Latest News

Understanding: Sand Colic

There are many causes of colic of which sand is just one. It occurs when ingested sand accumulates in the large intestine. It can caaltered ain a proportion of sand and these coarser, heavier grains sink to the lower parts of the large colon. Your vet can help with diagnosis as there is a distinct line across the top of the sand which can show up on an ultrasound, for instance, or they may be able to hear the grains of sand with a stethoscope.

Understanding: Laminitis

Despite being well into the summer months, laminitis cases are still high and we have been speaking to a number of concerned owners who are experiencing laminitis for the first time. The warm and wet weather we have forecast is likely to trigger further flushes in grass growth and so monitoring overweight or metabolic equines is essential. a weigh tape daily and record readings to quickly spot changes.

A history of sainfoin

Sainfoin is an ancient legume that has been grown by farmers across the world for hundreds of years. It is native to South Central Asia and was introduced into Europe in the 15th century. There is a record of sainfoin being imported into England from France in 1652. The name Sainfoin comes from the French saint foin or sain foin meaning "healthy hay". It was known that animals fed on sainfoin were healthier and put on weight more rapidly than on other forage. In the days when working horses were commonly used in agriculture, sainfoin was grown as a hay crop to provide high quality forage which would power the heavy working horses. In the south of England, one in seven fields used to be covered with sainfoin and it is still widely grown in northern Spain, Italy, Armenia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.

Hemlock or Cow Parsley?

Hemlock, a highly toxic plant, appears to be growing in abundance this year. Hemlock and cow parsley look similar. Although cow parsley is safe and tasty for our horses, hemlock is very poisonous and can be fatal even in small quantities.

There are some differences between the two plants, and hemlock can be identified in a few different ways.

Mares and their seasons

Mares are in season for around 6 days every 3 weeks from spring until autumn. Some mares will cycle all year. When they are cycling, their hormones are fluctuating and, in many mares, will trigger changes in behaviour. This is perfectly natural and something we should try to understand, not criticise her for. Mares are as entire as stallions, the difference being that their drive is periodic, not constant.

Weight gain for older horses

Autumn is with us, even if it is a bit uncertain! Horses are now well into their winter coats, the grass is going off and whilst this is a good time to let the weather take weight off our fatties, some horses are not fatties and need extra feed now to ensure they are able to go through winter without getting positively poor. Older horses, thin skinned ones and growing youngsters can all come into this category.

When can we start using new hay?

When old hay is running low, or is not very good quality, we will want to start on the new hay as soon as possible. But when can we start using new hay? Newly made hay continues to under-go changes even after it is baled. Traditionally, new hay was never fed to horses until Michaelmas at the end of September - when it was termed old hay! In practice and under pressure of supplies, do not feed new hay until it has been baled at least 6 weeks and even then, keep a close eye out for any signs your horse is not happy with it. This could be loose droppings, bloated and gassy or even colicky. Not all horses are affected by new hay, but it is not worth risking a gassy colic.

High calorie horse feed - TopGain

We have renamed our conditioning top up feed, TopNosh, to 'TopGain'. The name change reflects the use of TopGain - it is a high calorie feed, designed for horses that need to gain weight and condition. The product, price and ingredients remain the same. TopGain comes in a new bag which is 100% recyclable. Like our entire range, TopGain is 100% natural and cereal-free.

Can stress cause ulcers in horses?

With better diagnostic tools and techniques, ulcers are being more widely diagnosed. There are basically three types of stomach ulcers and horses can also get hind gut ulcers which are much harder to diagnose as they are out of reach of any endoscope.

• Stomach ulcers can be squamous, which occur in the upper part of the stomach that is not protected against acid. These may be a result of working a horse on an empty stomach.
• Mucosal or glandular ulcers occur in the lower part of the stomach and these are more associated with stress.
• Pyloric ulcers occur near the pyloric valve, between the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. These are more likely when the horse has been fasted for several hours.

What causes gastric ulcers in horses?

Gastric ulcers can be caused by a variety of issues relating to feed, management and workload. They are being increasingly diagnosed across all horse populations, including leisure horses, likely due to greater awareness of the signs and symptoms. There have also been developments in technology allowing vets to make earlier and more conclusive diagnoses.

What are the different types of gastric ulcers in horses?

There are three main types of gastric ulcers in horses:

1. Glandular or mucosal ulcers occur in the lower part of the stomach and are typically associated with stress.
2. Squamous ulcers occur on the upper part of the stomach and are mainly due to acid splash, such as working a horse on an empty stomach.
3. Pyloric ulcers occur at the junction with the duodenum (first part of the small intestine) and are more likely to occur when the horse has not had access to feed for several hours.

What is the best treatment for gastric ulcers in horses?

Treating a horse with ulcers is a four-fold approach: