Feeding practices in horses encompass the methods and strategies involved in providing nutrition to equine animals. These practices are designed to meet the dietary requirements necessary for maintaining health, supporting growth, and optimizing performance. Key components of equine feeding practices include the selection of forage and concentrates, balancing nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and considering factors such as age, workload, and health status. Feeding practices also address the timing and frequency of meals to align with the horse's digestive physiology. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of feeding practices, including nutritional requirements, feeding behavior, and the impact of diet on equine health and performance.
Mellor DJ, Love S, Walker R, Gettinby G, Reid SW.Details of the management, feeding, level of activity and routine health care of horses in Scotland and the five northernmost counties in England were recorded through a stratified random sample of horse owners who had responded to a previous survey. Sixty-eight per cent of the horses were kept where their owners resided, and 32 per cent were kept away from the owner's home. More than 99 per cent were turned out to grazing for at least part of the year and 81 per cent were stabled for at least part of the time, most commonly bedded on straw (50 per cent) or shavings (34 per cent). Hay was fed ...
Wyse CA, Murphy DM, Preston T, Sutton DG, Morrison DJ, Christley RM, Love S.The aim of this study was to apply the(13)C-octanoic acid breath test for detection of alterations in the rate of solid-phase gastric emptying, induced by changes in test meal composition, in ponies. After a 14 hour fast the ponies (n = 4) ingested a test meal with 0, 35 or 70 ml soya oil, and labelled with 250 mg(13)C-octanoic acid. Each pony was given each of the three test meals on three separate occasions, in a randomised order. Exhaled breath samples were collected for 12 hours after ingestion of the test meal. Breath samples were analysed by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometr...
Geelen SN, Jansen WL, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Breukink HJ, Beynen AC.The aim of this study was to establish the dose-response relationship between fat intake and heparin-released plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in horses. Eight mature trotters were fed 4 rations with different fat levels (3.0, 5.0, 7.7, or 10.8% fat in the dry matter) according to a 4 X 4 Latin square design. The experimental rations consisted of hay and different concentrates; the concentrates and hay were given in a 3:1 ratio on an energy basis. Soybean oil was added to the concentrates at the expense of isoenergetic amounts of glucose. Blood samples were taken at the end of each die...
Williams CA, Kronfeld DS, Staniar WB, Harris PA.Plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin following a meal were compared in twelve Thoroughbred mares fed a pelleted concentrate (PC), a traditional sweet feed high in sugar and starch (SS), or a feed high in fat and fiber (FF). The feeds had similar DE and CP but differed in fat (19, 32, and 166 g/kg DM, respectively), NDF (199, 185, and 369 g/kg DM, respectively) and nonstructural carbohydrates (574, 645, and 247 g/kg, respectively). Mares were randomly assigned to two groups balanced for foaling date and weight. All mares received PC in late gestation; then, after foaling, one group was ...
Schmidt O, Deegen E, Fuhrmann H, Dühlmeier R, Sallmann HP.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a fat-supplemented diet compared with a carbohydrate diet on the lipid metabolism and the enteroinsular axis of Shetland ponies. The 'crossover' experiment was divided into two parts: in the first 10 weeks the diets comprised the correct number of calories according to requirements and in the following 10 weeks they were hypercaloric, in order to check the effect of a different energy content of the diets. Feeding the fat-enriched diet, independently of its energy content, led to a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides, associate...
Ralston SL, Foster DL, Divers T, Hintz HF.To test the hypothesis that routine dental correction (removal only of sharp hooks and points from molars and premolars) would improve digestion of a hay/grain ration whereas performance 'floats' (rounding and smoothing of the dental arcades) would adversely affect digestion, 8 mature horses free from dental correction for over a year were used. Five-day digestion trials were conducted before and 2 and 4 weeks after correction in all horses. Although all horses had sharp points and minor premolar hooks, none had severe dental abnormalities. There were no significant differences found in appare...
Rupić V, Bacar-Huskić L, Lojkić M, Habe F, Ergotić N.Research was carried out into the effect that different quantities and compositions of concentrated portions of meal had on certain haematological properties and on the immune response of mares in the course of hyper-immune antitetanus sera production. The experiment involved 24 Nonius and Lipizzaner cross-bred mares divided into two groups of 12 animals each, a control group and a trial group. The experiment lasted 12 months, with haematological and immunological tests being carried out every 30 days. During the course of the experiment each mare was subjected to 11 immunisation cycles, and i...
