My horse eats dirt!
There are many reasons horses will eat dirt. Boredom and lack of forage are two examples. But, the main reason most horses eat dirt is for the minerals.
Minerals are not manufactured in the body or in the plants horses eat. Yes, there are minerals in bodies and plants, but they are not produced within the system. Minerals come from the soil.
Plants absorb minerals from the soil. Your horse then eats those plants (forage and grain)... or your horse cuts out the middleman and just eats the dirt.
The problem is the soil varies in mineral content. Different geographical regions have different minerals in the soil. Some regions have too much or too little.
Another problem is many of our horses are kept confined in a stall. These horses never have a chance to obtain minerals the natural way (by eating dirt or visiting the local natural salt lick).
Our horses depend on us to provide the needed minerals. We do this by providing a good quality concentrate, offering free choice loose salt and - in some extreme cases - feeding a mineral supplement.
Minerals interact with other minerals. One mineral may interfere with the absorption of other minerals. Extreme caution must be observed when supplementing with minerals. Imbalances and toxic levels are very possible.
Look at your feed tag. There should be four minerals listed: calcium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. There might be others, but these four are required by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
The calcium and phosphorus levels must be in the correct ratio. 1 to 1 ½ parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus is the ratio desired. Formulas for mature horses should contain about 0.70% calcium and 0.45% phosphorus. Feeds for growing horses and pregnant broodmares can be as high as 1% calcium and 0.65% phosphorus.
Copper and zinc are stated in parts per million (ppm). They are needed in very small amounts.
The copper amount could be as low as 35 ppm or as high as 55 ppm. Premium feeds designed for pregnant broodmares should have the higher amounts. Copper is very important to the developing fetus.
Zinc amounts will vary also. Some feeds might contain 140 ppm or have as much as 220 ppm.
Selenium is a very important mineral. It is deficient in many parts of the country. But, it is not required to be stated on the feed tag - though most companies do include it. The amount will vary from product to product. The average amount supplied will be approximately 0.3 ppm to 0.6 ppm. Once again, the formulas for pregnant broodmares should contain the higher amount.
I cannot stress enough the care that must be taken when offering mineral supplements. Unless you are working under the supervision of a veterinarian it is recommended to feed plenty of good quality forage, a commercial feed designed to compliment that forage and is designed for the age and work level of your horse. Also, make sure your horse has access to free choice loose white salt and fresh clean water.
Did you take your vitamins today? Did your horse get his? And if you did and he did, did you get too many vitamins?
Read the feed tag!
Vitamins are organic. That means they consist of living enzyme complexes. Vitamins are needed for building body tissue and extracting energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They help prevent diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. Vitamins also play an important part in the healing process. Some vitamins are also antioxidants. Antioxidants bind to free radicals and prevent them from destroying cells.
One thing to keep in mind when learning about vitamins is - a little goes a long way. Too much can do more harm than good. Products containing vitamins are some of the most oversold and misused supplements on the market.
Vitamins are classified in two groups: "fat soluble" and "water soluble".
Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. They dissolve in fat and any excess will be stored in the body fat and liver.
Vitamin C and the family of B vitamins are water-soluble. They dissolve in water and any excess is excreted in the urine. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored for future use.
Vitamins are provided to the horse in various ways. Some are synthesized (produced) within the horse's own digestive system; others are provided by the feed (grain, forage or supplements); and one (vitamin D) is provided by the sun.
Healthy adult horses grazing on green grass or eating plenty of good quality hay, while in the sun, generally receive all the vitamins they require. Unfortunately there are many horses that do not have access to this life style.
Performance horses, mares in the last 90 days of gestation, lactating mares, growing horses, seniors, horses with health problems and horses consuming poor quality feed may need vitamin supplementation. In most cases if you feed plenty of good quality forage, offer free choice salt and chose a concentrate designed for your horse (which you feed according to the feeding directions) a vitamin supplement will not be needed.
Take a look at your feed tag. You may notice it only lists one vitamin. Vitamin A is the only vitamin required to be stated on the tag by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Vitamin A does not naturally occur in grains used in the production of feed, so it must be added. There are other vitamins in the product, but they are not required to be listed on the tag.
