Common Feeding Mistakes
1) Corn Oil or other Oil Supplements
Corn oil was marketed to the equine industry for shiny coats. Horses don't have a gall bladder so excess oils are excreted through the skin, making the coat glisten. Other oils are marketed for horses for Omega 3's. Be careful with any oil supplementation. We know of only one fish-eating horse - the Icelandic. Rancidity is a common problem in oils that are on the market. The best way we know of providing Omega 3's is The source of Omega3's in is chia seeds.
2) High Ratio of Alfalfa in the Diet
Protein levels are too high in alfalfa for its use as a primary forage. It is found in small amounts in supplements due to its high concentration of vitamins and minerals. Kidney scratches may result from feeding too much alfalfa. There is a high ratio of calcium in alfalfa which can cause "tying up". Too much calcium will also block absorption of other minerals like magnesium, zinc and copper. Grass hay is high in silica which is necessary for bone and connective tissue. Alfalfa is low in fiber that is necessary for equine digestion.
3) Beet Pulp
Mountains of unusable waste from the beet industry were marketed to the equine feed industry for weight gain. The gains in weight appear to be mostly water weight, it is lost quickly when the horse discontinues it. Water is retained when the body attempts to dilute a toxic substance. Toxicity in beet pulp derives from the pre and post emergent herbicides used during growing, the defoliants used prior to harvest and the solvents used to "wash" the beets at the processing plant. Most toxins in vegetables are stored in the pulp instead of the juice. As in humans our bodies put the toxins away somewhere like fatty tissue to keep them out of the circulation.
For those familiar with muscle testing, test anything that you wish to feed to your horse
4) Preservatives
Many feeds including Equine Senior feeds are preserved with Ethoxyquin, a rubber preservative or BHA, BHT or formaldehyde. Preservatives may create undue stress on the liver. The Dynamite Feed mill uses only natural preservatives vitamin E and C.
5) Rice Bran
Another agricultural waste product from one of the most heavily pesticided crops foisted off on the horse feed industry.
6) Unbalanced Mineral Supplementation
Feed companies learned to add copper in their feeds to boost color in the horses coat. A little copper in cases of deficiency is great and will improve coat quality. However, boosting one mineral alone will suppress other minerals essential for other aspects of equine physiology.
7) Minerals In Non Available forms
Minerals in ionic form are not easily assimilated by horses. Salt blocks are hard on a horse's tongue (look at the difference between a cow and a horse tongue) and contain urea which a horse cannot process. Look for minerals that are more bio-available such as amino-acid chelated. Some ionic minerals are useful along with the bio-available version, but here again, balance is important between the various minerals. Of the inorganic minerals, oxides are least available, sulfates better and carbonates are most available.
8) Sweet Feed
Adding a little organic blackstrap molasses to encourage a horse with a poor appetite may be OK. The addition of a processed molasses product to a bagged feed increases the requirements for preservatives. Just as with kids, too much sugar can create behavior problems in horses.
9) Feeding Grain "Products"
Wouldn't you rather see whole corn, oats, or barley on the feed label instead of "grain products", grain by-products, or roughage products?
10) High Protein Diets
Horses should not be fed over 12% protein at any time in their lives. Excess protein can cause lots of problems and can result in systemic acidosis. Thyroid problems, colic, arthritis and joint problems in young horses can be a result of diets too high in protein.
Other Horse Care Issues
1) Excessive Worming
We use Herbal Tonic® as our primary wormer twice per year in Spring and Fall unless otherwise indicated by fecal count or muscle testing. If necessary to use a commercial wormer we start with the least toxic, Panacur. Under almost any circumstances we avoid Quest and Ivermectin. Daily wormers equals daily poison, think about it. That's a heavy load for the liver with no break.
2) Multi-Valent Vaccinations
If you do want to give vaccinations, one at a time is best. We don't give them at all when a horse is under immune stress already. Be aware of side effects and weigh the cost/benefit equation. Herpes has been associated with the Rhino shot. West Nile disease has been associated with the West Nile vaccination. Holistic veterinarians offering nosodes as an alternative to vaccination may be found in your area if you look for them.
3) Things Only a Vet Should Do
There are obviously more, but these you might be tempted to do: Palpating a mare, arterial drug injections and tubing a colic horse.
Holistic Horse Therapy and Rehabilitation Center offers a wide variety of natural remedies, depending on the situation, including:
• B.E.S.T. (Bio-energy Synchronization Techniques)
• NUTRITIONAL REFLEXOLOGY
Is your horse excessive or deficient in certain vitamins and minerals? How is his temperament and his digestion? Nutritional corrections will often give you back the horse you always knew you had ---- the one with optimum attitude and potential.
• APPLIED KINESIOLOGY
(Muscle Testing)
Nutritional and Herbal Consultation available
Veterinary Homeopathic Consultation available
We have had tremendous success treating horses with impaction problems, anhydrosis, sore backs, girthiness, indiscriminate lameness.
Email -naturalhorselb@gmail.com
Phone 301-730-0261
Recommened feeding program:
For Easy Keepers:
Basic hay pellets from www.standleehay.com (click to find a distributor near you) 2 to 4 coffee cans per day- For Pete’s Sake in Middletown Md= 301-371-7729
For Horses in Work:
Mixed with the following:
Whole oats, clean-1 cup
Steamed flaked barely or crimped-1 cup- blue seal
Cracked corn, medium-1 cup
If you do not want corn, replace with ½ cup black oil sunflower seeds, or extruded whole soybean.
Minerals:
Horses need the basic minerals.
Highland's Big Sky – Ohio call 330-893-2016 the best minerals you will ever find plus parasite control naturally- all in one 2 oz per day or free choice- Amazing results!
Natural minerals from the beds of the wild horses complete and easy to assimilate.
Izmine to order: Ohio call 330-893-2016 for bone strength and lost minerals restored – 2 oz per day for only one month.
Free choice Redmond salt –email me email@naturalhorselb.ws
Dyna pro/ pro biotic helps with colic and must to have for emergencies and trailer traveling, balances the gut flora. Ohio call 330-893-2016
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