Feeding Questions Answered

Why does my horse need a low starch diet?

Carbohydrates such as starch are often used to provide glycogen, or energy, for the muscles. However, the horse evolved to source its energy from forages that are naturally very low in starch. High starch diets can upset the sensitive digestive tract.

Why aren't there any vitamins and minerals listed on your feed bags?

When you look on ingredients labels, there is often an impressive list of added vitamins and minerals. You will not see this on Simple System feeds because we do not add any and do not need to! Forages can naturally supply all that our horses need.

I have a horse prone to laminitis. How much sugar is in Simple System feeds.

For each product the sugar levels are displayed on the Simple System website. These are displayed as a range, or 'less than' percentage. For example our low calorie Lucie Fibre Cubes are <5% sugar.

Feeding Questions Answered - Personal Advice

My horse is prone to tying up and I have been told to give them a high oil diet. What else can I do to support them?

When horses are prone to tying up, it is important to keep their metabolism off the anaerobic, glucose pathway as this results in the formation of lactic acid, too much of which will trigger a tying up episode.

My horse has liver damage. How should I feed them?

The liver is the power house of the body carrying out a lot of essential roles in metabolism, detoxification and energy production. Reducing the amount of work a damaged liver has to do gives your horse the best chance of survival and recovery.

My overweight horse always seems hungry. What can I do?

The overweight horse needs a low “calorie” or digestible energy intake but does still need plenty of bulk fibre and quality protein.

How can I best manage my young horse to ensure they have the healthiest joints?

Early feeding and management can have long lasting impact on the health, soundness and longevity of our horses. Choosing high quality forages ensures they reach their full potential, without risking damage to their immature joints.

Can I feed Simple System feeds to my Donkey?

Q. Can Simple System feeds be fed to Donkeys? A. Yes - our forage feeds are ideal for donkeys!

My horse is a very good doer; what can I do to help prevent weight gain?

We often have horse owners contact us when they are concerned about their horses’ weight – and having too much of it! Many people start by restricting grazing but increasing stabling can have the opposite effect.

Why is MetaSlim high in protein?

Why is MetaSlim high in protein? It’s all a matter of scale. Dark chocolate is good for you: it has all sorts of antioxidants and wonderful condensed tannins. That is, one or two squares are good for you. Not the whole bar in one go!