GOOD-DOERS - have you ever said, "My horse is too fat; he doesn`t need feeding"? Feeding the good doer can be challenging, but here are 4 rules to remember...

1. AVOID HARSH RESTRICTION or poor-quality diets. Good doers can`t live off an oily rag, they still need to meet their daily requirements for protein, vitamins and minerals. A diet of only pasture or hay may not provide their full nutrient needs and can often be low in digestible fibre and protein.

2. FOCUS ON FIBRE and make sure their forage intake meets the minimum 1.5-2% of their body weight daily. Getting enough fibre is vital for the function of their digestive system and hindgut, and restricting access can cause damage to their digestive health.

NOTE: If pasture is too high in quality, you can restrict grazing and substitute with lower calorie hays. Watch out for low quality hays and straw though, which can be too high in indigestible fibre and cause issues.

3. THEY NEED THEIR DAILY VIT & MIN requirements still! These are essential for bone, skin, hoof and coat health, plus muscle and digestive function, immunity and more! Look for a complete, low-calorie feed that gives them the nutrients they need while promoting healthy weight.

4. KEEP HIGH QUALITY PROTEINS IN THEIR DIET. If you are trying to reduce calorie intake, be careful not to restrict quality protein, which is essential for muscle, coat and hoof health.

Got a severely overweight horse? They need a very carefully tailored weight loss plan. Message our team and we can help you put one together...

Our Lupin Fibre mash range is ideal for good doers:
🟢 Lupin Fibre Boost is a complete, low feeding rate fibre mash enriched with vitamins, minerals, pre and probiotics. Made from lupin hulls which are a highly digestible fibre source and rich in quality amino acids and proteins to promote health and function.

🟡Lupin Fibre Cubes is our low feeding rate fibre-supplement, made from 100% lupin hulls which can be fed in very low amounts to keep quality fibre and protein in their diet and used with a vitamin & mineral supplement for horses and ponies needing limited hard feeds but the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

REMINDER - Our racing nutrition seminar is on tomorrow from 1pm at the Rose and Crown in Guildford. It is free to attend, and Dr Judi Maxwell will be covering topics including:

- Maintaining and management of the stomach

- Optimising nutrient performance

- Hydration and its impact on performance

- Managing transport, travel and other periods where performance may be impacted.

There will be time for questions and discussions with Dr Judi, as well as finger food, drinks, raffles, gift bags and more.

To RSVP please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/p72SYWdCAunGthpM7

More than just a MASH - feeding Lupin Fibre Cubes can offer many health benefits to you horse...

BOOST fibre intake and diversity

IMPROVE gut health with high levels of super fibres and their prebiotic action

CONDITION with low sugar and starch, cool, fibre-based calories

HYDRATE with the quick-soaking cube, that can absorb three times it`s weight in water

ADD more stomach fill to their diet - it can expand to nearly 5 times its size when soaked

STIMULATE healthy hindgut function, with fibre fill and water to keep good motility

FUEL with COOL, slow-release energy that helps horses with any discipline and workload

BUILD their protein levels with quality amino acids to support muscle health, topline, coat health and topline

SAFELY manage laminitis or metabolic conditions with its low NSC (5.3%) levels.

Lupin Fibre Cubes are our ultimate flexible fibre mash. They are compatible with any of our complete feeds and can also provide an alternative fibre source to chaff.

Want a mash that`s complete? Opt for our Lupin Fibre Boost instead which includes vitamins, minerals, pre and probiotics to meet your horse`s daily requirements.

⚠️Health alert ⚠️ High heat, dehydration and impaction colic:
Did you know that dehydration is a contributing factor to impaction colic? Impaction is a type of colic that occurs when the water content in the large intestine decreases, and the feed content can dry out and become difficult to pass through or even cause a blockage. With more extreme heat this week, keeping our horses cool and hydrated is essential for prevention.

Risk Factors
⚠️ Horses are particularly at risk of dehydration during periods of hot weather and intense exercise which increases their requirements, or when they are not drinking enough clean, fresh water (if their trough gets low, warm or dirty).
⚠️ An increased amount of dry forage, or poor-quality grasses and hays that are higher in indigestible fibre can mean the contents of the large intestine become too dry.
⚠️ Reduced fibre intake can also increase the risk of colic.

Prevention is key - here are some things you can do:
1️⃣ Make sure your horse has constant access to clean, cool and fresh water. They might not drink if the water gets too warm, or their troughs are dirty.

2️⃣ Offer a soaked mash like Equi-Restore with plenty of water to rehydrate and keep highly digestible fibre in the gut. You can offer this into smaller feeds throughout the day.