Geelen SN, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Beynen AC.Feeding fat-supplemented diets to horses has drawn considerable interest. One of the advantages of such diets is that the energy density is increased, so that less feed is needed to meet energy requirements. In addition, adding fat to the diet enhances the contribution of fat oxidation to energy production, thus sparing muscle glycogen. The 'spared' glycogen is available for energy metabolism when the acutely exercising horse reaches a point of oxygen deficit and must rely on anaerobic metabolism. This appears to be beneficial for both aerobic and anaerobic performance. Fats are readily digest...
Hoffmann KL, Wood AK, Griffiths KA, Evans DL, Gill RW, Kirby AC.The effects of feeding on blood flow to the equine foot are poorly understood. In a temperature-controlled room, duplex Doppler ultrasonographic observations were made pre- and postprandially of the lateral proper palmar digital artery of 5 horses, randomly assigned to twice and 4 times daily feeding in an unbalanced 2 period crossover design. Arterial diameter and blood velocity were measured over 4 h and additional observations made of heart rate, blood pressure, total plasma protein, packed cell volume, plasma glucose and insulin. There was no effect of the feeding regimen on any variable. ...
Pearson RA, Archibald RF, Muirhead RH.Four donkeys and four ponies were fed molassed dehydrated alfalfa or oat straw, either ad libitum or restricted to about 70% ad libitum intake in a Latin-square design for four periods of 21 d. Measurements of apparent digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time were made on the last 7 d of each period. When the forages were provided ad libitum, all animals ate significantly more of the alfalfa than of the oat straw. Ponies consumed significantly more of both diets per unit live weight than donkeys. Higher apparent digestibilities of dietary DM, energy and fibre fractions were seen in donk...
Harris PA.Equine feeding and stable management practices for horses kept in the UK vary greatly and it is probable that almost any permutation of regimen could be found somewhere. Unfortunately, there is uncertainty about the number of horses in the UK and very limited data are available on the ways horses are being fed and managed. This paper reviews some of the information that is available and provides an outline of some of the factors influencing the practices used. To a certain extent, the way UK horses are fed and managed primarily reflects the purpose for which they are kept (e.g. racing Thorough...
van Dyk E, Neser S.The possible spread by horse faeces of plants that may become weeds in sensitive areas was investigated. It was found that the period 24-48 hours after ingestion of seeds included in rations was the retention time for seeds passing through the digestive system of the horse. The ability of seeds to germinate was not influenced by exposure to digestive fluids or sea-water. A feeding regime of compound feeds is suggested.
Rossano MG, Kaneene JB, Marteniuk JV, Banks BD, Schott HC, Mansfield LS.A cross-sectional study of serum antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona (the etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, EPM) was performed on Michigan equids. Our objectives were to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to S. neurona in Michigan equids and to identify specific risk factors for seropositivity. A random, weighted sample of Michigan horse farms (stratified by the state's opossum (Didelphis virginiana) population and the number of equids on each operation) was selected. Ninety-eight equine-operation owners agreed to participate, and blood collection occurred from late ...
Powell DM, Lawrence LM, Fitzgerald BP, Danielsen K, Parker A, Siciliano P, Crum A.The metabolic effects of short-term feed restriction and dietary calorie source were studied in horses receiving high-roughage or high-concentrate diets. Four Thoroughbred geldings were assigned to four treatment groups in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. The four treatments were 1) a nutritionally adequate high-roughage ration (70% roughage, 30% concentrate; AHR), 2) a nutritionally adequate high-concentrate ration (40% roughage, 60% concentrate; AHC), 3) 70% of the intake of the AHR diet (RHR), and 4) 70% of the intake of the AHC diet (RHC). Diets AHR and AHC were designed to meet the calori...
Riond JL, Leoni S, Wanner M.Three feeding methods were compared in 36 4- to 6-year-old Franche-Montagne horses during the military school of St-Luzisteig (GR) of Spring 1992. The horses were separated into 3 groups: a group with the traditional oats-hay ration (OH), a group with a pelleted feed and hay ration (PFH), and a group with the complete diet (CD). Feed analyses were performed and food consumption, eating behavior and digestibility were studied. The horses received their daily amount of feed in 3 portions covering the requirements for a medium work: OH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg oats, PFH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg pelleted fe...
