Wellington Equestrian cover Feb - March

While your pastures are improving, it is important to supplement the diet. Most
horses I have found, at least in the eastern US, are calcium deficient. Typically, soils
in the western United States contain more calcium – which is why the buffalo
once flourished there and not in the east. Tremendous calcium is needed for the
buffalo’s huge bones. For many years now, ring neck pheasant have not grown in
the southeaster United States either, simply because there is not enough calcium
in the soil to support their egg shells. Most horses have plenty of phosphorus in
their diets, so I don’t worry too much about balancing the calcium to phosphorous
ratio. An exception would be older horses, which occasionally can use more
phosphorus.
The answer to perfect pastures is simple – do not use fertilizer and if you do, use
liquid, non salt types, plenty of lime for the pasture and keep a bucket full of
NATURAL salt and minerals readily available to your horses at all times! Consider
the use of crude unrefined essential fatty acids because horses today just can’t get
them naturally and because they are so important to overall health.
One final suggestion: If your horse does not have access to grass, such as in the
winter, or if the grass if poor, always supplement with Beta Carotene. Green grass
generally provided plenty of Beta Carotene (vitamin A, by the way, is not enough)
but hay provides hardly any. Beta Carotene is crucial for reproductive health,
lactation, immune function and hundreds of other benefits. I believe it too, will be
considered “essential” in the future.
“All horses especially those pastured horses must have access to loose (preferably
naturally sourced) salt and minerals at all times! In my humble opinion, our
#1 most-provided product RED CAL, is the single most healthy thing you can give
your horse to prevent problems. Just hang a bucket on a fence post and make
sure there is always some in it.”
Dr. Dan Moore [DVM] TheNaturalHorseVet.com