Your Horse Feed Guide 2014

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pages of essential advice from the best nutrition experts in the UK

Feed Guide 2014 ● The benefts of balancers ● Supplements Q&A ● What’s in the feed bag?

Feeding veterans ● Workload and condition ● Winter feeding tips ● Products

Try Alfa-A or Hi-F Molasses Free; real mint & fenugreek for tase plus oil for a fabulous coat shine

for fiendly feeding advice contac the Dengie feedline on 0845 345 5115

www.dengie.com

Feed Guide 2014

Contents Discover great new products in our Feedstore on page 30

Is your horse at a healthy weight and getting what he needs for his work? Find out on page 4

Learn what your feed contains on page 11

Welcome It’s so important to get our horses’ feeding right, but it can be confusing and tricky to master. With so many hard feeds in the shops, and the individual needs of horses making the job that little bit tougher, we’re here to help you make the right choices for your horses’ needs. Read on for loads of expert advice, handy hints and top tips!

Your Horse editor

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Content 4

WORKLOAD & CONDITION Understand what your horse needs to support his workload and condition 7 FEED BALANCERS We fnd out more about what they are and how they can beneft horses of all types 11 WHAT’S IN THE BAG? Understand your feed contents 12 SUPPLEMENTS Our experts answer your questions 17 FIZZY VS LAZY How to feed your horse for type 18 YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Expert nutrition advice on the issues you worry about most 23 FEEDING FORAGE How to ensure your horse gets the forage he needs in his diet 25 FEEDING VETERANS Getting your golden oldie’s diet just right to make sure he stays in great shape 26 FEEDING COMPETITION HORSES Easy ways to help you get that winning edge 29 WINTER FEEDING CHECKLIST Find out all the ways to get his feed just right during the colder months 30 FEEDSTORE A rundown of some handy products that make feeding that little bit easier

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 3

Feed Guide 2014

Feed for need

Getting your horse’s feed to weight ratio spot on can be a juggling act, and many owners overestimate how hard their horse works. So ensure that your horse’s weight, condition and workload are in harmony with advice from our feed experts

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OUR EXPERT KATIE WILLIAMS, MSc (Dist), is the technical manager for Dengie Horse Feeds. For more info, visit www. dengie.com

op of the ‘to do’ list when assessing feed to weight ratio is to weigh your horse – a weigh bridge is ideal but a weightape will also do.

Although weightapes aren’t always 100% accurate, they’ll indicate any relevant changes in body weight, giving you a good idea of whether your horse’s diet is right for him.

Using a body condition scoring scale will also allow you to assess the amount of body fat your horse is carrying. This will indicate whether the energy/calorie content of his diet is appropriate.

There are three key areas to look at – the crest of his neck, over his ribs and over his quarters running into the area at the top of his tail.

It can be tricky if your horse stores

fat unevenly over his body. In these cases, scoring each area and taking an average can be helpful, but do consider that excessive fat in one area can be a warning sign of potential problems.

Feed for his bodyweight The general guideline is to feed between 2 and 2.5% of your horse’s bodyweight each day, which includes grass and forage.

This means a 500kg horse requires somewhere between 10 and 12.5kg of feed per day (body weight divided by 100, multiplied by 2 or 2.5). The lower end of the scale would be the target for a good-doer, whereas a poor-doer would potentially beneft from being fed more.

Keep a track of his calories with regular weight checks

Weigh up the amount of forage he needs

Ofer plenty of forage Feeding ad-lib forage helps to promote good digestive health and reduces reliance on cerealbased feeds. Unless your horse is overweight (or a serious gooddoer) it’s generally recommended to feed him a minimum of 1% and, ideally, no less than 1.5% of his body weight as forage each day.

If you have a good-doer, provide low calorie forages such as hay or straw but ensure you feed the right amount (if necessary, a low calorie forage replacer such as Dengie Hi-Fi Lite or Saracen’s Slim-Chaf could be given). For example, 12.5kg of straw will contain fewer calories than 10kg of haylage, so getting the right type of forage is just as important as quantity. When feeding forage, use your kitchen or bathroom scales or a spring balance to weigh bucket feeds and the forage you give him. You’ll be surprised how much hay can ft in one hay net!

Feed for his workload How hard your horse is working will afect his energy requirements. The following guide should give you some idea as to what level of work your horse is really doing: 4 YOUR HORSE FEED GUIDE 2014

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Workload and condition

A relaxing hack does not constitute hard work

● Light work – hacking, some schooling and unafliated competitions ● Moderate work – mainly schooling, regular afliated competitions ● Hard work – Intermediate and above afliated eventing, hunting three times a fortnight, advanced dressage and show jumping ● Intense – three-day events, polo, carriage driving The National Research Council guidelines for horses suggest that, from light to moderate work, your horse’s energy requirement increases by about 16.5%, then another 14% as the workload goes up to hard. The energy requirement shoots up a massive 30% when moving from hard to intense work.

Know your feed Check the recommended feeding rates for the product you’re using Check out the nutritional values on the back of your feed bag to determine what he needs

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to determine whether you’re feeding the correct amount for the work your horse is doing.

If you’re using a balanced compound feed, the manufacturer will have done a lot of the hard work for you. There should be a guide on the feed bag that states how much a horse needs relative to the work being done. As long as you’ve accurately assessed his workload and are feeding the recommended amount, his diet should be balanced.

Good-doer vs poor-doer If you fnd that the recommended feeding rate results in too much weight gain, you’ll need to reduce the energy intake. However, if you reduce the amount of his current ration, you’ll also be reducing the vitamins and minerals supplied. So, to top up on these essential nutrients without additional calories, you can add a balancer or supplement.

Do keep in mind that if you use a feed intended for a lower level of work than your horse is doing to reduce energy intake, then you might still need to use a balancer or supplement to ensure that his diet ofers him everything he needs to keep him healthy.

When feeding a poor-doer always consider your meal sizes – larger meals reduce the efciency with which your horse absorbs the nutrients and energy supplied, so use smaller quantities of a more energy-dense feed, rather than piling in higher quantities of a low-energy feed.

5 top tips for balancing your horse’s diet Liz Bulbrook is the director of nutrition at Baileys Horse Feeds (visit www.baileys horsefeeds.co.uk). Here she shares her advice on how to keep your horse in tip-top condition all year round

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There are two main condition-scoring systems, using scales of one to nine or one to fve. Always aim for a score in the middle of the scale and a horse with muscle tone and a rounded top line, while not being overweight.

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Remember that your horse’s requirements for nutrients – like protein, vitamins and minerals and not just calories – increase with workload so his diet will need adjusting as workload goes up or down.

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Unless your horse is a good-doer, allow him ad lib forage so he gets as much of his calorie requirements from forage and pasture as possible. Not only is this what he has evolved to do, it’s also cheaper.

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Good quality dietary protein provides the building blocks for muscles and all other body tissues and, with correct training, should enable your horse to build a strong and healthy physique. Choose a good quality feed formulated to suit your horse’s workload and feed it at recommended levels to achieve this.

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If your horse has to have time of, cut down his calorie intake, but maintain a balanced diet to supply essential nutrients. Don’t allow him to get too fat or too thin as this will help him return to ftness more easily.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 5

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Understanding balancers

Striking a balance

Supporting your horse’s diet with a quality feed balancer will ensure he’s getting all he needs. Nutrition experts Anna Welch and Sarah Butler explain how they work

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OUR EXPERT ANNA WELCH, BVSc, BSc, MRCVS is a veterinary nutritionist at TopSpec, visit www.topspec. com for details.

e all want to make sure our horses are getting what they need, and when it comes to their diet this is especially important – you are what you eat after all. To this end, a quality feed balancer can be an excellent way to make sure your horse is getting all the essentials for good health and condition.

In order to understand why your horse may need a balancer, we need to look at how he’s evolved to eat versus how domesticated horses are kept. “In the wild, Grazing alone can’t supply all your horse needs, but a balancer can complete his diet

OUR EXPERT SARAH BUTLER BSc (Hons) is a nutritional specialist at Blue Chip. Visit www. bluechipfeed. com for details.

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“Even if you did have access to horses relied solely on pasture and ideal pastures, supplementation various plants to meet their would be required for half the nutritional needs,” says Blue year when grass quality Chip nutritional is poor.” specialist Sarah Butler. “However, So what the demands we exactly is place on a balancer? domesticated horses are Feed balancers continually usually come in A balancer will increasing and pellet form and ensure your horse ‘pasture only’ diets are basically a receives a complete, balanced diet are no longer concentrated source adequate, with research of essential protein, showing that even horses on vitamins and minerals. good quality pasture 24/7 are Because they’re concentrated, you unlikely to be receiving a don’t need to feed large amounts, nutritionally balanced diet.” so they’re not adding extra Part of the reason for this boils calories to your horse’s intake. down to the type of pasture our “Feed balancers are designed to horses now tend to graze on, says complement a natural forage diet TopSpec veterinary nutritionist and can be fed as a sole bucket Anna Welch. “It’s very rare to fnd feed alongside ad lib fbre, a suitable pasture due to modern removing the need for additional agricultural methods, the supplementation,” says Sarah. She selection for ‘productive’ grass adds that balancers should species for dairy cows and contain a complete package of over-grazing,” she continues. nutrients, including probiotics, FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 7

PHOTO: TOPIX/ALAMY

Feed Guide 2014

Feed Guide 2014 vitamins, minerals, oils, a hoof supplement, garlic and protein – if they do, there’s no need for you to give your horse any other supplements.

“Feed balancers are a revolutionary concept because they contain premium ingredients based on the most current research into equine nutrition,” adds Sarah. “For example, Blue Chip was the frst major feed company to include nucleotides in its balancers. These molecules make up the structural units of DNA and RNA and are essential for the creation of new cells in a horse’s body and to transport oxygen around the body, among other things. They’re found in a horse’s natural diet in low levels and require further supplementation.”

With so many products out there that can be added to your horse’s feed, it can be easy to get confused about which do what, but there are some important diferences between feed balancers and other products.

“Balancers are diferent to vitamin and mineral supplements,” Sarah explains. “Of course, these meet your horse’s nutritional requirements for essential vitamins and minerals, but you’ll be missing out on other key nutrients such as probiotics, essential fatty acids and quality protein – meaning he’ll still require additional supplementation.”

A horse’s digestive system is designed for the little and often intake of a forage-based diet with no large hard feeds, particularly those high in starch, says Anna. She adds: “The most natural

and efcient way of feeding is by providing ad-lib forage and small volumes of hard feed. A feed balancer allows optimal levels of vitamins and minerals to be supplied in a nutrientdense feed with high quality protein and pre- and probiotics.”

Pre- and probiotics explained If you’ve ever seen a yoghurt advert you’re probably aware of the idea of probiotics, often marketed as ‘friendly bacteria’ or yeasts. In a balancer, probiotics help your horse’s digestive system work more efciently.

“Probiotic yeasts are live microorganisms that help promote the production of bacteria which digest cellulose (the substance that makes up most of a plant’s cell walls) in a horse’s hindgut, but they are used and then excreted so they need topping up daily,” explains Sarah. “By promoting the growth of fbre-digesting bacteria, probiotics can improve the digestibility of fbre by up to 100%, allowing your horse to get twice as much out of his forage.

“Prebiotics don’t include live bacteria, but serve as a food source for the bacteria already living in your horse’s foregut. There are two main types of prebiotic in feed balancers – MOS and FOS. FOS is a simple sugar source, feeding the good bacteria in his gut, whereas MOS is of greater beneft as it physically binds to and removes harmful bacteria from the gut. Prebiotics help promote a healthy gut to aid optimal Whatever you do with your horse, and whatever his type, there’ll be a balancer to suit

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Probiotics will help your horse get the most from his forage

absorption of nutrients, ensuring your horse gets the most out of his feed.”

Could your horse beneft from a balancer?

If your horse or pony is a good doer on forage alone, you may think he doesn’t even need a balancer, but there are plenty of benefts that come with fnding the right product for him. “The need to supplement the diets of most horses and ponies living in the UK with minerals and micronutrients for at least part of the year is now established beyond doubt,” says Anna.

“The benefts of including a TopSpec balancer in his diet include improved digestion and utilisation of feed, muscle development and topline, strong hooves, good bone development and strength, healthy joints, supple skin and a shiny coat, good blood quality, efcient energy metabolism, healthy immune system and an improved ability to cope with stress.”

If you’re still not convinced about the benefts of feeding a balancer, rest assured there’ll be one out there that’s perfect for his needs. “Most horses and ponies can beneft from a feed balancer,” says Anna. “Their diet can be tailored depending on their condition and/or workload by choosing an appropriate W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

Understanding balancers

Four top tips for balancer shopping Blue Chip nutritional specialist Sarah Butler shares her advice on what you should look for when buying a balancer.

Feed quality ingredients It’s important to choose a balancer with easily-absorbed ingredients which are organic and chelated (bound to an amino acid or other organic compound to keep the two together in the digestive system) where possible, to make them more easily accessible to your horse. As is usually the case, you get what you pay for, so true value may not always be ofered by the cheapest product.

Go for low sugar Feed balancers without molasses and whole cereals will have a low sugar and starch content, so they won’t give your horse excess fzz.

Look for pre- and probiotics These will help your horse’s digestive system get the most out of his food, but again you get what you pay for – the most efective pre- and probiotics are only found in more expensive products. Do your research so you know what to look for – for

Knowing what you’re looking for will make choosing a quality balancer much easier

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2 3

A balancer will help your horse get the most from his diet

balancer, feeding at a suitable rate and selecting the products it’s fed with.

Specifc feed balancers will suit a range of horses, from the competition horse in hard work, to the native pony who’s prone to being overweight.”

Introducing a feed balancer to your horse’s diet will also help him get the most out of everything else he eats. “The best value feed for horses is grass, followed by conserved forage such as hay and haylage,” says Anna. “To make W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

example MOS is the most efective form of prebiotic.

Look for UFAS & NOPS approval Choosing a balancer that’s approved by the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) and is also labelled as being free from naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) means you know it’s been made to a high standard, with every care taken to ensure it’s free from banned substances.

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In the shops ● The products in the

the most of the forage your horse eats, it’s important he digests it efciently. By using a feed balancer with ad-lib forage, in most cases you’ll save money because your horse’s improved digestion will be getting the most out of low-cost feed such as grass, hay and haylage. Top quality balancers will also include specialised supplements such as for hooves or joints, so you don’t need to buy separate supplements, saving you money in the long term.”

TopSpec balancer range are all low in sugar and starch, and are also cereal-grain free. View the full range at www.topspec.com ● NAF Five Star Optimum feed balancer is formulated to complement high-fbre, lowconcentrate or performance diets.

Visit www.naf-equine.eu/uk ● Saracen Horse Feeds has a range of balancers made for horses and ponies who don’t require much in the way of ‘traditional’ energy-providing compound feeds. Visit www.saracenhorsefeeds.com ● Blue Chip is the frst major feed manufacturer in the UK to include nucleotides in its products. Visit www.bluechipfeed.com

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 9

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Feed Guide 2014

Hard feed explained

What’s in the bag?

