1.  Bran Mash is great for my horse's digestion! Fact or Fiction? 2.  What are anti-oxidants and how do they work? 3.  When to feed your athlete 4.  Endurance Racing 5.  Colic in Horses   6.  Gastric Ulcers   7.  Importance of Fibre on Digestive Health   8.  Laminitis and related Metabolic Disorders 9.  Protein Requirements of the Equine Athlete 10. Guidelines for choosing horse feed cost effectively Feeding Bran Bran Mash is great for my Horse's Digestion!   Fact or fiction? Feeding bran mashes is an equestrian tradition that has been passed down through multiple generations. Horse owners believe they are doing something positive for their horses when they feed them bran mashes. Some people can be quite dogmatic about the proper way to mix and "cook" a mash, and recipes abound to provide our equine companions with a gastronomic variety. Evaluating the tradition of bran mashes in the wisdom of modern nutritional knowledge, however, may offer an explanation of why the desired result is not always achieved and leaves the nutritionist with very little justification for recommending using it at all. Why We Feed Bran Many ingredients have found their way into livestock diets over time because manufacturers were searching for a profitable use for the byproducts of the milling process. In the case of bran, the process was milling wheat and the byproduct was the large reddish-brown flakes of the grain's outer husk, which were removed before grinding the soft, inner kernel into flour. People soon discovered that horses liked the taste of bran. And millers were more than delighted to sell bran cheaply to local farmers who fed it to their horses. There was only one problem with this turn-of-the-century feeding practice. Horses fed large amounts of bran over long periods of time developed a serious skeletal problem known as "big head" due to the extremely lopsided calcium-to-phosphorous ratio. Modern nutritionists eventually unlocked the secrets about mineral interactions which explained the cause of big head. Now, however, nutritional science is questioning the practice of occasional mashes for reasons that have nothing to do with mineral imbalances. Like those farmers who inadvertently overfed bran and caused big-head disease, modern horsemen may unknowingly be causing their horses distress when they feed bran sporadically as a weekly mash or as a constipation preventative just prior to traveling. Many firmly held beliefs about mashes are based on nothing more scientific than old horsemen's observations as they guessed at causes and effects. Although nutritional common sense now debunks the mythology, horse owners still share it as gospel and are loathe to let go of the wisdom of ages. The reasons they give for feeding mashes include: Myth 1: Wheat Bran has a Laxative Effect Bran was thought to have a laxative effect that would "clean them out" and help to prevent colic. Cornell University researchers studied the laxative effect of bran at various levels in the diet, with some horses being fed up to 50 % hay and 50 % bran. They found that there were only slight variations in water content of the droppings at various feeding levels - certainly not enough to pronounce bran a laxative. Another study compared the droppings of horses fed a ration of 10 % bran and 90 % chopped hay to those fed 100 % chopped hay. No difference in the water content of the droppings was found. So why do horses produce watery droppings when they eat a bran mash? First, the undigested fiber in the bran increases the volume of the horse's droppings. Second, since feeding bran mash only occasionally, or even weekly, represents a sudden change in diet as the gut microbes see it, they start to die off. This is what causes the diarrhea or watery droppings that horse owners erroneously assume is a laxative effect. Myth 2: Wheat Bran is High in Fibre Physicians recommend their patients eat bran cereal or a bran muffin to stay "regular" and therefore people often believe wheat bran should work the same for horses. Wheat bran has a fibre content of typically around 10% and is certainly not a high fibre feed when compared to hay at more than 30% fibre. Wheat bran has more fibre than corn, but it has about the same amount of fibre as oats and a lot less fibre than hay. So, why does bran work as a laxative for humans and not horses? This is easily explained when one considers that the typical equine diet contains more than 35% fibre whereas the typical human diet contains less than 2% fibre. It can thus clearly be seen that 1 kg or so of Bran is hardly going to make any difference to the total fibre content of their diet. A scoop of wheat bran will hardly make a dent in the high-fibre diet of the horse, but a bran muffin will probably contribute a significant amount of fibre to the low-fibre diet of a human. Myth 3: A hot bran mash warms a horse in winter. For how long are you trying to warm the horse? The warming effects of the water used to make the mash may last five to 10 minutes after the horse eats it, less time that it probably took you to make the mash. A better way to warm a horse in the winter is to increase the amount of hay he eats as the heat generated from the digestion of just 2 kg of extra hay will raise the horse's internal core temperature considerably for a couple of hours. Myth 4. A bran mash is a good way to get more water into a horse in the winter. How much bran are you feeding? A typical mash only uses about a ฝ  litre of water, more or less depending on how soupy you decide to make it. Compared to the 20 litres or more of water the horse needs daily, that's not a big deal. A better way to get more water into the horse in the winter is to make sure water buckets stay clean and water is accessible. Not a Change for the Better It is well known among veterinarians, nutritionists and experienced equestrians that a sudden change in diet causes digestive disorders in horses. At the very least, the horse may experience mild intestinal discomfort that makes him cranky, anxious or sluggish. Diarrhea, excess gas, colic or laminitis are other possible consequences. 'Sudden', means that the change is made all at once, rather than gradually in small stages. A change in feed can be anything from switching to a new load of hay, substituting a different grain mix for the one you've been feeding or turning a horse wintered on hay out on a lush spring pasture. When a new feed or any other dietary change is made gradually over a period of days, or even weeks, the horse's various gut microbes, which are essential for good digestion, vitamin synthesis and overall health, have time to adjust the size of their respective populations to the shifting ratios of carbohydrates, fats, protein and fiber they must process. But when a sudden change is made, it shocks the microbe population, destroys its balance and results in the death of a proportion of these beneficial and essential microorganisms. The dying microbes are not only unable to assist in proper digestion, but  also give off toxins that can be absorbed through the intestinal walls and into the horse's bloodstream to the detriment of the animal's well being. If the sudden change is a relatively small one, the horse may experience abdominal distress and discomfort, such as mild gas or diarrhea, but not life-threatening consequences, such as colic or laminitis. Researchers now suspect that this is what happens when horses get a weekly, or occasional, bran mash. Those who feed a bran mash once a week may not be causing mineral imbalances, but may instead be upsetting the microorganisms in the digestive tract. Most horsemen heed the warning that any changes to the diet should be made gradually to avoid colic. Yet these same horsemen don't see a problem with providing a bran mash once a week. Despite the good intentions, a weekly bran mash is a dramatic feed change and may upset the delicate balance of microorganisms that aid in digestion of the normal hay and grain. Should bran mashes be avoided altogether? No, not necessarily, but you may need to rethink why and how often you are feeding them. If you want a laxative, wheat bran is not going to work. If it gives you a warm-fuzzy feeling to prepare a treat for your horse, go with a bran mash. The safest way, however, is to feed it every day to avoid upsetting the digestive tract, and if you are feeding more than one kg of bran per day, make sure you are also balancing the mineral content of the diet to offset the high phosphorus content of the bran. Apart from selecting a feed for your horse from an equine feed range which ensures superb digestive health, it might be easier altogether rather to treat your horse with a hug, a gentle pat on the neck, or an extra groom if you have the time. If you feel energetic and want to offer him something different altogether, try and wet down a portion of his normal feed, he might just enjoy that as much as his bran treat with no side effects! What are Anti-Oxidants and how do they work? Anti-oxidants are vitamins and minerals that scavenge dangerous by-products of body metabolism, neutralising the toxic molecules before they have time to cause damage to cells. These toxic by-products are also called free radicals. Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage which is the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Most athletes show a keen interest in anti-oxidants not only because of concern for their health, but also because of the prospect of enhanced performance and recovery after exercise.   Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. The yellow sphere is the redox-active sulfur atom that provides antioxidant activity, while the red, blue, white, and dark grey spheres represent oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms, respectively. The primary role of the main anti-oxidant nutrients such as Vitamin E and Selenium is to minimise the formation of these free radicals and to destroy or neutralise those that are produced. In simple terms, the process that occurs within the body whereby nutrients from foods are 'burned' within the cells to produce the energy needed to fuel body functions, is called oxidation. During this process of oxidation, oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide and water are produced. As a side effect of the oxidation process, byproducts known as free radicals are produced. Free radicals are very unstable molecules that can randomly damage cells if they are not rapidly 'mopped-up' and destroyed.  The major factors that can increase the rate of oxidation in horses include: •  Exercise and performance •  Pregnancy and growth •  Stress & nervousness  •  Injury, inflammation & infection •  High fat diets •  Exercise dramatically increases oxidation and free radical production as huge amounts of oxygen are consumed to produce energy to fuel the     working muscles of an exercising horse. A healthy thoroughbred will consume around 2.2 litres of oxygen per minute when resting, 12 litres per     minute at a slow trot, 40 litres per minute at a canter and a massive 67 litres oxygen per minute at a fast gallop. •  Physical exertion is the major contributor to free radical production in performance horses and the more they exercise, the greater their need     for anti-oxidant nutrients. •  Pregnancy and growth are times of increased body metabolism and therefore oxidation. Breeding mares, stallions and young growing horses     thus require higher levels of anti-oxidants compared with resting adult horses. •  Stress & nervousness increase the rate of body metabolism - therefore nervy horses have a higher requirement for anti-oxidant nutrients.     Both emotional and physical stress is known to increase the production of free radicals. •  Injury, inflammation & infection lead to increased levels of free radicals that can worsen or prolong the disease process. During recovery from     illness or injury a supplementary source of anti-oxidant nutrients will help to boost the immune system and hasten recovery. •  High fat diets - feeding high fat diets is an excellent way of providing horses with energy without the need to feed large amounts of grain. This     is useful for horses that tie-up and for those that 'fizz-out' on grain. However, high fat diets require additional anti-oxidants to mop up the free     radicals produced by oxidation of the extra fats and lipids.     If higher levels of anti-oxidants are not available within a horse's body at times of increased body metabolism to neutralise the extra free     radicals that are produced, cell damage will result. How do Anti-Oxidants work?    Selenium and Vitamin E are two of the major anti-oxidant nutrients. They work closely together as anti-oxidants but have slightly different functions in protecting cells. Selenium exerts its anti-oxidant effect within the cell itself, while Vitamin E works within the cell membranes which enclose the cell. An excess of one of these nutrients will help to counteract a deficiency of the other. However, optimum amounts of both are necessary to minimize oxidation-induced tissue damage. A regular daily supply is needed, as these nutrients are used up in the process of detoxifying free radicals. Vitamin C is also a very potent anti-oxidant and is naturally produced in the liver. Supplementation might be beneficial, however, for horses who are sick or experiencing stress, hence the inclusion of Vitamin C in selected Equus products. What problems can result from an Anti-Oxidant deficiency?   