HOW TO FEED A HORSE THAT SUFFERS WITH ANXIETY?

Anxiety in a horse may be caused by many things such as pain, its natural behaviour being restricted by the environment it is provided with, not enough forage, not enough mental stimulation, not enough time outdoors/exercise, not enough rest, stressful exercise and demands that well exceeds the horse’s ability, etc. Anxiety in horses is displayed in many different ways. Stereotypical behaviours include crib biting and weaving. As a result, the horse may self-release its own ‘painkiller’ substances, i.e. endorphins and enkephalins. These make the horse feel less pain but will also make it quieter and decrease its stress levels. Many researchers believe that the horse can become ‘addicted’ to its stereotypical behaviour as it makes the horse feel better – which renders it even more difficult to stop the behaviour despite having successfully identified and removed the actual cause of the behaviour. Other symptoms of anxiety include diarrhoea, sweating, unruliness, spookiness, apathy, etc. To lessen the anxiety, it is important for the horse to be kept healthy and pain free and that it is correctly exercised at a level that matches its ability. Other key factors include its environment, stable routines, feed rations, rest, exercise and access to the outdoors. A high intake of starch and oats make many anxious horses feel worse. Hence, it is recommended to reduce the amount of starch and oats given. Instead, choose an oat-free feed for your horse. A supplement containing Tryptophan – Magnesium + B vitamins is believed to help the more severe cases of anxiety. Ask your vet and equine nutritionist for advice.