Have you ever stepped back and thought about what’s actually in your horse’s hard feed? Dengie’s technical manager Katie Williams tells us exactly what to expect

F OUR EXPERT KATIE WILLIAMS MSc (Dist), is the technical manager at Dengie Horse Feeds. Read more at www. dengie.com

eeding our horses is a daily occurrence but it’s often something we don’t think twice about.

Understanding what goes into your horse’s bag of feed means you’ll be able to tailor his diet to suit his individual needs easily.

All the ingredients will be listed on the back of a feed bag

Cooking up a feast The words micronized or extruded are used to describe the cereals included in hard feed. These are diferent cooking techniques used to improve the digestibility of starch that’s found in cereals.

Cooking cereals helps increase the amount of starch absorbed in the small intestine, reducing the amount that reaches the hind gut where it can cause problems such as colic and laminitis.

There’s a misconception that oat feeds make your horse fzzy, but despite their reputation, oats are actually one of the lowest-energy cereals.

Not all fbre’s the same

EXPERT TIP Always feed the manufacturer’s recommended amounts to make sure your horse gets all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Fibre comes in many diferent forms and each one difers in how benefcial it is to your horse.

Chopped fbre that’s one to two inches long provides a lot more chew time than fbre that’s ground to a meal and then pelleted. Both types can be described as high-fbre feeds and, although the pelleted fbre might be really useful for an older horse with poor dentition, most horses would beneft from having more to chew to extend eating time.

Another thing to think about with fbre is how digestible it is, or how much a horse can extract from it before it passes through his digestive system. Even the least digestible fbre can be useful.

For example, straw is often

The cereals in hard feed are cooked to improve digestibility

included in low-energy feeds such as the Dengie Hi-Fi range of fbre feeds to provide chew time without too many calories.

Straw can be made more digestible by treating it before it’s pelleted and added to feeds, which efectively begins the digestive process before it reaches the horse.

Straw that has been treated like this will be labelled as nutritionally improved straw or NIS. At the other end of the scale, sugar beet contains highly digestible fbre. Despite its name, sugar beet pulp is low in sugar because it’s the fbrous residue left once the sugar has been extracted.

The unmolassed pulp usually contains less than 5% sugar.

Animal, vegetable or mineral protein?

Clearly, no animal protein can be used in horse feeds, and the vegetable really means plants. The form in which minerals are

Sugar beet contains highly digestible fbre

supplied afects the ease with which he can absorb them.

Minerals and vitamins that are used in your horse’s feed are referred to as ‘naturally occurring’ and, although they can be highly bioavailable (so it’s easy for your horse’s system to absorb and utilise them) and very useful to the horse, they are unlikely to be present at the right levels.

To create a balanced feed, an additional source of vitamins and minerals is needed. This is often referred to as a premix. It’s essential to feed a premix at the recommended levels in order for your horse to beneft.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 11

Feed Guide 2014

Supplements Q&A If you’re worried about what supplement to feed your horse to keep him in great shape, never fear, our team of experts are on hand to answer your questions OUR EXPERTS

DAVID WILLEY is the managing director of Equimins

KATE HORE is senior nutritionist at NAF

BECKY LEES is veterinary technical manager for Nettex Equine

Glucosamine sulphate supports cartilage integrity in his joints

SALLY SCOTT is a nutrionist at T.E.N.

Can I improve my horse’s poor feet?

Q

My 19-year-old cob has poor feet. He is currently fed Blue Chip Lami Light and is on the supplement Cortavet.

I’ve tried Biotin and Farriers Formula, which haven’t helped.

What can I do?

Mandy Hunt, via email David Willey from Equimins says: A Hoof condition is a long term project, and it’s important to remember that when it comes to hoof supplementation.

Results don’t happen overnight, you have to give the hoof time to regrow – this can take well over six months.

As with all supplements, it’s not always what’s in the supplement that matters, it’s the levels of the key ingredients and their digestibility. If you’re Poor hooves take time to improve

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feeding ingredients your horse can’t use, you’re wasting your money. For hooves in need of support and repair, feed a supplement with high levels of biotin (75mg per day), bioavailable zinc for strong keratin growth (such as organically bound zinc), as well as zinc methionate, MSM, methionine and other ingredients that help to support his hooves and, indeed, general health. Stick with your chosen supplement for a number of months before you consider swapping – it’s the only fair way to use it.

Don’t forget that a horse’s hoof condition can be an indication of general health, so consider assessing your feeding regime to make sure all his nutritional needs are being met.

What will help stif joints?

Q

My 26-year-old Thoroughbred cross seems really stif, especially when he’s stabled. Are there any supplements I can give him and what should I be looking for in the ingredients?

Siobhan Perry, Derbyshire Kate Hore, NAF senior nutritionist says: A Joint stress has undoubtedly received more scientifc study than any other horse health factor. The results mean we know which key nutrients are most important for ofering joint fexibility. It’s advised that a quality joint supplement is based on glucosamine sulphate to support cartilage integrity, and MSM for the nutritional support of tendons, ligaments and associated soft tissue. Chondroitin sulphate and, more recently, hyaluronic acid (HA) also show positive benefts. A blend of these, provided they are supplied in the correct ratios, is preferable to any single product.

Also, the inclusion of naturally sourced antioxidants is helpful for fushing away excess toxins that accumulate around the working joint which can turn everyday wear and tear into more serious issues.

Manufacturers are legally obliged to list the ingredients, in weight order, so checking the pack can be revealing. For example, if the frst ingredient listed is dextrose or alfalfa, question why you might want a supplement that’s largely made up of fllers rather than ingredients that help your horse.

Many manufacturers list the inclusion rate of the key nutrients (e.g. MSM 5000mg per dose). This gives you a chance to check the levels, but also ensures they’re included at the correct ratio for best efect.

Good advice is to choose a product made by a company you trust. For clarifcation, look for the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) accreditation mark as that guarantees full traceability and, therefore, quality. Also look for members of BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association), the industry standard for the equine professional. NAF recommends Five Star Superfex to support joints.

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Supplements explained Keeping your horse’s airways clear will improve his performance

How do I support a clear and healthy respiratory system?

Q

My 17hh horse is out eventing most weekends throughout the season.

I’m conscious that his respiratory system has to be in good health. As well as feeding him haylage and using a dust-free bedding, would feeding a respiratory supplement also help?

Also, what do you recommend I look for ingredient-wise when I’m choosing this type of supplement?

Penny Fall, Devon Veterinary technical manager for Nettex Equine Becky Lees says:

A As you correctly state, competition horses, especially eventers, need their respiratory system to be in tip-top condition to cope with the demands of competition. However, these horses are at increased risk of respiratory problems due to the stress of travelling and competition. Travelling keeps a horse’s head in an unnatural position as they are tied up. This means that mucus is not able to drain from the nose and will instead stay within the lungs.

Mixing with other horses means there’s also an increased risk of

infectious respiratory disease.

A respiratory supplement will help loosen mucus and deep seated ‘muck’ within the lungs to help keep airways clear and increase lung capacity. I’d choose Nettex Air Power Respiratory Boost, which contains eucalyptus, menthol, ginger, aniseed and liquorice to open the airways for maximum uptake of oxygen. It also includes echinacea to stimulate the immune system and improve oxygen transport in the blood, aiding stamina and performance, so that you can get the most out of your horse.

Can I feed something for added shine?

Q

My nine-year-old Connemara cross is lacking the usual glow to his coat.

He’s regularly wormed and is fed a diet of high fbre chaf and general horse and pony cubes. He’s in light work with the occasional competitions at weekends. What could help?

