Feed the Research

The problem: For decades, the inclusion of fat in horse diets has been a useful way to increase the caloric density of a ration. Popular fats include vegetable oils such as corn oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil. Whether it was top-dressed or fed as an ingredient in a premixed concentrate, feeding fat seemed to be a win-win situation; horses digest fat well and by eating fat-rich concentrates, they can consume smaller grain meals, which creates a more stable gastrointestinal tract and reduces colic risk. Researchers now know that certain fats should be fed for optimal health. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty...

The problem: Many horses begin their athletic careers prior to reaching maturity. Many racehorses, for instance, train and compete before they are two years old. The change in environment from the breeding farm, where horses typically spend much of their time outdoors, to the training stable, where horses are stabled nearly the entire day, is quite dramatic. Changes in environment and athletic effort place significant stress on immature bones and joints, and many horses are unable to withstand the physical pressures of heavy training at a young age. Statistics show that thousands of young horses are afflicted with bone-related lamenesses, and...

The problem: Horses in some management systems do not have access to green forages, which means many do not consume sufficient vitamin E for optimal health. Vitamin E, one of the fat-soluble vitamins, functions as an antioxidant by inserting itself into the cell membrane and neutralizing free radicals, which can weaken cells and tissue. Research has proven, though, that not all vitamin E is created equally, with notable differences between natural and synthetic vitamin E. The most important dissimilarity involves the bioavailability. Natural-source vitamin E is much more bioavailable than synthetic, and therefore is the preferred form. The solution: Provision of a...

The problem: The gastrointestinal tract of the horse is not designed to process large amounts of starch and sugar in its hindgut. From a physiological perspective, starch and sugar are best digested in the small intestine. However, when the small intestine becomes overwhelmed and cannot process a deluge of starch and sugar it passes on to the cecum and colon (collectively known as the hindgut). Digestion of these nutrients in the hindgut causes a disturbance in the resident microflora population, leading to a decrease in environmental pH and a condition called hindgut acidosis. If severe enough, hindgut acidosis can lead to...