Your Horse Live Prize Draw Winners
Monday 19 December 2011
Q. Which of the nutritional elements in horse feed (as below) may contribute to fizzy or excitable behaviour if fed in large amounts?
(tick the two which apply)
a) Fibre
b) Starch
c) Sugar
d) Protein
The correct answers are Starch and Sugar.
Congratulations to:
1st Prize – Lesson with Pippa Funnell
Anna Young from Reading
2nd Prize – Fleece horse rug
Claire Llewellyn from Oakwellyn stud, Lichfield
3rd Prize – Saddlecloth
Jemma Green from Peterborough
Recent research, including our own, has shown that diets high in sugar and starch can cause behavioural problems in horses and ponies. Just as in humans, when a horse eats, the food is broken down in the intestines and absorbed. When the food is absorbed it enters the blood stream and causes the blood sugar to rise. This happens after every meal, but diets high in sugar and starch bring out a much higher response than fibre.
Fibre:
Unlike a high starch diet, a diet high in fibre causes less extreme peaks and troughs in blood sugar, which means there is less excess sugar circulating for the horse to become fizzy on. The fibre is fermented by the bacteria in the hind gut which release volatile fatty acids – compounds that the horse can use as slow release energy. High fibre feeds tend to be lower in starch which means they are a better choice for horses that tend to be excitable or fizzy.
Starch:
Starch is made up of non structural carbohydrates which are broken down by the horse in the small intestine to provide energy. Generally this is fast release, which provides a sudden burst of energy - in some horses this can cause excitable behaviour. If your horse has a tendency to be fizzy it is better to choose a feed with a low starch content.
Sugar:
Sugar circulating in the blood is the most accessible form of fuel for the horse, however there is not enough in the circulatory system to sustain exercise for long periods. The sugar contained in the blood can cause excitable behaviour and the bigger the blood sugar peak, the more chance there is of your horse showing unwanted behaviour.
Protein:
The commonly heard myth that protein can cause excitability, or is responsible for laminitis, azoturia or hives (lumps and bumps), is unfounded. In fact, protein is not used as an energy source but is a very important part of the horse’s diet; it helps to support the immune system and forms the basis of muscle, hooves and hair amongst other things.
To minimise the chance of unwanted behaviour, it is essential that a diet high in fibre is fed. Highly digestible fibre sources, such as those found in the Barley & Molasses Free Range of feeds may help to prevent fizzy behaviour, as they are broken down more slowly than traditional cereal grain rich feeds. Being lower in both starch and sugar than many other feeds, the Barley & Molasses Free Range feeds will not cause excessive blood sugar peaks, meaning that both you and your horse can have fun without the fizz!
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Funnells gearing up for 2012Once again this year we will be following the Funnells on our website, keeping track of events and results as the season unfolds. Date: 22 February 2012 Two new staff join nutrition teamWe are pleased to announce the appointment of Briony Mitchell and Rachel Harrison to the friendly nutrition team. Date: 22 February 2012 New ASM for NorfolkAllen & Page Horse Feeds is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Bee as Area Sales Manager for Norfolk. Date: 23 January 2012 |