Nutrition
Nutrition is the basis of a healthy horse, imbalances in nutrition can cause many diseases and disorders such as laminitis and colic. Toxin levels caused by pasture, worm infestations and many other factors can result in digestive disturbances, respiratory disorders, lymphatic and circulatory problems.
Feeding the competition horse the correct nutrients is crucial to performance. Energy requirements will greatly increase as training and progressive loading increases. The requirements will vary depending on your horse’s current condition.
The horse has nine body systems; skeletal, digestive, urinary, respiratory, circulatory, sensory, nervous, and reproductive and endocrine, although not all directly linked to the digestive system proper function of these systems is essential for survival, growth and health. Good nutrition is the bases of ensuring that the body functions efficiently respond when required.
Mineral salts and water are an essential part of equine nutrition to ensure the horses body functions correctly. The amount of minerals can depend on many factors including growth rate, lactating mares, age and genetics. Water makes up 70% of a horses lean body mass and is vital for digestion, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication and helps with the central nervous system.
Feeding the competition horse the correct nutrients is crucial to performance. Energy requirements will greatly increase as training and progressive loading increases. The requirements will vary depending on your horse’s current condition.
The horse has nine body systems; skeletal, digestive, urinary, respiratory, circulatory, sensory, nervous, and reproductive and endocrine, although not all directly linked to the digestive system proper function of these systems is essential for survival, growth and health. Good nutrition is the bases of ensuring that the body functions efficiently respond when required.
Mineral salts and water are an essential part of equine nutrition to ensure the horses body functions correctly. The amount of minerals can depend on many factors including growth rate, lactating mares, age and genetics. Water makes up 70% of a horses lean body mass and is vital for digestion, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication and helps with the central nervous system.
Behaviour
Horses perceive their environment using their sensory system. All the responses and activities that make up horses behaviour is directed by the nervous system. The result of this process sends messages to the skeletal muscles which cause a response that may be automatic, immediate and fixed.
Nearly all behavioural activities are carried out by the contractions of skeletal muscles. The spinal cord runs down the vertebral canal, inside the cord is the nerve cells surrounded by the nerve fibers which carry impulses up and down the spinal cord. The nerve cells contain motor neurons that activate the skeletal muscles.
Skeletal muscles are often called voluntary muscles because their action is under conscious control. Voluntary responses may involve a decision to act based on a number of factors such as motivation and previous experiences.
Nearly all behavioural activities are carried out by the contractions of skeletal muscles. The spinal cord runs down the vertebral canal, inside the cord is the nerve cells surrounded by the nerve fibers which carry impulses up and down the spinal cord. The nerve cells contain motor neurons that activate the skeletal muscles.
Skeletal muscles are often called voluntary muscles because their action is under conscious control. Voluntary responses may involve a decision to act based on a number of factors such as motivation and previous experiences.
