Couldn’t find a book called “The 11 Pillars of Equine Nutrition” on Amazon or anywhere for that matter. But did find this during a google search for the book - on the The Equine Practice, Inc.'s website (www.theequinepractice.com).
Summary Of The Eleven Pillars of Equine Nutrition
Pillar 1 Grazing Not Browsing – Horses are grazers eating only what is found on the ground at the time of eating it. This is supported by the development of the ramped retina at the back of their eyeball. Ramping it alters the focal point of vision which helps in distant focusing when the head is lowered to eat (seeing enemies on the horizon) while also focusing up close things on the ground. They are poor at digesting woody plants but excel at cellulose though they need a large body and a continuous intake to meet their needs.
Pillar 2 The Basics of Sugar, Fat and Proteins – This pillar covered the basics of carbohydrates (including the following sugar names: sugar, glucose, starch, cellulose, glycogen, saccharide, monosaccharide, disaccharide, polysaccharide, oligosaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, mucopolysaccharide, fructose, sucrose, lactose, and more), fats (including the following fat names: adipose tissue, short chain fatty acids, medium chain fatty acids, long chain fatty acids, short chain triglycerides, medium chain triglycerides, MCT oil, long chain triglycerides, ketones, oils) and proteins (made up of: essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids, peptides). I showed that all of these are made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen with the addition of Nitrogen and some Sulfur in proteins. I showed that these three classes of nutrients can interchange with each becoming another in processes such as gluconeogenesis controlled by the body.
Pillar 3 Gut Microbes – The concept of microscopic bacteria (including the following names: microbes, microbiome, microbiota, holobiome) within the lumen of the gut as well as on and around the body is relevant in discussing nutrition. It is the microbes within the gut that consume the raw material we call food and they in turn create the fuels that are absorbed through the semipermeable gut wall. They also can make certain vitamins which also pass through the gut wall. Destroying these “good” microbes creates an area for opportunistic growth of “bad” bacteria, create lipopolysaccharides (microbe body parts, LPS) that can damage the gut wall and can create ulcerations of the gut wall.
Pillar 4 Gut Inflammation – Inflammation of the gut wall is at the root of most if not all diseases and dysfunctions (unsoundness) of the horse. I described the opening of the tight junctions allowing the entrance of foreign proteins that not only creates inflammation but also can disrupt hormone communication and nerve transmissions. The causes of the gut damage are altered gut microbes, death parts of microbes, lectins and molds. Collectively this is called leaky gut syndrome.
Pillar 5 Making Energy and Mitochondria – The production of energy within the cell is done by the mitochondria. The 2 main fuels are glucose and ketones with ketones being more efficient and cleanest in producing energy. I discussed mitochondrial exhaustion as being a possible cause of insulin resistance. I also said there is evidence showing that mitochondria were once a bacteria living outside of the cell but now live in symbiosis within every cell of every animal. The gut microbes are feeding these mitochondria which in turn give energy to keep the body alive and functioning properly.
Pillar 6 Carbohydrate Dependency – Carbohydrate dependency is the cause of mitochondrial fatigue which in turn leads to cell death as well as general malaise, poor energy, disease and dysfunction of the horse. I described what hay is and how that affects carbohydrate load. I discussed why grains and other sources of starch given every day of the horse’s life does not allow the mitochondria to rest. It also causes the creation of more fat, the inability of the horse to loose fat, and the horse converting the muscles of the top line into sugar.
Pillar 7 The High Fat Diet – It is a reality that horses eating pasture and hay are really on a high fat diet. This changes with the season due to the ebb and flow of starch in the grass. When starch is low, the horse converts cellulose into short chain fatty acids which become ketones fueling the mitochondria efficiently as well as preserving the muscles from being converted into fuel.
Pillar 8 The Importance of Protein – What is crude protein and why it is so important to know the ingredients that are providing the protein. I also described what amino acids and biologic value of proteins are. I also offered some math to help you determine how to calculate just how much protein your horse is eating and emphasized that if you are low in just one amino acid, you are low in ALL amino acids. I then gave suggestions why horses are suffering from chronic protein deficiency.
Pillar 9 GMO, Pesticides and Fertilizers – The definitions and history of genetic modification, pesticide use including RoundUp and the mechanics of fertilizers. In my study of these I found no clear evidence that, if used correctly, there was any damage to horses from GM, RoundUp or inorganic fertilizers. This seems to fly in the face of those who believe otherwise. I suggested that what has not been studied is their effect on the microbiome or holobiome. I further suggested that if you eliminate all feed other than pasture and hay that you would be eliminating a lot of these issues. Horses need to eat but finding non-GM pasture and hay grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizer is very hard. Worrying about it, especially in non-breeding horses, may not be necessary.
Pillar 10 Supplements – The descriptions of Vitamins, Minerals, Electrolytes and Herbs and the problems of deficiency and toxicity if any. What was determined was that there was no need to supplement with vitamins unless the horses were subjected to starvation or sever weather such as drought. The same seemed to be true with minerals as the horse was very efficient in preserving the correct amounts of minerals within the body. Additional electrolytes were needed only with severe sweating and diarrhea or if the horse has the genetic mutation causing HYPP.
Pillar 11 Lectins – An introduction of the relatively new concept of plant proteins called lectins that are protecting the plant from predators by disrupting hormonal communication and nerve transmission. How lectins cause inflammation in the gut and the nerves including the brain was discussed. Lectins are found mostly in the outer part of all soft seeds (grains) and feeding grain byproducts is possibly feeding the horse a concentrated form of lectins. These proteins directly attack the tight junctions of the gut wall and is a major cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome in people.
