TrickleNet

HorseHage is very convenient to take to shows and for travelling because it’s highly compressed into half its original size and packed into handy sized bales which can be stored outside or on a roof rack if necessary. You will love the way it splits into wedges which makes filling up your hay net so quick and easy, and because most ponies love the taste, there is rarely any wasted. HorseHage is a dust-free, pure product. It has no artificial additives and comes with a 100% quality guarantee. It is available in four varieties – Ryegrass, High Fibre, Timothy and Alfalfa, offering an option for all types of horses and ponies. The High Fibre and Timothy versions are great for ponies and can be safely fed to laminitics. Feeding a dust-free forage such as HorseHage is extremely important to reduce respiratory problems, especially in a confined space such as a horsebox, and to enable your pony to perform at his best. www.horsehage.co.uk

Revive is a great tasting powdered horse supplement that maintains essential minerals and salt lost through sweat. Formulated to help restore and maintain the critical balance after dehydration. Contains necessary minerals including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. RRP: £26.80. www.animal-health.co.uk

Apple Lytes Granules have been carefully formulated to replace the key electrolytes and encourage drinking to help prevent dehydration and maintain peak performance all season. Apple Lytes are highly palatable and should be mixed in feed. Clean, fresh water should always be available. RRP: £18.50/80 day supply. Also available in an easy to administer paste. RRP: £11.50/30ml syringe. www.equine-america.co.uk

Trickle Net makes high quality, robust and practical feeding nets that are designed to encourage trickle feeding and reduce the forage intake of your horse. They keep your horse eating for much longer than traditional haynets, while also reducing waste – saving you money! Each Trickle Net has been hand-stitched in England, providing you with the highest quality, most sturdy and robust feeding net available. The nets are made from super strong, 4mm braided polyethylene, and are waterproof and rot-proof so can be soaked or used in a steamer. The holes are 25mm in size and will not stretch or tear. The Trickle Net Original holds around 8.5kg of dry hay, which will keep your horse happy for hours, while the Trickle Net Mini holds up to 4kg, making them perfect for ponies or for using in your horsebox or trailer. www.tricklenet.co.uk

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st July and close 31st August 2021.

By Dr Tom Shurlock, British Horse Feeds consultant nutritionist

And again, ‘It is a pretty general custom to give a bran mash every Saturday night, or oftener as the case may demand.’ As such, a bran mash was believed to be a therapeutic dietetic, after a day’s activity (such as hunting), acting as a digestive calmer and laxative. Furthermore, adding other ingredients to the mash – such as linseed – was considered as an aid to urinary health. Mashes, therefore, tended to be introduced for specific purposes. In the main they were high fibre bases, usually bran, as these products are absorbent and can take in plenty of water. The instructions for their manufacture are simple: Add as much boiling water as possible, stir and leave to stand. Over the years, the ‘therapy’ element of a bran mash has waned, but the concept of a hot mash as a winter treat became a norm, as well as the habit of a weekender! Although there is a beneficial element to this and subsequent uses. As a winter warmer a hot mash can help support body core temperature. The gut is a centre of heat generation, from the fermentation of feed by the microbiotica, but energy is lost to the system as cold water and feed needs to be warmed up. By the same token, feeding a cold mash during warm weather can help cool the horse. Beyond the concept of warming or cooling a horse, there are other aspects of a mash that should bring its practice into mainstream feeding, and that is the benefit of inherent moisture. Considering that grass can be up to 85% moisture, it seems a little odd to present other feedstuffs as a mainly dry food. Obviously, what we offer in the way of supplemental feeding are dry products like cereals and seed proteins, and we preserve forage by drying, but do we consider what we lose by