Suwannachot P, Verkleij CB, Kocsis S, Enzerink E, Everts ME.We determined the effects of food supply and low-intensity training on growth, serum thyroid hormone levels and the Na(+),K(+)-pump concentration in equine skeletal muscle. Twenty-two Shetland ponies were subjected to two different feeding regimes for 2(1/2) years (11 ponies per group): food restriction (body condition score kept at 2) or ad libitum fed (body condition score kept at 8). Five ponies in each group underwent low-intensity training. Gluteus medius muscle and serum samples were obtained in April 1998. Subsequently, all ponies were fed ad libitum and the training programme was stopp...
Hallebeek JM, van Doorn DA, Beynen AC.In horses that exercise intensively (for example, event horses in training) the intake and energy requirements were compared on the basis of a diet record and estimates of energy required for exercise. Daily net energy intake over a 7 days period was on average 30% (n = 15) higher than the net energy requirement. Since the horses had a constant body weight, and thus were in energy balance, the energy intake was overestimated and/or the energy requirement was underestimated. The intake of digestible protein was 92% higher than the protein requirement. This study illustrates the problems concern...
Lakritz J, Wilson WD, Marsh AE, Mihalyi JE.To determine effects of prior feeding on pharmacokinetics and estimated bioavailability of orally administered microencapsulated erythromycin base (MEB) in healthy foals. Methods: 6 healthy foals, 3 to 5 months old. Methods: Foals were given 2 doses of MEB (25 mg/kg of body weight, PO). One dose was administered after food was withheld overnight, and the other was administered after foals had consumed hay. The study used a crossover design with a 2-week period between doses. Blood was collected via a jugular vein prior to and at specific times after drug administration. Concentrations of eryth...
Nadeau JA, Andrews FM, Mathew AG, Argenzio RA, Blackford JT, Sohtell M, Saxton AM.To measure pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, and lactate concentrations in stomach contents and determine number and severity of gastric lesions in horses fed bromegrass hay and alfalfa hay-grain diets. Methods: Six 7-year-old horses. Methods: A gastric cannula was inserted in each horse. Horses were fed each diet, using a randomized crossover design. Stomach contents were collected immediately after feeding and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours after feeding on day 14. The pH and VFA and lactate concentrations were measured in gastric juice Number and severity of gastri...
Berschneider HM, Blikslager AT, Roberts MC.Gastric contents were sampled in horses via nasogastric tube to determine changes in pH and bile salt concentrations during feeding and fasting periods. The horses were rotated through 4 feeding protocols. (1) hay; (2) hay with twice daily grain meals; (3) and (4) fasting preceded by either hay only or hay and grain. Sequential, hourly samples were collected from 3 horses prepared with gastric cannulas. Horses were fed hay twice daily and grain mix either twice daily or in small aliquots dispensed every 90 min. The horses were sampled during normal feeding or after 14 h of feed deprivation. Ga...
De La Corte FD, Valberg SJ, Mickelson JR, Hower-Moritz M.Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in Quarter Horses (QH) and QH crosses is a glycogen storage disorder in which blood glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity, following an i.v. or oral glucose challenge, are enhanced. Exercise is known also to enhance glucose uptake into skeletal muscle in many animal species. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of exercise on glucose clearance in PSSM and control horses when an oral carbohydrate meal (8 Mcal sweet feed) was fed following either 12 h fasting alone (NEX protocol) or following fasting and a standard exercise pro...
Asai Y, Matsui A, Osawa T, Kawai M, Kondo S.Ten Thoroughbred yearlings (5 females and 5 males) were used to examine the effect of time of grazing on pasture forage and digestible energy (DE) intake, bodyweight gain and DE expenditure in grazing activity. Five females were grazed for 17 h/day (LTG), 5 males were grazed for 7 h/day (STG) and they were fed differently. As a result, DE intake from pasture forage of LTG horses and STG horses was 27.3 and 12.7-13.9 Mcal/day, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) of LTG and STG horses was 0.37 and 0.39-0.61 kg/day, respectively. The regression lines between DE intake and ADG of both group...
