A horse in its natural environmental setting had access to grazing and would do so for twenty hours per day. It was free to roam and choose places for footing. The forages that were available grew on naturally fertile soils. A horse’s unusually long digestive tract is designed to handle and digest it’s food over a twenty-four hour period.

As the horse has been domesticated, it’s eating methods have been changed to adapt to the human’s schedule. In order to replicate nature’s intentions as closely as possible, you need to provide good quality hay twenty-four hours a day along with clean, fresh water. If you supplement the diet with grain, the best method is to feed on twelve-hour intervals. The forages that are grown today are produced from soils that have been depleted of many of their nutrients. Most horse owners do not have access to superior forages, and those that do, find them expensive. With this in mind, how do we address the problem? We feed a well-balanced grain concentrate for the general well-being of the horse.

Minerals
Minerals make up 3% to 5% of animal body dry weight. Basic functions of minerals include: skeletal formation and maintenance, function of protein synthesis, oxygen transport, fluid balance, regulating acid-base balance of the entire system, activators and/or components of enzyme systems and mineral-vitamin relationship. It is helpful to know how to read an
ingredient list on any feed or supplement in order to determine bioavailability.

There are three basic levels of bioavailability:
1. Least available and least expensive (oxides i.e. Copper oxide)
2. Sulfates are more bioavailable and fall in the middle (i.e. copper sulfate)
3. Proteinates or chelates are the most bioavailable of the three and currently there are five minerals that can be proteinated: iron, copper, manganese, zinc and cobalt.

Chelates
The word “chelate” means to combine a mineral molecule and another easily absorbable molecule, such as an amino acid. Proteinating improves the bioavailability of the mineral to target cells and organs. During digestion the weak bonds of conventional inorganic oxides and sulfates are broken down by the stomach’s low pH. The released ions become susceptible to the formation of insoluble and unavailable complexes that are excreted in feces never reaching the target cells. Research shows that chelation improves reproduction in problem brood mares, helping them settle faster and carry the fetuses to term.

The use of chelated minerals, especially zinc, has been reported to dramatically improve hair and coat condition in horses as well. Field reports from farms using chelated zinc and copper found that young horses experienced fewer developmental orthopedic problems than in previous years when inorganic mineral sources were used.

Vitamins
Research has established the fact that Vitamins are a very important part of equine nutrition.
1. Vitamins are organic components of natural food but distinct from carbohydrates,
fat, protein and water.
2. Vitamins are present in food in minute amounts and effective in the animal body
in small amounts.
3. Vitamins are essential for development of normal tissue; necessary for metabolic
activity, but do not enter into the structural portion of the body.
4. When vitamins are absent from the diet or not properly absorbed or utilized, the result is a specific deficiency disease or syndrome.
5. Vitamins cannot be synthesized by the animal and therefore must be obtained from
the diet (or microbial synthesis in the digestive tract).
Since vitamins play various roles as regulators of metabolism, they are necessary for growth and maintenance of life. Proper vitamin levels in the diet are not only important from the standpoint of preventing specific deficiency symptoms, but also to promote general health, vigor and the ability to combat stress and disease. For example most vitamins are apparently involved in antibody synthesis, whereby animals acquire immunity to specific infections.

Vitamin requirements may also increase in old age due to difficulties in absorption and utilization. Today, sub-optimal vitamin levels in the rations fed livestock and laboratory animals that cause undetected reductions in performance are probably of greater importance than from deficiencies, with the resulting typical deficiency symptom. On the other hand, vitamin supplementation should not be used as a “cure all” treatment.

Vitamins and the Hoof
Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Biotin are very important in hoof nutrition.
Vitamin A plays an important role in bone formation, tissue maintenance and hoof wall growth and strength. Vitamin A is necessary for the growth and development of normal hoofs. Horses that are deficient in Vitamin A produce a poor, weak hoof wall. Vitamin A also helps maintain a healthy vascular system.
Vitamin D also plays a role in bone formation because it enhances calcium and phosphorous absorption from renal tubules in the hooves.
Vitamin E plays an important role in muscle structure, which is directly related to the activity of the hoof. Selenium is thought to be involved in vitamin E absorption and/or retention. Selenium deficiencies include loss of hoof, mane and tail.
Biotin, a B-vitamin, has been heralded as a hoof enhancer for many years.

Amino Acids
Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein. The horse’s digestive system converts plant protein into amino acids. Many of the nutrients are bonded to amino acids to enhance bioavailability. Recent research has shown that supplementation with DL-Methionine and L-Lysine improve hoof growth and integrity. Recommended feeding levels of DL-Methionine and L-Lysine in order to improve hoof growth.

Conclusion
The interrelationships between vitamins, minerals and amino acids are vital to the overall well being and care of the horse. Whether a horse owner or enthusiast, it is important to take an active role in the feeding and care. It is not necessary to be a nutritionist, or veterinarian to possess knowledge and understanding of how to properly supplement. It is however, necessary to seek out the advice and expertise of equine professionals in order to ensure that the horse is receiving the best overall diet and care.

We are confident that you will find our maintenance supplement BIO-ZIN® and our hoof supplements Super BIO-ZIN® and BIO-ZIN® Genuine Draft™ will effectively provide the nutrients horses need for overall health and maintenance and strong hooves.

George R. “Buck” McColl has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from NCSU in 1961. Although recently retired, Buck remains with the company as a nutrition consultant offering over 30 years of knowledge and expertise. Questions may be directed to Buck at 1-800 217-4076.