feeding dry products? On the face of it, nothing much as we simply provide a water bucket. However, there are negative aspects. The act of chewing is a mechanical force. Inherent water lubricates the action and enables greater penetration of saliva. This, in turn, allows subsequent conditioning, enzyme breakdown and digestion of feedstuffs to be conducted with greater efficiency, reducing the chances of gut dysfunction, such as diarrhoea or colic. As important, there is less wear and tear on the teeth; veterans benefit from moist feeds. As a rule of thumb, for every kg of dry feed intake, a horse will need at least two litres of water. This value increases markedly when the weather is warm, or the horse is exercising. Heat loss, through sweat, is a major mechanism of temperature control (alongside blood flow to the skin and, at the other end of the scale, shivering). Under certain conditions (exercise, stress etc.) this can lead to dehydration. Although severe dehydration may be obvious, mild conditions may go unnoticed. Constant access to fresh water is advised but there are situations when the horse cannot, or will not be able to drink. Here a mash is the answer, especially if it is on the watery side. A horse will generally eat in situations where it may not drink; more importantly, the action not only satisfies behavioural needs (a reduction of stress by achieving a ‘rest’ activity), but it allows the stomach to refill, absorbing extraneous acid. The benefits of feeding a mash, highlighting hydration, the support of body temperature maintenance, digestive health and efficiency, as well as sparing the wear and tear on teeth, suggests that it is a sensible dietary option across the age and activity of the horse. Whether it is warming a horse on a cold winter night, encouraging feeding of a dentally compromised veteran, or rehydrating a performance animal, mashes should be a major component of a diet. The fact that many people soak their hay (for whatever reason) before feeding or provide mashes for specific purposes show that there is an acceptance of wet feeding, and that a mash can be an integral part. Nowadays, the idea of a bran mash as a weekly medicine is no longer valid but there has been an increase of fibre diets that are suited and recommended as feeding as a mash. Bran, itself, is not the ideal ingredient – even Captain M W Hayes suggested ‘a regular supply of carrots or green food is much better for horses than bran mashes’ – but there is a host of fibre blends that have been developed to be fed moist. And preparation cannot be simpler. Hot or cold water – no longer the boiling method of 1900 – and you’re good to go!

Made using only best quality British beet pulp, SpeediBeet is subjected to British Horse Feeds’ patented cooking process to produce a unique soaked feed. Can be fed in larger quantities to a poor doer for weight gain; in small amounts to overweight horses; as a carrier for a multivitamin and mineral supplement. www.britishhorse feeds.com

Equerry Cool Mash is a quick-soaking mash for horses that need a low energy feed. Equerry Cool Mash is cerealgrain-free, has low levels of starch, and benefits from a ‘Non-Heating’ formula. Contains highly digestible fibre sources including sugar beet, and yeast to support a healthy digestive system. Added vitamins and minerals include magnesium. www.equerry horsefeeds.com

“We really hope these case studies will encourage owners to take action to prevent their horses from piling on the pounds,” said Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Mars Horsecare UK, home of the Spillers brand. “Carrying excess weight means carrying increased health risks not only because of the direct weight-associated effects, but also due to the increased risk it poses for certain clinical conditions, in particular laminitis. We hope Bess and Star’s stories will resonate with horse owners and inspire them to keep their horse or pony at a healthy weight all year round.”

Star before

“My vet diagnosed mild laminitis due to a few factors, one reason being her weight,” said Jane. “I was told to cut down the amount of sugar, starch and calories in her feeds and cut down her hay intake.” After around three months of soaked hay, smaller feeds and restricted grazing, Star lost around 50kg, had recovered from the bout of laminitis, and received positive feedback from the vets. “I continued to slim her down over the next six months,” said Jane. “When she was weighed and body condition scored, we actually felt she was now slightly underweight – certainly safer than being overweight but she needed more energy to cope with an increase in workload.” Star was given a fibre and oil-based cube to provide additional energy whilst still restricting her starch and sugar intake. “We are continuing to monitor her weight and diet to make sure we reduce the risk of her gaining weight and potentially suffering from laminitis again,” said Jane. ”My advice to owners is that sometimes being harsh is the kindest thing to do in the long term. Feed smaller amounts more often and get nutritional advice, there’s always someone willing to help.”

Star after

However there has been no change to the product itself - it still contains just 2.5% naturally occurring sugar which is between 5 and 10 times lower than average grass hay. Hi-Fi Molasses Free is low calorie making it ideal for good doers and overweight individuals and is high in fibre.

“She has always been a good doer but although prone to a cresty neck she wasn’t fat,” explained Lorna. Unfortunately, Bess was kicked in the field which resulted in fractured splint bones and six months of box rest over the winter. “As Bess was gradually brought back into work I noticed that she wasn’t 100% sound,” continued Lorna. “Lameness investigations and steroid treatment followed. Meanwhile Bess was doing less exercise and gaining more weight.” The following winter

