With the weather turning colder and the holiday season approaching horse owners are looking towards the New Year when many riders will make resolutions to eat better, exercise more, and re-evaluate their diets in general.
Keeping horses well fed during cold weather
The basis of every horseâs diet should be high-quality forage, whether thatâs pasture, hay, or another source along with additional nutrients like vitamins and minerals, omega 3 fatty acids, and possibly digestive support.
It is also important to do the same evaluation for your horse. Now is a great time to take a close look at your horseâs diet, and SmartPak has the right products to help start the year off right.
âTake a closer look at your horseâs feeding program, with the help of your veterinarian or equine nutritionist, and make sure itâs as complete and balanced as possible,â said Dr. Lydia Gray, SmartPakâs Staff Veterinarian. âSome key elements to think about are forage, nutrients like vitamins and minerals, omega 3 fatty acids, and possibly digestive support.â
The basis of every horseâs diet should be high-quality forage, whether thatâs pasture, hay, or another source. Horses were designed to graze nearly constantly, and should receive 1-2% of their body weight in forage per day (for a 1000 lb. horse thatâs 10-20 pounds).
Poor hay quality has been linked to an increased the risk of colic, so itâs wise to purchase the best quality hay that can be found in your area. If finding quality hay is a challenge, other sources of roughage can be added, such as beet pulp, hay cubes, or bagged forage (i.e. chaff) to help meet this daily requirement.
Feeding hay in a small hole hay net can also help reduce waste and keep hay in front of your horse for a longer time, helping to support healthy digestion and a happier horse.
In addition to adequate forage, making sure your horse is getting the right balance of key vitamins and minerals is important to supporting his or her health. These nutrients are critical to everything from immune function to recovery from stress and exercise.
If your horse receives grain daily, find out how much (in pounds) and compare that to the recommended amount on the grain bag. If your horse is getting the full, recommended serving of grain for his age and workload, his minimum vitamin and mineral needs should be met.
However, many horses receive less than the recommended serving size because they donât require that many calories to maintain their body condition, but this can leave them short on key nutrients.
A multi-vitamin supplement can help close the gap on the vitamin and mineral requirements for horses that receive a partial serving of grain or no grain at all.
There has been much talk about the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids from sources such as flax seed and fish oil in human nutrition. As it turns out, these nutrients are beneficial for horsesâ health as well. In nature, horses typically get sufficient omega 3s in their diet from fresh grass.
However, few horses these days have the consistent, year-round access to high-quality pasture needed to be able to meet this requirement without supplementation, especially during winter.
Adding a supplement which provides omega 3 fatty acids to your horseâs diet helps to promote overall wellness and has the secondary benefit of supporting a shiny coat.
Once your horseâs forage needs are met, the vitamins and minerals are complete and balanced, and omega 3 fatty acids have been put back in the diet, it may be time to consider adding digestive support.
As everyone who has dealt with horses knows, they have a very sensitive digestive tract which is prone to upset at the slightest of changes. Many of the common events in the barn such as training, traveling, and even hay or grain changes can lead to increased risk of digestive disturbances.
âBy providing researched ingredients such as prebiotics, enzymes, and yeast daily, you may be able to help your horseâs hindgut adapt to change more easily, resulting in a balanced, healthy digestive tract,â added Gray. âSmartPak offers a range of supplements that provide these researched ingredients, all while providing up to $7,500 in free colic surgery reimbursement through our ColiCare program.â
Itâs never too early to help your horse get a jump start on their new yearâs resolution. These products and more can be found at www.SmartPak.com.
About SmartPak
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak supplement feeding system.
The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness. With the success of this simple and convenient feeding system, SmartPak has continued to expand its offering of quality products, including its own line of more than 60 supplement formulas called SmartSupplements, and a wide variety of tack, equipment, and supplies. The company has grown rapidly each year and is now the largest retailer of equestrian products in the United States.
SmartPakâs success has been powered by a passion for delivering an unbeatable customer experience, and the company has been recognized with a Bizrate Circle of Excellence award as well as an âEliteâ rating from STELLAService. A nine-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree, SmartPak is the only equine company ever named to the Inc. 500 list.