Drought conditions in various parts of Australia have coupled with the arrival of the non-growing (winter) season. Grass has turned yellow or brown and the pastures are being eaten down with only bare soils left. If you are lucky to live in a higher rainfall area, you may still haveRead More →
According to recent studies, horse owners are missing early signs their horses and ponies are becoming overweight until they are dangerously obese. This means they are putting their horses at risk and making weight loss programs more difficult In this article, Dr Jennifer Stewart, an equine veterinarian and researcher whoRead More →
Very well-established in countries like the United Kingdom, where forage-based diets have been the traditional norm, feed balancers are becoming very popular in Australia as more and more horse owners get in step with the fibre-feeding mantra and move towards healthier, low-starch forage-rich diets for their horses and ponies. WeRead More →
Providing your horse with adequate salt each day can go a long way in maintaining hydration which not only safe guards health but supports optimal performance as well. But, how much is enough and, are there risks in giving too much salt? In this article, Claire Thunes, PhD, a consultantRead More →
Some horses do not maintain their bodyweight easily and it can prove a real challenge to keep them at an ideal weight. Ultimately, your horse’s ribs should not be visible, but they should be easily felt if you run your hand along your horse’s side. A common complaint from horseRead More →
Ever wondered why horses have such big, long noses? How important are smell and taste when it comes to preferences and food choices? And, do you think horses use their senses of smell and taste in the same ways we do? In this two-part series, nutritionist Mariette van den BergRead More →
Ever wondered why horses have such big, long noses? Well, just like in the Little Red Riding Hood tale: All the better to smell with! But, how important are smell and taste when it comes to preferences and food choices? And, do you think horses use their senses of smellRead More →
The feeding program of the breeding mare is an important management aspect. Feeding can affect the fertility, milk production, and the skeletal development and growth of the foal. Understanding the nutritional needs of the maiden/barren, pregnant and lactating mare is essential for the development of a proper feeding program forRead More →
In the previous edition we presented an example of forage testing of four types of hays and reviewed the results of the laboratory analysis. In this last part of the series about choosing the right forage for your horse, we continue interpreting the analysis results and discussing which of theRead More →
With thanks to SGS Agriculture & Food Laboratories for providing the analysis specifically for this series. Conserved forages can comprise a large part of the diet of horses; therefore, it is important to review the type and quality of all the roughage we are feeding. Last month, we provided a summaryRead More →
