The article by Lydia Gray, DVM, MA, Staff Veterinarian/Medical Director, SmartPak, discusses the importance of proper nutrition in maintaining a horse's overall health and well-being. It emphasizes the need for a balanced diet that meets the horse's specific nutritional requirements based on their age, weight, workload, and health status. The article also provides tips on how to evaluate and choose the right feed and supplements for a horse, as well as how to monitor their body condition and adjust their diet accordingly. The article concludes by highlighting the role of regular veterinary check-ups and dental care in maintaining a horse's nutritional health.
Introduction
"Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy, happy horse that performs to the best of its ability. This article outlines ten “keys” to help you better understand nutrition and put its power to use. From basic information like the importance of forage to more advanced topics like the difference between “digestibility” and “bioavailability,” there is something for everyone who makes decisions about the diet of a horse. The article is made up of ten different sections, or keys, each covering a separate but related topic within equine nutrition:
KEY #1—Forage is the basis of a horse’s diet
KEY #2—But . . . forage is incomplete nutrition
KEY #3—Over- and Under-Supplementation
KEY #4—Nutrient Requirements of Horses
KEY #5—The Digestive Tract: Parts & Purposes
KEY #6—The Six Classes of Nutrients
KEY #7—Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements
KEY #8—Body Condition Scoring (and other measurements)
KEY #9—Some Tricky Definitions
KEY #10--Resources"
Continue Reading: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/nutrition-key-unlocking-your-horses-health
