This week, Simple System's Nutrition Manager, Ellen Lincoln BSc (Hons)., MSc., attended the National Equine Forum - an event that brings together professionals from across the entire breadth of the equine industry to discuss topical affairs and concerns; what has gone well in the last 12 months, and what we need to do better in the future.
The 2025 Forum started off with an incredibly relevant session entitled ''The Importance of Feed & Forage to All''. It was great to hear guest speakers highlight the important role the feed industry plays in producing successful horses and that feeding really is a team effort - bringing together the knowledge and expertise of nutritionists, growers, manufacturers and marketers to ensure quality feed provision. There was also a mention of gratitude to those companies who go above and beyond to meet the necessary legislation for responsibly providing feed that is safe, honest, traceable and legal. Simple System are proud members of the BETA NOPS scheme, which was commended as being the ''gold standard'' to look out for when choosing your horse feed supplier for competition and leisure horses alike.
As well as feed safety, the value of forage as the foundation of our horse's health, behaviour and welfare is something we can certainly resonate with, as was the suggestion to feed the horses carefully evolved digestive system with quality forage - and easily digestible fibre. After all, Simple System have championed forage feeds for horses for almost 30 years!
There was a great question raised to the panel about the usefulness of hay replacement mashes and whether they are ''like for like'' nutritionally with hay. Due to the careful way our best-selling HayCare is grown specially for us, we can confidently answer yes to this, but it is always worth checking the ingredients and analysis of other feeds and asking whether they would be nutritionally appropriate when fed in large hay replacing quantities.
The session closed with a great discussion on what it means to be an equine nutritionist and the level of trust necessary between owner and advisor. Whilst feed production is highly regulated, you may be surprised to learn that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist! The industry is taking very welcome steps to better regulate this with a new accreditation scheme which will launch later in the year.
Stepping away from nutrition, it was also great to hear the latest research and developments into our understanding of Equine Grass Sickness, risk factors for Atypical Myopathy, what we can do as horse owners to improve disease surveillands and the continued hope that a digitised equine identification system will be developed.
Finally, there was a very interesting session on the benefit of Equine Assisted Services / Learning Therapies and an open panel discussion on the work our charities are doing collectively to look after equines found abandoned or mistreated in the United Kingdom. Ellen (pictured with Redwings Indigo) says ''As the proud rehomer of a rescue horse and the partner of someone who works for an equine charity, I am forever in awe of the work they do and how they deal with the upsetting cases they have to deal with. May we all hug our own horses a little tighter tonight.''
In conclusion, yesterday's National Equine Forum offered an excellent opportunity to remain up to date with the latest industry issues and concerns so that we here at Simple System Horse Feeds can continue to promote not just species appropriate feeding, but also responsible equine management.
If you'd like to discuss your horses individual dietary needs, Ellen and the Feed Line are always happy to help. Please feel welcome to get in touch over the phone on 01728 604 008, or by email to info@simplesystem.co.uk.