During an Equine Nutrition class, a student requested an evaluation of her horse to determine if any diet or exercise changes were necessary. This case highlighted the importance of assessing a horse’s body condition, weight, and topline when considering adjustments to their diet or exercise regimen.
The Horse Evaluation
Appearance versus Muscle Coverage
The evaluated horse was a 4-year-old Warmblood gelding, measuring 17.1 hands and weighing 1350 pounds. At first glance, the horse appeared to be in good flesh, but upon closer examination, a lack of muscle and coverage in the withers and back areas was noticeable.
Current Diet and Potential Issues
The student shared that the horse’s current diet consisted of 20 pounds of first cutting hay per day and 8 pounds of locally grown oats. While the calorie content seemed sufficient, there was a deficiency in the amino acid balance. The student also mentioned recent saddle refitting and chiropractic visits due to the horse’s back issues.
Identifying the Need for Changes
Increased Workload and Nutritional Requirements
Considering the horse’s increased workload due to the transition to college, it was evident that additional fortification was necessary. A ration balancer was recommended to address the young horse’s dietary needs and help replenish his topline.
Challenge and Counterargument
During the evaluation, another student challenged the recommended dietary change. As an Equine Physiology major, she believed that working the horse in a more collected manner, engaging the hindquarters and developing the topline through exercise, would be sufficient. She perceived the horse as overweight and did not see the need for a diet change.
Understanding the Importance of Proper Nutrition
Comparing Diet Deficiencies
To explain the importance of proper nutrition, an analogy was drawn to a young child on a diet consisting solely of rice. Such a diet lacks essential amino acids, resulting in a rounded abdomen but a lack of muscle mass. In this scenario, simply increasing exercise would not lead to muscle development unless the diet is appropriately supplemented.
Listening to Your Horse
The horse’s physical condition and performance can serve as indicators of dietary deficiencies. Taking the time to observe and assess your horse’s body condition, weight, and muscle development can provide valuable insights into whether diet or exercise changes are necessary.
When considering diet or exercise changes for your horse, it is crucial to evaluate their body condition, weight, and topline. Deficiencies in amino acids or other essential nutrients can affect muscle development and overall health. By paying attention to your horse’s physical cues and seeking professional advice, you can make informed decisions to ensure your horse receives the appropriate nutrition and exercise for optimal well-being and performance.
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My 22 year old coloured gelding has started eating my younger horses droppings. Grass is short due to winter but I feed hay, multi vitamins and seaweed supplement which I mix in their Dodson and Horrell SAFE AND SOUND feed. Why is he doing this?
Hi Jayne,
Thank you for your question about your 22 year old horse that has started eating the manure from your younger horse.
Unusual eating behavior ( sometimes referred to as pica) can be caused by a number of factors and may cause the horse to eat manure, eat dirt, eat bark off trees, chew on board fences, chew on stable mate’s mane & tail or chew on tool handles or leather equipment.
I usually suggest going thru the following check list for the most common causes of unusual eating behavior:
1. Lack of salt. Offer loose salt free choice as horses will consume more readily than block salt. Lack of salt can trigger a number of unusual eating behaviors (eating manure, eating dirt, chewing on objects, chewing on tool handles etc.) 2. Fiber intake in the diet might be inadequate. If a horse does not feel full, it will look for other things to eat. Make sure there is adequate long stem roughage available. Fences, trees, manes, and tails may suffer if there is not sufficient roughage!
3. Phosphorus deficiency. Horses have quite limited “nutritional wisdom”, but phosphorus deficiency will trigger unusual eating behavior, including eating manure or dirt. Offering a free choice Calcium, phosphorus and salt mineral may be useful.
4. Protein deficiency. Again, horses have limited “nutritional wisdom”, but inadequate protein or poor quality protein may trigger some of the above unusual eating behaviors. Evaluating the forage and the overall feeding program is useful.
5. Ulcers. Horses that have ulcers will sometimes eat dirt or manure as well as chew on other objects. The saliva produced when chewing has a buffering effect.
I always start by offering loose salt free choice, making sure fiber is adequate. If that does not remedy the problem, I will then go to offering a good mineral product (calcium, phosphorus, salt combination, perhaps with some trace minerals) and perhaps a full ration evaluation. Other behaviors may help decide if ulcer assessment is needed.
Best wishes,
Roy