Leisure Horse

Microsteed clearly identifies the relative contribution of each element of the feed program against the horse’s requirements. The contribution of nutrients from balancers such as Essential Balancer is fixed, whereas the contribution from forage and pasture is often naturally variable and so actual daily intake will vary. For this reason, each nutrient has an optimum range rather than a fixed target to achieve.

Daily Intake:

• Summer Pasture 24 hours
• 500g Essential Balancer
• 60g Restore SR Electrolytes

Reviewing the optimum nutrient ranges helps to identify is the diet is deficient or excessive for any particular nutrient. In this example, all nutrients are within the target or normal range. There is some additional protein provided above requirement, although the contribution from pasture, in particular, will change from summer to winter creating a change in protein intake. Microsteed shows that the daily diet is neither deficient nor excessive.

In addition to considering total daily intake, Microsteed will also consider the balance of key minerals in the total diet including calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and copper. The balance of minerals influences absorption and also activity within the body.

Once the nutrient intake and balance are considered Microsteed also assesses the contribution nutrients make toward energy requirements. This is particularly important when considering the temperament of the horse and the nature of the work. Through reviewing energy balance it is possible to see how much energy is provided through ‘fast releasing’ and ‘slow releasing’ energy sources.

In the example diet, the balance of energy is almost evenly split between protein, carbohydrate and fibre. Pasture during the summer months is naturally high in protein in sugar as well as providing fibre. Essential Balancer at 500g makes very little contribution to energy, its main role is the provision of vitamins, minerals, and supplements such as yeast.