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The art and science of feeding horses can be a big learning curve. A growing number of horse owners are looking for an evidence based feeding approach, rather than blind guessing. Data is the key. A science trained, evidence based independent equine nutritionist can help or consider enrolling in the online NRCPlus course provided by Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD. The basic nutritional management for horses should be the same, whether you have a much loved member of the family in the back paddock or are feeding a horse to win an eventing competition, an endurance ride or the Melbourne Cup. The foundation of any diet should be high fibre forage; pasture and/or hay. The ultimate goal in feeding should be to have a healthy horse able to perform at the best of their ability at their level of fitness and conditioning with a robust immune system. All horses, regardless of the level of work or whether they are breeding will benefit from a diet which meets their nutrient requirements and balanced minerals. ​ Working out the best diet for your horse or horses from the enormous and confusing array of commercial feeds and supplements, or from more than 100 basic feed ingredients can be overwhelming. There are so many products on the market for a huge spectrum of issues that you could easily over supplement, especially performance horses. This is not in the horse’s best interests or for that matter, the horse owner’s wallet! In this case, an independent equine nutritionist may be a worthwhile investment in the health and well being of the horse. Equine nutritionists have the education and experience to know what the best combination of feeds is for each individual horse’s situation whether a high performance horse or a high needs mare with a foal or your ‘best buddy’ in the paddock. The advantage an independent equine nutritionist offers is that their choice of feeds and supplements is not restricted to the product line sold by an employer. Instead the independent nutritionist can recommend a diet that is best suited for the horse, whether in work or not or breeding. Would you like to learn more, perhaps prefer a video? Back in 2017 I put together an 18 minute video to try and cover some of the key points. I edited out all my intakes of breath so try and keep up ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Mineral Balance Dr. Eleanor Kellon VMD , a leader in the field of applications of nutraceuticals for horses in the US, says Healthy young to middle-aged adult horses will tolerate a wide range of minimal imbalances with no obvious outward signs, but many of the things we take for granted as ‘usual’ in horses, such as sun-bleaching, tendon/ligament/joint issues, immune system imbalances, poor fertility, muscle and nerve problems, bone problems can all have a nutritional component. All problems are a combination of genetics and outside influences. The list of outside influences is huge, but worth investigating since it’s in our control. Horses on pasture, not under any stress, may show no outward signs at all of mineral deficiencies – until their immune system is stressed, they become ill or have an injury. Although the foundation of any diet should be high fibre forage; pasture and/or hay, it is important that the mineral balance is also taken into consideration. An equine nutritionist can help ensure that the mineral ratios are at their optimum, to lessen the likelihood of a mineral imbalance when too much of one mineral is interfering or blocking the absorption of another. For example, a high calcium intake compared to phosphorus has been shown to depress the digestibility of phosphorus. Low calcium compared to phosphorus can depress calcium uptake. This can lead to ‘big head’ disease called Osteodystrophia fibrosa, a deformity of the facial bones. Trace minerals like copper, zinc, iron and manganese are required in very small amounts but that doesn’t take away their importance in the running of cellular processes in the body. On the other hand, more is definitely not better when it comes to some nutrients as the horse has to get rid of the excess. Excessive zinc will interfere with the absorption of copper causing a. secondary copper deficiency. This occurs despite adequate copper in the diet. In a study on growing foals zinc intakes between 1000 and 2000 mg/kg without also increasing copper intake caused copper deficiency symptoms of joint swelling, lameness, joint effusions and cartilage defects. A low copper intake compared to high zinc has also been implicated with Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) in growing horses, a type of Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) that includes symptoms like limb deformities and vertebral malformations. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chad ​ What to look for in an equine nutritionist? Ensure they can help with designing a feeding plan based on the whole diet, not just the hard feeds and supplements that may be fed, if any, but also the foundation of the diet; the grass and/or hay. They will assist you with the best procedure for collecting a sample of pasture for analysis at a laboratory set up for analysing feed for horses, not just ruminants like cows. A pasture test that includes the main nutrients and minerals can cost as little as $35USD. If hay is the main forage then the best option is to get it tested for nutrient levels. This is the best option for people who can store large quantities of hay or able to source the hay from the same farmer but for a lot of people the hay can come from different areas so the next best option it to use average figures for the different types and grades of hay. Testing pasture or hay is the easiest and most accurate method for working out how much of those nutrients are being eaten by a horse. Lastly, ensure that the chosen equine nutritionist can devise a feeding plan with the minerals optimally balanced for the whole diet. With the introduction of a mineral balanced diet niggling problems like muscle soreness, coat bleaching, greasy heel and skin conditions like rain scald are more likely to become a thing of the past, because a mineral balanced diet with sufficient nutrient intake equals a strong immune system. Carol Layton B.Sc M.Ed, an independent equine nutritionist can help with a feeding plan based on the NRC 2007 Nutrient Requirements for Horses and Dr Eleanor Kellon’s recommendations. Article originally published in the October – November 2009 issue of Hoofbeats magazine (Vol 31 No 3), updated since.

Sign of selenium over supplementation. Anxiety and tension can be a symptom of low and high selenium levels Signs of selenium over supplementation. SELENIUM IS A VERY IMPORTANT MINERAL All horse owners need to know about the intake of this mineral. All horses will need a certain amount of it. If the horse is on pasture with soil that contains normal levels then supplementation is not necessary and over supplementing will be very negative to the health and well being of the horse. If the soil level is too low, or the horse is stabled without any supplementation – then the health of the horse again suffers and supplementation is necessary. HOWEVER it is vital to have a blood test done before considering supplementing this mineral – for full details on whether you should give it to your horse, read our article on Selenium. ​ ​ Selenium – What, Why, How What is Selenium? Is it Good for a Horse or is it Toxic? ​ Selenium is an essential trace mineral and like a lot of essential nutrients, a small amount does a lot of good but it doesn’t mean that more will do more good, in fact too much is actually toxic. Overdose of selenium causes the effects that were originally called “alkali disease”. On the other hand selenium deficiency has been shown to create white muscle disease. Selenium is an essential component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, one of the body’s natural anti-oxidants. As an antioxidant it protects the cells from damage by the waste products (known as free radicals) of cell metabolism. In particular selenium destroys peroxides and prevents them from causing a loss of cell membrane integrity. There is also a link between selenium and muscle integrity separate from its anti-oxidant properties. It is used in conjunction with vitamin E to help prevent muscle disorders such as tying-up in some horses. The link between selenium and vitamin E is interesting in that if one is deficient it can be compensated for by an adequate supply of the other. Vitamin E in the cell membrane will reduce the formation of lipid peroxides, selenium in the cell fluid will remove any that do form. Low vitamin E means selenium is needed more to deal with the peroxides and the contra is true. Selenium is also necessary for the development of the acquired immune system. ​ Why do Some Horses Need Selenium and Some Not? ​ Many areas have sufficient selenium naturally available in the soil and hence it transfers to the horse via the grass intake. However there are large areas of New Zealand soils that are deficient in selenium so soil testing is useful. If the soil is low supplementation will be necessary, either directly to the horse or by adding to the soil, often called prilling. However it is very important that organic or inorganic selenium is never given to a horse without firstly having a blood test carried out by a veterinarian. ​ What Are the Symptoms of Too High or Too Low Selenium . Some symptoms of high or low levels are similar in that the attitude and behaviour of the horse is affected mainly due to pain and discomfort. But in particular low selenium will affect the efficient function of the horse’s muscular system. Horses with low selenium exhibit negativity to being ridden or worked, over reactive to stimuli, “hot” and difficult with lowered performance. Internally low levels result in inadequate antioxidant levels with initially mild symptoms that include the horse being stiff and sore after exercise and prone to infections, from a depressed immune system, also possibly prone to tying up syndrome. Continual of low levels will be seen in poor hair and coat, muscle inflammation, weak pale muscles (white muscle disease). In breeding horses, low selenium can be a cause of low fertility, the most severe problems are seen in newborns and can be fatal. More intense symptoms include the development of myopathy (white muscle disease), impaired movement, difficulty in suckling and swallowing, respiratory distress and impaired heart function. With performance horses, they have high energy demands when they are training and competing. During exercise, muscle cells require antioxidants that need elements such as selenium to deal with free radicals, the by-products of muscle energy use. The higher the workload the more antioxidants are needed. A performance horse deficient in selenium is at risk of muscle damage created by free radicals leading to muscle pain and stiffness and slow muscle recovery following strenuous exercise. Symptoms of too much selenium include gradual weight loss, a loss of hair from the mane and tail and a break in the hoof wall at the coronary band. The changes to the feet can cause a lameness similar to that seen with laminitis. Acute poisoning occurs when large amounts of selenium are ingested over a short period of time, signs involve most of the body systems and death usually results. There have been cases in New Zealand where the person feeding the horse has not understood the need for correct dosing, especially when using the inorganic liquid selenium, and inadvertently overdoes resulting in tails falling off, feet totally breaking down to the point where some horses had to be put down. ​ How to Supplement Selenium ​ As discussed supplementation should never be given with first obtaining a blood test, a horse may even exhibit the same behaviour symptoms if they are high or low in selenium, however since over supplementing selenium can be toxic, it is important to accurately know the levels in the horse’s system. The blood test should be repeated at regular intervals on a horse receiving supplementation. A horse that is high will need an assessment of the soil and how much selenium is already in the feeds and supplements, particularly since some premix feeds may contain it. If necessary it may mean finding alternate grazing that has not been prilled with selenium. Horses require between 1-3mg of selenium on a daily basis, even 2-3 times the required daily amount over a long period of time, will cause chronic selenium poisoning. Selenium can be administered either in a liquid inorganic form, or in a organic (chelated) form. The latter is by far the preferred option, as the liquid form is only a tiny dose, given once a week or once a fortnight and that is difficult to measure and also to remember if more than one person is responsible to administering. There is another source of selenium as a combined form as sodium selenite. This is found in many standard mineral supplements and will provide a small daily amount for horses that are on normal soils and are therefore neither low or high in their blood levels. It is just a daily maintenance amount. Vetpro’s Selenium-K is a powdered chelated (organic) form of selenium. A daily 15gram dose provides 1.66mg of available selenium. It is safer and more convenient to use a daily dose of Vetpro Selenium-K as the 15gram daily dose is exactly one scoop, whereas using selenium in the liquid form of the 5mg per ml concentration, you may have to feed a daily dose of only 0.33ml, which requires very careful measurement, even a weekly dose of 2ml also requires