Latest News

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.

Itchy horse sweet itch mallenders sallenders

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.

What is good equine welfare Simple Systems

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.