental to a horse's health if fed improperly or in excess. Horses with certain metabolic and muscular problems, such as equine metabolic syndrome, Cushing's disease, and rhabdomyolysis, may require low-starch diets. Starch is found in various plant matter, with high quantities in cereals and lower volumes in forage and grass. It is composed of glucose chains that are broken down by the enzyme amylase in the small intestine. This process releases glucose into the bloodstream, triggering an insulin response. Understanding the balance of starch, fat, and sugar in a horse's diet is vital for maintaining health and optimizing performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Starch composition | Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of glucose chains. |
| Role in diet | Starch is a vital energy source for horses, fuelling their bodies and aiding exercise, growth, metabolism, and other life functions. |
| Sources | Starch is found in cereals, grains, corn, oats, forage, grass, and hay. |
| Recommended intake | The amount of starch in a horse's diet depends on factors such as age, breed, health, and workload. Horses in light work may not need much starch, while those in hard work may benefit from starch-rich feeds. |
| Health considerations | High-starch diets are not recommended for horses with metabolic and muscular problems, such as equine metabolic syndrome, Cushing's disease, and rhabdomyolysis. Starch should be limited for horses prone to tying up, insulin resistance, or laminitis. |
| Digestion | Starch is primarily digested in the small intestine by an enzyme called amylase. If not fully digested in the small intestine, starch passes to the large intestine, where it undergoes fermentation to produce energy. |
| Low-starch options | Low-starch feeds containing less than 20% starch are available. Ultra-low starch feeds contain less than 10% starch. |
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What You'll Learn
Starch is a complex carbohydrate that provides energy
A rise in blood glucose levels triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas, which causes the uptake of glucose into cells, such as muscle cells. This process provides the horse with immediate energy, and any unused glucose is stored. Starch from cereal grains tops up the horse's glycogen stores faster than other energy sources, which is particularly important for horses that are competing with little rest time between competitions.
However, it is important to note that starch can be problematic for horses if fed incorrectly or in excess. Excess starch can cause fizzy behaviour and trigger health problems, especially in horses with metabolic and muscular issues. Horses with insulin dysregulation, laminitis, PPID, or other veterinary-diagnosed conditions need diets with controlled starch and sugar. A low-starch diet may also be recommended for horses that are overly excitable or prone to certain conditions.
The amount of starch a horse requires depends on its individual needs, including its age, breed, health condition, and workload. Horses in light work may do well on high-fibre, low-starch diets, while those in hard work will benefit from starch-rich feeds to maximise muscle glycogen stores and speed up post-exercise recovery. It is recommended to feed many small starch-rich meals rather than a few large ones to optimise digestive health.
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Starch is present in high quantities in cereals
Starch is a complex carbohydrate and a natural component of many plants, including fruits, vegetables, and grains. Starch is made up of glucose molecules joined together in a way that allows a horse's digestive enzymes to break them down and release energy.
Starch is a vital part of a horse's diet to fuel their body, and it can be especially beneficial for those in hard work, as it maximises muscle glycogen stores and speeds up post-exercise recovery. However, too much starch can cause fizzy behaviour and trigger health problems in horses, particularly in those with metabolic and muscular issues. Therefore, it is important to understand how to feed starch to horses safely and effectively, as well as consider the total dietary intake of starch from all sources, including forage and grass.
The amount of starch required in a horse's diet may vary depending on the individual's needs and workload. Horses in light work typically do well on high-fibre feeds, while those in more intense activities benefit from starch-rich feeds. It is recommended to feed many small meals rather than a few large ones for optimal digestive health, and to include a fibre source to slow passage through the digestive tract. Processed grains are easier for horses to digest, and feeding small meals of processed grains can help ensure starch is digested effectively.
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Horses with metabolic issues may need a low-starch diet
Starch is a vital part of a horse's diet, providing the necessary fuel for physical activity and bodily functions. It is a complex carbohydrate that is present in most plant matter, with particularly high levels in grains and cereals. Horses in hard work will benefit from starch-rich feeds to maximise muscle glycogen stores and speed up post-exercise recovery.
