At Dengie we use a range of ingredients to supply fibre for horses. The latest ingredient to be introduced to our portfolio of ingredients is pea hull fibre. As the name suggests, this high quality fibre source comes from peas and is the hull from the pea itself rather than the pod.

Benefits of pea hull fibre for horses

The addition of pea hull fibre means we’re providing the horse with a range of different fibre types. Of the fibre content in pea hull, around 20% is pectin which is a highly digestible form of fibre for the horse. There is also a very low level of lignin which means the fibre is very easy for the horse to access and utilise – in contrast to more lignified forages like straw and late cut hay. Another advantage of pea hull fibre is that it is very low in sugar and starch which means it’s a really versatile ingredient.

The hulls of legume seeds such as peas are a good source of natural anti-oxidants too in the form of poly-phenols such as flavonoids. These are one of the reasons humans should eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day as it means we consume these natural nutrients that are beneficial for health. As good doers are typically on limited pasture, they miss out on many natural nutrients and so using a wide range of ingredients in the bucket helps to counteract the lack of pasture.

A sustainable ingredient

Pea hull fibre is a co-product sourced from peas entering into the human food chain. In a study conducted by Wageningen University with Blonk consultancy, the Lifecycle Assessment of the peas from which the fibre is taken, were found to have the lowest climate change impact when compared to other plant-based protein sources.

Why have we included pea hull fibre?

Pea hull fibre is featuring in Meadow Lite with Herbs which is based on straw with a very small proportion of grass to try and keep the sugar and energy values low. Straw is a great source of fibre but it doesn’t contribute many other nutrients and so pea hull fibre has been included to supply some minerals such as calcium and potassium. Meadow Lite with Herbs is still a straight feed but supplements and balancers are designed to be fed alongside ‘average’ forages and rations. Good doers are often fed restricted amounts and when straw makes up a significant proportion of the ration, levels supplied by the forage are lower than average. The addition of pea hull fibre helps to counteract that.

FAQs about pea hull fibre

Do horses like pea hull fibre?

The pea hull fibre has been tested with a wide range of horses and ponies during the development trials of Meadow Lite with Herbs. The feed has been eaten up well and so we can conclude that pea hull fibre is palatable when included as part of the ration.

Is pea hull fibre high in protein?

No, in fact it is very low in protein as it is just the fibrous hull from around the pea. Pea protein has become a popular source of plant protein in recent times but that comes from the pea itself. The demand for the protein has made the pea hull fibre a more abundant ingredient available for use in animal feed.

Is the pea hull extracted using chemicals?

No, the hull is removed mechanically using a gentle brushing and rubbing technique. Air is then used to move the fibre through a grinding process to create a flour-like texture. Heat is applied to ensure it is free from any microbes and therefore safe to use as a feed ingredient.

For further advice on pea hull fibre for horses or to receive a personalised ration plan for your horse call the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

Zoos play a key role in conservation and education. Animal welfare is of the utmost importance and providing the right diet for the wide range of different species they care for is key to the success of breeding programmes as well as the health and wellbeing of the animals. Just as horses are herbivores and so require a high fibre diet, so are many zoo animals and finding the right sources of fibre is vital. Understanding zoo animal diets depends on a number of things which we cover in the article below.

Animals in their natural habitat

In their natural environment, browsers such as antelopes and giraffes generally wouldn’t have a problem finding suitable high fibre materials. In Africa, they would usually feed on acacia and other browse material which are very nutritious with appropriate fibre levels. Acacia has spines which animals have to use their long tongues to negate; this is believed to be so they can’t strip leaves, preventing complete defoliation of the plant. Browsers such as Okapi are able to select desirable items of browse material by reaching up into the canopy with their tongue which can extend to around 18 inches!

History of feeding zoo animals

Historically, most zoo animal nutrition for browsers was based on what suited giraffes as they have been relatively common in zoos. This led to many other species being fed inappropriately, often being given too much grass-based forage as this was most readily available, but even holly was picked and conserved for zoo animals in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Inevitably, like horses and other farm animals, zoo animals have also been fed cereal based feeds designed for intensive livestock production. Just as with horses and other livestock, high cereal diets can cause significant issues in the digestive system, such as acidosis due to rapid rumen fermentation in zoo animals too. Inappropriate nutrition also resulted in poor dentition and acute mortality syndrome in some zoo animals as well.

Over the last decade in particular, there has been a concerted effort to grow sources of browse material for zoo animals. It can be difficult to source browse material in larger quantities, so some zoos now have their own plantations using plants such as willow which is quick growing, to provide sufficient material for the animals. Alongside this, alfalfa has made a significant improvement to zoo animal diets and is easy and efficient for zoo keepers to use.

