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Part of the Barley & Molasses Free Range, Fast Fibre is a high fibre feed, with a combined Sugar & Starch level of 7.5%, making it ideal for laminitics. It is also fast-‐soaking and can be fed as a complete or partial hay replacer.
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FAST FIBRE The Hay Replacer, Fibre Provider
A high fibre, low starch and sugar diet could benefit your horse this winter. Find out how...
W
hether your horse needs a lowcalorie bucket feed to prevent weight gain, reduce the risk of fizzy behaviour, provide essential vitamins or act as a hay replacer, Fast Fibre can help. Thanks to its low calorie, starch and sugar levels, it’s suitable for good doers, horses who tend to be excitable on other low-energy feeds, and veterans. And because its combined starch and sugar level is just 7.5% (below the 10% level that’s recommended limit) it’s safe for laminitics, too.
Fast Fibre®
Why fibre matters
Aside from water, fibre is the most important component of your horse’s diet. Not only is it vital for good digestive health, but its digestion creates body heat as it’s fermented in the gut, which helps to keep him warm on cold days. Fibre is also an excellent source of slow-release energy to fuel work and maintain weight. With a high fibre content of 26%, Fast Fibre can be used as a hay replacer – ideal for horses who struggle to chew or who simply don’t eat enough fibre to meet their nutritional needs.
FAST FIBRE IS...
Caring for golden oldies
Advances in veterinary science and an increase in our understanding and management of their needs means the population of veteran horses is increasing. But with advancing age comes a natural decline in dental condition that can greatly affect your horse’s ability to efficiently chew, and therefore digest, long-stem fibres such as hay. If he’s isn’t getting enough fibre in his diet your horse will lose weight, regardless of how much high calorie feed you give him. And horses who don’t eat enough fibre are more likely to develop serious problems, including gastric ulcers and colic, as well as behavioural problems such as aggression, grumpiness and crib-biting.
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For more information on Fast Fibre visit allenandpage.co.uk
01362 822902 l helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or on Facebook @allenandpagefeed
l quick and easy to prepare – its unique recipe enables it to be soaked in under a minute l suitable for use as a soaked hay replacer or bucket feed to increase your horse’s water intake, which helps to keep his digestive system functioning efficiently l free from barley, molasses, whole cereals and alfalfa l fully balanced with vitamins and minerals when fed at the recommended amounts for your horse’s size and work load l flavoured with natural herbs including mint and fenugreek – it contains no artificial flavours or aromas l boosted by added prebiotics to help maintain a heathy digestive system and linseed as a source of omega 3 fatty acids for allround good health and coat condition
• High Fibre – 26% • May be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement • Only 7.5% combined starch & sugar level • Low calorie • Barley and molasses free • Balanced with vitamins and minerals • Includes real mint and fenugreek – natural herbs for a natural flavour
Contact our award winning nutritional helpline:
01362 822 902 helpline@allenandpage.co.uk Quote Ad Reference: Fast Fibre QS
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QUICK SOAK less than
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seconds!
Fast Fibre
QUICK SOAK less than
60
seconds!
A diet that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar benefits many horses and Fast Fibre is the ideal quick soak fibre feed to keep in stock this winter. Whether your customers need a simple low calorie bucket feed just to provide essential vitamins and minerals or a complete hay replacement diet, Fast Fibre can help meet their horses’ nutritional needs. Fast Fibre is a low calorie/energy feed, making it suitable for good doers and with a very low starch and sugar level, it is also ideal for horses who tend to be excitable on other low energy feeds. It is well recognised that the relatively high starch and sugar levels of more traditional feeds can lead to fizzy and excitable behaviour, but keeping the starch and sugar levels of a horse’s diet as low as possible can have a positive effect on behaviour. Fast Fibre is the perfect choice for customers who have horses or ponies prone to, or at risk of developing laminitis as its combined starch and sugar level of just 7.5% falls below the 10% level that is recommended as safe for laminitics. With a high fibre content of 26%, Fast Fibre is also particularly useful as a complete or partial hay replacer for horses and ponies who struggle to chew due to worn or missing teeth, or who simply don’t eat as much fibre as they need to meet their nutritional needs. Aside from water, fibre is the most important component of every horse’s diet; not only is it vital for good digestive health but its digestion also creates body heat as it is fermented in the gut, which helps to keep the horse warm during colder weather. Fibre is an excellent source of slow release energy to fuel work and maintain weight and for the majority of horses, their fibre requirements are easily met through grazing and supplementary hay or haylage. Thanks to advances in veterinary
science and an increase in owners understanding and management of their needs, horses are living longer than ever before and the population of veteran horses is significantly increasing. Unfortunately with advancing age comes a natural decline in dental condition that can greatly affect the older horse’s ability to chew long stem fibre efficiently. If a horse is not getting enough fibre in his diet, he will lose weight regardless of how much high calorie 'bucket' feed he may also be given. Horses that do not eat enough fibre are more likely to develop serious problems, including gastric ulcers and colic. A lack of fibre can also cause behavioural problems, including aggression, grumpiness and crib biting, due to the horse’s inability to fulfil natural feeding and chewing behaviours. Fast Fibre is an ideal choice of feed for horses that need an additional source of easy to eat fibre.
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Fast Fibre® • High Fibre – 26% • May be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement • Only 7.5% combined starch & sugar level • Low calorie • Barley and molasses free • Balanced with vitamins and minerals
Fast Fibre is quick and easy to prepare and its unique recipe enables it to be soaked in under a minute so owners can be sure that their horse’s feed is always fresh! Some horses, particularly veterans, can be reluctant to drink enough water, especially in the winter, but feeding Fast Fibre as a soaked hay replacer or bucket feed can significantly increase their water intake, which helps to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently. As part of our ever-popular Barley & Molasses Free Range, Fast Fibre is free from barley and molasses and also doesn’t contain any whole cereal grains or alfalfa, making it ideal for horses and ponies who suffer from intolerances to these common feed ingredients. Being fully balanced with vitamins and minerals (when fed at the recommended amount according to the horse’s size and work load) means Fast Fibre can be fed completely on its own with no need to add anything else to the feed. Fast Fibre contains no artificial flavours or aromas, instead we only use natural herbs for a natural flavour. Mint and fenugreek are included for their well-known properties and to ensure it is appealing to even the fussiest of horses. Fast Fibre contains FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) and MOS (Mannanoligosaccharides) prebiotics to help maintain a heathy digestive system and linseed is included as a source of omega 3 fatty acids for all round good health and coat condition.
DECEMBER 2017 EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS
FAST FIBRE The Hay Replacer, Fibre Provider
www.equestriantradenews.com
• Includes real mint and fenugreek – natural herbs for a natural flavour
Contact our award winning nutritional helpline:
01362 822 902 helpline@allenandpage.co.uk Quote Ad Reference: Fast Fibre QS
www.allenandpage.com
QUICK SOAK less than
60
seconds!
ADVERTISING FEATURE
‘With low starch and sugar levels, it’s ideal for horses who are excitable on other low-energy feeds’
QUICK SOAK less than
The perfect choice of feed A diet that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar benefits many horses. Fast Fibre is the ideal quicksoak fibre feed — whether your horse needs a simple, low calorie feed or a complete hay replacement
F
AST Fibre is a low-calorie, low-energy feed, which makes it suitable for good doers. With very low starch and sugar levels, it is also ideal for horses who tend to be excitable on other low-energy feeds. The relatively high starch and sugar levels of more traditional feeds can lead to fizzy and excitable horses. Therefore, keeping starch and sugar to a minimum in their diet can have a positive effect on overall behaviour. Fast Fibre is the perfect choice for any horse or pony prone to, or at risk of, developing laminitis because it has a combined starch and sugar level of just 7.5% — below the 10% level that is recommended as safe for laminitics. With a high-fibre content of 26%, Fast Fibre is also particularly useful as a complete, or partial, hay replacer for horses and ponies
who struggle to chew due to worn or missing teeth. Fast Fibre is also quick and easy to prepare — its unique recipe enables it to be soaked in under a minute, so you can be sure that your horse’s feed is always fresh. Fast Fibre is free from barley and molasses and doesn’t contain any whole cereal grains or alfalfa. Therefore, it’s ideal for horses and ponies who suffer from intolerances to these common feed ingredients. Being fully balanced with vitamins and minerals (when fed at the recommended amounts for your horse’s size and workload) means Fast Fibre can be fed completely on its own — there is no need to add anything else to the feed. It also contains no artificial flavours; instead we only use natural herbs for a natural flavour. Mint and fenugreek are included for their well-known properties and to make it appealing to even the fussiest of horses.
60
seconds!
Above: Fast Fibre is quick and easy to prepare — it soaks in under a minute, so your horse’s feed is always fresh
Fast Fibre contains FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) and MOS (Mannan oligosaccharides) prebiotics to help maintain a heathy digestive system. Linseed is also included as a source of omega-3 fatty acids for all-round good health and coat condition. H&H
● For more information on feeding Fast Fibre visit: www.allenandpage.co.uk or call our friendly, award-winning nutrition helpline on 01362 822902. Email us at: helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or find us on Facebook @allenandpagefeed 2 November 2017 Horse & Hound 00
Equine Nutrition
Equine Nutrition
Equine Nutrition from our Panel of Experts About
Joanna Palmer
Equine Nutritionist Joanna Palmer has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture with Animal Science from Harper Adams University and has been a member of the award winning Allen & Page nutrition team since 2007. Joanna’s experience as an Equine Nutritionist helps guide owners on feeds and feeding, including both the nutritional and practical aspects of horse keeping. Joanna has ridden from a young age and competed regularly in Pony Club and Riding Club events. Nowadays, Joanna keeps a yard of 6 horses with a friend and enjoys hacking and schooling her Warmblood gelding Jaffa. They hope to make their competitive debut later this year!
