Winter feeding

WINTER WAISTLINE WATCHING

IT’S NOT ONLY THE HUMAN POPULATION THAT HAS SEEN LEVELS OF OBESITY ON THE RISE. HORSE OWNERS ARE INFLICTING SIMILAR LEVELS OF OVER-FEEDING ON THEIR EQUINE FRIENDS AND, AS WITH HUMANS, THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE SERIOUS, SAYS HELEN TRIGGS.

Most dressage horses are carrying extra kilos according to vets and equine nutritionists. While they don’t need to be as streamlined as a race horse, they need to be carrying muscle not flab.

In the winter, turnout is often restricted and exercise may be limited so owners should review their feeding programme to match the new situation. Apart from the extra strain on joints and tendons that overweight causes, there are some serious medical conditions which can cause the cause suffering and can be life-limiting.

Lizzie Drury MSC RNUTR, nutritionist for Saracen Feeds, says We need to take off our rose-tinted glasses and look at our horses with fresh eyes. There’s no short or quick fix for an overweight horse. There has to be a long-term commitment – and if you fall off the plan, keep persevering.

“Winter makes everything worse. We keep our horses too wrapped up – they need to be kept on the cool side to help support a weight loss programme.”

By monitoring the amount of calories in the form of sugars and starch in the horse’s food, preventable metabolic conditions can be prevented.

ABOVE: OVERWEIGHT HORSES ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHICH CAN BE LIFE-LIMITING. LEFT: TURNOUT MAY BE RESTRICTED AND EXERCISE LIMITED IN WINTER, SO FEEDING REGIMES SHOULD BE REVIEWED. OPPOSITE: WHILE HORSES APPRECIATE GOOD RUGS WHEN TURNED OUT, KEEPING THEM ON THE COOL SIDE HELPS SUPPORT A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMME.

FIRST STEP

At the beginning of winter, check your horse’s body conditioning score. You can fi nd an explanation of what to look for on horse feed manufacturers websites. If your horse is measuring as fat, it is time to review his feed and exercise regime before complications can set in.

Emma Short of Baileys Horse Feeds recommends a gradual introduction of any new regime: “Any dietary adjustment including a change of forage should be made gradually. For those who have clinical conditions such as EMS/PSSM then this may pose more complications (due to diff ering nutrient and energy contributions of the forage fed) and more care may need to be taken to ensure that the diet remains balanced. Introduce diff erent food sources in advance during the autumn before horses are stabled for longer lengths of time.”

AVOIDING METABOLIC CONDITIONS

The results of allowing the horse to eat too much sugar and starch and accumulate fat can be severe. While metabolic impairment may be building up for some time, there can be a sudden onset of symptoms which require veterinary intervention. Reduced exercise, longer stabling and the switch from grass to dried forage mean that feeding programmes need to be reassessed.

Dr. Marga Mas Fiol DVM MRCVS PGDip of Chiltern quine has defi nitely seen a rise in cases of equine obesity which is likely an indicator of the increasing prevalence of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) in the UK. Insulin dysregulation is at the centre of this condition – it can be aggravated by incorrect feeding and exercise practices and be particularly dangerous in horses who develop PPID

DIET CHANGE OFFERS HOPE

Jenni Lamidey was looking forward to a bright future with her six-year-old Hanoverian mare Heli after gaining some good placings at Area Festivals in 2019, before Heli started to struggle.

“She became reluctant to go forward in the school and would hump her back and buck going into canter,” she explains. “She was in good condition, although she soon began to show muscle atrophy over her gluteals. It took a year to get a diagnosis of PSSM, during which she underwent various invasive treatments that have not helped her at all.”

Jenny has since switched her mare onto a ‘pssm diet’ (low sugar and starch) with Vitamin E and Tri Amino supplements, and uses a Theraplate to warm up and cool down, and says she is a different horse.

“I’m back lightly schooling and hacking again, and she’s a happy bunny! I hope to return to dressage when she is ready.”

ABOVE INSET: A PSSM DIAGNOSIS FOR ‘HELI’ HAS BEEN MANAGED THROUGH DIET AND RIDER JENNI HOPES TO GET BACK IN THE COMPETITION ARENA IN TIME.