Jade McKewen, Bexhill

Oil can help add shine to his coat

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T.E.N. nutritionist Sally Scott says: A The most important factor when considering coat condition is feeding a balanced diet; if you’re feeding less than the recommended amount of horse and pony cubes then you’ll need to add broad

spectrum supplement such as T.E.N. Daily Balancer or Dodson & Horrell’s Daily Vitamins and Minerals to top up the base levels to meet requirements.

In addition to balancing his diet, adding in extra oil or a supplement especially designed to support skin and coat health may help get your horse’s usual glow back.

Look out for ingredients such as micronised linseed, vitamin C, zinc, methionine, biotin and herbs such as chamomile. Check out Feedmark’s EquiDermis and T.E.N. Challenged Skin and Coat.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 13

Feed Guide 2014 OUR EXPERTS A lick is an efcient way to ensure he gets the right vitamins

MALCOLM GREEN is technical director of EquiFeast

DR CLIFF LISTER is a nutritionist at Horslyx

JEREMY SAMPLE is sales director for the Rockies range

ROSS RILEY is director of Animalife, home of Vetrofen and Vetroflex

What will get rid of his itch?

Q

Is there anything I can add to my horse’s feed to help him with his itchy skin. He wears a sweet itch rug when he’s turned out but is there anything I can feed him, too?

Charlotte Smithston, Jersey EquiFeast technical director Malcolm Green says: A There are two major causes of itchy skin in horses. The least common of the two is defciencies of basic vitamins, minerals and key nutrients.

Horses fed diets that consist primarily of pasture, hay or haylage and un-supplemented chafs are most vulnerable.

Feeding a general vitamin and mineral supplement will ensure he get the nutrients he needs.

The second cause is allergies.

These are nearly always seasonal and often the allergen never gets identifed. This is an area where the nutrition industry and many in the veterinary profession have diferent approaches. Almost all the tools available to vets knock out the immune system. The theory behind this is that the allergen is an over-reaction of the immune system. Drugs Allergies are often the cause of itchy skin

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such as steroids are very successful at eliminating the symptoms but they don’t deal with the fundamental problem and can have nasty side efects .

The alternative approach makes the opposite assumption, that the allergic reaction is an under-reaction from the immune system. Although it isn’t able to deal with the problem it keeps on trying and that’s what causes eczemas, lumps and bumps and sometimes weeping sores. The biggest dilemma with this is just how much support the immune system will need. In our experience at EquiFeast there’ll be plenty of times each year when no support is required (so long as the basic diet has the key nutrients). But at other times of the year when the allergen load is high, so is the requirement for immune support. So be prepared to spend more money for short periods of time.

Not surprisingly, both approaches are mutually exclusive. Steroids will always win. So it makes sense to try the immune support approach frst and use steroids as a last resort.

Does she need a boost?

Q

Most of the year my good-doer lives out.

She’s in light work and has a good amount of energy for the work she does, but do I need to feed her a general supplement to ensure she gets the necessary vitamins and minerals?

Bethany Toole, Shropshire Horslyx nutritionist Clif Lister says: A Modern grazing can be defcient in many essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements so while it’s fantastic that your horse is receiving plenty of forage through grazing, it’s recommended that any defciencies are balanced by supplementing her diet with additional nutrients. This will ensure that your horse is capable of maintaining all over health and vitality.

For the good-doer, increasing calories via a concentrate feed in order to administer a supplement isn’t always benefcial. However, supplying your horse with a palatable, nutrientdense lick can be a cost-efective way of supplying vitamins, minerals and trace elements without adding excessive calories to her diet.

The nature of a lick enables your horse to use it little and often, and to digest the nutrients slowly and gradually in a natural trickle feeding process. This slows down the rate of consumption and complements the natural digestive system of the horse.

There are many diferent types of licks on the market. In order for a lick to be cost-efective and to ensure the correct levels of vitamins and minerals are fed, it’s important you follow the feeding guidelines. Some licks may have a less concentrated package of nutrients, which could mean that more of the lick needs to be consumed in order to receive the full benefts.

Horslyx is cooked which means the product has very low moisture content and is weatherproof, contains no chemical hardeners, and no artifcial colours, preservatives or favourings. This results in a longer lasting lick that’s palatable, easy to digest and good value for money, too.

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Supplements explained

Does my horse need salt in his diet?

Q

I’ve been told by my friends on my yard that I should give my horse a salt lick. Is this true? Why is this necessary and what should I look for as there are quite a few to choose from at my local feed shop?

Stephanie Picker, Dundee Jeremy Sample, sales director at Rockies says: A A salt lick is a simple and efective way of supplementing your horse’s diet with essential salt, an ingredient that helps to maintain body fuid balance and prevent electrolyte defciency.

It can be difcult to guess how much salt your horse needs and it depends on lots of things, like his food and his workload, but the good news is that salt is self-limiting so, for most horses (except performance horses), a salt lick is a great way to ofer salt, so your horse can just help himself.

Not all salt licks are the same. If you’re looking for pure salt, that’s one consideration, but many licks contain additional minerals which can help to top up levels of minerals and trace

Salt helps maintain the correct body fuid balance

elements. However, just as with normal supplements, you want to make sure you’re giving your horse a really good lick, with top quality trace elements, and you need to know exactly what’s in it.

It’s not just the composition that difers, the quality of the product difers too. Salt licks can crumble, break apart and almost ‘melt’ if they’re not well made. The lick you buy needs to be very hard to deliver this, and if you’re looking

for a salt lick, make sure it’s made with pure salt that can be traced.

Salt licks are a great addition to your horse’s diet and are very cost efective too. If your horse competes, sweats profusely when travelling or loses more than an ‘average’ amount of electrolytes, you may need to supplement a lick with an electrolyte product every so often when needed, but not all the time.

How can I help him stay calm under pressure?

Q

Before travelling, and at competitions, my 15.3hh Thoroughbred can get quite excited.

A friend recommended using an instant calmer. What are these and how do I know which one to choose?

Harriet Dyson, Cumbria Ross Riley xxx from Animal Life says: A With a huge variety of calming products available, it can be a bit of a minefeld when it comes to

choosing the right one for your horse.

When a horse is stressed, or under pressure through exercise, his magnesium levels can deplete and if this isn’t replenished it can exacerbate an already nervous disposition. For this reason, choosing a product with bioavailable magnesium could help reduce the excitement levels before travelling and competing.

However, as your friend suggested, an instant calmer may also be benefcial. It An instant calmer can help when travelling

W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

sounds like your horse anticipates the experience ahead of him when faced with travelling, so giving him an instant calmer before he’s loaded onto the trailer or horsebox may help.

Stress can reduce the level of oxygen in the blood so by ofering a product that helps replenish this you can promote a more relaxed and focused outlook quickly and easily.

Products such as Equine Oxyshot and Vetrocalm Intense Instant both utilise revolutionary oxygen technology called CS02, which uses natural ingredients to instantly replenish blood oxygen levels that have dropped during hard work or when stressed. This stable form of oxygen has been shown to easily dissolve into the blood stream when ingested and can support the body’s ability to oxidise lactic acid, helping horses to recover quickly from exertion and cope with anxiety and worry. This ingredient can also be administered on numerous occasions throughout the competition day, so you can safely ofer it before travelling and again at a competition to encourage a more level-headed performance.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 15

TE E SI PL EB M W SA PLY T SI EE S AP VI FR & C’ R T’S FO

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FEED THE DIFFERENCE

Feed Guide 2014

Lazy vs fzzy

Feeding for type Whether your horse is excitable or lazy, feed expert Lizzie Drury explains how you can tailor his diet to make sure you get the best out of him

T

OUR EXPERT LIZZIE DRURY MSc R.Nutr is senior equine nutritionist at Saracen Horse Feeds. Find out more at www. saracenhorse feeds.com

EXPERT TIP Concentrate meal size should not exceed 2kg for a horse and 1kg for a pony.

here are so many diferent feeds available to suit the individual needs of your horse, which can be tailored to suit his temperament, no matter whether he’s fzzy or lazy!

