FROM THE TRAILER TO THE TRAIL: TIPS FOR FEEDING STORY BY KATHLEEN CRANDELL, PHD • PHOTOS BY BOBBIE JO WEBER When preparing for a trip
with your horses, whether it is for an endurance compe-
tition, pleasurable weekend trail ride or an extended
pack trip in the backcoun- try, dietary choices are
important considerations. Te equine digestive tract
is sensitive to changes in the diet, and abrupt changes can put a horse at risk for
colic or other gastrointes- tinal complications. Feed-
ing your horse on the road and trail requires careful
planning. While grazing is still the best way to feed
the trail horse, forages and feeds now come in forms that are convenient and safe if fed properly. Work-
ing through the options can be daunting, but a system- atic approach can take the intimidation out of the task.
42 | June 2012 •
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Tis ideal campsite offers natural grazing and a secure spot to set up por- table fencing the night before an endurance ride. Tese horses are also fed a “slurpy” mash with beet pulp, complete feed, vitamins and elec- trolytes along with a combination of grass hay and alfalfa.
FEEDING STRATEGIES FOR AN UPCOMING TRIP ✿Starting 10-14 days before the trip, gradually adapt the horse to the type of feed he will be fed at camp. Tis can be done by slowly switching over to the complete travel diet or by adding a litle of whatever is going to be offered at the ride into the current ration. Perhaps the horse is on pasture at home but will only have access to hay and grain on the ride, so offer a small grain meal and some hay on a daily basis. Tis will give the microbial population in the hindgut time to adjust to the differ- ent fiber sources, and it will trigger the enzymes in the small intestine to increase production for proper digestion of the grains.
✿Give the horse time to acquire a taste for feeds in unfamiliar forms. Alternative forms of forages, such as chopped, cubed or pelleted forage, can be the most convenient to pack for the trip, but they may be alien to the horse. Even if alfalfa hay is fed at home, if alfalfa cubes are going to make up a major portion of the meals on the trip, then offer some in the weeks leading up to the trip. Some horses are not fond of alfalfa pellets and must acquire a taste for them. Start by mixing just a few pellets into the grain ration and then gradually increase the quantity over the next few meals.
✿Accustom the horse to feeds of different textures if they are to be used on the trip. If your horse is unfamiliar with wet feed, for example, but will get every meal wet on the trip, start dampening the horse’s meals at home a week or two before the trip.
✿Add any new supplements to the feed during this acclimation period. Tis is es- pecially important if electrolytes will be offered on the trip. Be sure the horse is completely accepting of electrolyte supplementation before leaving for the trip.
✿If a change in water really affects a horse, there are two options: carry enough water from home to cover the whole time you are away, or accustom the horse to water with
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