Going “Grain-Free”

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A Working Horse Experiment

Excuse my seemingly irrelevant segue into the “grain-free” topic for this blog post, but here it goes. Over the years, I’ve played with my own diet, always looking for the most optimal fuel sources to make me look and feel my best. Coupled with an active lifestyle, I’ve sought after “super foods” that would somehow transform me both physically and mentally. Through the years of experimenting, I’ve brewed my own milk kefir, followed egg fasts and intermittent fasting, consumed enough blue berries to turn blue and enough flaxseed to sprout into a flax tree (is that a thing?) all the while trying every diet lifestyle imaginable (vegan, vegetarian, paleo, keto, etc.). Don’t get me wrong, I’m a foodie at heart, and know I can’t live off kale smoothies and boiled eggs alone. So through my research and trial-and-error, I’ve finally settled into (keywords here) a doable AND sustainable diet that satisfies both my foodie heart and my demanding cross-fit and horsey ventures. This diet has kept me within the range of my goal weight while giving me the energy, clarity and fuel that I need to power through a workout (we’re about to talk about horses, I promise!). So, here it is. Low carb, flexible dieting.

“Research shows that refined carbs cause inflammation in the body. It’s similar to added sugars because nothing slows their breakdown. They hit your bloodstream quickly and spike your blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar creates an inflammatory response.”

What’s more, horses are prone to suffer from a number of inflammatory diseases throughout their lives. Therefore, why am I facilitating the predisposition of these inflammatory responses by pumping my horse full of highly refined, high carb grains?

Here is a  bit of background on our subject, Deutschmark. Deutsch is my 9 year old Oldenburg gelding, and is competing 3rd level dressage and schooling up to Prix St. George. He’s ridden on average 4 days per week, with most sessions lasting up to an hour of high-level work (with appropriate warmups and cool downs). While he always gives me 110% (with the occasional attitude) during our rides, it is not necessarily his performance or energy levels that are prompting this experiment. I will always think he is the most beautiful horse on earth, but even I have struggled with his external appearance as of late. He’s not skinny by any means at around 1400 lbs and is nicely muscled with a good topline. My biggest quarrel is with his dry, patchy coat and his “dandruffy”, fungus-prone skin. He looks a mess (conformation picture posted at the end). A bit more background on his current situation, but we are just coming out of winter here in North Georgia. Obviously winters are hard on horses anywhere, but for my dressage horse whom I groom daily, feed (what I thought) was a good diet and exercise, I am APPALLED at how he looks. So here goes my reasons for waning him off from his 2X scoops of sweet feed grain per day.

Horses, as we know, are grazers. They have relatively tiny stomachs and are meant to eat small amounts of high-fiber forage over long periods of time. The pH of a horse’s stomach is quite acidic and their slow grazing mechanisms allows for their slightly alkaline saliva to help buffer the acidity in their stomachs. When we dump large quantities of sweet feed into their bowls, they’re more than happy to scarf it down, resulting in a spike of excess acid produced in the hindgut. Acidity plays a huge role in both horses and humans in breaking down food, but the irregular surges in acidity create excessive fermentation and gas in the hindgut which can lead to long-term inflammatory issues within the body (i.e., gastric ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, laminitis, diarrhea, colic, etc.). Along the same lines, we have to think about how those carbs and resulting acid and inflammation are then affecting the largest organ of them all; the skin.

A horse’s skin, much like our own, respond poorly to foods high on the glycemic index (another vain reason I myself have written off carbs, sugar and most processed foods!). Common complaints from horse owners who feed a high carb diet include dull coats that lack luster and shine, while weakened immune systems affect their horse’s natural ability to combat topical diseases which results in fungal infections such as rainrot, scratches and bouts of itchy and bumpy dermatitis. So it’s no wonder my beautiful boy looks patchy, uneven and rough, and while I partially blame myself, I am now turning to blame the “sport” feeds that are touted to boost endurance, performance and optimal skin and coat health (much like many of the “health” foods even in the human food industry, hello protein bars!).

