While others are thinking of holidays, my mind is on copper and zinc. The other trace minerals, iron and manganese are generally readily available. In our area (Pacific Northwest) iron is so available as to be an excess problem. Manganese is usually plentiful, and deficiency not a problem. However, copper and zinc are barely present in our soils and consequently are barely present in our pastures and hay.
Copper is required in just teaspoon amounts, and is vital. Copper is involved in the final, oxygen consuming step of energy generation in the body cell. It is essential for life. Copper deficiencies can lead to abnormalities in bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and arterial walls. Copper deficiency can also lead to uterine artery rupture during labor in older mares, just to mention some of the more dramatic consequences. Of course, copper deficiency in these important tissues cannot be seen looking at your horse.
You can, however, spot possible copper deficiency in the red tips on dark manes of horses. This 'sun bleached mane' look is generally accepted as evidence of deficiency though not formally proven. The color change responds very well to copper supplementation. Without analysis of diet, this would be the lone clue of copper deficiency.
Copper is secreted in the bile and some is lost in sweat. I think of that sweating performance horse with the reddish mane, and it makes me worry about tendon injuries. Keeping copper and zinc levels balanced is vitally important for soundness. Quality hay and pasture are important and the basis of our horse's diet, but we have to be smarter about our supplements. More isn't always better, balanced is better. More supplementation can take our horses out of balance if we don't do our homework. Getting your hay analyzed and balanced with just the right supplements could be less costly than you think, and will make a positive difference in your horse's health.
Barbara Noble, a student of Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, is helping Freedom Farm develop nutritional balance for our horses, based on independent hay analysis described in the August and September newsletters.
Freedom Farm's hay was analyzed by Equi-Analytical and the pdf can be downloaded from our website. Ask Mary Gallagher about Freedom Farms's specially formulated supplements: First Cutting Hay Balancer and Second Cutting Hay Balancer.
(Originally published December 2014)
