January 2002

Growing Horses Need Supplemented Minerals

It’s unlikely you can meet the needs of rapidly growing, pregnant or nursing mares without using a mineral supplement.

While mature, adult horses may be able ûto forgive nutritional errors, foals and brood- ûmares will definitely pay the price.

If all we had to do to keep our foals and mares sound and healthy was to feed enough to keep them in good flesh we’d have it made. Calories are easy. But it’s often the big, strapping youngsters that run into trouble with epiphysitis, or bone cysts in their stifles, or bucked shins in early training.

Poor nutrition isn’t the only cause of developmental problems, of course, but it’s a big factor—and one that is completely within your control. It’s also not enough to get aggressive about ration balancing when it’s time for creep feeds and weanling rations. Problems like OCD get their start long before the foal is born.…