Feeding the Hoof
• Certain minerals have had more focus:
• Zinc- low levels are found in horses with hoof
problems
• If feeding whole grains or forage only can
be deficient
• Low risk for toxicity so easy to supplement
• Watch your copper levels because it is
linked to absorption of zinc so too much of
one can interfere with absorption of the
other.
Feeding the Hoof
• Biotin-a B-vitamin that improves hoof
condition with ~20 mg/day
• Biotin only improves hoof horn growth,
not existing hoof
• It takes a year for an entirely new hoof
to grow
• Should see improvement after 6
months of supplementation
Recommendations for
Good Hoof Growth
• Use nutritionally balanced premium
horse feed and feed at recommended
rates
• Only use supplement for horses with
poor hoof quality
• Feed supplement containing multiple
nutrients (biotin, iodine, zinc, amino
acids)
What The Coat is
Saying…
• Coat quality relies on appropriate balances of
protein, vitamins, minerals and fats.
• Normal growth of hair and skin use 25-30% of
horse’s daily protein requirements
• Gastric ulcers, sand irritation, internal parasites
can compromise absorption of nutrients
Feeding the Coat
• Protein must be added to hay or pasture
only diet for horses with skin issues
• Poor hair growth and dull appearance
reflect deficiencies in protein (amino acids)
Feeding the Coat
• Minerals- Zinc most important mineral for
coat
• Zinc deficiencies can result in hair loss,
cracked and thickened skin
• Vitamins- Vitamin A is most important for
skin health- too much or too little leads to
scruffy coat
• Vitamin E also important for coat
• Both must be obtained from dietary sources
Feeding the Coat
• Fats & Fatty Acids- Omega 3s and Omega 6s
• Grass great source of Omega 3s
• Dietary fat supplementation is proven to help
absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A & E) which
contribute to healthy haircoat
• Fatty acids coat hair-protective oily barrier
gives coat shiny appearance
Behavior Issues
• Today’s equine stable
management practices
have contributed to many of
the horse’s behavior
problems
• Certain behaviors do not
exist in wild, free roaming,
grass fed horses
• Anxiety can induce
behaviors such as cribbing,
and weaving
Feeding for Better Behavior
• Behaviors that can be affected by
nutrition include:
• Excitability
• Behaviors related to ulcers
• Anorexia
• Agression
• Sterotypic (continuous, repetitive,
serves no purpose)
EXCITABILITY
• Research shows Higher
Starch and Sugar content
= Higher Excitability
• Higher fat in diet for
energy will help
• Dietary fat has a calming
effect
• Source of energy is
usually the culprit
• High Fat includes feeds
>6-10% fat
Southern States Feeds with
High Fat & Low NSC
Solution
Legends
Maturity
6% Fat
6% Fat
Legends
Performance
Pellet
20% NSC
19 % NSC
10% Fat
12.9% NSC
Triple Crown Feeds High in Fat &
Low In NSC
Low Starch
Pellet
Senior
Textured
Complete
Textured
Safe Starch
Forage
6% Fat
10% Fat
10% Fat
6% Fat
13.5 % NSC
11.7 % NSC
20 % NSC
8.7 % NSC
Behavioral Signs of
Ulcers
• Altered eating behavior, not
finishing meals
• Grinding of teeth (bruxism)
• Intermittent or recurrent colic
signs
• Change in attitude or behavior
• Decreased performance and
reduction in stride length
• Cribbing? Possible with grain
feeding
Feeding Management
to Reduce Ulcers
• Fat and fiber don’t ferment to lactic
acid like starch and sugar
• Acid destroys lining of stomach and
causes ulcer formation
• Select feed with digestive aids
(yeast culture and probiotics) to
maintain intestinal pH and digestive
efficiency
Feeding to Reduce Ulcers
• Chewing increases amount of saliva to
stomach, contains sodium bicarbonate
