Is Just Hay Enough?
Q.
Both of my mature mares are very easy
keepers and are holding their weight
well on grass hay this winter in the Mid-Atlantic
Region. They have access to a mineral block as well. I
feed a few supplements for specific problems. Do I
need a vitamin/mineral supplement? They both look
fantastic. I don’t test my hay, mainly because I pick up
a new supply every two weeks and the source varies,
though it’s always a timothy/orchard grass mix.
A.
Because you live in the MidAtlantic Region (eastern United
States), there is a likelihood that your forage
will be deficient in selenium and low in copper and zinc.
do not find them, then it may be good to
either add a vitamin/mineral supplement or
find a mineral block that is designed specifically for horses with those added minerals,
particularly the selenium.
Whether you need a vitamin/mineral supplement will depend on what the horses
are consuming in the other supplements. If
you check the other supplements for those
minerals, particularly the mineral block, and
The mineral blocks or loose minerals designed for horses oftentimes are very high
in mineral and low in salt (<25%), so it is
helpful to offer white salt with it, either
block or loose.
A one-on-one consultation with an equine
nutritionist in your area will help you determine if your mares need an additional
source of vitamins and minerals.
Courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research
O ctober / N o v ember 2015
Miniature Horse World 155