Harris PA, Pagan JD, Crandell KG, Davidson N.This study looked at the effect of feeding diets supplemented with either a predominantly saturated or unsaturated vegetable oil over a prolonged period to exercising horses. Eight Thoroughbred horses were assigned to 2 diet treatments and for 10 months were fed Timothy hay and oats, together with a fortified sweet feed supplemented with either a predominantly unsaturated (Un) or a saturated (S) vegetable oil so that approximately 19% DE (Digestible Energy) came from dietary fat and approximately 12% from either the Un or S source (AC). An increased amount of Un or S fortified sweet feed, repl...
Crandell KG, Pagan JD, Harris P, Duren SE.High-grain diets for the exercising horse were compared with diets which provided 15% of the total caloric intake from either vegetable oil or a highly fermentable fibre source (beet pulp). Six Thoroughbreds age 3 years were fed one of 3 diets or 5 weeks in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square. The CONTROL diet was 3.65 kg of sweet feed (SF), 0.9 kg of a protein/vitamin/mineral pellet and 5.45 kg of hay cubes. The FAT diet replaced 1.15 kg of SF with 0.45 kg of soybean oil and the FIBRE diet replaced 1.15 kg of SF with 1.36 kg of beet pulp. Horses were exercised 3 times per week on a high-speed tre...
Warren LK, Lawrence LM, Brewster-Barnes T, Powell DM.Three diets were fed to 6 horses in a 3 x 6 Latin rectangle experiment to determine if dietary fibre could improve hydration status in response to dehydration with frusemide. Frusemide was used to simulate dehydration from exercise-induced sweat loss. Diets contained similar dry matter (DM), energy, protein and electrolyte content, but differed in total dietary fibre (TDF) and/or soluble fibre (SDF). The 3 diets were: 1) HIGH-HIGH (high TDF, high SDF); 2) HIGH-LOW (high TDF, low SDF); and 3) LOW-LOW (low TDF, low SDF). In each 10 day period, water intake and faecal moisture content were assess...
Duren SE, Pagan JD, Harris PA, Crandell KG.Six Thoroughbreds were used to evaluate time of feeding on changes in exercise response in horses receiving either a textured feed or a fat-supplemented textured feed. Using a crossover design, 3 horses were fed a fat-supplemented diet while 3 horses received a control ration of textured feed. Horses performed a standardised exercise test (SET) on a high speed treadmill. The SET was performed at 3 different times: 1) following an overnight 12 h fast, 2) 3 h after feeding and 3) 8 h after feeding. The SET consisted of a 2 min walk at 1.4 m/s, 800 m trot at 4.2 m/s, 800 m gallop at 7.7 m/s, 1600...
Pagan JD, Harris PA.There is considerable debate among horsemen about how to feed horses before exercise. Should horses be fed or fasted before work and when should hay be fed relative to grain and/or exercise? Three experiments were conducted to evaluate if feeding hay with and without grain affects glycaemic and haematological responses in Thoroughbred (TB) horses at rest and during a simulated competition exercise test (CET) on a high-speed treadmill. In Experiment 1, 6 TB horses were fed hay at 3 different times relative to a grain meal. Time of feeding hay affected glycaemic response, plasma protein and wate...
Geelen SN, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Beynen AC.Feeding of a fat-rich diet to horses may enhance the flux of fatty acids, in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG), through the circulation into skeletal muscle. This hypothesis was tested indirectly by measuring the concentration of plasma TAG and the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in post heparin plasma. Six mature horses were fed a high-fat or a control diet according to a crossover design with feeding periods of 6 weeks. The control diet contained 1.5% fat in the dry matter and the high-fat diet 11.8%. The high-fat diet was formulated by adding soybean oil to the control diet at the exp...
Powell D, Lawrence LM, Brewster-Barnes T, Fitzgerald B, Warren LK, Rokuroda S, Parker A, Crum A.Eight Thoroughbred horses were used to determine the effects of long-term calorie restriction and diet composition on serum T4 and T3 concentrations and metabolic responses with exercise. Horses were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 4): Group 1, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the roughage source (RHR); Group 2, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the concentrate source (RHC). Horses then completed 2 step-wise exercise tests; one following a 12 h fast and one 2 h after a meal of 2 kg...
