Equine Nutrition

We know we aren't experts in Equine Nutrition, so we contacted an Equine Nutritionist, Bob Coleman, an Extension Horse Specialist at the University of Kentucky, for his opinion on our treats. We have used ingredients that are safe for horses, so we passed! Additionally, our treats contain no additives, preservatives or artificial colorings. One of the questions we asked was if there was a limit to how many treats a horse should have. Please remember that horse treats should be used to reinforce positive behaviors and limit them accordingly. These treats are not a replacement for a horse's daily nutritional requirements.

Compared to most livestock, the horse has a very unique digestive system that is prone to twisting and impaction which can lead to severe digestive disorders. They have a very small stomach which comprises only about 10% of their entire digestive tract. The small size of their stomach requires horses to eat very small amounts continuously. Most digestion occurs in the small intestine within 2-4 hours of eating. Then it is passed through the cecum and colon where digestion is very slow. Food may take several days to pass through the cecum and colon following eating.

Each horse's diet is different. Stable owners work with vets to determine the correct diet for each horse. A horses's daily diet is determined by the horse's body score, current weight, daily activity level, amount of time allowed to graze or stalled, age, etc. Usually, horses are fed a combination of forage and commercial feed daily. Forage (pastureland grasses and/or hay) is a required source of fiber and it fulfills the horse's need to chew. A horse which consumes an all forage diet will eat between 1-2% of their body weight per day (1000 pound horse=15 to 20 pounds of forage). Most horses are fed a small ration of commercially prepared feeds or grains to assure that each horse receives the proper amount of daily nutrition. Horse treats ... well, that's extra, so do not overfeed!

An adequate supply of good-quality clean water is essential for horses. Generally, a horses needs to drink about a liter of water for every pound of dry forage/feed given. This amount can increase 2 to 3 times as much with physical activity and high temperatures/humdity.

You must be able to estimate a horse's weight to determine feed requirements. Most stable owners use a weight tape in pounds or they measure heart girth and length to estimate weight using a formula.

To accurately determine your horse's body score, you must be able to understand the lingo.

BODY SCORES TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF HORSES

1: POOR Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae, and ischii projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt

2: VERY THIN Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse process of lumbar vertebrae well rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tuber coxae and ischii prominent; withers, shoulders, and neck structures faintly discernible

3: THIN Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes and ribs easily discernible; tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be easily discernible; tuber ischii appear rounded but distinquishable; withers, shoulders, and neck accentuated

4: MODERATELY THIN Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae not discernible; withers shoulders, and neck not obviously thin

5: MODERATE Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinquishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body

6: MODERATELY FLESHY May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along side of withers, behind shoulders and along side of neck

7: FLESHY May have slight crease down back; iindividual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behing shoulders, and along neck

8: FAT Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; aft around tailhead very soft; area around withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thigh

9: EXTREMELY FAT Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders; and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat