The Vet's Perspective: Common winter ailments and how to prevent them
We asked Norfolk based practice, Westover Large Animal Vets Ltd., to share the most common health concerns they encounter in equines during the winter months...
Cutting costs without cutting equine welfare
Keeping horses is expensive - no one can argue with that! But there are ways we may be able to save a little money without reducing the quality of care we offer our equine friends. Read on to learn more...
Building up to Bonfire Night
Most equestrians dread Bonfire Night as it can be a particularly stressful time for both horses and horse owners alike. With just over 2 weeks to go, now is the time to prepare.
When should I wean my foal?
At this time of year, you may be looking to buy a foal and experience the joy of bringing on a youngster. Although it is traditional to wean at 6 months, this is actually too early.
Helping horses through seasonal coat changes
Horses are now well into their ‘Blackberry coats’. There is an old saying that “no horse looks well at blackberry time” as the blackberries often appear when our horses are setting their winter coats, losing their summer dapples and the cooler weather means there is less goodness in the grass.
Now is the time to address your horse's weight
We've had numerous calls to the Feed Line about underweight horses this month. It will always be easier to put weight on before a cold spell hits, so now is the time to make any dietary adjustments.
Feel good factor or food intolerance?
As it is with humans, horses are all individuals. Certain horses can react to certain feeds and as owners may perceive that these feeds cause their horse to “hot up” or are even allergic/sensitive to the feed. This feeling can be amplified further when we see 'trends' come and go on social media - we've probably all been there at some point over something, even if we don't care to admit it.
Ragwort - or not?
The majority of horse owners are aware of what ragwort looks like, along with the dangers it presents for our horses. So much so we spend a good amount of time and effort digging it up from our paddocks before it sets to seed. But what about plants that look a bit like ragwort?
The Dinky Ponies feature on the BBC
Watch the Dinky Ponies on BBC Newsround. We are proud to support the Dinky Ponies who are exclusively fed Simple System feeds.
Why soak feeds?
The natural diet of horses is grazing. Fresh forage is 70 – 80% water, so horses actually eat a lot of water. Even on very wet grazing, they still need to drink as well, as the food needs to be mixed with plenty of fluid to get through the small intestine’s 20 metres or so and numerous curves.
Protein in the equine diet
The most important nutrient of all is protein. Every cell in the body is made from protein. Horses’ requirement for protein varies depending on their age, reproductive status, age, work and condition.
Ragwort in horse pasture
Ragwort - a menacing paddock plant!
The dreaded ragwort is flowering now and is easy to spot. It is also starting to go to seed, so any not removed posthaste will spread through its wind-borne seeds.
FAQs about Sainfoin for horses
We've worked hard to ensure that sainfoin is available for horses since before the launch of Sainfoin Pellets in 2016. So, what is sainfoin, how can it benefit horses?
Read answers to our most frequently asked questions or watch our video as Simple System Director of Nutrition, Jane van Lennep, tells us more.
We're Hiring | Delivery Driver
We are seeking a delivery driver on a permanent, full-time basis.
The Company | Established in 1996, Simple System Horse Feeds have gone against the grain in the equine feed market, creating an entire feeding system from the perspective of what is right for horses. We are a small, close-knit team and we pride ourselves on our customer service. We comply to stringent feed quality control via the NOPS scheme and are proud members of BETA, UFAS and are also Vegan registered.
Sainfoin, a sustainable crop?
As more farmers move toward more eco-friendly, regenerative and sustainable farming practices, the 'forgotten forage' that is sainfoin, is starting to see a resurgence. Here are just a few reasons why...
Hot weather tips for horses
The higher temperatures we are currently experiencing in the UK can cause havoc for some of our horses. Older horses, those that have underlying health conditions, heavier horses and those who have held coats can be particularly affected.
Our top tips are...
Important Product Update | HayCare
We have recently transitioned from using 2023 harvested Timothy grass to 2024 harvested Timothy grass in the production of our HayCare pellets.
We have received feedback that some customers are finding the first of these new batches, SSB-20240516-001 and SSB-20240531-001, are taking longer the usual 15-30 minutes to soak. Recipients of this email communication have received stock from an affected batch.
