Appropriate Nutirtion for the Spanish Horse to Prevent Feed Related Pathologies and Improve Performance. 

By  Linda Linnane BSc(Hons)

PR1MERO equine

primeroequine@binternet.com

INTRODUCTION

All horses have evolved as free-roaming, grazing herbivores with a digestive system designed to ferment and digest a continuous flow of fibrous forage, primarily in the large intestine. Fibre is digested by microbial fermentation whereby millions of fibre digesting bacteria break-down the fibre to allow digestion and uptake of energy and nutrients.  These bacteria function in a very stable pH environment and do not adapt well to fluctuation in acidity. 

By stabling the horse, mankind has evoked a dramatic change in habitat of the species. Many horses are being fed  cereal based meals such as oats and cereal mixes. However , the horse has not adapted to this type of feed material and therefore has a limited capacity to digest cereal carbohydrates such as starch.  The stomach of the horse is also relatively small as he is a ‘grazer’ as opposed to a ‘meal’ eater like ourselves, therefore feeding large cereal meals results in excess feed passing quickly through the stomach and small intestine undigested into the large intestine.  The presence of cereal starch in the large intestine causes a rapid rise in lactic acid which results in the degradation and death of the fibre digesting bacteria.  

NUTRITIONAL RELATED LAMINITIS

Although Laminitis is thought to be multi-factoral, the most common is nutritional induced laminitis caused by intake of excess soluble carbohydrates such as grass fructans (UK) and cereal grain (Spain). 

When an overload of grain is fed, acidic conditions in the large intestine not only debilitate the horse by dramatically reducing the population of fibre digesting microbes that it needs for fundamental health, but also affects the mucosal lining of the gut wall which begins to leak toxins through into the blood and circulatory system, resulting in toxaemia, laminitis and colic. 

Preventative Nutritional Management of Laminitis

·        Remove the Cause 

~ Overweight horses have a predisposition to laminitis and should be encouraged to lose weight without reduction of fibre intake. 

~ Cereal meals such as oats should be replaced with a nutritionally balanced high fibre, high oil feed.  Small amounts of oats can be added for extra energy if required,  i.e. max. 1kg per feed. Never feed uncooked cereals such as Barley & Maize. 

~ Limit risk of cereal overspill into large intestine by restricting ‘meal’ size to maximum 2.5kg for an average 500kg horse - (maximum volume capacity of the equine stomach). 

~ Feed according to individual energy requirement;

Increased energy output = increased calorie (energy) requirement - BUT do not increase meal size - increase quantity of feeds throughout the day. 

~ Include live yeast (probiotic) in the diet daily to increase fibre digesting population of bacteria and stabilise the large intestine. 

MAINTAIN HEALTHY HIND GUT FUNCTION (Large Intestine) - BY ENSURING FORAGE/FIBRE IS THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR FEED REGIME    (min 1-1.5% bodyweight daily). 

 

NUTRITIONALLY INDUCED COLIC

The term ‘colic’ refers to abdominal pain which may be caused by various factors. However,  nutritional management is frequently indicated and is a major cause of intestinal disturbance in the horse. 

There are several types of nutritional colics such as; intestinal impaction, tympanic (gaseous), spasmodic and intestinal torsion (twisted gut).  Impaction colic can be  partly due to the lack of forage such as grass and hay which results in fibre deficiency in the horse.   Fibre depravation will force the horse to eat any form of fibrous feed material to satisfy his innate desire for fibre, such as straw bedding, wood, sand etc. which often results in impaction, particularly if the gut is dry or dehydrated. Free access to water is crucial .  The incidence of colic will decrease rapidly if this simple management procedure is implemented.  Watering horses twice daily is not sufficient .

Prevention of Nutritional Colic

~ Ensure that teeth are in good order so that horse can chew and grind food for maximum digestion and nutrient absorption. 

~ Supply fresh, clean water at all times. 

~ Employ a suitable anti-parasitic programme to prevent parasite damage to the intestinal walls and parasite blockage of the gut lumen. 

~ Feed a high forage diet complemented with small meals of a nutrient balanced concentrate feed. 

~ Keep starch/sugar intake to a minimum to prevent digestive disorders of the hind gut and gastric ulceration. 

~ Do not feed immediately before or after exercise to allow maximum digestion. 

~ Do not feed on sandy floor for prevention of sand colics (common in Spain). 

~ Ensure that all feed is dust and mould free. Store feed in a clean, dry environment. Bacteria and mycotoxins are commonly found in cereal feed. 

~ Maintain a stress-free environment as close to the horse’s natural habitat to prevent spasmodic colics - often seen in transported and stressed horses. 

EMPLOY APPROPRIATE NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT TO MEET THE FUNDEMENTAL EVOLVED REQUIREMENTS OF THE HORSE. 

This information is a very basic overview of some of the common nutritional problems.  If you have a specific problem or need nutritional advice, please contact:              

         primeroequine@btinternet.com

            

NOTE: 

LINDA LINNANE , of PRIMERO Equine , produces a special  feedstuff  called TOTAL , based on a return to more natural feeding which meets the horse's evolved requirements and also focussed on offering one complete feed that eliminates  the complexity of feeding, while supplying all the nutrients that the horse needs. It inclueds many beneficial extras such as Chaff, Oil, elevated Vitamins and Minerals, inlcluding Vit. E and Selenium, Electrolytes, Probiotics and Herbs such as Garlic and Mint , which are already included in the formulation of TOTAL complementing the digestible fibre foundation of the feed . TOTAL  also has proved to be extremely palatable despite having absolutely no molasses added to the feed. 

Those horse owners interested in finding out more details about    TOTAL     ,  please contact LINDA LINNANE  directly.