Page 60 - Demo

• Rice bran is an excellent fat source;here again, choose a product with addedcalcium to balance its high phosphoruscontent. Rice bran oil contains gammaoryzanol, a natural steroid that promotesmuscle development.When switching to fat as an energysource, it’s best to “train” your horse’sbody to choose fat for energy. To do this,increase the exercise intensity, giving yourhorse at least a month of hard trainingwith extra fat in his diet.ProtEin, thE body-buiLdErProtein builds healthy muscle, bone,tendons and blood, as well as hundreds ofother body proteins involved in keepingsystems in top working order. A grass-alfalfa hay mixture (no more than 50% alfalfa) will offer a high quality forage-basedprotein. Commercial feeds should supplybetween 14 and 16 percent crude protein;most producers boost overall protein quality by adding individual amino acids suchas lysine, methionine and tyrosine, as wellas alfalfa and soybean meal. Othersources of protein can be included in thediet, such as copra meal, isolated wheyprotein, and split peas.nECEssAry VitAmins And minErALsGrazing on healthy pasture is the bestsource of vitamins and minerals, but formany horses, hay is the likely foragesource. Once fresh grass is cut, dried andstored as hay, its nutritive value diminishes. For the performance horse, payclose attention to the following: • B vitamins for the nervous and digestive systems and to derive energy fromfeed. Give a B-complex supplement without added iron, unnecessary to supplement in horses.• Vitamin A: Beta carotene, a precursorto vitamin A, is lost in hay. 1-2 lbs. of carrots, spread out over the day, will satisfythe horse’s need - and his sweet tooth.• Vitamin D protects his bones andjoints and maintains muscle function. Vitamin D is produced from sunlight, buthorses without much sun exposure (orthat are bathed or sprayed frequently)need to have added Vitamin D. A saferange is 2-4 IU per lb. of body weight.• Vitamin C neutralizes damaging freeradicals caused by intense exercise stress,promotes respiratory function, reduces inflammation and prevents lung hemorrhages. Vitamin C is necessary for collagenproduction, giving bones and joints theirstrength. The performance horse shouldhave 3,000 to 10,000 mg of Vitamin C daily.• Vitamin E and selenium: Dependingon the work load, supplement 1-5 IU of Vitamin E per lb. of body weight, and up to 5mg total selenium per day. Selenium istoxic in relatively small amounts so taketime to calculate the total in the whole diet. • Minerals: Copper and zinc work together to produce healthy bones, cartilageand connective tissue, improve stress tolerance and endurance. Too much zinc depresses copper absorption; a ratio of 3:1zinc to copper is best. A 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus is ideal, thoughhorses can tolerate a ratio of up to 6:1.Magnesium is important for muscle function and a calm disposition; ideally, theamount of calcium should not be morethan twice that of magnesium.Most prepared mineral supplementscontain adequate minerals. Test your hay todetermine its mineral content and balancethem accordingly with the rest of the diet.sALt, ELECtroLytEs And WAtEr• Your horse needs salt: 1 to 2.5 ouncesdaily (2 to 5 tablespoons), depending onthe amount of perspiration. A plain, white60 Arizona Horse Connection May, 2026LMW HORSEMANSHIPWickenburg, AZ • 707-889-8951Colt Starting • Tune-Ups • LessonsMy name is Leanne Wildman of Wickenburg, Arizona. I am aBrandi Lyons certified trainer (Level 1 & 2). My goal is to find the potential in any horse, maximize their ability and facilitate a relationship between horse and rider. I communicate and connect with horses through process of elimination, repetitionand memorization. I take horses in for monthly training, offer colt starting, workwith problem horses and give lessons as well as clinics. I striveto build soft, responsive horses, not only teaching them DIRECTIONAL CONTROL and SPEED CONTROL, but alsoEMOTIONAL CONTROL and how to use their energy and body correctly. My training helps ensure clients stay safe andconfident in the saddle and on the ground.My training program includes a month of intensive training,while solidifying key fundamentals of natural horsemanship. I am very focused on creating softness and responsiveness.These horses are cared for as if they were my own! They havearound-the-clock care. Picture and video updates are provided,as well as access to visit and watch!Check out my website for moreinformation: LMWhorsemanship.comPlease feel free to reach out to me atLMWhorsemanship@gmail.com or call meat (707) 889-8951 to discuss how I can help you enhance your program!Photos Credit: Shandlin Farrell of SGFequinemediacontinued on page 62