Question
Nimble, my middle-aged Thoroughbred gelding, does little in the way or work—a real-life layabout! He’s about 1,000 lb (450 kg) and in fine body condition, but he has a history of gastrointestinal disease, including two colic surgeries (twists, no resection) last year. He colicked mildly once since the last surgery and, since then, looks at his sides after meals and seems hypersensitive to grooming. His daily routine is split evenly between pasture access and stall restriction. Right now, there is not much grass in the field, so hay is still being supplied outside. He gets plenty of hay in the stall. The hay can be described as a local grass mix consisting mainly of mature, mid-quality timothy. I pick out the pieces that look downright inedible. His meals are given as mashes in an attempt to maintain hydration. The current feed is a high-fiber, low-fat formula that I am beginning to think is not the best option for him. He gets the feed twice a day for a total of about 6 lb (2.7 kg). I have the option of giving him access to grass 24/7 and wonder if this and a ration balancer would be appropriate? I’ve begun a gradual 30-minute introduction to lush grass which seems to be helping him. What would you suggest?
Answer
A few dietary changes could boost Nimble’s digestive health. The following recommendations are made without in-depth knowledge of your horse’s digestive and colic history, so consultation with your veterinarian is suggested before making any changes to his feeding management.
Allowing Nimble unlimited access to pasture will add more energy to his diet, assuming the pasture is well maintained, and could make up for the reduction in feed intake proposed. Free-choice access to lush grass, even after a gradual introduction, has pros and cons. Full-time turnout allows freedom of movement, which in turn stimulates gut motility. Fresh grass provides several dietary benefits because it contains important nutrients often lost during haymaking, such as vitamins A and E. Grass is also high in digestible fiber and water, aiding in hydration.
On the flip side, the high carbohydrate content of grass can lead to hindgut disturbances when the fiber is rapidly fermented and the microbial balance disturbed. Any shift in the microbial population of the digestive tract can increase gas-producing microbes.
Consider keeping the current program of half-day grazing until you know he can tolerate the grass well. When increasing access to lush grass, you may try using a grazing muzzle to reduce consumption. He would still require hay in his stall to ensure his forage needs are met.
When it comes to the type of hay offered, choose hay that has been analyzed and confirmed to contain high-quality fiber and appropriate energy. Overly mature hay that is high in indigestible fiber has less nutritional value and may not be ideal for horses with a history of colic because of its bulk (thicker stems, for example) and subsequent risk of impaction colic.
As to other feedstuffs, a ration balancer with added fiber sources would be a good place to start. Right now, it would be a significant reduction in digestible energy to only offer the ration balancer. Additional fiber sources include hay pellets and beet pulp, which can be mixed with water to form a palatable mash.
Fine-tuning a diet requires gradual changes and patience, especially with a horse that has experienced gastrointestinal problems in the past. This trial-and-error approach may take weeks, even months, before a safe, appropriate diet for Nimble is found. During this time, it will be worthwhile to keep track of his body condition score, recording a weekly score alongside diet notes.
Providing targeted hindgut supplementation is another way to help Nimble’s digestive tract tolerate grass consumption and maintain microbial health. Introducing the time-released hindgut buffer EquiShure to his diet will help maintain an appropriate pH so beneficial bacteria flourish. EquiShure is recommended for horses prone to colic, gas, loose manure, and other digestive disturbances, and is safe for long-term use.
I suggest boosting the omega-3 fatty acids in his diet to help reduce inflammation, improve coat condition, and ultimately balance the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in the diet. The specific omega-3s found in EO-3—marine-derived DHA and EPA—are the most biologically active and are superior to plant-based sources.