Fibre or forage?
We all know horses are best served with a high fibre diet, but is all fibre the same? You’ve guessed, it isn’t!
Fibre is the structural part that holds plants together – its skeleton, if you will. The older the plant, the stronger its fibre needs to be, but the stronger it is, and as result, for the animals that eat it or try to, the less goodness can be extracted from it.
10 years as Simple System brand ambassadors
We are celebrating a very special anniversary as today we mark 10 years of officially supporting Team Lamy Wright!
Here's a video from the archives, shot back in 2017. Martin Wright (with the help of Ehren and Janine), explains why the team switched their horses to a Simple System diet all those years ago.
Brewers' Yeast for Horses
Yeast is an amazing feed for horses (and humans too!). This cream-coloured microscopic organism grows almost everywhere and is responsible for the bloom on fruit such as grapes and sloes in the hedgerows. It is used commercially to brew beer, ferment wine and in bread making.
When it comes to feeding horses, yeast is very nutritious as it is an excellent source of B group vitamins and high-quality protein as well as a range of trace elements.
The making of Meadow Forage Pellets
The story of Meadow Forage Pellets... At Simple System, we are constantly looking at what will further improve conditions for our horses whilst being very aware of environmental issues. For instance, we try as far as possible to reduce food miles by making the most of the skills and resources of our trusted UK growers.
Meadow Forage Pellets - FAQs
We are excited to introduce our NEW Meadow Forage Pellets | A nutritious blend of easily digestible forages, grown together, to increase variety in the diet.
Here are our most frequently asked questions about our unique new horse feed...
New feed coming soon...
A unique blend of easily digestible forages, grown together, to increase variety in the diet.
How to feed Simple System Lucie Chop
How to feed LucieChop - our uncoated 100% pure lucerne (alfalfa) chop, rich in protein and calcium.
LucieChop is suitable for...
- Supporting muscles & bones
- Feeding dampened
- Improving stamina
Chops / chaffs for variety in the horses diet
Variety in the diet is important for horses - just as it is for humans! When choosing your chop / chaff, consider the whole of the diet. For example, if your horse has predominantly grass feeds, such as hay or soaked grass pellets, choose a lucerne chop for variety to support those good gut microbes.
Lucerne chops
At Simple System, we use the British term lucerne for this amazing forage others also use the American term, alfalfa. As our lucerne is entirely GM free and produced specifically for horses, we feel it has different properties from that grown in America.
Target Feeding
With the competition season in full swing you may be looking for ways to improve your horse’s performance. Offering a Target Feed may just be the ticket...
Spring grass, summer grass, mature grass - is it all the same?
At Simple System we think grass can be great for all horses, but before those with lamineits stop reading let’s clear up some common misconceptions...
Is lucerne / alfalfa good for horses with ulcers?
Lucerne (known as alfalfa in America) is an amazing forage, known in different languages as ‘Prince of Feeds’ and ‘Best of the Best’. Lucerne has been grown for horses for around 5,000 years so has stood the test of time and there are many benefits of feeding lucerne to horses, but in particular those prone to gastric ulcers…
Showcase your UK rare breed!
Help us to showcase our UK Native breeds. This week the Rare Breeds Survival Trust published the 2024-25 Watchlist. To the surprise of many the Section B Welsh Pony was added to the 'At Risk' category due to a decline in stud book registrations. We are lucky to have such a diverse and versatile range of natives in the UK and it is a real concern to have another breed added to the already extensive 'At Risk' and 'Priority' watchlists.
Feeding young horses
Young horses rarely follow the theoretical growth curves. They have growth spurts which can coincide with spring grass coming through, or coincide with nothing in particular! Spring grass is great for supporting growth but when there is not the high quality of grazing available to support them, growing young horses can suddenly look very scrawny. They will need additional feeding, but especially with growing horses, it is important to keep sugar and starch levels low, as these can be associated with developmental issues in bones and joints. Plenty of protein and calcium are really important and forage sources will ensure good levels of quality fibre to support gut health.
Diversity
It is said that variety is the spice of life and certainly the more we look, the more evidence we find that diversity and variety is good in all sorts of ways.
