Equine Nutrition

Equine nutrition is one of the most vital part of the health of the horse. Upon arrival at Cornerstone Farm, my initial priority is to assess the nutritional requirements of any new horse.

Forage

The foundation of the nutritional program at our facility is hay, or forage. Horses were created as grazers. This means they consume forage 18 out of 24 hours a day on average. I ensure that they have free choice access to grass hay at all times. While alfalfa is occasionally included in their diet, it is done so sparingly and exclusively for horses with specific requirements for additional calories or energy, which is a rare occurrence. Alfalfa is not freely available but rather portioned into 1-2 meals per day.

Minerals

The next essential component of the nutritional program is minerals. Minerals hold greater importance than grains in ensuring the overall health and well-being of horses. Many instances have revealed that horses exhibiting behavioral problems were actually suffering from mineral deficiencies. Horses possess an innate ability to recognize and seek out their nutritional requirements, a behavior given to them from their Creator to forage for essential elements in their environment. However, the modern lifestyle of horses differs significantly from that of centuries before, necessitating a conscious effort on our part to supply them with high-quality minerals.

My preferred choice is a granular mineral offered to horses on a free-choice basis. Mineral blocks, lick tubs, and mineralized salt, while commonly used, do not provide a sufficient source of minerals for horses. A granular mineral specifically formulated for equine needs is most beneficial. When a horse's mineral intake is properly balanced, observable improvements in temperament, health, and overall well-being are evident. Adequate mineral supplementation not only promotes a quieter and more content demeanor in horses but also reduces injuries, illnesses, and ailments.

Grain

Feeding horses grain is a traditional practice aimed at providing them with extra calories necessary to support their activities. Today, the majority of horses do not require grain due to the reduction in their workload compared to a century ago. Nowadays, horses are primarily kept for leisure purposes and are ridden only occasionally, typically 1-2 times a week, which does not warrant the need for grain supplementation. However, many horse owners choose to give their horses grain as a means to encourage interaction and ensure daily observation for the well-being of the animals. This practice can be beneficial in maintaining the overall health and care of the horses.

When I feed a horse, I prefer using concentrated grain, which comes in pellet form. Horses do not ruminate like most other livestock. They have a stomach that holds it's food for approximately 20 minutes before it empties into the intestine. This is not ample time to break down whole grains to absorb all the nutrients they have. In reality, only about 30% of the total nutrients are absorbed by horses from a whole grain. That is a 70% waste! With pelleted grain, the grains are processed to ensure maximum nutrient absorption in the horse's digestive system.

My preferred choice of feed is a ration balancer, which is enriched with essential vitamins, minerals, and protein to fulfill the nutritional requirements of horses. For young, growing, older, or underweight horses, I opt for a concentrated grain that contains extra fat and calories to support their specific dietary needs.

Take note, not all feed concentrates are created equal. Merely relying on the crude analysis for information on protein, fiber, and other nutrients does not guarantee that they originate from the best source. When I worked at a feed store they kept a small jar of pellets on the counter with a crude analysis. They matched most feed bag labels. However, upon closer inspection of the ingredients, it was revealed that they included wood, newspaper, oil, and other undesirable components that are unsuitable for consumption, especially for horses. Know your feeds and their sources.

Herbs

In addition to all of this I keep a wide variety of herbs on hand to aid in specific needs. Food is medicine. That is said of us, and the same is true for the horse. They can help with a majority of problems including physical and hormonal issues.

I began using herbs because of one of our Ministry horses. He had a case of equine asthma and got severe enough that daily prescription meds were not enough. His condition deteriorated to the point where we had to resort to using steroids as a rescue treatment almost daily. The veterinarian expressed concern over the excessive use of steroids, a sentiment I shared. However, we were left with no alternative that could provide the necessary relief for him to move and breath with out laboring. Moreover, the financial burden of over $100 per month for the medication outweighed the limited benefits it offered.

One day, a Facebook friend announced that she has found a remedy that relieved her horses of coughing and wheezing and it was all natural. I messaged her and wanted to know her secret. She shared with me an article that listed different herbs that can help alleviate breathing issues in horses. I bought as many herbs as I could at Wal-Mart and tried them out. Within a week he was completely off all prescriptions and breathing better than he ever had. Now 2-3 years later he is getting just traces of these herbs and still doing well. I now keep a variety of herbs in my feed corner to meet different needs.

Final Notes

By closely monitoring the nutritional needs of my horses, I have noticed that a well-balanced diet leads to reduced food consumption. If a horse is constantly seeking food and never seems satisfied, it indicates a deficiency in their diet. Looking back on previous situations, I now understand that some of my horses were lacking essential nutrients. If only I had the knowledge I possess now, it could have made a significant difference for those horses.

 I have made a habit to inspect the bins to check if any food is left uneaten by the horses, as it serves as an indicator of whether they require less or no longer desire a specific additive. On one occasion a mistake occurred with the feeding buckets, resulting in a horse receiving the wrong feed. The horse that got the wrong bucket left more than half of it uneaten, conveying a clear message to me, "I do not need this." Despite being a high-calorie grain that most horses would typically devour eagerly, this horse made me realize that a nutritionally balanced horse will only consume what is truly necessary.

With winter approaching, ensuring your horse is nutritionally balanced will help them navigate the harsh weather effortlessly. A straightforward way to support them is by ensuring they have access to salt, which promotes increased water intake for smooth digestion. If you're worried about their hydration, consider adding a tablespoon of salt to their daily feed. Additionally, providing fresh, clean water will further encourage drinking. In consistently freezing temperatures, preventing water from freezing over will also help promote adequate hydration.

For any horse owner concerned about the health and well-being of their equine companion, it is essential to provide good quality grass hay, fresh water, salt, and mineral supplements as basic necessities.