Feeding alfalfa to zoo animals

Alfalfa has a very different botanical classification and cell structure to grass, but has a protein and nutrient content similar to acacia which makes it very suitable for feeding to a wide range of zoo animals. As ever, the closer to the natural diet the better for the animal and the lower risk of problems.

Alfalfa provides more quality protein compared to grass as well as being a more digestible fibre source. Grass hay has a high silica content which is an abrasive material that wears down teeth. Feeding too much grass hay to browsers such as giraffes, whose teeth have a low crown and thin layer of enamel, can result in excessive dental wear due to the silica content. Alfalfa has a naturally low silica content so is much less abrasive to teeth compared to grass.

Andy Beer is a nutritionist specialising in zoo animals and is a strong believer in feeding alfalfa. Andy previously ran training schemes both in the UK and internationally for zoo keepers. Having taught nutrition at University level for more than 20 years, he became a zoo nutritionist for 11 years at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland with their two animal collections at Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. Andy now works freelance giving nutritional training and advice to a number of different zoos in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

“Alfalfa is the best alternative to natural browse” says Andy. “It is highly beneficial to a number of different species due to its structure, composition, fermentation characteristics and low silica content. I also value its high calcium and magnesium content compared to grass. Adequate and appropriate nutrition is not something that should happen by coincidence but should be properly planned for zoo animals and using high quality feeds is vital for their welfare”.

Andy uses a variety of formats of alfalfa including hay or haylage, as well as chopped and pelleted alfalfa such as Dengie Alfalfa Pellets or feeds in the Dengie Alfa-A range. Andy has also been training our team of nutritionists and feed advisers to ensure we are best placed to provide support and advice for zoos too. “Although there are some key principles that apply to horses and zoo animals, the scales of what these animals can consume is amazing” commented Tracey Hammond a senior nutritionist at Dengie. “An elephant may consume over 100kgs a day which is about 50 times more than a very large horse should be eating!”

Feeding at Paradise Wildlife Park

Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire have been feeding Dengie Alfa-A Original to their various zoo animals for over 15 years. The animals fed on Dengie Alfa-A Original include Lowland Tapir, Plain Zebra, Bactrian Camels and Red Deer.

“At Paradise Wildlife Park we have used Dengie’s Alfa-A Original for many years now across various species” explains James Cork, Head Keeper. “We mix the Alfa-A Original alongside their concentrate feeds and have found this to be a great product for increasing the animals’ roughage. It’s clear to see that all the animals enjoy their Alfa-A, particularly our Bactrian Camels who love grabbing mouthfuls out of their feed buckets before we have even placed the food in their troughs!”

The animals at Paradise Wildlife Park are fed hay and straw alongside their Alfa-A Original as well as a specialist browser pellet to provide them with the vitamins and minerals they need. They also eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables such as peppers, pumpkin and carrot. They have various forms of enrichment including treat balls, branches and forage at varying levels including hay racks and feed troughs.

If you have any questions or would like more information on zoo animal nutrition, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today via the Dengie Feedline: 01621 841188.

Dengie also recently organised a webinar on Saving and Caring for Exotic Species with guest speakers Tullis Matson, founder of Nature’s Safe and Andy Beer, zoo animal nutritionist of Zoocraft Limited. The recording of the webinar can be found on our YouTube Channel.

Shetland ponies are popular as companions, children’s ponies, or pets due to their lovable nature, cute appearance, and cheeky characters. They originate from the Shetland Isles in the North of Scotland which is a harsh environment relative to most of the UK. This means the grazing is sparse so it’s no surprise that when they are given access to lush pasture, they can easily become overweight and are prone to issues such as laminitis.

What to Feed a Shetland Pony

What to feed Shetland ponies will depend on the individual but, in general, forage and some access to grass will be the majority of most Shetland pony’s diets. In most cases, access to grass will need to be limited – the challenge with Shetlands is usually keeping them on a calorie controlled diet!

However, like any horse or pony it is important to provide them with all the vitamins and minerals they need for a balanced diet. UK pastures lack a number of trace minerals including zinc, copper and selenium as well as vitamin E in conserved forages. Vitamins and minerals are important for many different functions such as energy breakdown and utilisation and as part of the body’s antioxidant defence system. This means we need to supplement the vitamins and minerals in their ration to provide them with a balanced diet.

Shetland Pony Feed from the Dengie Range

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free is a complete feed so when fed at the recommended quantity of 500g per 100kg bodyweight per day, will provide all the vitamins and minerals needed for a balanced diet as well as biotin for hoof health and MSM for joint support. It is low in calories, sugar and starch making it ideal for feeding Shetland ponies who maintain their weight easily.

“Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free is perfect for Little Alf” explains Hannah Russell. “It helps me keep a watch on his waistline, whilst the vitamins and minerals keep his hooves and joints in perfect condition which is very important when he has to look good for his adoring public!”

Dengie Hi-Fi Lite or Hi-Fi Molasses Free are two other great options for feeding Shetland Ponies that are good doers. Both the Hi-Fi Lite and Hi-Fi Molasses Free are low in calories, sugar and starch. They don’t have added vitamins and minerals so we would suggest feeding a feed balancer or powdered vitamin and mineral supplement alongside.

Shetland Pony Feeding Guide

Bucket Feed	Miniature Shetland (Approximate weight 100kg)	Standard Shetland (Approximate weight 200kg)
Healthy Hooves Molasses Free	500g or 1 Stubbs scoop per day	1kg or 2 Stubbs scoops per day
Hi-Fi Molasses Free & Basic Spec Vits & Mins	Up to 500g per day & Manufacturers Feeding Rate	Up to 1kg per day & Manufacturers Feeding Rate
Hi-Fi Lite & Basic Spec Vits & Mins	Up to 500g per day & Manufacturers Feeding Rate	Up to 1kg per day & Manufacturers Feeding Rate

Forage and Grazing

How much hay to feed a Shetland pony would depend on the individual. For good doers and overweight ponies, we would suggest feeding 1.5% of their bodyweight dry matter in fibre per day. This can be reduced if they are out at grass. For example, a Shetland out at grazing 24/7 may not need any additional hay if there is enough grass available.

It can also be a good idea to soak your Shetland’s hay if they are a good doer to help reduce the sugar content. Using small holed haynets and double netting will also help their hay allowance last them longer.

You may also want to restrict your Shetland’s grazing where possible to help reduce the amount of grass they are able to eat, particularly if they are overweight or prone to laminitis. Grazing can be restricted by methods such as strip grazing, wearing a grazing muzzle, creating a track system, moving them to a barer patch, or reducing the time they are out at grass for.

Feeding Shetland Ponies Treats

We often get asked about feeding treats, for example, can you feed a Shetland Pony Carrots? Shetlands and other breeds of native ponies can have carrots, apples and other treats but we would suggest feeding them in very small quantities. Although one or two carrots will only make a small contribution to the overall ration, in extreme cases every gram counts so they should be used sparingly.

For more information on what to feed a Shetland pony or for help and advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline: 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

Degenerative issues in the joints such as arthritis are one of the most common causes of lameness in the horse, particularly older individuals. Medications prescribed by the vet usually help to address inflammation and pain. In addition, many horse owners use a nutritional joint supplement for horses as a way of helping to manage existing issues but also to try and reduce the potential for problems later in the horse’s life. However, in most cases, joint supplements for horses are not used until the horse has actually developed a problem like arthritis.

Healthy Joints in Horses

In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are coated with a thin layer of articular cartilage and a synovial membrane which surrounds the joint. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid that nourishes the articular cartilage, allows passage of nutrients from the bloodstream and provides lubrication for the joint. The synovial fluid also acts as a shock absorber as does the articular cartilage.

The main components of both articular cartilage and synovial fluid are glycosaminoglycans or GAGS, which are very large protein molecules such as chondroitin and hyaluronic acid (hyaluronate). These form a coiled structure that creates the ‘shock absorber’ affect. In order to maintain healthy joints, it is important to maximise the quantity of these within the joint.

Joint Issues in Horses

The main reason for joint damage is inflammation, which occurs in response to general wear and tear or injury. Inflammation changes the composition of synovial fluid and introduces lots of destructive enzymes into the joint. This eventually damages the lubricating GAGs and the cartilage becomes damaged eventually exposing the bone. The bone responds, trying to protect itself but this only causes more damage and a vicious circle ensues. The bone lays down more new bone resulting in the formation of bone spurs which cause friction and problems with flexion of the joint.

Common Ingredients in Horse Supplements for Joints

A Horse and Hound Survey conducted in 2017 found that joint supplements for horses were the most popular type of supplement used which indicates it is a common problem for horse owners. There are a range of ingredients used in horse supplements for joints with varying efficacy. The following are those that are most commonly used.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin is a structural component of cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions joints. Chondroitin sulphate is a very large molecule and there is some question as to whether the molecule is too large to pass across the intestinal wall. When it is broken down in the gut the smaller molecules can cross the intestinal wall but in this form it is suggested that it is not going to protect the joint in the same way as it would when it is in the form of a GAG. However, some research has demonstrated that chondroitin sulphate has anti-inflammatory effects comparable to NSAIDs (Bute) and has also been demonstrated to impact upon the damaging enzyme reactions within the joint and so it does have its advocates.

