Q: How do I know if my horse gets enough protein? I have had my saddle fitted recently, and am working with a trainer, but my gelding still struggles to develop his topline. I am starting to think it might be related to his diet. What can I check and potentially change to support him better?
A: Protein, or more specifically, essential amino acid content in the diet can play a critical role in a horse’s ability to develop and maintain topline muscle. You should consider the amount of crude protein in the diet, the quality of the protein, and the calories in your horse’s feed. When a horse’s diet does not provide adequate protein or calories, he will struggle to develop and maintain muscle mass. To evaluate your horse’s diet, consider two primary areas: forage and concentrate feeds.
Evaluating Forage Quality for Horses
Hay and pasture generally make up the bulk of a horse’s diet. With hay, the only way to know the protein content is to send a sample for laboratory analysis. This can guide you in deciding which type of concentrate best meets your horse’s nutritional requirements and complements what the hay lacks. The recommended crude protein content of hay is about 8-10% for mature horses at maintenance or in light work and 12-14% for working horses.
When pasture serves as the primary forage source, evaluate its health. If pasture grass is less than 4 inches tall and weedy, you will need to supplement with hay. Ideally, manage pastures to control weeds and allow horses to graze when plant height is about 6 inches. Identifying the plant species in the pasture can also be helpful. For example, does the pasture contain only grasses, or does it contain legumes such as alfalfa and clover, too? Legumes have higher protein content than many grasses. Your local extension specialist can help you assess your pasture.
If forage quality is poor, improving it can be challenging because sourcing a different hay or altering pasture management might not be an option. In those cases you can use processed fiber products such as hay cubes or pellets to improve the overall forage quality in the ration.
Feeding Concentrate at the Right Rate
Once you know what the forage provides, evaluate the horse’s concentrate. When feeding your horse a concentrate, first check the manufacturer’s recommended feeding rate. Horse owners commonly feed concentrates below the recommended rate, resulting in nutrient deficiencies in horses. If this is the case with your horse’s feed, you can either increase the ration to the recommended amount or add a ration balancer.
Feeding a ration balancer at the manufacturer’s recommended rate for your horse’s weight and workload is one of the best ways to ensure your horse consumes adequate high-quality protein. Ration balancers fill the nutritional gaps left by hay; they provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and protein.
If your horse struggles to maintain topline, look for a ration balancer that also guarantees amounts of the first three limiting amino acids: lysine, methionine, and threonine.
Don’t Overlook Calories
Although protein and amino acid content of the ration is often the primary focus when discussing topline, adequate calorie intake is also important. If your horse needs additional calories, choose a source that also provides high-quality protein such as alfalfa cubes or pellets. Regularly body condition scoring your horse can help you decide if he is receiving the appropriate number of calories in his diet. If you’re unsure about your horse’s calorie needs, consult a qualified equine nutritionist.
When to Consider an Amino Acid Supplement
If your horse’s feed program meets his nutrient requirements, including providing adequate calories, you could incorporate an amino acid supplement to. This would boost his lysine, methionine, and threonine intake to support topline development.
Take-Home Message
Many factors influence a horse’s ability to maintain topline muscle, but proper nutritional management remains central. Start by evaluating your forage quality and ensure you’re feeding concentrate at the recommended rate. Once that’s squared away, you can consider an amino acid supplement for additional support.