Posted: 27th May 2015 | Back to news feed
I am a regular competitor at Riding Club level and compete in showing and dressage classes. Monty, my horse is a 15.2hh middleweight type and eight-years-old. On the whole he looks in good condition but I could just do with a bit of extra bloom on his coat for the show season. Can you help?
Senior Nutritionist at Equerry Horse Feeds, Louise Jones answers…
Coat condition is a reflection of general health and a scurfy or dull coat can occur for several reasons, not all of which are related to nutrition. However, diet does play an important role in achieving a shiny, gleaming coat. The most important nutrients to consider are:
Protein:
95% of a strand of hair is keratin, an insoluble protein made up of a chain of amino acids. The sequence of these amino acids determines whether the keratin has ‘hard’ (i.e. hooves and hair) or ‘soft’ (i.e. skin) properties. Both essential and non-essential amino acids are important for coat condition. However, as the essential amino acids (e.g. lysine and methionine) cannot be synthesised in the body they must be provided in the bucket-feed. All Equerry feeds contain quality protein and good levels of the essential amino acids.
Vitamins & Minerals:
Vitamin and minerals also play an important role in coat and skin condition. Deficiencies in B-vitamins, such as biotin, can cause the hair to become fine and brittle, whilst low levels of dietary minerals, such as zinc and copper, can slow hair growth and affect hair colour. Provided you feed the recommended daily amount of any Equerry feed, plus adequate forage, Monty will receive optimal levels of all the vital vitamins and minerals.
Fat:
It is common practice to add a little oil to the diet of horses when trying to improve coat condition. The exact quantity and type of oil needed to achieve best results remains unknown. However, linseed oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, is particularly popular and in many cases does appear to be beneficial. As liquid oil can be unpalatable so it is often better to choose a bucket-feed that already contains high levels of oil.
By far the best way to provide Monty with the nutrients he need for coat condition is to feed a well-balanced hard feed and the most appropriate feed will depends on his individual needs. However, the Equerry conditioning range, which includes Conditioning Cubes, Conditioning Mix and Condition Cooler Mash, are particularly popular when horses need to look their very best.
These carefully formulated feeds provide good levels of essential amino acids, high levels of oil, plus all the essential vitamins and minerals. Feeds in the Equerry conditioning range will help to promote show condition and encourage topline development, whilst also ensuring that your horse has a beautiful, shiny coat.
For more information contact Equerry Horse Feeds on 01845 565640 or visit www.equerryhorsefeeds.com
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