Bess came down with laminitis. With the help of her vet and a Spillers nutritionist Lorna immediately put Bess on a strict management plan. Initially this involved box rest with soaked and weighed hay and a balancer, over time restricted grazing could be introduced, her workload was increased gradually, and her bodyweight monitored weekly. Lorna now has a sharer to help keep Bess’ exercise levels high. The mare is body condition scored and weigh taped weekly and is on a low calorie, low starch and high fibre diet plus a balancer designed to supplement a restricted diet to ensure Bess is still Bess showing getting the nutrients she needs. her crest Slimmed down Bess

When Emma Richardson’s miniature pony, 8year-old Princess became ‘footy’ she was fortunate that her farrier was able to help. “I have a fantastic farrier, Jonathan Nunn who is highly regarded for his remedial work and who recommended using LaminAid from Cavalor. I just added the maintenance dose as she is very small. Within three days she was so much better and was back to her old self.” Cavalor LaminAid is a unique balanced combination of several essential oils, each charachtarised by a specific structure, composition and effect. It also supports circulation towards the hoof. www.cavalordirect.co.uk

If your horse is a ‘good-doer’ he will gain weight quickly and easily, and may be a little on the greedy side, constantly eating up and thriving well. Obesity can place extra stress on limbs, joints and the spine as well as the lungs. It will prevent a horse from performing at his best and he may also become lazy and sluggish. It is important to realise that overweight horses and ponies still require the essential vitamins and minerals to lead a healthy life. If they are out grazing during the day, additional forage, such as High Fibre or Timothy HorseHage which has a lower sugar content compared to hay, can be given when they are brought in for the night. Mollichaff HoofKind Complete is ideal for the good doer as it is a complete low energy, low starch, low sugar, high fibre feed in a bag. It contains a balanced blend of oat straw, alfalfa, fibre pellets, soya oil, vitamins, minerals, biotin, trace elements and antioxidants and when fed at the recommended levels, can be used as the sole bucket feed. It is suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Computer assisted design software, mathematical calculations and stress tests in a research laboratory were all part of the process. None of that, however, means much if not melded with the feedback from horse owners' experience with the equipment in day-to-day stable life. Now that the subtly refined Forager is fully on the market, they are happy to share their experience with fellow horse owners. The experiences are powerfully positive and plentiful. Like Haygain Hay Steamers and Haygain’s ComfortStall Flooring, Haygain’s Forager delivers multiple health benefits. It slows down the horse’s consumption, putting them on a pace nearer to that Mother Nature intended for digestive function. More time eating small quantities of forage keeps horses happily busy, reducing boredom behaviours. Also following nature’s design, The Forager enables the horse to eat with its head in a lowered position. This is ideal for musculoskeletal health and drainage of respirable irritants from the airways. A ring around the outside of the cylinder gauges consumption to help monitor weight or appetite. By containing the hay, The Forager keeps it clean and prevents waste that occurs when forage is trampled into bedding, manure and urine. From the field Chelsea Pearce’s 3* eventer Kilnaboy Buffet has used The Forager for about three months. On the slightly small side, he needs to mind his girth to stay fighting fit. “It’s nice for him to be able to pick away at his hay through the day,” Chelsea reports. “It keeps him occupied a bit longer.” She has always been a fan of horses eating with their head in a natural position. “We like them stretching down over their necks and backs.” The Forager base can be filled with sand to improve stability in the stable, but Chelsea’s horse didn’t require that. “It’s very sturdy in the stable.” “And there’s not the mess of the hay left on the floor and mixed into the bedding,” she continues. “That is a massive plus.” Two of Hannah Biggs’ dressage steeds have been enjoying the Forager for a few months. The 5year-old Millie is “a little dramatic” and was shy of the equipment at first. “It only took her a day or so for her to get 100% used to it,” Hannah says. At the other end of the temperament spectrum, Dutchie “went straight in” for his hay on first use.

Healthy alternative Hannah considers The Forager a healthy alternative to eating off the stable floor or from a hay

net. The former leads to forage waste and the latter to concerns over the impact of holding the neck in an unnatural position for extended periods of time. Hannah’s horses live out at night and come inside in the morning to a Forager full of hay freshly steamed in a Haygain Hay Steamer. “They’re eating that all morning and afternoon.” She has already recommended it to fans. “Someone who had a horse that is greedy and messy asked me if it would be good and I thought it would be perfect for them. Using either of the two grids, it can slow the horse down but without making them feel restricted. Keeping a natural trickle of food into their bellies is really healthy.” Nicola Bell’s Archie took a little

longer than Chelsea and Hannah’s horses to embrace The Forager. But he came around after a more gradual introduction recommended for initially reluctant horses. By lowering the regulator grid to a “...it can slow the mid-point on the cylinder and horse down but placing loose hay without making atop it, Nicola them feel enabled Archie to first eat his hay at restricted...” a normal pace and effort, then comfortably segue into pulling small bits of forage through the grid to get the last segment of his meal. The adjustment is an example of how The Forager can serve a variety of horse health needs and preferences. The Forager is now enabling hundreds of horses to enjoy more leisurely, more healthy meal times.

