Horse Feed For Starving/Neglected Horses. Horse Feed strategies by Amy M Gill, PhD

Horse Feed Strategies For the Starved or Neglected Horse: Rehabilitating A Starved Horse.
by Amy M Gill, PhD

Lately, more and more stories of starved and neglected horses are appearing in the media. Whether there is just more media attention or it is actually happening with more frequency is unknown but certainly the down economy plays a role in the ability of some owners to provide their horses with suitable horse feed. Are starved horses usually due to neglect? Yes and no. Starvation is not a physical ailment unless the horse has a pathological condition that is causing it to lose weight rapidly. Horses that have ample space to free range, like the BLM horses that have not been captured, will walk 50-60 miles per day to find food sources and maintain body condition. It is only horses that are kept in captivity and then not provided enough horse feed that become starved.

I have had my own personal experience with a neglected horse that had to be re-fed very carefully. I took a horse named Marcus Aurelius from Fairmount Park in Illinois that had been racing and was a very low body score. He was probably a 4 on a scale of 0-9. It took 6 months of turn out and no stress for him to finally start to gain weight and then could go back into work. He turned out to be a flawless individual, great conformation, good mind and very talented as an eventer.

The amount of time it typically takes for a horse to be considered starved – to go from appropriate weight to starved - varies depending on how much or how little horse feed is supplied and the physiological state of the horse. A horse that is working, gestating, lactating or growing will become emaciated faster than a pleasure horse or inactive stallion.

The obvious outward signs of a starved horse are easy to recognize: lack of condition and fat deposition. Protruding, back bone, hips and ribs are clear signs of starvation. None of these should ever be visible and only slightly palpable.

The first step in rehabilitating a starved horse is to have a qualified veterinarian perform a thorough evaluation of the horse and collect blood to determine if there is any organ failure occurring. Rehydration with fluid and electrolyte therapy may be the very first thing that the horse receives nutritionally. Once the horse is rehydrated, it may need to be fed with a naso-gastric tube if it is unable or unwilling to eat. If the horse will eat, very small, frequent meals of good quality forage are recommended for quite some time. No feed is recommended until the horse is eating normally and gaining weight. Even then, a senior horse feed is most suitable as they generally contain more soluble fiber and fat and very little starch. Starches from grains are hard for horses to digest and should be very gradually reintroduced into the diet only after the horse is gaining weight and starting to look good again. These horses may be best suited to remain on a senior diet the rest of their lives, regardless of the age. Triple Crown Senior, with the higher fat level compared to other senior feeds, has excelled for starved horses. Always provide white salt and ample fresh water.

For horses that have been neglected and are very thin, a senior feed or all fiber feed (without corn, oats or barley) is still recommended. Weight should be added back slowly.

Re-feeding syndrome can occur if the horse is fed too many calories too quickly which can lead to heart failure, respiratory and kidney failure within 3-5 days after feeding commences. These medical issues are a result of electrolyte imbalances that are caused by the sudden reintroduction of soluble carbohydrates and other nutrients into the body, which in turn causes a shift in hormones involved in normal metabolism which causes a drop in the electrolyte concentration in the blood.

How quickly the horse recovers depends on many factors including age, physical ailments but generally speaking a minimum of 6 months rehabilitation should be expected. During the rehabilitation process, it is best for the horse to have minimal stress. If the horse prefers to be alone, keep it separated. If it frets being alone, find a suitable buddy. Once they have gained sufficient weight and are able to defend themselves, starved horses can be reintroduced to the herd, but be sure the horse is not forced to eat fast or worry about food at all. Low stress is the key to relaxation and rehabilitation. Lots of love and attention will also help heal the psychological damage that has occurred as a result of severe neglect.