Vitamins are stated in I.U. /lb. (International units per pound of feed). According to the National Research Council (1989) a 1,100 pound horse at a light work load has a requirement of about 22,000 International Units of vitamin A per day. The upper safe level of vitamin A is thought to be approximately 80,000 I.U. per day for a 1,100 pound horse. So, if you are feeding 10 pounds of grain per day that has 7,000 I.U./lb. you would be giving your horse 70,000 units of vitamin A. You would not want to add a supplement to your horse's diet that also contains vitamin A.
Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt, milk: ingredients to make a cake. Making horse feed is much like making a cake.
Look at the tag on the bag to see the ingredients.
Does the tag list grain products, plant protein products, processed grain products, forage products and roughage products? Or does it list corn, barley and oats?
There was a time, and many people still believe this, if the ingredient list stated the mix contained grain products, plant protein products, processed grain products, forage products and roughage products it was an inferior product. The reason for this belief was the term called Least Cost Formulation.
Least Cost Formulation allows the use of a lower priced ingredient to replace a higher priced ingredient in order to keep the price down. The nutrition in the feed remains constant, but the ingredients can change.
Today many reputable feed companies list the ingredients as "products" for other reasons.
Geographical Region: A large company that manufactures feed at different mills in the United States will use the "product" listing method because it allows them to use the grains available in the area without having to print numerous tags. A specific feed purchased in Ohio will have the same feed tag as one purchased in California - but the feed will be formulated for each region.
Nutritionally Accurate: Reputable companies frequently test ingredients for nutrition levels. The nutrient analysis in grains can fluctuate, so by using the "product" listing method amounts can be adjusted in order to keep the ration balanced.
Purina Mills has coined a term for this method of formulation: Constant Nutrition Formulation™. The ingredients in every batch of feed produced are adjusted so the nutrition is constant mix to mix. The feed tag is accurate.
Confidentiality: Reputable companies spend huge amounts of money on research, and in order to protect the feed from being copied by competing firms, the "product" listing method is used.
The bottom line when trying to decide if you want to feed the formula using the "product" listing method is the reputation of the manufacturer. Is it a reputable company that spends money on research, has research farms where the ration is being tested and has a support staff to help you with your questions?
Listing the ingredients by using the actual grain names is nice-it makes it easier for you to know exactly what is being used in the ration.
What is in grain products, plant protein products, processed grain products, forage products and roughage products? The ingredients used can be any or all contained in the list.
Grain products: barley, corn, oats, wheat, rice, rye.
Plant protein products: cottonseed meal, linseed meal, soybean meal, heat processed soybeans, cultured yeast.
Processed grain by-products: brewers dried grains, distillers dried grains, corn gluten meal, wheat middlings, rice or wheat bran.
Forage products: alfalfa meal, grass hay.
Roughage products: beet pulp, hulls (barley, oat, peanut or rice).
Generally the ingredients are listed according to the amounts in the mix. The first one listed is the greatest amount and the last one listed is the least.
The ingredients used to insure the formula provides adequate vitamins and minerals are listed next. If a preservative was used and molasses was added those will also appear in the ingredient list.
While many of us may experiment with ingredients when making a cake (sometimes to disastrous and inedible results), feed companies do not take that chance. They know horse owners trust them to insure the ingredients in the formula are edible and safe.
Juan Valdez is said to be the most influential person in horse nutrition.
When I ask a person how much grain are you feeding the answer is, "A coffee can twice a day."
Look at your feed tag and find the feeding directions. I'm sure it does not say two coffee cans per day.
The most important information on the feed tag is how to feed. The tag will tell you what type of horse the feed is designed for and the amount to feed per head per day. The protein level of the feed is not important if you are feeding the wrong feed and feeding it incorrectly.
If you want to feed horses accurately you must invest in a scale and be able to estimate the weight of your horse.
A weight tape (often provided by horse feed manufacturers) is accurate enough for computing the estimated weight of your horse. Of course, the most accurate is having him weighed on a large scale…like a truck scale at the local feed mill. Another method is the following formula, which is more accurate than the weight tape.
