Why are there so many acorns this year?
Every few years, nature produces an abundance of fruits, nuts and seeds. This is called a mast year and this year, 2025, is one.
Horses hormonal changes during autumn
Mares are seasonally polyoestrous which means that they have multiple reproductive cycles during spring and summer. Generally, mares will stop coming in season once the weather gets cooler, the grass declines and the days are shorter.
Introducing Stud Balance +
Introducing Stud Balance +, a specialist forage balancer providing optimal nutritional support for broodmares, stallions and growing youngstock.
Notes from BEVA Congress 2025
At Simple System we are always keen to expand our knowledge so we last week we attended the 3 day BEVA - The British Equine Veterinary Association Congress in Birmingham.
Coping with a UK Hay Shortage
With forage yields reported to be down by up to 50% this year, hay may well be in short supply this winter.
Why is protein important in the horse's diet?
Protein. We should never underestimate the importance of this vital nutrient. It’s essential for muscle, skin, bones, internal organs, blood – just about any part of you or your horse needs protein!
Simple System Horse Feeds Nominated for Two Top Industry Awards
Simple System Horse Feeds are thrilled to be finalists two of the most coveted awards in the equestrian industry this year.
Analysis of 2025 hay
2025 has been a particularly challenging year for farmers and many of us are aware there is likely to be a hay shortage as yields have been markedly down due to the prolonged hot and dry summer.
Blackberry coats as Autumn approaches
With all the warm and dry weather we have had, it is hard to remember that we are fast approaching autumn. The horses are getting their “blackberry” coats.
Do horses have nutritional wisdom?
Nutritional wisdom could be summed up as knowing what you need to eat, and eating it. This might be the basic needs of nutrition in terms of calories, protein and so on, or it could be knowing what is needed to support good health.
Have you spotted Birdsfoot trefoil in your paddock?
This is common Birdsfoot trefoil, although it is sometimes referred to as 'eggs and bacon'. It's an attractive wildflower, native to the UK, and one that can be of benefit to horses...
Why are we so hard on ragwort?
We do bang on about ragwort! It is an excellent plant for pollinators and the main food source for the caterpillars of the cardinal moth. It has a long flowering period, which means it is supplies nectar for a lot of insects, for a long time. Although it is poisonous, it is not palatable, so why are horse owners so keen to get rid of it from their pastures?
We are what we eat...
We are increasingly aware that ultra processed food is bad for us and that we should eat seasonal, fresh and local food. But what about our horses? They too will have reduced health when they have ultra processed food.
Why keeping sugar and starch levels low is not just advised for Laminitics
Owners of metabolic horses and ponies (those with EMS, IR, ID or PPID]) and those prone to laminitis, are well versed in keeping the diet low in sugar and starch. Most will work towards a cut off of 10% combined sugar and starch, often referred to as the Non-Structural Carbohydrate or NSC level.
What is sainfoin?
We are frequently asked, “What is Sainfoin?’ - whether it be out of interest’s sake, having come across it on our website, heard it mentioned on BBC Countryfile, or whether it has been specifically recommended for your horse. Sainfoin offers a wealth of benefits and is a unique forage type we are very proud to champion here at Simple System.
Rain after drought, what happens to your horse's grass
Rain coming after a prolonged dry spell can be a shock, welcome or otherwise. The grass will readily welcome the rain and with decent rainfall, the grass reawakens and begins to grow again – sometimes very rapidly.
Lack of rain in the UK and how this can affect horses
Long, hot, dry weather may be wonderful for us during our leisure time, but the driest spring on record has had some serious implications for all connected with the land - including our horses. The dry spell looks likely to continue into drought. Read on to see how you can help manage your horse during this time.
Sainfoin - a BBC Countryfile favourite forage?
For the second consecutive Sunday, presenter Adam Henson has discussed the use of sainfoin during Countryfile. Those that know Simple System well, know that sainfoin is one of our favourite forages for horses - and that we offer an extensive range of sainfoin feeds.
Parasites in Horses - Understanding Worms
With anthelmintic resistance on the rise, horse owners worry about parasitic worms in their horses and most of us have a variety of strategies to control them. If we can understand the worms’ life cycle, we can be more effective at managing them.
Feeding the broodmare and foal
''Feed the mare to feed the foal'' - wise words from many an experienced breeder. In nature, foals would usually be born in the spring - the time of year where the grazing offers the most nutrition. In the UK, many breeders try to emulate this in order to give their foals the best possible start.