great care and management hence there is a real vulnerability to creating a toxic overdose. Toxicity cannot occur with the daily amount of Vetpro Selenium K chelated selenium. ​ ​ Copper, Chromium & Selenium – Three Essential Trace Elements Trace elements are essential for normal body function. They are involved in the enzyme systems that control the many biochemical reactions that take place within the cells. Three trace elements that are particularly important to the performance horse are Copper, Chromium and Selenium. ​ Copper Copper has many functions. It is essential for bone, cartilage and tendon formulation, the utilization of iron in the formation of haemoglobin and in the formation of melanin, the black pigment in hair. Copper deficiency can cause bones to become weak and brittle, hair colour to fade. It is especially important in young growing horses as the development of bone collagen relies on sufficient presence of copper. In fact, lack of dietary copper has been associated with the development of O.C.D. Anaemia may develop with very low levels of copper due to its effect on the mobilisation of iron. The daily dietary requirement for an adult horse is between 80-115mg. High levels of other trace minerals can interfere with the uptake of copper, for this reason some mineral supplements have more copper than the recommended daily requirement. Toxicity from overly high levels is very rare. It is important that horses receive a daily mineral supplement and that it contains copper. Note: Copper and zinc need to be balanced. Too much of one can interfere with the uptake of the other. The ideal copper to zinc ratio is 1:3. Most feeds and pasture contain sufficient zinc (a horse needs 40 mg per day) but it is important to be aware that too much zinc will affect the uptake of copper. High zinc intake can occur from water obtained from some bores, a horse can tolerate high levels of zinc as toxicity is very rare but it is the effect on copper that is important. Also a high concentration of iron in the diet can interfere with both zinc and copper absorption, making already low levels of these minerals even less available to your horse. Check that you are not feeding no more than 8 times more iron than zinc. For example the most common mineral imbalance found in hay is too much iron combined with low zinc and copper levels. ​ Chromium Chromium exists in two forms, the inorganic metallic form (Cr6) which is toxic to animals, and the organic form (Cr3) which is non-toxic and therefore is able to be fed as a supplement. Chromium is a constituent of a biochemical involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. The benefits of chromium as an essential nutrient have been recognized by human athletes for years. Studies have shown how daily supplementation increases muscle gain and reduces body fat when combined with a physical training programme. It is only since 1992 that equine researchers have clearly defined chromium’s role in improving health and performance in horses. Studies showed that horses on diets supplemented with 5mg of organic chromium per day had significant lower blood lactic acid levels after exercise when compared with control horses. Lactic acid is a by-product of energy metabolism. During intense exercise it accumulates in muscles and causes muscle fatigue. By supplementing with organic chromium, the length of time a horse can sustain a maximum effort during exercise is increased. Another benefit of chromium supplementation is the reduction in blood cortisol levels. Cortisol is commonly termed the “stress hormone” – Levels increase during stressful periods. Increased cortisol levels lead to a reduction in energy utilization and protein synthesis, important factors in the athletic horse. More recent studies have shown that 5mg per day lowers blood insulin, especially in horses on high grain or high starch diets – such as performance horses, for example in racing. This means a more efficient use of glucose (ie energy) in the metabolism of the horse. Another study showed higher triglyceride values during exercise, possibly indicating more efficient fat mobilisation. Horses use fat for sustained energy. ​ Selenium Selenium’s most important function in the body is as a component of an enzyme called Glutathione Peroxidase – a powerful antioxidant. As part of normal metabolism, cells produce waste products called peroxides. These substances are potentially dangerous to the integrity of the cell wall and must be neutralized quickly and efficiently. Glutathione Peroxidase is able to do this and hence protects the cell from the destructive effects of peroxides. Because muscle cells metabolise large amounts of energy, they produce large amounts of peroxides. Selenium deficiencies usually manifest as muscle problems. Large areas of New Zealand soils are deficient in selenium. Farmers often add Selenium in the form of pills. With horses, supplementation is a good idea, particularly horses in full training. Breeding horses have also been shown to benefit from regular selenium supplementation. Before supplementing with selenium – it is important to take a blood test to assess the levels in the horse as too much selenium will be toxic and cause ill health, excessive in a short period may prove fatal. ​ ​

Feed your Horse Salt for your horse’s well being and prevent fatigue. There are many body processes that require electrolytes plus a lot is lost in sweat. The reason why it is so important to feed salt is that salt is made up of sodium and chloride (NaCl). These key electrolytes are often too low in horses’ intakes. This is true for cold climates and even more likely in a hot climate or use rugs or do a lot of floating (transporting) of horses; horses need salt supplementation as so much can be lost in sweat. The key electrolytes include sodium, chloride and potassium. Grass/hay and other feeds are relatively high in potassium for horses which is fantastic as it means you generally don’t need to supplement potassium, unless the horse has no access to feed for a period of time and is sweating. Horses need electrolytes for daily body maintenance jobs (staying alive) and to replace what is lost in sweat. Some of the important jobs include: ​ The production and secretion of sweat, saliva, intestinal tract fluids, urine and mucus Skeletal muscle contraction Heart contraction Nerve function Intestinal movement (and other involuntary smooth muscle contraction, such as the uterus) Absorption of nutrients across the intestinal wall and into the body cells Maintenance of normal acid-base balance (pH) Maintenance of normal hydration (the body contains roughly 70% water) Preventing tying up Preventing fatigue How to supplement salt Providing a salt lick or better, a bucket of loose salt is an excellent strategy in addition to feeding salt, but on it’s own, can’t be relied on to cover maintenance and sweat requirements. Despite salt being the only documented craving horses have, some horses won’t touch a salt lick or not access it enough. Don’t rely on free choice salt intake unless you can accurately measure what each horse is taking in. Adding salt to a feed will go a long way to ensure a horse will have the sodium and chloride needs covered with forage and feeds as the potassium source. For an untested situation, Dr Kellon recommends around 2 metric tablespoons of salt in a feed, and more per day for horses in hot climates. If you plan to introduce feeding salt, start with a very small amount and build up gradually to allow time for the horse to adjust to the change in flavour. If possible, mix the salt in with the soak water in your choice of bagged feed/chaff you put in the feed bucket. Ideally your chosen feed is a high fibre feed (beet pulp, soybean hulls and/or lupin hulls) rather than low fibre/high starch/grain feed. This video shows one approach for adding salt (and minerals). The salt will become sodium and chloride ions in the soak water. Whatever your choice of feed, it should be fed wet to prevent choke and reduce dust. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Which salt? Best salt to use is plain salt or iodised salt if your horse needs more iodine. If the salt is pink or what is known by many nutritionists as ‘dirty salt’ then you are probably paying a premium for a salt product that contains microscopic traces of minerals and heavy metals. The amount of minerals in these products are so tiny it’s not worth counting towards satisfying daily requirements. Salt can be purchased cheaply in bulk in 20 or 25 kg bags from many stockfeed suppliers. Quirky behaviours One horse owner who contacted me wondered why his horse always licked the ground in the same spot when out on a trail ride. On adding 2 tablespoons of salt to his horse’s feed (per day) he found his horse no longer wanted to lick the ground. He observed his horse drinking more water and looking more hydrated. Over the years I’ve been asked about this with similar stories. There may be a particular spot in the paddock or out on the trail or a propensity for eating dirt or manure. Whilst a salt craving may not be the only possible answer, it’s easy to experiment to see if the behaviour continues after feeding salt. One theory that explains why horses have such a relatively high need for salt is that they evolved in a region of North America with very saline soils. What about potassium? Is potassium harmful in excess – NO unless in exceptional circumstances due to say poor choices with fertilising pasture results in >4% DM on the pasture test OR the horse has a veterinary issue such as Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP), an inherited condition. All forages; grass and hay are a rich source of potassium so it doesn’t need to be supplemented for a horse that is not in work. Access to food means the horse will be getting a lot of potassium. Any electrolyte excess is easily and efficiently excreted from the kidneys in the urine. Of course, drinking water should always be provided. This is normal for horses, does no harm. The excess can be removed as quickly as within an hour. Timing of feeding salt If you feed more than once per day, spread out the daily amount among those feeds since horses can’t ‘stockpile’ electrolytes. Can sodium or chloride deficiency be harmful – Yes. Electrolytes in the body If your horse often seems tired or flat/ little energy, one possible reason is a lack of salt in the intake as insufficient sodium is related to dehydration. Precise electrolyte concentrations are maintained in and out of cells and in certain parts of cells. The movement of electrolytes in and out of cells is what enables nutrients to move from one place to another. Electrolytes are vital for the function of the nervous system and skeletal muscle and to prevent tying up. Electrolyte supplementation even enhances muscle glycogen repletion which means your horse is more likely to have energy stores replenished for the next workout. Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD, a leader in equine nutrition reports that as little as 2 to 3% dehydration can lead to a 10% drop in performance. Electrolyte levels in the blood are tightly regulated by hormones. This is of paramount importance so other areas of the body will go without to ensure the bloodstream maintains a narrow range of concentration. If sodium is low, the body will draw the sodium ions from the extracellular spaces (between cells) and results in the horse’s skin getting that dehydrated, tented look. When a vet pinches the skin near the shoulder they are getting a measure of skin elasticity, an indication of sodium deficiency. There is some evidence that the sodium in sodium chloride can increase absorption of other ionised minerals. Sodium appears to increase permeability of the lining. For example, in the case of phosphorus (and glucose) there is a cotransporter that absorbs them together. Working on a hot day - sweat Sodium is also the major controller of water balance in tissues. Sodium levels in the brain are read by cells called osmoreceptors, short for osmolality. In addition to ‘holding’ water in the tissues, sodium is what the brain ‘reads’ in determining when to trigger thirst and when to regulate the amount of sodium and water the body excretes in the urine. Chloride is involved in a host of reactions that include maintaining normal pH, fluid volume and electrical conductivity of cells. All forages; grass and hay are a rich source of potassium so it doesn’t need to be supplemented for a horse that is not in work. Sodium though is rarely in sufficient quantities to satisfy maintenance needs unless the soil the pasture is grown on is quite saline. Adding 2 metric tablespoons of salt (sodium chloride) per feed to a horse’s feed is a reasonable amount to cover maintenance electrolyte requirements, especially for a horse that sweats on a hot day standing around in a paddock or on a short trail ride. Any excess is easily and efficiently excreted from the kidneys. Of course, drinking water should always be provided. Potassium is the major electrolyte inside a cell; the difference in sodium and potassium concentrations outside and inside cells is responsible for excitability of muscle and nerve tissue. If potassium is deficient symptoms can include fatigue, heart rhythm irregularities, muscle weakness or tying up (Rhabdomyolysis) and nerve irritability, also known as ‘Thumps’. For example, the National Research Council (NRC), in the current 6th revised edition of Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007) gives the following calculations to determine maintenance requirements based on body weight (BW). For sodium it is 0.02 x BW and chloride, 0.08 x BW. A 450 kg horse requires 9 grams of sodium and 36 grams chloride per day. These are minimum levels; it doesn’t take into account sweat losses on a hot day or exercise. A level tablespoon of salt contains approximately 9 grams of sodium and 14 grams of chloride. If a horse is exercised for more than 2 hours then an electrolyte mix with potassium is necessary to replace heavy losses in sweat. Electrolytes can be added directly to a feed or syringed. If syringing, mix with a little sugar, preferably glucose. Sodium, chloride and potassium move through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream via passive transport; the ions fit through the small holes or pores. However, a small amount of sugar or amino acids (protein) will enable active transport of sodium, a quicker process than passive transport. This applies only to sodium, not chloride or potassium. You might see your horse foaming if heavily sweating during exercise. Read about latherin in foam. Article originally published in the November – December 2009 issue of Equine Excellence magazine with the title of ‘The importance of electrolytes’, updated since. Further reading: Some examples of research. Links may change over time. If a link doesn’t work, search the title in your search engine. Jansson A, Dahlborn K (1999) Effects of feeding frequency and voluntary salt intake on fluid and electrolyte regulation in athletic horses J. Appl. Physiol. 