Posted: 12th September 2023 | Back to news feed
The Impact of Proper Feeding on Equine Health
In a passionate endeavour to educate and empower, Hi-Form, experts in equestrian nutrition, delve into this crucial topic revealing the often-overlooked consequences of feeding horses improperly. This insightful journey explores the wide array of issues that can plague horses when subjected to an unhealthy diet, providing a wake-up call for horse owners everywhere.
Horses are inherently strict herbivores, a fact that underscores the importance of a balanced, natural diet consisting of grass, plants, and herbs. Unfortunately, many horse owners unknowingly subject their equine companions to diets filled with junk food (poor quality feeding), leading to a host of concerning symptoms often mistaken for normal traits. These symptoms can include anxiety, tension, a dull coat, dehydration, fatigue, swollen legs, tying up, gut ulceration, poor feed conversion, excitable behaviour, and poor hooves or heat in hooves.
Many commercial feeds on the market today contain questionable ingredients, such as by-products, genetically modified components, fillers, flavourings, chemicals, additives, sugar, salt, emulsifying agents, and artificial colourings, all of which can detrimentally affect a horse's metabolism. Cross-contamination is another hidden danger, as horse feeds produced in facilities that handle ruminant feeds may introduce toxic elements into a horse's diet. Even supplements and balancers, if made with subpar ingredients, can exacerbate these issues.
To transition a horse from a junk food diet to a natural feeding system, a gradual shift over a period of 10 days to 4 weeks is recommended. This gradual approach minimises the risk of colic, bloating, mood changes, laminitis, and stress, allowing the horse's taste buds to adapt and sugar levels to stabilise. To further support this transition, a detox can help remove toxins and provide a clean slate for the new feeding regimen.
The benefits of a natural feeding approach are profound. Horses can shed excess weight, revealing their true healthy form beneath layers of bloat-inducing junk food. With proper nutrition and exercise, horses can develop genuine muscle and topline, rather than relying on fatty deposits. Other improvements include decreased inflammation, increased energy, improved skin and coat quality, and robust hoof growth.
Daily supplements like Oxydane or LeisureVit can complement the natural feeding approach, enhancing overall health and well-being. These changes are not cosmetic; they emanate from within, ensuring year-round shine, healthy skin, and a sleek coat. Strong hooves, a well-functioning immune system, improved circulation, and a balanced gut microbiome are additional benefits.
For those with spooky or unpredictable horses, the gut/brain axis can be corrected through proper nutrition, leading to more consistent behaviour. BioEquus, when included in their natural diet, can further support gut health.
In conclusion, the transition from junk food to a natural feeding regimen is a transformative journey that can significantly enhance a horse's life and well-being. It's time to take action and provide our equine companions with the nutrition they deserve. The question is: What are you waiting for?
To find out more about Hi Form visit www.hiformequine.co.uk
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