So let’s take a look at the ingredients in your regular run-of-the-mill sweet feeds, which typically includes oats, corn, barley, salt, and molasses. The high sugar and starch content of these foods are the culprit for that surge of glucose in the blood, which can not only create a “hot” horse in the interim, but will ultimately lead to a crash, leaving your horse feeling fatigued, and in some cases, can cause them to stop producing glucose normally. For instance, think about a kid after eating too much ice cream, and while that immediate surge of sugar will send them into a youthful euphoria, it’s quickly met with a not-so-pleasant drop in glucose, leaving them grouchy with an upset tummy and in desperate need of a nap (sorry parents). So for my giant 1400 lb. kid, my horse not only looks bad with his patchy coat and dry skin, but he probably doesn’t feel as good as he otherwise should.

While I do think there can be benefits to feeding high-performance feeds in the interim (perhaps in efforts to spur weight gain) I’m 99.99% confident that going grain-free, the correct way and with proper mineral supplementation, will increase health markers for the majority of working horses. So this begins my journey for slowly phasing my horse, and his giant sweet tooth, off from his sticky, sugar laden barn grain. Unfortunately my horse is an extremely picky eater, so I’m prepared to transition him by slowly reducing his normal ration of sweet feed and supplementing with mixed in forage type pellets (alfalfa pellets, beet pulp shreds and coconut meal pellets). In addition to his AM/PM feedings of (eventually) straight forage pellets, I will be feeding him free choice fescue hay with 2-3 flakes of straight alfalfa. I should also note that my horse is turned out for 14-16 hours at night, and is currently eating the new spring grass (which is also full of sugar). So while I’m fortunate to have him eating the best source of natural forage possible for the majority of the day, I plan to give him free choice, slow grazing quality hay with a mineral block in addition to his 2x day forage pellet feedings while he’s in his stall during the day.

Step #1 – pull out the credit card! I stopped by Tractor Supply this morning to load up on gourmet compressed hay, alfalfa pellets and ration balancers, so today will be day #1 of the “grain-free” challenge, whether he likes it or not… My first rated USDF dressage show is on May 1st (just short of 2 ½ months from now) so my goal is to have him looking show ready and feeling his best. I know any such long-term benefits will require more time, but I am particularly interested in monitoring any changes in his hoof health. I plan on taking weekly pictures of his progress, starting with the below body conformation shot of him today (March 15th). As you can see, he’s missing some hair (hello blanket rubs) and has discolored patches of hair from scratches and healing bouts of winter bumps and dryness. I’ll be monitoring any changes in his weight, conformation and energy levels during exercise and will make any adjustments as needed as we go along.

So in conclusion, if my horse improves from the grain-free experiment, then I’ll need to find ways to make it affordable, and similar to my own diet, sustainable and doable. It does all circle back to my own experiences with food, and if we ourselves make conscious food choices for our own health, vitality and performance, then how can we be so unattuned when it comes to our horses food and overall wellbeing? I realize I’m guilty here, but hope to make some diet changes through proper research and supplementation that will give my wonderful friend a longer and more comfortable life. I’ll share more on the exact products and feed supplements in the blog posts to come.

Stay tuned!

March 15th – Day 1 Grain Free Challenge

*** Disclaimer, as always, we recommend to always consult your veterinarian on any dietary or supplementation needs your horse may require! 

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Sweet Itch

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What is Sweet Itch?

Sweet itch is the lay man’s term for Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD).  Simply defined, sweet itch is the allergic reaction horses develop to the Saliva of Culicoides midge, the biting gnat. Most people refer to the biting gnat as “no-see-ums.”  Biting gnats are quite troublesome and they are active between April and October. You will mostly find them in places where water is stagnant such as marshes and ponds.  They can go as far as half a mile in search of a good meal.  Biting gnats usually disappear in the winter period provided the temperate is cold enough. As such, those who want to buy horses around this time should be aware of the risk of buying horses that has already been infected with sweet itch. 

