The Benefits of a Balanced Diet

摘要

From hoof quality to athletic ability, good nutrition influences every aspect of a horse's health. Nutritional imbalances result when a horse is fed too little or too much of a nutrient. Quality forage and grain should provide the bulk of a horse's nutritional needs, but supplements also may be needed to balance a horse's ration.Many horse owners specifically choose to feed supplements with the goal of improving the quality of a horse's hooves but they might not always know the appropriate quantity of a supplement to feed. Over-supplementation and under-sup-plementation of nutrients can negatively affect a horse's hoof growth and quality, as well as the overall health of the horse. Throughout the course of regularly scheduled trimming visits, a farrier might notice some of the symptoms indicative of a nutritional imbalance. These can include: Poor, unthrifty hair coat that appears dull with hair that breaks easily, grows slowly or sheds frequently.