Options For Animals

Benefits of Proper Diet for Horses

Owning a horse can be a very rewarding experience. Whether it’s for riding competitions or personal pleasure, horses can provide endless hours of joy. And although they are strong and magnificent animals, they can also be relatively fragile if not treated well. Diet plays an essential role in the health of the horse. Here are some of the benefits of providing your horse with a proper diet.

Behavioral Changes

Horses are known for their quiet, calm demeanor. When a normally tranquil horse suddenly becomes much more agitated, diet may be to blame.

Should you notice that your horse is acting strangely, see if there have been any large dietary changes of late. Intestinal distress may be causing the horse discomfort, and leading them to behave unusually.

If no dietary changes have taken place, it may be a musculoskeletal issue. A difference in posture or gait may be sure signs that there is a physical issue with your horse. If they resist being ridden or begin to buck, it may be time to consult with a specialist from the Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic. They will be able to diagnose and provide treatment that may alleviate the physical symptoms your horse is experiencing.

Prevents Arthritis

All mammals have a physiology that follows a similar blueprint; a skeletal structure that serves to protect vital organs while also acting as scaffolding for muscle tissue. The body of a horse contains a large amount of muscle around the hips, and it is this muscle that provides it with a majority of its strength and speed. However, much of this mass is situated on relatively thin ankle and knee joints, meaning that horses are often prone to bone breaks and diseases of the joints like arthritis.

One way to prevent such maladies is by not overfeeding a horse. A horse’s digestive tract is designed for near constant grazing, and a horse will eat with great frequency if allowed to do so. Therefore, it’s important to monitor how much a horse is fed in addition to any grazing it may do on its own. Frequent exercise will help ward off obesity, but the best defense against arthritis is to prevent overeating from the start. Should you find that your horse is suffering from joint and bone pain, consult with a specialist at the Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic.

Appearance

The image of a paint horse galloping over the open plain or a thoroughbred competing in the Kentucky Derby have been frequently explored in art and literature. Horses are beautiful creatures, and it’s important to provide them with the proper diet in order to help maximize that beauty.

A balanced diet is the first step in making sure that your horse has a shiny, lustrous coat. Many horses with a dull coat have protein and zinc deficiencies. Make sure that when feeding your animal that you are providing them with important amino acids in addition to their normal carbohydrate intake.

Fats intake also play a key role in a horse’s appearance. Supplementing a horse’s diet with additional sources of essential fatty acids can yield positive results with regards to the shine of a horse’s coat. If it seems like your horse has a dull, bland coat, mixing additional sources of essential fatty acids in to their feed may be just what the doctor ordered.

October 12, 2017
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