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Simple Feeding |
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It's a common story when speaking with new customers that most people are confused about feeding. We are told as horse owners many different things and it is hard to work out exactly what the correct way to feed actually is. Getting a new horse or even dealing with weight issues with a horse that has been with you for a long time is challenging and some advice can create problems and make matters worse. In 2006 more than ever we are getting panicked phone calls from people with founder and laminitis worries and in a state of confusion because their horse isn't fat... what's more they have been told to lock their horse up and not feed it. On the other hand we speak with many people who's horses have struggled getting condition back on after winter. Most think the more they feed their horse, the more weight it will put on and when the opposite occurs, they are left with even more questions. Through our 16 years dealing with horse owners and performing thorough and continuous research, we have learnt a lot about what you need and more importantly, what your horse needs. Back as recently as the 1950's if you had mentioned you were about to feed your horse a caramel flavoured horse feed they'd have thought you were a little crazy. Today, nothing has changed but our perception, and look at where that has led our children with their eating habits. The same is true of the horse and most problems with horses we help are diet related.
The horse is a complex creature with a very small stomach compared with it's size, unique and advanced grinding mechanisms to prepare food for digestion and a need for quality roughage to aide their digestive functions. They also have very, very bland taste. To give you a simple reference point, the horse stomach is around the size of a Coles plastic shopping bag. So tonight when you are preparing your horse's feed, have a think if what you are feeding would even fit inside one of those bags... So what is the right way to feed and why? This is a relatively easy question to answer which is suprising considering the amount of conflicting information available. At Hi Form we believe in Natual Feeding which is, in short, providing the right balance of Protein, Energy/Carbohydrates, Roughage, Vitamins, Minerals and Water. To get the right balance of these nutrients is the key and we believe we can provide you with a guideline to do just that, and even better still, we can help you bring your feed budget down in the process. Below we will be breaking down all the myths that often mislead people to feed an imbalanced diet, overfeed, under feed or provide little of no nutritional support. You might be suprised at what you learn. If you have any questions or comments on any of the items below, please drop us an email here or phone us on 03 9561 2251.
Oats versus other grains We feel sorry for the humble oat as over time it has gone from being the only hard feed ever fed to horses, to something of a feared grain. How many times have you been warned not to feed oats because the consequences would be horrifying? We hear on average 8 people out of 10 saying "Wont oats heat my horse?" and the answer is no. Oats are the lowest in Energy out of all the grains, have less Protein and are the most readily digested and utilised of all the grains. This is why the oat was such a popular horse feed until more recently when people learnt they could make a lot of money from producing horse feed. In 90% of Hi Form produced feed guidelines we recommend Oats and unless there is a specific issue with a horse where oats are not needed, the horse flourishes on this wonderful grain. One of the best thing about feeding oats, ensuring they are whole and not soaked, is that they stimulate the digestive process by making the horse use their grinding mechanism. Not only are they wonderful internally for the horse but they are also great for the teeth and digestive enzymes stimulation.
Pre-mix feeds If you are currently feeding pre-mix feeds, ask yourself this question. Can you list without looking at the back of the bag, exactly what is in your chosen pre-mix feed? If you can, well done and you have obviously done your research but you are in the minority. Pre-mix feed often contain items such as 'Cereal Meal', 'Pellets', 'Sweet Mix' and other vague 'ingredients' that offer little explanation as to what they contain. It is this unknown quantity that has made Hi Form promote a natural diet with no pre-mixes. Most pre-mix feeds are fine to feed horses, they contain a palatable mix of chaffs and grains with minerals, vitamins and perhaps some molases. Although the horse may enjoy them and you feel good about giving the horse something tasty that you feel is balanced, it may not be the best thing as I hope we can explain. Pre-mix feeds are a bag of - as the name would suggest - quantities of different feed mixed together and type specific. For example there are some for breeding horses, some for horses who need extra weight and the list goes on. The trouble is that all horses, as with humans, are bio-chemically unique and therefore what is good for the goose in not necessarily good for the gander. Most pre-mix feeds direct the consumer to feed per weight of the horse when actually, horses of the same weight can be considerably different horses. For example a weight building feed for a 500kg horse recommends feeding 4kg per day of their pre-mix. So does a 14.2hh elderly solid pony breed require the same feed as a 16.2hh TB eventer in full time work? The answer is obviously no. They require a diet specific to their work load, previous history, current conditions leading them to their poor condition and have all of this factored in to an indivdually designed diet. Using a pre-mix does not give you this opportunity. So take control of your horse's diet today... read on!