Adult horses:
Heart girth measurement in inches, squared (the number multiplied by itself) times his length divided by 330.
(The heart girth measurement is taken just behind the elbow, around the barrel, and up over the withers. Keep the tape snug, but not tight. The length measurement is taken from the point of the shoulder blade to the point of the buttocks.)
Foals one to 6 weeks of age:
Heart girth measurement in inches subtract 25.1 divide by .07
Once you know how much your horse weighs and have a scale take a look at your feed tag. The feeding directions may be general or very detailed. It seems the more detailed feeding directions appear on premium products.
The general feeding directions may read: "Feed a mature adult horse 1 to 1.5% of his body weight per day." This means a 1,000 pound horse in this category would require 10 to 15 pounds of the product each day.
The more detailed feed tag may have a chart and several feeding programs presented. You will need to determine what the horse's activity level is, find his weight and follow the column down to the amount recommended.
So, now that you know how much you should be feeding - in pounds, not "cans" or "scoops" - weigh the feed. You may discover you are not feeding enough...or feeding too much.
If you need to increase the amount remember never to feed a 1,000 pound adult horse more than 5 pounds of grain at one meal. Take into consideration the size of the horse. If the horse requires 15 pounds of the product each day, the amount must be divided into 3 to 4 meals.
Your horse may be maintaining his weight on the lower amount of feed - even if it is less than the recommended daily feeding rates for his activity level and size. The product and the forage he is receiving are providing the needed calories, but his vitamins and mineral requirements may not be met.
If this is the case there are several options.
1. You can continue to feed him the small amount and top dress with a vitamin and mineral supplement.
2. You can find a product that is designed to be fed at low feeding rates. These products are usually premium products - they are highly fortified, easily digested and because of the small amount required - safer to feed.
Recycling a coffee can for use as a feed scoop is fine…just know how many pounds it holds. Remember to weigh feed if you change products…a can of feathers and a can of rocks do not weigh the same and products will not be the same either.
Minerals For Horses
The primary mineral needs in horse nutrition are salt, calcium and phosphorous. No other animal faces a critical need for salt like the working horse. The horse may lose up to 75 grams daily (454 grams per pound) through sweat and urine. For this reason, salt should be available free choice to the horse at all times. Calcium and phosphorous are the other two critical minerals needed in horse nutrition, since most other minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sulphur, copper, cobalt and zinc, which are required by the horse, are only needed in small amounts and are usually provided by normal feedstuffs. Trace mineralized salt should be used with horses. Therefore, the primary concern in mineral nutrition is to provide adequate levels of calcium and phosphorous in approximately a 1.3 to 1 ratio.
Table 1 indicates the calcium-phosphorous requirements for a horse which is growing to a mature weight of approximately 1,100 pounds. The requirements indicate that during the first year of a horse's life when the horse grows to approximately 95% of his adult height, the calcium-phosphorous requirement is greatest. The requirement of mature horses is low compared to young growing horses. However, the calcium and phosphorous level in mare's milk is quite high and the lactating mare's requirement is increased accordingly.
Table 1. Requirements for 1,100 Pound Mature Horse
Age or StatusCa
(%)Phos
(%)Ratio
3 months old .89 .69 1.3 to 1
6 months old .80 .55 1.4 to 1
12 months old .60 .44 1.3 to 1
Mature Horse at Rest .34 .26 1.3 to 1
Mare, Last 90 Days of Preg. .45 .35 1.3 to 1
Mare, Peak of Lactation .60 .45 1.3 to 1
As well as providing the minimum levels of calcium and phosphorous, the proper proportions are extremely important. Rations should never have less than a 1 to 1 ratio and although young horses can tolerate up to a 2 to 1 ratio, and mature horses a 3 to 1 ratio, calcium to phosphorous ratios over 1.5 to 1 are not recommended. Note that the ratio of calcium to phosphorous is approximately 1.3 to 1 in Table 1.
