EQUINE NUTRITION

HORSE= “Hindgut Fermenter”

In the horse, all true digestion is by enzymatic digestion and takes place in the fore gut (ahead of the cecum). This accounts for 52-58% of the crude protein digestion and virtually all soluble carbohydrate digestion (fiber excluded).

In addition, bacterial or microbial digestion of Fiber occurs in the Hindgut (cecum and colon) where large quantities of volatile fatty acids are

produced through fermentation and are absorbed.

This dual system allows the horse to digest:

1. Simple carbohydrate sources such as starch from grain in the Fore Gut= ENZYMATIC DIGESTION

2. Fibrous sources such as oat hulls, soy hulls, beet pulp, hay and pasture are digested in the Hind Gut= BACTERIAL/ MICROBIAL DIGESTION

HIND- GUT

FORE- GUTDuration in the Foregut= 1.5 hours

Duration in the Hind-Gut= 2-3 days

For enzymatic and microbial action to digest feed efficiently, the horse needs healthy teeth to grind feed and allow enzymes and bacteria to attack the plant cell walls.

Teeth should be examined during the annual health check to ensure that they are wearing normally and are effectively grinding the feed.

The emptying time of the stomach after filling can be about 12 minutes, and the rate of passage down the small intestine is about 1 ft/min. The net result is that food can go from the mouth to the cecum in about 1½ hours

(FOREGUT TO HINDGUT= 1.5 hours)

The small volume of the stomach and rapid passage of food from the stomach is the reason horses eat almost continuously, thus the name……………………. “HAY BURNERS”

Various studies on total passage time, indicate 2-3 days is required from when food is ingested until it is passed in the manure. …..The mature horse's large intestine makes up more than half of the total volume of the digestive tract, is important for microbial digestion of food and is a major reservoir for water.

When undigested starch and sugars reaches the hindgut, the microbial fermentation process in the cecum produces a higher level of lactic acid. This creates a more acidic environment in the hindgut (lowering the pH), resulting in the state known as…………………….. “HINDGUT ACIDOSIS”

Risks Related to Hindgut Acidosis

Hindgut acidosis is itself a health risk, as the lower pH can kill beneficial bacteria and allow dangerous pathogens to prosper – It is the beginning of more serious digestive distress.

A high volume of lactic acid in the bloodstream may also reduce the ability of the horse’s muscles to clear lactic acid that builds up during exercise. This may, in turn, lead to a slower recovery from exercise or………. “Tying Up”.

Hindgut acidosis is also known to lead to:

1. Laminitis,2. Colonic Ulceration 3. Potentially to Colic.

There are good bacteria and bad bacteria in the horse’s gut. The good bacteria are killed off by sugars, creating lactic acid, which then causes lesions or ULCERS in the hindgut. The bad bacteria die off very quickly however, creating Endotoxins.

These Endotoxins seep into the bloodstream through the gut lesions and go straight to the LAMINAE of the horse’s foot, causing inflammation and destroying it. The once tightly connected epidermal and dermal laminae lose hold of each other. …………………………… This is LAMINITIS.

SIGNS OF LAMINITIS

ULCERS- GASTRIC/ COLONIC

SIGNS OF ULCERS1. Overall Poor Condition 2. Inability to Gain Weight/ Poor Appetite3. Excessive Chewing/ Teeth Grinding/ Wood Chewing/, etc.4. Pawing the Ground when eating5. Physical Discomfort6. Poor Performance 7. Reluctance to move/ bend / extend8. Sensitive to external pressure (colonic) 9. Tucked Up/ Tucked Under Body Position10. Presence of Hemoglobin (Gastric) and Albumin (Colonic)- Fecal Blood

Test

SIGNS OF COLIC

Gas/ Spasmodic, Impaction, Sand, Parasite, Twisted Gut

Flank WatchingPawing the GroundRolling/ Lying DownRestlessnessSweatingMuscle Tremors/ ShakingDepression/ Decreased AppetiteLack of Manure Droppings/ DiarrheaSwishing TailSlow Capillary Refill Time/ PulseKicking / Biting at the BellyBucking

NUTRITION TIPS FOR OPTIMAL FEEDING

(To Aid/ Prevent -HIND GUT ACIDOSIS, LAMINITIS, ULCERS AND COLIC, etc.)