If a horse is prone to laminitis, ensure any feed is high in fibre and with a low combined starch and sugar level of less than 10%
Article by Joanna Palmer, Equine Nutritionist, Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds
Feeding Laminitics A
s Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds explains, Laminitis continues to be a major concern for horse owners and is recognised as one of the most common and crippling diseases affecting horses, ponies and donkeys. Just like diabetes within the human population, laminitis is a lifelong, often debilitating disease that is time consuming and costly to deal with, not to mention heartbreaking for us as owners to watch our horses suffer. This is why preventing laminitis is of paramount importance and key to this is appropriate management to avoid the known trigger factors and careful feeding to maintain healthy body weights and prevent obesity.
What is laminitis? Laminitis is a painful, inflammatory condition of the sensitive layers (laminae) in the hoof. These laminae attach the pedal bone to the hoof wall and any inflammation causes pain and lameness. In severe cases the laminae can fail completely, leaving the pedal bone
detached from the hoof wall and able to rotate within the hoof capsule or sink downwards and protrude through the sole of the horse’s foot.
Symptoms of laminitis: Laminitis can affect all four feet but the clinical signs are often more noticeable in the front feet. • Your horse appears lame and may be reluctant to move, making only small, careful, ‘pottery’ strides. This may be more apparent on a turn or on hard surfaces. • Your horse appears uncomfortable and may shift his weight from one foot to another. The characteristic ‘laminitic stance’ with forelegs stretched forwards and weight shifted onto the heels to relieve pressure from the toes is commonly seen. • In severe cases, your horse may lie down for extended periods. • The hooves may feel abnormally warm, but this is not a reliable sign. • A pounding digital pulse can be felt in the pastern. • The sole of the hoof may be abnormally sensitive to pressure. Laminitis should be treated as a medical emergency – call your vet immediately.
What causes laminitis? What causes laminitis continues to be an area of huge research. It has become evident in recent years that although the over consumption of grass or feed high in starch or sugar is a major risk factor commonly associated with horses developing laminitis, up to 90% of cases have an underlying hormonal cause. This means that animals who suffer from problems such as: Cushing’s disease (also known as PPID – Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction), Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Insulin Resistance (IR) will have an increased risk of developing laminitis, particularly when exposed to a high starch and/or sugar diet. What is known for certain is that laminitis is a complex, multi-factorial disease that can range in severity from very mild to fatal. In susceptible horses and ponies, a laminitis 68 | Chiltern & THAMES RIDER
www.chilternrider.co.uk
If your horse gains weight easily, increasing the calories he uses through exercise will help to keep his weight in check
attack can be triggered by a variety of metabolic and physical causes including: • Hormonal (PPID, EMS, IR) • Excessive intakes of lush or frosted grass, molassed feed and cereal grains that leads to an overload of soluble carbohydrate in the hindgut • Obesity • Stress • Trauma • Lameness in one limb leading to excessive weight baring on the other limbs • Toxins – e.g. as a result of bacteria released during illness such as retained placenta, colic, or an infection in the body Cases of laminitis can vary greatly in their severity and prognosis and whilst every horse or pony has the potential to develop the disease, some are more at risk than others and once an individual has had laminitis they are more at risk of suffering recurrent episodes, regardless of the initial cause.
The importance of a good diet Although correct feeding will not cure a horse of laminitis, careful management and appropriate feeding can go a long way in controlling the severity of the condition and help prevent repeated attacks. Knowing which feeds are safe and which should be avoided is something all owners should be aware of. Generally speaking any horse or pony www.chilternrider.co.uk
prone to or at risk of developing laminitis should be fed a diet that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar. Fibre should form the basis of every horse’s diet to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning efficiently. A horse’s hind gut is populated with millions of bacteria which break down fibre by fermentation. Starch and sugar are normally digested in the small intestine, but when too much is fed some passes into the hind gut where rapid fermentation by the bacteria causes lactic acid to be produced. This acid production alters the pH of the hind gut and disrupts the careful balance of gut bacteria. The acidic environment can also damage the gut wall and allow dead bacteria and other endotoxins to enter the blood stream; this causes an inflammatory response in the body resulting in laminitis. Feeding a high fibre diet, particularly one which utilises ingredients such as beet pulp, oat fibre and alfalfa will not only supply the horse with essential nutrients but will also help to maintain a healthy hind gut microflora as well as providing anti-inflammatory properties.
Top tips to avoid laminitis Keep horses at ideal body weights When feeding any horse or pony with a history of laminitis it is firstly important to ensure his diet is reflecting his nutritional needs, most notably in maintaining a healthy weight. It is well recognised that overweight
and obese horses and ponies are more at risk of developing laminitis. By maintaining your horse at a healthy weight and body condition score, the risk of laminitis developing or recurring in the future can be lessened. You should be able to feel your horse’s ribs easily when you run your hand lightly across the ribcage and there should be no fat deposits or signs of a crest developing on the neck. Limit sugars in the diet If your horse requires a supplementary bucket feed ensure it is one which is high in fibre, with a low combined starch and sugar level of under 10%. Avoid feeds which contain cereals and added sugars such as molasses. Always check the label and ingredients list on your bags of feeds to know what you are Chiltern & THAMES RIDER | 69
Equine Nutrition feeding your horse and seek expert advice if you’re at all unsure what is suitable to feed. Choose additional calorie sources carefully Bear in mind that not all laminitics are the typical overweight ponies we usually associate with the condition; some are poor doers or hard working horses that require higher calorie/energy diets. Ingredients like beet pulp and alfalfa are not only high in fibre but they are also an excellent calorie source, containing as much energy as many cereal grains but without the high starch content. Oil is also an excellent source of extra calories that is safe for laminitics; in particular a linseed meal or oil would be a useful addition to the diet for any horse requiring an energy boost. Linseed is high in omega 3 oils and well known for its excellent anti-inflammatory properties within the body. Avoid frosted grass Laminitis isn’t just a spring and summer problem it can occur in the winter too, particularly when horses eat frosted grass. Avoid turnout on days when it is very cold but bright and sunny as the fructan (sugar) content of the grass will be at its highest. Wait until the temperature has risen and the frost has melted before turning out. Restrict grazing Unproductive, poor quality grazing is best for laminitis prone horses and ponies but as this isn’t often available, avoiding lush pasture and restricting grass intakes is very important. Strip grazing, implementing a tracked grazing system and the use of a grazing muzzle can all significantly reduce
Laminitis is a painful, inflammatory condition of the sensitive layers (laminae) in the hoof a horse’s grass intake whilst helping to maintain natural grazing behaviour. Feed a low energy forage Hay is more suitable for horses and ponies at risk of laminitis than haylage. For those prone to the disease and/or overweight, feed hay that has been soaked for 12-16 hours. Soaking hay leaches out the water soluble carbohydrates making it much lower in sugar and calories than unsoaked hay. Being lower in sugar means more can be fed to satisfy the horse’s need for a near constant supply of fibre, particularly when grazing is restricted. Increase exercise If your horse is prone to weight gain, increasing the calories he uses through
exercise will help to keep his weight in check. Whilst regular exercise is important for all round health, it is important to ensure your horse is fit enough for the work you are asking him to do. Avoid fast work on hard or stony ground to help prevent concussion to the hooves that can lead to laminitis. Be vigilant for changes in your horse’s health Unfortunately as horse’s age they become more susceptible to health problems and even though your horse may not have shown any signs of laminitis in his younger years, he may be more at risk as he ages. Cushing’s disease is common in older horses and ponies and laminitis is a frequent symptom due to the exaggerated insulin response (high insulin level) that occurs when affected animals ingest grass or supplementary feed with high sugar content. Symptoms of Cushing’s disease include recurrent laminitis, a thick coat growth that doesn’t shed normally, abnormal fat distribution and loss of topline, excessive sweating, increased thirst and urination, lethargy and repeated infections. Diagnostic tests are available through your vet and effective medication can help to alleviate symptoms when used alongside good management. Generally speaking, all horses that have Cushing’s disease should be treated as laminitics even if they have never suffered from the condition. For further advice on feeding your laminitis prone horse or pony contact our friendly, award winning nutrition team on 01362 822 902, email us at helpline@allenandpage.co.uk, visit our website www.allenandpage.com or find us on Facebook @allenandpagefeed
Every horse has the potential to develop laminitis, but some are more at risk than others and once laminitis occurs the risk of it happening again is much greater 70 | Chiltern & THAMES RIDER
www.chilternrider.co.uk
FASTTheFIBRE Hay Replacer,
Fibre Provider
PROMOTION
Emma Hurrell BSc (Hons), equine nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds, highlights the importance of fibre in a horse’s diet and suggests an alternative to feeding traditional forage.