Hawkes J, Hedges M, Daniluk P, Hintz HF, Schryver HF.Preference trials were conducted with mature ponies. In Trial 1, oats were compared with oats plus sucrose. Four of six pony geldings selected oats plus sucrose, but one pony demonstrated a dislike for sucrose and one selected from the bucket on the right side regardless of content. Oats, maize, barley, rye and wheat were compared in Trial 2 using six mature pony mares. Oats were the preferred grain, with maize and barley ranking second and third respectively. Wheat and rye were the least preferred. Even though the ponies demonstrated preference, the total intake at a given meal was not greatl...
Knight DA, Tyznik WJ.Fourteen Quarter Horse foals were used to evaluate the effects of artificial rearing on growth. Seven foals were removed from their dams at 3 d of age and fed a reconstituted 26% crude protein (CP) milk replacer free choice for 1 mo, at which time ad libitum solid feeding began. Controls were weaned from their dams at 2 mo of age and fed a 21% CP concentrate ad libitum until the end of the trial. Variables measured during the 26-wk trial were live body weight, height at the withers and length of body from point of shoulder to point of hip. No significant differences were found between the two ...
Riond JL, Leoni S, Wanner M.Three feeding methods were compared in 36 4- to 6-year-old Franche-Montagne horses during the military school of St-Luzisteig (GR) of Spring 1992. The horses were separated into 3 groups: a group with the traditional oats-hay ration (OH), a group with a pelleted feed and hay ration (PFH), and a group with the complete diet (CD). Feed analyses were performed and food consumption, eating behavior and digestibility were studied. The horses received their daily amount of feed in 3 portions covering the requirements for a medium work: OH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg oats, PFH = 8 kg hay and 3 kg pelleted fe...
Tanner SL, Wagner AL, Digianantonio RN, Harris PA, Sylvester JT, Urschel KL.The objective of this study was to measure whole-body protein kinetics in weanling horses receiving forage and one of two different concentrates: (1) commercial crude protein (CCP) concentrate, which with the forage provided 4.1 g CP/kg bodyweight (BW)/day (189 mg lysine (Lys)/kg BW/day), and (2) recommended crude protein (RCP) concentrate which, with the same forage, provided 3.1 g CP/kg BW/day (194 mg Lys/kg BW/day). Blood samples were taken to determine the response of plasma amino acid concentrations to half the daily concentrate allocation. The next day, a 2 h-primed, constant inf...
McKenzie EC, Garrett RL, Payton ME, Riehl JH, Firshman AM, Valberg SJ.Dantrolene sodium is used to prevent exertional rhabdomyolysis in predisposed horses. Food intake might negatively impact dantrolene bioavailability in horses; however, prolonged feed restriction might be detrimental to performance. Objective: To determine a minimum duration of feed restriction that would optimise plasma dantrolene concentrations in horses after nasogastric administration. It was hypothesised that feed restriction for 4, 8 or 12 h before dantrolene administration would result in higher plasma dantrolene concentrations than achieved with no feed restriction before treatment. Me...
Van Diest TJ, Kogan CJ, Kopper JJ.Hospitalized horses are at risk for colic due to several factors, all of which may reduce voluntary water intake (VWI) further contributing to the development of colic during hospitalization. Our objectives were to determine if using flavored water (sweet feed, peppermint, or apple-flavored electrolyte) increases VWI of hospitalized horses and to determine if horses consumed more flavored water versus plain water. We hypothesized that (1) in hospitalized horses the availability of flavored water results in more VWI than the availability of unflavored water and that (2) average intake of flavor...
da Silva Inácio DF, de Rezende ASC, Melo MM, Quintão Lana ÂM, Prado Silva RH, de Jesus Mendes L, de Paula Gonçalves Reis L, Maruch S, Ralston SL.Young horses reach nearly 90% of their final height in the first year of life. However, to achieve their genetic potential, it is necessary to receive adequate nutrition during this period of rapid growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sorghum silage during a period of limited pasture forage availability, on the body development, and health of Mangalarga Marchador (MM) weanling fillies. Fourteen healthy MM 6-month-old fillies were randomly assigned to one of two groups: GS (consuming silage) and GH (consuming grass hay (Cynodon spp) in addition to...
de Medeiros Ferreira JR, Mello Cerbaro AE, Bastos FL, Pereira RA, Duarte MA, Araújo Júnior ÂMC, da Silva AH, de Oliveira Gobesso AA.High amounts of grains in the equine diet led to high starch intake, causing gut alterations. Aimed at reducing harmful effects, extract (MCE) is a phytogenic additive that stands out for its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects proven in different species. However, there is no useful information for horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of the inclusion of commercial MCE on body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), total apparent digestibility (AD) of nutrients, faecal pH and fermentative products, on ponies fed a high-starch diet. Eight ...