The sacks are also excellent value for money and customers will make a saving of over £20 when purchasing a 15kg sack rather than using the same amount of TurmerAid packaged in the 2kg tubs. Customers have the choice to be plastic free or purchase the 2kg TurmerAid tubs. TurmerAid, the complete turmeric pellet for horses, is sold in plastic food grade tubs; these tubs are not made from recycled plastic but are recyclable and reusable. The Golden Paste Company removed plastic scoops from the 2kg tubs last year to reduce plastic use as a standard tablespoon can be used instead. Using one and a half level tablespoons to measure out the pellets is the equivalent to one of the scoops that was previously included in the tub. Said Sales Manager, Hattie I’Anson: “The Golden Paste Company is committed to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment. We take care to recycle and reduce our waste internally, and have applied this thought process to our products and our packaging. “From loose fill packing peanuts made from potato starch that dissolve in water, to reducing plastic packaging, we are constantly evaluating our operations to ensure they are as efficient as possible. “Our bespoke branded tape is fully recyclable and the ‘sticky’ is made from potato starch. Case packs are fully recyclable or compostable and are made from cardboard. The Golden Paste Company has also stopped using bubble wrap.” The only pelleted turmeric supplement on the market, TurmerAid is added to the diet all year round and over the summer months it can be fed straight from the hand or alone from a bucket if daily feeds are reduced.

However Ruby did become anxious and excited at times, particularly with puddles and water, and when travelling and competing. Jessica heard about Mollichaff Calmer Complete in a magazine and decided to give it a try. Mollichaff Calmer Complete is a complete fibre feed formulated for nervous or fizzy horses. It is high in fibre and can be used as the sole bucket feed when fed at the recommended levels as it contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement which includes elevated levels of magnesium along with vitamins B1 and B12, plus camomile, lemon balm and mint. It’s low in starch and sugar and is suitable for all horses and ponies including those prone to laminitis. Said Jessica: “Since Ruby has been on Mollichaff Calmer Complete, she is a much calmer and happier horse, particularly when travelling to events.” www.horsehage.co.uk

Super So Kalm Powder is essential for calming behaviour. The three key ingredients are specially formulated to reduce stress in a multipronged approach. The magnesium soothes neuro-muscular excitability, calcium strengthens nerve function, and Vitamin B1 maintains energy levels. RRP: £30.99. Paste form RRP: £19.99/30ml syringe. www.equine-america.co.uk eCalm is a non-magnesium, natural calmer which has been developed by world-leading veterinary surgeons and scientists with proven, statistically significant results. Its prebiotic-like functionality comes from novel ingredient Wheatgerm Extract which has been shown to influence the horses natural gut microbiome which in turn supports calmness and wellbeing, as well as supporting gut functionality and the maintenance of a healthy skin and coat. Horse owners have confirmed eCalm’s noticeable results: Ollie’s owner comments: “I have tried many other calmers which had no real effect. He is a character but, since using eCalm I have found him to be much more settled in his stable and whilst out competing.” RRP £37.99/1kg tub (lasting approximately 50 days for the average 500kg horse). www.nettexequine.com

Tranquil E is a calming supplement for horses, based on an aqueous infusion of Valerian. Tranquil E is a natural calmer used for when spirits are excessively high and specific unmanageable conditions can lead to control problems. This calmer will naturally help calm a horse/pony without removing its ‘competitive edge.’ In situations such as an activity that may cause anxiety or stress for example transportation, schooling etc, use Tranquil E 1-2 days prior to the activity and again on the day of the activity. Horses and ponies that react to situations such as loud noise, severe weather, sudden movement, new surroundings etc, should be given Tranquil E on a regular basis. RRP: £17.35.

Settleze is a natural calming supplement for horses. The calming powder works without containing any medicinal drugs and will not cause drowsiness. Settleze is an ideal horse anxiety supplement for use before competitions and training, as it allows horses to keep alert without anxiety. RRP: £25.10. Both www.animal-health.co.uk