The ideal forage replacement
A
QUICK SOAK less than
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Fast Fibre® • Super fast soak, in just 30–60 seconds • High Fibre – 26% • May be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement • Low calorie, low starch, low sugar* • Barley and molasses free • Balanced with vitamins and minerals *When compared to traditional diets with comparative energy levels
For friendly and helpful advice, contact our award-winning nutrition helpline today, email helpline@allenandpage.co.uk, or call
01362 822 902
s horse owners, we all know that fibre in the form of grass, hay or haylage should form the foundations of our horse’s diet. Fibre is not only vital to maintain digestive health and function but also satisfies the horse’s instinctive need to chew and provides them with a source of calories. Another important function is the generation of heat, which occurs when the friendly bacteria in your horse’s gut breaks down fibre. This helps to keep your horse warm, meaning fewer calories are used, so weight and body condition are maintained much better. If horses are not eating enough fibre, in a form they can manage, they may be prone to weight loss, colic or gastric ulcers. A low fibre intake is a common problem for older horses because they start to lose teeth or lose the grinding surface of their teeth due to wear. You may notice that your horse is pulling the hay out of his net but most of it is ending up on the stable floor, or you may find half chewed balls of grass out in the field where your horse has been quidding. Younger horses, too, may not eat as much long fibre as they should, particularly if they have been used to a routine where access to forage is limited, such as on a competition or racing yard or if they just don’t have much of an appetite for forage. But what can you do if your horse doesn’t eat enough long fibre? Allen & Page Fast Fibre, a high fibre, quick soaking feed, is an ideal forage replacement. As Fast Fibre forms a soft mash, it is easy for horses to chew. This will ensure that your horse still receives an appropriate level of fibre in his diet, which will help with weight maintenance and
will maintain a healthy digestive system. Fast Fibre is even suitable for horses and ponies that are prone to laminitis because it is unmolassed and contains no whole cereal grain, which results in it having a very low combined starch and sugar content of just 7.5 per cent. When used as a forage replacement, it is important to treat Fast Fibre like “a hay net in a bucket”. This means allowing access to the Fast Fibre throughout the day so your horse is encouraged to trickle feed. For reference, 1kg (dry weight) of Fast Fibre will replace 1kg of hay. For very quick eaters, Fast Fibre can be fed in large, shallow buckets, as the shallower covering of feed in the bucket will encourage the horse to take smaller mouthfuls. Splitting
the ration between two or three buckets dotted around the stable or field with also encourage natural grazing behaviour, hopefully allowing for a break before you horse moves on to the next bucket. n For further advice on feeding your horse, contact our friendly, award-winning nutrition team on 01362 822 902, email us at helpline@ allenandpage.co.uk, visit our website www.allenandpage.com or find us on Facebook @allenandpagefeed
Quote Ad Reference: Fast Fibre QS
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Contact the award-winning Allen & Page Nutritional Helpline
01362 822 902
PROMOTION
Quick and easy to prepare, just add water
Fibre provider Feed your horse a high fibre, balanced diet and he’ll be happy and healthy. Here, we take a look at Fast Fibre from Allen and Page
A
DIET THAT’S HIGH in fibre and low in starch and sugar will benefit many horses. Whether your horse or pony needs a simple low-calorie bucket feed to provide essential vitamins and minerals or a complete hay replacement diet, Fast Fibre is the ideal quick soak fibre feed to add to your feed room this winter. Fast Fibre is suitable for all horses, including laminitics. It’s well recognised that the relatively high starch and sugar levels of more traditional feeds can lead to fizzy behaviour, so keeping starch and sugar levels as low as possible can have a positive effect on your horse’s behaviour.
Fantastic fibre
There are so many benefits to feeding fibre to your horse. Here are just a few reasons why you should choose Fast Fibre. 1 With a high fibre content of 26%, Fast l Fibre can be used as a complete or partial hay replacer. 2 Aside from water, fibre is the most l important component of every horse’s diet. Not only is it vital for good digestive health, its digestion also creates body heat when it’s fermented in the gut, helping to keep your horse warm. 3 Fibre is an excellent source of slow l release energy to fuel work and maintain weight. For the majority of 78 YOUR HORSE FEBRUARY 2018
horses, fibre requirements are easily met through grazing and supplementary hay or haylage. 4 If your horse isn’t getting enough fibre l in his diet, he’ll lose weight regardless of how much high calorie ‘bucket’ feed he’s given. Horses that don’t eat enough fibre have a higher chance of developing serious problems like gastric ulcers and colic. 5 A lack of fibre can also lead to behavioural l problems including aggression, grumpiness and crib biting, which is caused by a horse’s inability to fulfil his natural feeding and chewing behaviour. Fast Fibre is an ideal choice of feed for horses that need an additional source of easy to eat fibre.
Your horse will love the taste of Fast Fibre
Ready in a jiffy
Fast Fibre has to be soaked, but is ready to feed in under a minute. Some horses, particularly veterans, can be reluctant to drink enough water, especially in the winter, but feeding Fast Fibre as a soaked hay replacer or bucket feed can significantly increase their water intake, which helps to keep the digestive system hydrated and functioning efficiently.
Your horse will love it
Fast Fibre contains no artificial flavours or aromas, just natural herbs for a natural flavour. Mint and fenugreek are included for their well-known properties and to ensure it appeals to even the fussiest of horses. It’s also free from barley and molasses and doesn’t contain any whole cereal grains or alfalfa. This makes it ideal for horses and ponies who suffer from feed intolerances. Fast Fibre contains FOS and MOS prebiotics to help maintain a heathy digestive system and linseed as a source of omega 3 fatty acids for all round good health and coat condition.
For more information visit www.allenandpage.com or call our award-winning helpline on 01362 822902. You can also email us at helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or find us on Facebook with @allenandpagefeed WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK
As part of the process of promoting Allen & Page’s core values, PressPoint also secures and manages the placing of more generic pieces in the equestrian media.
Horse health With spring around the corner some horses can find it increasingly challenging to maintain an ideal weight. During this period feed and management practices impact on weight maintenance. Allen & Page nutritionist Sarah Parkinson MSc looks at how to watch your horse’s weight over spring
Weight-watching tips for
L
SPRING TIME DIETS
onger nights and improved weather are both advantages of moving into spring. For owners of horses that naturally hold weight well, it signals the start of an uphill struggle to find the balance between controlling your horse’s weight and providing sufficient energy for the work done along with the necessary nutrients required.
Be careful: Restricting turn out time may lead to an increased grazing rate
Spring grass When soil temperatures reach 5-6°C grass begins to grow. The typical warm and wet conditions seen in the UK’s spring allow grass to grow vigorously. Sugars, in particular soluble carbohydrates, are the building blocks of plant growth. In spring where grass grows quickly sugars are found in abundance. Sugars are stored as fructans in the plant which are linked with an increased risk of laminitis. Moving from poorer quality winter pasture or mainly forage based diets to spring grazing should be gradual. This allows the beneficial bacteria within the digestive system time to adjust to changes, helping to limit digestive upset. The time the horse has access to new spring grass should be gradually built up over a period of several weeks. Gradually increasing turn out time on lusher spring grass allows greater control of grass intake for good doers.
fastfacts
TAKE YOUR TIME Moving from poorer quality winter pasture or mainly forage based diets to spring grazing should be gradual. This allows the beneficial bacteria within the digestive system time to adjust to changes, helping to limit digestive upset Turn to p42 ;
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Monitoring body weight and body condition During spring when most horses have increased access to grass, weight and body condition should be monitored closely. Body condition scoring allows you to estimate the fat present on your horse’s body. It can also help you notice which areas your horse is holding fat, which may be of benefit in helping recognise possible metabolic problems such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Cushing’s disease. Body condition should be monitored closely in laminitics. At an ideal body condition score ribs should be easily felt when the hand is passed over them, but they should not be seen. The pelvis should also be felt easily with no gutter along the backbone or down the rump. Weight loss should be progressive and slow to reduce the risk of health problems arising. Helpful ways of monitoring weight loss include regularly assessing your horse’s body condition score, using a weigh tape weekly to monitor any changes (measurements should be taken at the same time of day as weight fluctuates naturally throughout the day) and also taking a picture of your horse regularly to compare how they look and help you observe any changes you may not notice when seeing the horse on a daily basis. Of these three options the use of a weigh tape is the most accurate way to assess weight loss and you should not rely solely on your eye as a tool for monitoring weight loss. Top: Moving from poorer quality winter pasture or mainly forage based diets to spring grazing should be gradual Above: Horses drinking
Spring is the time when grass begins to grow vigorously
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Feed Low calorie/high fibre balanced diet Calories and energy are the same thing and if the calories in the feed aren’t being used up when the horse is worked these additional calories can be stored as fat on the horse. For example, for the older horse winter is the season when high calorie feeds tend to be needed to help maintain weight, however for many veteran good doers these high calorie feeds are not needed in spring. In any horse’s diet fibre as either hay or grass should make up the majority of the ration, it provides slow release stamina-type energy and is helpful for digestive function. In spring most good doers can maintain an ideal weight and get sufficient energy for work from a forage only diet; however it may not provide a balanced diet. Feeding a low calorie balanced feed at recommended amounts will provide necessary vitamins and minerals to the horse. Providing a high fibre, low starch and sugar feed is much kinder for
the horse’s digestive system. In horses that hold their weight too well on low calorie feeds or if weight loss is required reducing feeding amounts can help limit calorie intake. If recommended amounts are not provided a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement should be given to ensure a balanced diet is supplied. A soaked feed can be helpful for horses offered a token amount of feed. They expand when water is added making it look like there is more in the bucket and can make the horse feel he is getting more feed than he actually is. For good doers soaking hay for 12-16 hours removes some sugars and calories allowing forage to be fed more freely. As the horse ages their teeth stop erupting leading to flat teeth that make eating long forage or coarse mixes difficult. Soaked feeds can be helpful as they are ‘easier’ for the horse to eat. If the horse ‘quids’ on hay a hay replacer should be provided to give them a source of fibre they can eat.
Horse health
fastfacts
QUIDS IN Soaked feeds can be helpful as they are ‘easier’ for the horse to eat. If the horse ‘quids’ on hay a hay replacer should be provided to give them a source of fibre they can eat
Limiting access to grazing Whilst fibre should be the mainstay of the horse’s diet access to spring grass should be controlled for good doers. Total turn out time should not be reduced. Restricting turn out time has been shown to naturally increase grazing rate leading to horses on limited turn out time having the same grass intake as those with a longer turn out time. Instead, adjust the area the horse has
access to, in one of two ways. Strip grazing is a process where temporary fencing is used to section off the field, it can be moved to add in fresh grass and leave other areas to re-grow. Grazing muzzles can help to restrict grazing intake. They should not be used 24-hours a day and the horse should be able to drink with them on. Use in combination with stabling or turn out onto poorer quality pasture.
1:
2:
If laminitisprone, restrict grazing
More info
Above: Find a balance between maintaining a healthy weight and providing enough energy for work
For more information on feeding visit w: allenandpage.co.uk or call their friendly, helpful nutrition helpline on t: 01362 822902
Laminitis
Spring grazing and diet Horses prone to laminitis should have restricted access to grazing and stressed or overgrazed pasture should be avoided. What time the horse is turned out can be helpful in limiting sugar levels in the pasture. Turning the horse out when sugar levels are low (such as overnight until early in the morning) would be helpful. A diet low in starch and sugar should be fed to horses with a history of laminitis. Recent research suggests the most suitable diet for horses with a history of laminitis is one with a combined starch and sugar below 10 percent. Avoiding cereal based or molassed feeds is helpful for limiting sugar and starch levels. In place of starch and sugar, fibre and oil are slow release energy sources that will not increase dietary starch and sugar intake. l
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CONFINED to barracks
With thanks to Allen & Page for their help with this feature, allenandpage.com
Box rest can be challenging for horses and owners alike. Joanna Palmer, Nutritionist at Allen & Page, explains how to help your horse cope while continuing to meet his nutritional needs Our expert
Joanna Palmer BSc (Hons) is an equine nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds and has a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science from Harper Adams Agricultural College. She guides owners on choosing feeds and correct feeding practice.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Because energy and calories are the same thing, feeding your horse a high-energy diet while he’s on box rest is likely to result in weight gain.
