Tips for the horseman

By Megan-Rai Ferguson

MAINTENANCE AND GOOD HEALTH:

DO NOT feed cattle feed to horses –Rumensin a chemical that contains monensin, found in cattle feeds helps aid in the digestion for bovine. Rumensin is fine for cattle; it's TOXIC and FATAL TO HORSES. It damages their heart muscles, and horses that eat feed containing Rumensin will die from heart failure - or will be permanently and badly damaged. There is always the possibility that Rumensin could be in any type of cattle feed. The mills do not wash out the bins while mixing between different cattle feeds, they do clean out the bins before mixing or creating any horse feed.

Feeds are made animal specific for safety reasons.

Salt Blocks are made for cattle. Cattle have a rough tongue (like a cat) that is more suited to licking a block; a horse has a soft tongue. Therefore it is better for them to have loose salt, easier and less time consuming for them to get what they require. Adding a loose mineral in to the salt will also benefit your horses, without adding a different feeder. Horses require a minimum of 4 ounces per day.

Provide clean fresh water year round. In colder weather it is more important that your horse has access to fresh (not frozen) water. An adult horse (1000lbs) requires a minimum of 38 to 45 liters per day; this amount will increase with activity/performance or training. The warmer the water the more the horse will drink with the average temperature of the water ranging from 7 to 18(room temperature). Lack of water will decrease the amount of saliva the horse is able to produce to properly process their food, which can lead to choking. They will naturally decrease the amount of feed they will eat; eventually not consume enough energy to tolerate the cold weather resulting in a loss of weight despite adequate nutrition. The second more harmful result of lack of water is impaction colic or constipation, which can lead to death.

Do a standard rating for you horse on his temperature, pulse, respirations and capillary refill. If he does get sick you will then have a standard setting you can use to give the vet. To get a Standard rating for your horse he needs to be at rest.

Temp - 37-38º in am; 38.5º in pm; slightly higher in foals and warm weather

Pulse - 36-38 beats per minute - to get the pulse from the artery that follows a path underneath the cheekbone. There's one on either side of the head. Using three fingers, press inwards and upwards, and you should detect the pulse. The horse will need to be at rest for the pulse rate to be useful. If you can't find the pulse there, try the foreleg, level with the knee joint on the inside of the leg

Capillary refill - 1-2 seconds - place you finger in his mouth and above the teeth on the front and push – time the refill (redness returning)

Respiration - 8-16 per minute

Horses do not need oats; most horses are great with good quality hay. Oats are like donuts, high in energy. Only horses that are on a performance training schedule require oats, or high energy feeds.

When introducing a new feed to your horses, do it over a 3 week period. With a ¼ cup of feed introduced to the current feed. Slowly decrease the old feed and increase the new feed.

It is very important to have fresh clean smelling hay. DO not feed hay that smells musty or contains dust. Horses can not tolerate mold or dust, it will damage their lungs. Dust is dust – this includes road dust.

Horses can eat alfalfa hay. It is very good at fattening up skinny horses. Alfalfa hay is not hard on kidneys (old myth), horses do not bloat like cattle (old myth).

Free choice hay is the best to maintain good gut function, grass hays, oat straws, some thing that your horse can munch on all day.

Fresh pasture grass should be introduced slowly in the spring to avoid colic and laminitis. Going from hay in the winter to green grass, should be done gradually starting with a one hour turn out and increasing daily by ½ hour increments. Fresh green grass contains up to 80% water; continue to feed hay for roughage.

Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates in a healthy horses diet, found in all feeds(grains and molasses and hay) – carbohydrates sensitive horse, horse that have EPSM(PSSM), tying-up, Laminitis, Cushing’s and insulin resistance should avoid carbs – healthily horses use carbohydrates to maintain good digestion.

Do not feed grass clipping from yourlawn mower, there might be grasses or weeds in the cuttings that your horse would not normally eat, they are not able to recognize that plant smell mixed with everything else. Grass clipping’s mold very quickly and can cause extreme health concerns for your horse.

Maintain good weight – not fat and not skinny. Obese horses can develop serious health risks. Restricting, monitoring and planning a horses diet is always a good idea.

Beet pulp is a good “steak and potatoes” for your horse to maintain. Beet pulp can be feed dry or wet. Adding water (2water to 1 pulp) to beet pulp turns it into a “mash” it becomes a great feed for older horse with teeth issues.

Adding 1cup of oil (canola/vegetable) to your horse’s diet can assist in weight gain and add gloss to the coat. Oil can be combined directly with the beet pulp. (Equivalent to 3 cup corn)

Avoid mold in feed bags. Any bagged feed should not be stored on concrete, place in storage bins. Large Rubbermaid blue bins are a perfect solution, they are stackable and you can fit one bag of feed in one container.

Store all oils in a cool place – oils will go rancid.

Whole Flax should not be ground until being fed. A new alternative is the MAX Flax pellets, easier and will store for a longer period.

More frequent small meals on a regular basis maintain a better gut function in all horses. Feeding smaller quantities is better then one large feeding.

Have your horse’s teeth done by a veterinarian experienced with equine dentistry. It is vital for good health that your horse is able to rotate his jaw and chew his food.

Feeds that you can feed horse:

1. Any formulated horse feeds – these are scientifically designed for horses at all levels from foal to senior

2. Beet Pulp

3. Alfalfa pellets/cubes

4. Sunflower seeds

5. Clipped and cut/rolled grains

Bran, oil, Soya meal, Diamond V (yeast extract), rice bran oil, apples, carrots, vegetables and molasses are all good dietary supplements for your horse. Check with a Equine Vet in your area if you are thinking of changing your feed. Think of it in the simplest way - Keep it simple, don't get caught up in the fads of supplements.

Deworming should be done at a minimum twice a year if the horse never leaves the property. Four times a year if they are exposed to other horses i.e. Trail Ride. Summer sun kills exposed parasites, kick over the poop piles or harrow the area. Winter weather, freezing temperatures will not kill parasites (old myth). They will survive the cold winter months in hibernation and come out in the spring with the warm weather.