Are you feeding too much?

Fitzsimons Equestrian consistently produce quality equines to high levels of competition, fuelled with Healthy Horses Inside Out, a forage foundation and clean simplified feeding.

Did you know that your horses forage provides many equines (especially ponies, easy keepers, horses in no to light work) with all the calories they need. (Pasture, hay, haylage and chaff).  Our primary carrier base feed works perfectly for these types of horses combined.  The hard keepers, breeding, growing and hard-working horses may need a higher protein and caloric bucket feed if their forage is not meeting their energy needs to maintain body condition or gain weight.

Did you know that roughly 95% of NZ forage already contains excess Iron and Manganese.  Commercial feeds and most supplements cater for the blanket approach and do not take into account these excesses in forage.  It’s not uncommon for a horse to consume x4 (can be up to x10) its Iron and/or Manganese needs daily from forage alone.  Horses can handle this excess as long as the corresponding minerals that balance to them are provided in adequate/higher levels - Copper & Zinc. Think seesaw.  Metabolic equines are very susceptible to an Copper, Iron, Zinc and Manganese imbalance.

Too much Iron or Manganese?

It blocks copper and zinc which is critical for hooves, skin and immune health.

Excess Calcium?

It interferes with magnesium and phosphorus which affects nerves, muscles and bones.

Your horse deserves more than guesswork.  Most feeds and balancers take a blanket approach - a little bit of everything, just in case.  But when it comes to minerals, more isn’t better. It’s imbalanced.

We provide mineral balancers that are precise, balanced and actually support long term health.  All our mineral formulations (HHIO Vital, HHIO Foundation & HHIO Performance) are specifically tailored to address this issue.

Stop feeding blindly. Start feeding smart.

So, what do Fitzsimmons Equestrian feed their horses?

Bucket Feed:

40g HHIO Performance

Copra, Lucerne Chaff, fresh crushed Linseed + Salt (Base feed)

Lupins & crushed Peas (soaked) (great sources of more horse appropriate protein, fibre + calories)

For the harder working/keeper they get additional boiled barley and HHIO Support

For long trips and events such as HOY, HHIO Support to help combat higher stress levels

For any that are affected by seasonal variations - HHIO Assist

Forage: Grass and mostly meadow hay.  Lucerne hay if away or weather is freezing.

Yes! This is for horses in full work, eventing and dressage.

Are you feeding too much?

A horse that is nutritionally and minerally balanced performs better, holds their condition better and generally has a higher threshold of overall health and wellbeing and resistance to disease.

Here’s an example of typical mixed meadow hay with some Rye included.  It alone provides enough calories and protein for a 500kg horse in maintenance and in moderate work.  The moderate work may need additional bucket feed inclusions IF not eating the full amount of hay (16.5kg is a lot) and on a hay only diet BUT its likely a horse is on some form of grass which would then more than adequately cover their needs.  

If you are predominantly Rye and Clover hay and/or grass the energy and protein intake increases. Adding high starch, energy and protein feeds to your horses bucket feed can cause problems with this type of hay and/or grass - because your horse is getting all the energy and protein it already needs and you are providing extra in the bucket feed.  Rambunctious kid + heaps of lollies = disaster.

If your hay and/or grass is lesser quality (Brown top etc) then it is likely you will need higher levels of quality horse appropriate bucket feed for anything higher than maintenance/not in work.

Topping up nutrients of what is missing from your horses forage base is logical not mythical, trendy or frugal.  

Feed smarter. Not Harder.

Mixed Meadow Hay with Rye Profile:

Brown Top Hay Profile: