Guest article - Dengie Horse Feeds
Our Reward Partner, Dengie Horse Feeds discuss how to promote condition safely.
Take a look at their top 5 tips below:
- Are you feeding enough?
Feed enough forage e.g. hay or haylage and if fed ad-lib weigh what’s offered and what’s left to ensure sufficient is eaten This is important for weight gain and to support a healthy digestive system. Aim for 2% of your horse’s bodyweight of forage on a dry matter basis each day. Provide additional forage in the field if the grazing is poor or in inclement weather conditions such as frost and snow.
2. Know what you’re feeding
Choosing good quality forage is key as it makes up such a large part of the diet. Offer a trug or bucket of short-chopped fibre such as Dengie Pure Grass or Meadow Grass with Herbs and Oil alongside hay to provide a higher calorie forage.
3. Check your horse’s teeth
Dental problems can have a big impact on your horse’s ability to digest their feed and forage. Regular checks by a vet or qualified dental technician are important. If a horse is struggling to chew, find a format of fibre they can manage e.g. short chop fibres and fibre mashes, such as Dengie Alfa-Beet.
4. Provide slow-release energy for condition without the fizz
Dengie Cool, Condition & Shine is a fantastic conditioning feed for weight gain. A high-fibre blend of soft chopped and pelleted fibre to encourage chewing, Cool Condition & Shine also contains a high oil content to promote condition and coat shine without excitability. Spearmint oil and a light molasses coating tempt fussy feeders.
5. Maximise your horse’s ability to utilise their feed
The digestive system of any herbivore is undoubtedly healthier when fed a high fibre diet. Using highly digestible fibre sources, such as sugar beet, which is included in Dengie Alfa-Beet, can make a significant contribution to the horse’s energy requirements. Rich in pectin, one of the most digestible forms of fibre, sugar beet has been shown to have a prebiotic-like effect in the gut. Including it in rations can therefore help to improve the digestibility of other fibres the horse consumes.
For further help and advice, the Dengie Feedline team can be contacted on 01621 841188 or by filling out a Feed Advice Form.
About SEIB
SEIB Insurance Brokers are specialists in insurance for Horses, Horsebox Insurance and Horse Trailer Insurance. We are able to provide flexible policies to suit individual client needs and provide advice on what cover is needed.