Winter Well with Targeted Support

Providing nutrition to horses in the winter is usually a matter of sourcing appropriate forages and concentrates, and feeding them in fitting quantities. While these staple feedstuffs will deliver the calories necessary to stay warm, maintain body condition, and fuel exercise or reproduction, supplements are frequently necessary for optimal nutrition.

At the top of the list is vitamin E, an important antioxidant that supports body-wide physiology, most especially muscular, nervous, and immune function. Vitamin E is plentiful in green grass, so grazing horses can easily consume their daily requirement in spring, summer, and fall. The vitamin E content of dormant forages is, however, significantly lower than that found in growing grasses. Likewise, when plants are harvested for hay, the vitamin E content diminishes as storage time increases, which could leave horses deficient during winter, when forage requirements are met through hay, hay cubes, or other preserved forages.

To ensure horses receive appropriate vitamin E supplementation, look for a water-soluble, natural (d-alpha-tocopherol) product such as Nano-E, which uses nanodispersion to efficiently deliver vitamin E throughout the body. This form of vitamin E outperformed all others in studies conducted by Kentucky Equine Research.

In addition to bolstered antioxidant status afforded by supplemental vitamin E, attention should be given to the hindgut, the gastrointestinal region that converts forages to energy through fermentation. The key to hindgut health is a robust microbial population. Keeping the microorganisms content depends largely on maintaining a consistent pH in the hindgut. Normal digestion of large concentrate meals can cause the pH of the hindgut to drop, which triggers a state of acidosis that can be harmful to beneficial microbes.

To counteract these sharp fluctuations in pH, a hindgut buffer can be fed to horses. Hindgut buffers are only effective if they reach the target organs, the cecum and colon. In order to do so, the buffer must be delivered in a time-released, protected state. EquiShure features encapsulation technology that allows for transport of sodium bicarbonate, thereby stabilizing the pH of the hindgut.

Joint health is important for all horses, but especially those involved in athletic pursuits. Horses with healthy, comfortable joints move more freely than those plagued with arthritis. Supplementation with key joint-support components is an important tool in long-term soundness and longevity of joint health. Synovate HA provides horses with a safe and highly digestible form of sodium hyaluronate. Choose Synovate HA to promote healthy cartilage and optimal synovial fluid viscosity for proactive management of joint health.

Forages and concentrates are chosen for horses based on nutrient needs and metabolism. High-quality supplements can afford an extra cushion of protection during specific times of year. Always choose supplements formulated and manufactured by reputable companies that use premium ingredients.