Did you know there are 6 areas we typically feel when we are body condition scoring?
Not every horse carries weight the same way, so taking an average of these 6 areas gives us a score to work with when assessing our horses current condition.
This score also helps us build a tailored plan to ensure we are providing your horse the right calories and nutrition to support weight gain, loss or maintenance.
I recommend checking your horses condition every 4 to 6 weeks to monitor for changes.
Have you checked your horse lately? Let me know your scoring questions in the comments!
#horse #equinenutrition #horsesofinstagram
Your feed program doesn't need to be complicated. But these are 4 items to have as a base program.
1. The right forage - pick hay/pasture sources that are appropriate for your individual horse. This is what makes up majority of their diet. Tested forage is ideal!
2. Fresh water - access to fresh, clean water is important for overall health and hydration.
3. Salt - loose, a block, make sure your horse has access to salt.
4. A vitamin/mineral source - while every brand has varying levels of nutrients, feeding a premix or ration balancer makes sure you're filling in some key missing nutrients.
Having these 4 key things as a part of your horses diet doesn't mean everything is in balance or in the right amounts for your individual horse, however, we are headed down the right path.
#horse #horsenutrition #equinenutrition
Sign up for your free discovery call to finish balancing your horses feed program. Link in bio.
I've convinced you on a consult, so let's talk some key information about your horse!
1. Current weight and body condition - while I will go through this during our initial assessment, I like to get an idea of how comfortable you are with assessing your horse.
2. Your horses workload - tell me all about what your horse is doing, for how long and if that is increasing or decreasing.
3. Weight of all your feeds - I want to know brands, hay, pasture, everything you are giving your horse and exactly how much you're feeding.
Sign up today to discuss your horses nutrition program.
#horse #equinenutrition #horsesofinstagram
Make drastic feed changes!
We are jumping from hovering around 0 to close to -40c here this weekend. With the stress of drastic weather changes, the last thing your horse needs is a sudden diet change.
Instead, focus on increasing the amount of their current forage. If you are going to change their hay , start introducing it now so they have a few days to adjust.
If you want to add a mash, try a soaked cube or beet pulp, which are fiber forward and support the hindgut health.
Avoid adding things your horse doesn't normally consume that may put stress on their digestive system in an already stressed situation. Sudden feed changes, as well as sudden weather changes can increase the risk of certain health issues like colic for sensitive horses.
Wishing you all a warm toasty weekend.
#horse #horsesofinstagram #equinenutrition
Here's 3 things we are leaving behind in 2024 equestrians!
1. Untested hay - let's know exactly what we are feeding and how it might impact them.
2. Supplements without a purpose - is your supplement list a mile long with no science to back them? Lets change that.
3. Generalized nutrition advice - your horse is an individual, let's make sure we are giving the best advice for your individual horse.
I can't wait to work with you in 2025.
#horse #horsenutrition #horsenutritiontips
WEIGH MY FEED.
Whether your horse is overweight or underweight, weighing your hay and other feeds is critical to understanding if we are over or undersuppling feed and calories. Once we determine exactly how much your horse is getting for feed, we can make adjustments to the program and get your horse on a plan for weight loss or weight gain.
Not weighing your feed can also result in over or undersupplying specific nutrients that support your horses overall health.
So grab yourself a scale and get weighing! Have I converted you from the scoop yet?
#horse #equinenutrition #horsesofinstagram
Why not bring a little holiday treat to the barn this year for your horse with these no bake trail mix clusters.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup oats
1/4 cup chia
1/4 sunflower seeds (I used a no shell option)
1 tbsp Flax
1 crushed candy cane
2 tsp of molasses (or honey)
Mix together (you may want to use your hands) and leave overnight.
Did your horse make the nice list this year?
#horse #horsesofinstagram #holidaytreats
Don't let your horse continue into 2025 with issues related to nutrition.
Schedule your horse for a nutrition consult and see the difference balanced nutrition can have for your horse.
Comment 2025 and I'll send you the link to my free discovery call where we can talk about your horse and how we can work to together.
How do you make your feed decisions?
One of my goals as a consultant is education. I want you, at the end of our sessions, to feel empowered and educated about your feeding choices.
I want you to leave with a plan that you feel good about feeding, that you helped curate with ingredients you are happy to feed and that supports your horses overall health.
Making the choice to invest in your horses nutrition, is a decision to support the health of the whole horse. Let's connect today and start your journey on feeding empowerment.
#horse #equinenutrition #horsehealthnaturally
Don't forget your pasture puffs!
Just because your horse is not in work, does not mean their nutritional needs are met by grass or hay.
Horses have minimum requirements for certain nutrients that pasture or hay alone do not meet. So make sure those lovely pasture ponies are looked after and provided a balanced diet too.
#horse #horsesofinstagram #equinenutrition
We won't mention the S-word, but here are 5 things every horse owner should do as we transition to winter feeding programs.
1. Do transition your horse to the new hay source
2. Do body condition score your horse and adjust their feed plan
3. Do weigh your feed and make sure your horse is getting a minimum of 1.5% of their body weight in forage daily.
4. Do make sure your horse is not going more than 4 hours without feed
5. Do check your water sources to make sure they are winter ready
What are some of your favourite winter tips?
#horse #equinenutrition #yeg
"Just add X!"
Something many of my clients have been told by someone in the horse industry.
This is always said with the best intentions, however, without knowing your horses history or full diet background, this can certainly cause issues for you.
Nutrition is all about balance. There are mineral ratios, drug herb interactions and a multitude of other things going on internally that by "just adding", can be detrimental for your horse.
So when you hear your friend, body worker, or anyone else saying to just add something without looking at the full picture, take a moment and ask your nutritionist!
#horse #equinenutrition #horsebackriding
Independent Equine Nutrition Specialist, helping you make educated, empowered feeding decisions.
