Seasonal articles

“Well, he’s a nice horse, but he would do better in the show ring if he had more condition”. This is something many horse owners hear when taking the first steps into unaffiliated showing, but how exactly should this be interpreted, and how do you achieve this without compromising your horse’s temperament?

Horses are individuals, which means that the amount of feed and type of feed that they require to maintain their bodyweight, level of condition and provide the type of ride required etc. will depend upon many factors including;

Should I add salt to my horse's feed? The importance of electrolytes in equine nutrition Q: I have heard riders say that they add salt to their horse’s feeds. Why do they do this, how much should you add, when should you add it - and is it just table salt, or do I need 'equestrian' salt? Knowing how to feed electrolytes, how much and which sort can be highly confusing as there are so many...

Horses are individuals, which means that the amount of feed and type of feed that they require to maintain their bodyweight, level of condition and provide the type of ride required etc. will depend upon many factors including;

With the cost of feed escalating, how can I make sure that my horse is getting all the nutrients and bulk that he needs without wasting money? The winter is always a difficult time for horse owners; the colder weather and lack of grazing  may result in a change of routine and an increased feed intake. This combined with the increasing cost of feed and the poor availability of forage means that...

The winter brings wind, rain, mud and often a sense of relief for those owners with horses prone to laminitis. However now is not the time to throw caution to the wind, the winter weather can bring just as many challenges when managing the laminitic horse or pony.

During the autumn when the nights start to draw in and the mornings are getting chillier it is wise to start to think about autumn feeding. The quality and quantity of grass at this time of year starts to drop so most horses and ponies will start to require some supplementary feed to help them maintain their condition going into the winter.

Horse owners competing regularly in competitions and those aiming to qualify for the Trailblazers Championships may be looking for that little bit extra out of their feed. Competition feeds that provide optimal energy from controlled sources such as fibre, starch and oil are ideal as they will provide the extra energy required without contributing to bad behaviour. Quality protein is also...

Laminitis does not only affect fat ponies; it can strike any horse or pony at any time. Don’t ignore the predisposing signs such as a cresty neck, sore feet or a change in hoof shape these are all warning signs to suggest it is time to take preventative action waiting until it happens could prove disastrous for your horse.

During this time of year we get numerous phone calls on the SPILLERS® Careline from owners, who are worried their horses have lost weight over the winter.   Read the winter feeding tips prepared by Isabel Stewart BSc (Hons), SPILLERS® Nutritionist to help you keep condition on your horse or pony this winter.

Now is the time of year to review your horses or ponies diet to take into account the natural changes in the weather and in the goodness of the grass. During the autumn, grass growth slows and its quality falls as it becomes higher in fibre, less digestible and has less vitamin activity.

Do you know how much the recommended amount of feed for your horse should be? If the answer is no, then you are not alone. Add this to the people who know the recommended amount but don’t feed it, and this describes most horse owners.

As we push our horses to the maximum in terms of athletic demand or technical excellence meeting their nutritional needs becomes increasingly important. Good feeding can’t make a slow horse faster, overcome lack of fitness or undo a bad ride, but bad feeding can quickly undo any horse, and a good diet can help a horse reach its potential. There are some very important considerations when putting...