86(5):1610-1616 https://www.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/jappl.1999.86.5.1610 Dr Eleanor Kellon offers equine nutrition courses including electrolytes http://drkellon.com Dr Eleanor Kellon Dirty Salt https://drkhorsesense.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/dirty-salt/ Dr Eleanor Kellon Designer Salt https://drkhorsesense.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/designer-salt/ Matsui A et al (2002) Estimation of total sweating rate and mineral loss through sweat during exercise in 2 year old horses at cool ambient temperature J.Equine Sci. 13(4):109-112 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jes/13/4/13_4_109/_pdf Schott H Electrolytes for sport horses – are they needed? https://newcms.eventkaddy.net/event_data/60/session_files/EQ017_Conference_Note_jjacobs_cvma.net_EQ017_SCHOTT_Electrolytes_for_Sport_Horses_Are_They_Needed_20150511175547.pdf Zeynar A et al (2017) Effects of different oral doses of sodium chloride on the basal acid-base and mineral status of exercising horses fed low amounts of hay PLoS One. Jan 3;12(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28045916 NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007) https://www.nap.edu/read/11653/chapter/1 Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/hypp.php Thumbnail image sourced from here. Salt; plain or iodised Working on a hot day - sweat

Saccharomyces Products – which one do I feed? ​ Digest-Rite or Diamond V XPC, do they do the same job? Digest-Rite www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/product-page/digest-rite-sport-2kg is a fungal toxin binder and diamond v www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/product-page/balanced-equine-nutrition-diamond-v-xpc-2-kg is a prebiotic to support robust gut function (microbial fermentation). The question I’m asked is do you need any of these? ​ First of all, what is Saccharomyces cerevisiae? Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single-celled eukaryote (yeast/fungi – brewers yeast) that is frequently used in scientific research and has many applications. The advantages are that its genome has been sequenced, its genetics are easily manipulated, and it is very easy to maintain in a lab. Historically it was mainly used in the production of food and winemaking and is believed to have been originally isolated from the skin of grapes. Studies with S. cerevisiae have contributed to our understanding of important cellular processes such as the cell cycle, aging, and cell death, protein purification and the study of DNA repair mechanisms and other cellular processes related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. ​ I’m not sure of the exact number but there are so many products that are made from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and they all have different jobs, as they are different strains. The difference can come from the different substrates for the fermentation by S. cerevisiae, what these ‘critters’ are fed. Some are patented like Diamond V XPC (Diamond V) and Sports-Rite. Diamond V XPC is a prebiotic which means food for gut microbes, to boost their populations. Sports-Rite is a fungal toxin binder. These two products, even though it’s the same species of yeast, they are not the same as they are different patented strains. ​ The Medina et al study showed that S. cerevisiae strain/preparation helped prevent colonic acidosis in horses on crazy high grain diets. The Newbold et al study on S. cerevisiae showed how different strains were effective for sheep. ​ So to sum up, the different strain or type of S. cerevisiae product can have different jobs/activities. Do you need these products? Yes to Sports-Rite if you are concerned about your hay being mouldy or are experiencing a fungus outbreak in your pasture, for example, Paspalum ergot fungus or certain strains of endophyte perennial Rye grass, consider a toxin binder. These plants and others are renowned for causing photosynthesisation, signs are sunburn and blistering on pink skin on faces and pasterns (generic term, greasy heel or mud fever). When an animal consumes a plant or chemical containing these pigments (eg. polyphenolic), the pigments circulate to the skin where they are exposed to UV light, fluoresce and cause oxidative injury to the cells of the skin. Liver damage in a horse might not be noticed until the animal develops photosensitisation. ​ There are clay type toxin binders available based on bentonite or zeolite but the major disadvantage is that they are known to bind minerals like copper and zinc. This is why vets may recommend short term use if your horse has acute infectious diarrhoea, may prevent intestinal absorption of toxic minerals. Best to consult your vet. Another disadvantage is these clay based products are very high in iron (dirt in a bucket). Montmorillonite is the primary clay type in bentonite. An example of a study looking at this was done by Tomasevic-Canovic et al, link below. ​ Zeolite can absorb aflatoxin but *not* other toxins. It can absorb molecular minerals with a positive charge but they must be in dissolved form and it will bind the nutritionally important minerals as well as toxins. ​ Diamond V XPC is a prebiotic, supporting the growth of intestinal bacteria as it’s used as a food source. If your horse is exhibiting a hay or grass belly OR have a degree of diarrhoea then Diamond V XPC may well help. The XPC means it’s 4x more concentrated than Diamond V. Best to consult your vet as there are veterinary conditions that cause diarrhoea. ​ What is brewer’s yeast? Brewer’s yeast, what you can often buy cheaply at stockfeed suppliers is known as ‘spent’ S. cerevisiae. When sold as a dietary supplement it is typically spent/dead and fed primarily for B vitamins. ​ Note: If your horse has robust gut function and is not on a crazy high grain intake then probably not necessary to consider B vitamin supplementation as horses gain B vitamins from what they eat (grass/hay) and gut microbes produce all the B vitamins. The best source is green grass. ​ If you think your horse needs more biotin, Balanced Equine has biotin in the HoofXtra Mix www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/product-page/balanced-equine-hoof .And the high concentrated single ingredient Balanced Equine Biotin. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/product-page/balance-equine-nutrition-biotin-450-g Further reading: Some examples of research. Links may change over time. If a link doesn’t work, search the title in your search engine. Coverdale JA (2016) Horse Species Symposium: Can the microbiome of the horse be altered to improve digestion? J. Anim. Sci. Jun;94(6):2275-2281 https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/94/6/2275/4702067 Medina B, Girard ID, Jacotot E and Julliand V (2002) Effect of a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fiber or a high starch diet J. Anim. Sci. Oct;80(10):2600-2609 https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/80/10/2600/4789345 Nerlich HK, Koler R, Powell E and Williams TL (2018) 498 Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementations effect on fiber digestibility in equine J. Anim. Sci. Apr;96(2):266 https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/96/suppl_2/266/4967520 Newbold CJ, Wallace RJ, Chen XB and McIntosh FM (1995) Different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae differ in their effects on ruminal bacterial numbers in vitro and in sheep J. Anim. Sci. Jun;73(6):1811-1818 https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/73/6/1811/4632862 Tomasevic-Canovic M, Dakovic A, Markovic V and Stojsic D (2001) The effect of exchangeable cations in clinoptilolite and montmorillonite on the adsorption of aflatoxin B1 I. Tech. Nuc. http://en.engormix.com/MA-mycotoxins/articles/the-effect-exchangeable-cations-t95/p0.htm Zeolite information https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/zeolite

How Much Feed and What to Feed Your Horse The Basic Amounts of Food a Horse Needs Everyday So, to start with let’s take an average horse of around 16.1hh and in light to moderate work they will need to eat 1.5-2% of its bodyweight in food intake each day. At least half of that should be in grass or hay. So our average horse is around 500kg (16.1hh in good condition) and they will need to eat about 10Kg per day to maintain condition, that’s the baseline without allowing for hard work or light condition. Underdone horses or those expected to perform (competitions or breeding) will need closer to 12Kg – 15Kg a day. ​ Horses will usually eat about 8-10Kgs of pasture in a 24-hour day. (Make an adjustment in that assessment if your horse happens to be stressed in the paddock, e.g., fence walking, or the pasture is really not good quality). Therefore normally very little additional feed will need to be given to our average size horse in light work and good condition on good to average pasture– say a maximum of 1 or 2Kg per day of balanced feed.(see below). ​ Now there are only a limited number of these perfectly average horses, so we need to make adjustments for others that are either -underweight or hard working or – larger or smaller in size – high energy or quiet laid-back types – young and growing etc. ​ How do you Know the Weight and Size of the Horse? ​ Knowing the weight of your horse is important, not just for feeding purposes, but also doses of wormers, medications etc. Ideally take them to a place with a scale – sometimes they are at major shows. Alternatively use a weight tape – it is not so accurate as scales but should be close enough for feed calculations. With such a tape you can keep an eye on weight loss and weight gain. If you use scales, then do the weight tape too and note any difference and then adjust for that when you use the tape alone in future. ​ There are calculated formulas using a measurement taken right around the girth (about a hands width back from the elbow). Also measure the distance from the point of the shoulder in a straight line to the point of the buttock on that side. Take the girth x2 and add the length – all in centimetres and then divide by 11877 to get an estimate of the weight of the horse in Kgs. This is a guide as it is not as accurate as scales or even the weight tape. So knowing the weight of your horse, you can then work out how much extra feed he needs everyday. ​ Feeding for Your Horses Weight and Size ​ Good Condition Relaxed Horses Weight Fair pasture Light Work Performance Horse ​ Pony 13hh-14.2hh 150kg 0* 0* ​ Small Horse 15.2hh 450kg 0* 0* 1-2kg ​ Average Horse 16.1hh 500kg 0* 1-2kg 5k ​ Tall Horse 17hh 600kg 2kg 2-3kg 5-6kg ​ Tall Large Build 17hh 700kg 2.5-3kg 3-4kg 6kg ​ *Every horse will need some supplements (especially minerals), so a small handful of feed is necessary for those not on full feeds and as a reward after a work session. ​ This is purely a guide to show the relative differences between horse sizes. Knowing your horse is important – are they: a good grazer, are they regularly worked or left out for a period then brought into work for a period, are they in a light condition and not easy to gain weight, are they inclined to gain weight easily, are they stabled at night -or all of the time, is it winter or summer, how good is the pasture? ​ The decision of how much additional concentrated feed must be based on these individual factors. A thin horse will need building up slowly with additional feed until it reaches a more optimal weight. Overweight horses should not be given extra feed, ​ This is where the human assesses from the basics to provide an individual intake to compensate for all factors. Making adjustments will be necessary. ​ It is also important to note that no more than 2kg of concentrated feed should be given at one time, so daily intake above that must be broken down into smaller feeds. ​ Equine Feed - Balance of Fibre- Fat- Protein and Carbohydrates ​ When giving additional feed it is really important that it is a balanced mix of fibre, protein, fat and carbohydrates. Many owners are reluctant to feed any carbohydrates thinking they will create too much quick energy and make the horse tricky to ride. There is a tendency to feed Cool or low GI feeds which are expensive, often very