Nutritional Articles

SHAPE-UP ™ is a low starch, high fibre mix designed to provide a balanced diet even at low intake levels. It can be used as a calorie-controlled ration for ‘good-doers’ in work as a way to help maintain a normal, healthy metabolism and provide slow release energy.

During the first three months of lactation, broodmares have a significantly increased demand for energy in order to support both their own and the nursing foals’ nutritional requirements.

Most horses suffer with some form of digestive upset in their lifetime, but how much do you know about Free Faecal Water (FFW)?

PRO‐YEAST is a research-proven live yeast additive with a probiotic effect that helps promote a more stable hindgut environment and improves fibre digestion

Some horses might prefer a quiet stable, according to an Australian study* of gastric ulcers. Scientists gathered data on more than 400 Thoroughbreds in race training. More than half the horses had ulcers, and the percentage increased with length of time in training.

Tying-Up or ER (exertional rhabdomyolysis) is a problem that every yard will encounter at some point in time with reports of 5-7% of the thoroughbred population being affected.

Dusts and moulds contained within feed, forages, and bedding can cause hypersensitivity within the lungs, and minimising exposure to airborne irritants is an important management measure to promote respiratory health. Providing soaked or steamed forage, as well as using dust extracted bedding are simple management techniques that will help to reduce exposure to particles that could increase the risk of respiratory disease.

Travelling, even short journeys cause all horses some degree of stress, even in well-seasoned travellers that do not display any signs.

One option for those carrying too much weight or with an excitable temperament would be a two-Part feeding plan, pairing our balancers with performance feeds to create the optimum balance.

Although we know anecdotally that some horses seem to be more reactive to being fed a higher starch diet there has been surprisingly little scientific research carried out into this matter.

It’s great when new research comes out about how we should be feeding and managing our horses, but it isn’t always easy to see how to put that research into practice.

Horses are designed to eat for up to 18 hours per day and, when grazing, will selectively forage on a wide range of different grass species. This browsing behaviour is often limited for the stabled horse who are usually only provided with one type of forage.