"He may be dirty and fluffy, but my retired gelding is glowing! He`s got great topline and look at that shine ✨✨✨ He`s on Lupin Fibre Boost and pasture, that`s all! I`m so happy with the results, his gut is better, his coat is better (he used to get terrible itch) and he`s so much happier. Thanks for a great feed."

Lupin Fibre Boost is so versatile, you can use it on its own, to boost pastures and even to balance out and top up other feeds to meet your horse`s daily requirements.

#lupinfibreboost #boost #seniorhorse #horsefeed #horsenutrition #tandrglow #fuelledbytandr

NEW PARTNERSHIP - we are so excited to join Off the Track WA as a supporter of their rehoming program and Herd Heroes initiatives.
Horses that are purchased through the program will receive a welcome pack to help them in their life after racing, and we`ve packed it full of goodies!

It includes:
✅ A handy drawstring gear bag, great for storage or packing things for events and competitions.
✅ A gift voucher for 2 x 20kg bags of T&R equine feed
✅ 2kg feed sample bags of Lupin Fibre Boost and Calm Care Plus
✅ A nutrition information booklet with handy tips on digestion and feeding for Off the Track horses
✅ Diet cards with suggested diets for Off the Track horses in various disciplines and stages of transition.

Our Herd Heroes initiative is for ex-racehorse owners who have an Off the Track Passport. You can sign up to our Herd Heroes membership area and receive an initial discount voucher on 2 x 20kg bags of feed, and then more discounts every 6 months. Join the program here: https://mailchi.mp/thompsonandredwood.com.au/tr-herd-hero-signup

Make sure you support Off the Track WA, and if you have an ex-racehorse, sign up for your Off the Track Passport.

⭐Get to know our Junior Ambassador Clara Dagostino - a young girl on a mission! ⭐
8-year-old Clara is from Oakford WA and has been riding since before she could walk. Clara loves competing in all disciplines including eventing, showjumping, pony club and show horse.

She is an active member of Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club where she thoroughly enjoys riding and learning with her friends. Clara has grown up at Oakford Equestrian Centre and loves being involved with the team environment at competitions.

Clara started by riding the school ponies, which gave her a fantastic confident start to her riding. She now has 3 main ponies of her own, and is currently competing Ted, Nia and Prinny - all regularly bringing home rugs and ribbons and all on a range of T&R products. Ted has EMS, and has been thriving on our Lupin Fibre mashes.

Her greatest achievements to date have been winning Capel, Harvey and Brigadoon CCN’s and qualifying for both EA and SHC Nationals and representing WA in Sydney.

We`ve been watching Clara`s journey for a while, and are proud to support her as a Junior Ambassador.

#teamtandr #teamthompsonandredwood #sponsoredrider #eventing #jumping #pony #horseriding #fuelledbytandr @bec_dagostino Mike Dagostino

Give your horse a natural warming boost this winter with a high fibre mash soaked in warm water. Fibre has a high heat increment, which means it produces body heat when digested.

Adding some warm water to their Lupin Fibre Cubes or Lupin Fibre Boost is not only a warming treat, but it can also encourage them to eat on a cold morning and decrease the soak time to under 5 minutes.

#lupinfibrecubes #lupinfibreboost #fibremash #warmmash

HAY - How much do you know about the hay you are feeding? Here is some information about hay types, and some important things to be aware of with each:
Teff
➡️Teff is a warm season grass species that can be fed as hay for horses.
⚠️The starch and sugar analysis of Teff can vary, so while it can be considered low in sugar and starch, it isn`t always below a safe level for laminitis/metabolic condition prone horses and ponies.
⚠️Teff (being a C4 species) does contain moderate to high levels of oxalates, so you will need to supplement to reduce the risk of bighead disease.
⚠️ Teff has caused some behavioural changes in horses, linked to alkalosis (showing a high pH result in manure).

