Fibre can supply a horse with 30-70% of its digestible energy requirements.

A supply of fibre is essential to the healthy function of the equine digestive tract. The traditional fibre sources include pasture, hay and haylage (forage). The importance of forage in the diet is often underestimated and it should form the basis of ANY horse's diet.

While forages are well-known sources of fibre, other feedstuffs are considered "super fibres" because they have much higher energy levels than typical forages. The energy levels in super fibres are slightly less than those found in cereal grains such as oats and barley. Super fibres are, however, safer to feed than cereal grains because their fibrous nature can reduce the likelihood of starch overload, caused by feeding high levels of cereal based feeds. Super Fibres provide a slow release source of energy to the diet.

The super fibres used in Saracen diets are beet pulp, soya hulls and alfalfa. These ingredients are more digestible than traditional fibre sources. For instance, hay is 40-60% digestible, depending on its quality, and beet pulp and soya hulls are 80% and 75% digestible, respectively.

At Saracen we include super fibres for a variety of reasons. Some horses will not or cannot eat large enough quantities of hay to fulfill fibre requirements. Dental problems, for example, may keep aged horses from consuming sufficient hay or pasture. Caretakers in these situations other forms of fibre should be offered. Horses on diets composed largely of concentrates may be unwilling to eat large amounts of hay. In these instances, fibre can be introduced into the concentrate as beet pulp or soya hulls. Due to their high energy content, super fibres are also ideal for horses that have difficulty maintaining weight.

Some performance horses also benefit from super fibres, especially those asked to work at moderate speeds for long distances such as endurance horses. In addition to being a steady energy source for horses, super fibres help maintain intestinal health. Consumption of fibre can increase water intake, creating a reservoir of water and electrolytes in the hindgut. This reservoir may prevent dehydration and electrolyte depletion while the horse is exercising for prolonged periods of time.

Horses that cannot tolerate diets high in starch may also benefit from super fibres. Research has shown that normal muscle function can be maintained when diets that are high in fibre and oil are fed in preference to traditional high energy diets.

An added bonus to the use of super fibres is the positive effects they have on preserving gastrointestinal health. The use of Super Fibres in the diet may also help to maintain a natural acid balance in the stomach.