Feeding myths THE TRUTH
H&R hands over to a selection of nutritional ional expertsto discover what’s true and what’s not whenit comes to feeding your horse
Photos: Jon Stroud
Where feeding your horse is concerned, have you ever wondered whether your beliefs are the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Maybe you’ve been told your horse can’t survive on forage and a balancer alone in winter or perhaps you’ve always thought that conditioning feeds make horsesgo wild.
With most reputable feed companies offering a freee feedingadvice helpline, their nutritionists are certainly no strangers to dietary misconceptions. We talk to six ofthe best to lay to rest some of themost common feeding myths horseowners might accept. Here’s what they had to say.
"Good quality protein’s essential and certainly not to be shied away from"
MYTH
A high-protein feed will make my horse sharp
Nicola Tyler BSc RNutr, Nutrition Director at TopSpec, answers:
There’s no doubt some horses heat up on certain types of feed, but significant research now points the finger at sugar and starch levels, rather than protein.
Compound feeds containing significant levels of sugar or starch, spring pasture, early-cut and high-quality forage made in sunshine, and highly molassed chops or sugar beet can all cause some horses to become overexcited.