With the increase in fuel added to general cost increases, it is safe to bet many are feeling the pinch to keep feeding our equine family to a high standard without sacrificing quality.

What can you do to reduce costs but keep a balanced diet

Most people we work with over supplement and double or triple up on nutrients that are not needed.

Feed smarter - not harder!

Feed quality forage. Forage is hay, haylage (drier type and not suitable for all equines), chaff and hay pellets.

Did you know - that typically equines up to the level of light work, get the majority of energy and protein needs met from forage alone?! Especially our easy keeper friends.  Spend your hard earned money on good hay rather than a multitude of supplements or feeds.

Feed one supplement to recommended rates.  Not all supplements are created equal. Many contain Iron, Manganese, Potassium (which are in excess in forage) or contain nutrients that are high in these; and are very poorly balanced to NZ conditions OR are poorly balanced even within the mineral ratios in the formulation.

Ratios do matter.

Did you know - a medium adult horse in medium work requires just 400mg of Iron per day? And that forage will adequately, if not excessively provide this without any added in bucket feeds?  Some hard feeds can provide 500mg of added Iron. We don’t get flustered with the Iron Overload debacle but aim to address the Ratio’s which is the bigger issue at hand.

Feed salt.  Many do not fully appreciate or understand the significance of providing adequate salt to their equines diet.  In terms of a cost to benefit ratio, it would be hard to think of another nutrient with such a low cost and so easily supplied.

Did you know - that as little as 2-3% dehydration can lead to a 10% drop in performance.  A horse to maintain BASE sodium chloride levels needs 10g per salt per 100kg of weight.  This is absolute minimum supplementation to keep your horse from falling into deficiency, and that does not allow for ANY loss of sweat loss!.

Feed a very simple base feed to get your supplement in.  You can’t go wrong with our well tested economical combo of chaff + 1 cup of Copra meal ($40 odd a bag) or Rice Bran ($70 odd a bag), along with salt and mineral supplement.  Add extra calories or protein IF your horse is in light condition, in medium to heavy work or is breeding. We have great clean feeding options here.  You may find the simple addition of some drier haylage (if appropriate) together with normal hay is all that is required.  Or simply swapping your dry chaff for a fermented timothy or lucerne may be enough to bump up the calories.

If your horse is on a largely quality grass diet, they are getting the best omega version possible for horses.  For those on a largely hay only diet or on crappy grass then they will be lower in omega 3.  The best cost per dose option is fresh crushed linseed.  If  you are time poor then 50ml cold pressed flax seed oil or 100g Flax Flake (maintenance level) is your next best option.  Yes, they cost more but, you can not but a price on quality and the health benefits it has for your horse vs polyunsaturated seed oils which are highly processed and extremely high in omega 6’s.  If you have a horse with issues such as allergies - correct omega balance is even more important.

Did you know - Cold pressed flaxseed oil has a really high calorie density in a low dose and Flaxseed flax doubles as a great protein (low starch horse appropriate) and phosphorus source.  If your horse is accepting you may be able to feed just chaff + flax flake.  

DETOX THOSE LIVERS!!!  Something we have advocated for since forever and can not stress enough!!. We used to recommend annually but ideally each change of season as the level of pollutants continue to increase in our world. Our horses (and ourselves) are assaulted with toxins day and night - in the air, in the feed, medications & vaccinations, lotions, potions and sprays we put on them, the micro-plastics in their covers, spray drift, herbicides, pesticides and EMF’s!  A healthy liver keeps a horses metabolic powerhouse and detoxifying centre clean.  

Did you know - the liver is responsible for over 1500 functions?!! It converts nutrients from the diet into energy, filters toxins and waste from the blood, produces bile for digestion and stores essential vitamins, minerals and glycogen.  It is an overlooked area of equines that are hard to manage a healthy weight.