Protein, high, low...what do you know????

It has always been explained to me that a high protein diet is only good for mares in foal, the mare after foaling for milk production, the stud during breeding season and for growth during a young horse's life. 

Protein higher than 16% for any other situation is really not useful.  Horses burn protein during exercise, but it is not the main source of energy..carbohydrates and fats become the main source of food for energy.

For some it is the thought that protein is better in large quantities for the performance horse and this is simply not true.. Protein is a metabolically expensive source of energy for the horse, it takes longer to break down and be useful in this manner. Protein costs more energy to metabolize than any other food fuels available, then is also produces very little energy for working muscles.

If you are conditioning your horse for the best performance your horse  can give, it is easier to get much more energy and fuel to burn from carbohydrates from your good alfalfa and grass sources. Vegetable oil is a great fat source.  Fat and carbs provide and supply fuel for the muscle cell to produce energy for exercise.  When your horse's diet is tailored to the work that it is expected to do, your horse will condition easier and tire less if it is using the energy source that it needs for the work it is doing.

I see very little improvements from animals that are fed high protein diets and not adequate sources of other means of fuel needed for activity.  I am pretty sure that the idea of high protein diets will make a better, faster animal is the myth that a lot of horse people are living by and do not realize the unleashed potential that may be present in their horse if they are provided what they need for the work that is expected of them.

Higher fat feeds are helpful in creating the energy needed for performance.  A good quality alfalfa and or other rich hay source is your better bet than paying the extra bucks for a high protein feed.

Babies, pregnancy, breeding, lactating mares and some senior horses benefit most from the high protein diets. 

Fat is a working horse's best friend and if you are trying to supply a thinner animal a better chance at gaining some weight...remember fat makes fat..fat is also a very much needed ingredient in the winter months to keep the energy production for body temps.

Thanks for checking in and will enjoy any comments or questions you may have 

















































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