TOP TIP
Choosing a feed that contains a prebiotic, or adding a prebiotic supplement to your horse’s diet, can help maintain a healthy digestive system at times of stress, such as enforced box rest.
Fantastic forage
Your horse’s digestive system is designed for an almost continual supply of fibre, which is his most important source of nutrition, and is essential for keeping his digestive system healthy and functioning correctly. Ideally, stabled horses should have hay or haylage available at all times, as this will need to provide the entirety of his daily fibre requirement when grazing isn’t possible. Offering a variety of different fibre sources, such as hay, haylage and alfalfa, can help to mimic the variety of grasses that would be found in your horse’s natural diet and encourage a greater consumption of forage. Spending a large proportion of time confined to a stable isn’t ideal for your horse, both physically and psychologically. Medical problems such as colic
All change
When a working horse’s exercise and turnout is greatly reduced, an immediate reduction in the quantity of highenergy concentrate feed is often required. It’s usually recommended that dietary changes are made gradually over a period of at least 10 days, to allow the beneficial bacteria in your horse’s gut to adjust. However, the risk of problems such as equine rhabdomyolysis syndrome (ERS, or tying up), colic and laminitis caused by excess energy can pose a greater risk to your horse’s health, often making a more hasty removal of high-energy
concentrates necessary. Most horses on prolonged periods of box rest or reduced turnout will benefit from changing to a lower energy (calorie) feed, which will help prevent excessive energy levels and excitable behaviour. The vast choice of feeds can feel over-whelming, but the most important thing to remember is to choose one that’s high in fibre and low in sugar and starch. This type of diet will not only help to avoid your horse having excess energy, but the high fibre and low starch levels are also more gentle on his digestive system because it’s closer to what he’d naturally eat.
and gastric ulcers, and stable vices including weaving and crib-biting, can all occur more readily in stabled horses due to a combination of factors including stress, insufficient fibre intake and reduced mobility. Ensuring your horse has a continuous supply of forage available can significantly reduce the risk of these problems developing.
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DID YOU KNOW?
In the wild, horses graze for up to 18 hours a day.
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Make it go further
For good-doers, an all-forage diet will often provide the calories needed to maintain an ideal bodyweight, particularly if your horse isn’t using any energy up through exercise. However, feeding forage ad lib may provide too many calories and cause unwanted weight gain. If this is the case, soaking his hay for 12 hours will significantly reduce its calorie content, but still provide essential fibre. Small-holed haynets or one of the new alternative hay feeders designed to slow down consumption are ideal for good-doers, meaning you can make a smaller forage ration last longer. It may be necessary to split your horse’s total daily ration into several meals and feed these throughout the day, with the largest portion fed as late as possible to avoid him going for a long period of time overnight without any fibre.
TOP TIP
Divide and conquer
The longer your horse spends chewing, the more saliva he’ll produce. This helps to buffer stomach acid and maintain a healthy digestive system.
One of the most important aspects of feeding a horse on box rest or reduced turnout is to mimic the continuous supply of fibre through the digestive system that he would get from grazing in the field. Here are some ways you can encourage natural behaviour and make his meals last longer... • splitting feeds into as many small meals as possible will help to relieve boredom • dividing each meal into several buckets and placing them around the stable to encourage natural grazing behaviour • discouraging him from taking large mouthfuls by putting an obstacle, such as a large, flat stone, in his feed bucket, or spreading the feed out in a long trough • adding chaff or chopped fibre to his feed provides an additional source of fibre and helps to increase chewing and eating time
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TOP TIP
Oil is very energy-dense compared to cereals and the energy it provides is slow-release. Gradually introducing it to your horse’s diet can help to increase calorie-intake without risking excitable behaviour.
A little extra help
Horses who have a tendency to lose weight may be more likely to do so when on box rest. Alongside ad lib, good-quality forage, a suitable conditioning feed is one that’s high in fibre and low in starch and sugar, as this is more natural for your horse. Feeds that contain a high proportion of cereals should be avoided, as these have a significantly higher starch content than those that use fibre and oil as energy sources. A high-starch diet can not only cause fizzy, excitable behaviour, but it’s also more difficult to digest and can make your horse more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic.
TOP TIP
If your horse has an automatic waterer in his stable but you’re concerned he’s not drinking enough, try swapping to buckets while he’s confined to barracks.
Stay hydrated
Your horse’s water needs will vary through the seasons and according to his level of work. On average, a resting horse requires five litres of water per 100kg of bodyweight, meaning the average 500kg horse on box rest will need at least 25 litres each day, both from drinking and through his diet. When you consider that grass can have a moisture content of up to 85%, while hay is just 15–20%, the overall water content of your horse’s diet will decrease significantly when he’s stabled with no access to grazing, so it’s important that he has a clean, palatable source of drinking water
available at all times. Keep a close eye on how much your horse is drinking and, if necessary, try tempting him to drink by putting a small amount of apple juice or an equine electrolyte supplement in his water bucket. However, many horses can be reluctant to drink as much as they need to when on box rest, so offering a high-fibre feed that requires soaking is an excellent way to boost water intake. Feeding hay that’s been soaked or welldampened will also help to increase his total water intake.
DID YOU KNOW?
Signs of dehydration can include dark-coloured urine and a bed that’s less wet than usual. 110 HORSE&RIDER
Management know-how
Our expert
Joanna Palmer is Equine Nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds and has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture with Animal Science from Harper Adams Agricultural College. She helps guide owners on feeds and feeding, including both the nutritional and practical aspects of horse keeping.
As nature intended
Organic and genetically modified ingredients are hot topics in human nutrition, but what could they mean for the health of your horse? Joanna Palmer, Nutritionist at Allen & Page, explains
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human and animal health, plus the impact the production of these ingredients might have on the environment and biodiversity. Foods labelled as organic have been produced from crops that have been grown without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides or any other artificial chemicals, which are sprayed on non-organic crops to improve yield. Another way of improving yield is the use of GM crops. In the case of animal feed, any genetically modified crops used are grown from seeds whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally, such as through the introduction of a gene from a different organism.
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Photo: Bob Atkins, Trevor Meeks
ith an enormous array of horse feeds on the market, it’s safe to say there’s something to suit every horse. But how much consideration do you give to where the ingredients in those feeds come from, and the implications this may have for your horse? In human nutrition, the use of organic and genetically modified (GM) ingredients regularly hits the headlines and can spark a lot of strong opinions and controversy, but they’re less commonly thought about when it comes to animal feed. Concerns range from the cost of production to potentially dire consequences for
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No added extras
The word organic is defined in law, and the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) set regulations that apply to the production, labelling and control of all organic products. All producers of organic products must be registered with a control body, such as the Soil Association, and comply with their standards and meet specified requirements in order to market their produce as organic. These stringent regulations apply to all organic produce, for both human or animal consumption, so whether you’re buying organic produce for your family’s dinner table or to feed to your animals, you can rest assured that the same underlying principles and rules of organic farming apply. Because horses are rarely used for any type of production activity on UK farms, to certify them or their products as organic would be unnecessary. That said, there are rules set out by the Soil Association for the management of horses kept on organic farms to ensure that their presence does not compromise the ecological or organic integrity of the land, crops or other livestock. These rules include only feeding approved non-GM feeds to avoid the potential contamination of the land with GM organisms from the feed and manure.
Not seen in nature
Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield by introducing resistance to plant diseases or increased tolerance of herbicides. While no GM crops are currently grown commercially in the UK, they are increasingly being imported and used throughout the animal feed industry. Any grown ingredient can be genetically modified, but the most common ones used in animal feeds are soya and maize. Countries in North and South America are by far the biggest producers of GM crops – in comparison, Europe produces very little, but small amounts are grown in Spain, Portugal and some eastern European countries. If a feed contains GM ingredients this must be declared on the label, but it may only be detailed in the small print. However, manufacturers with a strict non-GM Maize policy will often highlight this on their feed bags with a logo or symbol that clearly states that the product contains no GM ingredients. A manufacturer may produce some of their feeds as nonGM but this policy might not extend across their entire range, so it’s important to check each product label Did you for clarification of its GM status.
know?
The USA and Brazil each farm more than 100 million acres of GM crops every year.
While no GM crops are currently grown commercially in the UK, they are increasingly being imported and used throughout the animal feed industry Health worries
GM feed shouldn’t present any more risk to your horse than conventional feed. All GM crops grown in Europe and all feed ingredients derived from the processing of GM crops are subject to European legislation that includes a safety assessment by the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA). However, research into the impact of GM ingredients is still ongoing and this assumption that it’s safe isn’t yet proven, meaning the consequences of giving these feeds to horses is still unknown. It’s this uncertainty that GM food hasn’t been declared categorically safe that has many people choosing to actively avoid it, not only in their own diets but also those of their horses and other animals. Many people choose to stay away from the seemingly unnatural GM products through concerns about the effects their use could have on both health and the environment in the long-term. This is a view backed by industry bodies such as the Soil Association. Concerns range from the potential to create allergies to problems associated with the transfer of genetic material. While risks may be low, they have not yet been shown to be eliminated. 112 HORSe&RIDER
Did you There are also concerns about contamination, either know? during the growth stage of The use of antibiotic resistent the crops or through the markers in developing GM crops feed manufacturing process is often necessary, but if these where there is the potential were somehow transferred to an to contaminate non-GM or animal, the consequences organic produce with genetically could be disastrous. modified material. The term ‘identity preserved’ relates to the segregation of GM and non-GM crops and means that the identity of the ingredient is preserved and not contaminated. There are two different types of identity preservation – soft identity preserved (soft IP) and hard identity preserved (hard IP). Soft IP allows for up to 0.9% contamination with GM material, whereas the more stringent hard IP classification only allows for less than 0.1% contamination. Hard IP ingredients are grown from nonGM seed in a protected area that is strictly segregated from any GM crops to avoid contamination, and are subject to rigorous testing to ensure their integrity.