Hard feeding your horse So what is the right hard feed to feed? Hi Form believes in staying as simple as possible when giving your horse a hard feed. Most people feed items to their horse that they simply do not need, are not beneficial and in some cases, hamper the condition of the horse. Pollard is a popular feed to feed horses who are light on condition as is copra meal but these products are difficult for your horse to digest and utilise... hence the term 'Pollard Belly'. Some feeds are hard to digest and others do not get digested at all. The idea is to get the right mix of feed that is utilized and helps the digestive process, providing roughage and the right amounts of protein and energy. Hi Form's favourite hard feeds are Oaten or Wheaten Chaff, Lucerne/Alfalfa Chaff and Whole Oats which are feed dry and not rolled. These feeds are 100% natural, and provide great roughage with the oats assisting by increasing energy. As you would have read in our section above on oats, they provide a good level of energy that is certainly not going to send your horse 'crazy' as long as the right amounts are given comparable to the work load of the horse. The most important points to remember when feeding a hard feed is to not over-feed. Most horses even in peak condition require a very small hard feed along with a supplement and a good supply of pasture/hay and water. We at Hi Form like to think of the hard feed as a nice way to get the supplements to your horse. The bulk quantity of your hard feed depends on many different elements and to get an idea of what you need for your horse you can visit our free advice form page and give your details. All Hi Form diets are treated individually and we are not tied to any feed company so hard feed diets are un-bias and designed to improve your horse's health.
Grazing animals The horse is a grazing animal with a unique ability to grind their food with their specially designed teeth and jaw action unique to the species. They enjoy grazing on and off all day and generally sleep between the hours of 1am and 6am in the morning. Therefore, it is very important to provide them with adequate 'grazing' if possible. Due to the fact that pasture is very often poor quality these days, it is important to replace or compensate for pasture grazing. You can do that with good quality meadow hay, rye hay, clover hay or lucerne hay. Rotating between grass hay and lucerne hay is a good idea although some horses will want to demand the lucerne because they do enjoy it alot more! And that's not such a bad thing as Lucerne Hay has as a much higher nutritional value and you feed less! The most important thing is to ensure that your horse has enough green pick or hay so that should they wish to graze all day they have that option. The hard feed can not be the main source of feed for your horse.
Supplementing your horse Do you have to supplement your horse? The short answer is yes and this becomes quite clear when you factor in our changing environment and the lack of nutritional value in every day feed and soil. Whereas pre-mix feeds will provide some added nutritional value, the problems arise from an incorrect balance therefore, to add a supplement to your natural diet is the best option. The only reason to supplement your horse is to replace what is lost through work and to provide what is lacking from the diet. A good supplement should also provide immune support, improve skin and coat condition, assist growth and bone, muscle and joint health, as well as keeping eyes bright and clear. With the right supplement you could also prevent dips in condition and maintain top line and a healthy glow all year round, even if your horse is not in work. Most problems we deal with on a daily basis stem from three main things: Diet; Pain; and Nervousness. Diet issues usually stem from an imbalance and a very important part of getting the right balance and support is feeding the right supplement. To find out more about choosing the perfect supplement for your horse click here.
The Golden Rules when feeding your horse 1. Choose a simple and natural diet so you have complete control 2. Get the right supplement for your horse 3. Provide roughage in the form of hay if in a poor or insufficient pasture area 4. Ensure there is a constant and clean water supply 5. Do not soak your grain or buy rolled oats 6. When mixing your feed do not wet it too much, just enough to dampen additives 7. If your horse is down on condition, do not give them extra bulk feed. The best thing is to consider any changes and phone for advice on re-building weight and top line the safe way 8. Remember the size of your horse's stomach when you feed! If you are looking for help with a specific problem, please email us here. We have experience in assisting many different types of nutritional issues whether your horse be light on in condition, too heavy or suffering from a dull coat, our qualified staff can help you get the best from your feed and hopefully cut your costs in the process. If your problems are pain, stress or behavioural related, please visit the relevant section of this website. Although nutrition in a very important part of your horse's life, other issues can cause problems and it is important to factor all of these issues in when deciding how to best feed your horse. We hope you have learnt something positive about feeding and get your horse looking wonderful on a new diet. Hi Form enjoys helping people to help their horses look and feel as good as possible so take advantage of our free advice and get on track today.
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