Free radicals act in four different ways to cause cell and tissue damage and disease: 1. They damage cell membranes including muscle cells, red blood cells and immune cells. 2. They interfere with cell energy production which may interfere with athletic performance. 3. They deactivate enzymes and hormones which may affect fertility and growth. 4. They damage DNA - the genetic 'blueprint' for every cell in our body. Vitamin E and Selenium protect cells in many parts of the body. Depending on the tissues affected and the function of the horse, differing disorders may be seen: Muscles   Performance horses require a large amount of energy to fuel muscle activity. Therefore muscle cells have a very high requirement for anti-oxidants. The more exercise undertaken by the horse, the higher the anti-oxidant requirement. If Vitamin E or selenium is deficient, muscle cells (including the heart muscle) may be damaged by free radicals leading to muscle pain and stiffness, loss of muscle strength, stamina and flexibility and, in severe cases, 'tying-up'. A deficiency of anti-oxidants may also delay muscle recovery and rebuilding after strenuous exercise. Immunity    Cells involved in providing immunity against infectious diseases also rely on anti-oxidants to function to their full potential. Research has shown that horses develop a higher level of resistance following vaccination against diseases such as tetanus and influenza when they are supplemented with Vitamin E and Selenium. A high level of immunity is important for all horses but particularly newborn foals and young horses in race training or at shows, sales, breakers etc. where they may be exposed to many infectious diseases (a bit like young children starting pre-school). The stress of hard training and competition is known to lower immunity so any horse exposed to these factors could benefit from an anti-oxidant supplement. Reproduction    Deficiencies of selenium and Vitamin E have been shown to lead to reproductive problems in many species of animals. In fact the scientific name for Vitamin E is 'tocopherol' which means 'to bring forth offspring' in Greek, and this vitamin was known by the ancient Greeks as a fertility vitamin. Once again, the most likely cause of reproductive problems due to anti-oxidant deficiency, is free radical damage to reproductive hormones, sperm and egg cells and the cells lining the uterus. Infertility problems can affect both males and female animals and are commonly seen as returns to season, early embryo death, abortion, retained placenta and degeneration of the cells in the testicles. These problems have not been definitely proven to be due to Vitamin E or Selenium deficiencies in horses; however there is enough evidence in other species to support the use of supplemental Vitamin E and Selenium in breeding mares and stallions. Anecdotally, many breeders have had success with getting infertile mares in foal, once they began supplementation with Vitamin E and Selenium. Foals born to mares which have received inadequate Vitamin E or Selenium during pregnancy may suffer from a condition known as 'White Muscle Disease'. These foals may be stillborn, weak at birth or may appear normal at birth, but develop signs of the disease within the first few weeks of life. The signs include a stiff, stilted gait (they often 'hop' with the hind legs) and muscle pain. If their tongue is involved they may have difficulty nursing and swallowing and may develop pneumonia due to milk getting down into their lungs. If the heart muscle is involved they can develop heart failure and die within a few hours of showing signs of the disorder. Red blood cells   Free radicals can damage the membranes of red blood cells as they circulate in the bloodstream, making them more fragile and decreasing their lifespan. This is of particular importance to racing and high performance horses that have a very high level of free radical production but also require a high red blood cell count to perform to their full potential. Adequate Vitamin E to act as an anti-oxidant in red cell membranes is therefore very important in equine athletes. How do horses obtain anti-oxidants?    Selenium is a trace mineral found in soil and plants, while Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found in fresh grasses and grains. Unfortunately the levels of both nutrients can vary considerably between feed grown in different areas and processed and stored in different ways. Many parts of the world produce feedstuffs that are deficient in Selenium. This may be due to the soil itself being low in Selenium, or in acidic soil areas the Selenium may not be taken up into the plants in normal quantities. The amount of Selenium in grasses and grains can vary from paddock to paddock and even between different areas of a paddock. Consequently the level of Selenium in feedstuffs cannot be reliably predicted and it is better to provide Selenium by supplementing it through the feed.  Injectable forms of Selenium and Vitamin E are available, but these can occasionally cause fatal allergic reactions following the injection. This allergic reaction is not thought to be due to the Selenium itself but rather to one of the carrier substances in the injection.  Vitamin E is found in highest levels in fresh green pasture and in lower levels in hays and grains. Unfortunately, it is a very sensitive vitamin, and its level decreases rapidly during harvesting, processing and poor storage conditions of feeds. Many horse feeds do not contain sufficient levels of anti-oxidants of either vitamin E or Selenium to meet a horse's needs and therefore it is important to examine the bag tag to ascertain what levels are registered, if at all. In all Equus Products, great care is taken to ensure that not only are the required levels met, but also that the anti-oxidants are provided in a biologically available form to ensure the quality criteria is met. Vitamin E and Selenium are both very important, but a number of other trace minerals also play a supporting role and these are all carefully considered in the formulations of all the Equus products.   When to feed your athlete What and When should I feed my Horse before Exercise or Competitions? This question is frequently asked and generally sparks considerable debate. Although it is generally agreed that feeding practices before a competition have an important bearing on performance, there is little consensus as to what is most beneficial. Furthermore, surveys of horse trainers and owners have indicated that horses' diets are usually altered on the day of competition. Is there a correct answer? As you might expect, there is no easy answer to this question and much more research is required to be able to answer this question scientifically. An important key in finding the solution for your individual horse might lie in the fact the answer should be similar for both exercise and for competition. Possibly, the best solution lies in finding exactly what works best for your horse during training and implementing this on competition day. Concentrated Feed (hard feed or grain) The safest approach at present is to feed a full meal at least 4 hours before the event. Blood glucose and insulin increase when the horse eats grain. Horses that begin exercise with elevated insulin may fatigue quicker because insulin prevents the muscle from making the best use of nutrients needed to fuel muscle contraction. Allowing at least 4 hours between a grain meal and exercise will allow blood glucose and insulin to come back to baseline, leaving muscle to work optimally. It must be noted that if blood glucose and insulin are elevated at the start of exercise, there can be a rapid drop in blood glucose shortly after commencing with hard work, reflecting a marked increase in the rate of glucose uptake by muscle. Some researchers believe that this decrease in blood glucose can be detrimental to performance. However, this drop in glucose levels can be transient and might not necessarily have a negative effect on performance. Contrary to this approach, some research indicates that eating a meal with a high fibre content and moderate glycemic index (a typical coarse mix) 45 minutes before prolonged, moderately intense exercise significantly enhances exercise capacity, and it might be worth experimenting with this, especially if you feel your horse is lacking the staying power as the session progresses. It is, however, important to do so long in advance of competition day. Feeding Hay The safest approach for horses that will be exerting themselves heavily is to remove all hay 4 hours before exercise. Ingestion of hay increases "gut fill," which increases the amount of weight the horse has to carry. This additional weight (10 to 20kg) could be a handicap for horses competing in high-speed events. Hay feeding also temporarily reduces the volume of blood circulating to the tissues. This means that less blood is available to fuel muscle contraction and less blood is directed towards the skin to remove excess heat. As a result, horses may get muscle cramps or overheat if they are exercised after a large meal of hay. A digestive tract full of hay also demands a certain amount of blood flow to aid digestion. Blood diverted away from a full digestive tract and towards working muscles may put the horse at risk of colic. Hay should not, however, affect gut fill and blood flow if the horse is fed smaller meals (1 to 2kg) of hay in the 4-hour period before exercise as opposed to one large meal (3 to 5kg). Do note that exceptions to the above feeding management recommendations involve horses participating in long distance events (endurance riding, competitive trail riding, pack trips, etc). These horses should have access to hay right up until the event, to promote water consumption and to enhance the fluid reserve in the horse's hind gut. In addition, these horses should be given small amounts of grain throughout the ride to maintain adequate energy levels. Remember, adequately fed horses perform better!! The days leading up to the Competition. One of the most important factors is that there should be a tapering of the horse's training program. Hard and prolonged exercise places heavy demands on the horse's carbohydrate reserves - both liver and muscle glycogen. During prolonged exercise, low carbohydrate reserves can limit exercise performance, and recent studies have demonstrated that very low muscle glycogen stores can also impair sprint exercise performance (Lacombe et al. 1999). Thus, regardless of the discipline, adequate body carbohydrate stores are important for optimal exercise performance. A gradual reduction in training efforts, together with maintenance of the horse's regular diet, will help ensure that liver and muscle glycogen stores are near their optimal levels before the horse is asked to undertake hard exercise. Fasting Before Competition? If feeding grain and hay (especially in large quantities) before exercise can be detrimental to exercise performance, it might seem logical to conclude that the complete withdrawal of food is the best strategy. This is not, however, the case. Carbohydrates are broken down in the digestive system and are stored as glycogen mainly in the muscles and liver. This glycogen is an important energy reserve for ATP production (the fuel for muscle contraction) and even short periods of fasting can result in a marked decrease in the glycogen stores. Prolonged fasting before exercise can also limit water intake and compromise hydration. In general, horses should not be fasted any longer than four to six hours before hard exercise, and small amounts of hay will probably be better for most individuals than none at all.  Competition Day Although disruptions to a horse's routine should be avoided as much as possible it is often impossible not to have to make some changes on competition day. The key to avoiding digestive upsets is to try to ensure that the horse has plenty of time to digest each meal before working or traveling. Most horses have to travel to a competition and so should have at least an hour to digest their concentrate meal before beginning a journey. Water should be available to the horse right up until loading. Depending on the length of the journey it may be necessary to offer water at regular intervals. This is particularly important if traveling in warm weather. Feeding hay while traveling often helps settle horses down. The horse should also be offered water after completing each class or phase to try and prevent dehydration which can result in early fatigue and potential heat exhaustion, and providing small amounts of hay to keep the digestive system moving will help to prevent any digestive upsets. (Please note that horses participating in endurance type events require a completely different approach which will be dealt with in another article altogether) If the horse is only away from home for one day it is usually best to wait until he returns to his stable to give him his evening feed. If it is going to be very late before the horse gets home then he can be given his feed before leaving the competition site as long as he has at least an hour to digest it before the journey begins. In multi-day endurance events it is critical, however, to feed the horse as soon as possible after the workout.  