Flour should only be consumed as part of their overall diet; it should not become the primary focus. As it contains high-calorie content, too much flour could lead to digestive issues or weight gain for some horses.
Flour is made up of various grains that can be combined to form treats for your horse, providing instant energy boost and essential vitamins and minerals that he or she requires.
Wheat
As previously discussed, horses are herbivores and do not require a diet of flour-based products such as wheat. However, if you want to offer your horse some treats instead, try almond flour or coconut meal as alternatives which contain less starch content and thus are safer options.
As you bake treats for your horse, be wary of their ingredients. Be particularly wary if any products contain added sugars or additives. Furthermore, avoid feeding him products made with tomatoes which belong to the Solanaceae plant family as this could potentially be toxic for him.
Caffeine-containing food should also be avoided as this can disrupt heart rhythm. Furthermore, caffeine has also been known to increase risk for colic and digestive disorders in horses. Finally, avoid feeding your horse foods high in sulfur; these have been known to cause serious health issues, including stomach ulcers.
Another frequently raised question concerns whether or not it is safe to feed horses sugar cubes. While horses enjoy the taste, many veterinarians and horse breeders advise against it due to potential blood sugar spikes and even hypoglycemia risks associated with sugar cubes.
Your horse should only receive limited amounts of dried lucerne (or alfalfa), which contains calcium and potassium – essential nutrients for horses’ wellbeing – while also boasting high fiber content to help avoid weight gain and constipation.
Bread Flour
Bread flour, the kind of flour used by bakers to craft bread, has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour and gives doughs like pizza crust, pretzels, bagels and other chewy baked goods an easier rise during proofing (fermentation). Furthermore, its increased protein levels give bread flour its characteristic strength.
Bread flour differs in terms of its protein content due to the variety of wheat used to produce it, typically hard red spring wheat which contains more proteins than other varieties; soft red winter wheat and hard white wheat can also be milled to create bread flour, as can a 50-50 blend. According to bakery needs, commercial bakeries may choose either bleached or unbleached bread flour depending on their needs.
Bread flour enriched with gluten protein should never be given to horses as this could result in colic and other stomach issues for them.
Gluten can also cause horses to gain weight, which is not good for them. Extra weight puts strain on joints, muscles and tendons which makes exercise harder for the horse and may even lead to laminitis or founder.
Interested in baking for your horse but want alternatives to wheat, consider almond or coconut meal as alternatives. Both these flours have lower starch than wheat and can easily be mixed into their diet without causing any health problems. When measuring ingredients using these alternative flours, make sure that weight rather than volume is used; one “cup” of flour could vary anywhere between 120 to 140 grams so measuring by weight ensures your recipes turn out correctly.
Corn Flour
Corn flour is an easy and versatile ingredient for making tasty dishes, from breads and pastries to thickening agents for sauces and stews. With its sweet corn flavor and versatile composition, corn flour has many uses in the kitchen. It pairs well with other ingredients to produce delightful breads and pastries. Incorporating other flours such as this into baked goods reduces gluten content as well as serving as thickeners in sauces or stews.
Corn flour should not be confused with cornstarch. Although both contain milled corn, their textures differ dramatically: corn flour comes from milling the entire kernel; while cornstarch derives its color from starchy endosperm. Their difference lies in how finely these ingredients have been milled.
Some horse owners shy away from feeding their horses corn due to its potential risk of mycotoxin fumonisin contamination from Fusarium fungi that infiltrate corn plants before harvest. Horses who consume corn with Fusarium contamination could develop neurological issues known as Equine Leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). However, horses appear quite accepting of having it added to their feed as long as the quantity consumed is managed closely.
Corn flour can serve as a versatile replacement for wheat flour in many foods, from crunchy crusts for fried fish or okra to pancakes, waffles and muffins made with eggs, milk, butter and other ingredients. Cornmeal, all-purpose flour or wheat flour is often combined with cornflour to reduce gluten in baked goods.
Almond Flour
Almond flour differs from wheat flour by being free of gluten and high in protein content, making it suitable for human food as well as horses’ diets. Made from blanched almonds that have been ground to a fine texture, almond flour offers slightly sweeter notes than white flour and is versatile enough to be used in many different dishes and recipes.
Almond flour contains many of the same essential nutrients as other types of flour, such as protein, fiber and healthy fats; however, due to its higher caloric intake it should only be consumed sparingly.
Almond flour provides horses with energy, and magnesium plays an essential role in bone, cell and chromosomal structures. Almond flour can be used in similar recipes as other types of flour; alternatively it can even be used to create delicious nut breads or cookies!
Horses can suffer from health problems related to sugar consumption, so only feed fruit in small quantities as treats or treats for your horse. Fruit is still an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and an enjoyable treat, but make sure it doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners; also cut it up into bite-sized pieces so as to prevent choking hazards.
Though some sugar is safe for horses, processed foods with added sugars should be avoided since these often have higher caloric intake and can contribute to digestive issues. If possible, switch up their diet with fresh or dried fruits that provide natural sweeteners instead.
Coconut Meal
Coconut meal may seem an unusual ingredient to include in horse feed, but it’s actually an ideal source of energy and fiber, offering trainable energy as part of its trainable energy and fiber profile. Plus, this source also boasts potassium, vitamin B-6, iron and magnesium; all great advantages for horses.
Cool Stance Coconut Meal Feed was specifically created to offer a “cool” source of energy from quality proteins and medium chain triglycerides. In contrast to non-animal saturated fats which must first be processed by the liver for processing before reaching cells for fuel use; medium chain triglycerides provide sustained energy sources with greater metabolic function for better metabolic regulation.
Fiber PlusTM provides an excellent source of dietary fiber and contains less than 2% starch, making it a good option for horses at risk of insulin resistance or metabolic disorders. Foals may use it as creep feed while older horses benefit from its help maintaining condition and maintaining body condition; furthermore, mares late gestating or lactating will benefit greatly from giving it as part of their nutrition during late gestation or lactation periods.
Beet pulp is another nutritional component commonly included in horse feed, providing calcium, raw fiber and energy in an easy-to-digest format. Additionally, beet pulp may help improve digestion and is particularly helpful for arthritis sufferers. As beet pulp contains high sodium levels it should only be added if its inclusion can be balanced by other forages such as hay. Ideally you’d also supplement it with trace mineral and vitamin mixes such as Medicine Bag Complete to ensure your horse receives all their required vitamins without adding excess salt to their diet.