Top four feeding tips

Every horse is different, and so are their nutritional requirements. Factors such as workload, temperament, body condition and individual metabolism all influence how much energy nutrients a horse requires.

For example, a showjumper competing at a high level will have different nutritional demands compared with a horse used for light trail riding.

Understanding these differences can help you make more informed feeding decisions, ensuring your horse receives the right balance of nutrients to support their health, condition and performance.

Here are some essential feeding tips every equestrian should know.

1. Understanding the Four Energy Sources: Fibre, Protein, Fat and Starch

Understanding where your horse's energy and essential nutrients come from is one of the most useful tools when selecting a feed.  Each nutrient has a different function, and understanding these differences can help you choose a feed that suits your horse's workload, temperament and ability to maintain optimal body condition.

Fibre: The Foundation of Every Horse's Diet

Long-stemmed fibre

Fibre should form the foundation of every horse's diet. Long-stemmed roughage (pasture/hay) is essential for maintaining digestive health, supporting normal gut function and contributing to daily energy requirements. Horses should consume a minimum of 1.5%-2% of their bodyweight in roughage daily. For example, a 500 kg horse should consume at least 7.5 kg – 10 kg of roughage per day.

Did you knowMitavite feeding recommendations are formulated on the assumption that your horse is consuming adequate roughage. This means that even if you are following the recommended feeding guidelines, inadequate roughage intake may result in energy and/or nutrient deficiencies. .

Fibre in hard feeds

In hard feeds fibre can provide a valuable source of energy. Highly digestible fibre ingredients, such as lupin hulls, and soybean hulls, are commonly used to provide energy without relying heavily on cereal grains. Unlike starch, which is primarily digested in the small intestine, fibre is fermented by microorganisms within the hindgut. This fermentation produces volatile fatty acids (VFAs), primarily acetate, propionate and butyrate, which are absorbed and utilised by the horse as energy (Ermers et al, 2023).

The amount of energy provided depends on the fibre source and its fermentability, with highly digestible fibre sources generally supplying more usable energy than mature, poorly digestible roughage (Ermers et al, 2023).

Protein: Supporting Muscle Development and Recovery

Protein is an essential component of every horse's diet, supporting muscle development, tissue repair, growth and numerous physiological functions. When horses consume protein, it is broken down into amino acids, which are used to build and repair tissues throughout the body.

A significant proportion of a horse's daily protein intake generally comes from roughage. However, the quality, digestibility and amino acid composition of these protein sources can vary considerably.

Graham-Thiers and Bowen (2011) investigated the effects of protein source on amino acid availability in exercising horses. Despite similar crude protein intakes, horses receiving a combination of hay and grain demonstrated greater apparent protein digestibility and higher early post feeding concentrations of several amino acids compared with horses receiving hay alone. These findings highlight the importance of considering the quality and availability of the amino acids it supplies.

High-quality protein ingredients, including legumes such as lupins, faba beans and soybean meal, can help provide essential amino acids. For example, Mitavite® Munga® incorporates legume-based protein sources, including lupins and faba beans, to help supply quality protein and support muscle maintenance and development at relatively low feeding rates.

Feeding tip: If your horse is struggling to develop or maintain muscle and topline while in work, consider adding a high protein “topper feed” to the current diet. Mitavite® Munga® or Extru® Lupins boost quality protein/amino acid intake.

Diet example 500kg horse in medium work (per day):

·        24/7 access to roughage (pasture/grass hay)

·        2kg – 3kg Xtra Cool®

·        1kg Munga® or Extru® Lupins (topper feed)

·        40g – 60g Salt

Fat: A Concentrated Source of Slow-Release Energy

Fat is a highly concentrated source of dietary energy. In horse feeds, fat is commonly supplied through ingredients such as canola oil or rice bran oil.

Increasing the fat content of a diet can help improve overall energy density without substantially increasing meal size. This can be beneficial for poor doing horses or performance horses with elevated energy requirements. Fat is also suitable for horses requiring a low starch diet or prone to hot/fizzy behaviour.

Feeding tip: If your horse struggles to maintain weight, consider adding an oil to increase fat intake (Example: 500kg horse can have up to 250mls per day of rice bran oil).

Starch: A Readily Available Energy Source

Starch is a carbohydrate naturally found in cereal grains such as oats, barley, corn and wheat. During digestion, starch is broken down into glucose within the small intestine, where it is absorbed and utilised as a fast-releasing energy source.

Starch can be a valuable source of energy for horses  in moderate to heavy workloads. However, a high starch diet is not suitable for every horse. Some horses may demonstrate increased excitability when consuming higher-starch feeds.

Starch intake is also an important consideration for horses affected by metabolic conditions, particularly insulin dysregulation, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and some horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). These horses require a strict low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC = sugar + starch) diet.

