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What is Laminitis in horses?

There are many things that can 'trigger' laminitis in horses, but there are two main feed related ones. First would be the fermentation of large amounts of starch and 'sugars' (non-structural carbohydrates, NSC) in the hindgut.

NSC Fermentation - Hindgut Acidosis - Death of Bacteria and Leaking of Gut Wall - Changes in the hoof including dsyregulation of MMP enzymes - Laminitis.

Secondly, consumption of a high non-structural carbohydrate deit in insulin resistant horses (including horses with EMS and Cushing's Disease)

Enzymatic Starch or Sugar Digestion - Small Intestine Glucose Absorption - Excessive Release of Insulin from Pancreas - Damage to Lamellae - Laminitis

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How to feed your horse for muscle building

Following hard work your horse's muscle will go through a period of breakdown, called catabolism. Providing a meal with 30 minutes of work should have the effect of halting catabolic processes and promoting muscle recovery and growth. Also any meals that contains carbohydrates and proteins will achieve this to some extent.

Most importantly though, you need to have quality protein!

The essential 'branch chain amino acids' seem to play an important role in muscle recovery, and the most limiting amino acids lysine, threonine and methonine are crucial for muscle building.

 

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How to replenish your horses muscle glycogen

Muscle glycogen is a store of glucose in your horse's muscles and this glucose is the only fuel muscles can burn during high intensity anaerobic exercise.

Horses are useless at replenishing their muscle glycogen compared to humans taking 2 to 3 times longer than it takes us.

In knowing this, the most important factor in determining how well a horse will replenish its glycogen seems to be hydration. A well hydrated horse will replenish its glycogen faster than a dehydrated horse.

Feeding 'grain' probably helps in the 48 to 72 hour time range. Unfortunately the main study conducted only looked at cracked corn.

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