Horses evolved on a very diverse diet, with a wide range of grasses, legumes, forbs and herbs available, not to mention shrubs and small trees to browse on as the need arose. Their natural diet varied from season to season and even day to day. Choice, they had aplenty! Once we came along and the grazing and hay became predominantly ryegrass and the “short” feed the processed by-products of the human food industry, it must all have seemed pretty poor by comparison. Taped off paddocks with no access to hedges and over-grazed grass is a very limited substitute for plains abundant with diverse plant forms.
Atypical Myopathy in horses
Sycamore saplings have started springing up. They can be extremely dangerous for horses and ought to be removed from horse paddocks. Ingestion of any part of the sycamore, even seemingly dead looking 'helicopters' or leaves, can cause atypical myopathy - a disease that is often fatal to horses.
Whilst there are fewer sycamore saplings than in 2023 - where they were more widespread than we have ever noted before - they ought to be removed promptly as ingesting even just a small number can have devastating effects. We recommend fencing off affected areas, or better still remove your horses altogether. Even if you don't have sycamore trees in and around your paddocks, we would encourage you to give them a thorough checkover before you allow your horses to graze.
Easter Bank Holiday Opening Hours
Our office, warehouse and delivery service will be closed on the following dates:
- Good Friday
- Saturday 30th March
- Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday
Orders can be placed online throughout at www.simplesystem.co.uk
Laminitis questions answered
There are many common misconceptions about what causes laminitis and how it ought to be managed. Simple System Director of Nutrition, Jane van Lennep, answers some of the questions that are frequently asked by customers who contact our Feed Line.
My horse is currently on box rest with laminitis, but I am really upset they are not actually overweight. Why do they have laminitis? Laminitis is a metabolic disorder and many but not all, are overweight when they develop the condition. It is associated with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), pituitary pars intermnedia dysfunction (PPID) - more widely known as Cushing's disease, and insulin dysregulation. Once a horse has suffered a bout of laminitis, it takes less to trigger an episode. Stress can also be involved, so it is important to keep all horses, but especially susceptible ones, stress free. Company, access to enough forage and outside space are all important. Horses with fat pads, such as a cresty neck, are more susceptible, even if the rest is lean.
We're Hiring | Management Accountant
We are looking for an experienced and proactive individual to ensure smooth running of the company accounts and to provide accurate information for decision makers. The successful candidate will be highly organised with excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Experience of working within Xero, as well as accountacnt qualifications are desirable.
This is a hybrid role based from our Risby head office (IP28), covering 16 hours per week, ideally split over two working days.
Please click here for full details.
To apply please email your CV and covering letter to jobs@simplesystem.co.uk
Maintaining horse paddocks
Spring is on the way, so it's time to spruce up your pasture!
Before the grass starts growing too vigorously, it is a good time to reseed patches in your pasture that have been stripped or churned up over winter. A little extra grass seed spread in early spring can make a big difference to your grazing. There is not often any need to plough up and reseed from scratch - it is expensive, time consuming and can take even years to establish a strong turf.
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.
For many mares, short days, cooler temperatures and less available food cause their cycle to stop, then warm weather, longer days and growing grass trigger the process to start up again, until either she becomes in foal or winter comes again. Veterinary intervention can also control her cycle.
Ulcers in horses
The more we look, the more we find gastric ulcers in horses. 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. Overall, more horses now seem to have ulcers than don’t.
Ulcers are painful for the horse, can impact on their handlers or riders as they react to that pain, and may even reflect our failing to provide a calm and healthy environment. That's not to say all owners of horses with ulcers are to blame - but it really ought to trigger all of us to think more about how we can better care for our horse's needs. Ulcers should not be inevitable or acceptable.
Faecal Water Syndrome in Horses
What is Equine Faecal Water Syndrome?
Faecal Water Syndrome (FWS) refers to the passing of excess free liquid before, during or after the passing of droppings. It can also happen independently of defecation, where no physical droppings are passed. The droppings themselves may appear quite normally formed or may also be quite loose. In some horses, the issue is persistent whilst in others it can be seasonal or sporadic and entirely random.