POP QUIZ

Answer

d. all of the above. Calcium plays a role in all of these important functions of the horse’s body. Grains aren’t typically high in calcium, but many hays are—especially alfalfa. As important as calcium is, too much can be a bad thing. An overload of calcium can throw off the calcium-phosphorus ratio and lead to abnormal bone formation, known as epiphysitis. If you feed your horse a calcium-rich hay, consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to ensure the rest of his diet supplies enough phosphorus to balance it out.