If he’s chilled out If your horse has a laid-back attitude to life along with a manageable temperament and is also in ideal body condition, feeds that contain a variety of cereals, including barley and maize, can help to enhance his natural temperament and make him a little livelier. These feeds are micronized to increase their digestibility and, when utilised by your horse, will supply more instant energy for work.

Providing that cereal-based feeds are fed in sensible quantities and not in large meals, your horse will be able to digest them efciently with no ill efects on his digestive health or temperament.

If your horse is lazy and overweight he shouldn’t be fed feeds that are high in cereals and energy in a bid to liven him up. It’s essential that you concentrate on decreasing his body weight frst, as when he loses weight he may start to become more energetic.

A tailored exercise routine, designed to ensure your horse is working properly, is essential

W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

If your horse displays fzzy behaviour, his diet might need an overhaul

A weight loss programme incorporating appropriate exercise and a good quality feed balancer would be recommended.

For wild things If your horse has an excitable temperament he may beneft from a concentrate feed that’s based on digestible fbres such as soya hulls, alfalfa and sugar beet. The way these fbres are digested in his gut means energy is provided to him slowly over a longer period of time. This will help to manage his temperament, and channel his energy in the right direction, making him more trainable.

It’s known to be harder to keep condition on your horse if he has an excitable temperament.

If you can relate to this, consider supplementing your horse’s ration with a high fat supplement, such as Saracen EQUI-JEWEL® (1-2lbs per day). This will help to signifcantly increase the calorie density of his feed, while still being non-heating. Another option is Allen & Page’s soaked feed, Calm & Condition.

To ensure your horse is receiving all the vitamins and minerals he requires for optimum health, make sure you’re feeding the manufacturer’s recommended amounts. If you’re feeding below these recommendations then you’ll need to supplement with a feed balancer or a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement to maintain a balanced ration.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 17

Feed Guide 2014

Feeding Q&A You sent us your questions on all aspects of feeding and our experts are here to share their advice so you can keep your horse in tip-top condition all year round OUR EXPERTS

ANNA PYRAH has a BSc in equine science and is a nutritionist for The Pure Feed Company

CHLOE BRISTOW MA VetMB MRCVS leads the nutrition team at Dodson & Horrell

CLARE BARFOOT BSc (Hons) RNutr is an equine nutritionist for Spillers and Winergy

CAM PRICE is an equine feed and nutrition professional and is the managing director of Keyfow

TRACEY HAMMOND has an MSc in equine science and is a nutritionist at Dengie

How can I keep her ticking over?

Q

Fibre feeds help avoid excess energy

18 YOUR HORSE FEED GUIDE 2014

JANE VAN LENNEP BSc, MSc, BHSI (S.M.Cert), NPSD, is director of nutrition at Simple System Horse Feeds

Getting your horse’s diet right will give him stamina for long days out hunting

I work away a lot, so my 14-year-old Riding Club mare sometimes doesn’t get ridden as much as I’d like.

How can I keep her ticking over feed-wise without piling on the pounds?

Rachel Breckon, Northumberland Dengie nutritionist Tracey Hammond says: A The frst step is to provide your mare with a balanced diet without too many calories. This can be achieved using a feed balancer such as Baileys Lo-Cal or a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement such as Dengie Leisure Vits & Mins or NAF General Purpose. Either option can be mixed with a low-calorie fbre feed such as Dengie Hi-Fi Molasses Free or Dodson & Horrell Fibergy. The balancer or supplement will provide the essential nutrients your mare requires and the fbre feed will supply slowrelease energy. The fbre feed can be adjusted according to your horse’s work and body weight and, because it’s fbre, it’s very safe.

LIZ BULBROOK BSc (Hons) is director of nutrition at Baileys Horse Feeds

What will keep my hunter in top condition?

Q

Towards the end of last season I found it harder to keep condition on my 16.3hh hunter and had to increase his rations. What’s the safest form of energy to feed to ensure he stays ft through the hunting season?

Harriet Yeats, Leicestershire Dengie nutritionist Tracey Hammond says: A If you’re otherwise happy with your horse’s normal ration, oil will be a useful addition. It means you can increase calorie intake without increasing meal size. This is benefcial for digestive health and, because very ft horses often have limited appetites, more calories can be supplied in a smaller feed. Oil

provides slow-release energy for stamina, which is benefcial for a day out hunting and promotes weight gain and condition without the fzz.

Up to 100ml of vegetable oil per 100kg of body weight can be fed daily. Remember that adding oil increases the importance of ensuring a balanced ration. There are high-oil feed supplements available, such as Baileys Outshine and Saracen Equi-Jewel. These are usually balanced with the additional antioxidants required to support the extra reliance on oil.

Adding sugar beet to his ration can be useful for maintaining weight gain, and aiding hydration because it’s fed soaked. It’s highly digestible fbre can fuel lower-intensity work.

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Your questions answered

What should my good-doer eat?

Q

My middleweight riding horse lives out all year and is generally a good-doer. He’s in light work in winter but in the summer I ride at least four times a week.

What should I be feeding him?

Sarah James, Kent

Fussy eaters need energy dense feeds so they can get the most from smaller portions

I want to help my ex-racer maintain her weight

Q

I have an eight-year-old ex-racer who’s been of the track three years.

She can be quite stressy and can be picky about her food – what’s the best way to keep condition on her?

Billie Charles, Essex Baileys director of nutrition Liz Bulbrook says: A Being stressy and fussy can be signs of gastric ulcers so, if you haven’t done so already, it may be worth discussing this with your vet as well as adapting your management routine to reduce stress. If your mare is also fussy about hay or haylage, you may need to provide forage alternatives to make sure she consumes sufcient fbre to keep her gut healthy and support digestive efciency.

Consider feeding alfalfa chafs, high fbre nuggets and/or British Horse Feed’s soaked Speedi-Beet or Fibre-Beet in a

Supplement grazing with a quality feed balancer for all-round nutrition

separate bucket from her hard feed, alongside her hay or haylage in the stable. This will promote natural foraging behaviour and also encourage her to chew to produce valuable acid-neutralising saliva to protect her stomach.

When choosing a compound feed, look for something energy-dense and highly digestible so she’s able to make the most of every mouthful. Look for feeds high in oil and fbre and which aim to keep starch levels down while still providing digestible calories. Baileys All-Round Endurance Mix is an ideal choice as are Baileys Top Line Conditioning Cubes or Saracen’s Re-Leve. Another cereal-free option is a combination of Fibre-Beet, a balancer and a high oil supplement, such as Baileys Outshine or Dodson & Horrell Build & Glow.

A fbre based, low calorie diet will help good doers avoid weight gain

Does my gelding need extra feed support?

Q

My native could live on fresh air, but I worry grazing alone isn’t enough for him. He’s 11 and in light work, including some jumping. What would you suggest?

Beth Needes, Shropshire Keyfow managing director Cam Price says: A As your horse is a good-doer it’s fair to assume he’s on fairly limited grazing so you’re right to consider the additional nutrients he might need. However,

W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

Pure Feed Company nutritionist Anna Pyrah says: A Generally, horses who are good-doers naturally tend to put on weight over the warmer months, thanks to the richer grass and fewer calories being burnt to maintain body temperature, which needs to be taken into account when feeding. Aim for a fbre based, low calorie feed which won’t contribute to weight gain – avoid any feed with added sugar, molasses or high starch.