Table 2 shows the calcium and phosphorous levels in common grains and hay. Note particularly that all grains, with the exception of alfalfa pellets, are extremely low in calcium and high in phosphorous. Note also that the phosphorous level in some grains is adequate to meet the phosphorous requirement of horses. In order to balance a total grain ration, additional calcium would be needed to develop the proper ratio. Alfalfa pellets provide a 5 to 1 ratio of calcium to phosphorous. Therefore, it is useful in grain rations as a calcium source.
Table 2. Mineral Requirements For Horses
GrainCa (%)Phos (%)Ratio
Oats 0.10 0.35 1 to 3.5
Corn 0.02 0.31 1 to 15
Barley 0.08 0.42 1 to 5
Wheat Bran 0.14 1.17 1 to 8
Soybean Meal 0.32 0.67 1 to 2
Alfalfa Pellets (17% dehydrated) 1.43 0.29 4.7 to 1
HayCa (%)Phos (%)Ratio
Bermuda 0.42 0.18 2 to 1
Bahia 0.40 0.20 2 to 1
Ryegrass 0.32 0.24 1.5 to 1
Alfalfa 1.21 0.22 5 to 1
Lespedeza 1.14 0.23 5 to 1
Most hays have a high calcium to phosphorous ratio, with the legume hays having a 5 to 1 ratio and the grass hays having a 2 to 1 ratio. However, the calcium and phosphorous in hay is dependent upon the fertilization and handling of the hay. Poor quality forage may result in deficiencies.
Proper calcium-phosphorous ratios can be obtained with common feedstuffs by using a combination of grain and hay. In rations where only forage is utilized, an adequate calcium-phosphorous ratio is normally maintained and no supplementation is indicated. However, if alfalfa or lespedeza is the primary forage source, excessive calcium would be fed and abnormal bone growth in colts may occur. Therefore, limiting alfalfa to 1/3 of the hay source is recommended.
Rations which utilize large quantities of whole grains should be supplemented with calcium. The calcium can be provided from quality hay or added to the ration in one of the mineral supplements listed in Table 3. Horsemen who are mixing their own rations should consider calcium supplementation. Dicalcium phosphate or limestone are normally available from feed distributors.
Table 3. Composition of Mineral Supplements
Mineral SourcesCa (%)Phos (%)
Calcium Carbonate 38.0 -
Dicalcium Phosphate 22.0 18.5
Limestone 33.0 -
Bone Meal 24.0 12.0
Defluorinated Phosphate 32.0 18.0
The mixed feeds available from most feed dealers are balanced for calcium and phosphorous normally with the 1 to 1 ratio. The basic assumption of the feed dealer is that hay or pasture will be provided and therefore a higher than 1 to 1 ratio of calcium-phosphorous will be available for the horse. However, most rations for young, growing colts up to a year of age should provide all the calcium and phosphorous in the desired ratio that the colt will need, since colts do not normally consume adequate amounts of forage.
Vitamins For Horses
Vitamin supplementation in horses is generally not needed since common feeds normally contain adequate amounts. Vitamin A is found in green leafy plants or yellow grain such as corn, but may be deficient in the winter months when green grass is unavailable and if hay quality is poor. Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorous deposition in bone formation. However, deficiencies rarely occur, since animals exposed to sunlight synthesize sufficient vitamin D to meet their needs. Vitamin E is abundant in most rations and seldom needs supplementation. The B vitamins are synthesized by the horse and supplementation is not normally needed in a healthy, well-fed horse.
The most common sources of vitamins are good quality pastures, hay and grains. Vitamin deficiencies occur primarily when horses are sick or stressed, or if feed is improperly processed and stored over long periods of time. In these cases, vitamin supplementation may be necessary. Most commercially available rations are supplemented with the optimum daily requirement.
Table 1 indicates the normal daily vitamin supplementation utilized by most feed companies in developing their rations. Horsemen who are utilizing whole grain rations such as an oat ration, may want to consider a vitamin supplement of this nature. However, if a ration is balanced for vitamins, the adding of additional supplements is unwise. Many vitamins can be toxic if over-fed, and excess vitamins normally result in the same problems caused by deficiencies of that vitamin. Therefore, it is never wise to feed more than one vitamin supplement and risk overdosing horses with vitamins.
