[PeggySue]

I only copy and pasted part of this discussion Here is the link to the complete article

Myth busters! The Truth about Feeding Horses | Horses All Magazine & Equine News
Myth busters! The Truth about Feeding Horses

Published in Feed & Nutrition
19
Mar


by Krista Schole, BSc Ag
It seems that many of us fall into the trap of believing whatever we hear about feeding horses.
That’s why, for the second time in seven years, Dr. Bob Coleman and Dr. Lori Warren tackled the myths and wives’ tales surrounding the feeding of horses at the 25th anniversary of the Horse Breeders & Owners Conference in Red Deer, AB, January 12 to 14.
The first myth deals with the use of protein in the equine diet and some of the commonly held “truths” out there.
First off, protein is not an energy source, but is used to grow and repair muscle tissue. That means it won’t provide calories, but instead provides the building blocks for growth in young horses and for muscle and tissue repair in exercising horses.
Low protein in a growing horse’s diet can decrease its overall feed intake and retard skeletal development.
Drs. Coleman and Warren also stressed that protein will not cause Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) in horses because an increased protein diet does not increase the growth rate.
Instead, DOD can be linked to nutritional factors like increased levels of sugar, starch, and fat as well as genetics, excessive or restrictive exercise, and trauma.

[AllAroundRdr]

With that being said, not every horse belongs on a high protein diet though, so many factors come into play including the protein content of your hay along with your added feed -- it really isn't black & white. Although the 'protein scare' so many people are on is a bit much, I wouldn't disreguard protein content because it's "no big deal"

[nixalba]

My 2 year gets 2 20% protein ration balancer. Her energy level is no different than before. But I've noticed her hair(tail) is growing like mad. Her hooves are also looking a lot better(that is also with the help of a great natural balance farrier)

She does not receive any other hard feed, only ad lib hay, which is grass hay.

I'm a firm believer in feeding GRASS first, hay if grass is unavailable, THEN grain if needed.

[Blistering Winds]

High protein = a lot of money peed into the stall and more money spent on shavings, lime, ammonia busters, etc.

[sorrell]

People fall into the same trap, eating more protein than needed. I agree, it doesn't make sense to feed something more expensive that will just be filtered out and unused. I do think lactating mares, growing foals and working horses need more protein than sedentary ones, but I have noticed all the senior feeds are higher in protein, which didn't seem to make much sense to me, unless it was expected to counter muscle wasting due to age degeneration of tissue.

[Blistering Winds]

Originally Posted by sorrell

People fall into the same trap, eating more protein than needed. I agree, it doesn't make sense to feed something more expensive that will just be filtered out and unused. I do think lactating mares, growing foals and working horses need more protein than sedentary ones, but I have noticed all the senior feeds are higher in protein, which didn't seem to make much sense to me, unless it was expected to counter muscle wasting due to age degeneration of tissue.

I did finally ask about that once.

I was told senior feed has more of many nutrients because of the failing GI tract. They hope that by "flooding" the tract, the right amount gets absorbed eventually. Also Senior feed is usually formulated with an easier to digest version as well.

Same is already done in Calcium/phosphorus calculations with majority of horses. a good amount of the Calcium is also being "poo'd" out due to the Phosphorus bonding. So they formulate with "excess" calcium at the various ratios to be sure the horse gets calcium absorbed, Knowing some is being excreted.

Same concept with senior horses and nutrition, from protein to vitamins. it isn't that they "need" more, it is that their body is not absorbing at the same rate. Now, whether in reality it actually works, well....I have seen wondrous turn arounds in older (and ill) horses on senior type feeds and "nutrient" addition processes. While a good amount may be excreted in some of these horses, the good outweighs the cost factor at times.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Originally Posted by Blistering Winds

High protein = a lot of money peed into the stall and more money spent on shavings, lime, ammonia busters, etc.

Which is why pasture kept horses are better.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Just curious what you think there is to discuss, Peggy Sue? The problem with all these ideas and factors is that not one size fits every horse. What works for one horse absolutely will not work for another. You have to do this on a horse by horse basis... so I am confused why it seems some are trying to make universal statements about something that is very individual again?

[Blistering Winds]

I think it is because many horse owners get into the "horse needs energy, lets now go to a 16% protein"

I hear it ALL the TIME! I just want to beat people over the head at times because of it.

Though many times, the higher % protein lines do come with a small boost in calories, but not because of the protein itself, but because of the "design" of that next % up is for higher energy needs due to the fact it is performance, mare & foal, etc in design.

And some people do still blame DOD's on Protein, when majority of the cases seen by the professionals seem to tell them differently. (I'll have to get back with you with the name of the vet that does all the DOD surgeries down this way, and does nothing but travel......TBtrainer may know his name too....but it is escaping my mind right now...shoot, you may even know the name too.....)

No, there is definitely not a one size fits all.....but the general "thought process" of the horse owner is still unfortunately that way, where they look to protein first for "energy" and to "solve" all weight issues, etc.

[PeggySue]

Sorry I was at work the comment was made in another thread that when the horse was feed a 14% grain they got hyper

so I wanted to disspell the myth once again LOL