 Feeding your Horse in Spain
Basic Concepts of Horse Nutrition by Anne Rodiek. Ph.D.
1. Horses cannot tolerate large amounts of soluble carbohydrate (grain) in their diet. Soluble carbohydrate reaching the large intestine will be fermented rapidly by microbes, leading to massive acid production, decreased pH, microbial death, toxin production, and possible, endotoxemia, colic and laminitis. The high nutrient requirement of working, lactating and growing horses requires that a substantial nutritional requirement, particularly energy, be met by good quality forage.
2. Horses eat to meet their energy needs. They also eat to meet a level of gut fill, required for digestive tract and microbe health. Horses whose energy needs are met with feeds of insufficient bulk (too energy dense) will continue to seek food to fill their digestive tract.
3. The average horse will eat about 2% of its body weight daily (1.5 to 3.0% range) of dry (as fed) feed. A horse that weighs 1100 lbs. (average 15 hand Quarter Horse) will eat about 22 lbs. of dry feed (hay) each day.
4. Horses need a forage based ration. At least 50% of the ration, or at least 1% of body weight must be consumed as forage each day (important for gut fill, for nutrition and health of large intestine microbes, as a reservoir of water in the body, and to maintain digestive tract pH).
The above is an abstract taken from an article written by Anne Rodiek, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Education, California State University
Quality Horse Feeds
 Fast Fibre is an ideal feed for all horses and ponies, in particular natives, good doers, horses with de ntal problems and others who can't or won't eat much hay / haylage, fizzy horses, horses prone to tying-up / azoturia, laminitis or those that suffer from Cushing's syndrome, or any horse or pony that requires a high fibre, low starch, low sugar diet. (Fast Fibre should be mixed with twice as much water to feed and allowed to soak for 30-60 seconds before feeding and any changes to the diet should be made over several days).
Is Fast Fibre Suitable for my Horse?
Good doers/natives - Yes, Fast Fibre is low calorie but still contains all the vitamins and minerals your horse needs and is more palatable than a chaff.
Poor doers and horses that need to gain weight - Yes, although Fast Fibre is low calorie it can be fed in quite large quantities if necessary to boost calorie intake. It is also very palatable and fibre is an excellent source of slow release energy that is very effective at putting on weight and condition.
Fussy feeders - Yes, Fast Fibre contains mint, garlic and also fenugreek, an appetite stimulant to make it extremely palatable.
Fizzy or excitable horses/ponies - Yes, Fast Fibre is cereal and molasses free, ingredients which can often lead to fizzy behaviour. The starch and sugar content is very low and instead the energy it provides comes from the high fibre content which supplies the horse with slow release (stamina) energy which is less likely to cause fizzy/excitable behaviour.
Horses & ponies at rest or in light work - Yes, as Fast Fibre is a low energy feed it is ideal for horses in light work or those at rest and due to it being cereal and molasses free is less likely to cause excitable behaviour.
Competition horses - Yes, often competition horses tend to receive diets that are low in fibre but high in starch, feeding Fast Fibre can help to boost the fibre intake and keep the digestive system healthy.
Horses & ponies prone to laminitis or Cushing’s and Equine Metabolic Syndrome sufferers -Yes, being molasses and cereal free Fast Fibre is very low in starch and sugar but high in fibre and provides all the vitamins and minerals your horse needs.
Horses prone to tying up/equine rhabdomyolysis syndrome/polysaccharide storage myopathy -Yes, Fast Fibre is cereal and molasses free making it very low in starch and sugar and high in fibre.
Horses with gastric ulcers/prone to digestive upsets -Yes, a high fibre diet is very important in these cases to keep the digestive system healthy.
Older horses or those with dental problems - Yes, Fast Fibre will form a soft, palatable mash that requires very little chewing. Fast Fibre can be used to top up fibre intake or as a hay replacer if necessary in horses that can no longer manage hay/haylage/grass.
Horses and ponies with liver problems-yes, these types of horses need a diet that is low in protein and fat (oil). Fast Fibre has a low protein content of 8% and is also low in oil.
Horses on box rest - Yes, Fast Fibre is low calorie and will not provide your horse with too much energy while he cannot exercise. Fast Fibre also contains all the vitamins and minerals your horse needs and is very palatable and ideal for mixing medication into.
Youngsters - Yes, Fast Fibre is ideal for native types and good doers who do not require a high powered stud feed, Fast Fibre can also be fed alongside stud and young stock feeds to boost fibre intake.
Donkeys - Yes, its high fibre, low starch content makes Fast Fibre ideal for donkeys.
What makes Fast Fibre different?
- Unique quick soak - 30-60 seconds - means that feed is always fresh and mimics the horse's natural diet
- Vegetarian Society Approved - no animal by products or hidden 'nasties'
- Made from high quality Non GM ingredients in a drug free mill
- Much higher fibre content than traditional high fibre cubes/pellets
- Molasses, cereal and alfalfa free - suitable for horses with intolerances
- Very low starch and sugar content
- Contains a full range of vitamins & minerals - no need for additional supplements/balancers
- Contains yeast for digestive health as well as mint and garlic that act as natural prebiotics
- Mint and fenugreek for added palatability
- Can be fed on its own or with other feedstuffs
- Can be used as a hay/haylage replacer or to make hay last longer
Nutritional Analysis:
Oil
Protein
Fibre
Estimated DE
Starch
Sugar
2.5 % 8.5% 27.0 % 8.0 MJ/kg 5.0 % VERY LOW 2.0% LOW
Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Calcium Phosphorous Copper
10,000 lU/kg 1500IU/kg 100IU/kg 1.1% 0.4% 7mg/kg
Ingredients:
Cereal Straw
Unmolassed Sugar Beet
Grass
Oat fibre
Linseed
Limestone flour
Salt
Vitamins and Minerals
Mint
Yeast Fenugreek
Garlic natural
- fibre source provides fibre for a healthy gut and to satisfy appetite without excess calories
- highly digestible fibre, slow-release energy source.
- protein & fibre source.
- digestible fibre source
- provides a concentrated source of calories, and omega -3 oils for a healthy skin, and a glossy coat
- calcium source.
- provides essential electrolytes
- the vitamin & mineral supplement in these feeds provides Vitamin A, Vitamin D3> Vitamin E, Copper, Selenium, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Nicotinic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamins B1f B2, B6, B12, Biotin, Iodine, Cobalt, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Calcium and Magnesium.
- has a natural pre-biotic effect, creating the right environment for bacteria to grow
- supplies a natural bio-available source of vitamins
- very palatable and stimulates appetite
- rich in sulphur, aids digestion by supporting the development of gut flora, whilst killing pathogens
As well as the Fast Fibre, Allen & Page offer a full range of feeds, carefully tailored to meet your horse's individual needs. For more information or advice on horse feeds, go to the Allen & Page website or contact me, Sue at Easy Horse Care, on (0034) 652 021 980
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Horse Feeds