high in protein and they don’t actually make a horse calmer. ​ Carbohydrates are essential for condition, for some energy and for the key conversion of fat to a slow energy release (ketosis). Pasture will provide the carbohydrates for condition, but horses in work (other than light hacking etc) – or underweight will need some additional carbohydrates. Grain is the main source and processed grains such as extruded barley or crushed oats are ideal. Maize should be avoided as the energy level is too high for most horses, difficult to fully digest and can affect attitudes etc. Check out labels on feeds for addition of maize. ​ Fat can be fed in the form of rice bran, copra meal or oil.,. It provides condition and a slow release of energy. Copra meal will need the addition of Lysine. ​ Fibre comes from the pasture and the addition of chaff… At least 50% of the diet should be fibre (forage – grass – hay – chaff- haylage). ​ Protein should be between 8 to 11% of the diet. Main sources are lucerne chaff, pasture, soybean meal. When looking at labels – crude protein indicates the total amount of protein in a feed . Digestible protein is the actual amount used by the horse. Most natural protein is 75% digestible, so if a feed contains 10% crude protein it will actually have about 7.5% digestible protein. ​ A typical diet for a horse in light condition and some work, needing to gain weight and allowed 24 hour access to average pasture and/or hay will need two additional feeds a day providing an additional total 4-5Kgs, and made up of fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrates. Each feed can be for example: ​ 1 Kg of fibre such as chaff (Lucerne or oat chaff) or fibre-mix, 1 Kg of fat meal (soybean, copra, rice bran), 500gms grain suggested processed (boiled or micronized or extruded) barley. Supplement with a good full formula mineral mix and electrolytes. Oil can be added as part of the fat but keep to a maximum of 200 ml a day and make sure it has been stored in a cool place for no longer than 30 days or it may be rancid. How to Feed Your Horse Economically ​ Horses are expensive animals to keep, and it is important that they are fed correctly with enough nutrition for good health and the ability to do the level of work that is being asked of them. It is convenient and easy to use a premix feed and there is a large selection to choose from. It is advisable to talk to premix manufacturers to get advice on the ideal feed for your particular horse- their condition and required workload need to be taken into account. If those factors change (eg they are turned out) then the feed selected should be changed. There is an old saying that is very appropriate: “Feed according to work done”. ​ Always read the label and the suggested feed weights, check for additives like maize, also unnecessary selenium. Assess, based on the information above, as to how much to feed, many premix feeds suggest high volumes (5-7Kgs per day) and that may not be accurate for your horse. Stick to one premix that is the right mix and don’t add a dipper of this and that or other premixes. Just add chaff or other forage source. It is expensive to over feed. ​ There is a current demand for low GI or Cool feeds, mainly from owners who are worried about containing the energy of their horse. Often this relates to the skill of the rider, an intermittent work pattern ( eg weekends only) , the type of horse ( maybe too sensitive ), a lack of some supplements. Often these horses just don’t need feeding, filling them up with low nutrition bulk or high protein additives like lupins, is a waste of money. Protein is the most expensive part of the diet and being high is very negative to the health of the horse. If the pasture is insufficient then supplement with hay and other forage. A small handful of a mix of a fat meal with necessary supplements will suffice and save a lot of money. Fat is a good safe slow release energy and copra meal or rice bran etc is very economic. ​ For the horse needing to have additional intake there is no doubt premix feeds are the more expensive way to go and are used because many owners don’t have the knowledge, or the time to create a feed from basics. However, when budgets are tight this is the solution. It has been so for the hundreds of years before premix feeds were invented. ​ As discussed above a correct mix can be put together with a source of fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrates, it can easily be adjusted as conditions change. For example, work level changes so reduce the carbohydrates, horse gains too much condition reduce the fat, loses condition increase the fat – maybe add another source. Issue such as tying up will need all grain to be removed from the mix. Always maintain a high level of fibre both in a feed but also on a 24 hour basis with pasture and or hay/ haylage. ​ Even if a premix can be afforded then use that as a base and when necessary adjust by just adding the appropriate ingredient to provide for a particular need. ​ Finally, to do the best for your horse and your budget – take the time to learn and research about feed. Read the labels. talk to experienced professionals and decide if your horse really does need all the stuff in the feed bucket. Keep it simple and that will keep it economic. ​ Feed Size Guide For Good Condition Relaxed Horses

Carbohydrates in Grass – Effects on Behaviour & Performance The Processes of Grass that Create the Sugar Energy The primary source of feed for most horses is pasture. To understand the horse’s digestion of grass, we have to start with understanding what is happening in the grass. Grass grows by way of a process called photosynthesis and to do this it needs sunlight, warm temperatures, also moisture and carbon dioxide from the air (yes really that gas that many think is so bad for the world!). In the presence of chlorophyll (the green colour) the plant converts those factors into nutrients that create growth above and below the ground and also the development of seed. In winter, the cooler temperatures slow down this process but when spring comes with its warmth, extra sunlight and rainy days, the processing increases and as a result these nutrients which are starch and fructans (sugar) are produced more actively. These are the carbohydrates of pasture. New Zealand pasture is an important part of business in this country, so a lot of development has gone on to create grasses that will create good milk and meat quickly and effectively. That makes much of the grass available to horses very effective in the photosynthesis and therefore high in these carbohydrates. The issue with the elevated behaviour reactions of horses to grass growth, particularly in Spring, is due to the higher sugar level – fructans. What happens in Spring is not just that grass growth becomes more active, but also the fact that as the mornings are cooler, when the sun is up and photosynthesis starts the starch is still a bit slow as it needs heat. The fructans are up and going and as the growth hasn’t started up (also needs more warmth) the plant stores the sugar and so the stem has a high level. As the day warms up both starch and sugars are increasing but more in balance and they are being used up in the growing process. When night comes the process stops – neither sugar nor starch is produced – and it has been mainly used up in a warm day to grow the stems. ​ The Effect on the Behaviour of the Horse Horses do get affected by the higher fructans as they have difficulty digesting these sugars which often pass undigested into the hindgut where they cause hindgut acidosis. This causes discomfort, even pain. So their behaviour changes, although actual responses will vary as horses are all different, but they can before a little hyper -active, spooky, naughty. They may seem tense , touchy and girthy and may even buck. It is mainly the pain or discomfort from the unprocessed feed in the hindgut that causes the biggest reactions. ​ The Solutions to Help the Horse Become Relaxed Again It is not the solution to overfeed “calming” products or toxin binders. It is definitely not the solution to starve the horse of grass as this is it’s natural feed and is the most balanced and suitable feed source for a horse. The grass gets more balanced as Spring moves into Summer and also the horse becomes accustomed to the better pasture. Note fructans can be high in hay, depending on when it is cut, and it can stay easily stored in the hay stems. However it is water soluble and so soaking or washing the hay will reduce the levels of it. While it is ideal to have pasture sown with species more suitable for horses, very few horse owners can do that. So the horses that are susceptible to reacting badly to these fructans need to be kept off the pasture when the sugar is high, so graze them at night, bring them inside or off the grass in the very early morning (a pen maybe) and give them soaked hay instead. As Spring progresses into Summer, gradually let them out earlier – starting evening and then late afternoon – until they can adjust to being out all the time. Remember Horses do need sunlight to create vitamin D. Another solution is to assist horses with the digestion of these sugars and starches. Scientific tests have shown horses can be assisted with their digestion by giving enzymes called alpha amylase and beta glucanase (Richards, Choct et Al). That is why we created Vetpro Digest-Rite – it contains those enzymes as well as prebiotics called mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) to enhance the gut flora and improve efficient absorption, rice bran with gamma oryzanol and a silicated oxide toxin binder. This unique combination has clearly shown to improve the “Spring behaviour” of so many horses and assist with the variable issues relating to digestion of carbohydrates – whether from grasses or grain ingestion. Grains provide starches and sugars, often to a much higher degree. The issues within the gut are similar – they can also pass though the foregut without digestion and absorption and therefore create acidosis in the hindgut. Again the active ingredients of Vetpro Digest-Rite will assist – the Performance variety is balanced towards assisting the carbohydrate digestion of grain and the Sport variety is balanced towards horses mainly on pasture. ​ The Toxin Myth Don’t be misled into “the horse is behaving badly because the grass has toxins” myth! It is particularly the fructans, but also the starches that are the main cause of the Springtime dances. Toxin binders are the latest trend product not required by horses on normal pasture fed fresh feed. A horse that is suffering from ingested mycotoxins becomes sick and shows signs of ill health, not signs of extra energy etc. These toxin binder products were designed primarily for pigs, poultry and cattle. A toxin binder will bind fungi (called mycotoxins) present in mouldy feeds such as grains, but also poorly stored hay etc. Horses that ingest mouldy feed or toxic plants, or are sometimes susceptible to the black seed heads of paspalum, do benefit from a toxin binder. As stated these horses are sick and appear so, importantly they need the services of a veterinarian. The most well known occurrence of a toxin binder in horses is when they are grazed on endophyte protected rye grass. This is a type of grass used predominately for cattle pasture and the endophyte is a fungi that is deliberately present as it prevents the stem being eaten by beetles, weevils and other bugs and so debilitates the quality of the pasture. This endophyte can release neurotoxins and it is mainly the lolitremB that is harmful to susceptible horses. It causes a condition known as staggers and tends to happen in the Autumn when the grass is short and the animal grazes the low stem. However many modern pastures are being sown with endophyte rye that does not release lolitremB. Normal pasture and any grass most of the year, does not release toxins that cause negative behaviour patterns. ​ Other Problems from Grass Digestion Horses that are overweight, sometimes of a chunky body type, are more vulnerable to problems from high levels of carbohydrates and may develop grass laminitis. Again it originates from the horses inability to digest high levels of sugars in the fore-gut and so the undigested feed moves through to the hindgut and that’s where the problem lies. In order to digest in that part of the gut (which doesn’t have the right enzymes) the system issues forth lots of lactic acid. Unfortunately this excess lactic acid kills off good bacteria and as they die they give off a toxin, which then passes into the bloodstream and moves through the fine laminae of the feet, causing the problem called laminitis (founder). A more drastic locking up is required, the weight must absolutely be reduced and again feeding both the enzymes mentioned above in Vetpro Digest- Rite and the oligosaccharides can reduce the negative effects of the founder. Animals with this issue should be presented to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Mineral Interactions matter. Why does it matter if zinc is excessive in the diet or too little compared to copper? Or if there isn’t enough calcium relative to phosphorus? ​ Trace minerals like copper, zinc, iron and manganese are required in very small amounts but that doesn’t take away their importance in the running of cellular processes in the body. On the other hand, more is definitely not better when it comes to nutrients as excessive amounts of some minerals will create problems by interfering with other minerals. ​ For example, the 2007 Nutrient Requirements of Horses from the National Research Council (NRC) has set the requirements