The rate of muscle glycogen synthesis after exercise is strongly influenced by the timing of carbohydrate ingestion and most research points to the importance of replenishing the glycogen stores within the so-called "window of opportunity". During this period (30 min to 1 hour) after a strenuous work out, the body absorbs and replenishes the glycogen stores faster than normal and this is a vital factor for full recovery before the following day's event. (More about this and the new product Equus Feeds is developing for this purpose in a later article.) There are no easy answers and research is certainly lacking. It is also true that the same approach may not work for all and it remains up to the rider to understand the basic principals and then to find what works best for that individual horse. Bear in mind that with any strenuous exercise, the actual speed of muscle recovery is of critical importance and riders are best advised to use products which clearly state the inclusion of the important vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B12, folic acid and iron which all play an essential role in muscle recovery.   Endurance Racing by: Ray Geor, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM The nutritional needs of the endurance horse are somewhat unique compared to horses used for other athletic disciplines. The metabolic demands of endurance racing (including competitive trail riding and ride and tie events) are high, requiring the horse to draw heavily upon his energy reserves to fuel muscle contraction and other body functions during exercise. As well, very large sweat fluid losses mandate aggressive replacement strategies to keep the horse hydrated during this extended exercise. Most importantly, we know that depletion of energy reserves, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances can all contribute to poor performance and fatigue during endurance exercise. Therefore, optimal endurance exercise performance is critically dependent on sound nutritional management. In this article, we will discuss feeding the endurance athlete, emphasizing the nutrients of greatest importance, as well as feeding management before, during, and after events. Athletic Demands Endurance racing, competitive trail rides, and ride and tie competitions are extremely popular equine sports. Currently, the American Endurance Riding Conference (AERC) sanctions more than 700 rides each year throughout North America. This popularity has spread worldwide--in 1978 the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) recognized endurance racing as an international sport, and in 1993 endurance racing became the fifth discipline under the United States Equestrian Team (USET). In the early years of international competition, teams from the United States and Canada were dominant. Today, however, teams from several countries--notably France, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand are extremely competitive. This intense competition has "raised the bar" in terms of the athletic demands placed on the successful endurance horse. These demands are highly dependent on race distance, course footing and terrain, and running speed. Most endurance rides range from 25 miles to 100-plus miles (40 to 160 km) per day, and there are a few multi-day events with a total distance of 250 or so miles (400 km). When major elevation changes (uphill and downhill running), soft footing, and a brisk running speed are factored into the equation, it is easy to appreciate that an endurance horse must "burn" a large quantity of its fuel stores to provide energy for muscle contraction. Indeed, average running speeds of the top-placing horses at some recent international competitions have been astounding--upwards of 13.5 to 14 miles per hour (21.6 to 22.4 km/hour or 360 to 373 meters/minute), with much of the distance covered at a medium canter. There are two main fuel stores: 1) carbohydrate in the form of muscle and liver glycogen (the storage form of glucose); and 2) fat, which is stored in adipose (fat) tissue throughout the body and in muscle. While protein can be broken down for energy, it is not a primary fuel source. Therefore, the availability of fat and glucose (from glycogen) and the efficiency of utilization of these fuels are of primary importance for the endurance horse. The typical endurance horse is fairly small (900 to 1,100 pounds or 405-495 kg), and he has lean, physical attributes that favor efficiency of movement and thermoregulation. Heavy, over-conditioned horses tend to do poorly in endurance competitions, perhaps due to a greater risk for lameness problems and metabolic failure associated with inefficient thermoregulation and heat exhaustion. On the other hand, very thin horses also might be at a major disadvantage during long endurance rides (e.g. more than 75-80 miles or 120-128 km) because they have less energy reserves stored as fat. Two recent studies investigated the relationship between body condition score and completion rate during the Tevis Cup (100-mile) endurance ride. The standard body condition scale of 1 to 9 was used, where a score of 1 is applied to very thin horses and 9 to extremely fat horses (see Garlinghouse and Burrill 1999). The mean body condition score of horses which successfully completed the ride was 4.5, whereas horses which were eliminated for metabolic failure (colic, heat exhaustion, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter/thumps, or tying-up) had a mean condition score of 2.9. Horses which were eliminated for non-metabolic reasons such as lameness and going over time had a mean condition score of 4.3. (For more information on body condition scores, see "Weighing In" in the October 2000 issue of The Horse, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=111.) The researchers were careful to point out their results might not apply to endurance competition as a whole given the difficult nature of the Tevis Cup. Nonetheless, the take-home message from these studies is that there is an optimal level of "fatness" for horses competing in endurance events, and that training and feeding programs need to be adjusted accordingly. Thin horses (with a condition score of less than 3) might be at a disadvantage because of low energy reserves, while over-conditioned horses could experience detrimental effects due to the insulating effect and weight of a thicker fat cover. You should aim for a body condition score between 4 and 5. Key Nutrients The nutritional factors of critical importance to the endurance horse are energy, water, and electrolytes. Dietary energy is expressed in terms of megacalories (Mcal) of digestible energy (DE), which is the amount of energy contained within feed that is actually absorbed by the horse. The National Research Council (1989) set energy requirements based on body weight and activity level. For example, a 450-kg (990-pound) endurance horse has a maintenance DE requirement of 14.9 Mcal per day based on the formula: DE(maintenance) = 1.4 + (0.03 x body weight in kg) Researchers have also estimated the energy requirements associated with different intensities of exercise, taking into consideration the energy cost of carrying a rider (see "Digestible Energy Requirements for Carrying Weight" on page 64). For this 450-kg horse to complete three hours of exercise at an average speed of 300 meters/minute (18 km/hour) while carrying 75 kg (165 pounds) of rider and tack, the additional DE requirement is more than 21 Mcal (525 kg x 0.0137 x 3 hours = 21.6 Mcal). Add the 21.6 to the 14.9 and you get a total DE requirement of approximately 36.5 Mcal per day. This arithmetic gives us a rough estimate of the DE requirements for an endurance horse at work. However, he will not "burn" this many calories every day. Rather, his DE needs will depend on the amount of training and racing during a given period. As a general rule, an endurance horse in training will need about 30 Mcal of DE per day to maintain body condition. It is important to assess body condition on a regular basis and adjust energy intake (and perhaps training volume) accordingly, shooting for a body condition score between 4 and 5. If you are regularly read The Horse, you will recall that energy is provided by four components--starch, fat, fiber, and protein (see "High-Energy Feeds" in the June 2001 issue of The Horse, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=37). A balance of these nutrients is required for an endurance horse, but with emphasis on high-quality fiber and fat. Forage and other sources of high-quality fiber should be the dietary mainstay (and provided free-choice), since adequate dietary fiber is essential for maintaining gut health. Studies have shown that a high-fiber diet can help the horse stave off the detrimental effects of sweat fluid losses during prolonged exercise. Researchers at the University of Kentucky recently compared fluid balance in one group of horses which tried two diets, one high in fiber-containing feedstuffs (80% fiber provided by orchard grass hay and beet pulp), the other lower in fiber (50% fiber provided by alfalfa and wheat bran). Water intake was about 1.5 gallons/day (six liters/day) more when the horses consumed the high-fiber diet, resulting in a larger fluid volume in the gastrointestinal tract--this reflects the water-holding capacity of fiber. It is thought that this fluid can be absorbed from the gut during long exercise, helping the horse maintain hydration and electrolyte balance. Not all fiber sources are created equal. Very mature hay contains large amounts of lignin (a non-digestible fiber) and has a low DE value. The protein and calcium content of the hay is another consideration. For the most part, endurance horses require a diet that is about 10-12% protein. Therefore, an 8-14% protein hay will be appropriate. For example, if the horse is eating about 13 pounds (5.85 kg) of a 12% protein concentrate and 17 pound (7.65 kg) of timothy hay that is 8.5% protein, the overall diet (65% forage, 35% concentrate) is about 10% protein. Therefore, an early- to mid-cut grass hay will fit the bill. In general, alfalfa is not an ideal choice for endurance horses. Feeding some alfalfa is okay (e.g. up to half of the forage allowance), but many endurance riders avoid an all-alfalfa diet because of concerns about high protein and calcium intake. A higher-protein diet can increase urine production because of the need to excrete the extra nitrogen. In turn, the higher urinary water loss increases water requirements and perhaps exacerbates dehydration during exercise. In my opinion, the protein issue has been over-emphasized, but it is probably safest to go with alfalfa with no more than 50% of the forage component. It has been proposed that horses are more prone to thumps (synchronous diaphragmatic flutter) when fed an all-alfalfa diet--thumps is triggered by drastic changes in blood electrolyte balance, including calcium. (Alfalfa is high in calcium.) The theory goes that the horse is less able to mobilize body calcium reserves during exercise when fed a diet high in calcium. Again, this is less of a concern when alfalfa is mixed with a grass hay. (For more information on thumps, see "Dehydration Alert!" in the July 2001 issue of The Horse, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=908) However, a 75% grass/25% alfalfa diet is an acceptable compromise. Of course, wherever possible, the horse should have daily access to pasture. The balance of the horse's energy requirements will come from some type of grain concentrate. A combination of cereal grains, vegetable fat, and a vitamin-mineral supplement, such as that provided by many performance horse feeds, is suitable. Some beet pulp, a highly digestible fiber source, can be added to the mix. The starch in cereal grains will provide glucose for replenishment of glycogen stores (remember that the energy from fat and fiber are not used as much for this purpose). Keep in mind that for all horses, individual grain meals should be no larger than five to six pounds (2.25-2.7 kg) to avoid digestive upsets. The grain concentrate should contain fat at a 6-10% concentration (found in many commercial feeds). At typical intake rates (e.g., 10 pounds or 4.5 kg of grain concentrate per day), this will provide a significant amount of energy. Introduce fat when the horse begins conditioning. Training results in an increased capacity to utilize fat during endurance-type exercise, and there is some evidence that this effect is enhanced by a higher-fat diet (see "Fat Burning" in the November 2000 issue of The