As the effects of the small molecular weight molecules of chondroitin sulphate are questionable it is fairly unusual to find a chondroitin sulphate as a single supplement and more often it is found in conjunction with other ingredients such as glucosamine.

Glucosamine

Like chondroitin, glucosamine is also a structural component of cartilage. It is either found as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine-HCL in supplements. Glucosamine is a much smaller molecule than chondroitin sulphate and passes through the intestinal wall intact. Glucosamine is the rate-limiting factor in the production of GAGs. This means that in order for sufficient GAGs to be present in the joint there must be enough glucosamine to facilitate their production.

MSM

Methyl sulfonyl methane for horses, frequently referred to as MSM, is also commonly fed to promote joint health and is a bio-available form of sulphur. The sulphur that MSM supplies is a key component of collagen and keratin. Collagen is found in tissues such as muscle, tendons and ligaments as well as being the major component in bone and cartilage.

Like most minerals, supplying sufficient sulphur in the diet is important for good general health. There is however, no evidence that providing above what is required, will have a beneficial effect – some is good but more isn’t necessarily better! MSM for horses is therefore useful for maintaining healthy joints due to its structural role in collagen. MSM horse supplements  or MSM added to feeds is therefore about supplying sulphur which can also have benefits for horse hoof support too.

Joint Supplements in Dengie Feeds

We often get calls to the Dengie Feedline asking what the best joint supplement for horses is and which of the Dengie products would be beneficial for horses with joint issues. There is a wide range of supplements on the market with varying ingredients, levels and feeding rates. Although there isn’t a specific joint supplement in the Dengie range, Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free contains added MSM for both hoof support and joint health.

For more information on joint supplements for horses and how to manage healthy joints or for help and advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline: 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

 

When it comes to choosing the best feed for horses and ponies prone to laminitis the general principle is to keep sugar and starch levels to a minimum. Dengie fibre feeds are all based on high fibre ingredients which are low in starch compared to feeds based on cereals. All the feeds in our range selected for those prone to laminitis are lower in sugar than grass hay and so are all safe to use but there are features of each product that make them particularly useful for different situations. We’ve highlighted these below in our laminitis feed selector along with some of the key nutrient levels.

 

An area that often causes confusion is that products that are lowest in energy (calories) are higher in sugar. It is important to remember that all the Dengie feeds are relatively low in sugar, it’s just that when they are compared to one another, some contain more sugar than others. There are two groups of ingredients that make up the majority of Dengie feeds: the fibre sources – straw, alfalfa and grass and the coatings – molasses and rapeseed oil. These are the ingredients that provide nutrients such as protein and fibre as well as being the main sources of energy in the feeds. It is the relative proportions of these core ingredients that determine the nutrient levels.

There are two ingredients that contribute higher levels of sugar to the feeds which are grass and molasses. If we don’t use molasses then a light oil coating needs to be added. This is because fibrous ingredients such as grass, straw and alfalfa are very prone to shattering and can make a feed look very bitty. The coating provides some moisture to reduce the shattering and also helps to disperse other ingredients such as herbs, vitamins and minerals through the feed. Oil coatings provide more energy than molasses which is simply because oil is more energy dense than carbohydrates such as sugar.

Alfalfa is naturally very low in sugar but contains more energy than straw and so if we use alfalfa it helps to keep the sugar content down but the energy level comes up a bit. Grass is a popular ingredient in fibre feeds but any product with grass in will have higher levels of sugar than those that don’t. This is why we use it sparingly in feeds for those prone to laminitis.

All of these factors are considered when our nutritionists formulate feeds. Dengie have been growing and making fibre based feeds for over 50 years and so understand the challenges of working with high fibre materials better than anyone. You can be sure that all our feeds are safe and efficacious which is supported by independent endorsements from organisations like The Laminitis Trust, the Laminitis Site and the BETA Approval Mark for horses and ponies prone to ulcers.

Many horses like a munch on the hedgerow bordering their paddock and will try to snatch a sneaky bit of cow parsley from the verge when out for a more leisurely hack. Replicating this diversity for the stabled horse has become a popular trend in the form of a hedgerow haynet, where hedgerow plants for horses are mixed with or fed alongside the normal forage ration. Bringing the outside inside has advantages of encouraging foraging behaviour, environmental enrichment and offering diversity in the diet.

Are there any plants I should avoid feeding horses?

Not every plant, shrub or weed in the UK is safe for your horse or pony to eat, so it is very important to identify the correct hedgerow plants for horses and know that you are feeding your horse safely. The British Horse Society and the RSPCA have some useful pictorial guides to common poisonous plants.

