Feeding your Horse for Health

Introduction

As horse owners we are becoming more aware that a great number of horse health and behaviour issues are related to what their horses eat.

Healthy digestion is paramount to avoiding Gastric Ulcers, Colic, and other problems.

At Stockley we take a holistic approach to our nutritional advice. It is all about your horse and we do not follow marketing trends by the feed companies. We are all about Natural Feeding.

What is Natural Feeding?

Horses were never meant to live in the conditions we subject them to as owners. They are nomadic, opportunistic foragers of plant based food. When in a feral, natural state they live on grasses, leaves, twigs, bark, roots, wood, fruits, seeds in small quantities and weeds.

Working within the boundaries of a horse’s metabolism is the key to success. You can feed your horse normal horse feed and they can look shiny and healthy, but what’s going on inside your horse may be a very different story.

Natural feeding is supportive to the horse and based on high-quality forage, restoring the homeostasis that compensates for their captivity. Low carbohydrate levels are crucial for the horse to ensure stable blood sugar levels.

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 Natural Feeding.  The horse feed they produce is 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.

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