(Image credit: credit unknown)
Dr Tom Shurlock of British Horse Feeds shares a few simple rules for feeding the laminitic horse or pony:
- Keep the daily intake of sugar/starch below 10%
- Don’t over feed protein. A daily intake of 12% will suffice, even for the most active animal
- Avoid raw starch. Bruising or crushing does not markedly improve digestibility, but micronizing does
- Think about which fibre alternatives should be used. Unmolassed sugar beet, alfalfa, soya hulls and oat hay give good VFA proportions, with unmolassed sugar beet giving the lowest lactic level
- Avoid too high an intake of fructans. We know about spring grass, but winter grass, if close cropped, can have higher levels as fructans are stored at the base of the grass stem, in preparation for spring. Don’t fertilise a pasture but have it soil tested and dressed to correct any mineral and pH imbalances
- Feed a product approved by The Laminitis Trust, such as Speedi-Beet or Fibre-Beet. These have been researched to encompass the above points and will help maintain the correct hindgut environment, ensuring bacteria that can cause harm will not be able to grow
-
‘It will show which horses truly have their basics in place’: what the grand prix dressage changes really ask of competitorsStretch on a long rein in trot has been added to the grand prix, as part of a swathe of changes to FEI dressage tests
-
Is this the LA28 Olympic champion? British four-star horse sold as potential championship ride for Michael JungFiona Kashel hopes the 10-year-old Monbeg Cazador will win gold at the Los Angeles Olympics with his new rider, Germany’s Michael Jung
-
When forage runs short: smart, safe ways to keep your horse thriving this winterIf you're concerned about a lack of forage this winter, Dengie is here to help
-
What does five-star parasite control look like?Five-star event rider Sarah Bullimore has trusted Westgate Labs with her horses’ parasite control for more than 20 years. The same evidence-based approach is available to every horse owner.
-
Help your horse stay in the zone this competition season -
Performance begins long before the start box: preparing horses for peak performance with Harry Meade -
Don’t forget this key ingredient in a stress-free show day -
Is your horse trying to tell you something? -
The three most-common horse insurance questions answered -
Get ahead of spring and summer respiratory resultsSponsor Content created with
