Oats are one of the classic energy feeds for horses. However, in recent years, they have gained a negative reputation, especially in the context of natural horse feeding, leading many to prioritize a grain-free diet. But this isn't always necessary.
Ingredients and Benefits of Oats:
🌾 Minerals & Trace Elements: Oats are rich in potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, making them an excellent mineral supplement to regular hay.
🌾 Essential Amino Acids like Tryptophan and Lysine: Tryptophan directly influences serotonin production. A deficiency in serotonin can make horses jumpy and anxious, while it also regulates appetite. Therefore, a small daily dose of oats can be beneficial for horses with chronic cravings.
🌾 Vitamins B6 and B7 (Biotin): These water-soluble vitamins are usually produced adequately by the horse in the large intestine. However, horses with gut issues (e.g., loose stools, dysbiosis) may experience deficiencies. Feeding oats can help prevent this.
🌾 Starch: Horses are not well-equipped to digest large amounts of starch, often leading to disturbances in the pH balance of the hindgut. A high-starch diet can result in dysbiosis. However, studies show that oats have the best digestibility, with up to 90% being digested in the small intestine, minimizing the impact on gut flora compared to other grains.
🌾 Beta-Glucans: This fiber slows carbohydrate absorption, helping to prevent drastic spikes in blood sugar despite the sugar content in oats. It can also assist in lowering cholesterol levels, which positively impacts insulin resistance. Studies in humans have shown that Type 2 diabetics could reduce their insulin requirements by up to 42% after just three days of an oat-rich diet, with effects lasting several days.
🌾 Sugar: Yes, oats contain sugar—around 400 grams per kg, which provides short-term energy. However, they should be limited or avoided in horses with obesity or glucose metabolism disorders (more on this later).
🌾 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Oats contain about 3-6% oil, including linoleic acid and ferulic acid, which is usually attributed only to rice bran oil. These fatty acids positively impact muscle and performance and can support the body's hormonal system.
🌾 Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio: Oats have come under scrutiny for supposedly shifting the calcium-phosphorus ratio in a horse's diet, making them "hot" (the phrase "oats make the horse hot" is common). However, this only occurs when oats replace forage. In many stables, it was common to feed oats three times a day while only providing hay twice. The overall Ca
ratio of the horse's daily ration is what matters. For example, if your horse consumes 10 kg of hay (rich in calcium) per day, you can feed up to 2 kg of oats without altering the ratio. Many leisure horses actually lack sufficient phosphorus in their daily rations.
Dosage:
Generally, a maximum dosage of 500 grams per 100 kg of body weight should not be exceeded, according to literature.
The positive effects mentioned can already be observed with much smaller amounts, around 50-100 grams per 100 kg of body weight. This is my recommended dosage.
Oats can be fed mainly on workdays after training, and not on rest days.
Horses with EMS, laminitis, or other weight issues can benefit significantly from a literal handful of oats daily.
Oats can be fed whole and uncrushed. It's important to ensure good quality without mold. Black oats have the same properties but are often easier to store due to being more resistant to mold.
For horses with gastric ulcers or mucosal issues, as well as dental problems, oat flakes can also be used.
Risks/Disadvantages:
Avoid use in horses with glucose metabolism disorders like PSSM 1.
Horses with a grain-free history should refrain from oats.
For laminitic or EMS horses, strictly adhere to the recommended dosage!
Horses with loose stools or gut issues may react negatively to the starch content, so please discontinue if this occurs!
So, don’t be too afraid of oats. When used correctly, they can significantly enrich your horse's diet!
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