For the past several years, on our forum and in conversations with other horse owners, we have discussed ‘cleaning up’ the equine diet and going natural. Actually, this concept is not new and has been advocated by many owners, trainers, veterinarians and researchers over the years. \u00a0This was also something that we recommended and utilized in our veterinary practice, helping patients afflicted with numerous conditions for many years. \u00a0So…what do we mean by ‘all natural’ and cleaning up the diet?<\/p>\n In general terms, what I am referring to is making a shift away from commercial feeds and getting back to the basics, which was a diet rich in whole grains, such as oats. In past articles, we have discussed how the overall diet impacts health on many levels. \u00a0When we are presented with a horse with medical or lameness conditions, this tie-in with the diet becomes apparent on many levels. \u00a0This is even more true when we have underlying gastrointestinal issues such as ulcers, allergies, metabolic concerns, respiratory problems, and laminitis. \u00a0Many of these patients are on commercial feeds, being highly processed, along with usually several synthetic based supplements. \u00a0The key point here, is that despite this feed and supplement regimen, the horse is still experiencing problems on many levels and the owner is seeking improvement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In actuality, there is no precise definition for this word and there are many interpretations. \u00a0In my opinion or view, a processed food is one that has been transformed from its original form and presented for consumption. \u00a0In actuality, taking apples, grinding them up and making a sauce out of them is technically a processed food. \u00a0This level of processing is not necessarily bad as all things are relative. However, it is generally accepted that with each level of food processing, the nutrient and health value is potentially compromised.<\/strong> \u00a0Ideally, what you want is to consume food in as close to natural form as is possible. \u00a0Thus, retaining nutrient value. \u00a0Certain measures such as cooking, steaming, compressing and even pelletizing can and do impact nutrient value. \u00a0Essentially, you want food to look like food.\u00a0 You want to maximize nutrient and health benefits, not produce empty calories.<\/p>\n If\u00a0 you look at most of the commercial, highly processed diets available for the horse we note two main things.<\/strong> \u00a0First<\/span><\/strong>, the ‘grains’ generally do not visually resemble natural food at all. \u00a0More often than not, it is rare even to find a particle of real food in there are all. \u00a0Some specialized feeds actually use foreign or non-normal source of protein and even fats, not traditionally found in any diet. Now, this is not true for all and there are some ‘natural’ grain products on the open market, which actually look, smell and taste like real foods. \u00a0Sadly, they are in the minority, often due to cost. The second<\/span><\/strong> main thing to notice is that by looking at the list of ingredients, you do have some ‘food’ ingredients, but they are lower down on the list, often processed in and of themselves, but the vast majority of the nutrient value is coming from synthetic vitamins and minerals. \u00a0Looking at these labels, you see things like sodium chloride, magnesium oxide, thiamine HCL, silicon dioxide, vitamin A acetate and a host of other synthetic nutrients. \u00a0If you see the synthetic name listed, as above, then this is ‘added’ to the feed often as a spray on type of preparation. \u00a0In regards to food ingredients, many times you see the word ‘meal’ afterwards, such as flaxseed meal. \u00a0This ‘meal’ preparation is generally the processed form of that food in which the natural oils are removed.<\/p>\n In regards to highly processed feeds, you have two main concerns<\/strong>. \u00a0First, are you actually truly providing for your horse in regards to nutrient value? Second, is it possible that the highly processed feeds are actually causing more harm due to high synthetic loads, additives, dyes, and preservatives? \u00a0It is generally accepted and demonstrated in research that patients consuming ‘whole food’ nutrients fair better than those consuming processed, synthetic ridden foods.<\/p>\n On the converse side, you have whole foods, which generally are foods in their natural form<\/strong>. \u00a0Whole foods generally have much higher nutritive value because their level of processing is much lower and in regards to the whole food, you also obtain not only natural nutrients but also naturally occurring co-factors which aid in nutrient assimilation, utilization, and even have medicinal benefits. \u00a0An example, a whole food label would not list synthetic or chemical names, but simply state as an example; alfalfa, green spinach, spirulina blue green algae, carrots, oats, barley. \u00a0The manufacturer may have a list of nutritive value, stating this, but the ingredients are whole foods.