The key concept to remember is that if you increase the energy value of the diet, you increase the calorifc content too, so as long as you are compensating for this by exercising him, then you should be able to keep weight consistent.

Providing a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and amino acids along with pre- and probiotics (to help his gut cope with the rich grass) is really important as well.

feeding cobs and native breeds often presents a signifcant challenge to owners as you’re trying to balance supplying key nutrients without adding extra starch that’ll pile on the pounds. Feed balancers are ideal in such situations and Mark Todd Perfect Balance provides quality nutrition without the calories found in higher energy rations.

It’s made using wet steam extrusion, resulting in a highly digestible product that’s scientifcally balanced.

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 19

Feed Guide 2014

Your questions answered

Can I feed for energy without weight gain?

What can a collapsed stomach cope with?

Q

Q

I have a cob who’s a good-doer and can tend to be a bit lazy. Is there a way of giving him a bit more energy without putting on weight?

Caitlin Sharrow, Lincolnshire Dodson & Horrell veterinary nutritionist Chloe Bristow says: A Trying to keep good-doers feeling energetic while on a calorie-restricted diet can be tricky. Any excess weight could make him feel lethargic and lacking in energy, so the frst step should always be to make sure he’s not overweight and adapting his diet as necessary. In general, adding a very small amount of feed such as a coarse mix should give him a little more energy without leading to weight gain. Try gradually introducing one or two handfuls to his feed and monitor his weight with a weigh tape every two weeks to check he’s not gaining weight.

A coarse mix can help give good-doers more zing

Find the right feed Visit www.yourhorse.co.uk/feed guide to see stockist information for all our feed companies.

My horse has a partially collapsed stomach and I’m trying hard to fnd things she can eat. Can you help?

Joanna Evans, via Facebook Simple System Horse Feeds expert Jane van Lennep says: A In the normal course of events, little digestion happens in the stomach.

This is part of the foregut of the horse, where sugars, starch, protein and fats are digested. As the horse’s natural diet is forage, this type of food passes through the stomach and small intestine quite quickly and doesn’t need to be held in the stomach. Feeds that are high in starch, such as mixes, will need to be held there in order for

the very small amounts of enzyme to break it down.

For a horse with a compromised stomach, my advice is to feed as near natural as possible – forage and forage!

Also ensure that she doesn’t have long gaps (over two hours) without eating, as if she gets hungry she will eat a lot and this may overload the stomach.

So, stick with hay, grazing, soaked beet pulp, grass and lucerne pellets or chops and you should fnd that you can manage your mare’s condition without problems. Dampen your feeds well and remember that when your horse is on forages, you don’t have to withhold feed around work. Always ensure a salt lick is available, too.

Is there a way to support a Cushing’s patient?

Q

My 14-year-old mare has been diagnosed with Cushing’s. She’s on medication and has molassesfree chaf and Spillers Lite feed balancer because of the links to equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis. Would any particular feeds or supplements beneft her?

Karen Langhorn, via Facebook Spillers nutritionist Clare Barfoot says: A First, it’s great that you are managing her like a laminitic; laminitis is a common issue in horses and ponies with Cushing’s disease.

The exact mechanism of how this occurs is not fully understood but keeping the sugar and starch to a minimum and restricting grazing at high-risk times is advisable. This

Big or small, restricted grazing can help prevent complications as a result of Cushing’s

feeding strategy will reduce the risk of a hindgut upset and abnormal insulin dynamics from developing.

When it comes to supplements any owner’s frst consideration is whether the diet is balanced or not – in your case you’re already feeding a balancer so you have this covered. There are supplements available to support horses and ponies at risk of laminitis, however, supplements shouldn’t be used in place of good management.

How can I safeguard his compromised liver?

Q

My pony has had liver disease and only has two-thirds of a working liver. He’s on a low protein, low oil and high fbre diet but is there anything that would be best for him?

Anni Barrett, via Facebook Winerg nutritionist Clare Barfoot says: A The general principle with feeding a horse or pony with advanced liver disease is to help alleviate the work of

20 YOUR HORSE FEED GUIDE 2014

the liver, which is why a low protein diet is often recommended.

The protein in your pony’s diet should meet but not exceed requirements and good quality protein sources should be provided. Normally, horse diets aren’t very high in protein – the most signifcant contribution actually comes from grazing. Therefore, make sure your chosen feed contains an adequate supply of the amino acid lysine. Oil can be used in higher quantities than previously

thought and is an ideal source of energy. Non-structural carbohydrate (sugar and starch) should be limited as insulin resistance can occur in some equines with liver disease. A good balanced diet is very important especially to provide adequate fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and E and B. Iron and copper shouldn’t be over supplied as these trace elements are stored in the liver and can reach toxic levels.

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Feed Guide 2014

Cubes can be a good source of fbre

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Horses have evolved to chew up to 18 hours a day

Prepare for winter A change in your horse’s routine and diet helps them maintain condition through the colder months. Find out what to do with the nutrition expert, SPILLERS®

R

egardless of your horse’s a ge, condition, temperament, or winter regime, fbre should make up the largest proportion of his diet.

There are two main reasons why fbre is so important – frstly, 65% of your horse’s digestive system (known as the

hindgut) is devoted to processing it.

Secondly, and just as important, from a psychological point of view your horse has evolved to forage and chew for up to 18 hours a day. This process of fbre digestion produces heat, which efectively acts as your horse’s own ‘central heating system’, keeping him warm throughout the colder winter months.

Make sure he gets enough fbre, whatever his needs

Mineral levels in grass can vary depending on the soil it’s growing in

your horse FeeD GuIDe 2014

●●Feed him quality hay, haylage or hay replacers on an ad-lib basis, unless he’s overweight ●●Select a late cut seed hay or mix in good quality oat or barley straw if he’s a little on the plump side because these contain fewer calories than regular forage ●●Give additional forage to your horse if he’s living out, when grass is poor or frost and snow is covering the ground ●●Ofer soaked high fbre cubes if your senior horse struggles to chew long fbre ●●Feed hay replacers if your horse isn’t a big fan of forage, for example if he’s a poor doer or fussy eater ●●Choose his hard feeds based on high levels of fbre. It’s important to remember that fbre can also come in the form of high fbre cubes and short chopped forages

Balance his intake While fbre is obviously a vital part of your horse’s diet, it doesn’t necessarily provide him with everything he needs to keep him in tip-top condition.

Vitamin levels decline as hay and haylage ages, and the mineral levels will vary depending on the quality of the soil it’s grown in. Unfortunately, you can’t tell what it contains just by looking at it, so to supplement a forage based diet, opt for a balancer or low calorie, high fbre based feed to provide him with all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

SPILLERS® High Fibre Cubes SPILLERS® High Fibre Cubes are low in starch and high in fbre, with high levels of vitamins and minerals, making them a safe choice for good doers, native ponies and those prone to laminitis. They can also be soaked to form a mash for veterans that can’t manage long fbres. ●●£9.45 for a 20kg bag ●●You can call the SPILLERS® Care-Line on 01908 226626 www.spillers-feeds.com

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Feed Guide 2014

Feeding forage

Choose forage wisely Did you know between 70–100% of your horse’s diet should be forage?

So your choice of forage is one of the most important feed purchases you make!

H

OUR EXPERT RACHEL HORNBY is an equine sales advisor for HorseHage.

With a BA (Hons) in Equine Business, Rachel is also a fully-qualifed equine sports massage therapist. Based in Devon, she’s been riding for 25 years and currently competes in dressage with her own horse.

