GRASS HAYS Mature horses require 10 to 12 percent CP (crude protein) in their diets. Many native or prairie grass hays contain just 6 to 8 percent. A fortified grain concentrate can be used to supplement the ration, increasing its energy, protein, vitamin and mineral content. Do horses get protein Read more…
20 % fat. Horses can digest up to 20 % fat in their diet, but it takes a span of 3 to 4 weeks for them to adjust. Normal horse rations contain only 3 to 4 % fat. Can horses digest fat? Fats/oils are digested in the small intestine of Read more…
Digestible Energy provides an estimate of the amount of energy from a feed that is available for the horse to use. DE is used to balance the energy portion of the equine diet so knowing the DE of your horse’s feedstuff is helpful when you are calculating a ration and Read more…
Fats are an energy source and contain more calories than carbohydrates. It can an alternative energy source for horses that require limited carbohydrates, such as horses suffering from certain muscle diseases and those prone to laminitis. Fat supplies omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. What are fats and oils used Read more…
Digestible energy can be estimated by first measuring the total digestible nutrient (TDN) content of the feed. TDN is calculated as: digestible crude protein (CP) + (digestible crude fat (EE) x 2.25) + digestible cell wall (NDF) + digestible non structural carbohydrate (NSC). How is horse energy measured? The determination Read more…
Equitation science uses physiological measurements such as heart rate, blood, urine and saliva analyses to evaluate the comfort and stress level of the horse. It also evaluates behavioural indicators of ineffective horse-rider communication and conflict such as teeth grinding, tail swishing, rearing or bucking. What is the science behind horse Read more…
There are five different types of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the horse. The number of these different cells in the blood, and their numbers with reference to one another can give us a lot of information about your horse’s wellbeing. What kind of cells does a horse have? Eukaryotic Read more…
Any shortfalls in B vitamin production are supplemented through the diet by way of pasture and hay, provided there is ample supply. Vitamin B12 is the only B vitamin not produced in plants, and therefore the horse must rely on the supply from the hindgut bacteria. Where does B12 in Read more…
Vitamin E, as the body’s major antioxidant, is well recognised for muscle health, working in synergy with selenium, and adequate levels should be included in the diet of PSSM horses. Further, for fat fed horses, it is important to balance the daily oil with Vitamin E, roughly at a level Read more…
Glucose acts as a fuel for the muscles. We know, then, that horses need sugar to have enough energy for physical activity. Sugar in and of itself is not dangerous for horses. What does glucose do for horses? Glucose derived from non-structural carbohydrate digestion serves as an important energy source Read more…