What’s the cost?
Organic and identity preserved, non-GM feeds are generally more expensive to purchase than conventional feeds due to the costs of production associated with the rigorous conditions that must be met regarding separation, documentation and traceability of the ingredients used. One of the reasons GM crops are becoming more common is that they are less expensive to produce than their non-GM counterparts. For instance, if
a crop has been genetically altered to make it more tolerant to herbicides, the field can be sprayed with a broad-spectrum herbicide that will only kill the weeds and not the crop, meaning a higher yield will be produced and the overall cost of production per tonne will be lower. The large-scale farming of GM crops on vast swathes of land maximises the efficiency of the machinery and labour needed. Because the majority of GM crops are being grown in developing countries labour costs are low,
which further reduces production costs. Without the routine use of artificial fertilisers and chemicals to control pests and weeds, the yields from organically grown crops tend to be lower than those that are conventionally grown. This, coupled with the smaller scale of organic farming and its more labour-intensive methods of production, means that organic crops are more expensive to produce and can therefore demand a premium price.
A meaty topic
Horses are herbivores and wouldn’t naturally consume meat, so are we right to assume that all feeds and supplements intended for horses are free from meat and animal by-products? In a word, no! Fish oil, for instance, is a supplement found in many feed rooms but its origin is clear to owners, who are then able to make an informed choice as to whether they wish to feed it to their horse or not. On the other hand, pork gelatine is commonly used in manufactured animal feed as a coating for vitamins to prolong their shelf life, but its inclusion within the feed may only be detailed in the label’s small print. Only feeds that are approved by the Vegetarian Society or Vegan Society and carry their logo on the packaging can be assured to be free from meat or animal by-products, respectively.
TOP TIP
If you have any concerns about what you’re feeding your horse, always check the ingredients list and read the small print on the bag.
Soya
Did you know?
A feed can’t be marketed as organic unless it’s made from 100% organically grown ingredients and, although some feeds currently on the market may contain some organic ingredients such as alfalfa or linseed, there are currently no UK manufacturers producing a nutritionally balanced, organic horse feed.
Going green
Concern for the environment and a desire to look after our planet is at the forefront of many peoples’ dayto-day choices and this can be extended to our horse’s feed. Choosing a feed that’s produced by a company with ISO 14001 certification offers assurances that the company is striving to be as environmentally friendly as possible, including taking steps to reduce consumption, waste and costs. An energy efficient mill, together with management practices that involve careful sourcing of raw materials, mean feed manufacturers are able to minimise their environmental impact in ways such as... • purchasing raw ingredients from local suppliers where possible • packaging feed in fully recyclable or compostable bags or containers • reducing emissions • using renewable energy such as solar panels • establishing comprehensive waste recycling procedures These are usually the sorts of things that feed manufacturers want to publicise, so visit their websites or check the packaging of your feed if you want to know more.
Speak up
If you have any concerns regarding the GM, organic, vegetarian or vegan status of any of your horse’s feed or the way in which it has been produced, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer, who should be more than happy to answer any questions, allowing you to make an informed choice as to what best suits you and your horse.
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PROMOTION
Watch his
weight
Help your horse to maintain a healthy weight this winter with advice from Joanna Palmer, equine nutritionist at Allen & Page
Fast Fibre
Veteran Vitality
will provide slow-release energy, and this is much less likely to affect behaviour or cause digestive upsets.
A diet high in fibre and oil
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INTER’S A TIME when our horses often lose weight – and while this is a great opportunity for good-doers to slim down to an ideal weight, for some veterans, poor-doers and harder-working horses the need for a high calorie diet to help prevent unwanted weight loss becomes increasingly important. There are many ways to help your horse maintain a healthy weight, starting with his fibre intake. Regardless of the time of year, fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet whether they need to gain, lose or just maintain their weight. Fibre is important for good digestive health and its digestion also provides a valuable source of calories. What’s more, as fibre is fermented in the horse’s gut, heat is produced, which helps to keep him warm. A diet that’s lacking in fibre means a horse is more likely to feel the cold and have to use other energy sources to keep himself warm. As a result, weight loss or failure to gain weight is almost inevitable, despite any high calorie bucket feed he may be getting. 22 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016
Feed as nature intended
A horse’s digestive system requires an almost constant supply of fibre. In the wild a horse will graze for 18 to 20 hours a day and, to mimic this need to constantly ‘trickle feed‘, our horses should therefore have fibre – in the form of grass, hay or haylage – available at all times. Providing ad-lib hay or haylage when your horse is stabled, or when the grazing is poor, is the best way to ensure he has a continuous supply of fibre.
to feed your horse more calories to help him put on weight without giving him more energy. This can be concerning for some owners whose horses are naturally forward going. However, it’s the ingredients within the feed, and the type of energy they provide, that is important.
Feeds that are high in starch and sugar, as is the case with traditional cereal-based mixes, provide quick-release energy, which can cause fizzy and excitable behaviour. Alternatively, feeds that are low in starch and sugar, and contain ingredients that are high in fibre and oil,
Provide ad-lib hay or haylage when grazing is poor
Calories without the fizz
Even if grass alone has met your horse’s calorie needs during the spring and summer, once his grazing has diminished and the colder weather has set in, he may require a high calorie supplementary feed to provide additional calories to fuel his work and help him maintain weight through the winter. However, with a vast array of feeds available, it can be a challenge to know which one’s best for your horse. The most important thing to remember is that when it comes to promoting weight gain, calories and energy are exactly the same thing – it’s not possible
Unmolassed sugar beet pulp is a commonly used ingredient in horse feeds, which is not only high in fibre but also an excellent calorie source. It contains as much energy as many cereal grains, but without the high starch content. Research has found horses digest oil well, and it’s a concentrated source of calories for them. A diet that uses oil as an energy source rather than carbohydrates (cereals) is often recommended for excitable horses who tend to ‘hot up’ on cereal-based diets. Concentrate feeds that are high in oil will usually contain linseed as a source of slow-release energy. This is high in omega 3 oils and known for its excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
Veteran Vitality and Fast Fibre
It’s well known that as horses age their digestive system becomes less efficient. This means older horses are more likely to lose weight, and a change to a more nutrient dense feed is often required. One of the most important qualities of a veteran feed is that it’s easy to eat. Older horses with poor teeth are more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because they’re not able to chew properly. A concentrate feed, such as Allen & Page Veteran Vitality, that soaks with water to form a soft mash is often relished by even the fussiest of feeders. If they’re having difficulty chewing hay, it’s essential that a hay replacement feed, like Allen & Page Fast Fibre, is also fed.
Calm & Condition
Allen & Page Calm & Condition has been designed for horses who need to put on, or maintain, their weight and condition, and is also ideal for hard working horses. Like Veteran Vitality, Calm & Condition is barley and molasses free, making it WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK
WWW.YOURHORSE.CO.UK
Calm & Condition
lower in starch and sugar than traditional conditioning feeds. Calm & Condition is also high in fibre and oil, providing an excellent source of slow-release, stamina-giving energy that is much less likely to cause the fizzy and excitable behaviour that often comes when a cereal-based diet is fed. Both Calm & Condition and Veteran Vitality are ideal for horses who need a little help to maintain their ideal bodyweight. When fed within the recommended amounts for the horse’s size and workload, they’ll provide a balance of vitamins and minerals as well as pre and probiotics to help maintain an efficient and healthy digestive system. To help ensure your horse is getting the right feed, regular weighing and condition scoring are essential tools in monitoring his condition. The use of a weigh tape every fortnight or so will help you to pick up on changes in your horse’s weight much quicker than relying on the naked eye alone. It goes without saying that regular dental check ups and an effective worming programme will help to ensure your horse’s digestive system is able to work efficiently and allow him to gain the most nutrition from the feed. Adequate rugging is also essential to keep your horse warm and help prevent weight loss.
FIND OUT MORE: FOR INFORMATION ON FEEDING TO PROMOTE WEIGHT GAIN VISIT WWW.ALLENANDPAGE.CO.UK OR CALL THE FRIENDLY NUTRITION HELPLINE ON 01362 822902 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2016 23
With horses living and competing for longer, it is vital that older horses are fed according to their needs. Allen & Page is at the forefront of promoting the correct feeding of older horses and supplies a range of veteran feeds specifically for this. All media & PR activity is focused on promoting feeding according the nutritional needs of veteran horses.
ALLEN & PAGE
ALLEN & PAGE
Feed according to individual needs Whilst it can be tempting for us as owners to treat our horses as veterans simply because they have entered their late teenage years, it is important to only feed according to each animals’ individual needs. Ponies in particular tend to age more slowly than horses and may not need any additional nutritional support over and above their normal winter diet. However, previous quality of life and work load will also affect when any horse or pony starts to look, feel and act their age. Regular weighing and condition scoring are essential tools in monitoring a horse’s condition. Using a weigh tape every fortnight or so, will help to pick up on changes in a horse’s weight much quicker than relying on the naked eye alone. Ensuring a veteran horse is rugged appropriately in the winter will help to minimise the calories he needs to use to keep warm, meaning more calories are available to be used for weight maintenance and energy for work. It also goes without saying that regular dental check ups and an effective worming programme will help to ensure that the digestive system is able to work efficiently and allow the horse to gain the most nutrition from his feed.
