Grazing is a healthy and natural behaviour for horses. Unfortunately,turning a horse onto a lush, green pasture and allowing them to eat all that they want can cause weight problems and even laminitis.

There are several ways to prevent this happening:

Strip grazing
This can provide control over the amount of grass your horse has access to.  Strip grazing is where each day the fences of the paddock are moved a small amount.  Not only does this rest the paddock and allow sections to be fertilized, but the horses don’t have access to huge areas of lush grass.  Therefore, it benefits both the horse and the paddocks.

Monitoring weight closely
In order to monitor the weight of your horse, use either a weight tape or a weight formula.  Try to measure the horse’s weight on a fortnightly basis, as it is difficult to visually notice weight changes in a horse you see daily.  Try and keep the weight measurement routine to around the same time of day and similar circumstances in terms of feed and exercise.  If weight is monitored closely, any changes can be addressed before the situation becomes a problem.

Muzzle
Restricting grazing time and increasing stable time doesn’t really benefit the horse as standing in a stable uses less calories than walking around a field. However, introducing and using a muzzle can cut down the amount a horse can eat by 50% or more. Introduce it sensibly, using treats.  Make sure it is well fitted and gradually build up the time spent wearing it to prevent rubbing.

Increasing exercise
When increasing the exercise that your horse performs, do this gradually and without overdoing it. Just an extra 30 minute walk per day can make all the difference.
Also, you could increase the exercise your horse carries out by using electric fencing in a U shape so that he or she has to use more of the field.  Also, placing the water at the other end of the field from the gate so that the horse has to walk further means extra exercise!

Leave the rug off
No rug, or a lighter one, means that the horse is using its feed energy to keep warm.  If the horse wears a rug, any extra calories it consumes and does not use keeping warm become fat.

 

The best thing to remember when picking a food is that every dog is different.  What makes one dog’s coat glossy and bright, another dog may well be allergic to…and you might find out that you’re already giving your dog his ideal food.

Firstly, consider any health problems your dog has, such as bad breath, ear or eye problems, gas, recurring diarrhoea or constipation and any behaviour problems, which his food could be influencing. Look at these against areas of good health, such as fresh breath, healthy teeth, bright eyes and clean ears, healthy elimination and good behaviour. If your dog is has more ‘good health’ points than problems, his food may already be the best one for him. If your dog does have any of the health problems listed above, it’s always advisable to speak to your vet.

It is important, however, to be able to read and understand what is in the dog food, so you know what you’re feeding your dog.

When choosing dog food, being able to read and understand the ingredient label is one of the hardest things.  All dog foods have different ratios of protein, fat and carbohydrates. One must also beware of preservatives- just like human food, some preservatives are better than others. Vitamin E and Vitamin C are said to be much better preservatives for your dog’s health.

The best person to judge whether your dog is eating the right food is you, the owner.  At different times during your dog’s lifetime you may need to re-assess.  If your dog becomes ill or just old, they will need less calories as they will probably be less active.  In a similar fashion, if they suddenly, for example, develop skin allergies, their diet may need reviewing.  Some conditions, such as metabolic disorders, can sometimes be improved or eased using dietary management…but it’s worth speaking to your vet about this if you’re concerned.

The key things to remember are; to buy your dog the best you can afford within your budget; choose a food that is readily available in the place where you live (or can be delivered easily!) and to keep assessing the needs of your dog on a regular basis depending on their health.

If you’re concerned about your dog’s health, it’s always worth consulting your vet.
Good luck!

Feeding oil to a horse is not a new idea. Top-dressing feed with vegetable oils such as corn, canola, sunflower or soya oil is said to have numerous benefits to the horse.

Possible benefits of feeding oil to horses
Improved coat and hoof condition – oil adds lustre to the horse’s coat.

Calmer and safer energy source –  it is easily digested and absorbed so produces a level-headed horse.

Improved performance - oil can produce an improvement in stamina and has metabolic advantages.

Additional calories – vegetable oils can be fed to horses that are intolerant to grain. Adding oil is also an excellent way to help a horse maintain its weight.  Adding oil reduces the amount of grain needed for energy buta balancer or additional supplementation might be required to ensure the horse is getting the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Provides Essential Fatty Acids that aid the absorption of fat soluble Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E.

Good for the older horse –oil can help support horses with stiff joints.

Why does this work in Spring and Summer?

As the show season is now upon us, many people are looking for ways to help their horse’s coat really shine in the ring. There are lots of sprays and lotions available, but coat condition really comes from within. After the winter, many horses are sporting dull coats, and oil can be an easy, low cost way to improve condition.

For competition horses that need extra energy without the fizz, oil can provide the solution. Adding oil to a feed provides a source of slow release energy.

We all understand that a horse is a grazing animal - grass and occasionally ‘goodies’ from the hedgerow – and, as such, he eats for around eighteen hours per day. Food provides the horse with nutrition to help maintain his condition and allows him to repair damaged tissue and provide energy for exercise or work.

Your horse actually has a small stomach (about the size of a rugby ball),which is why it is best to feed him at least twice a day, or better still, more frequently. The size of a horse’s feed also needs consideration when you’re working out what should go into each meal. The stomach is a fixed size and overwhelming this with a huge feed can cause problems as undigested food can move through to other parts of the digestive system. If your horse needs to gain weight, it is better to split big feed into smaller ones, so feeding four smaller meals a day is much better than two big ones.

It’s important that we feed him correctly by mimicking his natural feeding pattern as much as possible.Feeding in this way helps ensure that his food is properly digested, can help prevent some digestive issues and can even break boredom. We all know how sensitive the horse’s digestive system can be and, as horse owners, it’s our duty to do all we can to work with this very long, complex system. We also know of the issues that can be caused by incorrect feeding, and that’s why it’s so important to adhere to the ‘rules of feeding’, including feeding little and often.

Now, feed isn’t just hard or concentrated feed, it includes hay, grass, haylage and hay replacers too. Forage takes longer to chew and consume than concentrated feeds, and with most people feeding a combination of the two, providing feed for long periods of time whilst ensuring your horse takes on those all important calories can be achieved.