Question

I own a 20-year-old Quarter Horse—14.1 hands, 1,000 lb (450 kg), 24-hour turnout, occasionally ridden, weight just right. He’s fed 3 quarts of a low-starch feed, trace mineral supplement, 1 cup flaxseed, and free-choice grass hay (mediocre quality). While I think he’s in good weight, I’d like to improve his topline and muscle definition. Would vitamin E be appropriate?

Answer

Providing a balanced diet with high-quality protein and amino acids can help support topline development and reduce muscle wasting as horses age. Mature horses have relatively low dietary protein requirements; however, protein quality can be a limiting factor when feeding grass hay. Soybean meal and alfalfa are high-quality, plant-based protein sources that can be used to increase overall protein intake as well as provide essential amino acids.

Using a ration balancer formulated to be fed with grass hay is a way to provide additional protein as well as the additional vitamins and minerals needed to balance the small amount of feed he’s receiving daily. A ration balancer would replace the trace mineral supplement.

Another option is to supplement the grass hay with alfalfa as hay or processed products such as hay cubes or pellets. Alfalfa will provide additional calories as well as protein, both of which will help improve overall body condition and muscling.

Vitamin E supplementation can help in these cases as well, particularly if access to grazing good-quality pasture is limited. Natural-source vitamin E is the most bioavailable and can be rapidly absorbed to increase vitamin E status and overall antioxidant protection. Older horses can benefit from vitamin E supplementation, primary of which is immune support. A general recommendation would be to offer 1,000-2,000 IU vitamin E (4-8 ml of Nano-E) per day.