Page 64 - December 2020

EQUINE HEALTH
ASSESS HEALTH
There are many reasons a horse might be finicky or a hard keeper. W.B. (Burt) Staniar, PhD, Associate Professor of Equine Science at Penn State, says it is important to find out what might be causing a horse to be picky, especially if the horse is losing weight. Make sure there are no underlying health problems.
“If a skinny horse isn’t eating much, work with your veterinarian to figure out why. A problem seen in many horses, especially racehorses, is ulcers. They are generally living in stalls (an un- natural and stressful situation for horses) and don’t get a chance to graze normally. Stress, and grain diets rather than continual small amounts of for- age, often leads to ulcers. Horses begin to associate eating with ulcer pain, especially when they are fed high sugar/starch diets and sweetfeeds. They may not eat at all or may just eat their hay and leave the grain. Often if they are put on a lower starch, higher fiber feed, they start eating again.
REASONS FOR FINICKY APPETITE
Some horses are hesitant to eat something new, especially if the new feed has a different texture, smell, or flavor. Another issue is exercise; if a horse is being overworked, he may not feel like eating. Hot weather can also impact feed intake.
“Is the horse in a comfortable environment where he can relax and take time to eat?” asks Staniar. “Is he able to stay cool enough that appetite won’t be impaired by heat? Is he in a stressful situation—such as a stall next to an aggressive horse?” If the horse is nervous or upset he won’t think about eating.
Feeder position can also make a difference in how well a horse eats. Some horses are left-sided or right-sided on how they want to eat. Some- times if you just move the feeder to a different location in the stall, they are more comfortable eating. Having it low rather than high can also
make a difference, since it is more normal for horses to eat from the ground. A study published by a research group in North Carolina showed there is some endorphin release when a horse’s head is down low in grazing position. This relaxes them and they do better.
MEAL SIZE
Horses in natural conditions graze periodi- cally, eating small amounts during the day and night. “They eat for about 14 to 18 hours out of 24 hours—many small meals. Yet when we feed hors- es, we are generally feeding two meals (morning and evening). Some people are giving three meals. But horses are trickle feeders. They are meant to eat a little bit all along,” says Staniar. “When you expect your horse to eat more than five pounds per meal (whether hay or concentrates), the horse may not want to eat that much at once,” he says.
Racehorse trainers often want the horse to eat 10 to 15 pounds of grain, but the horse’s stomach only holds about two gallons and he can’t eat that much at once. If racehorses or hard keepers are expected to eat a lot and meal size is large, they won’t finish it—either because of stomach capac- ity issues or satiety. One of the ways to alleviate this problem is to feed them more often than twice a day. Smaller meals, offered more frequently, are more likely to be cleaned up, and this is also safer.
Horses are often not hungry enough to eat a huge meal, especially a concentrated feed. “If a horse has forage available, such as pasture or free-choice hay, and you are feeding a concen- trate as well, the horse may choose the forage,” says Stanier. “He may fill up on pasture or hay and won’t be hungry enough to eat the grain. The horse may not be a finicky eater but has simply satisfied his requirements with forage.”
Remember to change feed type and regi- men slowly, and it’s always wise to check with your veterinarian.
Finicky eaters will generally eat fresh grass and/or alfalfa hay or alfalfa pellets.
An overworked horse and hot weather can impact feed intake, but a teaspoon of honey goes far toward making food more palatable.
Horses in natural conditions graze periodically, eating small amounts during the day and night. Therefore, it is more beneficial to feed small meals throughout the day instead of two very large meals.