In today's market, the variety of horse feed products is overwhelming. Many of these feeds are marketed with claims of improving your horse's health, preventing illness, or maintaining the well-being of compromised animals. But what exactly does it mean to have a "compromised animal"?
A compromised animal refers to horses suffering from conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, laminitis (which leaves them unable to walk due to sore feet), or myelopathy (a condition where the muscles fail to function properly for reasons that are often unclear). These ailments primarily stem from imbalances in the horse's body chemistry, which can be influenced by several factors—including their living conditions, daily activities, and, importantly, the chemicals they ingest or absorb from their environment.
Environmental Chemical Exposure
Many horses are kept in stalls or paddocks where they are continuously exposed to chemicals. Stall walls, often made from treated wood, can contain arsenic. If a horse chews on these walls, the arsenic can enter their system, interfering with thyroid function and preventing the absorption of vital nutrients necessary for hormone regulation. Another potential source of arsenic is water or even the processing of horse feed, which can release this harmful chemical, making it available to your horse.
Pesticides, such as fly sprays and bug repellents, present another concern. These products often contain estrogen mimics—molecules that degrade metabolism by attaching to receptor sites in the horse's body where essential minerals like iodine, calcium, or copper should be. When these sites are occupied by estrogen mimics, the horse can't utilize these minerals properly, leading to mineral deficiencies. This deficiency might drive horses to exhibit unusual behaviors, such as chewing on trees, wood, or dirt, in an attempt to find the nutrients their body is craving.
The Role of Diet in Equine Health
Beyond environmental factors, the very feed we give our horses can contribute to these chemical imbalances. When feeds are processed to create a specific shape, this often involves boiling, which can transform beneficial omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids into less desirable omega-9 fatty acids. Moreover, this process can alter proteins and inactivate enzymes—critical vitamins like A, D, and C that initiate essential chemical reactions within the horse's body.
Feeding horses processed grains and vegetables can introduce unwanted pesticides and herbicides into their diet. These chemicals, often found on the outer walls of grains and vegetables, act as estrogen mimics that block essential mineral absorption. Common feed ingredients like soybean hulls, while included to aid digestion, don't necessarily support cellular metabolism and can further degrade a horse's overall metabolic function.
Choosing the Right Feed
So, how can we improve the diets of our horses? Start by seeking feeds that haven't been cooked at high temperatures and avoid those with added sugars that alter the pH of the gastrointestinal tract. Opt for feeds rich in omega fatty acids and raw, uncooked diets where possible. It's also essential to recognize that most commercial horse feeds are "complete feeds," designed to offer a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, cost-effectiveness often leads to the inclusion of proteins that aren't easily digestible by horses, along with excessive carbohydrates and sometimes vitamins and minerals that may not be bioavailable.
Overcooked proteins and high carbohydrate content can make your horse anxious, nervous, or unpredictable. Therefore, feeding a diet that prioritizes digestibility and bioavailability is key to maintaining a calm, healthy, and well-balanced horse.
In summary, it's not just about what we feed our horses, but also about how that feed is processed and what environmental chemicals they are exposed to. By being mindful of these factors, we can help prevent or mitigate the effects of conditions like hypothyroidism, laminitis, and other metabolic disorders, leading to healthier, happier horses.
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