#factfriday - did you know that the lower portion of a horse`s stomach has a pH 1-2, which is nearly as low as battery acid? Battery acid has a pH of around 0.8 and is one of the most corrosive substances ⚠️

The horse`s stomach is divided into main regions, the non-glandular region and the glandular region.

The non-glandular region at the top has a nearly neutral pH of between 6-7. The Glandular region is lined with glandular mucosa, and is where the gastric juices like hydrochloric acid and enzymes sit with a pH of between 1-2. The glandular portion is designed to withstand this pH, the non-glandular portion is not!

This is why horses can be susceptible to ulcers in the non-glandular region as a result of acid-splash - and an important reason why we shouldn`t work horses on an empty stomach. Providing some quality lucerne hay or forage immediately before riding can help to create a `cap` that sits on top of the acid and prevents splashing.

#horses #ulcers #horsehealth #horsefacts #horsetips #horseulcers #horseguthealth

Two Galloways mares are Leeara Park`s newest home-bred stars, so what`s their breeding motto?

"We find that the greatest asset as a breeder is to understand that no horse is perfect, and being able to identify these weaknesses, gives you the basis of choosing a stallion suitable to compliment their needs.

We are exceptionally critical of each of our mares as ultimately we are looking to improve the offspring out of each of them and find the perfect stallion to match."

Read more >>
https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/the-ins-and-outs-of-breeding-horses

PROTEIN - What does it do for your horse and why is quality important? Proteins are essential macronutrients that have many critical roles in the body and are vital for horses and ponies of all ages - around 15% of their overall body mass is made up of proteins! Protein is often misunderstood, but it is critical for horse health, function and performance. Some key roles of protein include:
✅ Tissue growth and repair
✅ Providing structure
✅ Nutrient transport around the body
✅ Immune function
✅ Regulating metabolic function

Horses get protein from their diets, and there is protein present at varying levels in their grass, hay, and feeds. However, not all protein is created equal, and each feed ingredient will have a different quantity AND quality. For example, grass might have a good amount of crude protein, but that protein quality could be low.

➡️ What determines protein quality?
Proteins are made up of amino acids which are like building blocks. The quality of a protein is determined by the type and number of essential amino acids that it contains and how digestible they are. Essential amino acids cannot be made or synthesised by the horse so must be provided through the diet. For a certain protein to be built, the correct amino acids must be supplied.

✅ A high-quality protein source contains the ideal ratio of essential amino acids which are easily digestible. This means that the body can then use most of those amino acids in protein synthesis.

❌ Low-quality proteins don`t offer as many essential amino acids, so there are a lot left over for the body to excrete.

When you look at your horse`s feed, you need to take into consideration the QUANTITY and QUALITY of the proteins in their diet. The amount of protein needed varies depending on a horses age, life stage and workload. Broodmares in late gestation and lactation, growing horses and performance horses have a higher protein requirement than a mature horse in light work.
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#protein #horsenutrition #horsefeed #horses #proteinforhorses

ULCERS - Feeding strategies for prevention and care ️
Did you know that one Western Australian study found that 53% of horses had ulcers? Ulcers can lead to pain, reduced appetite, decreased performance and more. Here are some important feeding strategies that can help with prevention and care:

✅Saliva helps to buffer the acid and protect the gut, and the more they chew, the more saliva they produce! Offer plenty of ad-lib forage and fibre, day and night to keep them producing saliva and their gut functioning. 💡𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄: Horses only produce saliva when chewing.

✅ Provide ad lib forage and try to keep time without available feed to a minimum. If you are worried about weight gain, limit the quality of roughage, not quantity.

✅ Look for feeds that are high in fermentable fibres and low in starches and sugars. Our Lupin Fibre Boost and Lupin Fibre Cubes are both very low in starch and high in fermentable fibres so suitable for horses with ulcers.

✅ Split your hard feeds or concentrates into as many small feeds per day as you can. More smaller feeds are better for their stomach than few large feeds.

✅ Ensure they are always well hydrated.

✅ Avoid riding on an empty stomach. Offer a small feed of lucerne hay or chaff immediately prior to riding to help prevent acid splash.

✅ Provide lots of turnout time and grazing if you can – turning your horse out helps to decrease stress, especially if they have other horses around them. Grazing also helps horses to keep producing saliva which helps to buffer the stomach.

If you suspect your horse has ulcers, please seek veterinary advice. The sooner you seek help, and your horse gets treatment, the sooner your horse can return to optimum health.

Looking for an ulcer-safe feed? Lupin Fibre Boost, Lupin Fibre Cubes and Calm Care Plus are all low in sugar and starch and safe for horses with ulcers.

#tiptuesday #ulcers #horseulcers #ulcercare #lowsugarandstarch #horsefeed #horsecare

HOOVES - How does feeding influence hoof health?
No hoof no horse! Hoof health can be influenced by 3 key things – GENETICS, ENVIRONMENT and NUTRITION. What you feed can make all the difference to keeping your horse`s hooves strong and functioning, and here are a few reasons why:

✅ Balance is key! A balanced diet that provides the right levels and ratios of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for meeting their daily requirements.

✅ Protein – hooves are mainly made up of a protein called keratin, and proteins are made up of amino acids. Methionine is an amino acid that is believed to be important for hoof quality, but balance is key.

✅ Quality Fibre - when bacteria in the hindgut ferment fibre, they produce essential B vitamins (including biotin) and vitamin K which are known to benefit hoof and hair growth and structure.

✅ Biotin – biotin has been widely researched for its influence on hoof growth and is believed to influence hoof integrity. Supplementation of biotin alone though isn’t enough for hoof health; it must be part of a balanced diet.

✅ Zinc – zinc influences the keratinisation of the hoof – what does that mean?? It’s the process by which the cells become keratin, and are ready to form a strong, protective hoof. Zinc is essential in this process.

✅ Fats – fats in the diet can be a help to your horse’s hooves. They can help to form a barrier that protects the hoof from fungi and bacteria.

✅ Calcium and Phosphorous – Calcium helps with cell attachment and cohesion in the hoof which is vital for hoof strength. It must be feed in the correct ratio with Phosphorous though to avoid issues with calcium absorption.

✅ Selenium and Vitamin E - these antioxidants (prevent cell deterioration) help to protect the cell membranes. A key sign of selenium deficiency is actually cracked hooves. But like all the others, balance is key to avoid selenium toxicity.

If you are worried about your horse`s hoof health, make sure their diet is balanced, and they are receiving their daily nutritional requirements. Need help? Send us a message, we`re happy to assist.