ASKHQ: IS A SALT BLOCK ENOUGH?

Q: Is it enough to just give my horse a salt block or lick? A: Many people rely on salt blocks to supply their horse's daily salt requirements. However, while some horses have a craving for sodium, which will cause them to use a block, few horses lick a block enough to consume their daily salt…

BylizzieMarch 2, 20250Comments

Horse Health

MAKE IT LAST – HOW TO MAXIMISE HAY USAGE AND AVOID WASTAGE

Text: Hannah Botha, MSc How can you stretch your hay further, and what options are there to reduce waste? Hannah Botha from Epol talks us through her top tips for lowering forage wastage. Tip 1: Ensure you are feeding the correct amount Forage should be the foundation of every horse's ration, and ensuring that it is provided…

BylizzieFebruary 14, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

FIBRE CAN CHANGE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR

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 themselves, and the animal repeats…

BylizzieJanuary 31, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

CHIA SEEDS FOR HORSES

Chia seeds are small, round seeds generally considered healthy additions to human diets. The seeds come from the plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family native to parts of Mexico and Guatemala. According to various studies and reports, chia seeds support cardiovascular and digestive health, reduce inflammation, and help control diabetes. Chia seeds for horses…

BylizzieOctober 13, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

UNDERSTANDING FLAXSEED IN THE EQUINE DIET

Flaxseed is quickly becoming a popular nutritional supplement for horses. But what exactly is flaxseed, and how does it benefit the horse? Here’s what you need to know. What is flaxseed? Flaxseed is produced by the flax plant, commonly grown in cool, northern climates. Flaxseed is also known as ‘flax’ or ‘linseed.’ What does flaxseed contain? Flaxseed…

BylizzieJuly 29, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

FEEDING THE HOT HORSE

How to feed a ‘hotter’ horse is a dilemma faced by horse owners in many different disciplines. How do you provide a horse with enough dietary energy to do the work he needs to do at the level he needs to do it, while controlling the mental energy or reactivity? Here we examine this question,…

BylizzieJuly 26, 20240Comments

Horse Health

DO HORSES NEED VETERAN FOOD?

Understanding senior nutrition Text: Hannah Botha, MSc Equine Nutrition Just like humans, horses age at different rates according to their lifestyle, diet, exercise and genetics. In today's times, horses are living longer as research improves our understanding, enabling horses to lead active lives late into their twenties and even thirties. Just because a horse has reached a…

BylizzieNovember 26, 20230Comments

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 Channel Horse Health

FEEDING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

By Hannah Botha, MSc Equine Science, Epol Nutrition Advisor The December holidays are finally upon us! For many, that means a well-deserved break for both horse and rider; for others, it means more time to ride, and so the workload increases. Assessing your horse's diet prior to making changes in workload will ensure that all the essential…

BylizzieDecember 18, 20220Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: BEET PULP

Q: Why is beet pulp good for horses? A: Beet pulp is a great feed for horses. It is an energy-rich source of digestible fibre that helps to promote and maintain a healthy microbial hindgut population, keeping the digestive system healthy. Beet pulp is a byproduct from the sugar beet industry. Sugar beets are grown and harvested…

BylizzieFebruary 16, 20210Comments

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