Minerals are inorganic elements that are essential for various physiological functions in horses. They are involved in numerous biological processes, including bone formation, nerve function, and enzyme activity. Key minerals required by horses include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and trace elements such as zinc, copper, and selenium. The balance and bioavailability of these minerals are important for maintaining optimal health and performance in horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the roles, dietary requirements, and effects of mineral imbalances on equine health and performance.
Schryver HF, Craig PH, Hintz HF.Calcium metabolism of young, growing ponies fed diets containing 1.5, 0.8 and 0.15% calcium was studied using combined balance and kinetic methods. Variations in calcium intake produced large differences in excretion and retention but had no effect on the level of plasma calcium or on the size of the exchangeable pool. Intestinal absorption, renal excretion and calcium removal from bone responded to the dietary level of calcium to maintain calcium homeostasis. The rates of intestinal absorption and the removal of calcium from the skeleton increased while renal excretion decreased in response t...
Dusek J, Skalický J.Changes have been observed in nine foals, six months of age, after weaning for the time of three days, namely in the intake of drinking water, hematocrit, sedimentation of erythrocytes and three minerals Na+, K+ and Cl-. Foals respond to weaning immediately, lowering significantly their consumption of drinking water and increasing high significance of Na+ and Cl-. Changes of level K+, hematocrit and sedimentation don't show any significant variations. The results reached are to be considered as an introductory information for further inquiry on the more extensive methodical basis.
Kósa CA, Nagy K, Szenci O, Baska-Vincze B, Andrásofszky E, Szép R, Keresztesi Á, Mircean M, Taulescu M, Kutasi O.A severe form of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis occurs enzootically in a well-defined region of Transylvania, Harghita county. At the highest lying two settlements (more than 800 m above sea level), the prevalence of equine rhabdomyolysis is between 17 and 23%, while in the neighbouring villages in the valley it is less than 2%. The objective of our study was to clarify the role of selenium and vitamin E in the high prevalence of rhabdomyolysis in that region. Soil and hay samples were collected from each area to evaluate mineral content. Ten horses from the non-affected and 20 horses fro...
Silva PM, Silva JLS, Bonemann DH, Ribeiro AS, Silva LO, Pizzi GLBL, Martins CF.This study evaluated the levels of calcium (Ca), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the hoof of Criollo foals, pre- and postweaning, correlating them with the concentrations of these inorganic chemical compounds in soil and pasture in the different seasons of the year. We used 41 preweaning foals and 28 postweaning foals. Seventeen forage samples were collected in four seasons, later 10 soil samples per property in five distinct physiographic regions (Santa Maria, Dilermando de Aguiar, Jaguarão, Arroio Grande and Pelotas). There was variability in Ca, Cu and Zn concentrations in the hoof foal betwe...
van der Harst MR, van de Lest CH, Degroot J, Kiers GH, Brama PA, van Weeren PR.A detailed and comprehensive insight into the normal maturation process of the different tissues that make up functional units of the locomotor system such as joints is necessary to understand the influence of early training on musculoskeletal tissues. Objective: To study simultaneously the maturation process in the entire composite structure that makes up the bearing surface of a joint (cartilage, subchondral and trabecular bone) in terms of biochemical changes in the tissues of juvenile horses at 2 differently loaded sites of the metacarpophalangeal joint, compared to a group of mature horse...
Lode A, Bernhardt A, Kroonen K, Springer M, Briest A, Gelinsky M.The application of bone graft substitutes with osteoinductive properties is of high importance for the repair of large bone defects. COLLOSS E, a protein lyophilizate extracted from equine long bones, exhibits an osteoinductive potential which has been proven in several studies. In this work, a mechanically stable, but biodegradable support for COLLOSS E has been developed aiming at a bone graft substitute that retains shape and size when coming in contact with body fluids. Mineralization of collagen type I, isolated from horse tendon, resulted in a stable collagen hydroxyapatite nanocomposite...
Langner K, Hörügel U, Donat K, Vervuert I.Screening of commercial mineral feeds and mineral licks on the German market containing selenium (Se) in relation to the Se status in equines in Thuringia with different forms of Se supplementation. Methods: Commercially available Se-containing minerals for horses identified by an online research were evaluated for their Se concentration, Se source, flavour carrier and recommended dosage according to the manufacturer's labelling. Furthermore, serum Se status in 8 equine farms was regularly monitored over the period of one year. The sampled horses either received no Se supplement or Se was supp...
Barlet JP, Davicco MJ, Coxam V.Intestinal absorption of inorganic phosphorus. In most mammalian species inorganic phosphorus (P) is absorbed at the duodenal and jejunal level. However in horses some P is absorbed from the large intestine, whereas in ruminant animals some absorption also takes place in the forestomachs. The structure of the putative phosphate-sodium carrier of the brush border from enterocytes still awaits identification. P absorption is modulated both by endocrine (calcitriol, triiodothyronine) and nutritional factors (minerals of the diet, chemical form of phosphorus). Regulation of salivary P secretion, i...
van der Merwe D, van den Wollenberg L, van Hees-Valkenborg J, de Haan T, van der Drift S.We determined reference intervals (RIs) for concentrations of trace minerals and toxic elements based on liver samples from 122 apparently healthy horses at 2 slaughter facilities in the Netherlands. Samples were collected during the spring and fall of 2021, and the sex and age of the horses were registered upon sampling. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, vanadium, and zinc were measured in liver samples using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after nitric acid digestion. RIs were calculated us...
Staufenbiel L, Müller AE, Gehlen H.Objective measurements of the mineral supply in horses are rarely performed. As a result, incorrect elements or an improper amount of elements are provided. The analysis of feces could represent a novel method to evaluate the nutritive supply. The prerequisite is a knowledge of methodological factors influencing the mineral concentration in the fecal samples. Within the scope of this investigation, the effects of different kinds of mineral supply and the influence of the sampling location on the concentration of minerals in equine feces samples were analyzed. Additionally, the methodical error...
Polack EW, King JM, Cummings JF, Mohammed HO, Birch M, Cronin T.To compare concentrations of trace minerals in the spinal cord of horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) with those of horses without neurologic disease (control horses). Methods: 24 horses with EMND and 22 control horses. Methods: Spinal cord trace mineral concentrations in horses with EMND and control horses were analyzed by use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, and chromium), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (lead and cadmium), flameless atomic abs...
Tisserand JL, Boulard F, Deponge P.We studied a caecum-cannulated pony fed hay libitum in order to determine the mineral elements likely to cause deficiencies which decrease microbial activity in the caecum. During four successive 1-month periods, we observed the effects of adding 50 mg of iron, 1 mg of cobalt, 40 mg of copper and 200 mg of zinc, respectively. Except for the introduction of zinc, which greatly diminishes cellulolytic activity measured with the nylon bag technique, there was no significant modification in that activity as shown by pH, NH3-nitrogen, total nitrogen and volatile fatty acid production (table 1). It ...
Gordon ME, Edwards MS, Sweeney CR, Jerina ML.The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that feed additives such as chelated minerals, organic Se, yeast culture, direct-fed microbials, and Yucca schidigera extract would improve nutrient digestibility when included in an equine diet. Horses (Quarter Horse geldings 4.5 to 16 yr of age; mean BW 522 kg ± 46 kg) were acclimated to 100% pelleted diets formulated with (ADD) and without (CTRL) commercially available sources of the aforementioned additives followed by a 14-d collection period of feces and urine. Chelated sources of Cu, Zn, Mn and Co were utilized versus sulfated form...
Asano R, Suzuki K, Otsuka T, Otsuka M, Sakurai H.Concentrations of trace elements (As, Al, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Si, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni and Mn) in the mane hair obtained from 9 female and 15 male healthy racing Thoroughbred horses aged 2-5 years were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method. No significant differences between the female and male horses were observed in the mean concentrations of those minerals. Significantly positive correlations with age were observed in Cd (r=0.546, p<0.01) and Mo (r=0.733, p<0.001). Significantly negative correlations with age were observed i...
Shmalberg J, Hill RC, Scott KC.Many Chinese herbs and herbal mixtures are fed to domestic animals for their reputed medicinal properties. These herbs could contribute to the intake of essential nutrients and toxic metals, but their composition is mostly unknown. The purpose of this study was to measure major nutrient (crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, fibre) and mineral (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, S, Al, Cd, Ni, Pb) concentrations in samples of fourteen combination formulas labelled for veterinary use and commonly administered to horses and dogs. Three single herbs, Bupleurum chinense, Curcuma zedoaria and ...
Ley WB, Scott Pleasant R, Dunnington EA.Studies evaluating nutritional and seasonal influences on hoof strength and composition in horses, as well as the scientific justification for feeding supplements to improve hoof quality, are lacking. The horseman and veterinarian need controlled studies in this area to make informed decisions. This project quantified, in 2 trials, relative elasticity, tensile strength, % moisture, and mineral composition of hooves of 48 mature Thoroughbred mares maintained on different nutritional/management regimens, sampled quarterly over 12 month periods. Tensile strength was positively associated with sul...
