The onset of winter will see horses spending longer periods in the stable, with less time in the field to graze what little grass is still available.
As the horse’s routine changes, so does the diet, with the grass being replaced by dried forage and an increase in concentrate feed for those with extra energy requirements, such as a horse that struggles to maintain weight.
The equine digestive system is incredibly delicate and even the smallest dietary change can cause it to become disrupted, leading to loose droppings.
Throughout winter, simply changing the batch of hay can be considered a dietary change.
To avoid problems associated with changing diets, the golden rule of ‘introduce new feeds gradually’ should always be adhered to, including forage. Always mix the old batch of hay with the new to start with.
Live strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are commonly used in equine nutrition to enhance fibre digestion in horses. The overall effect of adding yeast to the diet is the stimulation of fibre-digestion, as well as stabilisation, of the hindgut environment and microbial ecosystem.
The Lifeforce Range from Alltech has been tailored to meet the needs of horses at every stage of life from the early developmental stages as a foal, through the demands of competition, and well into retirement.
The range consists of three all natural, daily nutritional supplements backed by more than 30 years of Alltech’s scientifically proven, fully traceable technologies, containing cutting-edge ingredients that fully comply with competition standards, where consistency and safety are a top priority.
Each specialised supplement delivers the right balance of natural ingredients to optimise digestive health for horses of a specific lifestyle, providing an effective way of maintaining a healthy horse.
Each supplement is available in a 5kg tub, which provides a three month supply and prices start at £60.
For further information please visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk or telephone 01780 764512.
