{"id":276,"date":"2017-05-04T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-04T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runningcool.com.au\/?p=276"},"modified":"2023-02-01T15:37:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T15:37:44","slug":"formulating-your-horses-diet-part-2-fibre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningcool.com.au\/2017\/05\/04\/formulating-your-horses-diet-part-2-fibre\/","title":{"rendered":"Formulating Your Horse\u2019s Diet: Part 2 \u2013 Fibre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nutrition is a fundamental part of your horse\u2019s health, wellbeing and performance. In this new series, we discuss the components of correct nutrition to help you formulate a healthy, well-balanced diet for your performance horse or pony.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Part 1, we examined two of the most commonly overlooked ingredients that are vital to sustaining performance \u2013 vitamins and minerals. Now, we turn our attention to the importance of fibre.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a gastrointestinal tract capable of digesting large amounts of fibre, fibre should be the foundation of your horse\u2019s diet. Not only does fibre provide them with energy, chewing and digesting fibrous feeds safeguards your horse from a number of health problems, including colic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, what exactly is fibre? And, where is it found?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibre<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin, fibre is the cell wall material of plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibre is fermented in the hindgut of your horse, where the microbial population converts it into utilisable energy. Without energy, your horse\u2019s ability
to perform is inhibited, and they may also encounter weight loss or difficulty gaining weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feed choices with the highest sources of dietary fibre are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n