In the wild, with unrestricted access to pasture, horses would spend the summer “stocking up” by eating nutritious grass - and plenty of it - to aid them in building a thick coat and laying down excess weight, even fat pads, to sustain them through the winter.
Horses are amazing – they have sleek summer coats and, in the winter, can grow a coat a bear would be proud of, but what is behind this incredible change?
What do we mean by the term ‘equine microbiome’? Our horse’s digestive tract is home to a vast ecosystem made up of trillions of microorganisms; bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protozoa which we collectively refer to as the microbiome.
Fibre — and a good variety of it — is essential for all equines, especially donkeys, who have evolved in harsh, arid conditions with little lush vegetation.
As our growers shut down their dryers for winter, we’re able to review what has been another challenging year for forage production.
''Please hold their breakfast - I'll be riding this morning''
It is commonplace for many yards to see variations of this message daily due to the traditional rule of feeding horses...
A perhaps lesser-known product in our range is the humble Eclipse Recovery - a naturally concentrated tonic feed that provides a powerful support package for our horse’s digestive tract and immune system.
To rug, or not to rug? A question horse owners have been asking for many years! Here is some useful guidance to help you consider your horse's individual needs this winter.
Simple System Horse Feeds will be operating as usual for much of the festive season. This includes our van delivery service.
We will however be closed on the following dates...
Quidding is a term used to describe when a horse drops 'balls' of partially masticated (chewed) long stem forage, although they can also quid chops / chaffs and even feed.