<\/p>\n When we look at the horse, you realize they are herbivores and constant grazers. \u00a0The move around naturally when in the wild, consuming mostly plants, grasses and few grains which may be available intermittently. \u00a0The majority of their nutrition stems from pasture and other forages such as hays. \u00a0They do not eat fish, nor consume oils in nature, except those oils naturally found in plants. This is the way they are designed, however, there are two variables which include level of exercise or demands on the body and second, level of nutrients present within that food source. \u00a0The more demands you place on the horse, in terms of exercise, stress or competition, the higher the nutrients demands. \u00a0The less nutrient value that is present on the pastures or in the hays that you provide, the more opportunities for deficiencies.<\/p>\n What has become obvious to me over the years is that no matter what condition we are dealing with, there are definite improvements noted in that patient when we move away from commercial, highly processed feeds and more towards a natural plane of nutrition.<\/strong>\u00a0 In fact, the more simple we make the regimen, often the greater the positive impact on that patient. Instead of feeding an expensive, highly processed feed and a list of synthetic based supplements, we move towards lower cost natural grains and concentrate the supplement regimen, making it more targeted and food or herbal based.<\/p>\n As Hippocrates stated, “let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I am not a nutritionist but more so a researcher that sees and advocates the power of nutrition, in its natural form. \u00a0What I believe and have observed is that these specialized, highly processed diets are actually hindering our equine companion’s health, more so than helping it. \u00a0Are they actually the cause of the rise in health conditions or are they just contributors? \u00a0This remains to be determined, but at the least, I do believe that in many horses, the diets are actually contributing to poor health and even lameness. \u00a0Despite working with hundreds of horses, simplifying the diet and transitioning the supplement regimen, and gaining marked improvement for that patient…the reality is that most owners are really resistant to change or more so afraid of change, fearing that it could lead to disastrous consequences. \u00a0Most are so connected with their current regimen, despite lack of improvement clinically, that they view it as a plug in a dam, and any change could lead to complete rupture or release. \u00a0This is simply not true.<\/strong><\/p>\n It is no secret that in our personal facility, we feed whole grains and utilize hay and pasture as our main form of nutrients. \u00a0The majority of horses do very well, actually, with many of them succumbing to years of health, lameness problems, use of commercial feeds and a laundry list of supplements. \u00a0These horses thrive and medical\/lameness problems become easier to manage. \u00a0Is this a ‘cure’ for every problem? \u00a0No. Can it help us to manage them better and improve outcome for the patient? \u00a0Absolutely.<\/p>\n We rely on pasture and the highest quality hay we can find for our patients, which usually means alfalfa or an alfalfa mix. Pastures are maintained as best as possible, considering time of year and other environmental factors out of our control. \u00a0In regards to grains, we feed a mix of whole oats, barley and sunflower seeds. This is not a commercially available feed, but something we piece together and blend up for our horses. \u00a0It is not the end all grain blend, but just what we use and what works for us. \u00a0The whole idea here is to rely on food as the main source of nutrients. \u00a0We could feed bermuda or a fescue hay, but in general, the nutritive quality with these hays does not match the demands of the horses we have in our barn. \u00a0There is nothing wrong with these hays, but it is all relative. \u00a0In most cases, we have competition horses that have increased metabolic demands, thus nutritional requirements are higher, which often exceed these lower quality hays. \u00a0For the grains, again the goal is to go natural. We feed the oats, barley and sunflower seeds in set ratio of (1:1:0.25), but one could easily modify, exclude some or include others such as whole flax seeds, chia seeds or even pumpkin seeds. \u00a0What we do need to keep in mind with grains is that they are sources of carbohydrates and starch, which can create problems. Horses, in the wild, do not consume large amounts of grains and thus, in our program, they are not fed in high volumes. \u00a0We are not using them as ‘meals’ but more so use as a medium for herbal supplements. In general, we feed less than 2 lbs per feeding, which keeps the carbohydrate levels acceptable and lowers the risk of hindgut concerns.<\/p>\n![\"Whole](\"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/images_whole_oats-300x200.jpg\" "\\"Whole")
What is a processed horse or equine feed?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
What do we do and how do I feed a Horse?<\/h3>\n