Autumn
As the nights draw in and the weather becomes cooler we all start to think about digging out the heavy weight rugs ready for the wind, rain and snow; but the horses diet also needs to be considered to give them a good chance of maintaining the best possible health over the coming months. As horse owners we need to be asking ourselves questions such as:
• What is the horse’s temperament?
• What condition is the horse in?
• Is the workload going to change?
• Is the horse going to be stabled or living out?
These will affect the way in which we will need to adjust the feeding rations for our horse or pony.
Fizzy Horses
Horses that can be fizzy are sometimes more prone to losing condition throughout the colder months and can be difficult to feed. To help with this the diet needs to contain extra calories, without the ingredients which can contribute to fizzy behaviour such as cereal and molasses. Feeds such as Calm & Condition which are Barley & Molasses free could be the solution.
Decrease in Workload
The horse which has competed throughout the summer may have been on a higher energy feed. This will need to be assessed if the workload is to decrease, possibly to a conditioning feed if the horse can look poor during the winter, or to a lower calorie feed if the horse is a good doer.
Good Doers
Good doers and overweight horses and ponies may benefit from living out as they will use energy from feed to keep warm which in turn helps to prevent weight gain. However sometimes this is just not possible and they need to be stabled, so a low calorie, low energy feed is recommended such as Fast Fibre.
Why is fibre important?
Fibre is important in all horse’s diet, especially in the colder months. When the ‘friendly’ bacteria in the hind gut break down fibrous materials such as hay and haylage they release heat. Poor dental health or a lack of good quality forage can cause horses to lose condition in the colder months. This is where feeds such as Fast Fibre can be of help, as it can be used as a total or partial hay replacer. Its unique formulation means that it soaks in 60 seconds to form a soft palatable mash. In the colder months soaking Fast Fibre in warm water can also be fed as a warming treat. Fast Fibre is part of the Barley & Molasses Free Range and is also cereal and alfalfa free so great for horses with intolerances to these ingredients. Fast Fibre also contains a full range of vitamins and minerals.
For further information on any of our products or feeding advice for any horse or pony then our Nutritional Team are always ready and very happy to help. You can email them on helpline@allenandpage.co.uk or call the Helpline on 01362 822 902.
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