Winter feeding for veterans A
s Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Allen & Page Horse Feeds explains, correct feeding to meet the changing nutritional requirements of our older horses is vital through every season. As we head into the winter months, a combination of inclement weather, cold temperatures and a lack of grazing can all lead to unwanted weight loss if a horse’s diet is not adjusted accordingly.
feeding required, just to ensure a balance of essential vitamins and minerals is provided. But when the quantity and quality of grazing
Fibre first Fibre is the most important part of all horses’ diets, particularly in winter as its digestion helps to keep them warm. In the wild, horses graze for 18 to 20 hours a day and to mimic this need to ‘trickle feed‘, our domesticated horses should ideally have fibre in the form of grass, hay or haylage available at all times. During the spring and summer months good grazing alone will meet most field kept horses’ fibre needs (and often calorie needs too), with only minimum supplementary 34 | CHILTERN & THAMES RIDER
Choosing a veteran feed diminishes during the winter months, it is vital that supplementary forage, usually in the form of hay or haylage, is provided both in the field and when stabled. Fibre is not only essential for good digestive health, its digestion also provides a good source of calories and body heat as it is fermented in the gut. If a horse is not eating enough fibre, he will lose weight, regardless of how much high calorie ‘bucket’ feed he may also be fed. Regular appointments with a good equine dental technician are vital as loose, worn or missing teeth and pain from sore gums will all affect a horse’s ability to chew the long fibre of hay and haylage efficiently. Inevitably with any older horse it may become necessary to provide an alternative source of fibre that is easier to eat. A fast soaking, high fibre feed that offers similar nutrition to that of hay, can be fed as a complete or partial forage replacer to horses and ponies who are struggling to chew hay, haylage or grass.
Keeping horses fit and active in their later years is highly beneficial for all round
A combination of inclement weather, cold temperatures and a lack of grazing can all lead to unwanted weight loss be light hacking or competing regularly. It is well recognised that as horses age, the efficiency of their digestive systems decline and the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream is reduced. This means older horses are more likely to lose weight and a change to a more nutrient dense and higher calorie feed may be required Although weight loss is a common problem for a lot of older horses, some will remain good doers for their entire lives and feeding a higher calorie feed may simply lead to
Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Allen & Page Horse Feeds www.chilternrider.co.uk
health and well-being, providing illness or unsoundness isn’t a problem. It is important that a veteran horse’s diet reflects his energy requirements for both maintaining weight and providing fuel for work, whether that
www.chilternrider.co.uk
CHILTERN & THAMES RIDER | 35
ALLEN & PAGE unwanted weight gain. Keeping a good doer at an ideal weight and body condition score is essential to avoid placing additional strains on the horse’s body and joints. For horses and ponies showing no signs of unwanted weight loss, feeding a low calorie, or “light” veteran feed that provides all the vitamins and minerals needed for a balanced diet is often the most appropriate solution. Regardless of your horse’s calorie needs, a good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar as this is more natural for the horse. Feeds which contain a high proportion of cereals should be avoided as these have significantly higher starch contents than those which use fibre and oil as energy sources. A high starch diet can not only cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, but it is also more difficult to digest and can make the horse more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic. Additionally, the inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics in veteran feeds can help improve the health and function of the digestive system, allowing older horses to gain the maximum available nutrition from their diet.
Added water Another important quality of a feed for veterans is that it is easy to eat. A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because he is not able to chew properly. A concentrate feed that soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash is often relished by older horses regardless of the number of teeth they have! Soaking using warm water also releases more flavours from the feed, helping to tempt even the fussiest of feeders and those that have a tendency to go off their feed. Feeding a soaked feed also offers the added benefit of increasing a horse’s water consumption. Veteran horses can be reluctant to drink enough water, particularly in the winter, but
36 | CHILTERN & THAMES RIDER
feeding a soaked hay replacer or bucket feed can significantly increase their water intake, which helps to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently.
Take ailments into consideration Sadly with advancing age comes the increased likelihood of medical issues, many of which can be exacerbated by the horse’s diet. Whilst an increase in the protein content of the diet is beneficial for some veteran horses to help them maintain a good body condition, any horse with liver or kidney problems will require a low protein diet in order to reduce the strain placed on the already damaged organs. Any horse or pony that is prone to, or at risk of laminitis, as is the case with Cushing’s sufferers, should only be fed feeds that are very low in starch and sugar (ideally well below 10% combined), so careful feed selection is of the utmost importance. It is essential that all veterinary issues are taken into account when choosing suitable feeds to ensure that the diet is appropriate for the horse as a whole and not just in relation to his age. It is well recognised that our horses are living longer than ever before and it is possible that a horse that lives into his thirties could be spending more than half his life classed as a veteran, but it is inevitable that his nutritional needs will change significantly during this time. A horse that showed very little decline in dental condition at the age of 20 almost certainly will do by the time he reaches 30. Therefore it is vital to continually assess your horse’s weight and body condition, as well as carefully monitoring his ability to graze and eat hay properly. A diet that suits your horse well this winter may need to be adjusted to meet his nutritional needs in future years. For more information on feeding your veteran horse this winter visit: www.allenandpage.com or call the friendly nutrition helpline on 01362 822902
www.chilternrider.co.uk
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Nutrition
Healthy eating for veterans
Nutrition Older horses As long as he is sound and healthy, a horse can stay active
OUR EXPERT Joanna Palmer
Fibre is the most important element of any horse’s diet Joanna is an equine nutritionist at feed company Allen & Page. Visit: www. allenandpage.co.uk
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Help your veteran horse or pony thrive this winter with smart feeding advice from equine nutritionist Joanna Palmer, from Allen & Page
orrect feeding to meet the changing nutritional requirements of our older horses is vital. However, while it can be tempting to treat a horse as a veteran simply because he has entered his late teenage years, it is important that you feed according to his individual needs. Ponies in particular tend to age more slowly than horses, but their previous quality of life and workload will affect when they start to look, feel and act their age.
68 WINTER 2016
Fibre first
Fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet, regardless of age. In the wild, horses graze for 18 to 20 hours a day and to mimic this need to ‘trickle feed‘, domesticated horses should ideally have fibre in the form of grass, hay or haylage available at all times. Fibre is not only essential for digestive health, it provides a good source of calories and body heat as it is fermented in the gut. If a horse or pony is not eating enough fibre, he will lose weight, regardless of how
much high-calorie ‘bucket’ feed he may be getting. Unfortunately, even with the best possible care and regular attention from a qualified equine dental technician, there is little we can do to prevent the deterioration in dental condition that occurs naturally with age. Loose, worn or missing teeth, and pain from sore gums, will all affect a horse’s ability to chew efficiently and it will then be necessary to provide alternative sources of fibre.
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A soaked high-fibre feed that is designed to be fed as a complete or partial hay replacer is ideal, offering similar nutrition to hay but in a form that is easy to eat.
Choosing a veteran feed
Keeping horses fit and active in their later years is highly beneficial for all-round health and wellbeing, providing illness or unsoundness isn’t a problem. It is important that a veteran horse’s diet reflects his energy requirements for maintaining weight and providing fuel for work, whether that be light hacking or competing regularly. It is well recognised that as horses age, the efficiency of their digestive systems declines and the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream is reduced.
www.horsemagazine.co.uk
This means older horses are more likely to lose weight and, therefore, a change to a more nutrient dense and higher calorie feed may be required. However this is not true for all older horses – some will remain good doers for their entire lives and feeding a higher calorie feed may simply lead to unwanted weight gain. Keeping a good doer at an ideal weight and body condition score is essential to avoid placing additional strains on his body and joints. For horse and ponies showing no signs of unwanted weight loss, a low-calorie feed that provides all the vitamins and minerals needed for a balanced diet is often the most appropriate option. Regardless of your horse’s calorie needs, a good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar, as this is more natural for the horse. Feeds which contain a high proportion of cereals should be avoided as they have significantly higher starch contents than those which use fibre and oil as energy sources. A high starch diet can not only cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, it is more difficult to digest. It can make the horse
A horse’s needs will change as he ages
4 WINTER 2016 69
A soaked feed can tempt a fussy eater
Nutrition Older horses more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic. Additionally, the inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics in veteran feeds can help improve the health and function of the digestive system, allowing older horses to gain the maximum available nutrition from their diet. A good level of Vitamin E is useful too, as an antioxidant.
Keep him hydrated
Another important quality of a feed for veterans is that it is easy to eat. An older equine with poor teeth is more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because he is not able to chew properly. A concentrate feed that soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash is often relished by even the fussiest of feeders, regardless of the number of teeth they have! Soaking using warm water also releases more flavours from the feed, helping to tempt even the fussiest of feeders and those that have a tendency to go off their feed. Providing a soaked feed also offers the added benefit of increasing the horse’s water consumption. Veteran horses can be reluctant to drink enough, particularly in the winter when it is cold, but feeding a warm, soaked hay replacer can significantly increase water intake.
This will help to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently.
Health issues
Sadly, with advancing age comes the increased likelihood of medical issues, many of which can be exacerbated by the horse’s diet. While an increase in the protein content of the diet is beneficial for some veterans, to help them maintain a good body condition, any horse with liver or kidney problems will require a low-protein diet in order to reduce the strain placed on the already damaged organs. Due to their increased risk of laminitis, Cushing’s disease (PPID) sufferers should be treated as laminitics and only given feeds that are very low in starch and sugar (ideally below 10 per cent combined). It is essential that all veterinary issues are taken into account when choosing a feed, to ensure the diet is suitable for the horse as a whole and not just in relation to his age. With the large veteran age bracket, it is possible a horse that lives into his thirties could be spending more than half his life classed as a veteran. However, it is inevitable his nutritional needs will change significantly during this time.
A horse that showed very little decline in dental condition at the age of 20 almost certainly will do by the age of 30. Therefore, it is vital to continually assess your horse’s weight and body condition, and carefully monitor his ability to graze and eat hay properly. A diet that suits your horse well this winter may need to be adjusted to meet his nutritional needs in future years. g l For more information on feeding veterans, visit: www.allenandpage.co.uk or call the friendly nutrition helpline, tel: (01362) 822 902.
