The foundation of every horse’s feed ration is forage. Forage is not just a source of fiber – it also provides enough energy so that no additional concentrate feed is needed. More and more horse owners are reducing the quantity of concentrate feeds they feed their horses and relying on forage to deliver an adequate supply of energy and protein. But what about other nutrients? Here’s the answer: forage alone is not enough. Although forage forms a good basis, it does not always contain enough vitamins, minerals, and trace elements – all important parts of a balanced equine diet. Find out why in this article.
The most important nutrients
To start, we’d like to preface this with an important summary. A horse’s feed ration consists of six essential nutrients – i.e., nutrients that the body cannot produce itself:
- carbohydrates (like sugar, starch, and fiber)
- fats
- proteins
- vitamins
- minerals
- water
So the most important thing is basic nutrition that’s good and complete. A horse’s feed ration should consist of 75–80% forage. This is because horses need fiber. Fiber supports a healthy gut microbiome and is important for the passage of food through the digestive tract. It is also important for maintaining a healthy fluid balance in the large intestine. A horse gets most of its energy from forage. Forage also provides the horse with the fats and proteins that it needs. For horses in light to moderate work, it’s enough. But that’s not the whole picture, because the feed ration requires vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Why do horses need vitamins and minerals?
Horses, like all other living organisms, need vitamins and minerals to keep the body functioning healthily. Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that the body needs and the horse gets from its diet.
Vitamins are important for a horse’s growth, metabolism, and immune system. They are needed for metabolic functions and support the functions of organs and other bodily systems. Vitamins are also important for energy production and for good skin, coat, and hoof health.
Minerals are also important nutrients for a variety of bodily functions. They support the growth of bones and teeth, transmit nerve impulses, maintain water balance, and produce hormones. Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium are especially important for horses because they are needed for healthy growth and development.
What about trace elements?
Trace elements are often included along with vitamins and minerals – and rightly so, because they include iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, and fluorine, which are all important for various bodily processes. Trace elements (aka microminerals) are only needed in small amounts but are just as important as macrominerals.
The right ratio of minerals and trace elements is important as they interact to support various processes in the body. If this ratio is off, it can lead to a disruption in these processes, which in turn can cause health problems.
Sport horses vs leisure horses
We know that horses need vitamins and minerals. But again, “feed as you need”! A sport horse will have higher vitamin/mineral requirements than a leisure horse. However, vitamins and minerals are essential for both types of horses.
Sport horses, for example, need additional proteins and amino acids (for the development and regeneration of muscle tissue), electrolytes (which are lost through perspiration), B vitamins (important for energy transport), and antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium (which protect muscle cells). It’s not uncommon for horses to be given less than the recommended amounts of concentrate feed in the belief that this will keep them from getting too “hot”. Instead, energy is sometimes supplied in the form of simple grains like barley, oats, and wheat. However, the horse’s feed ration must contain all the necessary nutrients – this is especially true of sport horses with higher requirements of specific nutrients.
Want your horse to get the vitamins and minerals it needs? Here you’ll find the product that our experts recommend!
Cavalor Nutri Plus: Cavalor Nutri Plus is a concentrated pelleted supplement intended for use as a ration balancer and/or additional nutritional support for overall health, growth, development, and strengthening of bones. Cavalor Nutri Plus is specially formulated to supplement feed rations consisting primarily or exclusively of forage and containing little concentrate feed. Cavalor Nutri Plus contains all the vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, fatty acids and amino acids that sport horses need to deliver optimum performance. The formula takes into account the nutrients found in forage.
Want to learn more about forage and the right supplement feeds? Read all about it in this edition of Valor: Forage first, but not forage alone.