KT EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY

ABOVE: A COMBINATION OF SOAKING AND STEAMING HAY CAN LEACH WATER SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATES, WHICH CAN BE HELPFUL IF HORSES ARE PRONE TO METABOLIC DISORDERS. RIGHT: IF HORSES HAVE A REDUCED WORKLOAD OVER WINTER, THEIR DIET SHOULD BE BASED ON FORAGE WITH A BALANCER OR HIGH FIBRE FEEDS.

(Cushings disease). “We need to move on from the idea that EMS is a disease of native breeds – it can aff ect any breed, said Marga. Research shows that obesity which is abnormal distribution of body fat can aff ect 20- of horses. The main problem is the horse’s inability to regulate insulin, whose main function is to draw sugars and starches from the blood stream for storage and later use. In the MS horse, certain parts of the pathway are disrupted and a high peak of insulin after eating doesn’t come down. A high level of circulating insulin can lead to increase cortisone levels and infl ammatory molecules which have a negative eff ect at multiple levels – particularly by increasing the risk of laminitis. olysaccharide storage myopathy SSM is associated with abnormal accumulation of glycogen within muscle. It is a frequent cause of exertional rhabdomyolysis tying up in horses, and is particularly common in quarter horse, draught and warmblood breeds, together with their crosses.

In both these conditions it is important to regulate the intake of sugars and starch. Feeds and forage need to contain less than 12 non structural carbohydrate NSC . FIBRE FIRST

“Fibre makes up the largest portion of the horse’s diet and therefore provides a subsequent amount of nutrients and energy calories . Bacteria that live in the horse’s hind gut break down fi bre by fermenting it, generating heat which keeps the horse warm, says mma Short. The horse will naturally eat more fi bre in the winter months and less in the summer as a way of regulating his own body temperature. Therefore, unless you have an overweight horse or pony, forage can be fed ad-lib in the winter. If the quantity of available grass is poor, then you may need to consider supplementing further with hay or haylage in the fi eld.

Analysis can determine the digestible energy calorie content of the forage as well as the NSC or water soluble carbohydrates WSC , which will then determine if the forage needs to be soaked. High temperature steaming will conserve most nutrients including protein and minerals. uring steaming, the one nutrient you will lose some of is the WSC which can be helpful if the horse is prone to metabolic conditions, says Becky ames, ice President of Technical and R& at Haygain. If you need to drastically reduce the nutritional content then research has shown the most eff ective method is a combination of soaking and steaming – soak the hay for nine hours followed by a standard steam cycle. This combination of soaking and then steaming can leach four times the amount of WSC compared with single steaming and reduces the bacteria (increased by soaking by up to .

GOOD MANAGEMENT

In general for horses over-wintering that are stabled and are in less work, the diet should be based on forage, with a balancer or high fi bre feeds. That way you reduce the risk of tying up, excitable behaviour and digestive issues such as colic, says Clare Barfoot, Marketing and R& irector at Spillers. lectrolyte balance should be maintained, and all horses should have access to a salt block with additional salt or electrolyte supplement supplied after heavy sweating. If your horse is in hard work and on a cereal based diet, reduce feed by half from the night before his day off until the evening after, to reduce the risk of tying up.

For information on condition scoring, visit Saracenhorsefeeds.com, spillers-feeds.com or baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

PRODUCT WATCH

WINTER FEED

ROWEN BARBARY SOLUTION MASH is a high

oil, high fi bre, fully balanced feed. The cereal and molasses-free mash, results in less than 1% sugar. Solution Mash promotes controlled weight gain and condition, whilst providing slow release energy for improved stamina. Contains natural herbs benefi cial to digestive health.

RRP: FROM £16.78 | rowenbarbary.co.uk

SARACEN HORSE FEEDS ESSENTIAL BALANCER

is a cost effective, low intake, complete feed balancer for horses and ponies of all ages and activity levels, who do not require any additional calories this winter. This low sugar, low starch, non-heating balancer can be fed alongside a forage-only diet to provide a balanced ration. It contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support immune function, general health and well-being as well as a live yeast and healthy hoof package.