What plants are safe for horses that I can use in my Hedgerow Haynet?

Whilst not an exhaustive list, horses may enjoy a variety of items including cow parsley, cleavers (sticky weed), hawthorn, hazel, blackberry, rosehips, thistles, nettles, dandelion and willow. Softer, non-prickly items are easier for us to handle especially if trying to put them in the haynet, whilst woodier plants like hawthorn, hazel and willow may be easiest for feeding from the floor unless they are young growth. If you grow your own at home, common herbs like peppermint, rosemary and thyme leaves can also be a tasty addition to the ration. Hedgerow herbs for horses are a popular addition!

How much should I feed my horse?

Hedgerow plants for horses should be considered as a supplement to the forage ration and so should be fed in relatively small quantities e.g. a handful of each or less than 500g combined for a horse. This recommendation is to avoid sudden dietary change which increases the risk of digestive disturbance and to reduce significant fluctuation in nutritional intake. These materials will vary in nutritional value throughout the year and are being fed fresh whereas forages are conserved for use in winter and so are more stable in the levels of nutrients they are contributing to the ration. Mixing the hedgerow items through the usual forage encourages the horse to “forage” or sort through the different materials looking for those that are tastiest. This can extend eating time which is particularly useful for those on limited rations.

Read more about How much should I feed my horse?

Will hedgerow items make a nutritional contribution to my horse’s diet?

With so many hedgerow items on offer and with none of them traditionally being used as part of the horse’s normal forage ration, we wanted to explore their nutritional value. To do this, we selected just some of the items that our own horses find tasty we sent them for analysis. This had to be done using traditional wet chemistry techniques, as equipment such as NIR, which relies on a bank of information from previous analyses, clearly wasn’t an option!  It is important to highlight that these results are from just one sample of each plant and so should be considered indicative of what our horses were munching at that snapshot in time during the end of spring and beginning of summer. Much, much more analysis needs to be done to draw any firm conclusions about the nutritional value of these materials but it is really interesting to start looking at the levels of nutrients they may be providing our horses.

Nutrient*/Hedgerow Item	Hazel	Hawthorn	Cow Parsley	Sticky Weed	Ash	Willow	Poplar	Average Hay
DE MJ/kg	10.7	11.41	10.73	10.86	11.06	10.39	9.84	8 - 11
Dry Matter %	21.6	33.2	18.6	13.5	45.1	38	82.8	84 - 92
Crude Protein %	22.69	11.45	15.05	11.11	12.42	13.68	13.89	5 - 14
Oil %	3.61	4.25	4.41	3.48	5.37	4.08	4.53	1 - 3
NDF %	34.72	40.06	40.32	31.85	39.47	47.89	52.42	50 - 65
ADF %	22.73	32.32	29.68	30.89	32.28	38.71	32.10	30 - 40
Starch %	7.87	10.54	6.99	11.85	4.66	3.68		0.5 - 3
WSC %	4.86	4.31	13.7	20.74	6.16	6.84	8.64	9 - 20

*Analysis reported on a dry matter basis

For a greater understanding of the analysis used and nutrients analysed please see the Forage Analysis section of our website.

Can hedgerow haynets be given to laminitis prone horses?

One group of horses that we are always concerned about feeding extra treats to is those that are laminitis prone. It is very important not to assume that weeds or hedgerow items are any lower in sugar than grass or hay is. It is also important to appreciate that adding extra hedgerow items will provide more calories to the total diet too. Limiting these items to a treat only means that your horse doesn’t have to miss out completely.

Looking at the table above, Sticky Weed provides the highest combined WSC and starch levels of the hedgerow items tested. Based on the dry matter results, and if this was a hay and being fed at typical levels, we would certainly advise against feeding it to a laminitis prone horse or pony where we would generally recommend using forages with less than 10% WSC and starch combined. However, if we look at the percentage dry matter, Sticky Weed only contains 13.5% dry matter and therefore 86.5% of it is moisture which means the actual amount of sugar consumed would be relatively low. For example, 200g of Sticky Weed as fed would provide 5.6g of WSC, whereas 200g of a mid-quality hay (ie about 13% WSC) would supply more than double the WSC at 22.62g so context is everything!

Carrots are another similar example where, on a dry matter basis, the sugar level is high, but because they contain lots of water, the sugar level in the carrot as fed is much lower making them suitable as a treat if used in moderation. Always remember though that these items should be fed as a treat. If you are prone to “portion distortion” and just can’t resist feeding too much to your horse, then you may well be better off avoiding them altogether!

What can I use as a basis to my hedgerow haynet?