Platzer J, Feuerbacher EN.Positive reinforcement is becoming more common in horse training. Identifying effective reinforcers is critical for training success. The aim of this study was to determine relative reinforcer efficacy of different grains. Four horses learned to muzzle touch a target, after which they were tested using a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement with different grains as the consequence. Break points were used to determine relative reinforcer efficacy of each grain and were also converted into unit price per kilocalorie to determine if caloric value impacted reinforcer efficacy. Condition 1 c...
Gandarillas M, Keim JP, Gapp EM.Horses are hindgut fermenters, and it is therefore important to determine the postgastric nutritive value of their feedstuffs and diets. Moreover, it has been demonstrated in other animal species that the fermentation of diets results in different values than those expected from pure ingredients. Therefore, the general objective of this work is to evaluate the gas production (GP) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, as well as the associative effects, of mixtures of different forages and concentrated foods, which are representative of the traditional diets of high-performance horses. M...
Godwin T, Webb G, Lancaster P.Previous research indicates equine fecal inoculates produce comparable results to cecal fluid when used for in vitro procedures to analyze dry matter digestibility (DMD). Equine hindgut microbial communities represented in fecal samples have been shown to be affected by diet. The study's objective was to determine the effect of the donor diet on in vitro DMD when fecal donors were fed high starch, or high fiber diets. Six Quarter Horses were used in a crossover design to compare the effects of a grain versus forage diet on in vitro digestion of forages ranging from: CP 7.7 to 16.4 %DM, NDF 53 ...
Jose-Cunilleras E, Hinchcliff KW, Lacombe VA, Sams RA, Kohn CW, Taylor LE, Devor ST.Fatiguing exercise substantially decreases muscle glycogen concentration in horses, impairing athletic performance in subsequent exercise bouts. Our objective was to determine the effect of ingestion of starch-rich meals after exercise on whole body glucose kinetics and muscle glycogen replenishment. In a randomized, cross-over study seven horses with exercise-induced muscle glycogen depletion were either not fed for 8 h, fed half of the daily energy requirements ( approximately 15 Mcal DE) as hay, or fed an isocaloric amount of corn 15 min and 4 h after exercise. Starch-rich meals fed after e...
Siwińska N, Żak A, Słowikowska M, Kubiak K, Jaworski Z, Niedzwiedź A.Hair is a more biologically stable material than other tissues and contains a relatively constant level of minerals, drugs or toxins. The content of essential elements in hair depends on dietary and non-dietary factors. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effect of diet on the elemental composition and morphological properties of the hair of healthy Polish Konik horses. Mane hair was collected from 19 horses living in The National Park in Popielno in Poland. Six of these horses were free-ranged all year with permanent access to pasture, while 13 horses were kept in the stable a...
Williams T, Rude B, Liao S, Mochal-King C, Nicodemus M.The objective of this study was to observe how fat incorporated into an equine forage-based diet through supplementation altered levels of plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acids. Five Shetland/Hackney cross pony mares were fed alfalfa pellet diets top dressed with commercially available vegetable oil (blend of soya bean, canola and corn oils) at 0%, 5%, 10% or 15% of diet. Ponies were randomly assigned one of four diets to start, with a 14-day adjustment period between transitioning to another one of the four diets. Ponies were gradually adapted to the new diet within the 14-day period before...
Coenen M.Ponies were fed hay (n = 21) or mixed feed (n = 27; 128 g crude protein, 175 g crude fibre/kg dry matter) for at least 14 days (treatment against parasites with ivermectin before the experimental period). The feeding level was 18 g dry mater/kg body weight/day. After the feeding period (the experiments were conducted to investigate the water and electrolyte content of the alimentary tract in dependence on feed, feeding time and physical exercise) the ponies were slaughtered and the stomachs were visually controlled for the occurrence of ulcers. In the hay group no gastric ulcers were observed,...
