Denise EnrightFeeding your horse is like riding your horse. It is about balance and about feeling each individual. Their needs and how they respond to your nutritional program can really vary!

Nutritional needs of individuals differ even though they are doing the same job and being turned out in the same pasture. However, there are some constants. This article addresses some basics and why they are important.

The scientific study and documentation of equine nutrition is relatively new compared to the thousands of years that the horse was a key part of history. That does not mean that individuals have not been trying to figure out how to feed to bring optimal performance. As far back as the 1300’s reference was made in the military logs. They wrote that schedules were adjusted to allow feeding of their steeds three times a day. This brought them more endurance and strength without having to feed more quantity. This practice (although more work) is excellent for our horses today! There is a lot of talk about getting back to the old days for nutrition. However, when horses were used as the primary transportation, they were not allowed to graze for most of the day. It was still critical that they keep grass roughage in their gut. It was these times when the art of feeding was literally life or death knowledge! Our beloved horse was the mobile means to create and extend civilizations! Stop for a moment and think about working your horse 30 to 50 miles a day - every day! Unfortunately, there is not near enough information recorded about nutrition that provided this amazing strength, endurance, and performance! So, today we humans are still confronted with what is best for our noble steeds.

A basic need for health, in my opinion, is a happy horse. I believe your horse needs to have time outside. I know, blankets on, blankets, off. Then there’s the mud and the fencing, and…and…and….The benefit is far more than the work! REALLY!

Another very basic but crucial factor is water. Seems obvious, but one cannot stress the importance of water. Did you know a horses brain is 85% water? Now if that is not motivation to keep your horse properly hydrated, I do not know what is!! There are 4 main repositories for water . Up to 50% of each cell is water. The fluid level of each of their millions of cells is critical to function. A ten percent reduction in the intracellular fluid can take 2 to 3 days to replace! Blood vessels hold 5% of a horses total body fluidand 15% surround those blood vessels. The remaining 30% of a horses water is in the large intestine and cecum. About half of the water in the cecum is available to replenish dehydration in other parts of the body. So, what does it take to keep the fluids up to snuff?

The average 1000 lb horse should drink about 10 gallons of water per day. On a hot day they can lose up to 4 gallons of water per hour! It is my opinion that when exercising it is helpful to allow your horse to drink just a swallow or two during exercise. The water should be tepid, not cold. Of course, these couple swallows should only be after you have allowed him to settle and his respiration is normal. If you feed beet pulp, on a regular basis, that has been well soaked in water, it will aid in water retention significantly. On the other end of the weather spectrum, extreme cold creates as much or more need for water than in warm weather. No matter how much snow you have, a horse cannot consume enough of it to provide sufficient water intake! Dead birds or rodents in the water tank are more than just nasty gross! They can cause botulism. This can result in paralysis of muscles necessary for your horse to swallow! A fact well know, but cannot be said enough: When you travel it is always BYOB (bring your own bucket) Never allow your horse to drink from another horses tank. Communicable diseases like strangles, influenza, and rhino lurk there!

Next time, we will get into the nitty gritty. What does your horse REALLY need? Why? Do you feed because it makes you feel good or is it necessary for your horses overall health?

Denise Enright founded TLC Horsepower with 40 years of showing, training, rehabilitating, and breeding horses. The BuildASuperHorse website www.buildasuperhorse.com was conceived during her study of nutritionally dense equine food supplements. After using selected ‘equine superfoods’ on her own horses, Denise realized she had finally found formulations that would support prevention and healing of most of the ailments that horses face today. She also realized that one of the superfoods was THE safe alternative to steroids, a solution for which she has long lobbied.