Horse, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=96). Liquid and Electrolyte Losses Water and electrolyte replacement is equally important for the endurance horse. I refer you to an earlier article for a detailed discussion of this subject (see "Fluids and Electrolytes" in the April 2000 issue of The Horse, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=214). Suffice it to say that plenty of fresh water must be available at all times and, during rides, the horse must be offered water at frequent intervals, especially in hot weather (e.g. every 30-40 minutes). Electrolytes must be supplied as they are easily lost in sweat and are necessary for maintaining proper fluid balance, acid-base balance, and nerve activity. Endurance riders and trainers employ various methods for administration of electrolyte concoctions. Many will give electrolyte pastes via dosing syringe before and during the ride. Others will add some electrolyte to slurry-type meals fed at vet checks during the ride. Remember that the electrolytes are given for two reasons. First, to replace the electrolytes lost in sweat and, second, to stimulate water intake so that the horse replaces fluid losses, which can approach 2.6-3.1 gallons (10-12 liters) per hour in some circumstances. Therefore, it is very important to monitor water intake during rides. Regarding other nutritional supplements, I do think there is merit in the use of the so-called "joint supplements," particularly those containing glucosamines. The glucosamines might help maintain cartilage health, an important consideration given the wear and tear on joints in these horses. (For more on joint problems, see "Joint Disease." Before, During, and After a Ride In the four- to five-day period before a race, training should be light. This reduction in activity combined with regular feeding will ensure that glycogen stores are "topped up" before competition. Most nutritionists discourage the feeding of large meals, particularly grain, before vigorous exercise. For early morning starts (many rides), the last grain meal should be given the night before. However, the horse should be allowed to nibble on hay or other forage in the hours before the race starts. Aside from water and electrolytes, the horse should be offered high-quality feedstuffs at rest stops during the ride. Horses tend to vary in their preferences, so you might need to experiment (at home!) to find the best combination for your horse. Offer water as soon as the horse enters the checkpoint. My preference is to delay the administration of electrolyte pastes until the horse has eaten since electrolyte pastes can sometimes cause a little irritation of the gums, discouraging food intake. Alternatively, add some electrolyte to the feed. Mash or slurry combinations of, for example, alfalfa meal, grain, wheat bran and/or rice bran (perhaps with a little molasses and some chopped apples or carrots for added palatability) are popular. Also offer plain forage, which can be soaked in water to encourage fluid replacement. This combination of feedstuffs should provide some energy for use during subsequent phases of the ride. After the ride, the horse should be offered water (immediately) and free-choice hay, followed by a grain meal (or a mash combo similar to that offered during the race). At this stage, particularly after long rides, the horse will be in a significant energy deficit with low liver and muscle glycogen stores. The starch in a grain meal will help to kick-start glycogen replenishment. However, it is not realistic to restore these energy reserves in the immediate post-ride period. Muscle glycogen reserves will buildup over the next three to four days providing the horse is rested and fed its normal diet. Some well-deserved rest and relaxation is the most important aspect of post-ride management. Maintaining your horse at a body condition score of 4-5, conditioning him for long rides, and supplying enough energy, water, and electrolytes will give you a fit, fierce endurance competitor. ________________________________________ FURTHER READING Duren, S.E. Feeding the endurance horse. Advances in Equine Nutrition, edited by J.D. Pagan. Nottingham Press, 351-363, 1998. Garlinghouse, S.E.; Burrill, M.J. Relationship of body condition score to completion rate during 160-km endurance races. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 30, 591-595, 1999. Pagan, J.; Harris, P. The effects of timing and amount of forage and grain on exercise response in Thoroughbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, Supplement 30, 451-457, 1999. Warren, L.K.; Lawrence, L.M.; Roberts, A.; et al. The effect of dietary fiber on gastrointestinal fluid volume and the response to dehydration and exercise. Proceedings of the 17th Symposium of the Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, Lexington, Ky., 148-149, 2001. Colic in Horses THIS ARTICLE ON COLIC IS WRITTEN BY THE VETERINARIAN JANET DOUGLAS FROM THE EQUINE RESEARCH CENTER IN CANADA. The Colic Fact Sheet WRITTEN BY: The Equine Research Centre What is Colic? The term "colic" means only "pain in the abdomen" or "pain in the belly". There are many causes for such pain, ranging from the mild and inconsequential to the life-threatening or fatal. One of the problems with equine colic is that it can be very difficult in the early stages to distinguish the mild from the potentially fatal. This is why all cases of abdominal pain should be taken seriously right from the onset. A tour of the gastro-intestinal tract A guided tour of the horse's gastro-intestinal tract (GIT or "guts") helps to explain why there are so many forms of colic. The horse's GIT is similar to that of most species but it has a number of specialised design features, some of which predispose it to colic. These are noted by an asterisk (*) below. Once food has been chewed, it passes down the esophagus ("gullet") into the stomach. The horse has a fairly small stomach for its size (8-15 litres), a design well suited to an animal which grazes almost continuously in its natural state. After a period of digestion in the stomach, food passes into the small intestine. This part of the gut is approximately 22 m in length, with a diameter of 7-10 cm, and a capacity of 40-50 litres. The majority of the small intestine hangs from a curtain-like membrane called the mesentery*. The messentery is attached to one point in the middle of the abdomen, under the spine. (The small intestine looks like a very long sausage running along the bottom of a thin net curtain, with the top of the curtain all bunched together.) At the junction of the small and large intestines the equine GIT has a large blind-ended* outpouching over 1 m long with a capacity of 25-30 litres. This is the caecum (the horse's version of our appendix). Food passes from the small intestine into the caecum before passing into the large intestine. Together, the caecum and large intestine form the horse's "fermentation chamber", allowing it to gain nutritional support from the complex carbohydrates contained in grasses and other forage. Three to 4 metres long with a diameter of 20-25 cm along most of its length and a capacity of over 50 litres, the large intestine fills a significant part of the abdomen. Surprisingly, this large unwieldy structure is tethered to the body wall at only two points*: at its beginning (where it joins the small intestine and caecum) and at its end (where it joins the short, narrow* small colon which leads to the anus). With only two immobile points, the large intestine lies in the abdomen in a neatly-arranged double-U formation, one "U" stacked on top of the other. This arrangement entails the food making it round a number of 180 bends* (known as "flexures") in the intestine. Major types of colic Impaction colic: This is the term used when the intestine becomes blocked by a firm mass of food. Impactions most commonly occur in the large intestine at one of the flexures. This is a fairly common type of colic which usually resolves relatively easily with appropriate treatment. However, an impaction may be just the first obvious sign in a more complicated case. Gas colic: Sometimes gas builds up in the intestine, most commonly in the large intestine and/or caecum. The gas stretches the intestine, causing pain. Gas colics usually resolve fairly easily with appropriate treatment, although it is essential to ensure that there is no underlying reason for the problem. Spasmodic colic: Some cases of colic are due to increased intestinal contractions, the abnormal spasms causing the intestines to contract painfully. These cases usually respond fairly well. Displacement/volvulus/torsion ('twisted gut"): In a "displacement", a portion of the intestine has moved to an abnormal position in the abdomen. A "volvulvus" or "torsion" occurs when a piece of the intestine twists. The suspension of the small intestine from the mesentery (the "net curtain") and the unfixed nature of much of the large intestine predispose horses to intestinal displacements and torsions. Except in rare cases, these types of colic cause a total blockage of the intestine and require immediate surgery if the horse is to survive. In the early stages of a displacement/torsion colic, the signs may be similar to those of a horse with one of the more benign causes of colic. That is why it is important to take all cases of colic seriously, and to seek veterinary advice at an early stage. Enteritis/colitis: Some cases of abdominal pain are due to inflammation of the small (enteritis) or large (colitis) intestines. These are serious medical cases and require immediate veterinary attention. Gastric distension/rupture: When a horse gorges itself on grain or, even more seriously, a substance which expands when dampened like dried beet pulp, the contents of the stomach can swell. The horse's small stomach and its inability to vomit mean that in these circumstances the stomach may burst. Once this has happened death is inevitable. If you suspect that your horse may have gorged itself on concentrate feeds, seek veterinary advice immediately. "Unknown": In many cases of colic it is impossible to determine the reason for the pain. Symptomatic treatment, close monitoring and attention to any adverse developments usually lead to resolution of the problem. Signs of Colic The signs of colic in horses range from almost imperceptible in mild cases to extremely violent in severe cases. The following list includes the most common signs: •  lying down more than usual •  getting up and lying down repeatedly •  standing stretched out •  standing frequently as if to urinate •  turning the head towards the flank •  repeatedly curling the upper lip •  pawing the ground •  kicking at the abdomen •  rolling What to do The severity of the case will dictate what you do when you find your horse showing signs of colic. If he is behaving violently call your veterinarian immediately. Violent behaviour usually equates with great pain which usually equates with a serious case of colic. Time is of the essence here. Not all horses show the same severity of signs with the same type of colic, though, and some horses may become quite violent with a relatively "mild" case. If the signs of pain are less extreme, you can take a few minutes to observe the horse's appearance and behaviour before calling the veterinarian. •  If possible, take his temperature, pulse and respiration rates. •  Note what his appetite has been like in the past day or so, and the consistency and frequency of defecation. •  Has his water intake been normal? •  Are his gums a normal colour? •  Think about whether he has had access to any unusual feedstuffs in the past day or so, whether any medications have been administered, and     whether there have been any changes in management. Now call your veterinarian. It is important to take all food away from the horse until the veterinarian arrives. If he is nibbling at his bedding, find a way to prevent this. Walking the horse can be a useful way of distracting him from the pain, but he should not be walked to exhaustion. If the horse insists on rolling, there will be little you can do to prevent it. If possible, try to get the horse to an area where he will do himself the least damage when he rolls. But do not get hurt yourself. Do not administer any drugs until your veterinarian has seen the horse, or unless he/she tells you to do so. Prevention of colic If you happen to be a horse, colic is probably an unfortunate fact of life. Annual colic incidences of approximately 10% are quite common. Listed below are some of the management factors which are thought to reduce colic incidence. Horses which fall into high-risk categories, such as stabled horses in intense training and fit horses recently injured, should be monitored particularly closely. •  Allow as much turnout as possible •  maintain a regular feeding schedule •  ensure constant access to clean water •  provide at least 60% of digestible energy from forage •  do not feed excessive digestible energy •  do not feed moldy hay or grain •  feed hay and water before grain •  provide access to forage for as much of the day as possible •  do not over graze pastures •  do not feed or water horses before they have cooled out •  maintain a consistent exercise regime •  make all changes in diet, exercise level and management slowly •  control intestinal parasites and assess efficiency periodically. Author Janet Douglas earned her degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, England. She continued her pursuit of  excellence at the Equine Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario, where she focused on equine orthopaedics. References: Reeves, M.J. and Salman, M (1993). Risk factors for equine colic identified by means of a multicentered case-control study. Proc. Am. Assoc. Eq. Pract. 