BINGE GRAZING - do ponies binge graze when turned out? Yes they do!
Horses and ponies with a restricted grazing time (under 3 hours) can actually eat more per hour to compensate. Studies have shown that they can nearly double their dry matter intake rate, compared to those with more time on grass.

Grazing management is important for a range of reasons, from weight loss to sugar and starch control for health conditions. Did you know a horse or pony can go up a WHOLE condition score in just 30 days when grazing a high-quality pasture?

All this rain and the warmer weather means that pastures are actively growing right now. But restricting grazing needs to be carefully managed to avoid binge eating, and make sure they are getting enough forage to meet their requirements:

💡Offer high fibre, low sugar and starch feed before turning out
💡Provide ad-lib, low-calorie and NSC hay when off pasture
💡Provide hay while out on pastures to minimise binge-grazing
💡Try grazing management strategies like strip or track systems
💡Try grazing muzzles, to allow them more time on pasture but reduce intake rates

Remember that they still need to be getting a minimum of 1.5% - 2% of their bodyweight in forage daily to maintain health and function.

❗Got a fatty? If you`ve got a horse that needs a weight loss diet, reach out to our team for a specially tailored diet that can help, without compromising their health and digestive function.
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#tiptuesday #feeding #horsefeed #ponies #laminitis #grazing #thompsonandredwood #information #infographic

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From kids` polo shirts to our new and stylish rugby jumpers, we`ve got some great items available in a range of colours and sizes.

Jump over to >>>
https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/online-store

Thanks to the @equestrianinthepark team for another fantastic event, and what a location this year! Well done to all of our sponsored riders - even qualifying for an event like this is a huge achievement.

It was great to see so many competitors using Equi-Restore in the lead up to and over the event, and we got some amazing feedback from the riders.

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🌾When lucerne’s light on, let lupins do the lifting 🌾By nutritionist Jill Davies...
With lucerne chaff in short supply across Western Australia until the new-season cuts come through, many horse owners are wondering what to feed instead — especially for horses that rely on lucerne for condition, protein, and digestive support.

The good news: WA-grown Lupin Fibre Cubes (LFC) and Lupin Fibre Boost (LFB) are not just substitutes. They’re low-starch, high-fibre, locally sourced feeds that match lucerne’s key nutritional benefits while offering a safer, more consistent option for many classes of horses.

🌱 1️⃣ Fibre First — The Engine of the Hindgut
➡️Both LFC and LFB are rich in digestible fibre from WA lupin hulls supporting steady hindgut fermentation and microbial health (Julliand & de Fombelle, 2016).

While LFC and LFB provide over 20 % structural fibre and can replace part of the hay or chaff in a ration, they’re not a total forage replacement. Horses still need long-stem roughage — hay, fibre cubes, or grazing — to maintain chewing time, saliva flow and hindgut motility (Harris et al., 2017).

Critically, both feeds test at under 5.5 % NSC (WSC + starch) — far lower than most lucerne chaffs grown in WA, which commonly exceed 10-16% NSC depending on cut and curing. That makes LFC and LFB excellent for:
• EMS and insulin-resistant horses requiring low-NSC diets
• Ulcer-prone horses needing soft, low-sugar, gut-friendly fibre
• Senior horses or those with poor dentition needing a soaked, easy-chew feed

Their high fibre content increases the “fibre factor” of the ration, slowing feed passage and supporting nutrient absorption in the small intestine, while maintaining hydration and hindgut motility through WA’s hot, dry months (Harris et al., 2017; Kronfeld et al., 2015; Geor & Harris, 2020).

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