ASK THE EXPERT – HOW TO READ A HAY ANALYSIS

When it comes to feeding performance horses, forage isn’t just filler; it’s fuel. Any information about the quality of hay we are feeding is thus invaluable and can tell us about the true nutritional value of what our horses are eating and how balanced their overall diet is. This kind of information requires a hay analysis,…

BylizzieDecember 22, 20250Comments

Horse Health

JUST A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR

Helps the medicine go down… When your vet gives medication to put in your horse’s feed, they are hoping that you will do the following: Mix it thoroughly with a feed that your horse enjoys; Ensure your horse eats the entire dose in one sitting with little to no waste Continue to monitor…

BylizzieNovember 1, 20250Comments

Horse Health

ASKHQ: DENTAL ISSUES

Q: My older horse is starting to have problems with his teeth, which means he’s losing weight. How can I improve his condition? A: Chewing is essential as the start of the digestive process and influences the whole chain reaction of processes that follow it. Chewing not only breaks down fibre and releases other nutrients,…

BylizzieMay 8, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Health

FIBRE CAN CHANGE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR

By Hannah Botha, MSc Equine Nutriiton Stereotypic behaviours are actions that are repeated without any apparent or obvious purpose or function. These behaviours involve a need-related drive that develops if an environment has inadequate opportunities for satisfying the need the horse is trying to fill. Once established, these behaviours may become a need in and of…

BylizzieMay 7, 20230Comments

Ask HQ Horse Health Q&A

ADMINISTERING MEDICATION

When your vet gives medication to put in your horse’s feed, they are hoping that you will do the following: Mix it thoroughly with a feed that your horse enjoys; Ensure your horse eats the entire dose in one sitting with little to no waste Continue to monitor how well your horse eats…

BylizzieOctober 21, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: THE HORSE THAT WON’T DRINK

Q: How can I encourage my horse to drink? A: The simplest way to encourage your horse to drink is to ensure that he has clean, fresh water at all times. Frequently cleaning and refilling buckets is essential to keep water fresh and palatable. Other ways to up your horse's water intake include soaking hay, adding water…

BylizzieApril 4, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: TIME TO RIDE

Q: How long do you actually have to wait to ride after feeding your horse? Asked by May Clarke A: This depends on the type of feed, the amount and how hard you’ll be working your horse. On the one hand, if your horse has just eaten a 0.5kg meal that is mainly fibre-based and you are…

BylizzieJune 23, 20200Comments

Horse Channel Pridey

PRIDEY’S LOCKDOWN LAMENTATIONS DAY 8

Oh readers! What a splendid day today has been! It was my mother's birthday, and due to lockdown conditions my very absent father could only buy her essential items - which mainly consisted of carrots. Yes, you heard me right, carrots. The wise fellow pulled out all the stops and ordered her bags and bags of…

BylizzieApril 3, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: TO TWITCH OR NOT TO TWITCH

Q: Is using a twitch cruel? A: A twitch comes in two forms: a cord loop on the end of a wooden handle and a 'humane' metal pinch. Each is tightened either around the horse's top lip (a nose twitch) or around an ear. A recent study comparing the nose and ear twitches found the twitch…

BylizzieOctober 14, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WAVE MOUTH

Q: What is a wave mouth in horses? A: A wave mouth is where the molar teeth do not align evenly in the horse's mouth. This creates gaps between the upper and lower jaw, when the horse chews his food. This results in poor chewing, and thus a reduced surface area of the food when it…

BylizzieOctober 5, 20190Comments

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