per day for a 500 kg mature horse in light work at 100 mg for copper and 400 mg for zinc. That is per day, many pastures and mixed feeds provide far less than this in copper and usually zinc. However, it is not just the total amount per day that counts, the ratio of copper to zinc counts just as much if not more. The recommendation is to feed copper to zinc ideally at the ratio of 1:3. So if your horse is getting 600 mg of zinc per day in his diet then the copper amount ideally should be boosted to 200 mg. ​ Why is this necessary? Because in many cases minerals compete with each other. ​ Some examples – ​ Too much zinc can interfere with copper, causing copper deficiency symptoms and too much copper can cause zinc deficiency Too much copper can interfere with selenium absorption; this has been shown in studies with other animals Sulfur can prevent copper absorption; shown in cattle studies Molybdenum can prevent copper absorption High iron intake is known to reduce zinc levels Too much phosphorus will inhibit calcium absorption Too much calcium will inhibit phosphorus absorption Too much manganese interferes with phosphorus absorption Too much manganese has been suggested to cause intestinal mineral competition in other species In other animals, it has been shown that excessive levels of nutrients can interfere with selenium absorption. Furthermore, adverse mineral interactions can lead to: ​ Too little calcium will cause a horse to get 'big head disease' called Osteodystrophia fibrosa, a deformity of the facial bones caused by calcium loss. Other signs before the 'big head' symptom may show up include intermittent lameness, loose teeth, stunted growth in youngsters, ruptured tendons and increased chances of fractures. If the horse has the swollen facial bones then he may well have trouble swallowing and chewing and obstruction of the nasal passages. Not a happy camper. When there is too little calcium in the diet the parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone. Since the blood calcium level is tightly regulated, this hormone dissolves the calcium in the bones so it can go into the blood to keep blood calcium levels at the correct level for heart and muscle function. The facial bones are replaced with fibrous tissue which appears swollen compared to bone. High phosphorus intakes significantly depress calcium absorption. Insufficient amounts of magnesium can cause irritability, twitching, spasm and hypersensitivity. Many calming supplements contain magnesium which explains why they can help. However, they are often expensive and contain other ingredients you don't always need. Magnesium can be supplemented in a more cost effective way than this. Excessive calcium will also cause irritability, twitching, spasm and hypersensitivity. That is because the calcium:magnesium ratio is too high and extra magnesium will help. But if your horse is already getting too much calcium in his diet it may be better to change his feed to reduce the calcium. This will effectively lower the calcium:magnesium ratio. Inadequate copper can cause anaemia. This condition is often misdiagnosed as a iron deficiency, iron metabolism requires copper containing enzymes so if there is a lack of copper then one of the results is less haemoglobin in the blood. Inadequate copper and/or zinc will produce faded coats on horses, known as 'sunbleaching'. If your horse has a dull or washed out coat then insufficient copper in the case of buckskins and chestnuts is most likely the reason and in the case of black, brown and grey horses, copper and zinc is needed for pigment production. A lot of people will rug their horses to stop the 'sunbleaching' but I prefer to see what mineral deficiencies are present and correct them in the right proportions. To provide an optimised diet to your horse all the major minerals (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and trace minerals (iron, copper, zinc and manganese) need to be in balance. And it is easier than you may think. Balanced Equine provides a balanced diet and the ‘recipe’ for making your own custom mineral supplement. Easy to make and the ingredients are not expensive. ​ You can learn how to balance your horse’s intake by enrolling in NRCPlus with Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD . ​ FAQ Further reading Q. Why can’t I just put out a mineral block and let the horses eat what they need? A. I wish it could be that simple. For a start, many horse owners believe that horses ‘self medicate’ to mean that a horse will eat what he needs, when he needs it and in the right amount. If that was the case then horses would never eat tasty poisonous plants like Croften Weed and dietary laminitis wouldn’t exist unless the horse had no choice but to eat high sugar + starch feed. ​ Horses love tasty feed just like us, wild horses get chronic laminitis too if they have access to high sugar + starch grasses in spring. If it appeals at the time they will eat what you offer. ​ The problem with mineral blocks is that horses will only take what appeals to them, not the amount they would need and some horses won’t touch them at all. Mineral blocks usually contain molasses or similar to make them palatable so some horses will over do it. However, it is better than not providing any minerals at all but it won’t be an optimal balanced diet. ​ Q. I like to feed ‘Product X’ mineral supplement, my horse has improved on this supplementation. Can I continue feeding it? A. If you would like to continue feeding a commercial supplement then that is fine as I can devise a custom mineral mix that will balance all the the pasture/hay + supplement to ensure that your horse is not deficient in any nutrient and the nutrients are in the right proportions to each other to avoid adverse mineral interactions. A lot of people stop buying the commercial supplement once they have learnt to mix and feed their own custom mineral mix. Commercial mineral mixes are usually very expensive and contain nutrients that your horse doesn’t need, all of which has to be excreted. Pasture or hay is always an excellent source for most of the nutrients so it is only the ones that are deficient and need balancing that would be in your custom mineral mix. ​ What I like to do in this case is to provide the recipe for the custom mineral mix with the commercial supplement and a recipe without the commercial supplement in case you decide later to stop buying the supplement.

Thrush–or, Man do your feet stink! What is Thrush? Thrush is caused by an anaerobic (without oxygen) bacterial infection of the frog of the foot; specifically, a moist exudative dermatitis of the central and lateral sulci (clefts) of the frog. The most commonly cultured bacteria is Fusobacterium necrophorum. This bacterium incites a strong tissue reaction and causes the characteristic black exudate associated with thrush. The strong tissue reaction can be quite painful in some cases. Does My Horse Have Thrush? Now, not every horse with black discharge and smelly feet has thrush. Horses live in unclean environments and are constantly walking through urine, manure, and mud. These can pack into the frog and produce a foul smell and appear like black discharge. Although the disease was once thought to be associated with these unclean conditions, this is not always the case. Some horses live in the wettest, dirtiest conditions and never develop thrush, while others who live in the cleanest, driest stalls are plagued by thrush. So why the difference? Some practitioners attribute it to the health of the hoof. Good nutrition will produce a strong hoof and proper trimming/shoeing will aid in the normal self cleaning mechanism of the foot. Veterinary podiatrist, Dr. Stephen O’Grady, describes this mechanism: The horse possesses a natural hoof cleaning mechanism. in the normal foot, as weight is placed on the limb, the third phalanx (coffin bone) will descend, causing the sole to flatten. Descent of the coffin joint occurs as the navicular bone gives in a distopalmar (downward) direction, pushing against the navicular bursa and the deep flexor tendon, and finally causes expansion of the frog as it approaches the ground surface. This continuous change in the structure prevents the accumulation of material in the bottom of the foot. Impairment of this hoof cleaning mechanism appears to the outstanding cause of thrush. Chronic lameness, improper trimming, and insufficient exercise can lead to impairment of the hoof cleaning mechanism. When the foot is not properly cleaned, by both self mechanism, and proper grooming) manure, shavings and mud get packed into the clefts of the frog. This traps moisture and decreases the oxygen in the area and promotes the growth of bacteria. How do I treat thrush? Treatment must address both the bacterial infection and the underlying cause of the impairment of the self cleaning mechanism. Topical anti-thrush medications will resolve the bacterial infection. Proper trimming and balancing the foot will help to return it to its normal function. Any chronic lameness should be diagnosed and treated by your, Trimmer, Farrier or Vet. . By addressing all the factors causing thrush, you will be able to treat and eliminate those stinky (and sore) feet!

FEEDING FOR WEIGHT GAIN When your horse is thin there is more to think about than just increasing the feed. First of all it is so important to try and analyse why condition of the horse is too light and therefore if any one or more of the following aspects are an influence then fix those first before increasing its feed intake to put on weight as this may result in an over- energised or fizzy horse who is still underweight. ​ HELP RESOURCES Horses Gut Health – The What, Why, How of Equine Digestion using Probiotics and Prebiotics Supplements Why Do Horses need help with Gut Health? Changes in grazing can cause dietary upsets If food is not processed properly, issues such as gut pain and discomfort may occur and these in turn create negative behaviour of the horse, hindgut acidosis with its pain and risk of grass laminitis, poor condition and performance, overly sensitive reactions to demands of work and often early onset of fatigue. The horses’ digestive system will be influenced by conditions of environment- the pasture, the feed , the climate. It can be negatively affected by stress, particularly from travel and competitions or racing etc., also hard work. If food is not processed properly, issues such as gut pain and discomfort may occur and these in turn create negative behaviour of the horse, hindgut acidosis with its pain and risk of grass laminitis, poor condition and performance, overly sensitive reactions to demands of work and often early onset of fatigue. The horses’ digestive system will be influenced by conditions of environment- the pasture, the feed , the climate. It can be negatively affected by stress, particularly from travel and competitions or racing etc., also hard work. Sudden changes of diet and or work levels and routines plus sickness will also reduce the efficiency of the microbiome. With breeding stock – the onset of lactation and later weaning may cause disruption to the gut microflora. Any disruption can result in colic and or diarrhoea. In particular, the intake of antibiotics will break down the gut flora – as the name suggests they destroy bacteria – both bad and good. Any horse recovering from infections that have required administering anti-biotics will need supplementing with a prebiotic and probiotic to establish the gut flora. What is a Probiotic and a Prebiotic ? The difference between a Probiotic and a Prebiotic A Probiotic provides live beneficial bacteria direct into the animal’s gut A Prebiotic helps activate and feed the existing bacteria (microflora) in the gut. Both prebiotics and probiotics can work together to improve the diversity and availability and efficiency of gut bacteria, (often called the gut microbiome). Previously, adding live microflora as a supplement has been difficult due to the short expiry (use by) dates on available products. In the past, manure therapy was the easiest way; this entailed taking the clean manure of a healthy gelding, mix with water to make a slurry and syringe down the throat of the unhealthy horse. This is also why foals will eat manure at 10 days of age to naturally establish their gut flora. However, nowadays we have access to new Probiotics that can have a better shelf life and are readily available to be added to the diet, for example Yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The most effective Prebiotics for horses are Fructo-oligosaccharides (FCOS) Mannooligosaccharides (MOS) Scientific tests have shown the benefits of these in particular, that by improving the volume and activity levels of the bacteria in the gut, it has a direct health benefit to the horse. How Can The Horses Gut Health be Improved with Supplements? There are scientific studies to show that this is the case, see below. However, it is important to select the supplements with the active ingredients that are specifically supportive of equine digestive tracts. Scientific tests have shown Fructo-oligosaccharides (FCOS) and Mannooligosaccharides (MOS), benefit horses health by reducing the bad bacteria E Coli, reducing the acid effects in the hindgut thus reducing discomfort and the possibility of laminitis. They also show that Probiotic yeasts improve the numbers of good bacteria which in turn assist digestive processing of food, making the transfer of food to energy much more efficient. Thereby improving weight gain and reducing fatigue. Summary of the use of Probiotics and Prebiotics Eating weeds or non pasture vegetation can cause dietary upsets. The