(buffer that increases stomach pH) - feed
adequate hay for saliva production, at
least 1% of body weight daily
• Eliminate “grain-based” feeds and use
“fiber-based” feeds that contain less
starch and sugar and more added fat
• Feed as often as possible, smaller more
frequent meals, to maintain higher
stomach pH
Feeding Management
to Reduce Ulcers
• Feed free choice hay- alfalfa if you can as it
has calcium for buffer
• High fiber feeds with beet pulp also help,
easier to digest
• As much turn out as possible
High Fiber Feeds
>15% Fiber
18% Fiber
18% Fiber
15 % Fiber
17% Fiber
ANOREXIA
• Some research to support theory that
acidosis (too high acidity) in hind gut can
cause anorexia in horses
• Usually a result of too much rich
concentrate and not enough hay or
pasture
• Hind gut designed to ferment fiber. When
grain gets back there causes increase in
acid
• Loss in weight difficult to regain
• If you need high energy- feed high fiber
feed
AGRESSION
• Related to establishing
dominance
• Must consider feeding
management practices
• Adequate space for feeders
• Separate horses and give
them time to eat in peace
• Provide enough hay (and
piles) for every one
Abnormal-Sterotypic
(continuous, repetitive, serves no purpose)
• Tail or Mane Chewing
• Weaving
• Wood Chewing
• Eating of Dirt or Feces
• Cribbing
Fiber Related Issues
• High fiber (lots of hay and/or
pasture) reduces behaviors
such as wood chewing,
weaving, tail or mane eating
• Need to mimic nature as much
as possible
• Reduce confinement or provide
stall bound horses with GOOD
hay
Mineral Deficiencies?
• Eating of Dirt or Feces has been shown to be
related to a lack of certain minerals
• Lower copper and iron were found in horses
with these behaviors
• Can be caused by boredom so rule that out
first
• Blood levels by vet can check for these
Good sources for Vitamin and
Mineral supplementation:
Comes in bucket or
block. No added
protein
Vitamin, Mineral and
PROTEIN
CRIBBING
• Cribbing is an oral-stereotypy
• Can have genetic or environmental
relationship
• Not seen in the wild
• Increases with low-fiber, high
concentrate diet
• Irregular feeding schedule can
increase frequency
Cribbing can
sometimes be
a way for
horses to
increase saliva
production to
buffer stomach
acid so may
be related to
gastric ulcers
High Fiber Feeds
>15% Fiber
18% Fiber
18% Fiber
15 % Fiber
17% Fiber
Southern States Forage
Products
Forage
Cubes
Bagged
Forages
Hay Stretcher
Ingredients for Behavioral Problems
in Horses
P ro b lem
In g red ien ts
N ervous, shying
M agnesium , B 1, B 6
N ervous, aggressive
M agnesium , B 1, tryptophan
V ery overactive, stallbound
M agnesium , B 1, B 6, valerian
S lightly overactive, stallbou nd
M agnesium , B 1, B 6, herbal blen ds
M ares - aggressive
V alerian, herbal ble nds
Calming Ingredients
and Uses in Horses
In g re d ie n t
U se
C h a m o m ile
N e rvo u sn e ss, a n xie ty
H ops
N e rvo u sn e ss, a n xie ty
L e m o n b a lm
A n xie ty
M a g n e siu m
A n xie ty, irrita b ility, d e p re ssio n
(1 o u n c e m a g n e s iu m o xid e /d a y)
T h ia m in (B 1 )
A n xie ty, irrita b ility, d e p re ssio n
(1 ,0 0 0 m g /d a y)
T ryp to p h a n
A n xie ty, a g g re ssio n
P yrid o xin e (B 6 )
A n xie ty, stre ss
V a le ria n
A n xie ty, irrita b ility
(4 ,0 0 0 m g /d a y)
TAKE AWAYS
Feed Good Forage
Don’t be afraid of protein
Feed well balanced, fortified feed in
correct amount for weight & activity or
supplement
Too much energy (kcal) causes health and
behavior problems
Use you feed company nutritionist!! We
are FREE help for your horse!
THE END!
THANK YOU !
Laura Stopper, PAS
(804) 814-1620
laura.stopper@sscoop.com