10 minute read
Donna Case Equine
LOCATED IN NEWMARKET BUT WORKING BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY DONNA CASE BSC (HONS) IS THE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED EQUINE NUTRITIONIST WHO RUNS ‘THE HORSE FEED GURU’, AN EQUINE NUTRITION CONSULTANCY. FORMERLY A COMMERCIAL NUTRITIONIST ACROSS THREE BRANDS, NOW COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, HER AIM IS TO DEMYSTIFY FEEDING FOR THE GOOD OF THE HORSE AND RIDER.
WHAT IS A
Advertisement
REMOTE FEED CONSULTATION?
Although I am based in the UK a remote consultation has always been a way of reaching clients all over the world.
Now more than ever before owners throughout the UK are benefiting from this service too. But what does a remote consultation involve and how could it help your horse? Owners often come to me with all sorts of questions. What is the best feed? How can I help my horse lose weight? Is the feed winding my horse up? Is my horse’s diet balanced? Having a remote consultation from an independent nutritionist like myself should help to solve all of your feeding mysteries in an unbiased, trustworthy, qualified way and set you on the straight and narrow. With my remote consultations the process starts upon booking. You are sent a questionnaire via email asking all sorts of questions about your horse. This includes stats such as their age, height, breed, through to information you may not have considered like their temperament, how often you work them, their clinical history to name a few. Each of these points are important to help determine the correct diet for your horse. Having this information in advance also means that during the appointment we can really make the most of our time on the phone. I also ask for various photos of your horse so that I can get a visual as to the horse I am discussing. The consultation itself lasts for around an hour on the phone and during that time we go through the diet as a whole, so not just hard feed, but also forage, grazing, supplements (where appropriate) and electrolytes. Being independent I have no association with any feed company so this advice is literally based on what is right for your horse. Changes to the diet are made where necessary and the reasons explained, leaving owners educated and better able to make decisions of their own in future. You can ask the questions you have always wanted answering and leave with a clear plan as to how to implement the new diet, or with reassurance that you were already on the right path. Following this you receive a written report via email summarising all of the advice, so you have something to refer back to. To book your remote feed consultation please do get in touch on 07901 337826 or donna@thehorse feedguru.com
www.thehorsefeed guru.com
DENGIE’S PARTNERSHIP: WRITTLE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Dengie is proud to announce their new partnership with Writtle University College as their ‘Official Fibre Feed Provider’. Dengie have collaborated with Writtle for many years providing students with an insight to the feed industry through lectures and hosting tours to see the ‘field to feed’ process that is unique to Dengie.
Equine Resource Manager, Dan Cook, said: "We were looking to secure a partnership with a company that shared our enthusiasm and vision for the physical supply of feed to both our bespoke sports horse stud and equine training and development centres, along with helping to facilitate and enhance the student experience and learning opportunities along the way.”
FEEDING HORSES PRONE TO GASTRIC ULCERS
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a term which can span a wide spectrum of severity from a very slight inflammation of the stomach wall, right through to severe ulceration and bleeding. There is undoubtedly much more to learn about the causes, management and prevention of EGUS.
We currently often categorise the severity from 0-4, with 0 being a normal, healthy stomach wall, and 4 showing significant and widespread ulceration. The occurrence of EGUS is surprisingly high and whilst the exact number is unknown, some studies suggests that over 90% of racehorses, 60% of performance horses and up to 50% of leisure horses may suffer from gastric ulcers at some point in their lives. So we can understand how and why gastric ulcers occur, it is important to understand the anatomy of the horse’s stomach. The stomach has two distinct regions - the top half is known as the squamous or non-glandular region, the bottom half as the glandular or gastric. As the gastric region is where enzymes that digest the horse’s food are excreted, this area tends naturally to be fairly well protected from acid attacking the stomach wall and therefore causing damage. The squamous or non-glandular region however, acts as a holding area for the food as it makes its way through and therefore has very little protection from acidity. Because of this, it relies entirely on a continuous flow of fibre coming in to help protect it. This helps to explain why we are all told we should feed our horses ‘ad-lib’ fibre - if they can continually pick at fibre, the stomach will continually have fibre moving through, therefore helping to protect it from ulceration. Additionally, the horse’s saliva helps to neutralise the acid in their stomach. Unlike humans, horses only salivate when they are physically eating, so the more time we can allow them to chew, the more saliva they will produce, and the less chance there is of them being prone to ulcers. Traditionally we may have thought that ulcers in this Squamous region were caused by diets low in fibre but high in starch. However, it is now believed that exercise regimes can have a huge impact on ulcers in this area as intense exercise may cause ‘acid splash’. For this reason, it may often be suggested that you ensure the horse has had a small fibre based bucket feed (i.e. dried alfalfa) before exercise. This allows a protective mat of fibre to be formed, preventing the splash effect and therefore protecting the vulnerable squamous region. Common symptoms of gastric ulcers can include: - Weight loss - Decreased appetite - Recurrent colic - Decreased performance - Irritability - Teeth grinding Whilst these symptoms can be indicative of many other issues, if several or all of them are being exhibited, it may be that your horse is prone to EGUS. The only way to get a definitive diagnosis is for your vet to perform an endoscopy where a thin optical cable is inserted through a nostril and down into the stomach so any signs of ulceration can be seen. EGUS and diet For horses and ponies thought to be prone to EGUS, the best advice for any owner is to try and keep their horse as naturally as possible. Although not always possible, maximum amounts of time spent grazing is always beneficial. For any time spent stabled, ensure that ad-lib access to fibre is always available. Low calorie bagged forages with lower sugar and starch levels are ideal for horse and ponies that hold their weight well or are in light work, but for those that struggle to maintain condition or are working harder, a higher calorie forage would be a better choice. Choose one with BETA NOPS certification if you are competing so you have complete peace of mind. When thinking about your bucket feed, try to ensure starch levels are kept as low as possible. Choose products that are high in fibre, a complete fibre-based feed which contains a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals is often ideal. This type of feed, when fed at the correct rate, requires no addition of supplements or cereal-based products. Alfalfa is a proven acidity buffer, so a feed which contains alfalfa is often a good option for managing horses prone to EGUS.
