Nutrition of the injured horse

The nutrition of injured horses is an aspect that is often neglected, as opposed to the training plan that is immediately modified in the event of a more or less serious injury. However, it must be realised that the diet of an injured horse can hinder rehabilitation or, on the contrary, favour it if the appropriate modifications are made.

Let us see together how to adapt the diet of the injured horse:

Energy intake in the injured horse

The appetite of an injured horse often decreases due to stress or suffering. Contrary to popular belief, it is not correct to decrease the caloric intake of the ration, as the horse requires more energy to fuel the restoration of all its functions. If we alter the diet by reducing the amount of concentrates we push the horse towards breaking down and utilising tissues to provide energy to restore normal body function. In particular, the tissues at the centre of catabolic processes will be protein.

Substrates used by the injured horse

90% of the calories consumed daily by healthy horses come from the body's fat deposits.

In contrast, in injured horses:

about 50% of the calories used come from stored body fat

20% comes from stored carbohydrate energy

30% from the breakdown of body tissue.

It is evident that in order to maintain a normal body condition and aid the rehabilitation process, the injured horse has a high requirement for both protein and energy. In addition, the need for trace elements and vitamins may also increase.

Protein and mineral requirements in the injured horse

In the injured horse the protein requirement is higher than in horses in maintenance, according to some studies they have a protein requirement similar to that of horses in light work.

Mineral requirements in the injured horse increase, particularly for copper, zinc and selenium.

Including a complementary balancing feed in the ration such as Mac Breed is therefore strongly recommended, in order to avoid tissue breakdown and protein, vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

If the injury is orthopaedic, it is useful to administer complementary feeds containing glucosamine and msm, chondroitin sulphate, minerals and lysine, all of which have a beneficial effect on joint components such as cartilage, synovial fluid, capsule, ligaments and tendons.

For more information you can read our article on joint wellness https://bit.ly/ArticolazioniDelCavallo-Equiplanet

Starches and sugars in the diet of the injured horse

Experts suggest decreasing the concentrations of sugar and starch in the injured horse's diet, while increasing fat and fibre, to ensure that he gets enough calories without consuming energy sources that could lead to excitable behaviour with increased risk of further injury.

This can be achieved by avoiding the use of cereals, but using alternative feeds such as beet pulp, constant access to hay and a vegetable oil, such as Oil performance containing soya oil, linseed oil, a small percentage of rice oil and supplemented with Vitamin E. If you want a more practical solution for stable management, you can use a finished feed with these characteristics such as Fat Fiber.

Limited exercise?

If possible, have the horse do limited work that can help maintain muscle tone. A few steps on the treadmill or a short walk or swimming may be sufficient. If this is not possible and the horse has to be boxed most of the time, complementary gastroprotective feeds such as Trophogast pellets should be given. We have all seen horses resting in stalls that develop aggressive behaviour such as agitation, nervousness, stereotypies. Trophogast pellets, due to its unique composition is recommended to reduce stress reactions.

Promoting relaxation in injured horses

It is often necessary to manipulate injured horses, perhaps even just to change bands or apply ointments. Often if the horse is not compliant, even the simplest operations become complicated. It is therefore recommended to use complementary feeds containing tryptophan and magnesium or containing plants that promote relaxation that are useful in these particular situations, such as Tranquillity and Calm Forte T +.

Nutritional aspects affecting the gut in the injured horse

After an injury, it is likely that the horse has undergone treatments that deplete the intestinal flora; supporting the microbiota is a crucial aspect. Enterovet is a complementary feed that contains prebiotics and probiotics that promote digestibility of the ration and good colonisation of the microorganisms necessary for good gut function.

Equally important is to promote intestinal transit and water intake to prevent constipative phenomena. Pastone H new is a complementary feed based on pre-cooked cereals, a refreshing and regenerating mash to be used as a partial or complete replacement for concentrates, even several times during the week.

Role of omega 3 in the injured horse

Omega 3 has a beneficial effect on several systems, including the joint system. It has a fundamental action in the management of many biochemical processes related to joint omostasis and promotes the horse's general wellbeing. This is why Omega Energy is a complementary feed rich in Omega 3, with added vitamins and antioxidants to support the muscular system as well. Another source of Omega 3 is Oil Performance, which we have already mentioned. Both products contribute to reducing the share of cereals used in the ration.

In conclusion, the modification of nutritional requirements is only one aspect of the management of an injured athlete horse, but it is probably the most important. For further personalised advice, please send an e-mail to info@equiplanet.it

Bibliography

Basic Needs in Horses?-A Literature Review. Konstanze Krueger, 2021
The identification of abnormal behaviour and behavioural problems in stabled horses and their relationship to horse welfare: a comparative review. J J Cooper, 1998
Rest behavior. Dallaire A., 1986
Equine Calming Products: A Short Survey Into Their Use, Effect, and Knowledge Using a Small Sample of Horse Owners in the North of Scotland, UK. Diane J Ross, 2018
Omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid oxymetabolites modulate the inflammatory response of equine recombinant interleukin1β-stimulated equine synoviocytes. John P Caron, 2019
Nutrition and equine performance. Hintz HF, 1994
Morphology of starch digestion in the horse. Kienzle E, Pohlenz J, Radicke S., 1997
Recent research into the nutrition of the horse. Frape DL., 1975