If you`ve got a freshly off the track horse, it might be tempting to swap them straight off their racing diet and onto pasture, hay and low starch feeds. That`s a great goal, but it`s not quite that simple (or fast)...

Racehorses are elite athletes, so while they are racing, their diet is carefully calculated and formulated to support them. This usually involves high levels of fast-release energy sources like high-starch grains to make sure they have the energy they need.

Their gut and microbiome adapt to this diet, because the bacteria that are ‘fed’ more are the ones to grow in population and dominate. So with a diet high in starch and low in fibre, the fibre-loving bacteria don’t have the fuel they need to thrive.

If the population of fibre-loving bacteria isn`t there and then we take all their starch-based energy sources away and pop them only on pasture, hay or low sugar and starch feeds, their digestive system won`t be able to process the fibre effectively yet and they can lose condition quickly.

💡Instead, we need to go through a gradual `Let Down` period, where we keep enough starch-based energy in the diet to slowly convert and adapt our horse`s digestive system and microbiome to digest a diet higher in fibre and forage. Like gardening, we need to feed and nourish the microbiome and give it time to grow.

➡️Let down feeding:
A good let down diet reduces the energy and starch levels in their feed slowly while introducing more fibre. This gives the gut microbiome time to adjust, and grow the population of good bacteria needed to ferment and digest the fibre in their diet.

Here are a couple of tips for let down feeding:

✅ DO: Continue feeding some of their grain or racing feed, decreasing amounts over time while introducing a new feed

✅ DO: Start introducing a high super fibre bridging feed like Lupin Fibre Cubes or Lupin Fibre Boost straight away

✅ DO: Look at introducing a feed like Claytons Pellets, which is whole-grain free but still contains a controlled amount of starch, or Senior Horse Cubes which is a balanced, conditioning cube.

✅ DO: make small alterations over time as their condition and workload change

FIND US: We’re at the WA State Dressage Championships this weekend from today through til Sunday. Come and visit the trailer, grab a free sample and chat to our team.

Happy riding everyone!

#dressage #events #horseriders @dressagewesternaustralia

How about that shine? `Harley`s Third Jet` is a picture of health and fitness and kicking goals with sponsored riders Tui Magner and Aja Tito. It`s been a big few months for the family with events, travel and competing and organising for the big Roebourne Rodeo.

Based in the Pilbara, Tui is a devoted mother of four, and balances her family life with her rodeo career. Their team of horses is fuelled by T&R, with Equi-Restore a vital part of their performance diet to keep up muscle stamina, energy and hydration in a hot climate.

#sponsoredrider #rodeo #fuelledbytandr @tui_rei

No soy, no molasses, no grains, no cereal grain by-products and no straw! Only high quality, cool sources of fibre, protein and energy make up our ultra-low sugar and starch, safe complete feed.

Calm Care Plus is a concentrated feed with low feeding rates designed for a range of horses and ponies, from leisure to performance. It contains elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, essential amino acids, Omega-3 and added pre and probiotics.

Suitable for horses and ponies prone to:
✔️Laminitis ✔️ Metabolic conditions like EMS, PPID and IR ✔️Grain sensitivity ✔️Ulcers ✔️Tying Up ✔️

If you`d like more information, chat to our team about feeding Calm Care Plus.

Where should you place your horse or pony`s feed? Up high or on the ground? And does it matter?

Placing your feed bucket or forage at ground level promotes the most natural eating position and behaviour. Think of it this way, they`ve evolved anatomically to graze with their heads down for most of the day! Some advantages of this are:

✔️ Their jaw and teeth are in the right position to move freely and grind in the correct motion, so they can chew efficiently and wear teeth more evenly and naturally.

✔️It aids the airways and reduces dust and particle inhalation. When their head is down eating, it encourages natural draining of the airways. This is the first line of defence against the inhalation of particles like feed and dust.

✔️ Food consumption slows down, so they chew more, produce more saliva and swallow normally.

✔️ The increased saliva and slower chewing can help to reduce the risks of choke.

But feed and forage position is about more than just eating and chewing naturally. We have to make sure we place it in a safe and comfortable position too:

∙Injuries and pain: If they can`t stand comfortably or balanced with their head stretched down, placing feed higher can help with comfort.

∙Sandy paddocks: If they are trying to pick up forage or dropped feed from a sandy surface it can lead to sand intake and digestive issues. Try placing feed or hay on a clean solid surface or using a large rubber mat. Wide shallow tubs can help avoid feed dropping.

∙Muddy paddocks: wet, muddy conditions can lead to feed wastage.

∙Stables: safety in smaller areas is important for avoiding injury. Think about make sure feeders or nets are not in a position to cause injuries and small enough to give them enough space to move around.

Remember, the aim is to feed in a natural position as much as you can where it isn`t a safety risk.

#tiptuesday #horsefeed #horsehealth #horsecare

Spread the message, join the ride! ↔️ PASS WIDE & SLOW ↔️

For many horse riders, riding on the road is or has been a part of our life, whether for the joy of it or necessity. But as our communities grow and rural or horsey areas get busier, horses and vehicles are increasingly sharing the same roads. Unfortunately, many motorists have limited to no experience with horses which can lead to dangerous behaviour.

This Sunday 6 September, the WA Horse Council is holding its Pass Wide and Slow Awareness Ride, bringing together riders, local council, the road safety commission and communities to raise awareness and promote safer road sharing.

The Pass Wide and Slow movement began in the UK after a major incident involving a horse and rider. What started as a petition to educate motorists on how to safely pass horses has since grown into an international movement, with awareness rides held across the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ and Australia.

The WA awareness ride is being held at the SEC in Brigadoon this Sunday and there are a number of other regional rides across the state in Harvey, Mt Barker, Serpentine and Albany.

What can you do?
- Read more at WA Horse Council
- Join the event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/187eqMj2R8/
- Register to ride, walk or drive here: https://events.humanitix.com/pass-wide-and-slow-awareness-ride-drive-state-equestrian-centre-wa
- Share the details of your local ride below