Have you heard the term ‘chelated minerals’ or proteinates…digestibility…organic minerals?
What does this actually mean for your horse and its feed?

All horses require vitamins and minerals for a multitude of functions in the body such as nerve function, growth, tissue maintenance, development of muscle and bone and general health. Some of these are produced in the horses own body and others must be supplied by the feed.

🧩Chelation is the chemical process by which a mineral (iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, manganese) is combined with a mixture of amino acids and peptides.
The result is these chelated minerals have greater digestibility and absorption than nonchelated minerals.

Why?
During digestion, inorganic minerals are able to break up (dissociate) in the horses gastrointestinal tract, these dissociated minerals can interact with other dietary components and are also able to interact with other minerals in the food in the stomach.

Part of the minerals can be absorbed through the intestinal wall, however the dissociated inorganic minerals that interact with other dietary components can form insoluble compounds which the body is not able to digest.

If you chelate a mineral (bind it to a protein) it prevents the minerals from dissociating during the digestive process and therefore reduces interactions with other minerals and vitamins. 🔐
The result is higher absorption rates of the minerals in the gastrointestinal tract!

In other words, chelation makes the minerals more bioavailable. Research indicates the organic forms of minerals are absorbed and retained at a high rate.

✈Its like buying an upgraded plane ticket. Cattle class or non chelated, means you sit at the back (near the loo), you still get to your destination but there are no special extras and there is no guarantee your luggage will arrive on the same plane or at all!

Chelation is like being upgraded to first class, you get escorted basically thru the lounge onto the plane, champagne flows (I am totally imagining this, never having actually flown first class), you get escorted off the plane first and your luggage turns up on the carousel!👜

Proteinates or chelates are described as organic minerals in contrast to inorganic minerals, those that are not bound to amino acids.
As expected, the most easily digestible mineral forms (the chelates or proteinates) are also those with the highest cost, hence that feed or supplement with some chelated minerals will be a higher cost.

Chelated minerals are especially beneficial for horses that require a higher level of minerals such as young horses, sport horses and broodmares, because of their higher bioavailability.

Providing a percentage of minerals as chelated minerals maximises absorption and ensures that your horse is getting the minerals it needs.

Contact me for an individual nutriiton programme, balanced with the right requirements for your horse!