Feeding tip: If you’re looking to increase energy levels or manage a horse that becomes overly energetic (or “fizzy”),consider the starch content of the diet. . Generally, feeds with a lower starch content are considered “cooler”, while feeds with a higher starch content may contribute to a “hotter” or more reactive temperament.

2. Understanding Vitamin and Mineral Requirements

While the 4 sources of energy are important for maintaining body condition and supporting performance, vitamins and minerals are equally essential for your horse's overall health.

Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium support functions including bone health, muscle contraction, nerve transmission and fluid balance. Trace minerals, including copper, zinc and selenium, along with vitamins such as vitamin E, also play important roles in metabolism, tissue maintenance and antioxidant defence.

As a horse's workload increases, requirements for certain vitamins and minerals also change, particularly those associated with energy metabolism, muscle function and sweat losses.

Follow the Recommended Feeding Guidelines

One of the simplest ways to support your horse's nutritional requirements is to follow the recommended feeding guidelines provided on the back of your Mitavite® feed bag. Mitavite feeds are formulated considering bodyweight, workload, life stage, and breeding requirements. These recommendations are designed to meet your horses daily energy, protein, vitamin and mineral requirements when fed alongside roughage.

Feeding less than the recommended amount means your horse may not receive the intended daily supply of essential vitamins and minerals.

Feeding tip: Use scales to weigh your horse's feed and determine how much your scoop holds. This is particularly important when changing feeds and ensuring you are feeding according to guidelines.

Do I need to add a vitamin and mineral supplement to Mitavite feeds?

Not necessarily. However, if you are feeding below the recommended rate, your horse may not receive the intended supply of nutrients. In these situations, a vitamin and mineral balancer may be beneficial.

Choosing a Feed That Suits Your Horse's Metabolism

Feed guidelines differ depending on the concentration of the vitamin and mineral pre-mix within the feed. This means that some feeds require higher feeding rates per day than others. For example, Mitavite® Munga® is a concentrated feed designed to deliver essential nutrients at lower feeding rates, making it an ideal option for good to normal doers that maintain their body condition easily. In comparison, Mitavite® Cool Vitality® is designed to be fed at higher feeding rates, making it a suitable option for poorer doers that require a greater quantity of feed to help maintain optimal body condition.

It is important to understand your individual horse’s metabolism to ensure a feed with a suitable feeding rate is selected. This means you can follow the feeding guidelines, and the horse maintains optimal condition.

Comparison Of Different Feeding Rates:

	Cool Vitality®	Munga®
Body weight	500kg horse	500kg horse
Maintenance/Light Work	2 - 3 kg	1.25 kg
Medium Work	3 - 4 kg	1.5 kg
Heavy Work	3.5 - 4.5 kg	1.75 kg

3. Don't Forget to Add Salt!

Salt is often overlooked in a horse's diet. Salt provides two essential electrolytes, sodium and chloride. These minerals play important roles in maintaining fluid balance, supporting nerve and muscle function and regulating normal physiological processes. Horses lose sodium and chloride through sweat, meaning requirements increase considerably with exercise, particularly during warm weather or strenuous work.

Do I Need to Add Salt to Mitavite® Feeds?

Yes, additional salt is recommended. Although Mitavite® feeds contain added salt, the total amount supplied may not be sufficient to meet your horse's requirements.

For example, a 500 kg horse at maintenance may require approximately 30 g-40 g of plain salt daily. More would be required for a horse in work.

Salt also induces thirst which ensures after every hard feed your horse drinks water.

Always ensure your horse has access to fresh, clean drinking water.

Feeding tip: Add salt during winter! Adding plain salt to your horse’s daily diet encourages adequate water consumption. During colder weather horses may naturally drink less water, increasing their risk of dehydration and impaction colic.

4. Introduce Dietary Changes Gradually

Sudden dietary changes can disrupt the digestive microbial environment, potentially increasing the risk of digestive upset. As a general guideline, introduce new feeds gradually over approximately 7–14 days, adjusting the transition period according to the individual horse and the type of dietary change.

Need Help Choosing the Right Mitavite® Feed?

Every horse is different, and finding the right balance of energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether your horse is a good doer, a poor doer or a competitive performance horse, the Mitavite® nutrition team is here to help!

Contact our qualified Equine Nutrition Advisers for personalised feeding advice and assistance in selecting a diet suited to your horse's individual requirements.

Click here for more information.

References

Graham-Thiers, P.M. and Bowen, L.K. (2011) 'Effect of protein source on nitrogen balance and plasma amino acids in exercising horses', Journal of Animal Science, 89(3), pp. 729–735.https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3081

Ermers, C., McGilchrist, N., Fenner, K., Wilson, B. and McGreevy, P. (2023) ‘The fibre requirements of horses and the consequences and causes of failure to meet them’, Animals, 13(8), article 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081414