Many owners may find their veteran horses feel slightly ‘stiffer’ in their joints when being ridden. This may ease as they warm up into work or may be more severe and have an impact on their general gait and comfort. If your horse is showing the first stages of joint stiffness, it is always preferable to talk to your vet to develop a plan of action. However, there are other ways you can support their health, alongside standard medication and procedures.

Many owners will look towards feeding a joint supplement. The key ingredients to look out for are glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid. If you check the packaging, then you will get a table of ingredients where you can check the levels, per day, in milligrams. These supplements come in powder or liquid form and can be added to feed to support joint health and integrity.

Devil’s claw has long been used to support painful joint conditions and is available in liquid and powder form. It is important to note that devil’s claw is now an FEI prohibited substance, so can’t be fed to some competition horses. There is comprehensive information available on the FEI website regarding prohibited ingredients. Always seek guidance if you are at all unsure. http://fei.org/fei/cleansport/ad-h/prohibited-list

Oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also be fed to support stiff joints and maintain mobility. There are a range of oils available to feed, some are pure and some blend a few different types of oil together. Prices vary as do suggested feeding amounts and the amount of ‘good stuff’ each type of oil contains.

All supplements need to be introduced slowly into the diet and will need to be fed regularly over a period of time to get the maximum results. As with any health and feeding issue, it is important to keep a record of what is fed and when, but also discuss your plans with your vet or other equine care professional.

How do horses digest?

Horses are hindgut fermenters; this means that most feed digestion occurs in the hindgut, through the process of fermentation. Billions of naturally occurring bacteria and protozoa live in the hindgut and help to break down fibre, producing nutrients that fuel the horse. Normally a balanced gut has a mixture of good bacteria, with only a few harmful bacteria, however this can be easily disrupted. Factors such as low or no grass and hay intake, undigested starch entering the hindgut, sudden changes in diet, excessive workload, dehydration and stress can all upset the delicate gut balance. When this happens, horses can suffer from gas, acidosis, colic, ulcers and other health problems.

The way that a horse is managed can have an impact on gut function and levels of good and bad bacteria. Feeding two large feeds a day, or starchy processed food, goes against the way the horse’s gut works.

What and how to feed?

There are many pre and probiotic supplements available that can support the equine gut and re-balance good and bad bacteria. However, there are some simple feeding tips and methods that can help to prevent and re-balance alongside additional supplements and veterinary care.

Forage – little and often

Fibre rich foods are easily digested and can provide the majority of the horse’s energy. Alfalfa is a great choice as it increases chewing time thereby encouraging more saliva production to neutralise acidity.

Grass chops or chaff, high fibre cubes and hay are also great fibre foods. As the well-known rule goes, feed little and often. This helps to maintain a healthy stomach acid balance, keeps the horse busy and supports his biology.

Trickle feed

‘Trickle’ feeding is important. By trickle feeding fibre, a horse will always have food in his stomach, so the acids that initiate the breakdown of food remain within normal, healthy levels. The amount of food that passes through the small intestine is also smaller and the digestive tract is kept functioning normally.

Feed low amounts of concentrate or starchy food

A horse that is trickle fed is unlikely to be very hungry and is less likely to bolt down food. The more quickly a horse eats, the faster food moves from the stomach and small intestine. The result is twofold: a horse won’t be able to properly digest all that is on offer nutritionally, and undigested starch reaches the hindgut. Starch in the hindgut interferes with the digestive processes and imbalances the natural digestive cycle.

Of course, performance horses and those in hard work often require an extra energy source in their diet. This can come from grains (as straights or mixes) or fats like oils. Just do your best to add these in a sympathetic manner and keep up the amount of forage you feed.

Ultimately horses may suffer from gut issues for all sorts of reasons and if you have concerns you should always seek a vet’s advice. However, following these simple rules will help your horse to maximise their digestion and means the money you invest in feeds isn’t wasted.

Vitamins and minerals in horse feeds are either derived directly from a specific ingredient or added to make the feed more nutritionally balanced. But what are the more common vitamins and minerals seen in feeds today?

Calcium and phosphorus are probably two of the most crucial mineral levels to take note of. They are essential in the development, maintenance and repair of a horse’s muscles and skeleton and are required in sufficient quantities to be able to do this. The ratios of both change according to your horse’s age or ‘job’ so, for example, feed for lactating mares will be higher in calcium in order to support milk production.

When working out feed rations and diet plans, do not let the facts and figures worry you. Many feed companies have advice lines that can offer support and also offer feeding guidelines on their packaging.

Copper, zinc and selenium are minerals that are required in smaller quantities.

Zinc and copper can play a large part in supporting the orthopaedic development in young horses and are nearly always added to feeds for youngstock and broodmares.

Selenium supports the immune system and reproductive health. However, it can be toxic, so extremely low levels are fed. It is useful to note if you see selenium (Se) listed on the ingredients as you may decide not to feed other additional supplements that also include this mineral.

Vitamin A is not found in any major quantities in grains and is usually obtained from hay and forage. It helps to support bone and muscle growth, reproductive health and skin. Older hay will have a reduced rate of vitamin A so it may need supplementing, depending on the quality and accessibility to hay and grazing. 

B-vitamins include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and folic acid.  These vitamins function in nearly every chemical reaction within the body. They are critical in metabolism, growth, and energy generation.  So, for example, a horse with low energy may need a B vitamin boost.

Vitamin E is another essential nutrient for horses and is often used in nutritionally balanced feeds. Its primary function in your horse's body is as an anti-oxidant. Because of this, vitamin E appears to be most beneficial to young rapidly growing foals, pregnant mares, stallions and performance horses or those in recovery.

Although there are many other vitamins and minerals that a feed company may choose to add, the ones above are key ingredients owners should be aware of when choosing a balanced and health promoting feed for their horses.