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This title was brought to mind by a wise old surgery lecturer at veterinary
college. It applies here!
I think I’ve heard more opinions on the subject of feeding horses than any
other single subject I know. Everybody has a tale to tell. This says two things
to me: a) None of them are right, and b) There is no one system that will suit
every individual horse.
Saying that I am about to offer my opinion on the topic! Here are my basic
assumptions:
Horses are generally fed excess grain, sugar and calories for the type of
work being asked of them.
Otherwise the diet is usually adequate in most cases.
“Most horses have a weight problem”.
Light to medium work horses (hacks, show ponies, weekend competition
animals) need a diet based on long fibre (hay and grass) and little else.
Heavy working horses (eventers, polo ponies, race horses) need a diet
based on long fibre, but with energy supplementation to make up for the
exercise demand.
Most horses are stressed (diet, housing, disease, socialisation or lack of
socialisation, back or teeth pain, poorly fitting tack etc.) and are on poor
grazing or have suboptimal hay, they therefore need a good all round mineral
and vitamin supplement.
Given the above diet-related assumptions, it is not surprising that the problems
we most commonly see in our equine companions are laminitis, colic, teeth and
temperament.
When I look at any equine problem, I like to scrutinise the diet. Horses are
designed to be out grazing on the savannah, free from negative stress, trickle
feeding for most of the day on grasses, weeds and herbs not concentrated
cereals.
I will be looking to manipulate aspects of the horses diet and environment to
promote health. If you allow horses to look after themselves, they will do it
tremendously. They have after all, been doing it for thousands of years longer
than you.
The copyright of this article remains with Nick Thompson and Holistic Vet and is
published with his kind permission.
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