Question
I started my three-year-old last fall, and he seemed to have plenty of energy under saddle at that time. Over the past several months, he has become lethargic. Other than some trimming issues with his hind hooves, neither vets nor farriers can offer a reason for this lack of energy. He suffers from some allergies that cause him to itch, and he has a propensity for gastric ulcers. He is turned out all day with access to a stall if he chooses. He maintains moderate weight (1,230 lb or 560 kg) on a diet of grass hay, and 2 cups of a ration balancer. I feed him soaked alfalfa pellets in the morning to soothe his stomach. I would rather not feed him grain, as I think it will accelerate the formation of ulcers. Can you make heads or tails of this?
Answer
Several factors affect a horse’s energy level and its ability to perform as desired. Nutritional considerations include the source of dietary energy, the total amount of calories provided by the diet, and targeted supplementation.
Because he maintains his weight on a diet consisting of forage and balancer pellets, I would continue him on this basic diet. While some horses thrive on an all-forage diet supplemented with balancer pellets, others require an additional source of concentrated energy to maximize their athletic potential. Performance horses that experience digestive upset and muscle soreness often benefit from diets higher in fat and fermentable fiber with low to moderate levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC).
Because an appropriate concentrate will be fed in combination with a balancer pellet, the concentrate can be safely fed at below the manufacturer’s recommendation. Only 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) of concentrate may be needed to improve energy levels.
Stress is one of the main components of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), and poor performance is often the first sign of this disease. Treatment with a proven antiulcer drug is the initial step in managing gastric ulcers. In conjunction with treatment, minimizing ulcer-inducing factors is needed to prevent the recurrence of EGUS. Providing a digestive buffer to neutralize excessive stomach acid is an effective preventive measure and should be started prior to the completion of treatment and used daily during periods of stress. RiteTrac, available in the U.S., is a research-proven digestive buffer that contains a time-released hindgut buffer, providing total digestive tract support. In Australia, look for these research-proven options.
Because your gelding does not have access to fresh pasture, even though he has free-choice access to hay, provide supplemental vitamin E to maintain adequate vitamin E status. Water-dispersible natural vitamin E, such as Nano-E, has the greatest bioavailability and ability to increase vitamin E levels. Supplementation of 1000-2000 IU per day would be appropriate for your young horse in addition to the vitamin E in the commercial feeds. In addition meeting dietary requirements, Nano-E provides targeted antioxidant support that can be increased during stressful periods or after training sessions to provide muscle support without affecting other nutrients in his diet.
Daily supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids can help modulate the immune system’s response to allergens, reducing the severity of allergic reactions. Plant-based sources of the short-chain omega-3, like alpha-linolenic (ALA), include flaxseed and flax oil. Sources of the long-chain omega-3s, such as EPA and DHA, are found in fish oil or algae-based supplements. Studies have found that diets supplemented with EPA and DHA have greater anti-inflammatory effects than diets high in ALA. Daily supplementation with EO-3, a potent source of these important compounds, may help to reduce inflammation and hypersensitivity, which may be causing his itchiness.
