Feeding tips to help keep your horse calm

Horses are sensitive herd animals that will never completely shed their instincts as flight animals. Their highly developed senses are ideally suited to detecting danger quickly, which saves their lives in the wild. The flight behaviour of our domesticated horses presents humans with a number of challenges when handling and training them, and there are several factors to bear in mind to ensure that the horse feels comfortable in our care. When it comes to feeding, ensuring an adequate supply of roughage tailored to the horse’s needs is paramount for its wellbeing, as insufficient roughage rations can lead to stress and behavioural changes in horses. The minimum amount of 1.5–2 kg of hay per 100 kg of body weight per day should not be undercut. Feeding breaks of more than four hours should be avoided, as this increases the risk of stomach ulcers. Horses with stomach problems often react irrationally and become easily startled by perceived dangers.

There are also a number of points to bear in mind regarding the concentrated feed ration. For horses that react to starch-rich rations with nervousness and muscle tension, a grain-free diet based on alternative energy sources may help. For these horses, low-glycaemic rations based on easily fermentable fibre, sprouts, oilseeds and hydrothermally treated legume flakes are ideally suited.

Furthermore, an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals and selected herbs is of great importance for the nervous system. A deficiency in these essential nutrients can lead to disturbances in muscle and nerve metabolism. The muscles become stiff and the nervous system’s resilience decreases. Of particular note here are the essential nutrients magnesium, zinc, vitamin E and the B vitamins. Magnesium plays a vital role in the transmission of nerve impulses, the inhibition of stress hormones and muscle contraction. A magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle and nerve problems; the consequences may include impaired responsiveness, a lack of enthusiasm for work, metabolic issues and muscle stiffness. Nervous horses that are prone to stress benefit from supplementation with B vitamins, which support nervous resilience. Balancing herbs such as valerian, ginseng, taiga root, lemon balm, camomile and also propolis help to calm the horse’s temperament. Plant-based substances such as lecithin, brewer’s yeast and cereal germ support brain metabolism and contribute to stable nerve impulse transmission.