However, starch can be problematic if fed incorrectly or in excess. High-starch diets may trigger health problems and cause fizzy behaviour in horses. Horses with metabolic issues may need a low-starch diet to prevent health issues. For a healthy adult horse, the total amount of NSC (non-structural carbohydrates, including sugar, fructan, and starch) should not exceed 20% of the total diet. However, for horses with metabolic issues, this should be reduced to 10-12% or lower.
Horses with certain metabolic conditions like insulin resistance, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, laminitis, or Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy may need a low-starch diet. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, which can potentially lead to laminitis in horses. A low-starch diet can help manage these conditions and prevent complications.
Additionally, a low-starch diet may be beneficial for horses that are overly excitable or prone to certain conditions. After a starch meal, large amounts of glucose are released into the bloodstream, triggering the release of insulin. This can cause fluctuations in glucose and insulin levels in the bloodstream, which may affect the brain of some horses and make them more excitable. A low-starch diet can help stabilise these levels and reduce excitability.
It is important to work closely with a veterinarian to understand a horse's individual needs and develop a tailored feeding program. The percentage of starch in a horse's diet will depend on various factors, including age, breed, health condition, and workload.
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Starch is broken down in the small intestine by an enzyme
Starch is a vital part of a horse's diet, providing the energy needed for exercise, growth, metabolism, and other life functions. However, it can be damaging if fed in excess or improperly. Starch is present in most plant matter, with high quantities in cereals and lower volumes in forage and grass. Horses in light work do well on high-fibre, low-starch diets, while those in hard work will benefit from starch-rich feeds to maximise muscle glycogen stores.
The amount of starch consumed at one time affects the amount digested in the small intestine. Feeding horses many small starch-rich meals rather than a few large ones can improve digestive health and reduce the risk of issues like colic or laminitis.
Carbohydrase enzymes, a group that includes amylase, break down starch into sugars. These sugars are then absorbed in the small intestine and transported across the intestinal epithelium into the bloodstream, providing energy to the body.
Other enzymes that aid in digestion include protease enzymes, which break down proteins, and lipase enzymes, which break down lipids or fats and oils.
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Starch is important for muscle glycogen stores
Starch is a polysaccharide, composed of long chains of glucose molecules. It is a non-structural carbohydrate found inside the cell walls of plants, including forage and cereal grains. Starch is a vital part of a horse's diet, providing a concentrated source of energy that horses find palatable.
Horses with higher energy requirements, such as racehorses, need sufficient glycogen stores to prevent fatigue and maintain performance. Starch from cereal grains tops up the horse's glycogen stores faster than other energy sources, which is particularly beneficial for horses competing with little rest time between events.
However, it is important to note that starch can be problematic if fed incorrectly or in excess. Some conditions, such as Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER) or Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), can be exacerbated by high starch intakes. Therefore, the amount of starch in a horse's diet should be carefully monitored, especially for horses with metabolic or muscular issues.
For horses that cannot tolerate high starch intakes, alternatives such as fat or oil can be used to spare muscle glycogen. It is also recommended to feed starch in smaller meals and alongside a fibre source to optimise digestive health.
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Frequently asked questions
Starch is a complex carbohydrate that provides energy in a horse's diet. It is made up of glucose and is found in high quantities in cereals and in lower volumes in forage and grass.
The amount of starch in a horse's diet depends on the individual horse's needs. Horses in light work do well on high-fibre, low-starch diets, while horses in hard work will benefit from starch-rich feeds to maximise muscle glycogen stores and speed up post-exercise recovery.
While starch can be an important source of energy for horses, it can also cause health problems if fed in excess or incorrectly. Horses with insulin dysregulation, laminitis, PPID, or other veterinary-diagnosed conditions may need diets with controlled starch and sugar. High-starch diets are also not recommended for horses with metabolic and muscular problems.