Dry ground, short grazing and an increased risk of sand colic
Independant equine vet, Dr Anna Michelle (Shelley) Cook, of Little Rock Equine Vets in Staffordshire, tells us more about sand colic in horses, ponies and donkeys, and importantly, how feeding can help prevent it.
Vaccinating against strangles - a video diary from Simple Systems Nutrition Manager
Strangles is the UK's most common infectious equine disease. This week is Strangles Awareness Week (SAW) and Simple System's Nutrition Manager, Ellen, along with her rescue horse, Redwings Indigo, are proud campaign ambassadors.
How can you help hedgerows in your horse's environment
Horses love hedges! They have many benefits, from providing shelter, to offering environmental enrichment and dietary supplementation.
What is making your horse itch?
There are lots of reason why horses itch and scratch. Diet can be a factor, whether the cause in an inherited condition or a reaction to certain feeds. Inherited conditions, such as sweet itch, mallenders and sallenders, for instance, will never go away, but can be less impactful with adjustments to diet and management.
Managing Horses with Metabolic Issues
Describing a horse as “metabolic” is a commonly used umbrella term – it may mean that they have Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) specifically or, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)...
What is good equestrian welfare?
My niece came home from primary school with a work sheet about animals. A picture of a horse looking over a stable door was captioned “I am a horse. I live in a stable and I eat oats and hay.’’ Oh dear! Whilst for many horses this is a sad reality, it is very far from delivering good welfare.
Feeding the Competition or Performance Horse - Recording of a live Q&A Session
Topics covered include: -
Staying competition safe and legal - Respiratory Health - Keeping Horses Hydrated - Managing Dietary Changes - Reducing the Risks of Colic
Super Fibres in Horse Feed - what are they and why should we feed them?
Plants use the energy of the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water to simple sugars. These sugars are then the building blocks for the plant to make whatever it needs. By combining many sugar units, they can make fibre...
Managing Director of Simple System, Oli Harris, is set to run the London Marathon
Simple System’s Managing Director, Oli Harris, is swapping his steel toe caps for trainers this April, as he runs the TCS London Marathon in aid of Retina UK - the only UK charity dedicated solely to working with inherited sight loss.
MetaSlim FAQs
MetaSlim - is Simple System's carefully formulated pelleted balancer for those prone to metabolic issues and laminitis.
Here are our most frequently asked questions about MetaSlim for horses:
Headshaking in Horses
Headshaking in horses is a distressing condition, which is typified by a sudden head movement in a vertical plane rather than what we would normally consider a shake of the head, is due to pain in the trigeminal nerve of the face. For some unknown reason, this nerve fires off at certain triggers, causing sudden pain to the horse.
When will the spring grass start coming through?
When will the spring grass start coming through? Now we are past the spring solstice, days are longer than nights, it feels as if spring is here, but nothing seems to be growing much! Horses out in fields will nip off the new growth of grass as soon as it appears, so just looking at the pasture does not always tell the whole story.
Forage first at the National Equine Forum
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.
What are foal slippers?
What are foal slippers? If you have seen them, consider yourself very lucky. These strange looking things are completely normal and they play a very important part in the birthing process.
These foal slippers, or eponychium, are rubbery capsules that completely cover the hooves of the newborn foal.
Do horses always need vitamin and mineral supplements?
Do horses always need vitamin and mineral supplements?
The horse’s natural diet is forage. Their daily greens are full of vitamins and minerals, the oils they contain are high in essential omega 3 and the fibre, especially in younger plant material, is easily utilised by the amazing gut microbes.
What can I feed instead of Meadow Forage Pellets?
Providing a variety of forages to support the gut microbiome is beneficial to our horses. To increase diversity in the diet, we suggest feeding different forage types for your pellet, chop and balancer. An example Feed Plan suitable for most horses would be: Sainfoin Pellets (sainfoin), Perform & Shine (Cocksfoot and Timothy grass) and Simple Balance + (lucerne).
An important update about Meadow Forage Pellets...
Since their launch in May 2024, the popularity of Meadow Forage Pellets has exceeded our expectations. As such, we expect upcoming shortages until our new crop is harvested in late summer.
Read on for alternative product suggestions or contact the Feed Line for tailored advice on 01728 604 008.
Conditioning horse feed | Perfect partners for condition and top line...
Sometimes, our horses need a bit of a nutritional boost. Maybe they require extra during the winter, or when building up to a demanding competition season.
Time for TopGain and Perform & Shine.
Is ryegrass good for horses?
Ryegrass triggers more controversy than any other grass type.
At Simple System we choose not to use Ryegrass in our horse feeds, despite it being the most commonly used agricultural grass as it is easy to grow and very nutritious.