For good do-ers and those with insulin dysregulation, straw is a great source of forage that can mixed with the usual hay or haylage ration to encourage foraging behaviour without supplying too many additional calories or too much extra sugar. Whilst there has been some debate about the suitability of straw, more recent studies are showing it is a useful feed material for good doers if used correctly. Click here for more advice on feeding straw to horses.

Top tips for making a hedgerow haynet

1. Be absolutely sure you have picked things from the range of hedgerow herbs and plants for horses that are suitable for them to eat. If in doubt leave it out!
2. Get inventive – place the hedgerow items around the paddock if your horse doesn’t have a hedge to help themselves to, or in the stable either mix through the usual forage ration or leave in separate nets or buckets to encourage foraging behaviour
3. Use in moderation – feed a little, not a lot and always make dietary changes gradually
4. Don’t assume that hedgerow items are low in sugar, they may not be. Use as a treat only or not at all if you are concerned about laminitis
5. Being novel, it may take a while for your horse to be interested in extra items in the haynet. Don’t worry if they take to sorting out and rejecting items you have picked and mixed in – this will still have kept them occupied and slowed the rate of consumption of the rest of their forage ration
6. If you are competing under rules, picking weeds and herbs could increase the risk of NOPS contamination and is best avoided. Click here for further information about prohibited substances.

Click here for further feeding advice or if you would like our nutrition team to review your horse or pony’s current ration.

Five-star event rider Alex Bragg discusses how he prepares his horses for a big event and what he’ll be doing in the final run up to Badminton Horse Trials 2022.

“We start preparing for big events like Badminton 10 weeks before, as the horses need a certain amount of fitness and galloping sessions, usually doing some fast work every 4-5 days” explains Alex.

“We try and keep the condition on the horses with a simple diet of grass, steamed hay and a fibre-based feed as much as possible” says Alex. “Our horses are turned out overnight, so we would continue to do so in the run up to an event unless the horse lacks energy”.

“King of the Mill is a big horse who can struggle with his weight” explains Dengie Performance Horse Nutritionist Claire Akers. “He is fed Dengie Alfa-A Oil as his baseline feed which is ideal for fuelling work and providing quality protein for topline and muscle condition, without excitability”.

“The combination of the alfalfa and high oil content in the Alfa-A Oil provides great condition as well as plenty of slow-release energy” adds Alex. “At a three-day event, the horse needs plenty of reserves left in the tank for the show jumping to perform on the Sunday, you don’t want them feeling flat!”

“We also feed Alfa-A Oil 25-30 minutes before exercise to help line the stomach acid to prevent it splashing around and causing ulcers, which is common in competition horses” says Alex. “Consistency is key in the run up to an event, we don’t change the feed but we would increase electrolytes.

It’s great to be back at Badminton; it’s the biggest horse trials in the world, the buzz and excitement in the yard at home is electric. We can’t wait!”

For more information or advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

Dengie supported rider Anna Miller is an advanced dressage rider competing at small tour as well as specialising in coaching para dressage riders and training their horses. Anna trains 8-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen CBE as well as some exciting up-and-coming para riders.

Anna often gets asked what she would look for in a para dressage horse for her clients and if there are any attributes that are particularly important. This was something we asked Anna to discuss in our recent webinar where she shared insights into her approach to training horses at different stages in their competitive career. Click here to view the webinar.

Anna explained how the type of horse can really depend on the individual rider’s different abilities and disabilities.

“I try to play to the rider’s strengths. For example, some of my riders don’t have very strong legs, for them I would like a horse to be naturally forward, but at the same time not so sharp that they are going to overreact” explains Anna. “Some horses can’t cope with the involuntary movement whereas others don’t seem to mind at all”.

“Temperament is paramount, but a horse that is too quiet or lazy can make it very difficult for a rider with limited strength in their leg to get the horse going forward. People often think for a para rider you need something very quiet, but often that’s not actually the case”.

“The standard on the para circuit keeps stepping up and you need a high-quality horse to compete at the top level. For me, the walk is the most important pace and must be exceptional. The horse should have a decent trot and canter too, but not so expressive that it is difficult for the rider to stay with the horse”.

What to feed a Para Dressage Horse

The appropriate feed for a para dressage horse varies too depending on whether the horse needs more oomph to encourage them to go forward or a diet that provides slow-release energy for sparkle without the fizz.

Keeping starch intake to a minimum is essential for those that are prone to fizzy or excitable behaviour; as a comparison, a typical ‘Cool’ Mix or Pony Cube would contain around 20% starch compared to feeds in the Dengie Alfa-A range which contain 2% starch.