Millican AA, Leatherwood JL, Coverdale JA, Arnold CE, Bradbery AN, Larson CK, Lamprecht ED, White SH, Paulk CB, Welsh TH, Wickersham TA.Sixteen weanling Quarter Horses (255 ± 22 kg) were utilized in a 56-d trial to evaluate the effects of trace mineral (TM) source on intra-articular inflammation following a single acute inflammatory insult. Horses were stratified by age, sex, and BW and then randomly assigned to dietary treatment: concentrate formulated with Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co as inorganic sources (CON; n = 8) or complexed TMs (CTM; n = 8). Added TM were formulated at iso-levels across treatments and intakes met or exceeded NRC requirements. Horses were offered 1.75% BW (as-fed) of treatment concentrate and 0.75% BW (as-fed) ...
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 ...
Rueda-Carrillo G, Rosiles-Martínez R, Hernández-García AI, Vargas-Bello-Pérez E, Trigo-Tavera FJ.Hoof mineral profile is important as it could affect locomotion. Factors such as body weight, sex, age, and riding disciplines affect hoof mineral profile. In Mexico and globally, studies are needed on the characterization of mineral profile of hooves and tensile strength, as this could help to prevent overgrowth or microfractures. Therefore, in the present survey, 165 samples of equine hoof cuttings from different sex, ages, breeds, and riding disciplines from different regions of Mexico were analyzed for their mineral composition, and a universal testing machine was used to measure tensile s...
Breuil MF, Joseph M, Petry S.The gold standard method to isolate and identify Taylorella equigenitalis, the contagious agent of equine metritis, is the culture method according to the World Organisation for Animal Health Terrestrial Manual. No selective T. equigenitalis chocolate agar medium has been developed since the 1980s and the existing media show limited performances due to the fastidious nature of T. equigenitalis and the presence of interfering bacteria in the genital tract of equines. Here, the growth rates of 6 T. equigenitalis strains and 7 non-T. equigenitalis strains were compared on Timoney's selective medi...
Al-Modhefer AK, Atherton JC, Garland HO, Singh HJ, Walker J.Single-nephron and whole-kidney function were studied in female rats with corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis, and in animals where the lesion had been prevented either by a dietary magnesium supplement or by using a diet with a calcium:phosphorus ratio in excess of 1. At the single-nephron level, rats with nephrocalcinosis had prolonged tubular fluid transit times. Proximal transit time was 19.42 +/- 1.98 (mean +/- S.E. of mean) vs. 11.58 +/- 0.19 s for controls; distal transit time was 62.64 +/- 9.16 vs. 31.50 +/- 1.03 s for controls. Although single-nephron function is altered in nephrocalcin...
Muñoz-Prieto A, Llamas-Amor E, Cerón JJ, Hansen S.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a prevalent condition in horses, affecting up to 93% of racehorses. Comprising the equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and the equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), EGUS poses significant health challenges. Saliva, a non-invasive and easily obtainable sample, is increasingly recognized for its potential as a source of biomarkers in horses. This study investigates changes in saliva analytes using automated assays before and after EGUS treatment, aiming to identify biomarkers indicative of treatment success or failure. A total of 28 horses diagnosed ...
Korim F, Revajová V, Koľvek F, Bujňák L, Hreus S, Všianský D.The parotid duct has been reported to be the most common site of sialoliths in horses. In this case report, we described the first confirmed case of the equine sialolithiasis in Slovakia. The work was aimed to describe the transcutaneous approach to removing the sialolith, which manifested as a hard painless mass in the area of the maxillary cheek teeth, in a 14-year-old Slovakian warmblood mare. Pathological-anatomical and histological examination after extirpation confirmed the presence of parotid duct ectasia resulting from calculus. The mineral composition of the sialolith was determined w...
Correa-Piña BA, Castillo-Paz AM, Davila U, Rodriguez-Garcia ME.The aim of this work is to investigate the changes in the physicochemical properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) extracted from horse humerus bones of different ages (1, 3, 6, and 8 years) subjected to low temperature calcination (600°C). Thermal analysis revealed significant mass loss due to water, collagen, organic compounds, carbonates, and age-related magnesium out-diffusion. Higher fat content in older bones contributed to increased mass loss. Phosphorus content remained constant across age groups, while calcium and sodium showed age-related fluctuations. Magnesium levels decreased with ag...