Kania M, Mikołajewska D, Marycz K, Kobielarz M.The aim of this research was to assess the effect of diet supplementation with zinc and copper, in different chemical forms (organic and inorganic), on the mechanical properties of the hair of healthy English thoroughbred horses. Hairs were taken from 18 horses which had been fed with oats and hay for a period of 110 days. Twelve of the horses had been additionally given a daily dose of 700 g of highquality 44-ingredients Fohlengold St-Hippolyt muesli made by Muhle Ebert Dilheim. Six of them had received the muesli-containing organic zinc and copper (OS), while the other six horses had receive...
Rey F, Hallebeek JM, Beynen AC.The question addressed was whether apparent crude fibre digestibility in ponies would change after lowering protein intake from adequate to borderline deficient. Four adult ponies were fed a low- and high-protein diet according to a cross-over design. The diets consisted of grass hay and concentrates and provided either 1.5 or 3.6 g digestible crude protein/kg(0.75) per day. The two whole rations provided 2.4 g crude fibre/kg body weight per day. Apparent crude fibre digestibility was not affected by protein intake (low-protein diet: 42.9 +/- 4.03%; high-protein diet: 38.1 +/- 1.14%, means +/-...
Stang FL, Bjerregaard R, Müller CE, Ergon Å, Halling M, Thorringer NW, Kidane A, Jensen RB.Carbohydrates in forages constitute an important part of the feed ration for all horses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of harvest time on carbohydrate composition and digestion of various grass species. The experiment was divided into three parts 1) characterization of the chemical composition of experimental feeds (6 grass species: meadow fescue [MF], cocksfoot [CF], perennial ryegrass [PR], smooth bromegrass [SB], tall fescue [TF], and timothy [TI], and 3 harvest times: early, medium, and late first cut), 2) measurements of the in vitro digestion of selected expe...
Harris P.This article reviews the principles of feeding management for endurance horses. The amount and type of dietary energy (calories) are key considerations in dietary management, because (1) there is evidence that the body condition score, an indicator of overall energy balance, influences endurance exercise performance, and (2) the source of dietary energy (ie, carbohydrate versus fat calories) impacts health, metabolism, and athletic performance. Optimal performance is also dependent on provision of adequate feed, water, and electrolytes on race day.
Petz V, Khiaosa-Ard R, Iben C, Zebeli Q.Chewing is an essential physiological process in horses; yet, the physical form of feeds may affect their chewing and feeding behaviour with consequences for equine digestion and health. The present study evaluated the potential of a commercial forage cubes made from alfalfa and mixed meadow grasses to maintain chewing activity when compared with a traditional long and fibre-rich hay. An additional aim was to measure the dust formation during feeding. The experiment was a crossover design with six horses (11 ± 4 years old, mean ± SD), fed with 5 kg (as-fed basis) of their feed (long hay...
Schryver HF, Millis DL, Soderholm LV, Williams J, Hintz HF.The effect of dietary aluminum on the absorption, retention and pathways of excretion of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper was studied in balance trials in mature ponies in a three by three latin square experiment. A basal diet consisting of one third each of oats, beet pulp and a commercial pelleted, complete horse ration and containing 336 ppm aluminum was supplemented with AlC1(3) . 6H2O. The middle and high level aluminum diets contained 1370 and 4500 ppm aluminum respectively. There was little difference in effect between the middle level aluminum and basal diets. The ...
Hintz HF, Kallfelz FA.The effects of overfeeding, calcium-phosphorus imbalance, misuse of supplements and false advertising on equine nutrition are discussed. Overfeeding is known to cause disorders in several species but, although a similar relationship has been suggested on clinical evidence, no controlled trials on horses have been reported. It has also been suggested that overfeeding is a problem only for those horses with a genetic predisposition to skeletal problems. The importance of adequate calcium and phosphorus levels has been known for many years but severe cases of calcium deficiency still occur. Clien...