39 93. White, N.A. (1994) Epidemiology of colic. Equine Research Centre's Farm Management Proceedings. 48 Cohen, N.D., et al (1995). Case control study of the association between various management factors and development of colic in horses. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 206 (5) 667. The following information is taken from a study of a normal, healthy horse population in an effort to identify risk factors associated with colic. An understanding of risk factors can provide practical approaches to preventing colic. The study, conducted by Dr. Nathaniel White II professor of surgery at Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Virginia, profiles 1,443 horse from farms in Virginia and Maryland which had populations of 20 or more horses. After monitoring the farms for a full year, 100 factors were analyzed to see if a pattern could be identified. The possible risk factors examined were based on the farm's history, the age, sex and breed of the horse, its use, feeding, parasite burden, the weather, management routines and daily events.      The ERC's exclusive publications are highly recommended for further reading. For more information on horse health care or to order an ERC publication contact the Equine Research Centre, 50 McGilvray St., Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1. Tel: (519) 837-0061 Fax: (519) 767-1018. E-mail: publications@erc.on.ca Gastric Ulcers Many horses spend long periods in stables which has both advantages and disadvantages. Horses have evolved as trickle feeders with a digestive system designed for a continuous supply of high fibre food and, under natural conditions, would spend up to 18 hours of their day grazing. Modern management systems mean that many horses, especially performance horses, may spend the majority of their time stabled and are often fed diets high in starch but low in fibre, meaning that they may spend considerable time with empty stomachs. Such practice often leads to horses presenting signs of gastric ulcers - they struggle to hold condition, have dull coats, tend to be fractious,  are reluctant to work or have reduced performance (although some horses may show no obvious visible signs), as well as intermittent colic and reduced appetite. The only definitive way to diagnose gastric ulcers is with gastroscopy, which involves placing an endoscope into the horse's stomach and looking at its surface. Opinions vary on the incidence of horses affected by gastric ulcers, but some research reports the figures being as high as 90% for racehorses in training, up to 60% for competition horses and from 25% - 50% for foals. By understanding how the horse's stomach works it is clear why and how gastric ulcers occur. The horse's stomach is divided into two distinct parts: the lower part, referred to as the glandular area and the upper part, known as the non-glandular or squamous area. In the glandular area, gastric acid is continuously produced via glands - whether the horse is eating or not - at approximately 1.5 litres of gastric juice per hour. The glandular area is protected from the effects of gastric acid by a protective coating of mucosal cells. The squamous area should be alkaline and, as such, does not have a protective coating and relies on the buffering effect of saliva to protect it from the gastric acid that is being continuously produced. Gastric ulcers, an erosion of an area of the stomach lining, have been identified in all areas of the stomach, however, not surprisingly, they tend to be most common in the upper, non glandular, squamous part of the stomach which lacks the protective coating. Saliva is the horse's natural buffering agent against gastric acid in the upper, non glandular part of the stomach, but saliva is only produced when the horse is actually chewing. Fibrous feed stuffs require more chewing than concentrate feeds, so for the stabled horse who may not have free access to forage, this can cause problems. Stress too plays a role in increasing the likelihood of gastric ulcers and it has been noted that horses in a stressful training programme have increased levels of corticosteroids with the subsequent reduction in blood flow to the stomach lining which interferes with the protective coating and leads to more damage from the gastric acid. Other stressful situations such as travelling, weaning and stabling can also cause similar effects. Reducing the risk of stomach ulcers Prevention is better than cure and this particularly true for gastric ulcers. Mimicking the horse's natural lifestyle is key to preventing gastric ulcers. The following are all good practices to try and follow as far as possible to help with prevention: 1) 24 Hour turnout is ideal and the majority of horses can be worked and competed successfully whilst living out.  If constant turn out is not an option     try to ensure that your horse spends as much time out in the paddock as possible. 2) Whilst your horse is stabled, provide ad lib forage which will promote saliva production, the horse's natural buffer against gastric acid. 3) Place feed bins on the ground as horses swallow and chew more effectively when their heads are down 4) It is also important to remember to provide your horse with forage whilst travelling which can be a potentially stressful situation. 5) If your horse does require a concentrate feed either to provide extra energy for work or to help maintain condition, choose a feed that is high     in fibre  but low in starch and remember to feed small regular meals. 6) All the products in the Equus range have added natural fibres included which help to promote chewing enhancing saliva production thus      extending the amount of time the horse takes to eat the concentrated part of his diet, as well as providing extra fibre. 7) Try to minimise the amount of stress in your horse's routine, for example, allowing your horse to see others when stabled and reducing the     workload if your horse is working particularly hard. 8) Products like Equus Cool 'n Perform containing extruded grains are more digestible and less likely to contribute to the development of ulcers. 9) Avoid empty stomachs as far as possible. Don't start training immediately after a feed, but also don't train on an empty stomach. If you are not sure whether your horse has ulcers you should seek Veterinary advice. The vet can scope the horse to see the ulcers and describe the required medication or alternative therapies available. The Importance of Fibre on Digestive Health Horses are grazers by nature and in a completely natural situation, would graze for 12 hours or more every day with their broad, flat teeth and sideways chewing motions making short work of the tough, stemmy grasses and weeds they favor. As a horse's health and performance is directly linked to the health of its digestive system, horses provided with high fibre feeds which emulate their naturally high fibre, low carbohydrate diet, have a healthier digestive tract, and look and perform better. Without adequate fibre, the horse's digestive system doesn't function properly - it loses the ability to move food particles efficiently through the gut, and its ability to conserve water and electrolytes also is compromised. Without fibre in the system, high-carbohydrate feeds tend to "pack" in the gut as well. The result is a horse at risk of dehydration, colic, and laminitis (not to mention stable vices like cribbing and wood-chewing, which often develop when a horse's fundamental urge to chew is not satisfied). High fibre diets are not necessarily new and have actually been around for a long time. The problem with these diets in the past is that calories were sacrificed because high-fibre ingredients are naturally lower in calories than grains. The horse then had to eat more of the feed to get the same amount of calories provided in a typical grain based feed. In the Equus range of products the problem of supplying sufficient calories within a high fibre diet has been solved, however, by incorporating good quality, highly digestible fibres, extruded grains, added oils and a live yeast culture at the correct levels to enhance fibre fermentation and to help the horse's natural digestive system operate at peak performance level. Like all true herbivores, horses get most of their daily energy requirements from eating plant fibres. Yet, ironically, horses can't digest fibre. Fibre Digestion and Micro Flora in the hind gut Interestingly, it is a fact that no animal can digest fibre on its own. Animals don't produce the enzymes needed to digest fibres and make the nutrients within available for use. Fortunately, horses, like most other animals, have an almost invisible ally - a population of intestinal bacteria, resident in the cecum and colon, that are specially adapted to digest the fibre that horses cannot. Through a fermentation process, these gut flora produce the necessary enzymes to convert fibre to volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which the horse can absorb. Not only do the bacteria benefit (making this a truly symbiotic relationship), but the VFAs they create provide most of the horse's total digestible energy needs. The horse is considered a "post-gastric fermenter," meaning that after the simple stomach and small intestine, a large portion of the horse's digestion comes from the fermentation of fibre within the later portions of the digestive system. Depending on the specific diet, between 30% and 70% of the energy a horse gets from his food can come from volatile fatty acids produced by the bacterial fermentation of fibre within the large intestine. It is said that to keep a horse healthy, one must direct attention to keeping hindgut bacterial micro flora healthy. So, how is this done? The mainstay of any equine diet should be fibre - the intestinal tract should be provided with ample fibre to help the system do its work. The act of eating and the intake of forage are major stimuli for active gastrointestinal (GI) motility. Kentucky Equine Research (KER) promotes the use of fibre as the most fundamental of equine nutritional needs and states that: "The single most important recommendation in feeding horses is that forage should be the foundation of every feeding program." How does Equus approach this? Throughout the Equus range, the emphasis is on natural fibres and gut health. The functions and importance of the fibre within the composition of the concentrate are of primary importance and when formulating rations the starting point is the forage and not the grains. Horses are designed to process forage and are very efficient at taking small amounts of fat, sugar, starch and protein out of large amounts of fibrous feed (forage) as the feed passes through the small intestine. However, feed progresses through the foregut of horses without much mixing and often remains in the stomach for less than 1 hour, so the grain fed at 7 am this morning doesn't mix well with the hay a horse eats from 7:30 to 9:00 am. It is vital, thus, that the feed a horse eats, including the grain or concentrate portion, should contain sufficient fibre to move it along the tract normally. At Equus we recognize that when the fibre content of a feed falls below a certain amount, or a lot of low-fibre concentrate is fed, the starch and other nutrients can become less digestible in the foregut. Concentrates with less than 6% fibre seem to be more likely to cause colic, founder and other digestive disorders, while those with 12-14% fibre or more seem to reduce the risks of digestive disorders in horses. For this reason, products in the Equus range provide adequate fibre to help keep the ingested concentrate portion moving along the digestive tract normally. Our concentrates are specifically designed to contain lots of highly digestible fibre and horses will take a much longer time to finish their allocated portions, which is exactly what is required as this stimulates saliva production which further promotes gastric health.  