Doc T here –
Some studies in horses agree with the human studies of a range between 0.5g to 1.0g protein per pound of body weight. So, in a 1200-pound horse, the range is 600g to 1200g. Adding 1 pound of soybean meal (SBM) gives 174g of high-quality protein. If you also feed 20 pounds of 10% protein hay, the net protein absorbed by the horse is 454g. Combined, this gives about 625g of protein which is well within the range.

Even if you add 3 pounds of SBM, the result is still under the 1200g mark.

In the past 50 years, many “rules” have been made, such as, “Don’t over-feed protein.” Yet there is no evidence for this. The only piece I have discovered is in a study where people fed rabbits a lot of meat protein! Yes, rabbits do not eat meat. Yikes, yet this study lingers on in every discussion of over-feeding protein. If you want to be concerned about kidney damage, think of the protein’s amino acids converting into glucose with the loss of nitrogen excreted in the urine. This increased loss of amino acids through their conversion is directly related to the over-consumption of glucose in the diet.

If this last comment leaves your head spinning, please take the time to explore the blogs and podcasts in the section on Care > Nutrition. Also, remember that you have access to the nutrition course as a member. While it all “seems too complicated,” I make it simple. In a nutshell, we are over-feeding sugar (glucose) above the daily needs of our horses while also inflaming their gut with these ingredients. Through excess glucose, we are over-consuming the body’s proteins, causing unsoundness and illness. At the same time, we are not providing enough high-quality protein in the diets to replace this loss.

The bottom line is that I disagree with your trainer about feeding more protein to horses; rather, we must add it to the chronically deficient horses to help them thrive, not just survive.

Dr. T., would feeding my horse a pound of soybean meal & 10 pounds of alfalfa hay w/free range pasture 24/7 be considered a high energy diet & a high fiber diet?
This is what I feed my horse & he has not shown me any signs of too much energy. He’s actually very laid back & does not use any unnecessary energy if he does not need too.
I do supplement w/flaxseed, amino acids(California Trace) & superflex. We hat at your thoughts?

Dr. T., would feeding my horse a pound of soybean meal & 10 pounds of alfalfa hay w/free range pasture 24/7 be considered a high energy diet & a high fiber diet?
This is what I feed my horse & he has not shown me any signs of too much energy. He’s actually very laid back & does not use any unnecessary energy if he does not need too.
I do supplement w/flaxseed, amino acids(California Trace) & superflex. We hat at your thoughts?