It is incredibly frustrating to put a lot of time, energy, and money into getting our horses ready to go down the road, just to end up with a soft tissue injury or debilitating ulcers that can put them out for months at a time. Is your horse’s diet primed to support their activity level and the demands of their discipline? A well-balanced diet is not only necessary for your horse’s natural ability to thrive and maintain basic systemic functions, but it is also important for their ability to withstand everyday stressors, recover from hard training sessions or competitions, and maximize rest periods.
It’s not just about selecting a high-protein feed or high-quality forage. It’s about the synergistic relationship of the entire diet and how that fuels your horse to succeed. It is easy to get sucked into the hype of adding more magnesium or more vitamin E, but what are we really trying to achieve? Take a look at this list and think about your horse’s daily ration:
- Quality Protein is paramount for horses, especially those in work, growing, or reproducing. It’s not just about the total amount of protein, but the amino acid profile it provides. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and some, like lysine and methionine, are considered essential because horses cannot synthesize them internally and must obtain them through their diet.
- Muscle repair & maintenance
- Hoof & hair quality
- Enzyme & hormone production
- Immune function
- Minerals are broadly categorized into macro-minerals (needed in larger quantities) and trace minerals (needed in smaller quantities).
- Formation, maintenance, and repair of joints and bones, connective tissues
- Hoof & skin health
- Synthesis of collagen
- Immune Support
- Vitamins – are organic compounds required in small amounts for normal metabolism and growth. They are categorized as either fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) or water-soluble (B vitamins and C).
- Bone remodeling
- Maintenance of tissues
- Immune response
- Antioxidants
- Energy metabolism
- High-quality forage is the cornerstone of any horse’s diet, mimicking their natural grazing behavior. It’s not just “filler” – it provides essential nutrients and, crucially, maintains digestive health. Maintaining fiber content in the diet is crucial for hindgut health and motility.
- Do not feed less than 1.5% of your horse’s body weight per day
- Fresh, Clean Water, while often overlooked, is arguably the most critical nutrient for a horse. A horse can survive much longer without food than without water. Its importance cannot be overstated:
- Hydration
- Digestion and nutrient transport
- Temperature regulation
- Joint lubrication
- Waste elimination
Stable Mix and Stable MAX feeds, manufactured by Elk Grove Milling, Inc., offer comprehensive solutions for every feed room. Eliminate the guesswork in balancing your horse’s diet and maintain optimal body condition, even during layup and rehabilitation. Stable Mix feeds contain high-quality forage, a comprehensive vitamin & mineral package, as well as the bonus of premium gut health support. The new Stable MAX™ feeds feature the LifeFORCE Formula from Alltech. Backed by science, these premium feeds target gut health and immune support, promote healthy skin, coat, hoof integrity, connective tissue, reproductive function, and promote feed efficiency. Enhancing overall health and performance, allowing your horse to thrive to its natural potential.