greatest opportunity to improve the status of the gut health of the horse is to feed a combination of both these active supplements, thereby helping to negate the difficulties a horse faces at times when environment or work levels change, and in particular when sickness and or infections take hold. Any of these changes can reduce the efficiency of their gut. A course of a combined Prebiotic and Probiotic formula is ideal to help them get through these times and stay healthy and reduce negative events in their gut. Equine care Gut and Prebiotic, – contains both FCOS and MOS Prebiotics combined with the Probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae The Science :- Effects of dietary short-chain Fructo-oligosaccharides on the intestinal microflora of horses subjected to a sudden change in diet F. Respondek, A. G. Goachet and V. Julliand Jnl Animal Science 316-323 Dietary supplementation with short-chain Fructo-oligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses F. Respondek, K. Myers, T. L. Smith, A. Wagner and R. J. Geor. Jnl Animal Science 77-83 Fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation in the yearling horse: Effects on fecal pH, microbial content, and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Obesity and diet affect glucose dynamics and insulin sensitivity in Thoroughbred geldings By: Hoffman, RM (Hoffman, RM); Boston, RC (Boston, RC); Stefanovski, D (Stefanovski, D); Kronfeld, DS (Kronfeld, DS); Harris, PA (Harris, PA)JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE Volume: 81 Issue: 9 SEP 2003 Can the microbiome of the horse be altered to improve digestion? Coverdale JA. J Anim Sci. 2016 Jun;94(6):2275-81. doi: 10.2527/jas. 2015-0056 : Abstract : When high-concentrate diets were fed, probiotic supplementation helped maintain cecal pH, decreased lactic acid concentrations, and enhanced populations of cellulolytic bacteria. Similarly, use of prebiotic preparations containing fructooligosaccharide (FOS) or mannanoligosaccharides have improved DM, CP, and NDF digestibility when added to high-fiber diets. Furthermore, use of FOS in horses reduced disruptions in colonic microbial populations after an abrupt change in diet and altered fecal VFA concentrations toward propionate and butyrate. Potential use of prebiotics and probiotics to create greater stability in the equine microbiome impacts not only the digestibility of feed but also the health of the horse. Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on apparent digestibility and rate of passage in horses fed a high-fiber or high-starch diet1 doi:10.2527/jas.2006-796 J.-P. Jouany*, J. Gobert†, B. Medina†‡, G. Bertin† and V. Julliand‡2 Effect of Live Yeast Culture Supplementation on Hindgut Microbial Communities and their Polysaccharidase and Glycoside Hydrolase Activities in Horses Fed a High-Fibre or High-Starch Diet JP Jouany et al. J Anim Sci 87 (9), 2844-2852. 2009 May 22 ​ The Challenges for Overweight Obese – Laminitic – EMS – Cushing Diseased Horses Complications of Equine Obesity Aside from the obvious physical issues of too much condition affecting movement, respiratory stress, joints etc, the biggest issue on the horses physiology is the onset of metabolic problems from excess blood glucose and insulin: such as insulin resistance, laminitis, endocrine complications such as Cushing’s disease or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). The link between all of these is obesity, which is why it is vital to recognise the onset of too much condition and deal with it quickly. Adipose (fat) tissue is an active endocrine organ and when they are in excess they secrete body chemicals that impair insulin signalling within fat and muscle so that insulin resistance develops. Insulin is an anabolic hormone produced in the pancreas and is important in the regulation of fat metabolism. When a horse ingests glucose (from grass and carbohydrate feed), insulin is released to control the amount of glucose in order to maintain normal levels in the blood. With an overload of fat cells in the body, the natural control of glucose is reduced and hence insulin resistance begins. In horses, the particular condition is called compensated insulin resistance, a direct result of ingested carbohydrates and is not the same as the human condition of poor glucose control which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and it becomes type 2 diabetes. Horses do not suffer from that. EMS is also a direct result from compensated insulin resistance. Laminitis is a constant concern for overweight horses, more especially ponies, and can be an added complication with EMS or as a stand-alone result of high carbohydrate intake and overweight condition. Conversely a history of laminitis can predispose an animal to develop EMS when insulin resistance develops. Horse with cushings disease Cushing’s disease is known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, shortened to PPID. As the names suggest it is a condition of the pituitary gland which produces a hormone known as ACTH. This in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to produce the hormone cortisol. When cortisol is not well controlled due to malfunction of the pituitary gland, the levels are elevated this in turn elevates blood sugar (glucose). So here again insulin resistance occurs as the levels of glucose are too high for the amount of available insulin. With PPID the high cortisol levels can develop from a tumour on the pituitary gland, or from prolonged stress which can be from many years and many factors. This is why it tends to develop in the older horse and a horse with PPID can become very overweight or underweight. The clue to this disease is the development of a very curly coat, starting with the legs. Feeding starch to a horse with Cushing’s is also inappropriate because of the inherent insulin resistance. Testing for insulin resistance and diagnosis of EMS, Laminitis and Cushing’s Disease will need to be carried out by a veterinarian. All obese horses should be screened for EMS. Basic Management The link with the development from just being overweight to insulin resistance, EMS, Laminitis and onset of Cushings is the intake and digestion of starch, whether from carbohydrate feeds or sugars in the pasture and hay. The problem with overweight horses and ponies is that while they have health complications from their condition, it is counterproductive to actually starve them as that will create other negative complications will occur from that as well as impacting on the overall wellness and health of the horse, it is a slow process to reduce weight (don’t we humans know!). Starving a horse will create binge eating when he gets out to the paddock and that will cause a sharp rise in insulin. Analysing that your horse is tending to be overweight and taking control at an early stage is vital. A horse that is carrying obvious fat on the body, pouches on the rump, ribs out of sight and hard to feel, wobbly crest on the neck is overweight. How to Measure Body Condition: Table 1. Characteristics of Individual Condition Scores ConditionNeckWithersLoinTailheadRibsShoulder 1. Poor Bone structure easily noticeable, animal extremely emaciated, no fatty tissue can be felt. Bone structure easily noticeable.Spinous processes project prominently.Spinous processes project prominently.Tailhead (pinbone) and hook bones project prominently.Bone structure easily noticeable. 2. Very ThinFaintly discernable, animal emaciated.Faintly discernable.Slight fat covering over base of spinous processes. Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent. Tailhead prominent. Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernable.Shoulder accentuated. 3. ThinNeck accentuated.Withers accentuated.Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes but easily discernable. Transverse processes cannot be felt. Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded but are still easily discernable. Pin bones not distinguishable. Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernable.Shoulder accentuated. 4. Moderately ThinNeck not obviously thin.Withers not obviously thin.Negative crease along back.Prominence depends on conformation; fat can be felt. Hook bones not discernable.Faint outline discernable.Shoulder not obviously thin. 5. ModerateNeck blends smoothly into body.Withers rounded over spinous processes. Back level. Fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy.Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt.Shoulder blends smoothly into body. 6. Moderately FleshyFat beginning to be deposited.Fat beginning to be deposited.May have slight positive crease down back.Fat around tailhead feels soft.Fat over ribs feels spongy.Fat beginning to be deposited. 7. FleshyFat deposited along neck.Fat deposited along neck.May have positive crease down back.Fat around tailhead is soft. Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat. Fat deposited behind shoulder. 8. FatNoticeable thickening of neck, fat deposited along inner buttocks.Area along withers filled with fat. Positive crease down back. Tailhead fat very soft.Difficult to feel ribs.Area behind shoulder filled in flush with body. 9. Extremely FatBulging fat. Fat along inner buttocks may rub together. Flank filled in flush.Bulging fat.Obvious positive crease down back.Building fat around tailhead.Patchy fat appearing over ribs.Bulging fat. From Henneke et al. Equine Vet J. (1983) 15 (4), 371-2. The immediate action is to stop feeding, sounds obvious – you cannot feed a fat horse. However it must have fibre in the form of forage or chaff, chaff mixes without grain. Grazing is vital as any horse needs to be putting though food into the stomach to switch off the constant flow of stomach acid. Note though, it needs to be low sugar pasture, which means long rank grass, it is a common misunderstanding that short grass is best – not true because the highest concentration of sugar is closest to the ground. Poor weedy pasture is not good as weeds can have high sugar levels. Penning them for part of the day with hay is a good option, little and often and it must be washed thoroughly and drained as a lot of the sugars are soluble and therefore will be removed when the hay is thoroughly washed and the water removed by hanging up the wet hay in a net because the water will contain the sugars. Note Baylage /Haylage is not suitable for these horses as the nutritional content is much higher and horses tend to gorge on it. They will need a daily fully formulated mineral supplement and in hot conditions electrolytes. If pasture is restricted then add Vitamin E. Ideally a small handful of beet (no grain variety) and Lucerne chaff (this is the lowest sugar level fibre) with supplements will be keeping their basic diet balanced, avoid premix bagged feeds. The effect of pasture providing too much sugar can be alleviated if you consider not only the type of pasture, but also when the horse is allowed out to graze. The grass uses sunlight in the a day and with that it creates sugar from nutrients in the soil which it uses to create growth. Grass stores the sunshine effect (photosynthesis) and the nutrients all day and then at night converts the stores to sugars which it then uses to grow. Grass grows at night so in the morning sugar is depleted. Cold temperatures slow growth so sugars are then stored. So it is important to bring the horse in before late afternoon when the storage is high but not yet used. Turn out in the morning, but if it is cool or even frosty, wait until it warms up. If sound they will need slow exercise to begin with, increasing in exertion on a planned programme to create fitness before major exertion is asked for. Letting them out into the paddock is important as it adds to the exercise, penning time must be limited. With Laminitis an experienced farrier will be needed to correctly and regularly trim the feet, this can considerably alleviate the soreness. Special rocker bar shoes are an option. Keeping the feet cool by standing in a stream, mud or cold water came also assist. It is important that the horse be out and encourage to walk around, boxing on warm bedding is not suitable. Controlling grazing with strips of electric fence can limit grazing but it may lead to binge eating. A grazing muzzle is also an option. Spelling horses and ponies need to be checked for signs of getting fat and not left until they are required to start work again with the thought that the weight will drop when they do, it could well be too late to turn back the onset of serious complications. Supplements to Help- Prebiotics – Probiotics and Enzymes Anatomy of the horses stomach Science has shown that supplementing horses with enzymes such as Beta Glucanase and Alpha Amylase to assist in digestion of starches and sugars and also with MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides) can assist with conditions of complications of sugar and starch intake. This type of supplement helps the horse to process the starches and sugars efficiently, reducing the negative effects such as hindgut fermentation and often hyperactive or negative behaviour. Read about Vetpro Digest-Rite. Chromium has also been suggested to improve insulin sensitivity by altering the intracellular pathways (Hummel et al 2007). According to B R Rush Kansas State College of veterinary Science, “dietary supplementation with chromium (5-10mg/day) will improve peripheral insulin function and glucose tolerance. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations may be reduced, potential to normal values, weeks to months after initiation of exercise, dietary management and dietary chromium supplementation.” Read about Vetpro Chromium Plus . New developments in the scientific testing of the use of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS), a prebiotic, indicate that they not only counter digestive stress in horses, but actually stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. It has also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in obese horses (Respondek et al 2011), thus is of assistance in helping to prevent the negative progress in obese horses to insulin resistance and EMS and possibly Cushings Disease. Read about Equine-Care Probiotic & Prebiotic So early intervention, correct feeding and supplementing with a dietary assisting products can all help to prevent or alleviate difficulties for horses tending to be overweight. ​ The Thin Horse – How to Create Weight Gain When your horse is thin there is more to think about than just increasing the feed. First of all it is so important to try and analyse why condition of the horse is too light and therefore if any one or more of the following aspects are an influence then fix those first before increasing its feed intake to put on weight as this may result in an over- energised or fizzy horse who is still underweight. Teeth A horse’s teeth will need regular inspection and poor processing of feed may just be simply from sharp edges or a more complex dental issue. Either way get a vet or qualified equine dentist to examine and adjust as necessary. Parasites Check the records of the horse particularly if you have just purchased it, and see if a good worming programme has been maintained. Get a worm count done by your veterinarian and discuss the best options for the parasites found. Once you have de- wormed, keep records so that a proper programme is carried out, changing wormer types as appropriate. Sickness Know the signs of health, any illness will debilitate a horse. If he just seems off colour then get a blood test and discuss any findings with your veterinarian. Stress Signs of stress are obvious but sadly often put down to the horse “being difficult” or being naughty. Horses are reactive not proactive by nature. They respond to stimuli and environment and handling etc, and don’t deliberately set out to give an owner a hard time. (Unless they have been abused and have become defensive as a result). So look for a reason that may create stress, it may be environment, even being bullied in the paddock, fear – maybe of traveling, it may be lack of knowledge so a professional trainer can help, it may be a low level of some significant minerals and or vitamins, such as thiamine, tryptophan, magnesium so supplement with a balanced mix that provides the normal daily amount. Don’t overdo the supplements – they are not sedatives. In fact any form of sedation is not the answer – look to the cause. Pain A horse in pain will lose condition. A prolonged painful episode will reflect in the weight of the horse, even low grade pain that is not being diagnosed and as such may be a hidden cause. Again use a professional to assist with looking at possible causes, it may not be as simple as a lameness. Digestive Problems This can be a physical issue with the function of the transit of food like swallowing difficulties, or gastric ulcers, or imbalances in the digestive enzymes, intake of toxins like mould on hay and grains, loss of the microflora (good bacteria) that assist digestion within the gut. Gastric ulcers are not easy to diagnose and require a medication with omeprazole as its active ingredient. They can be avoided by making sure the horse has sufficient fibre (grass, hay, chaff) with access to that type of feedstuff through 24 hours. It is important that a horse’s stomach has some foodstuff passing through it almost continuously, fibre is the horse’s natural food and because passes slowly through the gut – it provides protection from the continual acid flow in the stomach. Long periods without food will contribute to the onset of a gastric ulcer. Diarrhoea is a symptom of the loss of the natural microflora, that results in poor processing of all feed in the gut. Providing a probiotic and prebiotic has been scientifically shown to assist re-establishment of the microbiome (gut flora) and so the feed intake is not wasted but processed to improve the physiology of the horse and therefore weight gain. For more help with this read about Vetpro Gut-Biotic. It is possible to assist the digestive process of the gut by giving a product that offers digestive enzymes to process feed more efficiently early in the gut. Partially digested feed going to the hind gut causes many problems in the horse, also useful is an ingredient to slow down the speed of the feed passing though, a silicated oxide toxin binder helps in case any moulds have been ingested, a probiotic to remove any negative emissions from hindgut fermentation. Vetpro Digest Rite can provide all these ingredients in one daily scoop. Age The older horse will find it harder to keep weight on primarily due to the ageing process itself that creates difficulty in processing all the protein that they are eating, their teeth make it difficult to masticate the long fibre, and overall their internal digestive process is less efficient. To assist the uptake of all digestible protein it is necessary to supplement with Lysine and Threonine – two “limiting amino acid” these are the most important in the protein structure and the horse’s natural levels drop with age – so supplementing creates an improvement in the uptake of protein and hence body structure (often seen as top-line). Read our article ‘The Older Horse’ . Increasing protein percentage in the feed is very unhealthy for the horse and economically wasteful. Also feeding a digestive enhancing supplement like Digest Rite in conjunction with short fibre, fat meal such as copra or soybean meal plus boiled grain will be best for the older horse. There are extra care requirements for the older horse. For more on Protein read our article ‘Protein – What, Why, How Much?’. Not Enough Food This is the most obvious reason for light condition, but most horses will maintain a reasonable weight on average pasture so it is important to check out the above 7 points first before loading up a high calorie diet. 8a) What are you feeding now – one very important criteria is to know what you actually feed – by weight. A scoop of this or that is irrelevant when looking at the intake of a horse versus the energy used. All information on diets and feeding is based on weight, different foodstuffs have different densities – a scoop of Lucerne chaff is a totally different weight to a scoop of oats or pellet feed. 8b) A very important criteria – is to have a correct BALANCE in the types of foodstuff – that is fat, fibre, protein and carbohydrates. Just feeding a thin horse a lot of fat will not give the desired result of a healthy well looking animal with good energy. To increase weight it will be necessary to increase the volume of feed but do that in balance, increasing volume means that it will need breaking down into at least two but often three feeds. A horse should not be expected to digest more than 2Kg (or 2.5 Kg for a large animal) of hard feed – plus fibre, at any one time. 8c) Know your pasture quality – Ideally good pasture, quality balance of grasses such as rye, clover, timothy, fescue, and chicory etc. combined with a balanced feed will, given time, produce the weight gain in an otherwise healthy horse. Poor pasture such as kikuyu, paspalum, high white clover, will not suffice and good quality hay from another area will be needed. Lucerne hay is a good source of protein and fibre but then don’t feed Lucerne chaff with the hard feed as well, use oat chaff. Too much Lucerne will be too high a protein percentage. 8d) Horses do well on fat – it is easily assimilated by the horse and creates low energy so is not going to create any volatile reactions. Oil is a good source of fat but the daily amount has to be limited to a max of 200 ml too much will result in loose slimy manure. The best way to feed fat is by a meal such as copra or soyabean or stabilised rice bran. Some carbohydrates (grains) are necessary, aside from the all-important balance in the diet, they are needed as part of the process of digesting fat. 8e) So how much to feed: a normal horse will need to eat 2-2.5% of its bodyweight in feed each day. At least half of that should be in grass or hay. So an average 500kg (16hh good condition) horse will need to eat about 10 Kg per day to maintain condition, that’s the baseline without allowing for hard work or light condition. Underdone horses or those expected to perform will need closer to 12Kg – 15Kg a day. Horses will usually eat about 8-10Kgs of pasture in a 24 hour day. (Make an adjustment in that assessment if your horse happens to be stressed in the paddock, e.g. fence walking, or the pasture is not good quality). Therefore normally a total feed for the horses either growing, needing to gain weight or in more serious work needs to be pasture plus concentrated (hard) feed. The decision of how much additional concentrated feed must be based on the quality of the pasture, as well as the energy demands of their life, the nature of the horse (i.e. nervy or placid) and conditions e.g. climate, the condition of the horse. Even a horse doing nothing, will need more feed if it is stabled or penned overnight. A thin horse will need building up slowly with additional feed until it reaches a more optimal weight. Use the amounts as a guide, if your horse is only 15hh then reduce the figure proportionally, a pony around 14hh in normal condition would be approximately half the amount and so a small hack would be about three quarters, but again look at and know your horse, it is not a precise figure, some horses are better doers and so should be fed less. Therefore a horse in light condition allowed 24 hour access to average pasture and/or hay will need two additional feeds a day providing an additional 4-5Kgs, and made up of fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrates. Each feed can be for example: 1 Kg of fibre such as chaff (Lucerne or oat chaff) or fibre-mix, 1 Kg of fat meal (soybean, copra, rice bran), 500gms grain suggested processed (boiled or micronized or extruded) barley. Supplement with a good full formula mineral mix and electrolytes. Oil can be added as part of the fat but keep to a maximum of 200 ml a day and make sure it has been stored in a cool place for no longer than 30 days or it may be rancid. If a premix feed is preferred the read the label! Check out the balance that it provides and make sure you feed the recommended amount by weight, just giving a small amount (because it is expensive) will still be underdoing the horse and a gain in condition will not result. A useful addition is a supplement of stabilised rice bran, for example Vetpro Muscle-Max is just that, also with chromium, and also provides very high level of antioxidants, omega 3, 6 and 9, natural Vitamin E and B Vitamins, plus gamma oryzanol – a plant sterol. As a supplement it adds to the weight gain and assists the energy transfer within the cells so releasing the energy from feed to be stored and improve condition. It has the added advantage that as a supplement it doesn’t increase the feed size so the maximum of 2 Kgs of hard feed is not reduced. Summary So to improve condition of your thin horse check out the points 1 – 7 first to find the reason for light condition. Then feed a full and balanced and supplemented feed at least once but often twice a day. Be patient – weight gain is a slow process and will take several weeks depending on the original condition of the horse. When in doubt seek professional advice. For further help check out more of our articles

