Protein

Protein is utilised by the adult horse for tissue and muscle development. A good level of protein will provide optimum body condition. It is particularly important for young and breeding horses, for growth, pregnancy and lactation.

Protein is broken down into chains of building blocks called amino acids. The horse is able to manufacture a certain amount of amino acids within the body, however, 'essential' amino acids must be provided in the diet. Some feed sources, for example full fat soya contain good quality amino acids such as lysine where as other feed sources, for example, cereals, contain lower quality amino acids. This is why many conditioning feeds containing soya are so effective at conditioning the underweight horse. Hickstead Condition Mix and Cubes have high levels of soya and are very effective for conditioning the underweight horse.

Stud rations, for example Hickstead Stud Mix, traditionally contain around 16% protein, much of this being provided by full fat soya. This high level of protein is imperative for smooth growth curves in the young horse as well as optimum foetal growth and milk quality in the pregnant and lactating mare.

Protein and energy should not be confused. Protein is not used extensively as an energy source and contrary to popular belief will not make a horse fizzy. Excess protein in the diet will be broken down in the liver and used as fat and/or excreted in the urine.

The horse will obtain energy from three different sources:

1. Fibre is the major source of energy, mainly due to the fact that it makes up the bulk of the diet. Energy is derived from the digestible source of fibre known as the insoluble carbohydrates; cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. These are not broken down by enzymes, but by the billions of beneficial bacteria present in the large intestine. This is a slow process, often taking up to 40 hours. During the digestion process, slow release thermal energy is created.

Several of the Hickstead Horse Feeds products such as Eventa Mix, Paddock Cubes and Hi Fibre Cubes, contain soya hulls, an excellent source of high digestible fibre, which when digested and absorbed by the gut, provides stamina energy, ideal for horses working over long periods, for example, hacking, endurance rides and eventing. Excess fibre in the diet will lead to weight gain and in some horses the presence of a 'hay belly', where as lack of fibre will cause weight loss, often accompanied by loose droppings and potential stereotypic behaviour caused by boredom.

2. Sugars and Starches are known as soluble carbohydrates and responsible for producing instant energy in the horse's diet. These carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes, mainly in the small intestine, resulting in glucose, a sugar which is readily accessible to the horse.

Sugars are present in all molassed feeds such as chaffs and sugar beet pulp, molasses typically containing 60% sugar. Sugar is also present in grass, with levels being highest in spring and early summer, often as high as 20%. A typical 15.2hh horse at grass will consume as much as 2.5kg of sugar a day - that is the equivalent of two and a half bags of sugar!

Starch is present in all cereals. Some cereals such as oats contain easily digestible starch and this is why it is sold just bruised or rolled. Other cereals such as barley and maize contain less digestible starch and in order to make it more accessible to the horse, the starch is cooked by several methods, namely steam flaking, micronising or extruding. This would be akin to us eating a raw potato compared to a jacket potato. Although out of all the cereals, oats has the lowest energy and maize the highest; oats can have an adverse effect on horse's energy levels due to the ease of starch digestion, absorption and utilisation.

3. Oil has traditionally not been a common ingredient in the horse's diet. Whereas humans consume high fat diets, horse diets usually only contain around 5% fat. Oil is a very concentrated form of energy, typically containing up to three times the energy of the same volume of carbohydrate.

It is an excellent conditioner and due to its slow digestion and absorption, is a great form of slow release energy. It is ideal for the fizzy, fussy horse requiring condition.

Oil is palatable and easily utilised by the horse. The Hickstead Horse Feed range is high in oil, thereby benefiting the horse.

Micronutrients, namely minerals and vitamins are essential for life. They are used in all body and metabolic functions.

It is common practice to add 'extras' in the form of minerals and vitamins to the diet. If the horse is fed recommended levels of a concentrate applicable to his current work level, he will not require any supplements. The Hickstead Horse Feed Range contains a high balanced level of minerals and supplements.

There are, however, certain times when a supplement is recommended:

1. When the horse is on a diet and fed only a token ration.
2. When the horse is grazing poor quality grass and receives no concentrates.
3. When a horse is working hard yet due to fizziness is receiving a lower energy concentrate than recommended.
4. When the horse is in box rest and recuperating from an illness.
5. For specific problems such as poor hoof quality, low levels of (for instance) selenium in the soil, when electrolytes are required due to high level of work.
6. All minerals and vitamins are inter-linked in the way they work and the addition of one mineral may well affect the absorption rate of another. An example would be high levels of phosphorus will adversely affect calcium absorption, even if the rate of calcium intake is at the recommended level.

Always speak to a nutritionist before adding a supplement to the horse's diet. You may be doing more harm than good, particularly if you add high levels of toxic minerals such as copper and selenium.