Cavalor: Horses and sugar

Every horse needs sugar. For overall health and certainly for performance. Sugar provides the energy that muscles need to work properly. Without sugar, there is no performance. In normal amounts, sugars are not a problem for healthy horses. Too much sugar is not good for anyone. It's all about balance.   

Every ration contains sugar. Even a ration in which horses only get roughage because sugars are found in grass, all kinds of roughage and concentrate. Sugars are a collection of carbohydrates. Starch, for instance, is also a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are the largest and natural source of energy for horses. 

What's the real deal with sugar and horse feed?  
The horse's body converts sugar (carbohydrates) into energy, it does this in several ways. Sugar consists of fructose and glucose. Fructose is processed by the liver and glucose is absorbed into the blood. Glucose is the fuel for muscles. So, we know that horses need sugars to have sufficient energy during exercise.  

Sugars themselves are therefore not dangerous for horses. On the contrary, it is very logical and natural to have carbohydrates in your horse's ration. But an excess of sugars can cause health problems. So, the most important thing is: do not give your horse more energy than he consumes. 

Where does a horse get sugar from  
A major source of sugars for horses are the grains in the concentrate feed. These are full of starch, which is converted to glucose. Another source of sugar from concentrate is molasses, depending on how much is added (5-10%), they can contribute as a source of glucose. Roughage is another source that contains sugar.  

Most of your horse's ration consists of roughage. Roughage also contains sugars and starch, something often forgotten in the quest for a 'low sugar' ration. Basically, horses get their basic requirement of sugars through roughage.  

For many horses, extra sugars are not needed during normal exercise. But if a horse has to perform sports, supplementation via concentrate may be necessary. And for top sport performance, supplementation via concentrate is essential.    

Feed your horse a maximum of 2 g of sugar and starch per kg body weight, per meal. And do not give your horse more energy than it consumes.  

How much sugar can a horse eat  
Most port horses can safely eat a certain amount of sugars and starches. In fact, they need this energy source to perform. Research shows that 1-2 g, per kg body weight, per meal can be easily digested in the small intestine without causing problems. So, converted for a healthy horse, of 600 kg, that is a maximum of 1.2 kg of sugar and starch per meal of concentrate.   

It is important to realise that a horse can ingest quite a lot of nutrients without causing problems. But digestion takes time, so give the small intestine time to absorb all the nutrients, including sugars and starches, in a healthy way. You do this by feeding smaller amounts several times in one day.  

For example: (hay - concentrate - hay - concentrate and hay again). 
 

When to worry about sugars  
For a healthy horse, there is no need to worry about sugars. Simply ensure that energy intake equals energy requirements.   
Which horses benefit from a ration that is low in sugars:  

• Horses suffering from recurrent gastrointestinal problems such as stomach ulcers, colic and diarrhoea. 
• Horses with metabolic problems such as:  

             - Insulin dysregulation  
             - Obesity  
             - Osteoporosis  
             - EMS, and  
             - Muscle diseases (PSSM, RER)  

Obesity and related metabolic disorders, such as laminitis, are usually caused by excessive amounts of sugars, in relation to the amount of exercise the horse gets. So, these horses are not only helped by food low in sugars, but also need more exercise! 

Spring grass and fructan  
It's spring again and that means most horses are getting back into the field. Grass naturally contains fructan, a type of sugar stored in the grass plant. In principle, fructan in a normal amount is not dangerous for healthy horses. But horses that are sensitive to sugar can be quite bothered by it. It is only partially absorbed in the small intestine. The other part passes through to the large intestine where it is fermented by bacteria. A by-product of this is lactic acid. Large amounts of lactic acid lower the pH of the colon. This causes all kinds of problems that are mainly harmful to the healthy bacteria and this in turn can cause laminitis.   

Fructan usually accumulates in the lower part of the grass plant, just slightly above the soil. Grass that is quite short (due to overgrazing, for example) is therefore not favourable, as this contains the most sugars. 

Advice from Cavalor - products low in sugars  
Cavalor FiberForce - for sensitive horses  
Cavalor FiberForce is high in fibre and contains only 5% starch and 3% sugar, making it ideal for sensitive horses.  

Cavalor FiberForce Gastro - for horses sensitive to gastric ulcers  
Cavalor Fiberforce Gastro is an extra high-fibre and tasty muesli - with acid buffers to neutralise stomach acid. 

Cavalor Silhouette - for horses that need to lose weight and for easy keepers (horses that gain weight quickly and are prone to I.R.)  
Cavalor Silhouette is a fibre- and protein-rich feed for healthy weight while maintaining muscle mass. Cavalor Silhouette is ideal for ponies and cold horses that gain weight easily and horses that are overweight. Cavalor Silhouette is low in sugar and starch but high in protein.