Slow-release energy comes from fibre and oil. Fibre is broken down slowly in the horse’s digestive system so there isn’t the associated large peak in blood glucose as happens when high starch and sugar feeds are used. Many people under-estimate just how much energy good-quality fibre can contribute to the ration. High fibre ingredients such as alfalfa and sugar beet provide highly digestible fibre and so horses can do really well on them. If however, more energy is required for weight gain, oil can be added as it is very energy dense but still provides slow-release energy. It also helps to increase a horse’s stamina and so is really useful for horses competing and travelling regularly.

 

Dengie Alfa-A Oil is a great example of a how fibre and oil can be combined to provide plenty of energy for a competition horse. Alfa-A Oil contains as much energy as a competition mix (12.5MJ/kg DE) but with around 10 times less starch. This means it will provide the horse with slow-release energy helping to promote condition without encouraging excitable or anxious behaviour.

For more information or advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

The process of taking a racehorse out of training is often referred to as “letting down” which really refers to the process of the horse’s body and mind transitioning from one of an athlete, to that of a leisure or even breeding animal. In a literal sense, the horse will lose the very tight, lean greyhound-like physique and develop more of an expanded belly. There is no set timeframe; some horses take longer to let down than others and many factors contribute to the time it takes including the time of year. It can often take a year for the change to be noticeable or for a mare to conceive if she is going to stud. The general rule with making the transition is not to rush – the more time you can take, the greater the chance of success.

What to feed an ex-racehorse?

In relation to the diet, try to establish what the horse’s current diet is as it will give you some idea of the amount of energy it is taking to keep them in the condition they are in. In most cases, it is likely to be necessary to go back to basics starting with ad-lib forage and then gradually introduce new feeds over a week to ten days. If you feed ad-lib forage, try to calculate how much the horse is actually consuming as this will be useful information to know if for any reason your horses doesn’t start to gain weight.

The typical diet of the horse in race training is usually relatively high in starch. Even though many racing rations are lower in starch than they were 20 years ago, they often still exceed levels that are likely to cause ulcers (2grams per KG bodyweight per day) and are almost certain to exceed levels that have a negative impact on the microbial population in the gut. If you would like to calculate the level of starch in your horse’s ration try our starch calculator tool.

It takes time for the microbial population to adjust to a new, higher fibre diet and there are things that can be done to help the transition and promote a healthier digestive system. Live yeast is an approved additive for horses and has been shown to promote improved fibre digestion. It is included in many balancers and feeds but for 2 to 3 months it is worth adding a more concentrated source, such as a supplement, to the ration of an ex-racehorse making the transition to a riding horse.

Adding Prebiotics to Your Horse’s Diet

Alongside yeast, prebiotics are another form of digestive aid and useful to add to the ration at this time. One study showed that FOS prebiotics helped address acidity in the horse’s stomach by stimulating the bacteria that mop-up acid whereas MOS prebiotics are known to latch on to harmful bugs which are then carried out of the gut. These are all ingredients worth looking for in supplements that can be used for the longer term if needed but are particularly helpful for the first 2 to 3 months whilst the horse adjusts to a new lifestyle.

Feeding High Quality Fibre to Your Ex-Racehorse is Key

Not all thoroughbreds or ex-racehorses have hot temperaments, but clearly many do which is why the stereotype exists. For condition without the fizz, the key is to use high quality fibre and oil as energy source such as in Dengie Alfa-A Oil or Dengie Performance Fibre. Fibre is supplied by many different ingredients ranging from straw and grass hay at the lower end of the energy level spectrum through to sugar beet, soya hulls and alfalfa at the high end. The energy each of these feedstuffs provides is largely determined by their digestibility – in other words, how quickly the horse can break them down and release the energy they contain. For poor doers it is beneficial to use the more digestible forms of fibre so they can get more from fibre in their ration.

Feeding Recommendations If Your Ex-Racehorse has Gastric Ulcers

When high quality fibre is fed alongside oil such as in Alfa-A Oil, it can provide as much energy as a conditioning mix or cube but with much lower levels of starch which is why they are less likely to result in over-excitability. This also means they are more suitable for those with gastric ulcers. It has been well-documented over the last 25 years that high numbers of racehorses have ulcers and this is clearly something to be aware of when feeding an ex-racehorse. Whilst diet is a key contributing factor, it is increasingly being recognised that stress is too. This is why just turning out to grass doesn’t mean the ulcers will resolve. In many horses still exposed to some form of stress, an improvement in the severity of ulcers rather than complete resolution may be all that is possible even with medical intervention. This is a really important consideration when taking on an ex-racehorse.

