Research has shown that feeding some high NSC feeds twice daily can cause spikes in blood glucose and insuin (Richards et al 2016 Anim Fed SCi Tech. 11:100-108). When horses are fed high levels of grain (NSC) the increased glucose and insulin may cause the horses muscles to lose sensitivity to insulin (insulin resistance). Our horses are telling us that high NSC feeds may cause metabolic related disorders including
- poor temperament
- tying up
- obesity
- stocking up
- lameness and laminitis
- insulin resistance
- EMS
- cushings
The key question is ..are you harming your horse with your current feeding program?
The Stance Equitec Feeding System is designed to support normal body metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This Feeding System is based on a base feed supplement of CoolStance to provide a low NSC (11%) and high DE (15 MJ/kg DM). CoolStance is fed to replace grain.
Initially, however, it is important to establish a starting point or baseline for your horse before you commence the Stance Equitec Feeding System.
Things to consider when establishing a baseline:
Physical factors
- Check for a healthy mouth; including teeth, gums and tongue. Check lower inner teeth, as sharp teeth often reduce intake and salivary flow.
- Eliminate any worms or parasite infestations from all horses.
- Body condition score. Is your horse in poor condition or possibly over conditioned?
- Age and Physiological state. Is your horse young and growing, mature, pregnant or lactating?
- Level of work. Is your horse in light, medium or heavy work?
- Herd structure or pecking order. Where do your horses rank? Is it alone or with others?
- Temperament and behaviour. Is your horse hot or fizzy. Does it become agitated when separated from others.
- Does your horse have pre-existing or diagnosed health conditions (eg laminitis, ulcers, colic, greasy heel)
Pasture
- Grazing. Horses are selective eaters, and what you see in the paddock is mostly what the horses dont like. Ensure there are no toxic plants/weeds.
- Pastures. Most pasture species have been designed for dairy, beef and sheep production. These pastures can contain high levels of NSC, and are unsuitable for horses prone to insulin resistance see www.safergrass.org.
- Horses have small stomachs and eat 18 hours a day. Is your horse able to graze all day?
- How much pasture is available?
- What is the pasture? Does it contain plant species that cause mineral imbalance, eg oxalate pastures?
- Is there is excess pasture? If so you can use electric fences to restrict access, or grazing muzzles.
- Restricting access to only a few hours grazing a day, and not providing hay may promote metabolic disorders.
Stables/Barns/Corrals
- Stables/corrals. If your horse is stabled, it can only eat what you give it. Feeding twice daily is abnormal to the horse digestive system, and will cause 'insulin spikes" at feeding times. Feeding little and often is ideal.
- Provide continuous access to hay in hay nets.
- If you horse has a metabolic condition such as obesity, laminitis, Cushing's, insulin resistance or EMS, then locking the horse is a yard with no feed, and allowing grazing/feeding twice per day may cause insulin spikes and exacerbate the disorder.
Feeds and water
- Write down all feeds that you feeding. Keep diary and record all the treatments.
- Use scales to weigh the amounts being fed.
- Are you feeding only twice daily?
- Check ingredient list of feed. Check what things may or may not be included in processed feeds.
- All feeds contain NSC (see above). What is the feed analysis? Is your feed above 12% NSC?
- Look for seed heads or grain in the hay. The hay may be low NSC, however the seed grains will provide starch.
- Most treats (including apples and carrots) contain sugars and starch.
- How much are you feeding? Are you overfeeding for the activity level of you horse?
- Is there plenty of good quality water available within reasonable range?
Activity level
- Carefully consider the activity level, ie how much is your horse ridden or worked each week. Horses with higher work levels require a greater level of energy and balanced nutrition. Are you overfeeding NSCs.
Establishing an effective feeding program.
- Record what feeds, treats and grazing your horse receives for one-two weeks. Record how much is fed (weigh if possible) and the hours grazing.
- Take a picture and compare to the body condition chart. Record the body condition, is your horse overweight?
- Record the activity level (type of activity, hours spent and intensity) for one-two weeks.
- Consider all the factors listed above to identify all factors that may influence the health and well being of the horse.
- Keep your feeding simple. Provide medium quality hay, and low NSC energy feed, and balanced minerals and vitamins.
- Select feeds that provide roughage and a level of NSC that suits the condition and activity level of the horse.? It is suggested that a level of <12% NSC in the diet is acceptable to most horses, without predisposing the animal to the longer term effects of insulin resistance.
- Feed hay in racks that restricts the rate of eating is one way of allowing horses to eat for longer periods
- If your horse is bullied, where possible consider feed it separately.
- If your horse is subject to choke, always wet down the feeds and hay.
- For horses at a higher level of work, provide more energy as oil and NSC. Balance the NSC supply from the oil and sugars so to avoid an "insulin" spike
- Keep good records. Only change one thing at a time.
StanceEquitec Feeding System
The Stance Equitec feeds and supplements have been designed to provide energy and nutrient intake that meet the specific needs of your horse. Initially, you can replace grains with CoolStance to provide a low NSC, high DE supplement based on fat and fibre to provide non glucose energy. As the activity level increases, the DE intake must also increase, and at high activity levels, it is necessary to provide a balanced amount of glucose energy. The challenge therefore is to increase the DE intake without feeding an unbalanced amount of NSC, and possibly predisposing the horse to metabolic disorders.
1. Grazing Horses
CoolStance
- 0.5 to 4.0 kg/day depending on work load
- Feed morning and night
- Can be fed wet or dry. If feeding wet, add 1 scoop water to every 1 scoop CoolStance (see video)
- Place the feeder away from the water trough
Minerals and Vitamins.
- Hay and pasture normally balances the Mineral requirements.
- Feed VitaStance as recommended
Hay
- Medium quality grass hay
If feeding hay, feed in hay racks
Omega 3
- Under most conditions the pasture and hay will provide sufficient Omega 3 to satisfy the horses needs.
2. Stall Fed Horses
CoolStance
- 0.5 to 4.0 kg/day depending on work load
- Feed morning, night and where possible at lunch time
- Can be fed wet or dry. If feeding wet, add 1 scoop water to every 1 scoop CoolStance
- Place the feeder away from the water trough if possible
Minerals and Vitamins
Feed
- VitaStance as recommended
Roughage
- Medium quality grass hay
Avoid high quality alfalfa
Provide hay in hay net so that the horse has feed all day
Water
Stance Equitec additives:
1. Stressed and nervous horses
2. Ulcers and Acidosis
- UlcaBuf. Horses under heavy work load and being transported susceptible to ulcers and acidosis
3. Skin, coat condition, inflammation
4. Mycotoxins on the hay, pasture or weeds.