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Neck Threadworm

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What is Neck Threadworm?

If you read through any moxidectin or ivermectin based wormer packet you will find a long list of parasites written on the pack.  No doubt, you will find the words Onchocerca cervicalis inscribed neatly towards the end. In lay man’s term, Onchocerca cervicalis is known as neck tthreadworm.  Neck threadworm is as long as a ruler; yes it’s that long and surprisingly, it’s secret to habitat is the nuchal ligament of a horse. Neck threadworm runs through the length of the neck, covering from the poll to the withers with its flat ligament part attached to the cervical vertebrae.

Neck threadworm is a parasitic filarial worm that produces many hundreds of larva in its lifetime which is said to be ten years. The larvae are deposited in the horse’s skin, around the chest, shoulders, head, mane and tail, and the mid line of the belly. The adult worm finds its resting place in the nuchal ligament of the horse.

Neck threadworm affects almost, if not all horses. Though it affects most horses, neck threadworm doesn’t pose a risk for all horses. This is to say that neck threadworms are not a problem for all horses but for those that react badly to their microscopic larvae. This reaction is known as Onchocerciasis. Horses that are affected by this condition experience itching around the chest, neck, head, underside of the belly and the shoulders. This is why horse owners jump to the conclusion that their horses suffer from sweet itch when they observe these symptoms.

Much attention isn’t given to neck threadworms by horse owners because they are assumed to be itch and because they do not live in the intestine. Sadly, this problem is on a rampage as most horses are affected and it’s quite unfortunate for horses who are kept in warmer and humid climates as they are more prone to it.

The Culicoides fly is the biting insect that carries this parasite and that’s why neck threadworm is often confused with sweet itch or Queensland itch.

DOES YOUR HORSE HAVE NECK THREADWORMS OR SWEET ITCH?

Since neck threadworms are often confused with sweet itch, it’s important to identify which is affecting your horse so you can take the right treatment measures.
If your horse is experiencing itching;

  • It could be that your horse is suffering from sweet itch or whatever it is called in your area and is just reacting to the saliva of the insect.
    It could be that your horse has neck threadworm and that has affected his immune system and increased his sensitivity to fly bites. In this case, neck threadworm has triggered sweet itch as a secondary response.

It could be that your horse has neck threadworms considering that he is rubbing the base of it’s mane, along the mane, down the ventral line that is under the belly, under the chest and around the face and neck.

HOW TO IDENTIFY NECK THREADWORMS IN YOUR HORSE

Identifying neck threadworms can be somewhat confusing for horse owners considering that other parasites cause itching and skin lesions.

Horse owners are familiar with the widely known summer sores caused by Habronema.

In this case, flies lay their larvae on open cuts which then remain open until the cut is washed and larvae are removed. This condition is easy to tell as infected cuts oozes out bloody fluids.

This isn’t the case with neck threadworms.

Besides sweet itch, neck threadworm is also confused with Threadworm.

Threadworm is caused by the parasite Strongyloides westeri which infects foals. The clinical signs of these other parasitic infections are somewhat clear – this begs the question, how do horse owners identify neck threadworms in horses?

Studies show that neck threadworms have a distinct life cycle and it’s presentation depends on the horse.

It might come off as itching in the underside of the neck in a horse A or come off as itching the front of the withers in horse B. Even so, a horse that has never experienced itching before may start itching his face furiously.

All these are early signs of neck threadworms and are usually recognized by the owner only that they are confused as sweet itch.

Other signs of neck threadworms to look out for include weeping spots, a scaly crest at the mane as a result of rubbing, and small lumps that form on the horse’s face and neck and along the underside.

Then check the base of the man just outside the withers as that’s the focal point of neck threadworms.

Also you can consult a veterinarian to collect a simple skin biopsy from any affected area.  The skin biopsy is now left in warm saline and the presence of Microfilariae can be checked with microscope.

