What should I feed my horse?
Have you ever worried that you’re not feeding your horse the right things?
Like many horse owners, you might be paying hundreds of dollars on testing and analysis on your hay, your horse’s mane, rounds of blood work, etc.
Trying to be sure that your horse is getting the balanced equine nutrition they need to maintain health.
I applaud your efforts and dedication.
I’m curious though… are you happy with your results?
Is your horse a shining pillar of health?
If so that’s awesome.
If not, you’re not alone.
What do you feed horses, is a common concern…
Feed and nutrition are the number one topics I receive questions about. Even the questions that are second and third on the list are still related to nutrition.
If your horse struggles to maintain weight, has allergies, digestive issues like ulcers or colic, and even those with hoof problems, or respiratory concerns… really I could go on and on here.
Your horse’s diet is crucial to their health. If you’re feeding fortified grains or a run of the mill bucket or bag from the feed store you’re liking feeding the very health conditions you’re trying to eliminate.
Now before your head explodes in frustration… I want to let you know that feeding your horse clean nutrition that promotes and boosts health doesn’t have to be hard, expensive or complicated.
This was the first area of my horse’s care I had to re-evaluate when she lost control of her hindquarters back in 2011.
When all the vets wanted to throw in the towel and have her put down… I refused and began looking for answers outside what’s commonly taught to the professionals like myself, and sold to the horse owners in stores.
I looked to my horse’s body and her design to get her nutrition right… and that’s why she’s still here with me today. Healthy and thriving.
For that reason, I want to share with you exactly how I select nutrition for my horses. When you join the Horse Health Hub, I’ll walk you through step by step.
Until you hop in and get started… here’s a quick tip to get you started.
Sorting Through The Sea of Options With Equine Nutrition
Because today’s market is inundated with processed grain, what you’re often feeding your horse is mostly fillers, synthetic vitamin and mineral content, chemicals, and preservatives.
Many of the ingredients are fillers. A filler can be and often is, natural. Because of this, it may not seem harmful to your horse. Understanding that a filler just leaves more for the horse’s digestive system to process to utilize the nutrition and benefits. More work for your horse’s body. Additional processes and needless effort of the digestive system.
Any ingredient the body does not recognize or fails to filter properly will lead to an increased risk of inflammation. Leading to a disruption of the pH levels of the GI tract. Ultimately causing an imbalance of the microbial population. Triggering a number of digestive health issues.
Each Ingredient In The List Matters…
Every ingredient your horse eats must be processed in order to be utilized by the body. Because of this many of the synthetic ingredients will either go in one end and out the other or will be stored somewhere in the body. Over time the body gets weighed down. Soon to be overloaded with toxic chemicals, additives, and synthetics. This is when your horse’s health is comprised. Resulting in, increased risk of disease and illness symptoms arise.
Explaining why many horses on a complete and balanced diet in the eyes of science, analyzing, and testing still experiences a laundry list of health concerns. From allergy conditions, respiratory concerns, or a horse not maintaining the proper weight… start with the diet.
The good news is, a clean and balanced diet is simple. Feed your horse, what they were designed to eat. As their digestive system is designed to utilize.
You don’t have to spend hours researching or get a degree in equine nutrition. Start with shorter, more natural ingredients as your goal. If the list is full of mostly things you can’t pronounce it might be worth scratching.
Examples of Filler & Synthetic Laden Ingredient Lists
Here are a few examples of what I would not choose:
This list is from a commonly selected supplement. Although there are a variety of natural ingredients in it, many of them should be used in moderation and specific to the horse’s needs.
This ingredient list is from a processed popular commercial grain. This is an example of a list that needs to be cleaned up! Just because a cereal might say a complete and balanced breakfast, we know that eating natural more whole food is a much healthier option for our body. For your horse, it’s no different.
Better Selections of Clean Equine Nutrition:
Since most horses don’t get adequate access to natural live grass and time grazing, there is often a need for supplementation. Add a clean and natural supplement like this to a simple, clean base (soaked beet pulp, alfalfa/grass pellet, grass pellet) and you have an ingredient list for more natural equine nutrition. To ensure the trace minerals are also supported I cycle through an organic choice for this as well (it is actually the second image I used below).
By eliminating as many synthetic ingredients as possible you will be on your way to better more balanced nutrition for your horse.
Start by, looking at your ingredient lists now and count the number of ingredients ending in “ate” and “ide”. This is the simplest way to promote health and clean your horse’s diet.
From this simple exercise and action, you’ll be amazed at how drastically your horse’s overall health will improve. Because a clean diet is crucial to fueling your horse with energy and the nutrients they need to maintain, regain, or restore vitality and longevity.
Other Resources for Study
There are few programs available that teach diet and nutrition from the perspective of the horse. They fail to look at what is horse proven and nature proven. Most equine nutrition books, taught horse nutrition requirements, and horse diet plans are focused on synthetic, guaranteed analysis feed options, complicated ratios, and cookie-cutter approached that simply don’t work.
If these approaches were effective the number of diseases and health conditions in horses wouldn’t be drastically on the rise. Metabolic syndromes, digestive issues, allergy triggers, and respiratory concerns are not declining regardless of what “complete and balanced” diet is taught.
My vision and mission is to change that. By empowering you as the horse owner in caring for your horse based upon their specific needs and preferences. Inside, my Horse Health Hub online resource you get access to The Ultimate Guide To Equine Nutrition, my simple and effective approach to nutrition that will support your horse’s health and likely save you hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of your horse.
Don’t Unknowingly Create Dangerous Horse Health Risk –
If your horse isn’t greeting you at the gate, is resistant or dull to your cues, or is experiencing negative health conditions… It isn’t your fault. And contrary to what some vets and equine professionals might lead you to believe, it certainly isn’t normal!
It’s time revolutionize the way you think about and approach your horse’s care and lifestyle; equipping you with the tools and information you need to optimize your horse’s performance, reinvigorating their zest for life, and accessing the “horseplay” and exuberance they are naturally known for.
Discover the forgotten framework of care that will transform your horse’s health! Grab your copy of my book Healthy as a Horse, Click here to reserve your copy now.
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Life is better when you’re horsin’ around!