Food is Only Part of the Equation
Mind you, it's a big important part but getting the right food into your horse's only the first step. We most definitely also want it be good quality, in the right amounts, and balanced to your horse's requirements.
Through the Lips and Over the Gums
Assuming you're giving your horse the very best nutrients in the right ratios, we also need to consider what happens to the proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and fiber after your horse ingests them.
Do they get absorbed? Do they get utilized by the body? Do they cause digestive upset? Do they blow through your horse's gut like a freight train made of watery poop?
Maximizing Nutrient Availability
If those precious nutrients aren't being absorbed by your horse's intestinal tract, they aren't doing your horse any good.
If your precious equine can't utilize them, your horse will experience a physiologic deficit. Tissue will become unhealthy and dysfunctional. Systems will breakdown on a cellular level.
The Enemies of Nutrient Availability
What can interfere with your horse's ability to properly process the food?
Travel
Physical Distress
Emotional Distress
Sleep Deprivation
Low Quality Nutrients
Systemic Inflammation
Periods of Forage Deprivation
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
Hind Gut Acidosis
Pain
The Big Picture
Understanding how important your horse's diet is the first step to supporting overall health, however it's critical to look beyond the intake of food. That's too narrow a perspective. We also need to look at current lifestyle, psychological function, and physical condition. Only then do we have the information we need to make the right choices for your horse.
Dale Rudin - Certified Equine Nutritionist
Reach out to Dale at dalerudin@gmail.com for information about her nutrition consulting services.
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