{"id":256,"date":"2017-07-18T15:28:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T15:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runningcool.com.au\/?p=256"},"modified":"2023-02-01T15:30:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T15:30:15","slug":"the-role-of-nutrition-on-horse-behaviour-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningcool.com.au\/2017\/07\/18\/the-role-of-nutrition-on-horse-behaviour-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Nutrition on Horse Behaviour: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Creating a diet for your horse begins by assessing their age, breed, workload and overall health. But, what about when your horse\u2019s feed ration is unbalanced, leading to unexpected and unwanted behaviours?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our new series on the role of nutrition on horse behaviour, we explore this further\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every horse is an individual and your horse\u2019s diet should be specifically formulated for them. It\u2019s important you continue to pay attention to their nutrition
throughout life as their caloric needs may change \u2013 at different times of year, when their workload increases and as they age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encountering unexpected \u2013 and certainly unwanted \u2013 behaviours can be challenging. While some behaviours are mild, such as difficulty when tacking up, other
behaviours can be downright dangerous, like rearing, bucking and spooking under saddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a horse owner, it\u2019s important you don\u2019t jump to any conclusions too quickly. Your horse isn\u2019t necessarily trying to be \u201cstubborn\u201d or \u201cnasty\u201d; in fact,
they\u2019re often trying to tell you an important message \u2013 and it\u2019s up to each of us to listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, unexpected behaviours can be linked to a number of causes. Before making any changes to your horse\u2019s diet, you should have them assessed by your
veterinarian to ensure pain or an underlying health problem isn\u2019t the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these possibilities have already been eliminated, it\u2019s time to consider their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet and Workload<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of your horse\u2019s diet is to supply them with the energy and nutrients they need. When considering your horse\u2019s caloric requirements, you must
first evaluate their workload. As your horse\u2019s workload increases from light, to moderate, to strenuous, they\u2019ll require more energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are two common reasons for unexpected behaviours that can be linked to diet and workload. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n