1. Feed your horse only what they need (based on Body Condition and Activity Level)2. Feed Low Starch- High Fiber/ High Fat Rations3. Promote “Healthy Bacteria” in the Hind Gut4. Offer Free Choice -Good Quality Forage (obtain a forage analysis if available)5. Feed/ Ration Balancers in small/ frequent portions (2 -4 x’s per day)6. Follow an Effective De-Worming Schedule/ Parasite Control7. Schedule an Annual Dental/ Teeth Checkup8. Avoid sudden changes in feed/ forage/ rations.9. Offer access to Clean Water at all times.10. Offer “Balanced” Chelated/ Organic Vitamins & Minerals11. Maintain Hydration levels (ie: salt blocks, direct fed electrolytes)12. Feed a high quality Feed produced specifically for horses (no cross contamination)

The foal and growing horse have undeveloped cecal and colonic digestion as compared to the adult horse. There is very little microbial digestion before three months of age. Therefore, the foal requires a diet low in fiber and easily digested in the fore gut.

Foals who are seen eating their mothers manure are thought to be obtaining a bacterial culture necessary for future microbial digestion

NUTRITION FOR FOALS

Equine Internal Parasites

Where they live………. How to find them…….

Fecal Egg Count

Small Strongyles

Large Roundworms Botfly Larvae

Bloodworms Tapeworms

•Dull, rough haircoat •Lethargy (decreased energy) or depression •Decreased stamina •Unthriftiness or loss of condition •Slowed growth in young horses •Pot belly (especially in young horses) •Colic •Diarrhea

SIGNS OF INTERNAL PARASITES

YOUR HORSE’S CHECKLIST Clean Water To maintain proper hydration levels

To protect from ingestion of mycotoxins

Balanced Vitamins / Minerals For absorption / utilization of nutrients Enzymes To allow for digestion of feed/ forageActive Probiotics To Promote/ Maintain gut health

Electrolytes To Maintain proper hydration levels

Protein To Promote / maintain optimal body conditionFiber To optimize FermentationFat To provide “cool” energy/ optimal body conditionCarbohydrates (Non-structural) To control Starch/ Sugar

Supplements To address specific health-related concerns

Worming Program To protect your horse from internal damage

Annual Dental Check To promote proper digestion

To build a Happy, Healthy and “Willing Partner”……

VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HORSES

A vitamin and mineral premix should be specific for the classification of horse (age, reproduction status, workload, etc). The key to using vitamin and mineral supplements is to incorporate them to “balance the diet” and to avoid over-supplementation.

NOTE: Overfeeding vitamin and mineral supplements may create an imbalance in the amount of vitamins and minerals in your horse’s diet and can be toxic.

HAY BALANCERS/ RATION BALANCERS

If your horse is primarily receiving its nutrition from hay, then you should consider a supplement that balances for the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that may not be present or may have leached out of the hay.

**The longer the hay has been stored the lower the nutritional content will be**.

NOTE: Obtaining a Hay Analysis is helpful when confirming the vitamins/ minerals in the forage and the deficiencies that exist.

Equi-Ferm XL is a Pre-Biotic and Pro-Biotic in all Tribute Equine Nutrition Feeds.

Equi-Ferm XL works by:

1. Stabilizing digestive flora 2. Improving fiber digestion3. Maximizing the absorption of key nutrients4. Source of essential amino acids

Equi-Ferm XL is a micro-encapsulated live yeast (reaches the hindgut in the active form), a rich source of metabolites to improve your horses feed and fiber digestion. This powerful combination enhances digestive functions so the horse gets the most out of everything it eats. This strain has been screened and selected from thousands of other strains for it’s capacity for improved digestive function and animal performance. It has been validated by leading research centers and in more then 50 scientific publications. EQUI-FERM XL will propel the performance and overall well-being of your horse to the next level.

RATION BALANCER EXTRUDED FAT SUPPLEMENT

THE ESSENTIALS

To be used as a “TOP DRESS” or as a RATION BALANCER…. To add an Active Pro-biotic and “fill the gaps in the forage” or “bulk feed” program.

COMPLETE FEEDS

EVERY HORSE IS DIFFERENT……..What is the “RIGHT PLAN?” for yours??

1. Body Condition2. Activity Level3. Age / Breed/ Reproduction Needs4. Special Conditions (ie: Cushings, etc.)5. Training/ Performance Needs6. Type of Forage the Horse is fed7. Owners Budget8. Feeding Schedule/ Arrangement

Your Horse’s Nutrition Plan is based on:

We specialize in developing the “Right Plan” for your Budget and your Horse (s)……..

What’s included:

1. Individual Body Condition Scoring2. Performance/ Activity Level – “Goals Based Analysis”3. Review of Specific Needs/ Special Conditions4. Feed Cost Calculators (comparison of different options)5. Consultation with your Vet or Farrier as needed6. Customized Rations offered thru our Certified Equine Nutritionist7. Liaison with Coach/ Trainer / Owners8. Correspondence with Saddle Fitter/ Maker to discuss goals with relation to

body condition.

We are here to help protect the “health of your horse” and “your investment” in your Equine Partners and Equestrian

Pursuits………