The importance of equine nutrition

Equine nutrition is important for all horses, not just for performance horses. A horse’s nutritional needs change throughout their life from birth through starting, working and finally their golden senior years. Ensuring that your horse’s nutritional needs are met throughout their life will help keep your horse healthy, happy and allow their bodies to function at their best. 

There are six classes of nutrients (defined as any component of food that is necessary for the support of life) that are essential for your horse: water, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals. Your horse needs the right balance of these nutrients to support their muscles, bones, organs, brain and other components. Did you know your horse’s body consisting of 70-75% water? 

Water is necessary for all the metabolic processes that convert food into energy. It Is also an important component of body temperature control. A horse needs to drink between 5 and 15 gallons of water per day, depending on the temperature, work, humidity and other factors. Clean, drinkable water should always be available to your horse. 

Protein, specifically certain amino acids in the protein, are the building blocks for making muscle, connective tissue, skin, hooves, hair, hormones, enzymes and many other substances in the horse’s body. Out of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins, 10 are considered essential, with Lysine considered as the first “limiting” amino acid. If lysine is not available in adequate amounts, then the body cannot make all the proteins it needs to function properly. 

Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for the cells in your horse. Fiber is also necessary to keep the intestines moving and functioning properly. Carbohydrates are broken down into non-structural and structural carbohydrates. Structural carbohydrates such as lignin, cellulose, hemi-cellulose and insoluble fibers require the healthy bacteria in the horse’s gut to be broken down. Non-structural carbohydrates include several types of sugars as well as starch. Fats are necessary for making cell membranes, and to carry certain fat-soluble vitamins from food into the body. Fat requirements have not been established in the horse, however studies have shown many health benefits in adding omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to the horse’s diet. Fats are more energy dense than carbohydrates, so they are a great choice for providing additional calories to help horses in hard work or who need to gain weight. 

Vitamins are organic elements that the body requires in small amounts for proper metabolic function and prevention of certain diseases. Vitamins can either be fat- or water-soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Water soluble vitamins are the B vitamins and vitamin C. Gut bacteria in horses make some of these vitamins, but not all. Senior horses are less efficient at producing vitamins and may require more supplementation than younger horses. Stress from injury, illness, transport or certain GI conditions can interrupt the normal gut bacteria and reduce the quantity of vitamins they produce, so supplementation may be needed in these cases too. 

Minerals are inorganic elements that are necessary for certain functions in the body. There are two categories of minerals: macrominerals and micro or trace minerals. Macrominerals include sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S). It is important to note that many of the macrominerals are considered as electrolytes. Trace minerals include selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iodine (I), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). Your horse’s needs for these six essential nutrients change with age, work, breeding status, and different health conditions (Cushings, tying-up, ulcers, equine metabolic syndrome, etc). Having your hay, pasture or other forage tested is the only way to know the nutrient content of that forage. Ensuring your horse receives adequate amounts of these nutrients will help ensure your horse lives a long, healthy life, mitigating certain disease risks, and providing their bodies with everything they need to perform at their best.