Read more at www.horsehage forage.co.uk

orses have evolved to munch on a high fbre diet. In fact, your horse should spend 70% of his time eating or run the risk of digestive problems, which is why forage is so important.

“In the past, working horses were fed concentrate feeds for two reasons: they worked so hard that forage couldn’t meet their energy and protein requirements; and they didn’t have access to grass for hours at a time,” says Rachel Hornby from HorseHage. “Today, many horses don’t need concentrate feed. In the summer, when turned out, most only require a vitamin and mineral supplement to balance their forage.

Your horse’s condition should be monitored in order to get the energy content of his diet correct.

Keep it simple – if your horse is maintaining weight, then no extra feed other than a vitamin and mineral supplement is necessary.

If he’s losing weight, then upgrade your forage and chose a good quality, low energy, high fbre feed.”

Hay vs haylage... know your forage Follow Rachel’s at-a-glance guide to what to look out for!

Hay “Good quality hay is dependent upon the quality of the grass harvested, as well as weather conditions while it’s being made, so choose your supply carefully,” says Rachel. “Many samples of hay contain unacceptably high levels of dust, mould and dust mites, together with their faeces.

These can cause serious problems for your horse’s respiratory health. If left unmanaged, dust exposure can result in an allergic reaction, which may lead to permanent problems such as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO).

“Soaking or steaming hay is a good way to reduce the dust particles. However, this may not remove all of the dust spores and the nutrient value of soaked hay will be greatly reduced.”

Haylage facts “Poor hay at any price is a false economy and if you’re

struggling to get the quality of your hay right, then bagged forage from a well-established, reliable producer might be the answer,” Rachel explains. “It should have a high nutritional value as well as a full nutritional analysis and quality guarantee.

It can be more expensive than hay, but the quality’s consistent.

“Unlike hay, haylage is usually dust-free but choose a brand that states it’s dust-free to be sure. Opt for a high-quality bagged forage that’s guaranteed, so you know exactly what you’re feeding – these are usually in smaller bales. Choose a brand that’s bagged straight from the feld to ensure there’s no risk of mould or myco-toxins in the bag, which should be double skinned to avoid accidental puncturing.” ● For more information on forage and advice on feeding your horse, call the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527257.

WhatÕs in the shops ● Baillie Haylage is one of the

Haylage is a dust-free forage preferred by many horses

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UK’s largest haylage producers and delivers small or large orders nationwide, www.bailliehaylage.co.uk ● EuroBale is UK haylage suppliers to a huge cross section of the equine industry, www.eurobale.com ● HorseHage, the original dust-free forage, www. horsehageforage.co.uk ● Dodson & Horrell ofer Fibergy and other products to be fed as forage, www. dodsonandhorrell.com

● Simple System Horsefeeds provide a variety of forage alternatives for your horse such as high-fbre chops, www.simple systemhorsefeeds.co.uk ● The Dengie Hi-Fi range can be a good alternative to regular forage, www.dengie.com ● Baileys Horse Feeds Fibre Plus Nuggets are an ideal hay replacer, www. baileyshorse feeds.co.uk

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 23

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Feed Guide 2014

Veterans

Feeding veterans Help your veteran stay in top nick with advice from equine nutritionist Sarah Bee

O

ne of the main issues for owners of older horses is that of poor teeth. As your horse ages, his teeth can start to become worn, loose or less efective. This OUR EXPERT SARAH BEE BSc (Hons) is an equine nutritionist at Allen & Page Quality Horse Feeds. Find out more at www. allenandpage. com or call the Allen & Page award winning nutritional helpline on 01362 822 902.

If he can still eat his hay, let him!

can afect his condition as he becomes less able to eat enough forage, putting him at risk of weight loss, colic or gastric ulcers.

If he starts to struggle, you might notice him dropping his feed (known as quidding). It’s also worth keeping in mind that poor teeth put him at greater risk of choke, simply because he’s not able to chew his feed properly.

However, a soaked fbre replacer that forms a soft mash should be easier for him to manage and will help you to ensure he gets enough fbre to help keep his digestive system healthy and for him to maintain a good weight.

Remember, soft mashes are eaten quicker than the long-stem fbre found in a haynet for example, so to ensure that your horse isn’t stood for longer than

four to six hours without food you might need to feed small meals more often to keep his digestive system stimulated.

Does your horse need a veteran feed?

As horses are staying healthy for longer, it makes sense that many veterans are still leading active, ridden lives. Choosing feeds that supply slow release energy can provide good energy levels for active horses in light to medium work, as well as those at rest.

However, keep key things in mind – high calorie feeds, sourced from fbre and oil, will help maintain weight without the use of high starch cereals. These are often kinder on the digestive system and easier for the veteran horse to digest.

6 top tips for feeding veterans

1

Think fbre, fbre, fbre!

Fibre is vital, especially for an older horse, and high fbre feeds such as unmolassed sugar beet help to promote a healthy digestive system. These may require soaking, making them easier for your veteran to eat. If your veteran is still able to eat hay ofer him some, as any long fbre that’s eaten is a positive and you can try soaking or steaming it to make it easier to chew.

Consider his health conditions Forage replacers that are very high in fbre, but low in starch and sugar (ideally cereal grain and molasses free), are vital if your horse is prone to laminitis, or has Cushing’s disease.

Keep feed moist Food often passes through the digestive system partially undigested in horses who are unable to chew their food thoroughly. This means they won’t gain maximum nutrition, so add water to any bucket feed given – soaked mash feeds are the ideal choice for horses with poor teeth.

Supply fatty acids Essential fatty acids must be supplied in your horse’s diet as they cannot be

2 3

4

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made by your horse. Feeds containing both linseed (a source of Omega 3 essential fatty acid) and soya (a source of Omega 6 essential fatty acid) are a good choice.

Provide essential protein All horses need protein in their diets, but in older horses protein digestibility may be reduced.

Good quality protein sources, such as soya, are needed for repair and maintenance of tissues, but it’s the quality, not quantity, that’s important.

Care for his health Insulin resistance, laminitis and Cushing’s disease all occur more frequently in veterans, so providing a diet low in starch and sugar is advisable; cereal grain and molasses free feeds are ideal. ● For more information call the Allen & Page award winning nutritional helpline on 01362 822 902 or visit www.allenandpage.com

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Keep your veteran ft and well with a healthy, balanced diet

Feed Guide 2014

Feeding competition horses

Easy ways to get that winning edge!

Feeding your competition horse can be challenging, but the right nutritional support can give you a headstart. Read on for Chloe Bristow’s fve top tips

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OUR EXPERT CHLOE BRISTOW leads the Nutrition Team at Dodson & Horrell (D&H) and provides specialist feed advice to Equestrian Team GBR. Chloe qualifed as a Vet MB MRCVS from Cambridge University and also holds an MA in Zoology and Parasitology.

Read more at www.dodson andhorrell.com

n his early training, your horse will get most of the calories he needs from his forage in the form of hay, haylage and grazing. However, as his training progresses and his workload increases, you may also need to step up to a higher calorie feed designed for competition horses. Read on to fnd out how to feed your horse to prepare him for competitions, and for long-term beneft.

Travelling your horse can cause stress and loose droppings so try feeding a probiotic to help calm his gut

1. Feed for his needs Your horse needs to have the energy to perform but overfeeding can have a negative efect on his ftness as extra weight from fat acts as a natural handicap. So keep in mind that for every additional 10kg of weight, your horse has to work 3.3% harder. It’s essential to monitor his weight every two weeks and to adjust his diet accordingly.