www.horsehage.co.uk
Pro Gut Balancer powder is a unique combination of pre and probiotics, together with a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), to help maintain the health of the gut microbiome in the light of the many challenges faced by modern performance horses. Promotes optimum digestive function and energy from dietary fibre sources. The supplement boosts immunity and promotes the synthesis of vital B vitamins and vitamin K by the gut microbiota. www.equineamerica.co.uk
RRP: from £15.40
Pro-biotics are naturally occurring cultures of specific strains of beneficial bacteria. These organisms work together in the gut to assist lactic acid production, producing digestive enzymes to aid normal gut function. Prozyme E pro-biotic powder works in the digestive system and overpopulates bad bacteria with beneficial bacteria. The introduction of this bacteria will help to maintain balance as nature intended. RRP: £17.85. www.animal-health.co.uk
At this moment in time, it is vitally important for individuals and businesses to review their insurance. There has been a lot in the press that some did not have the cover they expected when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. On the back of Covid, and many claims earlier in the year due to the weather, we are in what is known as a ‘hardening’ insurance market.
In a hard insurance market, premiums rise at a rate above what would normally be expected. Due to these circumstances, now is a good time to insure with a specialist insurance broker who should have buying power with the insurers and can ensure continuation of cover for assets and liabilities at reasonable cost. SEIB’s Deputy CEO, Suzy Middleton said, “We haven’t seen a hard market since 2001 and therefore many have not experienced the volatility that could follow. It is imperative for those looking for insurance cover not to chase the cheapest rate but to check very carefully that you have the cover you need with a reputable company.” A perfect storm of factors has resulted in the market ‘hardening’. Before Covid struck in March 2020, premiums were already being squeezed. In the last half of 2019, property insurance rates were affected following several significant fires – over 20 happened with pay outs of
INSURANCE PREMIUMS:
SET TO RISE IN THE UK
over £10 million each. Also, the Ogden rate, which works out ‘lump sum’ payouts for personal injury claims has increased, resulting in larger settlements per case to ensure adequate funds for lifetime care if required. Storms Dennis and Ciara caused widespread havoc in February 2020 resulting in insurance settlements in excess of £400 million. Low interest rates and high reinsurance rates compounded these problems all of which have now been dwarfed by Covid-19. People requiring insurance cover in niche sectors including the equestrian market may be able to minimise the effect of the hard market premium rises through using the services of a specialist broker with detailed experience of the market. An experienced, effective broker will have excellent and flexible relationships with several insurers meaning the pool of available cover is vastly increased. Suzy Middleton added, “You need a broker who knows what they are talking about. Be careful who you use as some insurers may be unrated or not financially stable. The last thing anyone needs is trying to reclaim costs in the midst of a pandemic if the underwriter goes under.” SEIB Insurance Brokers CEO, Barry Fehler said, “My advice is to work with a specialist broker who understands your needs and prepare for your renewal earlier than normal. This will give more time to find the best package for you in the current market. Be flexible. The market has changed and you might need to make changes to your cover, to ensure you get what you need at a desirable price.” Barry Fehler continued, “With all our years working as brokers in the industry, SEIB have strong relationships with our insurers that are behind long-established policies for the equestrian business community. To date this has helped keep rate increases comparatively low. Many of our team are horse owners and riders with some competing at a high level. This helps us to understand the challenges you and your business are facing due to the pandemic.”