Table 1. Normal Daily Vitamin Supplementation
Vitamin A 20-30,000 I.U.
Vitamin D 200 - 300 I.U.
Vitamin E 1,000 I.U.
B Complex
Thiamin 60 mg.
Riboflavin 40 mg.
Pantothenic Acid 40 mg.
Vitamin B12 .03 mg.
A source of fresh, clean drinking water is essential for horses at all times. Daily consumption may average 10 to 12 gallons, with much higher amounts consumed at hoard work and/or hot weather.
10 Tips For Controlling Parasites in Horses
The major intestinal parasites in adult horses are small strongyles (or cyathostomes), tapeworms and large strongyles.
Small strongyles account for 80% of the total worm burden and are capable of encysting (or encasing) in the intestinal wall. They are capable of causing a clinical disease called larval cyathostomosis.
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Tapeworms tend to congregate around the ileocecal valve in the intestine and are thought to cause certain types of colic. To help eliminate tapeworms, horses should be treated with either praziquantel or a double dose of pyrantel pamoate
Although large strongyles are capable of causing severe damage to the vascular system and other organs through their migration, this parasite has declined dramatically in the last 20 years due to the highly effective dewormer ivermectin.
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Gastrophilus)
Stomach bots (
are parasites that attach to the stomach and small intestine. The adult parasite is a large fly resembling a honeybee, which deposits the parasite eggs on the forelegs, lips and shoulders. Stomach bots are usually harmless unless the worm burden is exceedingly heavy. This parasite can be treated by removing the small yellow eggs from the hair coat and by administering either ivermectin or moxidectin after fly activity stops (winter) and again after peak egg laying (late spring).
Pinworms are a common parasite that is not associated with major disease. This parasite does not migrate through tissues and therefore has a very efficient life cycle. While pinworms do not damage to the intestines of the horse, their eggs create irritation around the rectum of the horse resulting in tailhead scratching. Pinworms are effectively treated by most anthelmentics (dewormers).
The intestinal parasites of major concern in weanling foals are roundworms (also known as ascarids). Roundworms are capable of causing an intestinal impaction as well as pneumonia. Prevention of roundworm infection is difficult because the eggs are very durable and can live in the soil for up to 10 years. To reduce the infection, foals should be dewormed at 6 weeks of age and then every 6-8 weeks until they are 6 months old. Dewormers that cause rapid killing of roundworms, such as piperzine or organophosphates, should be avoided since they can lead to impaction in heavily parasitized foals. Dewormers with slower kill, such as fenbendazole, oxibendazole, pyrantel and ivermectin, are safer options.
A fecal flotation provides valuable information on the parasite burden of both individual horses and the herd. This test may be used examine the effectiveness of an athelmentic program by determining the fecal egg count prior to and after the administration of a dewormer. In targeted treatment programs, fecal egg counts can be used to determine which animals harbor the highest parasite burden. One exception is the equine tapeworm, which can be missed on a routine fecal flotation.
Parasite resistance is a continual concern and may have arisen with the inappropriate or excessive use of anthelmentics. To reduce the emergence of resistance, dewormers must be used appropriately and combined with strategies to reduce the parasite contamination in the environment.
Some pasture management tools that may help reduce parasites include:
Reduce the stocking density to one horse per two acres of pasture.
Cross-fence and then rotate the horses biweekly between pastures.
Pick up the manure piles from the pasture twice weekly.
Separate the horses based on age groups (mare/foal, weanlings, yearlings, adults).
In the northern United States, horses become infected with intestinal parasites during spring through summer. In the southeastern United States, the situation is reversed, and horses become parasitized during the cooler season (fall through late spring). Therefore, deworming programs in the South target parasites from November to late June.
Underdosing a dewormer may increase the risk of the development of parasite resistance. Overdosing can also be harmful to the horse. For more accurate dosing, use a girth tape measure to estimate the body weight of horse prior to administering a dewormer.
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Parasite control programs should be tailored to individual herds. A veterinarian can help decide the best deworming schedule based on the stocking density, age of the horse and use. A cookbook approach may result in either ineffective parasite control or anthelmintic overuse.