If a veteran can’t chew hay or haylage properly, he will be at risk of suffering choke
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Nutrition Veteran horses
Joanna Palmer
Equine nutritionist Joanna Palmer has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture with Animal Science from Harper Adams University and has been a member of the award winning Allen & Page nutrition team since 2007. Visit: www. allenand page.com
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Keeping condition on the older horse
An increasing number of horses are remaining healthy and active into their 20s and even 30s. Joanna Palmer of Allen & Page explains how you can meet the needs of the older equine through correct feeding
egardless of age, the most important aspect of feeding horses through the winter is ensuring they are receiving sufficient fibre, as even when they’re having a highcalorie bucket feed, horses will lose weight if their fibre intake is low. Fibre is central heating for horses
Fibre is not only vital for good digestive health but its digestion creates body heat as it’s fermented in the gut, which helps to keep the horse warm during the colder weather. Veteran horses that have maintained weight and condition well on good grass all summer can suddenly drop weight when the
quality and quantity of grazing declines, even when ad-lib hay or haylage is provided. As horses and ponies get older, a natural decline in dental condition that results in loose, worn or missing teeth, and pain from sore gums, can greatly affect the ability to chew long fibre. It is then necessary to replace some or all of their hay with alternative fibre sources that can be easily chewed and digested by the veteran horse. A fast-soaking fibre feed that combines all the necessary ingredients and vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet offers an easy and convenient way of providing older horses with the fibre they need when they can no longer eat hay or graze effectively. Not only can insufficient fibre in the diet cause significant weight loss, it can increase the risk of a horse developing boredomrelated stable vices, gastric ulcers and digestive upsets, all of which will greatly affect his health and well-being.
What to look for in a veteran feed
When it comes to concentrate feeds, it’s important to choose one which reflects the horse’s individual needs. Some horses that have been good doers in their younger years may continue to need very little in the way of supplementary feeding as they get older. However, it’s well recognised the efficiency of a horse’s digestive system declines with age and consequently the absorption of essential nutrients into the
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OUR EXPERT
Nutrition Veteran horses
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Veterans can easily drop weight in winter, even if ad-lib forage is supplied
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WINTER 2017 65
Nutrition Veteran horses Linseed boots overall health and can give a shine to the coat
bloodstream is reduced. As a result, loss of weight and condition is a common problem in the older horse, particularly in winter and for those in regular work. A veteran horse needs adequate nutrition to maintain vitality, to keep warm and to maintain bodyweight and condition. This often necessitates a change to a more nutrientdense feed. An increase in protein is often required to provide essential amino acids to build and repair muscle and promote topline. A good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar, as this is more natural for the horse. Feeds which contain a high proportion of cereals should be avoided as they will have significantly higher starch levels than those which use fibre and oil as energy sources. Not only can a high-starch diet cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, it’s also more difficult for the horse to digest. Feeds based on fibre and oil provide slow-release energy, which is ideal for promoting weight gain, and those which include linseed will contain elevated levels of omega 3 oils for all-round good health and coat. A feed that benefits from prebiotics and probiotics is also useful in promoting good digest health.
Teeth problems can mean it’s painful for the horse to eat
“A suitable veteran feed will be high in fibre and low in sugar and starch” A soaked feed is ideal for veterans, especially those with poor dentition
Easy to chew
One of the most important qualities of a feed for veterans is that it’s easy to eat. A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of developing choke and colic, simply because he’s not able to chew properly. A veteran feed that soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash is often relished by older horses, regardless of the number of teeth they have. Soaked feed is also an excellent way of boosting water intake, which is especially important for veterans who can be reluctant to drink enough water, particularly in the winter. Natural herbs for a natural flavour can be particularly tempting for older horses and using warm water to soak the feed will also release more flavour from the feed, helping to tempt even the fussiest of eaters and those that tend to go off their food easily. g l For more information on feeding your veteran, visit: www.allenandpage.co.uk or call the award-winning nutrition helpline on (01362) 822 902.
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Promotion
Feeding veteran showing horses Whether your veteran is competing regularly or taking a well-earned rest from the show ring, Joanna Palmer, equine nutritionist at Allen & Page, addresses the importance of feeding to meet his individual nutritional needs. Regardless of age, fibre is the most important component of every horse’s diet and whilst grazing and supplementary hay or haylage is likely to satisfy the fibre needs of a younger horse, the decline in dental condition that occurs naturally with age can greatly affect a veteran horse’s ability to chew this long fibre. Insufficient fibre in the diet not only leads to weight loss, it can also increase the risk of a horse developing boredom related stable vices, gastric ulcers and digestive upsets, all of which will affect his health and potential in the show ring. It may be necessary to supplement a veteran horse’s grazing and hay with alternative fibre sources that can be easily chewed and digested. Fast Fibre is a quick soaking feed that can be fed as a complete or partial forage replacer to help meet a veteran horse’s fibre needs. A veteran horse’s diet should reflect his energy requirements for maintaining good weight and condition, as well as providing fuel for work. It is well recognised that as horses age the efficiency of their digestive systems declines and the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream is reduced. This means that older horses are more likely to lose weight and a change to a more nutrient dense and higher calorie bucket feed, such as Veteran Vitality may be required. However not all veterans will lose weight, some will remain good doers for their entire lives and feeding a high calorie veteran feed may lead to unwanted weight gain. Keeping a good doer at an ideal weight and body condition score is essential to avoid placing additional strains on the horse’s body. To cater for your veteran horse’s individual needs, Veteran Light has been specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of older horses and ponies who are good doers and show no signs of unwanted weight loss. Like younger horses, some veterans may need a high calorie feed during the winter months to help maintain a good body condition, but when good grazing is available
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Showing World
soak with water to form a soft, palatable mash, making them appealing to the fussiest of feeders regardless of the number of teeth they have. Some veteran horses can be reluctant to drink enough water, particularly during the winter months or when staying away at a show, but feeding a soaked feed has the added benefit of increasing their water consumption, helping to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently. For more information on feeding your veteran horse visit: www. allenandpage.co.uk or call our friendly, award-winning nutrition helpline on 01362 822902, email us at: helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or find us on Facebook @allenandpagefeed
It may be necessary to supplement a veteran's grazing and hay with alternative fibre sources
they may gain weight easily and will benefit from Veteran Light to provide a balanced diet with a lower calorie level. Both Veteran Vitality and Veteran Light contain quality protein, which along with exercise and working correctly will help to promote all round muscle development and that all important topline. As part of Allen & Page’s Barley & Molasses Free Range, Fast Fibre, Veteran Vitality and Veteran Light are all higher in fibre and lower in starch and sugar than traditional cereal based mixes and cubes, making them more natural for the horse. Feeds containing a high proportion of cereals should be avoided as these have significantly higher starch contents than our Barley & Molasses Free Range feeds which use fibre and oil as energy sources. Not only can a high starch diet cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, but it is also more difficult to digest and can make the horse more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic. Fast Fibre and Veteran Light both have very low starch and sugar
levels, less than 10% combined for each, making them suitable feeds for horses and ponies with a history of laminitis or those at risk of developing the condition, as is the case with sufferers of Cushing’s disease. One of the most important qualities of a feed for veterans is that it is easy to eat. A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because he is not able to chew properly. Fast Fibre, Veteran Vitality and Veteran Light all contain a blend of herbs and
A veteran's diet should reflect his energy requirements for maintaining good weight and condition
Spring PRODUCT GUIDE2016 YOUR
HORSE
ADVERTISING FEATURE FEEDING VETERANS Strip grazing, turning out on poorer pasture and the use of a grazing muzzle will help control a good doer’s calorie intake
A horse’s nutrition needs are likely to change significantly as he ages
Happy eating for golden oldies T Discover what you need to know about springtime nutrition for the older horse from the experts at Allen & Page
HERE’S NO DOUBT about it – thanks to advances in equine science and an improved understanding of their management and needs, our horses are living longer than ever before. This, of course, means we get to enjoy many more active years with them – but to continue to keep them healthy and happy we need to consider their nutritional needs and how they might change over time. Whether he’s young or old, fibre is the most important part of your horse’s diet. In the wild, horses graze for 18 to 20 hours each day and to mimic this need to ‘trickle feed‘, our domesticated horses should ideally have fibre in the form of grass, hay or haylage available at all times.
Why is fibre so important? Fibre‘s not only essential for good digestive health, its digestion also provides a good source of calories and body heat as it’s fermented in the gut. Unfortunately, even with the best possible care and regular attention from a qualified equine dental technician, there’s little we
can do to prevent the deterioration in dental condition that occurs naturally with age. Loose, worn or missing teeth and pain from sore gums will all affect your older horse’s ability to graze and chew efficiently. Even when the spring grass is growing abundantly it may be that your older horse will struggle to eat enough to meet his nutritional needs. If this is the case for your horse, it will become important to provide a fibre replacement diet to ensure his nutritional needs continue to be met. As a versatile feed, Fast Fibre can be fed in large quantities as a complete or partial hay
replacer, offering a high fibre diet in a form that is easy to eat and digest.
Making eating that bit easier
We know that as our horses age the efficiency of their digestive systems declines and the absorption of nutrients into their bloodstream is reduced. As a result, our older horses are more likely to lose weight and so a nutrient dense concentrate feed is often required. So what should you be looking for in feed for your veteran? One of the most important qualities of a veteran feed is that it’s easy to eat. Your veteran’s teeth might be poor, making it harder for him to chew properly and this puts him a greater risk of suffering choke and colic. A concentrate feed, such as Veteran Vitality that soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash, is often relished by even the fussiest of feeders regardless of the number of teeth they have! With many of our older horses remaining fit
GIVE YOUR BOY WHAT HE NEEDS Feeding Fast Fibre is a great way to replace the hay an older horse might struggle to eat
36 YOUR HORSE PRODUCT GUIDE 2016
It can be tempting to automatically treat our horses as veterans simply because they’ve entered their late teenage years, but it’s important to only feed your horse according to his individual needs.
