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Feeding Naturally


So many of the common equine nutritional practices are
not natural for our horses and this is showing up in a variety
of ways. From colic, allergies, poor hoof and coat quality, joint
issues to just being “not quite right”, is far too common in today’s
horses. By understanding what is really natural for our horses
and questioning common feeding practices, you are helping your
equine partner to be the happy, healthy horse he deserves to be.
Horses are natural grazers and foragers and their fundamental
eating habits have been changed by humans. In many areas of the
country horses do not have free-choice feeding either because pasture
is not available or because it's easier on the people to keep these
horses in confined spaces, feeding them only one or two times a
day.
By understanding how their digestive system works, how we can
add variety to their diets, to learn to really balance vitamins
and minerals and what common practices are hindering our horses,
we can ensure our horses the good health they deserve.
Frequent Feedings
The way the horse's digestive system is set-up and works, he
needs to eat small quantities throughout his day. The horse's stomach
is small and holds only one to four gallons of food. This food
moves out of the stomach into the gut track very quickly causing
the horse to feel hunger about an hour after he has finished his
meal. By only feeding one to two times per day, not only are we
taxing their systems, but we're making our beloved partner feed
hungry twenty hours of their day and night. Pity the poor creatures
who are fed only concentrated pellets, grain or hay cubes. Because
they finish their food so quickly, they feel hunger for almost
twenty-two hours. Not only do they feel hungry when they aren't
able to eat every couple hours, but the intestinal bacteria become
unbalanced. This imbalance can result in stomach disturbances,
diarrhea, and colic.
For horses who don't live on pasture or the one they do have
is over-grazed, dividing your horses daily amount into multiple
feedings or offering free-choice hay and scattering small piles
in the area, you will re-establish the natural way of eating, wake
up the foraging instinct as well as mentally challenging him to
work for his food. By feeding different types of grass hay such
as Bermuda, Timothy, Orchard, mixed or grain hay and offering small
amounts of alfalfa gives the horse not only different textures
and tastes, but also a variety of nutrients. Variety is important
because sometimes horses that are fed only one type of hay, often
cut from the same fields, may develop nutritional deficiencies.
Even though the hay may be the same type, nutrient and mineral
content in the hay will vary depending on the soil in which it
is grown.
Ulcers. Is your horse at risk?
Both the type of feed and the way it is fed are major factors
in whether a horse will or will not develop stomach ulcers. It
is estimated that 60-90% of mature horses have gastric ulcer disease.
Boarding practices, chemical use, and performance training also
play a factor in this disease. This condition causes the stomach
tissue to be damaged by stomach acid. Because a horse is meant
to graze on an almost continual basis, his stomach is set up to
constantly produce acid and this digestive acid is used to start
the breakdown of this food. When there is food is the stomach,
this acid is absorbed properly and along with the saliva helps
to neutralize this acid and keep it in check. By allowing the horse
free access to pasture or grass hay and cutting down on grain and
concentrated process feeds, you will be lowering your horses' risk
of this often serious disease. In fact, normally horses that are
on pasture full time do not have ulcers.
Differences in Hay
Just remember that there is more to feeding than just offering
free-choice hay as not all hay is created equal when it comes to
the health of the horse. There are major differences between legume
hay like Alfalfa and Clover, and grass-type hays like Bermuda,
Timothy, Orchard, Brome, Oats, and Rye. Because of these differences,
when feeding on a free-choice basis, use grass rather than legume
hays. Use alfalfa as a condiment and grass hay as the main course.
Grain over-use is another common but detrimental practice. In
the wild, grain is only found in small, scattered amount and often
when winter approaches and the horses need more calories. It is
neither natural nor healthy for a horse to consume large amount
of this highly concentrated foodstuff and if over-used can cause
vices, colic, ulcers and high insulin levels.
It has long been recognized that horses on high grain diets exhibit
more "vices" like cribbing, pawing, pacing, and weaving,
as well as having excess energy that may show itself while under
a rider. Horses fed grain, especially corn or sweet feed are at
a higher risk of colic and this risk increases with an increase
in the amount of grain.
Grain also wrecks havoc on the horse's glucose levels. There
are two types of carbohydrates; simple such as grain, and complex
which is fiber based like hay. Simple carbohydrates get into the
horses bloodstream quicker than the complex ones, causing surging
glucose levels. This in turn causes a quick increase in insulin
and a rush of adrenaline. Now, since this extra glucose is too
high, the body must remove this surplus from the bloodstream, causing
a feeling of fatigue which can last several hours. Insulin-resistant
horses, ponies, minis and burros should not be fed grain because
of this fact.