Keep in mind, however, the importance of carefully weighing portions at first when changing over from another concentrate to one higher in fibre. The Equus muesli style products are very voluminous and may appear to be much more than what they actually weigh which means you can easily underfeed. Also, keep in mind that just because the Equus products look so fibrous this does not mean that your horse does not need additional fibre. All Equus products should be treated as normal concentrate feeds and additional quality fibre should be supplied as recommended (see how much and how often further below). Fibre and Digestive Disorders Equine nutrition research has revealed a link between traditional (grain-based) horse feeding programs and many health-related disorders in horses (colic, founder, tying-up and gastric ulcers). Research has also shown that if we feed horses more in keeping with the grazing, fibre-fermenters they are, we can reduce the risks of many of these common digestive disorders.  It has been proven that providing microflora in the hindgut with a good environment is critical for gut health. A starch or grain overload in the foregut does not provide this ideal environment; in essence, this is the source of many digestive problems in horses. Too much fermentable material passes in relatively undigested form from the small intestine, and then it overloads the hindgut with starch and soluble carbohydrates causing acidity and a proliferation of unwanted bacteria. If large amounts of grain are fed a lot of starch will also escape enzymatic digestion, thus reducing the overall caloric value of the whole ration and negatively influencing fermentation. It has been shown that in a healthy, normal hindgut, the fibre-fermenting microbes are the dominant species, but they do not work well in an acidic environment.  There are however other less desirable species of bacteria inhabiting the hindgut whose preferential substrates are rapidly fermentable carbohydrates such as starch, sugar, and fructans. If these rapidly fermentable substrates enter the hindgut, then these bugs become very active and quickly multiply. Lactic acid is the primary fermentative end product of this kind of bacteria which lowers the pH of the hindgut, and this inhibits or even kills the more desirable fibre-fermenting species with digestive disorders normally the end result. How much fibre is required and how often? All horses need at least 1% to 1.5% of body weight in forage daily to keep their digestive tracts functioning normally. Except in the most strenuous circumstances (such as 2-year-olds in heavy race training), fibre should make up at least 50% (by weight) of a horse's daily diet. For the vast majority of adult horses, that percentage can be pushed up considerably higher especially if the horse is an easy keeper and/or not being asked to do work. The basic principle is this: grain is an optional part of a horse's diet; roughage (fibre) is not. Compared to its body size, the horse has a small stomach. It is therefore important to feed the horse hay frequently (at least four times a day) or give it free access to hay. Undisturbed free-ranging horses will spend between 12 and 17 hours a day grazing. The grazing time is naturally organized in meals separated by non-feeding intervals mostly used for rest. The non-feeding intervals are usually shorter than 2 hours and never exceed 3-4 hours. Stabled horses with free access to feed use the same amount of time for feeding and they organize this time in about 10 meals per day without any voluntary interruptions longer than 3-4 hours. A word on Forage Quality There are many different fibre types that can be utilized in the equine diet, but not all of them are as efficient to use. Fibre quality varies widely across fibre types and is due to plant species, soil fertility, and stage of maturity at the time of harvest. When plants mature and reach the reproductive stage of development, their protein content, digestibility, and palatability decline. The ratio of stem to leaf increases with maturity, so although the plant has a higher fibre content, the digestibility of the plant becomes very low making it less desirable. When selecting hay, avoid mature grass hays with less than 8% protein, which tend to be very high in indigestible fibre and low in energy. It is not always practical to have forage analysed, so when evaluating available forage always look for product that appears to be less mature (softer) and greener. Much of the assessment of the quality of your hay can be done through simple observation. Good-quality hay should be green, not yellow or brown. It should have a high leaf content, few weeds, and should smell pleasant and slightly sweet. There should be no visible mold (white or dark matted patches in the hay) or other foreign material. If you take a handful of hay and squeeze it, it should not hurt your hand-prickly hay has been cut too late and has a low nutrient content. If you drop a flake of hay from a height of a few feet, you should not see clouds of dust rising from it. Dust is usually an indicator that the grower had the tines on his harvester set too low. South Africa is known for good quality hay and Lucerne due to excellent growing conditions and fine weather for cutting and baling. Teff hay is normally of very good quality, but always look out for green and leafy material. With Eragrostis hay it is especially important to scrutinize quality and to select only batches that appear to have been cut at an early and immature stage. With Lucerne it is important to always look for batches high in leafy content with less stalks as most of the nutritive value is in the leaf. Keep an eye out for wet bales!   Regardless of the type of forage you feed, if it is of questionable quality you should find a better alternative. Adding grain or good quality concentrates to poor quality forage is never the ideal solution. It is important to pay as much attention to your selection of forage as you do to the selection of the concentrate you use. Laminitis and related Metabolic Disorders (Cushing's Syndrome, Insulin Resistance and Tying Up) Laminitis Equine Laminitis is a painful condition of the feet. The actual word means 'inflammation of the sensitive laminae'. These laminae are the membranes that hold the bone of the foot (pedal bone) in place inside the hoof. So when they get inflamed it is as if your horse has to stand on a very badly bruised fingernail. The pain must be similar to when we shut our fingers in the car door but it is worse for the horse because he or she has to stand with all his or her weight on those bruised areas. The cause of a large percentage of equine laminitis is poor digestion. While various factors can predispose horses to one of these conditions, the most common cause appears to be a carbohydrate overload in the small intestine. Carbohydrates escaping digestion in the foregut move on to the hindgut where a proliferation of lactic acid bacteria and an increase in acidity resulting from fermentation in the cecum occurs. This increased acidity kills the beneficial fibre fermenting bacteria and causes irritation of the gut lining where endotoxins are absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in impaired circulation, especially in the hoof. This swelling or inflammation means that the laminae cannot do their job of holding the pedal bone in place properly and this results in a lot of pain. As the situation gets worse and if the flow of toxins is not reduced then the laminae can be so damaged that the pedal bone sinks right through the sole of the foot and the horse will have to be euthanased. When the foot bone sinks a little the pedal bone is said to have 'rotated'. Another sort of food that causes equine laminitis is rich young spring grass with high levels of fructans. However, rich grass can cause the problem at any time of year and even frosty grass in the winter can damage the digestion in the gut so much that the wrong sorts of bacteria start to multiply and release toxins.  Grass stores higher levels of fructans in stems than in leaves and levels increase during daylight. When the grass is using a lot of energy for rapid growth, sugar and fructans will be used up, so the amount stored will decrease, reducing the risk. Recent research indicates that 'stressed' grass (i.e: drought stricken, wilted, frost damaged or grass that is over-grazed) tends to contain much higher levels of fructans as the growth is reduced, seriously increasing the risk of causing laminitis. Food is not the only cause of equine laminitis however. In addition, any infection in the body might produce enough toxins to damage the blood vessels and thus cause equine laminitis. Womb infections after foaling are a particularly well-known example of this cause of equine laminitis. In addition, pounding of the feet can cause sufficient damage to the laminae to cause equine laminitis. This form of the problem is called concussion laminitis. Stress can also result in horses more likely to contract equine laminitis. Diagnosis and Treatment Laminitic attacks are usually sudden and, unfortunately, often severe. Initially the hoof itself can form an effective visual barrier, which belies the drastic changes that take place within the foot. Only a vet can diagnose laminitis, so if your horse or pony begins to show certain signs and you suspect a problem, act immediately by calling your vet. Many laminitic horses will adopt a characteristic stance associated with laminitis, with their forelegs stretched forwards and their weight shifted to their heels to relieve the pressure on their toes. In some cases the horse may lay flat on its side to take the weight off its feet. When standing, the horse may be seen to shift its weight from one foot to another and may be reluctant to move or may move with short 'pottery' strides. The sole of the foot is sensitive to pressure and a strong digital pulse can be felt. In some cases the feet may also feel warm, however this is not always reliable as the feet tend to fluctuate in temperature throughout the day. Medical treatment of digestive equine laminitis by your vet most commonly involves the use of painkillers or anti-inflammatories and diet adjustment. There are also antibiotic preparations on the market which although not absorbed into the rest of the body act on the bacteria in the guts, reducing the number of harmful ones that cause the acid build up. If you are controlling the intake of food to manage equine laminitis remember that reducing food intake means that your horse may not be getting all the best nutrients it needs for proper recovery of the sensitive laminae. Equus Feeds has specially developed Safe 'n Lite for horses prone to laminitis and also to assist horses in recovering from the disease. 10 Ways to help avoid Laminitis Here are some guidelines to minimize the risk of laminitis. Concentrated Rations: 1. Match your horse's diet to his individual energy needs. Feed only as much high-energy concentrate as necessary pending his current level of     exercise and training. 2. When extra energy is required for a horse prone to laminitis, use a low NSC ration like Equus Safe 'n Lite and add oils rather than grains or oats     (one to two cups of vegetable oil/day will increase the total energy intake considerably without the risk of a carbohydrate overload). 3. Make corrective changes to the diet gradually to reduce the likelihood of digestive distress. 4. To prevent bingeing, keep all high-energy feeds doubly secure. Place them in closed containers behind a horse-proof feed-room door. Grazing: 5. Limit access to lush pasture, particularly when it is emerging in the spring or recovering after drought. Remember that stressed grass presents the     biggest problem due to an increase in the fructan levels. Gradually introduce horses unaccustomed to turnout: begin with 15 minutes of grazing a     day, then build up to the desired turnout time over the next several weeks. If a horse is overweight, a cresty easy keeper, has had laminitis in the     past, or is otherwise susceptible to the condition, consider muzzling him when  turning him out on lush pasture. Alternatively, feed hay prior to     turning the horse out. 6. Always use good quality hay and if in doubt about whether your current hay is causing the problem, consider soaking the hay for 30 minutes to 1     hour in water to wash out some of the carbohydrates before feeding. Have your hay tested for starch and sugar. Healthcare: 7. Prevent systemic illness that can lead to laminitis through regular deworming, vaccinations and other routine health maintenance. Consult your     veterinarian whenever in doubt. Hooves: 8. Horses hooves should be trimmed regularly. 9. If a horse is lame, support the opposite "good" foot as well as the one with the problem, to reduce the risk of the sound limb developing mechanical     laminitis. 10. Avoid long gallops over extremely hard ground which can subject horse's hooves to excessive concussion. Other related Metabolic Disorders Cushing's Disease Cushing's syndrome is caused by the malfunction of the pituitary gland in the brain. In all cases it will eventually be lethal and the general approach to treatment is to make the horse as comfortable as possible and to slow down the advancement of the condition as much as is practical. Today, with our improved diagnostic and treatment options, Cushing's horses are living longer and enjoying a better quality of life. Cushing's Disease is common in older horses and ponies and is often characterized by a thick curly coat which the horse fails to shed normally.  