Horse Digestion

Pure Feed and Thrive Feed  –  The Natural Solution for Horses

Introduction

In 1985 following a 3 year course in Agriculture I questioned why horses were being fed diets of straights (Oats, barley, bran) when farm animals were being fed scientific diets for performance.  Why I asked myself were we not feeding horses for performance too? I started to read David Frape’s book on horse digestion and soon became immersed in a passion for learning about the unique metabolism of the horse. Since then feed companies have sought to capture the market initially producing feeds based on farming principles and only relatively recently acknowledging the unique digestive system and reducing sugar and starch levels and increasing fibre.

Many horse owners swayed by clever marketing follow brands and mix feeds according to their knowledge of their horse and its particular requirements.

There are some feed companies that stand out to me as ones that have based their feeds around the requirements of the horse rather than those of the owners.

At Stockley Outdoor & Equestrian we have chosen to follow 2 of these:

Pure Feed and Dale Moulton’s Thrive Feed.

If I had run a feed company, it would have produced feed just like Pure Feed.  Dale Moulton has gone even further and following a lifetime’s passion has in my mind developed the ultimate horse feed.

The Horses’ Digestive System

Horses are herbivores that have evolved a unique digestive system adapted to break down cellulose and extract nutrients from it. Horses have a relatively small stomach and a large caecum and colon, which allow for slow and thorough fermentation of fibrous plant material. It’s essential to feed horses a diet that is appropriate for their digestive system; one that is primarily composed of high-fibre forage. If you need to add additional calories to your horse’s diet, it’s best to do so with fats or high-fibre feeds, such as beet pulp, rather than high-starch grains such as oats and barley. High starch levels cause blood sugar instability and horses have a much lower tolerance to blood sugar instability than humans. Stable blood sugar is not only paramount for health, energy, and longevity but also affects behaviour.  This article delves into the significance of starch in a horse’s diet, its recommended quantity, and the potential dangers of feeding high-starch diets.

Understanding Starch in a Horse’s Diet?

Starch is a complex carbohydrate that is broken down by enzymes into simple sugars in the small intestine.

The Role of Enzymes:  Enzymes are the molecular workhorses that facilitate the transformation of starch into simpler, more readily usable forms. In the context of starch digestion, two critical enzymes come into play:

• Amylase: Amylase is an enzyme produced in various parts of the horse’s digestive system, including the salivary glands and the pancreas. The salivary amylase is secreted into the mouth, where it begins the initial stages of starch digestion as the horse chews its feed. However, the primary amylase activity takes place in the small intestine, where pancreatic amylase is released.
• Maltase and Isomaltase: These enzymes work in tandem to further break down the partially digested starch molecules into simple sugars like glucose. These enzymes are located on the brush border of the small intestine’s absorptive cells, which are specialised for nutrient absorption.

The Starch Breakdown Process:  The process begins in the horse’s mouth as it chews its feed. Salivary amylase initiates the breakdown of starch into shorter carbohydrate chains known as dextrin.  The partially digested feed then enters the horse’s stomach. However, starch digestion temporarily pauses here because the stomach’s acidic environment isn’t conducive to the activity of amylase enzymes.  Once the feed passes into the small intestine, it encounters a more neutral pH environment. This is where pancreatic amylase takes centre stage. Pancreatic amylase further breaks down the dextrins into maltose, a disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules, and other simple sugars.  As the maltose and other smaller sugar molecules are produced, they are absorbed across the intestinal wall. This is where maltase and isomaltase, located on the brush border of the absorptive cells, come into play. They split the maltose into individual glucose molecules, which can be readily absorbed into the bloodstream.

The Significance of Starch Digestion

This intricate process of starch digestion is critical for providing horses with the energy they need for various activities, from grazing and foraging to athletic performance. The enzymatic breakdown of starch ensures that the horse’s body can efficiently convert this complex carbohydrate into glucose, which is the primary fuel source for muscles, organs, and various metabolic processes.

Recommended Starch Levels

The ideal starch and sugar levels in a horse’s diet depend on various factors, including age, activity level, and overall health. As a general guideline, it is advisable to aim for a feed that contains less than 10% combined starch and sugar.  Its therefore essential to manage starch intake carefully, as excessive starch in the diet can overwhelm the digestive system.

The Dangers of Feeding a High Starch Diet

When excess starch is fed that cannot be converted into simple sugars in the horse’s small intestine it passes undigested into the caecum and colon. When this happens, the undigested starch can cause a rapid fermentation of the fibrous material in the hindgut, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and an increase in the production of lactic acid. The lactic acid can lower the pH in the hindgut, leading to a condition called hindgut acidosis. Hindgut acidosis can cause gastro-intestinal inflammation and damage to the lining of the hindgut which can lead to colic, laminitis, and diarrhoea.

While hindgut acidosis and gastric ulcers are distinct conditions, they can be interconnected. Hindgut acidosis, characterised by hindgut inflammation and damage, can indirectly influence stomach health by altering pH levels and bacterial populations. Additionally, high-starch diets can stimulate gastric acid production and decrease stomach lining protection, increasing the risk of ulcers.

In addition to hindgut acidosis, a high starch diet can also cause insulin resistance, which is a condition where the horse’s body becomes less responsive to insulin. In simple terms the alcohol spikes the blood sugar, which in turn drives cortisol outside its normal reference range producing a state of relative catabolism. Unfortunately, blood sugar imbalances are getting increasingly common because of highly processed feeds.  These imbalances lead to insulin resistance and can also contribute to laminitis and obesity, decreased energy, skin issues, allergic reactions, or decreases in body weight, especially muscle mass.

