Balancing your Horse’s Diet

Three stages of grass growth

Something so easy when their Forage is high in Fibre.

The photo shows a horse on grass which is low in fibre (because it is short), the horse is rightfully being given plenty of hay.

In the forefront is the grass this horse ‘has to’ graze next which is also very low fibre and very likely to cause digestive upsets (the owner is taking steps to minimize the impact of the transition).

In the background is much more suitable high fibre grass unfortunately not available as an option for this horse to graze!

Forage that is high in Dry Matter (fibre) contains levels of nutrients that the horse’s own self-regulating mechanisms can easily cope with.

We KNOW such forage will need supplementation with the right protein and omega fatty acids, along with a BROAD SPECTRUM multi ( PremiumMVA ) which includes all the daily essential nutrients including the additional Vitamin E horses require.

We also KNOW it isn’t fraught with EXCESSES of Potassium and Nitrogen – elements that place a great deal of stress on these crucial self-regulating mechanisms to the point they can’t cope.

The metabolism of horses on the more extreme end of the spectrum of ‘grass-affected’ issues such as those suffering laminitis, Head-shaking, dangerous, unpredictable behaviours, is ‘shouting loudly’ that it is NOT coping well at all.

The metabolic trouble is caused mainly by the EXCESSES. The horse becomes over-reactive and spooky because his metabolism isn’t managing these excesses.

There are EXCESSES of WATER in short or lush green grass as well as excesses of Potassium, Nitrogen & Sugars which are concurrent with Deficiencies of Sodium & FIBRE – needed in large quantities for the hind-gut flora to ferment and as a by-product produce both energy and critical Vitamins.

This is why short or lush green grass is the most unbalanced forage for equines and why it isn't just a matter of 'topping up Deficiencies'.

It is not possible to balance to forage rendered unsuitable by excesses unless they can be substantially reduced by limiting short or lush grass intake in some way.

Take steps to REDUCE Potassium and Crude Protein intake:

Change your horse’s forage from being predominantly green to being predominantly brown by

• Reducing or eliminating short or lush green grass and replacing with hay

• Use a longer rotation for horses - allowing grass to become stalky and yellowish before grazing

• Eliminate lucerne/alfalfa as it is adding to the high potassium and Nitrogen load

• Grazing muzzles are helpful when there is no other option BUT when used for more than a few hours a day they seriously limit the all important fibre intake necessary for the hind-gut flora to properly nourish the horse.

When you supply high fibre forage it becomes EASY to balance your horse's diet with a simple daily feed every day consisting of

• non-lucerne chaff

• (optional) soaked beet

• a combination of ground linseed and sunflower-seeds to provide protein with essential amino and fatty acids.

• Add salt because ALL forage is extremely low

• Premium MVA (Minerals, Vitamins, Amino Acids) to ensure nothing is lacking and to supply the extra vitamin E needed when on high hay diets