NEED HELP WITH A WOUND? Horse will always injure themselves, quick knowledge action is required for wounds to improve the recovery and reduce the risk of infection. There are various types of wounds and so there is a need to have on hand a comprehensive kit to cover the possibilities that may occur. ​ HELP RESOURCES Wound Care There are different types of wounds that can occur with horses, the correct first aid procedure is essential. Always have some first aid items on hand in the stable yard or float or truck, keep calm and assess the situation. A WOUND OF ANY SERIOUS NATURE OR SIZE WILL NEED VET ATTENTION – THESE NOTES ARE ONLY INTENDED TO ASSIST THE FIRST AID THAT CAN BE GIVEN UNTIL YOUR VET ARRIVES. Open Wounds An open tear where the skin is cleanly cut with no skin flap can be washed with sterile saline solution as it is the optimum wash to clean cuts, tears or abrasions and it is essential to have some in your first aid kit. If you run out, or are in a place where there is no saline, flush the wounds with water from a hose. The goal in cleaning the wound by flushing with clean liquid is to wash away bacteria which might otherwise cause infection, so use plenty of fluid and sluice the wound, with a gentle flow not a blast. The edges of the wound need to be carefully treated as healing can be delayed if they are damaged. Finish by using Vetpro Antibacterial Gel to ensure the site is clean of any germs. The gel kills 99.9% of germs and contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to be kind to the skin. Note iodine is damaging to the skin cells close to the wound. If practically possible apply a non stick steripad dressing, or a paraffin gauze dressing some Gamgee padding and a bandage until the wound appears dry. Do not have the bandage too tight and once the wound is dry, remove the dressing then a topical cream such as Equifix will assist with healing. Do not bandage for too long, as this delays healing, the best option for a wound to heal is to have it in the open air. Daily gentle hosing to clean the wound and surrounding area and dry with a clean cloth or towel, gently rub off any debris and apply Equifix. If a wound has to be bandaged then it is important to keep it moist, using a hydrogel such as Vetalintex onto the wound itself, will provide a healing moist cover. ​ Puncture Wounds Puncture wounds are more serious than open wounds because they have depth, although a puncture wound in dense muscle is less worrisome than it would be on the chest, belly or lower leg, where it could compromise your horse’s internal organs or movement. Although it might appear small and without much bleeding a puncture wound needs to be assessed by a vet. However it is important to cleanse it, remove any foreign material and flush it out with a syringe and plenty of sterile saline. Puncture wounds should be left open to drain, but if necessary protect with a dressing and wait for the vet. The problem with a deep puncture is to check how far it may have penetrated and therefore what damage may have occurred to the underlying tissues, joint, organs etc. Also the wound has to heal from the inside first, so the entry point must be kept open. If it closes off too quickly it can trap germs inside (or foreign matter) and infection or an abscess may occur. ​ Abrasions Abrasions usually occur when a horse falls and skids. If the wound is a simple abrasion you can probably take care of it yourself, but check to make sure there are no punctures, lacerations, broken bones or other more serious damage before treating the skin damage. It is important to clean the area well to remove any dirt, grass or other particles. Use the sterile saline for flushing the area and for a dirty graze use Robinsons Activ Scrub which contains Chlorhexidine which will kill any germs from the soil etc. If swelling is evident a cold pack can be applied, cool gel self-adhesive pad or aloe cool gel or an Artic Blast bandage depending on the site of the swelling. If the area is difficult to clean because of embedded dirt or grit then an Activate® charcoal poultice is ideal to draw out the contaminants. This can be held in place with padding and then a bandage. If it is a site on the body then cross strapping with an elastic adhesive bandage (white oxide adhesive) will adhere it to the skin. ​ Lacerations Lacerations where the skin has been sliced so as to create a flap generally need vet attention to remove any excess skin flap or to stitch the wound back. As a first aid action, flush with saline and keep the area cold as this will improve the quality of the skin enabling it to be stitched. Put the skin flap back in place, then place a cold pack over and use padding, then bandage. It is important to protect the quality of the skin so do not use a disinfectant or iodine type solution. Keeping the area cold will improve the chances of successful stitching. Ice can damage skin, so put a cloth or dressing on before a cold pack (frozen peas are useful) until the vet arrives. Follow the vet’s instructions once the wound is stitched. ​ Bleeding Wounds Extensive blood flow must be stopped as soon as possible by applying direct pressure, either with a pad pressed or strapped on – call for immediate veterinary support. A cold compress can assist to slow the flow. If caught out on a ride, create a pad from a handkerchief or some such and use a stirrup leather to create a firm strap over the pad, easier to hold than trying to apply direct pressure yourself. Spurting red flow is arterial and must be dealt with as quickly as possible. ​ Infected Wounds Should a wound have been inadvertently missed and have become infected then a thorough washing and sluicing to remove all pus and debris. Use Activ Scrub to kill germs. Depending on the size and depth and extent of infection (ie if there is swelling of and/or heat in the area around the wound) it will be necessary to call the vet as antibiotics may be needed to control the infection, an infected wound of a joint is very serious. For all infected wounds use a poultice dressing such as Animalintex , then a pad of Gamgee and bandage on. Change the dressing every 24 hours and cleanse the wound, assess the amount of exudation on the dressing, it should diminish each time. Once there is no more smelly pus then treat as an open wound as above. ​ Items for Wound Management Always have a grab kit on hand – Vetpro Emergency Wound Pack contains: Antibacterial gel, saline solution, irrigation syringe, scissors, co-hesive bandages and under– bandage padding rolls. Ideal for a quick response for most wounds. Check out our combo first aid kit, for horses and riders here. These should be part of a full first aid kit that should be in the stables and horse transport. Vets phone number- daytime and after hours Scissors- sharp points and blunt points Clean Dry Cloths Antibacterial Gel Saline Animalintex Steri-pad Dressings Paraffin Dressings Activate Charcoal Dressing Gamgee Elastic Adhesive Bandages (plast) 10 cm Cohesive Wrap Bandages 10 cm Orthoban Under Bandage Padding Roll Set of Stable Bandages Arctic Blast Bandages Cool Gel Pads Insulation Tape Activ Scrub Chlorhexidine Wash Seal-On Spray Equifix-TTO Wound Cream Tweezers Disposable Gloves ​ ​

What is a balanced diet for horses? When there are no nutrient deficiences and balanced ratios so that no one mineral causes another mineral to be deficient for the whole intake. Balanced Equine can provide an optimal, balanced diet for horses based on data, and take into account breed, age, workload, reproductive and health status. Or learn how to do this yourself by enrolling in NRCPlus , the 10 week online course provided by Dr Eleanor Kellon VMD. NRCPlus is accredited for further education for American vets. You don’t need to be a vet to benefit enormously from Dr Kellon’s courses. Horse owners from all around the world enrol in NRCPlus. ​ A balanced diet for horses is an intake that has more than adequate nutrient levels with all the minerals in the right proportions. A balanced diet for horses can solve a lot of problems you may be dealing with. All the following can be symptoms of a nutrient deficient or imbalanced diet: ​ Dull or sunbleached coats or a rust look in dark manes Poor immune system unable to deal well with infections like greasy heel/mud fever, rain scald, weeping eyes Poor hoof quality, slow growth rate, hoof cracks ‘Big head’ if your horse is on Kikuyu or Setaria or other oxalate grasses Topline and general muscle building issues Muscle and nerve issues/twitching/overly sensitive behaviours Your horse may fatigue easily when asked to perform That feeling that your horse is simply ‘not right’ A horse with too much energy, easily over excited Diarrhoea issues or grass/hay bellies Fertility issues in stallions and mares Joint/limb issues in a developing foetus or foal Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) The basic nutritional management for horses should be the same, whether you have a much loved member of the family in the back paddock or are feeding a horse to win an endurance ride, a competitive trail ride, or the Melbourne Cup. The ultimate goal in feeding should be to have a healthy horse able to perform at the best of their ability at their level of fitness and conditioning with a robust immune system. A balanced diet includes all the essential nutrients in the proper proportion and sufficient amounts. ​ Dr. Eleanor Kellon VMD, says ​ Healthy young to middle-aged adult horses will tolerate a wide range of minimal imbalances with no obvious outward signs, but many of the things we take for granted as ‘usual’ in horses, such as sun-bleaching, tendon/ligament/joint issues, immune system imbalances, poor fertility, muscle and nerve problems, bone problems can all have a nutritional component. All problems are a combination of genetics and outside influences. The list of outside influences is huge, but worth investigating since it’s in our control. Horses on pasture, not under any stress, may show no outward signs at all of mineral deficiencies – until their immune system is stressed, they become ill or have an injury. ​ Feeding horses properly is an art and a science. Working out the best diet for your horse or horses from the enormous and confusing array of commercial feeds and supplements, or from more than 100 basic feed ingredients listed in the 2007 ‘Nutrient Requirements of Horses’ from the National Research Council (NRC) can be overwhelming. There are so many products on the market for a huge spectrum of issues that you could easily over supplement, especially performance horses by concerned horse owners. This is not in the best interests of your horses. ​ Burt Staniar, PhD, assistant professor of equine nutrition at the Pennsylvannia State University USA, says ​ Not only must we supply proper amounts of certain minerals and protein a certain horse requires, but also be aware of energy in the diet and how it affects the horse’s metabolism. We must understand how the way we feed horses affects growth, maintenance and performance. ​ The easiest and best way to know what your horse’s intake is deficient in, or what is excessive and out of balance to achieve true balance, is to test the forage, what your horses eat. It’s not an exact science but the best approach we have in terms of accuracy. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Other methods have been suggested as viable for working out what is deficient in the intake, what is in excess and what needs to be supplemented. The following are not designed for this, the following links will take you to more information: Hair testing Blood testing Soil testing

Below is a list of informative articles and common Equine health problems The art and science off feeding horses. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/the-art-and-science-of-feeding-a-horse What is a balanced diet for horses? www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/what-is-a-balanced-diet-for-horses How Much Feed and What to Feed Your Horse www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/how-much-feed-and-what-to-feed-your-hors Mineral Interactions. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/mineral-interactions Feeding for Hoof Health www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/feeding-for-hoof-health Heading 1 Feed your Horse Salt. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/feed-your-horse-salt Minerals and Coat Bleaching. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/minerals-and-coat-bleaching Iron Overload by DR Eleanor Kellon VMD. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/iron-overload-by-dr-eleanor-kellon-vmd Saccharmyces Products- Which one do i feed. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/saccharomyces-products-which-one-do-i-fe Linseed is it safe? www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/linseed-is-it-save Is Lucerne Evil? www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/is-lucerne-evil Pasture Laminitis. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/pasture-laminitis Grass and Pasture in New Zealand www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/grass-pasture-new-zealand Paddock Paradise. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/paddock-paradise Allergies www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/signs-and-management Behaviour and Attitude. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/behaviour-and-attitude Broodmare. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/broodmare Problems with coughs and colds. https://www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/problems-with-coughs-and-colds Feeding for Weight Gain. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/feeding-for-weigh-gain Foaling & Orphan Foals. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/foaling-or Foot Abscess. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/foot-abces Hydration. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/hydration Joints. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/joints Mud Fever. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/mud-fever Care of the Older Horse. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/care-nutrition-for-the-older-horse Internal Parasites. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/internal-parrasites Thrush. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/thrush Selenium. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/selenium Sheath & Udder. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/sheath-udder-cleaning Equine Vital Signs. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/equine-vital-signs Wounds. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/wounds Equine Tendon Injuries. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/tendon-injuries Mycotoxins and Binders. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/toxin-binders-for-horses-and-why 30 facts about your horses feet. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/30-facts-about-horses-feet Effects of sun on Equine skin. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/effects-of-sun-on-equine-skin Horses gut health-the what,why. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/horses-gut-health-the-what-why Kelp for horses & dogs. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/kelp-for-horses-dogs Carbohydrates in grass and effects on behaviour. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/carbohydrates-in-grass EPSM/PSSM/tying up. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/epsm-pssm-tying-up Stringhalt: What to feed. www.hvhoofandequinehealthcareproducts.com/stringhalt-what-to-feed