Carbohydrates: Friend or Foe?

In horses, carbohydrates have gained a dubious reputation as the number-one contributor to a variety of disorders, including colic and laminitis as well as undesirable behavioral changes such as hyperactivity or nervousness. Carbs have also been fingered as being an important factor in Developmental Orthopedic Diseases (DOD), tying up, and Cushing’s Disease. Since the equine diet consists mostly of carbohydrates, though, carbs, per se, are not all bad. But it is possible to get too much of a good thing.

In order to figure out exactly what role carbohydrates should play when it comes to feeding horses, the relationship between carbohydrates and disease needs further study. In the meantime, it helps to start with information about the different types of carbohydrates, soluble and insoluble, and the basic equine digestion process.

Understanding the Digestion Process

According to Jim Ward, DVM, graduate from Texas A&M and equine nutrition consultant for Nutrena, nature designed horses to be continuous grazers. In the wild, they can forage up to 16 hours a day as they seek to satisfy their nutritional requirements.

Their stomachs, which comprise only 7 percent of the digestive tract, are designed to process small but steady amounts of feed. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid (HCI) and pepsin to break down matter rapidly, taking just 30 to 90 minutes to complete, moving it on so as to accommodate the steady stream of material entering the system.

“...it is carbohydrates . . .that provide most of fuel for equines.”

Describing the next stop in the process, Dr. Ward explains, “The small intestine measures 50 to 70 feet long. This is where the majority of the nutrients, including protein, some carbohydrates, and fat, are digested, and where many essential vitamins and minerals are absorbed. From here, most of the matter and liquids continue on to the hind-gut, known as the cecum and colon, which digests fiber (insoluble carbohydrates) and the remaining soluble carbohydrates (starches and sugars), utilizing specialized bacteria and protozoa in a fluid environment. In the large intestine or hind-gut, minerals are absorbed and many vitamins are synthesized using microbial action. Finally, the undigested material is eliminated through the rectum and anus as feces or manure.”

Understanding Carbohydrates

There are six main categories of nutrients which are necessary to a horse’s survival: water, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Aside from water, Dr. Ward points out that almost 90 percent of nutrient intake is used to provide a horse’s energy requirement. Although the densest energy forms are found in fats, it is carbohydrates, soluble and non-soluble, that provide most of fuel for equines.

Soluble Carbohydrates

Soluble carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars, provide immediate energy. The most common sources are corn, oats, barley, and molasses. Starch breaks down into simple sugars, referred to as glucose, which are absorbed by the small intestine and assimilated into the blood stream. The hormone insulin continues the process by transferring glucose to the liver and muscles, which store glucose to provide energy on demand. This energy reserve, termed glycogen, is the resource that provides the immediate power bursts essential to physical activity. Horses involved in intense anaerobic activities, such as racing, must have adequate soluble carbohydrates in their diet to maintain adequate muscle glycogen levels.