6 minute read
TopSpec
HEALTHY BODY CONDITION IN SHOW HORSES
The Horse Trust’s Healthy Body Condition campaign in showing was well received in 2019 and 2021, and some of the most prestigious shows in the country are keen to take part in the initiative in 2022 at both affiliated and unaffiliated levels.
Advertisement
The programme is supported by evidence obtained at the University of Liverpool by Behaviour Change Scientist Dr Tamzin Furtado who developed the programme in partnership with The Horse Trust. The aim is to raise awareness of healthy equine body condition in showing, to provide guidance and to encourage owners, riders, and producers to recognise the health and welfare benefits of maintaining a healthy body condition. Tamzin Furtado, says, “Horses who are overweight or cresty are often celebrated for their condition - and we want to slightly challenge that, by celebrating horses in ideal body condition.” Selected show classes in participating shows throughout the year were assessed for body condition by a vet and the horses who have the healthiest body condition were awarded one of the Horse Trust’s coveted green and gold rosettes. David Ingle, Director of Showing at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead and former Chairman of The Showing Council, said, “Showing is keen to become more educational and we are in an era of great improvement in equine welfare, with increasing scrutiny under social license. This initiative helps to shine a light on this important aspect of showing.” Loraine Homer’s 5-year-old bay mare Ballinclare took the award for healthiest body condition at the Royal International Horse Show 2021 having won the large intermediate show riding type class and championship, ridden by 19-year-old Alice Homer. The mare was also third in the large hack class. When asked about Ballinclare’s routine, Alice said, “She pretty much lives out and loves food, so she often comes in at the end of Winter with a bit of a tummy. But I think it’s the thoroughbred in her which helps her condition. We spend most of the time keeping the weight off her as I think they look classier and much better fit.” The British Equine Veterinary Association considers equine obesity to be one of the highest-ranking equine health risks today. The Horse Trust is working with several organisations in the horse world to come up with practical solutions to enable human behaviour around equine obesity to be changed for the better. Jan Rogers of The Horse Trust says, “We all get very upset by seeing photos of underweight horses in the media, but in reality, far more horses are obese than are underweight. This is very worrying for vets who are finding that they must treat these horses with serious health conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Laminitis.” Keep an eye out for information on the Horse Trust’s social media platforms for #TheWeighToWin on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ballinclare & Alice Homer presented rosette at the RIHS by Dr Tamzin Furtado
WIN!
ONE LUCKY READER TO WIN 4 BAGS OF TOPSPEC SENIOR FEED BALANCER
TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer is designed for elderly horses. It combines the benefits of a feed balancer and a joint supplement, in a highly cost-effective way. Senior Feed Balancer is formulated without cereal grains and provides only low levels of sugar and starch. It is important to keep the starch intake of elderly horses low when fibre intake is compromised, in order to maintain healthy hindgut function and avoid loose droppings. Senior Feed Balancer includes the scientifically recommended rate of glucosamine in a daily quantity of feed to help maintain mobility., and it contains several supplements which provide the levels of micronutrients and digestive aids normally only found in high quality specialised supplements. www.topspec.com
RRP: £37.75 - 15kg
To enter: Visit www.absolutehorse magazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st March and close 30th April 2022.
NEW HAYLAGE:
UK NATIVE GRASSES
Horse forage company Silvermoor Ltd is launching a new variety of haylage. The new magical minty unicorn haylage is low sugar and high fibre, ideal for laminitics and to aid weight management in ponies and horses.
The haylage has been sprinkled with Silvermoor’s signature unicorn minty flavouring to create an irresistible forage. A first for the UK unicorn haylage is made with only UK native grasses, cocksfoot and timothy. This blend of grasses has under 10% non-structural carbohydrates, so is suitable for laminitics, and in-line with Silvermoor’s existing haylage range is dust free. www.silvermoor.com
efeeds.com www.britishhorsefeeds.com www.britishis
Brand New Website...
The team at British Horse Feeds has launched a brand new website with a fresh modern design but still in keeping with the iconic brand image.
Easy to navigate, the website is packed with features including company profile, the team behind the brand, products, feeding advice, stockist locater and loyalty scheme. A new, easy to search nutrition section has been updated to provide an online hub of information. You can read all about relevant topics from feeding the laminitic to nutrition for those prone to gastric ulcers.
Fresh New Packaging...
Dengie’s Cool, Condition & Shine feed is the latest product in the range to have a packaging makeover. Cool, Condition & Shine will still be easily recognisable in its distinctive purple bag but will now feature Incognito, an 8-year-old, 16.2 Warmblood.
Incognito was bought as an unbacked 3-year-old has been backed and produced by event rider Alicia Wilkinson. He and Alicia are out competing at Novice eventing and also enjoy team chasing and beach rides, all of which he does on an entirely fibre based diet!
www.dengie.com
MOLLICHAFF
TO THE RESCUE
Owned by Clare Lague, Barkway Katrin known as Kitty in the stable, was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) two years ago and had to have a strict diet change.
Standing at 12hh, 14-year-old Kitty is a stunning Welsh B pony. She was worked as a lead rein/first ridden pony by Clare’s daughter but is now semiretired. She mainly shows in-hand now and enjoys hacks out. The first time Clare took Kitty to a show was a local one and Kitty won all her classes coming home with Section Champion and Supreme Champion. It is clear that Kitty is a true all-rounder. Having done her research on HorseHage & Mollichaff ten years ago (when she first had a youngster), Clare started out feeding Mollichaff Herbal to all her horses. But when Kitty was diagnosed with EMS in 2019, Clare had to change Kitty’s diet to a very strict one due to her condition. So Clare moved Kitty on to Mollichaff Hoofkind Complete. “Mollichaff HoofKind Complete has everything in it that Kitty is allowed. I get constant compliments on how well she looks and people don’t believe that I don’t feed any extra supplements.” Mollichaff HoofKind Complete is a complete feed that is low in starch and sugar, high in fibre and does not contain any cereals. It provides a low level but high quality protein and restricted calories to give limited, controlled energy from high quality digestible fibre and oil-based ingredients, making it an excellent feed for good doers as well as those prone to laminitis.