Zeitler-Feicht MH.The guidelines of the Federal Ministry of User Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture (BMVEL) regarding "horse keeping with respect to animal welfare" are from 1995 (BMELF, 1995). Therefore, they are not suitable for modern horse keeping. The Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT) held it to be necessary to rework the guide-lines in light of 1) many subsequent investigations concerning horse keeping, and 2) the species-specific needs of horses in practice. Each chapter of the BMELF (1995) guide-lines was revised such that the literature and practical experiences were updated. Several c...
Sweeney RW, Hansen TO.Six horses with dysphagia (attributable to botulism, glossitis, or guttural pouch mycosis) were given a commercially available liquid diet as the sole source of nutrition. Seven horses with hypophagia caused by severe bacterial pleuropneumonia or peritonitis were given the liquid diet to supplement food consumed voluntarily. The liquid diet was administered through a nasogastric tube 2 or 3 times daily. Body weight did not change significantly, and pertinent laboratory values remained at satisfactory concentrations throughout the feeding period. Serious complications were not encountered. Thre...
Zicarelli F, Tudisco R, Lotito D, Musco N, Iommelli P, Ferrara M, Calabrò S, Infascelli F, Lombardi P.Determination of digestibility represents the first step for the evaluation of the net energy content of feed for livestock animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo digestibility and in vitro degradability of five diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratios (F:C) in horses. The in vitro degradability was determined by the Gas Production Technique (GPT), using as an inoculum source the feces of the same subjects used for the in vivo test. Five diets consisting of poliphyte hay, straw and grains of barley and oats with a different F:C ratio [90/10 (Diet 1); 78/22...
Fayt J, Dotreppe O, Hornick JL, Istasse L.Spelt is a covered cereal with large glumellas. In experiment 1, it has been compared in terms of chemical composition with barley, oat and maize. Spelt is characterized by rather low protein and ether extract (EE) contents. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of spelt was slightly higher than that of oat but the acid detergent fibre (ADF) content was lower. Two compound feedstuffs were fed along with hay to six horses used in a cross-over design. Both diets were well appreciated by the horses and there were no significant differences in the apparent digestibility coefficients, except fo...
Jansen WL, van der Kuilen J, Geelen SN, Beynen AC.An attempt was made to quantify the effect of extra fat intake on fibre utilization in horses. In a 4 x 4 cross-over trial with feeding periods of 24 days each, eight mature trotting horses (age 4 to 12 years, 407 to 531 kg BW) were given four diets. The concentrates were formulated to contain either soybean oil or an iso-energetic amount of glucose or combinations of the two ingredients. The concentrates were fed in combination with the same amount of hay so that the whole diets contained 30, 50, 77 or 108 g EE/kg DM. Apart from the amounts of fat and glucose the four diets were identical. Wi...
Francis JM, Neander CR, Roeder MJ, Perry EB.Palatants may be added to equine feed and medication either during or after manufacturing to enhance product acceptance. Prior studies have examined a variety of palatants but results have been limited and inconsistent. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate topically applied oil-based palatants on feeding preferences in horses. Stock-type horses (n = 10) were used in this paired preference test across a two-phase study. Phase one compared six palatants (banana, anise, peppermint, apple, spearmint, and orange) to a control (corn oil), whereas phase two compared preference a...
Brøkner C, Nørgaard P, Hansen HH.The ingestive and post-digestion effect of a blend of special essential oil compounds (EO) on eating, chewing and faecal parameters were measured in horses. Ingestive effects appear after no adaptation. Post-digestion effects appear after adaptation. Six Icelandic horses were assigned to two groups in a Latin Square subplot design with EO treatments to four different roughage types and four different concentrates. The horses were fed four different roughage meals and two different concentrate meals on each of the four sampling days. Eating time and saliva were observed during meals. Jaw moveme...
Moore-Colyer M, Westacott A, Rousson L, Harris P, Daniels S.Despite our improved understanding of equid digestive health and accurate rations formulations, obesity in the UK horse population remains high. Study aims: (1) to determine how owners are feeding their horses and what influences their choices, (2) to understand owners' knowledge of haylage and (3) to identify key areas that require additional education. Data were collected in 2020 from 1338 UK horse owners via two online surveys. Survey 1 was on general feeding practices, and Survey 2 was specifically on the feeding of haylage. Data were processed using chi square analyses + Bonferroni tests,...