Peripheral Cushing's Disease (or more properly, Equine Metabolic Syndrome) is an area of much new research and is increasingly believed to play a major role in laminitis. It involves many factors such as cortisol metabolism and insulin resistance. It has some similarities to Type II Diabetes in humans. Insulin Resistance Insulin Resistance causes the body to become less sensitive to insulin, preventing proper control of blood sugar levels. Insulin Resistance is related to Cushing's Disease, however horses suffering from insulin resistance tend to become obese very easily and even when starved down may have abnormal fat deposits in the neck, shoulders, loin, above the eyes and around the tail head even when the rest of the body appears to be in normal condition, whereas most horses with Cushing's are underweight.  The mechanism by which laminitis associated with Insulin Resistance occurs is not completely understood but may be triggered by sugar and starch in the diet of susceptible individuals. Even though the causes, symptoms and effects of Laminitis, Cushing's Syndrome and Insulin Resistance are quite different, the dietary approach to their management is similar. Horses suffering from these conditions should receive a reduced NSC intake (Equus Safe 'n Lite). Increased fat intakes are not necessarily warranted since energy demands are not that high, relative to performance horses, and body condition is usually maintained on the light side intentionally. Tying Up The degree of severity of the symptoms can vary enormously from a horse that appears slightly stiff but is still able to work to some degree to a complete seizing of the muscles so that the horse cannot move due to muscle stiffness. Tying Up (Exertional rhabdomyolysis) can be sporadic or chronic. Sporadic forms can affect any breed of horse participating in any type of activity and are usually related to basic nutritional deficiencies (vitamin E, selenium, calcium, trace minerals and/or electrolytes and/or electrolyte balance). However, these horses usually show improvement when switched to a low NSC diet even though many can be effectively managed with modifications to training schedules and corrections of dietary shortfalls. Chronic rhabdomyolysis is usually related to heritable myopathies and is often classified as either polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM), or recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER). PSSM primarily affects Quarter Horse type breeds, Warmbloods and Morgans. Other breeds can also be affected, but appear to be to a lesser degree. Based on breeding trials, PSSM appears to be an autosomal dominant trait. EPSM is similar to PSSM, but seems to primarily affect draft breeds. While there are some critical and significant differences between the two, both are best managed via dietary modifications including a low dietary NSC intake. RER primarily affects Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and possibly Arabians and is also considered to be an autosomal dominant trait. RER is best managed from a dietary standpoint by: 1) ensuring an adequate intake of protein, energy, minerals and vitamins. 2) reducing NSC intakes by using a feed low in NSC like Equus Safe 'n Lite. 3) increasing dietary fat intakes. Exactly how the increase in dietary fat levels and the reduction in NSC levels improve the performance of horses with RER is not well understood, but the effect has been demonstrated in both controlled and field studies. Low NSC Safe 'n Lite Low NSC diets (NSC = starch + sugar) are consistent in the treatment recommendations for all the above situations. When considering the term low NSC it is important to differentiate between structural carbohydrates and nonstructural carbohydrates. Structural carbohydrates make up the majority of the carbohydrates found in forage products such as hay or pasture and are commonly referred to as fibre. Nonstructural carbohydrates make up the majority of the carbohydrates found in grains such as maize, oats and barley and are commonly referred to as starch or sugar. The primary intention when using the term "low carbohydrate" is to differentiate nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) from fibre carbohydrates. Equus Safe 'n Lite has been developed as a low NSC diet to address all of these metabolic disorders. Horses suffering from any of the above disorders will benefit from the low NSC Safe 'n Lite. Horses suffering from Tying Up but still doing hard work might require additional fat in the diet to supply the required energy without a grain overload. Apart from the low NSC, Safe 'n Lite also boasts a live yeast culture, omega-3 containing oils and high levels of biotin, zinc, manganese and magnesium all of which play a role in promoting healthy hooves for the horse prone to laminitis. Protein Requirements of the Equine Athlete    Of all the components in the horse's diet, protein is probably the most misunderstood. Long assumed to function as an energy source for the body, protein's main function is to provide amino acids (the building blocks of bones, muscles, and soft tissues) for growth and repair. Most Equine nutritionists are in agreement that much research is still required not only regarding the quantity of Protein required, but also relating to specific amino acid requirements. Based on current research available, the Equus team of nutritionists specifically formulates with Protein sources known to be rich in the limiting amino acids. We also formulate to slightly higher Protein levels  for performance horses than generally used as new research indicates some of the published levels required to be underestimating the Protein requirements of athletes in moderate to hard training. (see Protein research below)    Amino Acids Proteins are made up of amino acid chains. Of the 22 amino acids, ten are considered essential and must be provided in the diet. Non-essential amino acids do not have to be supplied via the diet as they can be synthesized by microorganisms in the horse's cecum and anterior portion of the large colon and by metabolic processes in the body. What are amino acids good for? Virtually all of the horse's vital processes, it seems. Amino acids are involved in the synthesis and the release of hormones, the synthesis of neurotransmitters and enzymes, and the regulation of sleep, appetite, and blood pressure, to name just a few functions. But primarily, amino acids are needed for the formation and repair of muscle tissue and other soft tissues throughout the body. On a fat-free, moisture-free basis, they account for approximately 80% of a horse's total structure. Protein Quality Protein quality refers to the amount and ratios of essential amino acids. Research has shown that lysine is normally the first limiting amino acid with threonine second. Although  much further research is still required in this field it is critical that protein quality be considered when formulating  rations especially for young growing horses as well as performance horses. Protein Requirements All horses require protein, but the amount and quality of protein needed vary considerably among the different life stages of horses (growth, pregnancy, etc.). As can be expected the young, growing horse has a greater protein need compared to a mature hack due to its rapid muscle and skeletal growth. On the opposite end of the protein requirement spectrum is the non-reproducing, non-lactating, non-performing mature horse (known as a maintenance horse), which requires the least amount of protein. At Equus we are specifically attentive to not only the lack of research in certain areas, but also to new research indicating that more Protein is required for performance athletes. Protein Research Most previous research, including the work of Patterson et al  (1985) indicated only a very slight difference in the Protein requirements of  the performance horse and the sedentary horse. Most of these studies reached their findings using the nitrogen balance method. It is important to note however that a number of problems have been associated with the nitrogen balance technique (Wolf et al 2000) . It has been shown in more recent studies that the protein requirements for human athletes may well considerably  exceed that suggested by the USRDA  as determined from research done previously. The study found that endurance athletes require up to 1.8 times, and athletes engaged in strength training up to 2.2 times, the amount of Protein required for sedentary individuals (Human Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University). With ample funding for Protein research on human athletes available, it is interesting to note the escalation in the volume of research done and also the similarity of the conclusions all indicating elevated Protein requirement levels compared to what was the norm a number of years back.  Why do Athletes need more Protein? Substantial evidence suggests that, for both endurance and strength, athletes require more protein than non-active individuals. Evidence accumulated shows that amino acids are oxidized as substrates during prolonged sub maximal exercise. In addition, studies have determined that both endurance and resistance training exercise increase skeletal muscle protein synthesis and breakdown in the post-exercise recovery period. Studies using nitrogen balance have further confirmed that protein requirements for individuals engaged in regular exercise are increased. Is it safe to feed more Protein? In 2007, after reviewing all the current research, the International Society of Sports Nutrition published a position paper that stated, with the excep- tion of persons with pre-existing kidney problems, "protein intakes of 1.4 to 2 grams kg/d for physically active individuals are not only safe, but may improve adaptations to exercise training." Well known equine nutritionist Ray Geor, (BVSc, PhD, Dipl.) says that;  " owners need to realize that excess protein, per se, does not damage the kidneys; it is merely inefficient and wasteful. As long as a healthy horse has access to water, he will not suffer kidney damage." Too little Protein Horses that receive inadequate amounts of protein in their diets can suffer a number of ill effects, including decreased growth and development in youngsters, and reduced appetite, body tissue weight loss, slow hoof growth, energy deficit, and a poor hair coat with reduced shedding in adults. Pregnant mares with protein deficiencies may become more prone to abortions, and lactating mares suffer declines in milk production. Muscle deterioration, especially in the large muscle groups of the hindquarters, might also be evident, and some horses will begin eating manure. But the protein requirements of an adult horse are low enough that true protein deficiencies are quite rare. They usually occur only when a horse is on very poor pasture or hay with no other supplemental feed, for a prolonged period of time. With a corrected diet, most of the signs of protein deficiency in adult horses can be turned around in as little as a week. The damage done to a young, growing horse, however, can be more serious, and obviously performance horses will not reach their full potential without enough high quality Protein. Too much Protein Protein not used immediately by the horse's system is broken down to release the nitrogen atoms (the rest of the molecule being stored), and those nitrogen atoms become bound up as ammonia and urea molecules. The ammonia and urea eventually are excreted in the urine, which leads to increased water intake, increased urination, and a noticeably strong ammonia smell in the stall. Before ammonia and urea can be excreted in the urine, they must be filtered out of the blood--a process that, over time, can tax the kidneys in certain individuals especially if not enough water is constantly available.   Does Protein cause Fizziness? There is no evidence to support the myth that a feed with a higher Protein content causes fizziness in horses. Owners will sometimes remark, for example, that a certain 13% Protein feed causes their horse to act "fizzy". This is certainly not caused by the Protein and is more likely due to a high molasses content often used in poor quality pelleted products. Quick and easily fermented sugars and starches are mostly responsible for the "energy spikes" associated with this behaviour, not Protein per se. A typical Protein Requirement calculation While some Horse Feed Manufacturers still advertise low Protein requirements even for performance horses (despite the fact that this is contrary to all the latest developments in Protein research), some horse owners are often heard to remark that 13% Protein concentrate is too high and that 12% is more than enough! Let's use an example of a 600kg thoroughbred in hard training to illustrate why Equus would recommend the 15%  Cool 'n Perform to satisfy the protein requirements. The latest NRC indicates that a 600kg horse in hard training will require 1034 grams of protein. Looking at the table under "Feeding Instructions" it is clear that the performing horse will require 2  - 3% of bodyweight in feed per day. To ensure a healthy gut a minimum of 1% of bodyweight of good quality Hay needs to be fed daily: Calculation    Bodyweight                                        600 kg    Amount of Hay                                   600 kg  x 1% hay  =  6 kg of hay    Protein from Hay                                6 kg x 100 g/kg (10% prot) =  600 grams of  Protein    Total Protein required                         1034 grams/day  (NRC)    Protein Shortage                                434 grams  (1034 g minus 600g)    Protein supplied by Concentrate          150 g/kg (15%)    Kg of Concentrate required                 2.9 kg when  hay contains 10% Protein (434 ๗150)                                                            3.3 kg when hay contains 9% Protein (494๗150)                                                            3.7 kg when hay contains 8% Protein (554๗150) Additional factors to consider 1)  We often overestimate the Protein content of our hay. 2)  The protein derived from hay does not supply enough of the limiting amino acids. 