3️⃣ Ensure your horse is getting enough essential electrolytes to support their critical processes and encourage them to drink. Equi-Restore provides electrolytes, and you can add salt to their feed or give them access to a pink salt block in their stable or paddock.

Why does adding salt encourage them to drink?
💡 Salt is not only an essential electrolyte, it is vital for stimulating the drinking reflex.

When a horse`s body gets low in sodium, it starts to conserve more water, and it actually LOWERS their thirst stimulus. So even though the horse needs to consume more water, their body isn`t telling it them to drink more which only increases their dehydration.

If your horse is showing any signs of impaction colic, early recognition and treatment can improve outcome so call your vet immediately.

#horsehealth #dehydration #horses #horsecare #horsenutrition horsemash

Do you work in the racing or equine vet industry? Or do you have an elite performance horse with a heavy workload in a fast-paced sport? Don`t miss our free nutrition seminar next Friday. Join Dr Judi Maxwell, International Nutrition and Veterinary Advisor as she discusses fuelling racehorses to optimise their health.

This seminar is ideal for anyone who works closely with thoroughbreds and standardbreds, from trainers and grooms through to studs and spelling facilities. It is also ideal for veterinary professionals, or riders with horses competing at an elite level in disciplines with fast, heavy workloads.

WHEN: Friday 23 January, 1pm to 5pm
WHERE: The Rose and Crown, Guildford
RSVP ESSENTIAL: Fill in our online RSVP form: https://forms.gle/8KRe6eqZhTxByFc29 or email donna@thompsonandredwood.com.au

EVENT DETAILS:
- Drinks and finger food supplied
- Lucky door prizes
- Show bag
- Entry is free

ABOUT DR JUDI - MRCVS BVSc BSc (hons)​:
Dr Judi’s professional focus is the evaluation of performance horses for nutritional optimisation; as well as the use of nutrition and nutraceuticals, to support positive clinical outcomes. Judi spends a large amount of her time in the UAE and travelling around the globe, supporting equine athletes, focusing on Racing, Polo and Showjumping.

Give your horse some hot weather support...for their whole body!

Equi-Restore is a quick-soaking, hydrating mash that not only helps to improve their water intake, but gives them a recovery boost too. The delicious ingredients help even the fussiest of drinkers and eaters to lick the bucket!

Equi-Restore contains:
💧Electrolytes to rehydrate and stimulate the thirst reflex
💧Branched-chain amino acids for muscle support
💧Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support
💧Super fibres and probiotics to support their gut health and function
💧Delicious, natural flavours to help them slurp up every last drop

You can feed it on top of their existing diet and offer multiple serves throughout the day if needed. Make it extra sloppy during hot weather for a really hydrating kick.

Available in 20kg bags or 5kg tubs.

FIRE PLANS - Have you got a bushfire safety plan ready?
With the recent Victorian fires devastating many people, properties and horse owners, and fires already popping up around our state, it`s a timely reminder to have your own fire plan ready:

⚠️Preparation and acting early is vital with bushfires. To be prepared you need to have a clear idea of what you will do.

💬Start talking with your household or agistment centre about what your plan is and write down your plan so that it is ready if you need it.

Your plan should include:
👉 What are you triggers for evacuation?
👉 Know ALL your emergency routes, as these may change with the direction or location of the fire
👉 Where will you take them? Find out where your closest locations are and have a number of options.
👉 How will you transport all of your animals?
👉 Make up an emergency kit to take with you with food and supplies to last you for 3 days.
If you have to leave animals at home, you need to be prepared for that too.

If you have animals that you cannot take:
👉 Try to leave them with enough water to last up to 5 days.
👉 Remove all of their rugs, fly veils and halters as these may melt.
👉 Do not leave them in a stable.
👉 Create a map of food and water locations to leave behind in case emergency services or somebody else needs to move your animals.

IDENTIFICATION: make sure your animals have a form of identification like a microchip and have clear records and proof of ownership for your animals that you keep with you in case you need it.

Source: Agriculture WA

Notice anything new? 👀 We`ve simplified the name of our `Horse Cubes for Seniors`, and it is now SENIOR HORSE CUBES.

Our concentrated, conditioning formula hasn`t changed, it`s still delicious and nutritious for those golden oldies or performance horses that need the extra support. The new bags are now in production and heading out to your local stockist.

#horsecubesforseniors #seniorhorsefeed #seniorhorsecubes #conditioningfeed

Is one of your new year`s resolutions to improve your health? Well, it turns out we just need to spend more time with our horses!

#fridayfunny #newyearsresolutions #horsehealth #health #fitness #calories

Happy new year (and year of the horse) from the T&R family! What are your horsey goals this year?
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#newyear #yearofthehorse #horseynewyear #horsefeed