Silver Fiddle Ranch

Sound Nutrition

This note from Shea Stewart outlines a sound nutritional program for your horses. The course she refers to, NRC Plus, is offered by Dr. Eleanor Kellon and is a American Association of Veterinary State Boards certified course.

Shea is basing her recommendations on results from an analysis of her hay - this is a very important point and one that the hay industry is starting to understand. Hay analysis through a certified lab is inexpensive and can help you understand exactly what your horse needs to be nutritionally sound. I offer this service for the price of the lab test only. Shea also notes a mineral supplement offered by Sally Hugg a barefoot practitioner in Oroville who has taken Dr. Kellon's NRC Plus cource and makes nutrition a big part of her hoof trimming practice. I resale Sally's California Trace Mineral Plus for those interested in pursuing this in their feeding program.

A note from Shea: I've been studying a nutrition course offered by Dr. Kellon and learning all sorts of interesting things. One thing that I have learned is that we (as a horse industry) over supplement with some minerals, and under supplement with other minerals. Mineral imbalances in horses can cause all sorts of issues...bleaching of dark coats, skin issues, tendon and ligament issues, digestive problems, and just too many more to mention.

I wanted to pass along some information I have put together. Basically, it is unknown how to supplement properly unless the hay is analyzed. So, I got a load of hay tested and sent off the results to a friend of mine who is balancing diets for people. She sent me back a recommendation:

Hay: Feed each horse 2% of their weight per day (do you have a scale ?). If they are overweight, feed either 2% of their ideal weight or 1.5% of their current weight – which ever is higher. Split into as many feedings as possible.

Supplements: use a Beet pulp base, about a half pound dry – soak it (10 minutes or so), rinse it, soak it (another 10-15 minutes) , rinse it - until the water runs clear. Add the California Trace minerals, a ½ cup of freshly ground flax seed or stabilized flax (ie Omega horseshine); and a few handfuls of whole oats (for horses not IR) or alfalfa pellets for flavoring, and a tablespoon of iodized salt. Feed daily.

Ca Trace Minerals can be purchased through Sally at: http://bare-hooftrim.com/ca_trace_plus.htm They are a little pricy, but it averaged out for me once I took away other supps. If you compare the ingredients say with platinum performance, or any processed grain, you will see how they don't have enough of anything to really balance or supplement, and they are more expensive.

The california trace minerals was formulated by a woman named Sally Hugg to balance out grass hay grown in California. I guess she took an average of hay analyses and came up with this blend. It pretty much balances the current hay that the horses are on. If any other supplement is given, it messes up with the mineral blend. They recommend a plain salt block for the horse, and to add one tablespoon to their supps. And to not use the mineral blocks because they are not balanced (too much iron, which can prevent important mineral absorption). And they recommend just getting the plain white table salt, not the fancy stuff like Redmonds or Himalayan, because those salt have too much iron which is why they are pink.

Anyway, I don't want to bog you down with the stuff that I have learned. I just wanted to pass along this information in case anyone is interested. Hopefully this hay will last a while, but when I get a new load I will have it tested to make sure this diet still balances the hay.

Oh yeah, I also add cool calories to my horses supps, which is ok because it is just fat. And I also add aloe to my horses who are prone to being thin. It helps with stomach issues. I get the tubs from Trader Joes.