WHAT ARE THE TREATED OPTIONS?

Medicated Shampoo and Neem Oil Skin Lotion to the rescue! Neem Oil Shampoo and Neem Oil have been proven to relieve the symptoms.

A Neem Oil Skin Lotion works by stopping cycle of the larva thereby reducing the itching and leaving the affected area unappetizing to the culicoides. This promotes healing in the skin.

Experts strongly advise that horse owners deal with the neck threadworm internally by using ivermectin wormer.

After all, you will find neck threadworm on the packet of ivermectin

Ensure you consult your veterinarian to advise the recommended dosage and frequency of usage. Most veterinarians recommend the use of injectable ivermectin.

While the adult neck threadworm that lives in the nuchal ligament cannot be killed, the larvae can be killed. This is why it’s crucial for you to look out for the early signs so you can begin treatment before the larvae grow into adults.

 

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Mane and Tail Itching

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Wondering why your horses mane and tail looks a little rough and not as shiny and healthy as it did before?  Most horse owners would love for their own favorite pal to have a luxurious, thick, long, beautiful and shiny mane and tail. Some horse owners will even go to great lengths to make their horse’s mane and tail look and remain beautiful. It doesn’t matter that you have great dreams for your horse, don’t be surprised when you walk to the barn to find your horse’s tail worn and tattered from itching and rubbing. 

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Ringworm

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Ringworm which is otherwise known as dermatophytosis is a skin infection caused by the dermatophyte fungus. The dermatophyte fungus infects dead tissue that are present on the superficial layers of the skin and spreads quickly. The fungus spores then starts to eat away the hair, slowing causing bald patches that widens up. 

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Winter Sheath Cleaning

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PSA from your geldings (and studs)!

Winter is upon us, and for many horse owners, that means we stop bathing and cleaning all the ‘nooks and crannies’ of our 4 legged fellas. However, winter is a prime time for your guys not to fully ‘drop’ while urinating which can lead to a build-up of dried urine, skin cells, sweat and bacteria. This accumulation of build-up can quickly lead to swelling, discomfort and potential bacterial or fungal infections. …

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Dandruff and Hair Loss

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Now it’s that period of the year where we hold on to the last days of summer before we are ushered into the crisp days of fall. In the fall season, the humidity is on the high side leaving your horse dehydrated and the temperature reduced at night. The insects in your horse’s barn are aware that the fall season is coming and their time is coming to an end. So they spend their remaining time irritating your favorite horse. Before you know what’s going on, your favorite horse has got dandruff everywhere on her body. 

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Scratches

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Now it’s that period of the year where we hold on to the last days of summer before we are ushered into the crisp days of fall. In the fall season, the humidity is on the high side which sadly also contributes to skin issues such as scratches in horses. Scratches is a common skin condition that affects horses and it taggers the fetlock, the back of the pastern, the heel and in rare cases the cannon bone. Some veterinarians refer to scratches as pastern folliculitis or pastern dermatitis. Scratches is also called cracked heels, greasy heel, mud fever or dew poisoning.

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Canon Crud

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If you look closely at the hind cannon bones of 5 in 10 horses, chances are you will find patches of grey greasy dirt scattered on the front. In lay man’s term, these patches are referred to Cannon crud. If we go by the medical term, it’s called CANNON KERATOSIS. Most horse owners mistake these patches of grey dirt as fungal infection or splash of urine on the hind legs of there horses. Cannon crud is neither a fungal infection or a presentation of urine splashes, it’s actually the aftermath of excess production of keratin in the horse.

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Rain Rot

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What is Rain Rot?

Rain rot which is otherwise known as Rain Scald is one of the skin infections that affects horses. Rain rot is caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis. Although rain rot is one of the common skin infections that affects horses, it isn’t as severe as it looks. The down side is it takes time for hair to grow on the affected parts that has experienced hair loss. Not to worry, at we provide a simple yet effective and painless treatment method to combat this common horse infection. 

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