WHAT DO THOSE NUTRIENTS DO, ANYWAY?

WHAT DO THOSE NUTRIENTS DO, ANYWAY? Sounds like a rather dry topic, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, this isn’t a nutrition course. We’re going to touch on the most basic information: what the major nutrients are, what they do, and why they matter to the horse. You won’t be an expert when we are done, but I hope that you will have a good working knowledge to help you make informed decisions about how and what you feed your horse. PART ONE: WATER: You may not think of water as a nutrient, but it should be the first consideration in your horse’s diet. Always provide plenty of fresh, clean water for your horse. That’s not negotiable. Water keeps all his body systems running, from the saliva in his mouth to the manure that comes out the back end. Lack of water leads to dehydration, impaction colic, kidney issues, decreased performance, and many more health issues. Without water, a horse will likely die in three to six days. Water makes up approximately 70% of your horse’s body. That’s roughly 700 pounds in a 1000-pound horse. It’s that important. It is the main component of saliva, which is responsible for starting the breakdown of food when crushed by the teeth. This means it impacts the start of efficient digestion. Saliva also helps to keep teeth healthy, which is a very important consideration as your horse ages. Water regulates the horse’s body temperature by helping him to cool down through sweating. The liquid lost through sweating needs to be replaced to keep him from getting dehydrated. Water cushions and lubricates joints, tissue, and the spinal column. It helps to remove toxins and wastes through sweat, urine, and manure. Water aids in digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and with the absorption of nutrients. It improves blood circulation and assists the blood in carrying nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. Water helps the body fight off illness, boosts energy and improves mood, and helps the brain with cognitive function. Whew- that’s quite a list, and that’s the short version! The take-home point is that water is crucial to the horse and to the rider. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated either. A horse typically drinks between five and ten gallons a day. That is just an estimate though, it doesn’t account for daily variations. This doesn’t mean that you can set out ten gallons of water every morning and think that you’ve covered your responsibility. Water should be available in quantity at all times. Remember, each horse is an individual. Some will consume less, some more. Larger horses can be expected to drink more than ponies because of their body mass. The horse’s intake can and will vary on a daily basis depending on his activity level, the weather, his diet, and other variables. Some days he may drink five gallons, other days he may suck up twenty. A horse that has been active will need water even if he never broke a sweat. All the body’s processes require water and what gets used needs to be replaced. Of course, if he is sweating, he needs to replace even more fluid. And here is a fun fact: humans actually have the most sweat glands of any mammal per square inch of skin, but horses produce more sweat through their glands. That explains why we’re both so soggy in the summer! The weather plays a role in your horse’s water intake. Obviously, they drink more due to thirst when the temperatures rise. Some horses drink less during cooler weather. That doesn’t mean that you can provide less water in the winter- the horse still needs access to plenty of it. The changeable fall and spring weather can be dangerous times for horses as their bodies still need water but their thirst mechanism isn’t necessarily triggered by the cooler weather. They can become dehydrated quickly, which can be hard to detect through a long seasonal coat. Any vet can relate stories about “colic weather” and it is a serious concern. As an owner or caregiver, you should be aware of temperature swings and monitor the horse’s water intake accordingly. Horses on dry forage such as hay require more water than they do when eating grass, which contains water. Again, that’s not a pass if your horse is on pasture. He still needs access to plenty of fresh water. You may notice that he drinks less on a rainy day if he’s been eating outside, as he’s been taking in water that clings to the blades of grass. Horses that are eating a high amount of protein also tend to drink more. The water helps to clear the excess protein from their system. If you notice a strong ammonia smell in your horse’s stall, it may be time for a chat with your vet and your feed store about his diet. Check the feeding recommendations on the bag and make sure that you know how much you are feeding in pounds so that you can answer their questions. Consider all his feed sources too- forages such as grass and hay, commercial feeds, and supplements. (This is another good reason to have your hay analyzed; the sample can tell you how much protein your hay contains.) If you are relying on a pond or stream to provide water, have it tested regularly for bacteria and toxins. There are micro-organisms and particles in natural water sources that can harm your horse and cause serious health issues. It’s better to provide him with water that you know is safe to drink. As far as those horses who dunk their hay- I know it’s frustrating to always have a dirty bucket, but he’s actually getting a sip every time he does it. If it bothers you or it seems that he isn’t drinking but is just dunking, set up a “dunking bucket” near his hay and second bucket for clean water several feet away. Hay that has been soaked to