Question

I am feeding fortified forage pellets that contain corn to my herd of Quarter Horses that I use for roping. A few are prone to tying-up and do so when fed these forage pellets. I know I need to raise their energy for work and for weight maintenance. What can I feed them? Any ideas?

Answer

Forage pellets are a popular way to feed high-quality forage to horses, especially in the western United States. Corn is likely added to the pellets to boost energy, but as you probably suspected, it’s likely the starch-laden corn that is inciting the tying-up episodes.

I would suggest going to your feed manufacturer and asking if another pellet is available, one that does not contain corn. Many manufacturers will have an alfalfa-grass blend that contains fortification without starch-rich cereal grains. From a nutritional standpoint, this reduction in cereal grain consumption is an important first step for managing tying-up.

Because these horses are in work and need more energy, you should probably look into alternative energy sources. The first one that comes to mind is fat, and it can be provided to the horse several ways. Apart from feeding a fat- and fiber-rich concentrate, the addition of soy oil is probably the most popular way to add calories through fat. Horses find it palatable, and it can be drizzled over the forage pellets. It might be difficult to get sufficient oil into the horse in this fashion, considering a goodly portion of it might end up in the bottom of the feed trough. Oil can also be poured over any long-stem forage that’s being offered. Supplemental calories from fat may also be derived from the addition of stabilized rice bran or flax.

Supplemental vitamin E would also be a worthy addition to these horses’ rations. Because of its antioxidant properties, natural-source vitamin E is a robust cell protectant that seems especially helpful in horses with myopathies such as tying-up. When choosing a vitamin E supplement, select one that is natural, as these are scientifically proven to be absorbed more efficiently than synthetic versions.

Tying-up is a broad term, and feeding strategies for your horses might differ depending on the cause of the disease. For a review of the various forms of tying up, go here.  More management tips are included here.

Working with an equine nutritionist as well as a veterinarian to work out the diet that is best for your horses will ensure their comfort and will help maximize their performance.