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Beat The Winter Blues |
With winter upon us it’s time to pull on the wellies, wrap up well and get into the swing of a new routine. Shorter days make fitting in a quick ride pretty impossible; turnout time is often limited and what little grass is left will have very little goodness in it. If you’re already thinking about rugging up, bedding down, clipping and adjusting your feed, then spending a little time planning can help put things in place to save time and effort, and help beat the winter blues. It’s not something most people think about, but grass contains up to 80% water, so being given a completely dry feed can come as a bit of a shock to some horses - imagine trying to eat your cereal in the morning without milk! Mixing feed with chaff to slow down over-eager eaters, and dampening it down well with a good splash of water just before feeding will also make life easier for your horse. The feed you use can have a big impact on your horse as well as on how much you enjoy riding him, so its got to be worth taking time to decide which feed is the best option for your horse this year. Is it better to stick to the same feed as normal or try something new? All the leading feed companies produce samples of their feeds. If you are unsure then get one of these first and see what your horse thinks of it – remember to still follow any feeding instructions. There’s not enough in a sample pack to really know whether it will suit your horse, but if he turns his nose up at the smell of it you know there’s no point wasting money on a sackful. With so many different feeds now on the market, making the right choice about the best feed for your horse takes a lot of chewing over! Think back to last year – did your horse have any particular problems such as unexplained lumps and bumps, or bad behaviour? Some horses are sensitive to certain feed ingredients, especially barley, molasses or alfalfa which can cause skin and behaviour problems, but it’s often not until the feed is changed and these ingredients are no longer included that any difference is noticed. Whatever feed you decide on, whether you are starting feeding from nothing or changing over from a previous feed, it is important to introduce it gradually. If you are changing from one hard feed to another, don’t wait for the old sack to run out before introducing a new feed. Start with just a handful of the new feed at first and build up the amount you give (according to your horse’s condition and energy levels) as you gradually phase out the old feed, taking about a fortnight (check the feed sack for specific feeding advice). That way you can be sure he likes it and that it suits him. A feed that includes probiotics or prebiotics will be helpful as these also help the digestive process. Don’t forget that forage is the most important part of the diet, so by supplying good quality hay or haylage as well, your horse will have everything that is needed. And finally, a good supply of fresh, clean water helps compensate for eating more dry food and less moisture from grass. Winter Survival Tips• Forward plan to give more time and to keep horses relaxed and healthy |