Although many ponies & burros and some lightly used horses
may get their needed nutrients from a variety of hay and/or pasture,
some horses do benefit from added fat, protein, vitamins and minerals.
There are numerous options available to replace a high grain diet.
Rice bran, wheat bran, beet pulp, small amounts of grain (a pound
or two) and some commercial natural feeds are available to use
in small amounts to supplement the horse's mainly roughage diet
and to add additional supplements to if desired.
Benefits Of Flaxseed
Flaxseed is an excellent addition to many horses’ diets
and has numerous benefits. It can help strengthen your horse's
immune system, improve mineral absorption, help chronic inflammatory
conditions, improve hair, skin, and hoof condition, and can even
help allergies. Flax is also a soluble fiber source that forms
a quick gel that traps and suspends sand, carrying it out. Flax
is also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which many horses fed hay
are lacking. Most diets are much richer in Omega-6 fatty acids
than the Omega-3s, which are extremely important in allergic reactions
and immune system operation.
Keep in mind that flaxseed can go bad fairly quickly. By using
stabilized ground flax or grinding your own in a coffee grinder
daily, this won't be a problem. We offer Nutra Flax in our store.
Hair Mineral Analysis
Another key concept in proper nutrition is the importance of
minerals which a crucial in the normal functioning of all living
cells. They are necessary for energy production, fluid balance,
normal growth, bone formation, rate of healing and the balance
of every cell in the body. Imbalances can cause a variety of problems
including skin & hoof problems, allergies, poor stress tolerance,
low immune reserves and intestinal problems to name a few. Stress,
exposure to environmental toxins, unbalanced feeding programs and
genetic patterns can all contribute to mineral imbalances.
A Hair Mineral Analysis is a very effective tool that can pinpoint
these mineral imbalances; excesses, deficiencies, key ratios, and
even levels of toxic minerals such as Aluminum, Lead, Mercury,
Arsenic, and Cadmium. From a sample of your horse's mane, a HMA
can show the mineral levels which can then be addressed through
proper supplementation. HMA are available through Uckele Health
at www.uckele.com
Initial Hair Mineral Analysis 2001
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Smokie |
Variety is the Spice of Life
Horses also derive needed nutrients from a variety of natural
plants and plant materials, and rarely choose to eat only hay or
grass. They will nibble on leaves, bark from branches, seeds and
if available, fresh fruits and vegetables. All of these are very
easily obtained and most can be found within your neighborhood.
Branches from a different variety of trees allow the horse to
nibble the leaves and bark if they need the nutrients. It also
allows natural use of the teeth, helping to wear down sharp edges.
Many types of trees may be used; however fruit and citrus trees
as well as pines are good ones to start with. Check with your local
county extension office about whether a particular tree might be
poisonous and also ensure there are no large thorns that may injure
the horse.
Fresh vegetable scraps along with some edible flowers and leaves
may be offered and many horses also enjoy the tangy taste of citrus.
Bird seed can also be sprouted and offered as a treat as well as
sprouted seed mixes available in grocery stores. Don't be offended
if they don't eat some things, as they are exercising their right
to choose what they need. However, organic carrots grown in your
garden will always be a hit.
Ground Level Feeding
Although what horses are fed plays a major role on their health,
how they are fed is also important. Because humans don't want to
eat off the ground, we assume our horses don't either and hay is
often placed in hay racks or mangers at chest level to the horse.
The additional feed is often placed in a bucket hung at head level,
and again the horse cannot eat as nature intended. Built to chew
and swallow with their heads at ground level, not only does this
unnatural way cause improperly chewed food, decrease in saliva,
and uneven tooth wear, but also increases the possibility of choke
or partial obstruction. Respiratory problems can also occur as
foreign particles of dust, hay and grain hull pieces can easily
be inhaled causing irritation and possible infection. If you are
concerned about sand colic, you can use rubber mats and feed flaxseed.
Following the same example of ground level feeding, watering
also follows nature's rules. Horses don't just sip their water;
if given the chance will often submerge their whole muzzle to play
or to clean out their nostrils. The bowl-like automatic waterers
do not allow this activity and don't allow you to monitor water
intake. Rather than using tall narrow tanks, low shallow troughs
allow the horse to be closer to the ground as nature intended.
Allowing the tank to periodically run over ensures that the hooves
receive an occasional moisturizing bath.
Because this is a very different approach to feeding, many people
may fear this will cause colic. On the contrary, many of the cases
of colic and other intestinal and stomach problems are the direct
result of unnatural eating habits. Add to that the over-use of
chemicals and the poor horse is fighting a losing battle. By getting
back to a natural feeding program, we are giving our horse a much
better chance to live a happy, healthy life.
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