A horse that is stabled and does not have access to natural grass, can be compensated by feeding hay or other forage feeds. These feeds provides bulk which is essential for digestion. Hay must always be of high quality, free of mould, dust and weeds. Horses are very susceptible to moulds and fungi.

If possible it is always best to turn the horse out in a field for at least part of the day to allow natural grass feeding and exercise. The amount of feed given will depend on its size and the amount of exercise it receives each day. Remember that it is natural for a horse to feed little and often. If feeding a large amount, break it down into two or three small meals during the day.

The basis for a mineral supplement

The horse's skeleton is comprised mostly of bone. Bone is a living organism and it forms the structural framework which supports the body.

Bone consists of mineral and protein portions. The protein portion, known as osteoid, makes up approximately 20% of mature bone by weight. The mineral portion is principally composed of calcium and phosphorus, and to a lesser degree magnesium.

Because bone tissue is alive and in a constant state of mineral (calcium and phosphorus) deposition and resorption the horse requires a constant source of these minerals to maintain its body reserves. The bone acts as a mineral depot from which these minerals are constantly being resorbed and laid down in a continuing process of growth and remodelling. Bone also acts as a mineral depot from which the body draws ,supplies of specific minerals for the proper maintenance and function of soft tissues and body fluids.

Because the horse's skeleton is of such fundamental importance to the animals performance, its mineral requirements and the body's mineral requirements deserve careful attention.

Diet

The horse requires a diet comprising energy, protein, minerals, vitamins and water (in varying quantities) on a daily basis to maintain a healthy, functioning state. We are concerned with the mineral portion of this diet.

Minerals

The horse requires at least 15 different minerals. Some of these are termed macro or major minerals. Their requirement in the diet is usually expressed as a percentage of the diet, or grams per kilogram of the diet (g/kg) or grams per day (g/day). These are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, potassium, chloride and sulphur. The three minerals of major concern in feeding horses are calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and sodium (Na) (usually in the form of salt (NaCl). Calcium and phosphorus nutrition is of utmost importance for proper bone development and maintenance in horses. While adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus are needed, they must also be present in the right ratio. Horses are more apt to suffer from lack of, or improper ratio of calcium and phosphorus than any other minerals. The calcium to phosphorus ratio should preferably lie between 1.1 and 2 to 1, although weanling foals can tolerate up to 3 to 1 and mature horses up to 6 to 1. Feedstuffs such as grains, protein meals and grain by-products (bran and pollard) contain larger amounts of phosphorus than calcium, whereas legumes (lucerne, clovers) contain more calcium than phosphorus. Horses fed diets high in grain and/or bran and pollard will usually require supplementation with a high calcium source.

Diet of the stabled high performance horse

The high performance horse, due to its work load, has an abnormally high intake of grain, protein meal and grain by-products such as pollard and bran. As stated in the previous section these feeds contain higher amounts of phosphorus than calcium. It can be said then that grain-oriented stable diets are high in phosphorus and low in calcium and other micro-elements. Heavy grain-feeding therefore must create an immediate mineral imbalance.

To complicate the issue further, stabled horses get very little sunlight (their natural source of vitamin D); the green feed they receive has normally lost most of its goodness; and inherent in all cereal grains is phytic acid which converts the calcium and phosphorus present in the feed into insoluble forms which further heightens the mineral imbalance.

Due to the very nature of the diet then, mineral deficiencies are par for the course in racing stables. These deficiencies and imbalances are the major predisposing causes of lameness and bone disorders. They also have a highly detrimental effect on the horse's overall performance, general soundness and ability to stand up to a strenuous training programme. Many frustrating conditions such as stiff joints, soreness, shifting lameness, chronic bone disorders and fractures are often the direct result of severe mineral imbalances and deficiencies in the horses diet.

Sweating

Sweating entails a loss of both water and electrolytes. The electrolytes of horse sweat consist principally of sodium and chloride, with lesser quantities of potassium and small proportions of calcium and magnesium. Extended work in hot dry weather by a 450-500 kg horse may yield losses of as much as 80g Sodium, 50g Potassium and 150g chloride. Losses of Calcium can also be quite extensive, and along with losses of potassium and chloride, can lead to synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (S.D.F.) or thumps. Therefore inclusion of an electrolyte therapy is often indicated especially during long rides.

Folactin Blue

As a trainer/rider of a high performance horse it is essential to cater adequately for the horses mineral requirements, and thereby safeguard against any mineral deficiencies and resultant skeletal disorders.

The choice of a mineral supplement is not always straightforward The formulation of the mineral supplement must take into account the rest of the diet. High levels of a particular mineral may, in fact, interfere in the absorption of other minerals.

The correct formulation of mineral supplementations comes down to a combination of a sound scientific knowledge of feeds, and field experience. Ranvet has used their sound scientific base and field experience to formulate a mineral supplement that specifically takes into account the high grain diet fed to stabled horses.

As all trainers are aware there is a vast and distinct difference between horses in heavy work, light work and horses at stud and hence their nutritional requirements.

Many people will tell you that one mineral supplement will cover the needs of all these horses. However, due to the very nature of the circumstances under which horses are being trained, their difference in age, the difference in their dietary requirements and whether they're in a paddock or stabled, it would be impossible to provide one supplement that supplies all the essential minerals and vitamins to these horses.

Folactin Blue was originally formulated in the light of extensive clinical and practical observations as a complete mineral supplement for horses. It supplies all the elements necessary for proper bone growth and formation, the maintenance of skeletal reserves, proper bone marrow function, and the normal calcium blood serum level so vital for every body function.

Folactin Blue racing formula has been the mineral supplement of choice in racing stables for the last 15 years. As a result of the confidence placed in Ranvet over that time, we have kept up to date with the latest information available to keep bringing you the best possible product.

As a result of recent research in nutrient requirements, Folactin Blue Racing Formula is now supplying the high Performance stabled horse with a mineral supplement which has been upgraded and hence reformulated to provide your horse with its daily requirements for essential minerals and vitamins. It is important to note that each of the components of Folactin Blue have been chosen to provide your horse these essential minerals and vitamins in a form that leaves minimum waste and hence saves you dollars. What you pay for is used by the horse.

The needs of racing and competition horses are different again. We suggest you consider our feeding programmes.

Dr Percy Sykes on Feeding