Feeding your horse this spring…

Spring is just around the corner and as we look forward to longer brighter days and hopefully Horse 1 some warmer weather, we also need to look at reviewing our horses' diets. Increased workload and the availability of lush spring grass that is high in sugars, needs to be taken into consideration when deciding what we need to feed.

Condition
With the change in season, it is a good idea to stand back and assess your horse’s condition. Has he lost or gained weight over winter? Think about the work he will be doing over the spring and summer months and plan fitness and feeding accordingly.

Click here to view our feed selector which will help you to determine your horse's workload

Increasing workload….?
For many horses the spring and summer months mean an increase in workload. This could potentially mean a change in feed being offered in order to meet demands for energy to maintain condition and performance. When thinking about changing to a higher energy feed, factors such as condition, temperament and type of work need to be taken into account.

With poor doers, you need to look out for loss of condition with increasing workloads. An increase in feeding levels may be required or a change of feed completely. Heygates Conditioning Cubes or Mix are ideal for those horses and ponies that struggle to maintain their condition. The linseed included in these products provides a source of slow release energy allowing balanced safe nutrition. If you’ve got a horse that tends to be a bit fizzy, you may want to turn to a feed such as Heygates Conditioning Cubes or Mix. These versatile rations aren’t just for weight gain, they can also be used for horses and ponies with increased workloads that need a lower starch product with more slow release energy sources which are less likely to provoke excitable behaviour.

On the other hand we also need to monitor good doers. An increase in workload can be used to encourage weight loss if extra condition has been gained over the winter period and in this instance feeding will not need to be increased. An ideal product for these horses and ponies would be Heygates Equi Balancer. This product is low in starch and due to its very low feeding rates provides a low calorie diet whilst ensuring requirements for protein, vitamins and minerals are still met.

Horses with a naturally laid back temperament may benefit from a higher energy feed that supplies fast release energy sources from cereals for optimum performance and give them extra oomph! Heygates Challenger Mix is the feed to provide just that. This superior quality coarse mix includes the best quality British oats and highly digestible flaked barley.

For horses and ponies in light work, the Heygates Leisure Range provides horse owners with high quality, higher fibre, lower energy feeds to keep their horses fed and healthy through the summer months. Feeds in this range include Horse & Pony nuts, Traditional Blend and Meadow Blend.

Spring Grazing
It is very important for horse owners to understand the changes in grass growth at this time of year and what this means for our horses.

New spring grass will be low in fibre and contain high levels of water soluble carbohydrates. This is a major change for the horse’s digestive system and when consumed in large quantities, can cause dietary and behavioural upsets if not managed correctly. Introducing spring grass slowly is important to allow the gut microflora to adjust to the change in diet. This is particularly important for those horses that have been fed on hay or haylage all winter. Good doers and those prone to laminitis should have their grazing strictly restricted at this time of year to prevent any problems occurring.

For more information on Heygates horse feeds please visit our products pages or download our horse feed brochure. Alternatively, if you require more in depth advice on choosing the correct feed for your horse please do not hesitate to contact one of our nutritionists using the enquiry form on the ‘Contact us’ page or by phoning 01604 833250.