Feeding & Behaviour (Elementary Level)

Read the following information and then complete the quiz questions at the end of the page to test your knowledge and earn AMTRA points.

This resource will introduce you to the following topics:

• Feeding the fizzy horse
  • Why are they fizzy?
  • What are the nutritional links?
  • Evaluating feeds to avoid the fizz
• Feeding the lazy horse
  • Why are they lazy?
  • What are the nutritional links?

Feeding the fizzy horse

Why are they fizzy?

• It’s not always the feed!
• Pain can significantly alter the behaviour of the horse, including making them more reactive.
• Check for sources of pain, e.g., tack, teeth, musculoskeletal problems and gastric ulcers.
• Hormones can influence a mare’s behaviour.
• Management factors such as increased stable time and lack of turnout can be significant.
• Even changes in weather and windy conditions can have an impact!

Can diet choice influence behaviour?

• There is a link between diet and behaviour.
• To encourage a calmer temperament, choose feeds based on ‘slow-release’ rather than ‘quick-release’ energy sources.
• Slow-release energy comes from feeds that are based on predominantly fibre and oil and that are low in starch and sugar.
• Quick-release energy comes from starch and sugar and has the potential to make the horse more energetic if fed in significant amounts.
• An equine nutritionist will be able to advise on suitable options for individuals with trickier temperaments.

Identifying suitable feeds for the fizzy horse

• Levels of sugar and starch aren’t always listed on the feed bag unless the packaging makes a claim that the product is low in sugar and starch.
• There’s currently no universal definition for low sugar and low starch.
• One way to determine how sugary and starchy a feed may be is to look at the ingredients list.
• Ingredients are listed in order of inclusion and so if oats or barley are at the top of the list, the product is likely to be high starch.
• The feed manufacturer should also be able to provide you with sugar and starch levels in their products on request.

Can we supply enough energy with fibre alone for a horse to gain weight or perform?

People often believe that for a horse to gain weight or perform they need to be fed cereal based concentrates – this simply isn’t true.

• Start with forage – it makes up a large proportion of the total ration so better quality forage will make a greater contribution to overall requirements.
• Use digestible sources of fibre and oil in the bucket feed for slow-release energy.
• Dengie Alfa-A Oil provides 12.5MJ/kg of digestible energy which is equivalent to a conditioning mix or cube, but with around 10 times less starch.

Feeding the lazy horse

Why are they lazy?

• Can it be solved by feed? In many cases no, unless we have a performance horse that is literally running out of energy.
• Feed isn’t likely to be the answer. Pain, fitness and enthusiasm for the work all have a role to play.

What are the nutritional links?

Is the horse overweight?

• Being overweight can influence fitness, especially stamina and enthusiasm for work.
• If the horse is overweight, encouraging weight loss and improving fitness will most significantly improve energy levels.
• Horse owners tend to underestimate their horse’s bodyweight so fat scoring and weigh taping regularly are key ways to keep an eye on what’s going on.

Is the horse underweight?

• If a horse is lethargic and underweight, restoring the horse to a healthy weight by finding and addressing the underlying cause and increasing calorie intake is likely to improve energy levels again.

Is the horse’s ration balanced?

• Vitamins and minerals are integral components for energy metabolism.
• UK pasture and conserved forage commonly lacks the trace minerals copper, selenium and zinc. Conserved forage also lacks vitamin E.
• For horses on a forage-only diet, a vitamin and mineral supplement or balancer will be required.
• A feed fortified with vitamins and minerals such as a mix, cube or a Dengie Healthy range product will only balance the ration when fed at the recommended quantity.

Is the horse fed electrolytes?

• Forage lacks the electrolyte sodium.
• Electrolytes are found in sweat and so horses in work lose increasing amounts the more they sweat.
• Horses that are deficient in electrolytes may fatigue more quickly.
• Electrolytes should be supplemented daily for those in training and competing.
• Sodium can be supplemented by adding table salt to a horse’s diet; commercial electrolyte supplements also tend to contain other electrolytes such as potassium.

Summary

• Feed isn’t always to blame for over-excitability, or the solution to lethargy.
• Keep the horse at a healthy weight and ensure a balanced ration including electrolytes.
• Exercise is great for keeping an over-excitable horse calm and improving the fitness of a ‘lazy’ horse. electrolyte supplements also tend to contain other electrolytes such as potassium.

Test your Nutrition Knowledge!

It’s now time to put into practice what you have learnt about feeding and behaviour. Answer all the questions below correctly to receive your Dengie Nutrition Certificate, plus you can earn TWO AMTRA Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) points. To ensure your points are awarded please make sure that you include your unique AMTRA number in the box provided with your details.