T
Conversely, if your horse or pony needs help to display his flamboyance, and is not at risk of laminitis, a higher-starch feed could be used. A cereal-containing blend or straight cereals can be added to a suitable balancer, and the quantity adjusted according to condition. Look out for products containing oats as they are the cereal best-digested by horses.
Feeding to Control Weight
If you have to watch your horse or pony’s weight, you have had a lot to contend with this year! The excellent quality hay and haylage from 2018, combined with the mild winter, meant that more horses and ponies started the season carrying excessive condition compared to previous years. The wet and warm weather that followed led to phenomenal grass growth, which added to the problem.
Limiting calorie intake from grass gets easier as the season progresses, due to the reduction in grass quality and quantity. However, there is then a risk of an autumn flush. You should look out for lower nutritional quality forage as it becomes available. A high fibre, late-cut meadow hay is the best option if your horse or pony needs to lose weight or is a good- doer, e.g. a native breed. It may also helpful to soak the hay for 3 to 12 hours in ample, cool, fresh water to reduce the nutrient value and sugar/calorie content.
If your horse or pony’s forage intake needs to be restricted to help him lose weight, or avoid excessive weight gain, it is important that a sufficient fibre intake is maintained. He should receive no less than 1.5% bodyweight (as fed) of forage per day. An exceptionally low calorie, top specification, chopped straw can be used as a partial hay replacer if he might stand for too long (> 6 hours) without forage available.
Hard feed should be used to balance his restricted forage diet but you need to ensure that it doesn’t supply unnecessary calories. If you simply reduce the amount of a compound feed given this can result in a diet that is deficient in vitamins, minerals and trace elements. A non-conditioning, top specification feed balancer or multi-supplement provides the ideal solution and will not promote weight gain when used as part of a calorie- controlled diet.
Providing your horse or pony has not suffered from laminitis, a top-specification ‘lite’ feed balancer will be the most suitable option to provide the micronutrients needed to balance his diet.
If your horse or pony is prone to laminitis, a top-specification multi-supplement will supply a more appropriate level of micro- nutrient support.
Some show horses and ponies that are good-doers, e.g. native ponies, struggle to perform well by the time they get to the championship, despite receiving a fully-balanced diet. If your horse or pony can’t afford to put weight on but you need him to be more in front of your leg, there is a good solution called ‘strategic feeding.’ This is where a small amount (just 100g) of a higher energy feed is given 1 to 1.5 hours before you need that extra spark. Higher starch, cereal-containing feeds will give more in the way of ‘fast-releasing’ energy, and the effect will last for no more than 2 hours. This will improve presence without the need for too many extra calories.
An experienced nutritionist will be happy to give you advice that is tailored to your own horse or pony’s requirements.
Article supplied by Anna Welch BVSc, BSc, MRCVS. Veterinary Nutrition Director, T
opSpec Equine. Anna and her team can be contacted freely on the Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 17
opSpec Multiple Award-Winning-Helpline 01845-565030
A low-calorie option from TopSpec…
…for when every calorie counts!
Emily Hancock and Phoebe
Photograph by Up Close Photography
“I choose TopSpec Senior Lite Feed Balancer during the Spring and Summer months, it is low-calorie, whilst supporting her muscle development and overall condition.” Emily Hancock
®
CREATED WITHOUT COMPROMISE by experienced equine nutritionists
Multiple Award Winner for ‘Excellence in Nutritional Advice and Customer Service’
01845 565 030 (062) 85401
www.topspec.com Collect
® #FedonTopSpec Tokens for product and merchandise
Redeem your TopSpec tokens at
www.topspec.com/tokens
Typical Feed Regime for a 16.1hh (600kg) horse in light work:-
Ad lib good quality hay or haylage, plus grazing Plus two feeds per day – each containing:- • 300g TopSpec Senior Lite Feed Balancer (combines the benefits of a low-calorie feed balancer with a joint supplement) • 300g TopChop Lite (‘Non-Heating’ unmolassed alfalfa and straw chop with added mint and oil) • Additives if required Electrolytes, 10:10 Joint Support, Calmer or Digestive Aid
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
