Posted: 12th May 2015 | Back to news feed
My horse can get very excited at times and I am wondering if analysing his diet may help. All advice much appreciated – Jane West. Senior Nutritionist at Equerry Horse Feeds, Louise Jones answers…
It sounds as if you are really struggling with your horse’s over-exuberant behaviour! Although you cannot change a highly strung horse into a laid-back individual, feeding an appropriate diet can help to minimise excitable behaviour. Increasing turn-out time and sticking to a regular daily routine will also help to relax an excitable horse
When assessing your horse’s diet the first thing to consider is the type of energy you are feeding. Cereal starch and sugar provide what is commonly known as ‘heating’ energy and this can result in some horses becoming fizzy. On the other hand, digestible fibre is fermented in the horse’s hind-gut and its energy is released gradually over a long period of time. Energy from fibre and oil is commonly referred to as ‘Non-Heating’ or ‘slow-releasing’ and can be particularly useful when feeding the high-spirited horse.
Ideally, you should provide as much feed as possible as forage. In general you should always try to buy the best quality hay or haylage available as this will reduce the need for hard feed. However, for horses that maintain weight easily a late cut variety of hay, which can be soaked for 12hrs to further reduce its calorie and sugar content is ideal. It’s also important to remember that lush spring grass contains very high levels of sugar and this may exacerbate energetic behaviour.
When choosing a suitable hard feed look for a feed that contains controlled levels of starch and sugar. Luckily, there are a number of feeding in the Equerry range that fit this criteria. For horses at rest or in very light work Equerry High Fibre Cubes are ideal. These have been specifically formulated to be ‘Non-Heating’ and are completely cereal-grain free. For sharp or fizzy horses in light work Equerry Cool Cubes and Mix will provide a diet low in sugar and starch but high in fibre, whilst Equerry Horse & Pony Cubes are perfect for horses in medium work that need a cereal-grain free ration.
Excitable horses are often poor-doers as they tend to burn off more energy than laid-back individuals. In these cases Equerry Condition Cooler Mash is ideal. This palatable mash has been carefully formulated to promote condition by provide calories from ‘Non-Heating’ energy sources and contains just 12% starch. Equerry Condition Cooler Mash also contains added yeast to improve hindgut health and this may help to calm certain horses, perhaps by reduced acidity in the hindgut.
Several vitamins and minerals are important for your horse’s nervous system to function correctly. Studies in a variety of species have shown that low levels of vitamins and minerals are linked to anxiety. Optimal provision of B-vitamins, selenium, and magnesium are therefore though to be important when trying to minimise excitable behaviour. All Equerry feeds are fully supplemented with all the essential vitamins and minerals your horse needs.
If you are still struggling with your horse’s behaviour it may be worth trying a calming supplement. However, if you are competing always check the ingredients carefully as herbs such as valerian are banned under FEI rules. Finally, it’s also important to remember that pain due to lameness, ill-fitting tack or dental issues could be causing your horse to behave badly; always speak to your vet to rule out any underlying problem.
For more information contact Equerry Horse Feeds on 01845 565640 or visit www.equerryhorsefeeds.com
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