Feeding

As an independent equine nutritionist, I frequently use the phrase ‘ad lib’ myself and I’ve heard owners using the phrase in a variety of scenarios. What exactly does ad-lib mean, and is it right for your horse? Maybe you're currently trickle feeding and ad-lib forage might be better for your horse. What is trickle feeding? In this article, I'll be dissecting these two feeding methods to help you understand how each will impact your horse and which one might be right for them. However, bef...

In an ever-evolving equine industry, the role of an equine nutritionist has emerged as a pivotal figure in ensuring the health, performance, and overall well-being of horses. From elite athletes to cherished companions, horses require a balanced and tailored diet to thrive. Do you know exactly what an equine nutritionist does and why their expertise might be essential for you? In this article, we will explore the vital role of an equine nutritionist, shedding light on the unique skill set, re...

'My thoroughbred is not eating all of his food and has started malting by the handful. He has his teeth checked regularly. Any ideas?' Ensuring that you are providing your horse with a balanced diet - including the correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, proteins and calories is essential if you're aiming to achieve the optimum level of health for your horse. The better health that your horse is in, the better their performance shall be, which is just another reason that you shoul...

With winter looming and many horses’ routines changing, either switching from being out to in, or generally spending more time indoors, you might be thinking about moving to their winter feed routine. While nutrition is too vast and complex a subject to fully cover here, hopefully this article might help to give you a few pointers to consider. How much should you feed? This should be based on the weight of the animal with an aim of feeding between 2.5% and 3% of their body weight per day. The ...

Mother Nature did not get it wrong when she designed the horse’s digestive system and the feed that works best with it. With equines being ‘prey animals’ their natural instinct is ‘fight or flight’ when danger is real or perceived. They must be prepared to travel long distances at speed to evade capture. The natural way is to take in fuel and fluid through forage as they move along to ensure they stay ahead of their predator! However, with the modern horse, the danger is more often ...

Ever wondered what the real difference is between hay and haylage? After all, they are both grass and maybe smell a little different but what is the difference? Horses require forage all year round but grass growth is seasonal and therefore there are 2 main preservation methods that help keep forage good to eat all year round. The 2 methods of forage preservation are: 1. Fermentation – where the pH is reduced and the growth of bacteria pauses. This is haylage. 2. Dehydration – wh...