Clearly there are things you can do to reduce the risk of and help the management of a horse with ulcers but don’t just assume turning out 24/7 will do the trick:

• Some ex-racehorses may not be happy in the field if it isn’t something they’ve been used to and turning out may cause additional stress.
• A high fibre diet is key as it provides more chew time which increases saliva production and it is saliva that is the horse’s own buffer to acidity in the stomach.
• Using high oil feeds like micronized linseed rather than those high in starch such as cereals is key if more energy is required.
• Ensuring the horse has consumed some forage in the 20-25 minutes before riding is also helpful as it provides a fibrous mat in the stomach that helps to reduce acid-splash.
• Several studies have shown that alfalfa provides more buffering than grass-based forages so adding some to the bucket feed is advocated.

Why not try our Gastric Ulcer risk calculator to see if there are areas in your feeding and management you can change to reduce the risk of ulcers developing?

The other key area to consider for promoting condition without fizz is how much forage the horse is consuming. Poor doers can be fed forage ad-lib – there is no reason to limit the amount fed as you want the horse to put on weight. The more energy the horse can get from forage the less reliance there is on the bucket feed which will ultimately help to keep starch levels, and therefore the fizz factor, down. Using the digestive aids will also help the horse to get more from the forage, again reducing reliance on the bucket feed.

Typically, earlier cut forages are more digestible and therefore more likely to help promote weight gain. Wrapped hays can be a good option for those with ulcers as they are often softer than hay and if they are quite dry before being wrapped, they won’t have fermented and so are not acidic to the same degree that a traditional haylage would be. This is beneficial if ulcers are a concern.

Lastly, don’t forget to check the health of other areas of the digestive system too. If the horse can’t chew effectively their ability to digest their feed is compromised and weight gain will take longer so a professional dental check is well worth investing in. Similarly, checking their worm burden is also important as weight gain will be slow progress if the horse has a high worm burden.

If you would like more advice and guidance on what to feed your ex-racehorse contact the feedline team.

Lou Robson, Thoroughbred Dressage

“Promoting condition safely is one of the hardest and toughest challenges that we face when retraining racehorses. It’s very easy to see a ‘just out of racing’ fit and lean horse and want to feed them up. A ‘whole horse’ approach is key, and that’s why at Thoroughbred Dressage we work closely with the Dengie Nutrition team.”

“Our primary concern is supporting and promoting gut health. Often it’s not just their body condition and top line that we are looking to develop, but we may also need to look at improving hoof quality too. I choose to feed Dengie to all our horses as it ensures that they are getting a highly nutritious fibre-based diet to help and support their development into their second career. Since making the change to Dengie I have seen a vast improvement in the condition of my horses and also their temperaments; they are happy, calm and content in themselves.”

Retired Racehorses Fuelled by Dengie

Often when coming from race yards the horses are fed on cereal based, high starch rations and aren’t used to a high fibre diet. Jo Massey founder and Chief Executive of Racehorse Relief feeds her entire yard Dengie. Click here to read their testimonial.

Chickens are remarkably resilient birds that can adapt well to the climate around them.  They are warm-blooded with a body temperature of 40-43°C and have a high metabolism which all helps them to adapt well to colder temperatures. Thanks to this, it is relatively easy to keep your chickens warm in winter.

A chicken’s feathers act as a natural insulation, they will ruffle their feathers up when they are cold, retaining their body heat and trapping the warm air between their down under-feathers. Their legs and feet are covered in scales which can retain heat to a certain extent, but not as effectively as their feathered bodies. This is why they can be seen with one leg and foot tucked up into the warmth of their feathers when it is cold to help reduce heat loss. When perching or roosting, the chicken can fluff their feathers up and tuck both their legs in to keep warm.

Store energy with bird feed

Chickens tend to eat more when it is colder over winter as more energy is used in helping to keep them warm. Extra feed offered in the evening will help act as an internal heater for the chicken as they digest their food overnight. It is also important to check and clear their water of any ice ensuring they always have fresh water available to drink.

Fresh bedding is great insulation

Nesting boxes should be lined with soft and dry bedding to provide warmth and comfort for chickens. Chickens will often keep themselves warm by cuddling up together in their coop so providing extra bedding in the colder months will help to keep warm. Dengie Fresh Bed for Chickens is perfect for providing insulation in the colder months as well as absorbing any moisture, droppings and smells.

Dengie Fresh Bed for Chickens is made from chopped and dust extracted straw with a pine oil coating, providing anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Fresh Bed was developed in association with the British Hen Welfare Trust to provide a clean and warm bed in winter for your chickens that is dust free and smells fresh. Most importantly chickens love it!

For more information about Dengie Fresh Bed for Chickens or for help and advice on keeping your chickens warm in winter, call the Dengie Helpline: 01621 841188 or visit our contact page.