This month on the Feed Line we have had several people contact about their horses’ condition. It is normal and good if horses drop a little weight as they will gain weight with the grass. It is a worry if they get too light. Visible ribs and prominent hips suggest a horse could be underweight. If eating insufficient hay over winter, that gradual weight loss could become too much, so basics first – make sure your horse is getting enough hay or haylage to keep them filled up. For more serious weight loss, include soaked forage pellets with more feed value than hay. LucieNuts, Red Bag Grass Pellets, Sainfoin Pellets are all good. For even more of a boost, feed TopGain. For more suggestions specific to your horse, contact the Feed Line on 01728 604 008 or info@simplesystem.co.uk.
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...
Horses’ teeth change throughout their lives - they are continually growing and continually wearing, as they chew and grind their grazing and forage.
Grass has the potential to grow all year, which is different from many other plants. Certain things are necessary for this growth, but if they are not met, the grass will be dormant, waiting for conditions to improve.Â