AutumnDays
Well-Known Member
Sorry, this is long!!
It's been a bit of a slow morning in work, and I've gone down various rabbit holes regarding supplementation and studies on this forum and other online articles etc, and then looking into ingredients lists on products. The general consensus is that as our weather is now all over the place, and horses don't have access to a wide variety of plants these days, sorting gut health out can help with a myriad of general issues.
I've planted lots of herbage, other grass species and cleared ryegrass in the fields, but it's not doing so great due to weather and being a new ley. I now have 3 nags, the boys being the two recent additions (one 18months ago, one 4 weeks ago!), both have rubbish feet and iffy tummies (newest arrival didn't have regular foot care, and is a bit thrushy, loose, stressy belly, stress poos at the slightest worry, other boy had so many issues with lameness, lack of regular foot care and being obese, healthy weight now, sound, but feet are also a bit thrushy this winter). Everyone lives out. Not really fed at the minute, because of paddock changes and not knowing what is best, but they have historically had a token of pink mash, TCZ, salt, mag ox, oily herbs and fennel seed. I have thought about adding psyllium husk in to help with the tummy issues guys, but they hate it once it's up to the recommended amount for a purge, would it still be beneficial feeding a scoop a day (the amount they will eat)? What should I be mixing it in to? No one is in anything that could be called work, all are barefoot, unrugged, and on a track type system (not restricted grazing at the moment, due to struggling fields, plenty of hedgerows and safe trees to browse) with poles etc for encouraging varied movement so they do something in a day! I'm being confused by all these "essentials" that are expensive for one, never mind three! Happy digestion and good hooves are my main concerns.
Just generally looking for advice or people to share their experiences/thoughts and help clear the fog. Thank you
It's been a bit of a slow morning in work, and I've gone down various rabbit holes regarding supplementation and studies on this forum and other online articles etc, and then looking into ingredients lists on products. The general consensus is that as our weather is now all over the place, and horses don't have access to a wide variety of plants these days, sorting gut health out can help with a myriad of general issues.
I've planted lots of herbage, other grass species and cleared ryegrass in the fields, but it's not doing so great due to weather and being a new ley. I now have 3 nags, the boys being the two recent additions (one 18months ago, one 4 weeks ago!), both have rubbish feet and iffy tummies (newest arrival didn't have regular foot care, and is a bit thrushy, loose, stressy belly, stress poos at the slightest worry, other boy had so many issues with lameness, lack of regular foot care and being obese, healthy weight now, sound, but feet are also a bit thrushy this winter). Everyone lives out. Not really fed at the minute, because of paddock changes and not knowing what is best, but they have historically had a token of pink mash, TCZ, salt, mag ox, oily herbs and fennel seed. I have thought about adding psyllium husk in to help with the tummy issues guys, but they hate it once it's up to the recommended amount for a purge, would it still be beneficial feeding a scoop a day (the amount they will eat)? What should I be mixing it in to? No one is in anything that could be called work, all are barefoot, unrugged, and on a track type system (not restricted grazing at the moment, due to struggling fields, plenty of hedgerows and safe trees to browse) with poles etc for encouraging varied movement so they do something in a day! I'm being confused by all these "essentials" that are expensive for one, never mind three! Happy digestion and good hooves are my main concerns.
Just generally looking for advice or people to share their experiences/thoughts and help clear the fog. Thank you