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Horses that receive their energy from fat in their diet are often less anxious than those that get their energy from starches, reports The Horse. Additionally, horses and ponies fed high-starch diets often have a more-elevated heart rate, are more alert and nervous, and present with more intestinal discomfort and negative behaviors than those that are fed a low-starch diet.
Horses fed diets higher in digestible carbohydrates are prone to both ulcers and hindgut acidosis. Signs of this condition include mild colic as well as poor attitude and performance. Diets high in starch can also affect the hindgut’s microbial population, leading to decreased function and performance.
This, in turn, can affect the “gut-brain axis.” A horse’s GI tract releases about 20 different hormones, including neurotransmitters. Disruptions in the release of these hormones can bring about irritability and hyperexcitability.
Glucose easily crosses the blood-brain barrier; elevated glucose levels increase dopamine production, which can lead to hyperexcitability and elevated awareness. Horses fed diets higher in fiber and/or fat show more consistent blood glucose levels and are less excitable.
Though diet alone will not “fix” an anxious horse, it is one piece of the puzzle, which also involves management and training. It’s beneficial to discuss any changes to a horse’s diet with an equine nutritionist or a vet.
It’s also important to meet and not exceed a horse’s caloric requirements; adding fat to the diet will require a decrease in soluble carbohydrates. Fats have two times the amount of calories as carbohydrates, so cannot be replaced on a pound-for-pound basis.
Read more at The Horse.
