by Casie Bazay
Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D., is an internationally respected equine nutritionist, author, consultant, and speaker. I asked Getty some questions.
What type of forage is best for horses and should it be available free choice?
Answer: The horse’s digestive tract is designed to have a steady flow of forage going through it at all times. There are many reasons for this. The stomach continually produces acid, and the horse needs to chew to produce saliva, a natural antacid. With
nothing to chew, the unprotected squamous region of the stomach will develop ulcers. But even the lower, glandular region can be affected, as an empty stomach loosens the pyloric sphincter at the base of the stomach, promoting the reflux of acid-containing predigested material from the duodenum back into the base of the stomach. Farther down the digestive tract, the cecum, a large fermentation vat where billions of microbes digest fibers, needs to be full in order for its contents to exit at the top. Without enough to eat, material can remain in the cecum, potentially leading to colic.
From a psychological perspective, not having a steady flow of forage tells the horse that “winter is coming,” and he will naturally become insulin resistant in an attempt to store body fat. We duplicate this scenario that naturally occurs in the wild when we restrict forage and put the horse at risk of developing laminitis. But when forage is available at all times, this response is calmed, and the horse can maintain a normal body condition.
Fresh pasture is the most nutritious source of forage, but if the horse is already overweight or insulin resistant, it might be too risky. However, hay must be provided in its place. Hay should be tested and should be low in sugars and starch to minimize the elevation of insulin (ethanol soluble carbohydrate [ESC] plus starch should ideally be no more than 10 percent). Feeds also need to be free of cereal grains and sugar (typically from molasses). Essentially, the horse needs to be able to chew forage at will, and any concentrates need to be free of insulin-raising ingredients.
What’s the best way to ensure that all of your horse’s vitamin and mineral needs are being met?
Answer: Healthy, growing pasture grasses are generally nutritious enough that additional supplementation is not required. But once that grass is cut, dried, and stored, it loses many key nutrients. One nutrient that I find many people neglect is essential fatty acids. There are two. One is omega-3 – alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The other is omega-6 – linolenic acid
(LA). Pasture grasses typically offer these two in a 4:1 ratio of ALA:LA. However, if your horse gets fat from a commercial feed that uses “vegetable oil” or “soybean oil,” he is getting way too much LA, which increases inflammation. It is important, therefore, to supplement ground flaxseeds or chia seeds to provide enough ALA in the proper proportion to LA.Other nutrients missing from hay include vitamins A, E, and perhaps D (if the hay is many months old). Even B vitamins can be lost, and the horse’s hindgut might not produce sufficient amounts. Finally, adding a source of protein is a good plan if hay is the only protein source. I prefer hemp seeds over soy because soy is typically sprayed with glyphosate, the herbicide found in Roundup.
It seems that insulin resistance and obesity are common problems with horses today. What suggestions do you have for managing those conditions?
Answer: We are overfeeding our horses. We buy feeds filled with sugar, starches, and harmful chemicals when all the horse needs is a source of forage 24/7, a good vitamin and mineral supplement to fill in the gaps, a source of essential fatty acids, salt, and some added quality protein. If the horse is exercised, in training, or performing, then more nutrients might be required. Or if the horse is aging, ill, or suffers from arthritis or ulcers, attention should be given to improving those
situations through diet. But in general, we need to remove sugar and starch from our horses’ diets, offer forage 24/7, increase movement, avoid stalling as much as possible, reduce stressors, and allow the horse to be a horse.
I avoid feeds that contain glyphosate from being sprayed with Roundup. Most of the soy in this country is genetically modified [GMO] to withstand being sprayed with Roundup, and we are feeding this poison to our horses at an alarming rate. It has been shown to damage the microbiome, leading to immunity and hormonal problems. It might also bind several minerals that are required for a vast variety of biochemical reactions within the body. But even without soy, many chemicals can still be present. Opt for nonGMO, and better yet, organic, if possible.
To learn more about the services and resources that Getty offers, please visit www. gettyequinenutrition.com.