Barley
Barley hay or straw can be fed to horses but should be an awn-less variety. The `awns` are the stiff bristles that can grow on the barley head. It does have a similar nutrient profile to Oaten Hay, with NSC often over 16%.
⚠️Both the hay and straw are not suitable for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic conditions.
⚠️Being a cereal it can provide more energy, so be aware of re-balancing energy levels if you notice behavioural changes
⚠️ Watch out for hay that has seed heads that still contain the grain.

Oaten or Wheaten
Oaten and wheaten hay are cereal hays, and a good source of fibre but both the hay and straws are quite high in NSC.
⚠️ WA`s Oaten hay consistently tests between 30-38% but has been recorded as high as 42.63% in Southwest WA.
⚠️ Wheaten has an NSC of around 28.8%
⚠️ They are not suitable for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic conditions
⚠️ If feeding Oaten, make sure you they are not getting too much energy

Rhodes Grass
Rhodes grass is a good quality, low sugar and starch hay, that is low enough in oxalates not to pose a bighead risk. It is more consistent and reliable than teff when it comes to the sugar and starch levels.
⚠️ Rhodes can be high in calcium, iron and potassium, but low in phosphorus and magnesium, so make sure you re-balance your horse`s diet in case they need supplementation.

It`s Friday the 13th! Did you know that black horses, like black cats were considered bad luck in some European folklore? Supposedly it was especially bad luck if they crossed your path on Friday the 13th.

There are all sorts of superstitions about horses that have appeared throughout history, but luckily there is nothing unlucky about a horse or pony with a shiny black coat - it`s actually a sign of good health and well-balanced nutrition 😉

#fridaythe13th #horsefacts #horsehistory

RUGGING - is your horse really cold? How do you know if they need a rug?

With our overnight temperatures starting to drop, and winter around the corner, we thought it was a good time to talk about THERMONEUTRAL ZONES and LOWER CRITICAL TEMPERATURE (LTC). Understanding these ranges helps us to make decisions around our horse`s health, feeding regimes and rugging in winter.

Just like with humans, animals have a core temperature that their body needs to maintain for their vital organs to function. As outside temperature decreases, your horse’s body needs to work much harder to maintain its core temperature.
The THERMONEUTRAL ZONE is the range of temperatures between which a horse uses little to no energy to maintain its body temperature.
🌡️ In horses, the average Thermoneutral zone is between 5°C and 25°C.
🌡️ In humans, the average Thermoneutral zone is between 25°C and 30°C.

❓The big difference here is that our range is much narrower, so we feel cold and uncomfortable at a much higher temperature than our horses. It`s not as simple as that though, there are factors that influence how comfortable our horses feel and whether their body has to work harder to stay warm. This is where the LTC comes in.

The LOWER CRITICAL TEMPERATURE (LCT) is the temperature below which they need to increase their metabolic heat and digestible energy intake to maintain their body temperature. For most horses this is between 0°C and 5°C, BUT this varies depending on the climate they are used to. For horses that live in a much milder climate their LTC may be higher, or for those in a much colder climate this may be lower.

There are lots of influences on an individual horse’s LCT, including:
➡️ Whether they have a natural, thick coat or not
➡️ Age (young horses, foals and seniors have a higher LCT)
➡️ Weight and Surface Area to Volume ratio
➡️ Health status (sickness and injury can increase LCT)
➡️ Wind chill factor and moisture in the air

It`s only when temperatures start to drop below the lower critical temperature, that additional dietary energy may be required. #tiptuesday #horsehealth #horsecare

Hey Victoria! Our products are now available through Lily`s Feed on the East Coast. Their first delivery has arrived, and they are stocking lots of our customer favourites, from Lupin Fibre Boost to Calm Care Plus.

Get in touch with the Lily`s team for more information on ordering.

#horsefeed #calmcareplus #healthynaturalfresh #horsenutrition #lupinfibreboost #lupinfibrecubes #lowsugarandstarch #healthyhorses