Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hi Samantha,
Draft horses are particularly prone to developing Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM). Horses with this disorder are not able to get adequate energy from carbohydrates which are mainly found in grains, sweet feeds, and pelleted feeds. A diet that is high in fat and protein, rather than carbohydrates, has been known to prevent the signs of ESPM.
Having said that, (since your question didn’t really deal with ESPM), draft horses, like all horses, should be fed diets that are high in fiber and low in starch. Protein, as long as it is of high quality, is beneficial. A protein level of 12 to 14 percent is adequate, but keep in mind that protein found in grass hay is of poor quality. To improve the protein quality, you can add a legume hay (such as alfalfa) or soybean meal to the diet.
Draft horses, due to their mere size, have large energy needs. They likely will not be able to obtain all the calories they need from hay. So, choose a low starch pelleted feed to supplement the forage, for the best approach.
Thank you for writing.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