2. Add ‘oomph’ While nutrition can’t change your horse’s temperament, it

can be used to avoid exacerbating natural excitability or to provide extra sparkle if needed. Starch and sugar from cereals provide fast-releasing energy – perfect if your horse needs a bit more ‘oomph’ or if you’re competing in shorter duration disciplines such as show jumping. Oils and fbre provide slow-release energy that gives stamina and endurance without excitability so these are ideal for ‘fzzy’ horses or eventers.

3. Protect from ulcers During exercise your horse’s movement can cause stomach acid to splash around, putting the upper section of his stomach (which doesn’t have the natural protection found in the lower half of the stomach) at risk of acid exposure and damage.

Feeding a small, high fbre meal 90 minutes before exercise can help to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

cross-country phase. Remember, your horse will also sweat while travelling and can lose 0.5% of his bodyweight for every hour travelled. That’s signifcant when as little as 2% dehydration can afect his performance!

5. Keep him hydrated Rehydration is crucial to recovery after exercise, so always have electrolytes on-hand. These can be provided in a small amount of wet feed or added to water, and are best fed within an hour of hard exercise or travelling.

It’s important to keep your competition horse well hydrated

4. Watch his waistline

D&H brand ambassador and Paralympic dressage star Sophie Wells knows all about the importance of feeding for success

Research by Dodson & Horrell at Burghley Horse Trials 2007 showed horses competing lost up to 4% of their bodyweight through dehydration during the W W W.YOU R HOR SE .CO.U K

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Feed Guide 2014

Seasonal feed

Feeding in winter

Prepare your horse for the colder weather and ensure he gets all the nutrients he needs with this simple checklist from feeding expert Dr Tom Shurlock

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OUR EXPERT DR TOM SHURLOCK started working for British Horse Feeds in 1997.

He holds a BSc Hons in Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition and also a Ph.D in Animal Physiology and Nutrition.

Read more at www.british horsefeeds.com

EXPERT TIP If your horse is stabled during winter, use a small holed net for his hay or haylage. This will replicate natural feeding behaviour as heÕll access his food in small amounts throughout the day

Find the best haylage you can

e all know that winter weather conditions have the potential to be more variable than any other time of the year.

Changes in temperature, wind, rain or snow all add to the unpredictability and, when devising a feeding regime, it needs to be based on short

days, cool temperatures and reduced activity.

By planning ahead, feeding in winter can be relatively simple.

Feeding forage such as hay or haylage with any fresh grass that’s available and teaming this with a fbre based feed, means you can adjust the amount you’re feeding your horse on a daily basis – extra for cold days and when exercised

and less for mild days and when he’s stabled – to help I’ve created a winter feeding checklist.

As well as using the feeding checklist, you’ll also need to make sure you’re providing your horse with suitable shelter and protection against the wind, rain and cold. This can mean stabling at night, or providing a feld shelter or windbreak and rugs.

Dr Tom’s winter feeding checklist ✔ Source a good supply of hay or haylage. It looks set to be a good year for forage so it’s worth looking around for the best cut you can fnd ✔ Change to a more digestible fbre such as sugar beet.

Changing the levels you feed over the season will allow you to adapt his intake to match the weather without causing any disruption to your horse’s hindgut ✔ Make sure your horse is in the best condition possible before the winter weather arrives. After all the summer grass you may fnd he’s carrying a little bit of extra fat.

If this is the case, don’t fear as this will not only act as insulation for him, it‘ll help him produce enough energy and heat to stay comfortable while you adjust your feeding regime through autumn ✔ Encourage your horse to eat high energy feeds.

Generating energy will compensate for the increased heat loss that he’ll experience during the colder

Using a treat ball stimulates foraging behaviour in your horse

months of winter ✔ As the days get shorter a high energy fbre source, such as Speedi-Beet or Allen & Page Fast Fibre, will ensure that your horse’s energy intake is maintained even though he’ll have less grazing time ✔ On really cold days why not introduce your horse to hot mashes. This will warm the gut and help to combat deep core temperature loss ✔ The process of digestion generates heat, so if your horse starts to shiver, it means he’s not getting enough from the amount of feed you’re giving him. Give him a higher energy feed to make

sure he gets enough heat when the food gets metabolised ✔ Make him work for his food by giving him a toy with treats inside. This stimulates normal foraging behaviour and will decrease the risk of him developing stereotypical stable vices when the weather means he can’t be turned out ✔ Adjust the amount of feed you give your horse depending on the weather conditions.

By increasing and decreasing your high energy feeds, you should be able to maintain condition across both the cold and mild periods ✔ By the end of winter you should aim for your horse to have a body condition score of moderate (2 on the 0-5 scale)

FEED GUIDE 2014 YOUR HORSE 29

Feed Guide 2014

Feeding products

The Feedstore

There are some really great gizmos and gadgets available to help make feeding your horse quick and easy. Here’s our pick of the best products

Help make his hay last longer The unique inner net design of Elim-a-Net (from £10) alters the size and the shape of the holes of the hay net, which encourages a slower, more natural eating pattern. This design also makes his forage ration last longer, thus helping to alleviate boredom if your horse is stabled for long periods or on box rest.

Contact 07715 172 470 or www.parellproducts.com

Keeping it fresh

A tasty snack Vitamunch (£2.95 for 1kg pack) is a healthy and handy feed block made from top-quality Timothy grass and essential vitamins, minerals and herbs.

It’s available in four tasty varieties: Heavenly Hedgerow, Marvellous Meadow, Fleximunch and Calmunch.

Contact 01442 879115 or www.equilibriumproducts.com

No spills feeding The innovative Non Tip Feeder (£29.95) can’t be knocked over or moved while your horse feeds from it, so no more wasted feed and expensive supplements or medication getting spilled all over the ground and not eaten. The ground level feeding is also more natural for him.

Contact 01628 822 243 or www.nontipfeeder.com

Storing your horse’s feed in the best environment is important to ensure it remains palatable and healthy for him to eat. This is where the Bulk Bin System from Chestnut Horse Feeds ofers a simple, hassle-free way to store his feed.

The bins are delivered readyflled with the Chestnut Horse Feeds product of your choice and supplied on free loan for the life of the feed. They are then replaced once empty, plus they’re on wheels, which makes them easy to move around the yard.

Contact 01455 558 808 or www.chestnuthorsefeeds.co.uk

Tidy hay al fresco If you feed hay in the feld the Hay Hutch (from £168.50) will keep it safely contained, helping to reduce mess, poaching and wastage.

Contact 01985 840374 or www.hay-hutch.com

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Saturday 10am – Easy to use, more time for riding. - Julia & Marvin with Alice & Sparky

HorseHage for a healthy horse... and an easier life!

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN MARK WESTAWAY AND SON MANUFACTURERS OF HORSE FORAGE

• Dust-free

• Highly compressed bales

• No additives

• Easy to handle

• Lower sugar than most hays

• No soaking required

• Consistent & guaranteed

• Splits easily into wedges

Visit www.horsehage.co.uk to find out about our special Autumn offer Buy 4 bales and get a FREE HorseHage Net plus a chance to win a year’s supply of HorseHage!

MARK WESTAWAY & SON LOVE LANE FARM, MARLDON, PAIGNTON, DEVON, TQ3 1SP TEL: 01803 527257 www.horsehage.co.uk

Feed Safely Many horses have special dietary needs.

SPILLERS® High Fibre Cubes let you feed them safely.

Enriched with vitamins and minerals, the low calorie, low starch formulation provides natural goodness for all horses in light work, good doers and box resting horses, as well as those with poor teeth.

They are also approved by The Laminitis Trust.

High Fibre Cubes from SPILLERS®

Feed from our experience.

For more information contact SPILLERS® Care-Line on 01908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com ® MARS and SPILLERS are Registered Trademarks. ©MARS Horsecare UK Ltd. 2014.