Lena on feeding the Fjord horse

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Should I feed vitamin or mineral supplements to a Fjord?

Dear Lena -- What kind(s) of vitamin and/or mineral supplements do you recommend for pastured Fjords with no major health issues? --Loyal Fan

Dear Loyal Fan -- Very flattered to have a fan! Fjords are wonderful horses inside and out. They are made to use feed in a very efficient way. So, most Fjords don't need to intake as much as they would like. Most do very well on hay, but, in my humble opinion, they should have a vitamin and mineral supplement along with their hay. So.....with that being said, what vitamin/mineral supplement is best. I guess it's a matter of what you want, what is available in your area, and price.

Nutrena products are available in my area. The company makes a vitamin and mineral supplement called Nutrena Equi-blend. You can feed as little as 2 cups a day to give them all their daily requirement. They also make Nutrena Lite Balance, but you need to feed them 2 1/2 lbs a day for them to get the daily requirement.

I like Equi-blend -- you don't have to feed much, it's full of molasses so they eat it up freely, and it's in pellet form. You also give it daily, so you know they are getting it, unlike free choice mineral, which typically is in a block or loose powder form.

All companies make something similar to Equi-blend. Purina makes Enrich 12; there is also Equi-shine and a whole lot of other products. Each I would guess have some slightly different blend of vitamins and minerals.

I'm sure I'm making this very simple and the subject is way more complex, but I'm a simple girl! Bottom line is I do think all Fjords on hay should get a mineral and vitamin supplement. --Lena

Should I feed grain to a Fjord?

Dear Lena -- Do you ever feed your Fjords any grain or other feed besides grass and hay? If you do, what products do you like best? --Loyal Fan

Dear Loyal Fan -- A Fjord Horse is just that -- A HORSE. All are different. I have fed some Fjords grain, including young ones, growing ones, and even an occasional older one that needs more calories and energy.

There are some Fjords that do need grain but not many, because most Fjords really are efficient in the way they process food. Even though most will do fine on good pasture or hay -- ideally about 60% alfalfa and 40% grass -- I have to assess each horse and see what its particular needs are.

Remember grain mainly adds calories; we should only feed grain only if the horse NEEDS more calories for energy or to maintain a healthy weight. If you have a Fjord that is too lean, showing ribs, showing hip bones, or has no energy, your horse probably needs more food than just pasture or hay. If you are trying to put weight on a Fjord, don't get impatient; you should see results in 4-6 weeks.

Oats would be the first step if your horse just needs a "little" extra calories. Oats are inexpensive, don't have a lot of calories, but do give the horse more energy. Oats also don't get moldy like sweet feed.

If oats are not enough, you can feed a pelleted grain product in the 12% protein category. If your horse need still more calories, find a product at 14% protein or higher. I would also recommend that you consult a feed representative in your area if you have one. There are many good products and those selling should be able to help you decide which product would best suit your needs.

There is another reason why I'm not in favor of feeding grain to Fjords, besides the obvious that they are easy keepers and would get fat from too much grain. I don't like to see folks feeding only 1-2 lbs of grain and not adding a vitamin and mineral supplement.

MOST premixed feeds for horses are based on feeding AT LEAST 4 lbs of feed a day. At that rate, the horse will get the right amount of vitamins and minerals. But if your Fjord only needs 1-2 lbs of feed a day, it's like giving your horse 1/2 of a vitamin tablet or less.

If you want your horse to get the vitamins and minerals that he really needs -- and they all do -- then it's important to also add a vitamin and mineral supplement to his diet. --Lena

Isn't alfalfa bad for horses, especially Fjords?

Hi, Lena -- I am questioning the ratio 60% alfalfa in hay for our Fjords. Alfalfa is high in carbohydrates, especially sugar. A carb overload can lead to founder I am told. Do Fjords process carbs differently than other breeds? I would classify Fjords as easy keepers, so owners should watch the calorie intake as well as the carb load I would think.... --Mary L

Hi, Mary -- I discussed your question with Animal Nutrition Consultant Stacy Schwoerer. This was the outcome of our conversation:

Alfalfa is not as dangerous of a feed that it is made out to be. Alfalfa has more digestible energy and more protein per pound than grass. When fed properly, it can reduce a horse owner's need for other, more expensive supplemental feeds.

Although Fjords (or any breed of horse) will do fine eating grass hay, a blend of 60% alfalfa and 40% grass combines the best qualities of each forage. This blend is economical and provides horses with a good source of protein, a moderate amount of calories and fiber, and a good balance of calcium and phosphorous.

There are three basic types of carbohydrates -- simple carbohydrates (sugars), complex carbohydrates (starches), and fiber. Lumping the three types together is not really a good idea. Horses with metabolic problems such as insulin resistance or Cushings syndrome should be fed diets low in sugars and starches.

The amount of these carbohydrates in any specific hay, whether alfalfa or grass, depends on the maturity of the forage, the time of day when it is cut, the rate at which the hay dries, recent weather conditions, etc. Some grass hay can be higher in sugars and starches than some alfalfa hay. Without testing a specific sample of any hay, however, it is hard to say how much of these carbohydrates is actually in it.

When it comes to the issue of laminitis and founder, hay is usually not the culprit. Laminitis usually occurs when horses are placed in lush pastures or in pastures stressed by drought. Founder is a very touchy subject that would be best covered in depth at another time.

Alfalfa is a good source of protein and certain amino acids, much more so than grass hay, so it is a great choice for growing and aging horses. Alfalfa is actually a good hay that many horses -- including Fjords -- can handle very well.

The answer really is to feed the right amount of QUALITY hay to maintain good health and appropriate weight. Whether the hay be alfalfa or grass, it needs to be good quality. Testing your hay is the only way to know what additional supplement you may need to add to give your horse a well-balanced diet.

Hope this helps! --Lena

How should I feed an overweight Fjord?

Lena -- We bought a 3 yr old Fjord last year.  We love her.  It is the best decision we've made for our farm.  But she has become overweight.  We ...turn all of the horses out overnight in the pasture.  Our pasture this year is lush because we've had plenty of rain.  None of the others are fat (Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses).  We've tried a grazing muzzle but it wore the fur off of her face.  We stopped using it.  She gets a tiny bit of grain when the others are fed.  Help - why is she so fat?? --Gail

Hi Gail -- Thanks for the question. It's good that you are concerned about your Fjord's weight gain. First, Fjords are EASY keepers. They really know how to use the food they get, and use it well they do! Fjords seem to utilize their feed more efficiently than other breeds, PLUS they tend not to be as active or perhaps a better way to say it, they don't burn off as much energy as other breeds.

So... just like with people, you need to count calories. Even a small amount of grain adds calories. I know it seems like a nice thing to do, but your Fjord really should not get any grain. Those 2 cookies we eat a day are good tasting, but a person who has a hard time with her weight doesn't need those 2 cookies. Same with your Fjord.

Pasture is great for horses. They were born to be grazers, but they also were born to walk miles upon miles and burn that energy off while looking for the next mouthful. Our domesticated horses live high off the hog with LOTS of grass, especially this year with all the rain, and not much activity.

Ideally, your Fjord probably only needs 4 hours of pasture a day. If you can, limit her food intake, increase her activity, or better yet do both. Fewer calories and more exercise works for horses just like it works for people. Might not be what you wanted to hear, but there is no really easy solution, except they just cannot be given so much to eat.

On another note, young horses are better off a little on the thin side then on the fat side, they have to carry around excess weight 24/7, affecting every joint all day and night. Just something to think about. --Lena