1. Equine Nutrition Management

2. Feeding Horses- mgmt Strats
Horses are designed to eat small meals frequently throughout the day
Feed stalled/confined horses with no or little roughages at least 2x per day; 3 is better. Continual access to hay is ideal
Feed at the same time each day
Feed horses on an individual basis
Feed based on body weight! (BCS)
Determine the horses nutritional need based on age, work, environment, etc

3. Mgmt and Strats Feed more roughages than concentrates
At least 1% BW per day.
Feed horses concentrates (grain) only if needed
growing, hard working or lactating horses
Change diets gradually: over at least 4-5 days
Gastrointestinal system is very sensitive

4. MGMT & Strats
Design the feeding area for maximum efficiency for you and the horse
Put water and feed troughs in an easily accessible area
Depending on type of hay, use feeders that reduce waste
Realize that when feeding in groups horses have a hierarchy
Horses on the bottom of the social order will not get as much food
But some feeders farther from the herd so that they have a chance to eat
Use devices to slow aggressive horses eating to allow others a chance to eat (flap feeder)

5. MGMT & Strats Provide minerals (block or loose)
Watch for horses refusing to eat= health problem!!!!

6. What factors influence how much a horse should eat?
Age
Young
Mature
Senior
Work load
Maintenance (no work- pasture ornament)
Light Work
Moderate Work
Heavy work
Reproductive status
Pregnant mare
Lactating mare
Stallion in season
*Environmental conditions

7. How to determine how much to feed
Determine the activity- Make A Plan!
Determine the horse’s Body Condition Score
Determine the horse’s fitness level
Determine if there is a need for an increase in feed needed for the activity level
Increase workload and feed gradually
It takes about 6 wks or more to go from an unfit state to a fit and functional state

8. Feeding for Age
Young horses (Growing) need the most nutrients of all ages
Mature horses- nutrient requirements vary greatly depending on use, health
Geriatric or Senior horses- nutrient requirements are very different
As the body ages, it has a reduced ability to digest fiber and is more sensitive to changes

9. The Growing Horse Nutrient balance is important
Goals
Maximize genetic potential for growth
Sound musculoskeletal system
Nutrient balance is important
Requires higher quality feeds
Growth rate & age determines requirements
Growing until 30 months

10. Percent of Mature Body Weight vs... Months of Age%
Percent of Mature Height vs.. Months of Age
Months of Age
Months of Age

11. Weanlings Minimize stress Minimize post-weanling slump.
lbs grain/100 lbs body wt
lb hay/100 lb body wt
Ca > P
Monitor feed & water intake

12. As foals get older, the ration should be increased by adding more good quality hay, leaving the grain mix relatively constant.

13. Feeding Yearlings Sales/show Turnout Forage Concentrate Forage
High quality
lb/100 lb body wt.
Concentrate
Formulated for growth
lb/100 lb body wt.
Turnout
Forage
High to moderate quality
2-2.5 lbs./100 lbs. body wt.
Forage balancer

14. Monitoring The Growth Process
Daily Intakes
Body Weight
Average daily gain
Signs of Skeletal Abnormalities
Physitis
Joint effusion
Lameness

15. GERIATRIC HORSES Fiber digestion decreases
Ability to manufacture or absorb certain vitamins decrease
B vitamins
Vitamin C
Decreased kidney function
Calcium stones may build up
Decreased liver function
Jaundice, weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, intolerance for fat and protein in diet
B vitamins and Vit C are generally produced by the microbes in the hind gut. In aged horses they have shown a decreased ability to manufacture these vitamins.

16. Maintenance Size: body weight Environment
Individual digestive & metabolic efficiency
Dry matter intake: 1.5% of the BW
Most - energy requirements are met with forage alone

17. THE GERIATRIC HORSE Confinement? No! Turnout with a friend.
Weight loss reasons: Poor dentition
Reduction in digestion - parasites, microbial constituents, B Vits
Selection of Feed
Highly palatable
Easy to chew & swallow
Clean & dust free
Highly digestible pellets or extruded feeds
Contain enough high quality fiber to aid digestion. High quality hay – no alfalfa.
Chopped hay, hay cubes or pellets
Soaked feeds or mashes

18. Feeding The Athlete

19. Levels of Performance/Work
Light - western and English pleasure, trail riding, equitation, hacking
Moderate - dressage, ranch work, roping, cutting, barrel racing, jumping
Intense - race training, polo, cutting,

20. General Guidelines For Feeding Working Horses
Hay requirement
Feed at least 50% of total ration as forage (pasture &/or hay)
Preferably high quality grass hay or alfalfa/grass mix
Exercising horses do not need high levels of protein
More important – quality of protein
Horses should be fed to meet their immediate needs
I.e. cut grain on rest days
If stalled, overfeeding can  stocking up or colic

21. FAT SUPPLEMENTATION Why Use It For Performance Horses?
Energy from fat is 90% utilizable
Fat ↓ heat of fermentation
Fat  glycogen storage prior to race
Fat ↓ buildup of lactic acid during intense exercise
Fat ↓ fatigue

22. Sources of Fat Natural horse diets contain < 3-4% fat
“High Fat” sweet feeds contain 6-10% fat
Fat Supplements
Vegetable Oil (most common 99% fat)
Rice Bran (very palatable 20% fat)
Animal tallow (not palatable)

23. Fat Guidelines No gall bladder Max ~20% in total diet
1100 lb horse can digest 17.5 oz of fat (Just over 2 cups)
If adding fat to existing diet, need to rebalance other nutrients
(i.e. vitamin E (200 IU/cup of added oil)
Add 6-10 weeks before performance.

24. Nutrition of The Broodmare
Lactation
0-3 months
4+ months
Months 0-8
Months 9-11
Gestation

25. Gestation: Nutritional Concerns
Provision of nutrients for:
Fetal growth & development
Other products of conception
Last 3 month of gestation: 60 % foals’ weight
Mare needs to gain 0.3 – 0.8 lb/d

27. Average daily milk production in mares

28. Feed Consumption (% BW)
Mare status
Forage
Concentrate
Total
Early pregnancy
0-0.5
Late pregnancy
Early lactation
Late lactation
Adding concentrate to late pregnancy mares accounts for limited energy & acclimates microbes
Allow 1 wk to 10 d for mares to adjust to intake changes
Heavy milkers may require as much as % of BW in concentrate feed/day

29. Nutrition of the Breeding Stallion
Non-breeding
Forage + vitamin/mineral supplement
Breeding
0.5% concentrate
1.75-2% hay
Primary Concern
Maintenance of Body Condition

30. Body Condition Score Maximum Reproductive Efficiency
Moderately fleshy to fat mares can be expected to
Cycle earlier in the year
Have fewer cycles per conception
Have a higher pregnancy rate
Maintain pregnancy more easily
Mare prior to breeding should have a BCS of 6 or greater and fed to maintain weight.
BCS of 5.0 is marginal especially for lactating mare.