In conclusion diets with more than a combined 15% sugar and starch can be the root cause of the following conditions:

• Laminitis: Horses consuming such diets are at an increased risk of laminitis, a painful hoof condition leading to lameness.
• Insulin Resistance: Metabolic disorders like equine metabolic syndrome and Cushing’s disease can result from high-starch and sugar diets.
• Weight Gain: These diets can be calorie-dense, leading to obesity if not balanced with exercise and dietary management.
• Behavioural Issues: Horses on high-starch and sugar diets may exhibit behavioural changes, including hyperactivity or lethargy.

In general, it’s advisable to limit the combined starch and sugar content of horse feed to 10%.

Dietary Control of Gastric Ulcers

Diet plays an important role in both the prevention and treatment of horse ulcers. A well-balanced diet that is appropriate for the horse’s individual needs can help maintain the health of the digestive system and reduce the risk of ulcer development.  Feeding practices that can help control horse ulcers include:

• Providing frequent, small meals: Horses are natural grazers and have evolved to eat small amounts of forage frequently throughout the day. Providing frequent, small meals can help buffer the stomach acid and reduce the risk of irritation and ulcer development.
• Low Starch & Sugar Diet: As explained feeding a high starch diet has been linked to an increased risk of gastric ulcers in horses. Reducing starch and increasing forage intake can help maintain a healthy digestive system and reduce the risk of ulcer development.
• Providing access to forage: Providing access to forage throughout the day is an important part of maintaining the health of the digestive system. Forage provides fibre that helps maintain the health of the hindgut and stimulates saliva production, which helps buffer the stomach acid.
• Avoiding abrupt changes to the diet: Abrupt changes to the diet can disrupt the microbial population in the digestive system and increase the risk of digestive upset and ulcer development. Any changes to the horse’s diet should be made gradually over several days or weeks.
• Managing stress: Stress has been linked to an increased risk of ulcer development in horses. Managing stress through appropriate management practices, such as providing turnout time and socialization, can help reduce the risk of ulcer development.

Pure Feed – A Dietary Solution

Pure Feed is a company specialising in horse feed made from high-quality, natural, palatable ingredients. It aims to balance a horse’s diet by providing essential nutrients, fibre, and calories. Pure Feed is designed to promote stable blood sugar levels, mirroring a grazing animal’s natural diet. It contains no molasses and maintains low starch and sugar levels, typically less than 10% combined. You choose what you do with your horse and there is an equivalent feed with matching energy and support to go alongside.  If you are looking for a feed without Alfalfa, then Pure Feed is the one for you.

Benefits of Pure Feed

• Improved Digestion: Pure Feed’s digestible composition enhances overall digestive health, reducing the risk of digestive issues such as hindgut acidiosis, colic and gastric ulcers.
• Enhanced Nutritional Profile: With a blend of high-quality ingredients and herbs, Pure Feed improves nutritional content, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for horse well-being.
• Reduced Risk of Laminitis: Low starch and sugar content in Pure Feed help mitigate the risk of laminitis in susceptible horses.
• Improved Coat and Hoof Health: Natural ingredients in Pure Feed promote healthy coat and hoof growth, preventing issues like dry, brittle hooves or a dull coat.
• Increased Energy: Pure Feed provides the necessary energy for optimal performance without causing abrupt energy spikes that can lead to behavioural problems.

Thrive Feed – The Ultimate Choice

Thrive Feed is more than just a horse feed; it is the answer to every trainer’s dream—a feed that fosters focus, relaxation, and controlled energy in our horses.

At the heart of Thrive Feed lies a profound understanding of the horse’s digestive system and its unique dietary needs. This exceptional equine nutrition product is the culmination of a lifetime’s devotion, with Dale Moulton at the helm. It is a feed that perfectly mimics the natural equine diet. Rather than causing disruption, this feed has been designed to foster harmony, ensuring horses receive the nutrition they need to thrive.

When horses consume Thrive Feed, their bodies recognise it as a mirror image of what a wild horse would find in its natural habitat – native vegetation like grasses, leaves, weeds, and bark. This innovative feed, therefore, offers a nutritionally balanced solution that connects horses with their evolutionary dietary roots. Thrive Feed’s success is not driven by magic or hidden ingredients but by its ability to deliver consistent and impressive results.

One of Thrive Feed’s remarkable attributes is its ability to transform horses, instilling in them a newfound sense of focus and tranquillity, all while maintaining controlled and dynamic energy levels. Owners have marvelled at the rapid transformation of unbroken horses after just two weeks of Thrive Feed introduction, leading to soft and relaxed riding within a week or so. The key revelation in this transformation is the acknowledgment that nutrition often takes precedence as the overlooked first step in the training journey for both trainers and vets.

Conclusion

At Stockley we understand the role of starch in a horse’s diet, and why it is crucial for their overall health. Maintaining appropriate starch levels and following dietary guidelines can help prevent issues like hindgut acidosis, gastric ulcers, and related health complications. Products like Pure Feed offer a balanced, low-starch alternative to support a horse’s well-being, emphasising the importance of a suitable diet tailored to individual needs.

JRM Sept 2023