Brought to you by Sentinel Horse Nutrition

As horse owners, we all want the best for our equine companions. But the inevitable changes in their age, activity levels and health often leave us scratching our heads about their evolving needs.

This is especially true when it comes to a horse’s diet. With so much confusing and conflicting information out there, how can you ensure yours is getting optimal nutrition?

Your veterinarian can offer some guidance. However, your best bet might be to consult an equine nutritionist who is trained in this specialty.

Factors that affect equine nutritional needs

A number of factors can affect your horse’s nutritional needs, according to Kristyn Sturken, Equine Product Manager at Sentinel Horse Nutrition, including their life stage, activity level and health conditions:

Physiological/life stage

• Young, growing horse
• Pregnant/lactating mare
• Senior horse
• Stallion

Activity level

• Amount of regular activity: maintenance, light, moderate or heavy
• Type and intensity of work: shorter sessions or longer, endurance-type activity

Health conditions/disease

• Metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance, Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)/Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM)
• Cushing’s disease
• Laminitis
• History of colic or digestive upset
• History of choke
• History of ulcers

Signs that your horse’s diet may need an update

Common signs that a horse’s current diet is not working for him can sometimes be easy to overlook or dismiss. However, you’ll want to take them into consideration when discussing your horse with any equine health professional.

Perhaps he is either over or under his ideal weight, or his skin is troubled. His hair coat might be dull or his hooves crumbly, soft or prone to cracking.

Has your horse been ill a lot lately, off his feed or lacking his usual energy? Does he seem uncharacteristically on edge, even over-reactive? All of these signs might point to a dietary issue. The same goes for poor growth rates in young horses or reproductive problems in broodmares or stallions.

When to consult an equine nutritionist

So which nutritional issues can be managed with help from your veterinarian, and which could benefit from the input of an equine nutritionist?

“That really depends on the condition and health concern,” says Sturken, cautioning, “The veterinarian should always be involved when there is a specific health condition or disease, colic, etc.

“A nutritionist is the expert when it comes to specific nutrient needs and can make nutritional recommendations for life stages, activity levels and many physiological things,” she explains. “Nutritionists can also help with looking at the total diet—both hay/pasture and concentrates or grain and/or supplements.

“In addition, if a horse has a specific health concern or condition, nutritionists can help identify the best nutrition to support or help with those particular challenges.”

In some cases, you’ll want to take a team approach to your horse’s health. That means seeking input from—and encouraging communication between—your veterinarian, an equine nutritionist and even your farrier, if needed.

Information to provide

When selecting an equine nutritionist, Sturken advises choosing a professional with a degree in nutrition who has worked closely with the equine species. A Master of Science or PhD in related nutrition would be best.

Prior to your first appointment with your equine nutritionist, you’ll want to gather the following pieces of information:

• The type of hay you’re feeding (and analysis, if available)
• Ingredient/nutritional content tags from the bags of feed and supplements you’re feeding
• Your horse’s vet records and health history
• Your horse’s age, sex, breed and activity level
• The total amount of both hay and grain your horse is eating daily (in pounds), as well as the amounts of any supplements

What to expect

An equine nutritionist can provide insights into various things that might be happening in your feeding program and your horse’s body. First and foremost, he or she can help you evaluate and test your hay, review your current regimen and make recommendations to improve your horse’s nutritional intake.

“What needs to be done to a feeding program may be major or minor, depending on the situation,” Sturken says. “It could be as easy as feeding more or less of the current feed but could be changing the feed completely.

“A good review of feed management practices is always a good idea, too,” she continues. “That includes how you feed, when you feed, how often, individual feeding vs. group feeding, etc. “

Communication is key

It may not always be necessary for your equine nutritionist and your veterinarian to communicate regularly. But, as Sturken attests, “It is always a good idea with more challenging conditions or disease.”

You can assist your veterinarian by anticipating what’s needed. “It would be helpful for you to have a copy of the guaranteed analysis and feeding directions for the feed you are using, as well as the supplements,” Sturken suggests. Having a scale and weighing your feed are also helpful, she says, “ … so when working with either your veterinarian and/or nutritionist, you know exactly what is being fed and can make adjustments. 

“This goes for hay, too,” she adds. “Know what type and how much you are feeding.”

When all is said and done, an equine nutritionist can help improve your horse’s health and attitude in ways you might never have considered.

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