RRP: £31.50 | saracenhorsefeeds.com

BAILEYS PERFORMANCE BALANCER can

helpensure a horse’s diet continues to supply essential nutrition, while you controlthe calories. The protein helps build and maintain muscle and top line, without the need for specialist supplementation. A range of vitamins and minerals help to support healthy hoof growth, metabolism and wellbeing. With a negligible calorie content, it can be fed as the sole concentrate, or alongside reduced amounts of a mix or cube.

RRP: £28 FOR 20KG

performancebalancer.co.uk

NAF GASTRIAID

is an advanced formula containing a unique blend of key ingredients to maintain gastric health, soothe the stomach wall and support the balance of pH levels within the gut. Hundreds of happy horses have settled on GastriAid – the symptoms may not always be the same but the answer is GastriAid.

RRP: FROM £32.99 FOR 1.8KG

Naf-equine.eu

BSC-GASTRO

provides a powerful blend of proven extracts to support gastric healing and mucosal defence against acid wear. This triple-pronged formula of omega, anti-oxidant and prebiotic extracts nourishes both the upper and lower stomach, as well as helping to soothe and stabilise the hindgut. A highly palatable liquid supplement, feeding rate can be adjusted to cover periods of increased risk such as stabling, travel and competition. Fully FEI complaint.

RRP: £75 FOR 3 LITRES 15% OFF YOUR FIRST BOTTLE – USE CODE

GASTRO15 | nupafeed.co.uk

HAYGAIN HAY STEAMERS reduce up to 99% of

airborne respirable dust, mould, fungi and bacteria in hay and haylage. This has been scientifi cally proven to have many health benefi ts. Haygain's patented steam technology purifi es the hay from the inside out while the double insulated chest allows temperatures to reach over 100 degrees celcius to help kill unwanted pathogens found – even in the best quality hay. The Haygain HG One model is compact and lightweight, for use at home and away at competitions.

RRP: £789.00 | Haygain.co.uk

SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF MOLASSES-FREE is great

for those concerned about molasses. This low-calorie fi bre blend with garlic and oil has no added sugar. It contains biotin to support hoof growth, is approved by the Laminitis Trust and can be used as a partial or total hay replacer.

RRP: £14.75 FOR 20KG | spillers-feeds.com

DENGIE PURE GRASS

Forage should make up the largest part of any horse's diet. As winter progresses horses tend to be stabled for longer and grazing becomes sparse, reliance on hay and haylage increases. Dengie Pure Grass can extend or totally replace forage. This naturally sweet, soft, short-chopped fi bre can be used to provide additional calories for poor-doers or provide an alternative fi bre source whilst stabled for longer periods. 100% natural, British-grown grasses, free from molasses, preservatives, straw and fl avours.

RRP: £13.25 FOR 15KG | dengie.com

PHARMATRAC provides complete digestive support and can be fed as part of a routine feeding regime or during periods of change and digestive upset. Containing the highest-grade active ingredients with zero fillers or bulking agents, PharmaTRAC provides targeted support to both the fore and hindgut, helping to maintain an optimal gastric environment. PharmaTRAC is recommended for use during training, travelling or when feeding patterns have been compromised. Bettalife offers a full money back guarantee.

RRP: RRP: £39.99 FOR 1KG | Bettalife.co.uk

RYEGRASS HORSEHAGE is a high quality, dust-free, bagged forage containing no additives, made from a selection of ryegrasses and cut at an earlier stage of growth to provide optimum protein and energy levels. Ryegrass is great for horses requiring a little more from their forage and can also be fed to help gain weight and improve condition. HorseHage has FEMAS and BETA NOPS certification and comes with a 100% quality guarantee.

RRP: FROM £8.50 | horsehage.co.uk

TOPSPEC COMPREHENSIVE FEED BALANCER

is a nutrient-rich, concentrated feed designed to promote musculo-skeletal development and performance. High levels of essential amino acids plus many nutrients help support muscle and bone development and function. It also promotes a shiny coat and tail growth. The base formula is cereal grain-free and low in sugar and starch.

RRP: £30.95 FOR 15KG

topspec.com

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