3)  New research indicates that we could possibly be underestimating total Protein requirements by as much as 25 to 50 %, and even by 100% in      cases of extreme training. 4)  Most Equine nutritionists are in agreement that Protein quality per se in terms of amino acid profile is in dire need of further research and that      certain limiting amino acids could be jeopardizing performance. 5)  Taking into consideration that funds for Equine specific Protein research is very limited  we have to take note of new research findings in human      athletes and apply it conservatively. Our Approach at Equus Given an amount of uncertainty resulting from insufficient equine research into protein requirements, and taking into account the research on human athletes published recently, as well as the limited downside of over supplying Protein, we prefer to recommend firstly that horse owners be conser- vative in estimating the Protein content of the hay, and secondly add at least 25% to the total Protein  requirement for the high performance horse. If the above calculation is reworked then, adding 25% to the 1034 grams of required Protein and one is conservative in estimating the contribution from the hay, the 3.7 kg will increase to 5 kg of Cool 'n Perform. More could be fed very safely should it appear that a horse requires more provided the amount per feeding is limited and it is ensured that a minimum of 1% of hay is eaten as well. When it comes to Leisure riding and horses in light to medium training, based on the same calculation and principals as above, Equus's 13% Train 'n Leisure will supply the amount and quality of Protein required. Great care is taken with all the products in the Equus range to maintain a balance between Protein content and the amount of energy supplied by the feed. In Summary Protein does not cause fizziness. Poorly formulated concentrates with lots of molasses and other quickly fermentable starches, however, do. Recent research indicates that Protein is rather underestimated (for working horses) and even more so that the contribution from hay is mostly overestimated, especially in terms of quality. Muscle recovery and muscle development in hard working horses are major keys to success and we attribute our success with the Equus range of products not only to the healthy fibre basis of the products, but also to the Protein quality and quantity incorporated in the feed.

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Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. The yellow sphere is the redox-active sulfur atom that provides antioxidant activity, while the red, blue, white, and dark grey spheres represent oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms, respectively.

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Guidelines for choosing horse feeds cost effectively When it comes to horse food, being cheap can be expensive! When a bag of quality feed is R10 more expensive than the budget alternative it does raise eyebrows. When the price difference is R20 or more, most horse owners will query whether this is value for money. Interestingly, however, even discrepancies greater than these can become savings! When it comes to choosing a concentrate for your horse, opting for the bag with the budget price often turns out to be the expensive decision in the long run! Not only does it often cost more in terms of Rands per month to feed cheap concentrates, but the negatives also add up in terms of poor performance, poor condition, the cost of additional supplements, greater quantities fed and the possibility of additional veterinary bills which completely tip the scales. When selecting your horse feed, you should do so in the manner you would select a veterinarian for your horse. Most horse owners choose a veterinarian based on the quality of service provided, not the price charged for this highly professional work. Your horse’s nutrition should be no less important. There are many different feeds available on the market today and, without exception, cheaper feeds tend to contain a lot more fillers and less of the better quality ingredients. The differences in nutritional value between different feeds are significant and, generally, you get what you pay for. Contrary to popular belief, the most expensive component of horse feed is not protein but rather the total energy value. Other important factors which add to the end price of better quality concentrates are: • the amount and type of oils used • the quality of the vitamins and minerals added • the selection of starches incorporated • the addition of a live yeast culture • the quality and quantity of the fibres used in the composition. The correct inclusion of essential Vitamin B and E alone can easily add R4-00 per bag, a live yeast culture up to R8-00/bag and the inclusion of good quality oils can bump the cost up to more than R10-00 per bag. Just these 3 ingredients alone can account for more than R20-00 per bag but in the long run, however, will save money, improve performance and ensure that  riding, breeding, training or any other equine activity can be fully enjoyed. Horses are no longer kept for transportation, but rather, because we are passionate about them and equine related sports. Attempting to save R2.00 per day, thus, only to have a horse contract tendons, boggy hocks, tying up, laminitis or dangerous colic, all related to the choice of feed, becomes nonsensical.  It must be noted that where a horse is fed, for example, 4kg per day, the difference in feeding costs between a budget feed at R125/50kg com- pared to a much higher quality product priced at R150/50kg (ie.R25 more per bag) will be R2.00 per day. This becomes a negligible amount when compared to the cost of treating a bad colic, not to mention the costs of added supplements, impaired performance and the additional quantity required for feeding. GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING HORSE FEED COST EFFECTIVELY! Always study the bag tag! Choice of concentrate has a major cost implication on the upkeep of your horse, hence the importance of studying the bag tag and also of researching all further information provided on the website of any product you use. Do not make the mistake of stopping your research at the advertised protein level as the protein level per se does not tell the whole story. When comparing products it is important to study factors such as energy value, yeast addition, specified vitamin/mineral levels, the use of organic minerals, fat percentage, the type of oils added and specified amino acids such as lysine. You will usually notice a vast difference in the amount of information offered on the top end products as compared to budget lines which tend to specify only the minimum values as required by law. Keep in mind that this law was passed way back in 1947 and requires the declaration of certain minimum percentages of Protein, Moisture, Fat, Calcium, Phosphorous and Fibre only. These are the bare minimum requirements on very few nutrient factors and it is not a difficult task to mix these limited requirements, bag them, and then sell them at an ultra low price. Look at the product: Always remember that horses have been eating grass for approximately the last 55 million years. Together, the caecum and the large intestine are more than 5 meters in length with a capacity of about 80 litres forming the horse's "fermentation chamber". What looks appetizing to you is most certainly not what is healthy for your horse. Horses need fibre, and lots of it, to maintain good digestive health. Even though hay is offered on the side, it is still important to have additional quality fibres in a concentrate. This ensures that as the feed moves through the digestive system there are never any sections of the gut fill without a fibre component. Because fibre generally provides less energy than grains, more expensive, top range concentrates always feature a higher fat percentage to compensate for the volume taken up by the fibre, but still achieve the required energy density. If you prefer using pellets, break them apart and have a good look at the contents, preferably with a small magnifying glass. Budget feeds hide large quantities of fillers such as bran in their pellets. This can easily be seen as the contents are much finer and without a diversity of components. It is very important to also have enough fibre in  pelleted products. These fibres should be visible and not milled to a powder, hence the importance of larger cubes, because effective longer fibre will not pass mechanically through the smaller diameter machinery.  Products can easily be made to look appetizing and taste nice by adding loads of molasses. This, however, is not good for your horse! Rather, feel for an oily residue on your hand after handling the feed, indicating a good fat content. If changing products, allow your horse time to be weaned off these “nice looking” high molasses, high grain based products. As with children who prefer candy to All Bran, their energy levels will fluctuate and then run out! Make the calculations: Because bags come in different sizes (usually 22.5, 40 or 50kg), the actual price per bag means nothing! There are only two factors to consider in your calculation: 1)The price per kg of feed 2)The amount of feed required per day. The price per kg of feed is of course simple mathematics. If a 40kg bag costs R160-00, the price per kg is R4-00 (160 ๗ 40 = 4), which is the same per kg as the bag costing R90-00 but only weighing 22,5kg (90 ๗ 22,5 = 4). The amount of a specific product required per day can only be determined after at least 6 weeks of use. Quality products can usually be fed in smaller quantities while still maintaining condition and performance. Rather feed less of a good quality concentrate, but more hay! Your horse will look better and, in the long term, your veterinary bills will certainly be less!  All things considered, the difference in value between a bag costing R160-00 and the one costing R185-00 is actually a lot more than the R25-00 difference. Sometimes spending a little bit more per bag can reduce the overall cost of keeping a horse simply by ensuring that the horse is healthier. He will, however, also look better, perform better and consume less concentrate. Note that feeding a horse 4kg per day of the "expensive" R185-00/bag feed will still work out cheaper than feeding 5kg of the cheaper R160-00/bag feed. Don’t forget the additives: Feeding budget lines often requires the addition of all sorts of supplements. These include oils, vitamin packs, electrolytes, anti-colic remedies etc. Keep in mind that if you are feeding 5kg of a R160/bag feed, and you are adding supplements worth R3-10 per day, you are spending as much as you would be if you were feeding the same amount of a top quality feed costing R25/bag more (R185/bag. If you used the more expensive ration, however, you would probably only need 4kg per day, and this saving, together with the saving on the supplements, would contribute to a significant overall saving of R4-62 per day or R140/month/horse. Also bear in mind that adding all sorts of supplements to support budget line products can lead to imbalances in the ration which create other problems. Good rules to follow are not to mix fortified commercial rations or supplements, and also not to mix fortified commercial rations with oats or other grains unless the feeding instructions permit it. Reduce your Carbon Footprint! None of the products in the Equus range have been specifically developed to compete in price per se with any of the budget line products available. There is however a continuous flow of testimonials from customers who testify that Equus products offer better value for money than what they have previously experienced. Equus also takes great pride in the fact that most of our products are packed in environmentally friendly, breathable, natural fibre Hessian bags, providing you with the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint on planet earth.