Knowledge
Nutrition Focus
Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist
Back to Basics Rules to remember for feeding
The Basic Rules of Feeding apply from high goal down to Pony Club
After a busy summer and thinking of winding down for the winter months, either for horses to go out for a well earnt holiday or horses coming in for arena polo, I felt I wanted to recap some of the basics that many of us know, but too often in the everyday rush we find ourselves forgetting and not adhering to the Basic Rules of Feeding. Too often I see the level scoop of feed creeping up to the large rounded scoop, which would almost be 1½ scoops! Dirty feed and water buckets take time to scrub, I appreciate that, but being grubby will increase the risk of bacteria or put off the fussy eater from wanting to eat. Changing diets quickly as the polo season changes so quickly, but perhaps rather than an overnight change a gradual change will reduce the risks associated with rapid changes. Aren’t the Basic Rules of Feeding for Pony Club tests? Yes, the basics are covered at Pony Club, but whether we are feeding to play in the high goal or for our children to play in the Jorrocks Pony Club Championships, the basics should still be implemented. Why do we need to think about the basics of feeding? Because we are feeding horses that are expected to perform, and in doing so we must promote overall good 66
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health by enhancing and supporting the health of the digestive tract, thus enabling maximum performance whilst maintaining condition. Some of the basic rules are the following: 1. Plenty of Forage As you well know, fibre is something I am always going on about, the horse is designed to eat fibre very efficiently, hence evolving as a Trickle Feeder and eating up to 18 hours per day – not stabled and fed hay twice per day which is gone in an hour! Fibre helps with: * Reducing the Risk of Colic * Reducing the Risk of Ulcers * Reducing the Risk of Boredom/ Stereotypical Behaviour • An adult horse can produce up to 30 litres of acid in their stomach a day • Feeding 1.5 percent of bodyweight of forage per day is the minimum forage intake – any less will compromise the digestive tract. For context, a 500kg horse requires 7.5kgs per day. • If forage is restricted to the minimum daily requirement, split it over several feeds per day – not two.
Forage, such as hay, should not be restricted, even when travelling
2. Feed Each Horse as an Individual Every horse is different and should be fed according to their individual needs – not one feed for all! Factors to consider…. o Workload o Body Fat/Condition/Muscle o Temperament www.polotimes.co.uk
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