What foods will help support his recovery?
Q
My horse has just been off with a serious virus that made him lose his appetite. He’s eating again now, but small infrequent amounts. What can I feed to help boost his immunity again and give him some strength and energy back? Michelle Davis, Lancashire
A
Time is an important factor when recovering from injury or illness, so be patient and don’t rush his recovery. However, there are a few things you can do diet- and nutrition-wise to support him during this time. You are right to stick to small meals, spread evenly throughout the day. To encourage him to eat up, add some of his favourite succulents. As well as apples and carrots, some horses love bananas or a selection of root vegetables. Mixing in apple juice or molasses may also help, or you could try the spice fenugreek, which has been shown to be a favourite with horses.
Mix it up
A variety of forage may also be a good idea; try using hay, haylage or a short-chopped hay replacer to encourage fibre intake. Soaked fibre feed is not only a valuable source of fibre, but it also has the added benefit of promoting water intake, which is important during box rest. In the early stages of recovery, while your horse’s workload is still reduced, it’s best to keep his diet based on fibre with minimal levels of cereal starch. If extra condition is required, opt for oil as it’s calorie dense and will reduce the risk of digestive upsets, tying up and excitable behaviour. Whichever compound feed you choose, give the recommended amount to meet your horse’s nutritional requirements. If he doesn’t need the recommended amount, go for a balancer to top up his vitamins and minerals, and provide good-quality protein to help maintain and build his muscle tone and topline as he comes back into work. Once his diet is balanced, you may want to consider a supplement to support the immune system. Look for one that contains a mix of antioxidants, in the form of natural vitamins E and C, alongside plant-derived sources, but avoid those with added iron (which should not be over-supplied).