Horses need six basic nutrient categories to be met. Most commercial feeds will balance the diets. These diets will be made up of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals and fats. Water should also be considered as a nutrient too. Enzymes are starting to gain popularity.
Water is often forgotten. Horses should drink 5 to 10 gallons of water each day. The amount of water consumption has many factors, the heat and humidity will play a role as will the activity level of the animal. If water is not provided free choice, the horse should be allowed to drink at least twice daily. If water is not supplied adequately to the horse, the animal can suffer from dehydration, decreased intestinal activity leading to impaction and colic.
Carbohydrates make up the largest part of the horse’s diet. There are two types of carbohydrates, fiber and starches/sugars. Fiber is the major component in the roughage (grass and hay) they eat. Roughage is digested in the stomach and intestinal tract. While in the cecum and colon the carbohydrates are broken down by microorganism into an energy source that can be absorbed. This plays an important role in the type of roughage fed. Good-quality hay that does not have any dust or mold, the length of the cut grass and the maturity of the grass all play roles in the ability of the microorganism conversion to energy. The sugar and starches are found in the grains. It is important to realize that the equine digestive tract evolved to process a diet with roughage-base. The equine should be fed a minimum of 1 percent of the animal’s body weight of forage. Ideally, 1.5 to 2 percent should be fed.
Protein is a nutrient that is necessary for maintenance and growth. Proteins break down in the small intestine. They break down to amino acids. The amino acids then reassemble to form the proteins that make up muscle, hoof and hair. The chains of amino acids are synthesized by the body. These syntheses are limited by the amount of amino acid that is present. If the amino acid runs out, all syntheses of protein will stop. Usually the amino acid that runs out is Lysine. Many feeds now have Lysine added. The age and use of the horse affects the amount of protein needed in the diet. Young developing horses require a higher protein level (12 to 18 percent). Older horses require less protein in their diets (8 to 12 percent). Horses in training need more protein than a maintenance level, as they are developing more muscle. Even in training, 12 percent protein is usually adequate. Remember, forage also contributes to protein in the diet. Legume hays have protein levels around 18 to 22 percent and grass hays will have protein levels around 10 to 15 percent, providing they are of good quality. Protein levels like carbohydrates are affected by the stage of harvest.
Fats provide an easily digestible form on energy. Feeding high levels of fats to horses is gaining popularity in the equine. Most commercial feeds have fats in them. It is usually stabilized oil. If you add oil to your horse’s feed, remember you need to adjust the other components to keep the diet balanced.
Vitamins are an important element of the horse’s diet too. There are two types of vitamins, water-soluble and fat-soluble. The water-soluble are the B vitamins. The fat-soluble are Vitamins K, D, E and A. Horses are able to synthesize Vitamin C, vitamin K and the B-vitamins. They do not need to be supplemented. It is important to remember the water-soluble vitamins can be excreted in the urine, if the level is excessive. The fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the fat and cannot be excreted. These can be accumulated to toxic levels, so care must be given when supplementing with these vitamins.
Minerals are important inorganic materials that are needed by the body to function properly. Most are found in supplements. The horse’s need will change as the animal matures and usage changes. Most feeds meet the feed requirements of the minerals. Minerals are also available in the forage that is fed.