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grass. Strip grazing, turning out on poorer pasture and the use of a grazing muzzle will all help to control your good doer’s calorie intake and also reduce the risk of laminitis (which is more common in overweight horses and ponies). With an energy level of just 8MJ/kg, Fast Fibre’s an ideal feed choice for Managing an older veterans who are good horse’s weight doers. Although lower in calories than a specific Not all old horses lose weight. Veteran Vitality soaks veteran feed, it contains Some will remain good doers with water to form a soft, all the vitamins and their entire lives and the high palatable mash that’s minerals necessary for a calorie content of a veteran ideal for older horses balanced diet when fed feed may be unsuitable. If your veteran is a good doer, it’s important in the recommended amounts for the horse’s size and workload. you keep him at an ideal weight and body condition score to avoid placing Watch out for health issues additional strain on his organs and joints. With last winter being one of the As well as his calorie needs it’s important mildest in recent years, many horses who to take any veterinary issues into account would normally drop weight in the cold to ensure that your horse’s diet is suitable weather didn’t do so. So with spring now for him as a whole and not just in relation upon us it’s the perfect time to address to his age. Cushing’s disease and the on-going weight issues. Any horse or associated risk of laminitis that comes pony who’s come into spring carrying with it are also more common in older a little too much condition will only horses and ponies, and it’s important to continue to gain weight with abundant keep an older horse’s diet as low in starch
and active in their later years it’s important that their diets reflect their energy needs for both maintaining weight and providing fuel for work, whether that is light hacking or competing regularly. With a digestible energy (DE) level of 11MJ/kg, Veteran Vitality provides a step up in calories from most standard mixes and cubes.
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and sugar as possible. Being free from barley and molasses, Fast Fibre’s low starch and sugar content makes it ideal for any horse or pony prone to, or at risk of, laminitis. A diet that provides essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 and omega 6 oils, is vital for all horses, but veterans in particular can benefit from the antiinflammatory properties of omega 3 as an aid to joint mobility. Linseed is a good source of omega 3 oils and is included in Veteran Vitality and Fast Fibre. Its oil content helps to give horses a shiny coat, something that’s invaluable when contesting the ever popular veteran showing classes! Additionally, the inclusion of pre and probiotics in feeds can help improve the function of the digestive system, allowing older horses to gain the maximum nutrition from their diet.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FEEDING YOUR VETERAN THIS SPRING VISIT WWW.ALLENANDPAGE.CO.UK OR CALL THE FRIENDLY NUTRITION HELPLINE ON 01362 822902 YOUR HORSE PRODUCT GUIDE 2016 37
PROMOTION
Spring product guide 2017
Feeding older horses F
Many horses remain fit and healthy well into their veteran years, but as Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at Allen & Page explains, whether your veteran’s retired or still leading an active ridden life, it’s important to address his changing nutritional needs
IRST AND FOREMOST, fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet, regardless of age. In the wild, they graze for up to 18 hours a day and to mimic this need to ‘trickle feed‘. Our horses should have fibre, in the form of grass, hay or haylage available at all times. Fibre isn’t only essential for good digestive health, its digestion also provides a good source of calories and body heat as it is fermented in the gut. If your horse isn’t eating enough fibre, he’ll lose weight, regardless of how much high calorie ‘bucket’ feed he may also be fed.
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offering similar nutrition to that of hay, but in a form that is easy to eat.
Fuel his activity
Unfortunately, even with the best care and regular attention from a qualified equine dental technician, a natural decline in dental condition is unavoidable. Loose, worn or missing teeth and pain from sore gums will all affect your horse’s ability to chew efficiently and he may struggle to eat as much hay or grass as he needs to. When this happens it’s important to provide alternative sources of fibre that are easy for the horse to chew and digest. Fast Fibre from Allen & Page’s Barley & Molasses Free Range is a soaked high fibre feed that can be fed as a complete or partial hay replacer,
Providing illness or unsoundness aren’t a problem, keeping your older horse as fit and active as possible is hugely beneficial for his all round health and well-being. His diet should reflect his energy requirements for maintaining weight and providing fuel for work, whether he’s lightly hacked or competing. It’s well recognised that as horses age the efficiency of their digestive systems declines and the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream is reduced. This means that older horses are more likely to lose weight, and a change to a more nutrient dense and higher calorie feed, such as Veteran Vitality, may be required. With a digestible energy content of 11MJ/kg, Veteran Vitality provides a good calorie level and quality protein sources to aid weight maintenance, as well as a balance of other essential nutrients to meet the increased needs of older horses.
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Spring product guide 2017 Feeding good-doers
While weight loss is common in veteran horses, it’s not a problem that affects them all. Some will remain good-doers, and feeding a high calorie feed may lead to unwanted weight gain. If your horse is a good-doer, keeping him at an ideal weight and body condition score is essential to avoid placing additional strains on his body and joints. Allen & Page’s new Veteran Light feed has been formulated to provide older horses and ponies showing no signs of unwanted weight loss with all the benefits of a veteran feed, without the additional calories. Regardless of your horse’s calorie needs, a good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar, as this is more natural for the horse and kinder on the digestive system than a
Veteran Light is new from Allen & Page
high starch diet. Feeds that contain a high proportion of cereals should be avoided, as these have significantly higher starch contents than Veteran Vitality, Veteran Light and Fast Fibre, which use fibre and oil as energy sources. A high starch diet can not only cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, but it is also more difficult to digest and can make the horse more prone to developing laminitis or colic.
Meet his needs
With age comes the increased likelihood of medical issues, many of which can be exacerbated by a horse’s diet. For this reason it’s important, when choosing a suitable feed for your horse, to take any veterinary issues he may have into account. This will ensure his diet is suitable for him as a whole and not just in relation to his veteran status. For example, horses and ponies with a history of laminitis, and those at increased risk of developing the disease due to conditions such as Cushing’s disease and insulin resistance, should only be fed feeds that have very low starch and sugar levels of under 10% combined. Traditionally, specific veteran feeds have starch and sugar levels above this recommended safe level, but Veteran Light has a combined starch and sugar level of just 8.5%, making it ideal for those prone to, or at risk of laminitis. It’s likely your horse’s nutritional needs will vary significantly during his veteran years, but continually assessing his weight and body condition, as well as carefully monitoring his ability to graze and eat hay properly, means his diet can be adjusted to meet his changing requirements.
JUST ADD WATER An important quality of a feed for veterans is that it is easy to eat. A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of choke and colic, simply because he’s not able to chew properly. A feed that soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash is often relished by even the fussiest of feeders regardless of the number of teeth they have! Soaking using warm water also releases more flavours, helping to tempt fussy eaters. If you also find that your veteran horse can be reluctant to drink at times, feeding a soaked feed, like Fast Fibre, Veteran Light or Veteran Vitality, can help you to increase his horse’s water consumption, helping to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently.
You can soak Veteran Vitality and Fast Fibre to up your horse’s water intake
Common medical problems for veterans can be exacerbated by their diet
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If you’d like specific advice for your horse’s individual situation, call Allen & Page’s award-winning Nutrition Team for helpful, friendly advice on 01362 822902. You can also email helpline@allenandpage.co.uk YOUR HORSE SPRING PRODUCT GUIDE 2017 25
Winter feeding
PROMOTION
for veterans Worried about winter weight loss as your horse ages? Allen & Page Horse Feeds explain how to keep your veteran horse in top condition throughout the colder months
I
F YOU’RE THE owner of an older horse, you’ll know that keeping him at his ideal body weight can be a challenge during the winter months. It’s well recognised that the efficiency of your horse’s digestive system declines with age and, on top of this, a combination of cold weather and a decline in grazing quality can all lead to significant weight loss. It can be challenging to know what to do for the best, but the team at Allen & Page has developed feeds especially for veterans, taking the worry out of feeding once and for all. Here, nutritionist Joanna Palmer tells readers about Allen & Page’s Veteran Vitality feed.
Optimised for older horses To compensate for the decline in the efficiency of your horse’s digestive system as he ages, you may find that
he benefits from changing to a more nutrient-dense, higher-calorie feed to maintain his condition, particularly during the winter months. “Veteran Vitality has been specifically formulated to meet the increased nutritional needs of older horses,” says Joanna. “It has a high-calorie level to promote weight gain and quality protein sources to aid muscle development and help maintain topline.” Dental health is another important factor that can affect your horse’s condition as he ages and one of the most important qualities of a feed for veterans is that it’s easy to eat. “A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of developing choke and colic simply because he’s not able to chew properly,” says Joanna. “Veteran Vitality soaks with water to form a soft, palatable mash that’s easy to eat and has the added benefit of significantly increasing a horse’s water consumption, helping to keep the digestive system hydrated and able to function efficiently. “This is something that’s particularly important during the colder months when many veterans can be reluctant to drink as much water as they need. Veteran Vitality can be soaked with warm water to make a tasty, warming mash that your horse is sure to enjoy this winter.”
What’s inside?
Veteran Vitality is high in fibre and, as Joanna explains, has a variety of benefits for your horse this winter. “Fibre is essential for good digestive health in your horse,” she says. “Fibre also has the added bonus in winter that its digestion creates body heat as it’s fermented in his gut, helping to keep your horse warm during colder weather.” With the decline in grazing quality over winter, it can be tricky to know if your horse is getting enough nutrients. Thankfully, the team at Allen & Page has
Keep your veteran vibrant this winter 34 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2017
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Joanna is here to explain all you need to know about feeding older horses
taken the guesswork out of this. “Veteran Vitality has been fully balanced with vitamins and minerals and also contains boosted levels of Vitamins C and E for their antioxidant properties,” says Joanna. “There are no artificial flavours or aromas, with natural herbs giving the feed a taste that’ll appeal to even the fussiest of horses. “With a low starch and sugar level, Veteran Vitality is also ideal if your horse has a tendency to become fizzy or excitable on traditional, cereal-based veteran mixes that can often be harder for your horse to digest.” Prebiotics and probiotics are also included to help maintain a heathy digestive system and linseed provides a source of omega-3 fatty acids for all-round good health and coat condition. Veteran Vitality is free from barley and molasses and also doesn’t contain any whole cereal grains or alfalfa, making it ideal if your horse suffers from intolerances to these common feed ingredients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FEEDING YOUR VETERAN HORSE THIS WINTER, VISIT: WWW.ALLENANDPAGE.COM OR CALL THE NUTRITION HELPLINE ON 01362 822902 YOUR HORSE WINTER ESSENTIALS 2017 35