Boundary Equestrian

11/01/2025

EMMETT - the wonder and magic of the Emmett muscle release.

My husband was in a car accident last week (was hit from behind on Tram Rd waiting to turn right - car a write off) immediately after and over the days following, his body went through a myriad of emotions, adrenaline, soreness and stiffness. I waited until today to do some human moves as needed to let the body do it's thing.

His posture and breathing improved and his walk was more swaggery. For the horse therapists out there, I got some nice deep breaths 😁🤣, not quite at the chewing, licking & yawning stage, but pretty close 🤣.

With each horse level you are taught 2 human moves - extremely helpful in a lot of situations!!!

There is a Horse short course coming up on 16th February run by Equine - Sports Therapy Esme Whinwray. Neil from Emmett in Australia is also coming over in March to do level 1 and 2 human!
https://www.emmett4animals.com/horses

Send a message to learn more

10/01/2025

This is a fantastic learning opportunity where you can take away some fantastic muscle release moves for your equine buddy. Book in now!

EMMETT 4 Animals What is EMMETT... The EMMETT Technique is a safe, simple to apply muscle release therapy created by Ross Emmett. This internationally recognised technique is taught and practised in over 40 Countries and equally effective on both people and animals. EMMETT Therapy works as a first a...

05/01/2025

PROTEIN, the 3rd level in the horse feed pyramid.

PROTEIN = MUSCLE, providing:
✔️Growth
✔️Support
✔️Movement
✔️Heat production

PROTEIN provides the building blocks to make, repair and grow. All tissues in the horse’s body contain protein. Tissues are included in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and cartilage which all aid in supporting and moving the body.

The building blocks of protein and the requirement of the horse are actually amino acids. Meaning that amino acids are fed to the horse which then build together creating proteins in the body. The body is pretty special, as it will make the proteins that it requires and send them to the place they are needed.

There are around 20 amino acids in total, with 10 being essential amino acids. Three of the 10 are limited essential amino acids, being lysine, methionine, and threonine. Lysine in particular is of importance as without this amino acid, a lot of other amino acids cannot make themselves into proteins.
➡️Limited means that they are required in certain quantities otherwise the body cannot create any proteins.
➡️Essential means that they must be fed as the body cannot manufacture them.

A Bit About Topline:
The topline of a horse includes the muscles Latissimus Dorsi, Longissimus Dorsi and Trapezius muscles which are along the horses back form the withers to the croup. These muscles provide support. However, topline requires more than just protein:
🟰 Protein
➕Appropriate and correctly performed exercises
➕Genetics
➕Age

Many horse foods contain protein including grass and meadow hay, but there are only a few that contain quality protein. A quality protein is one that contains any of the limited, essential amino acids and is highly digestible (digestible in the stomach and small intestine).
✔️Lucerne
✔️Soybean meal
✔️Flaxseed and flake (linseed)

The National Research Council advises that a 500kg horse resting requires approximately 630g of protein per day. Protein requirements increases:
⬆️When the workload increases
⬆️Need to increase body weight
⬆️Foal/young horse growing
⬆️Mare in foal or lactating
Lysine is required at a minimum of 18g per day for a 500kg horse resting.

Crude Protein (CP):
Although horse feeds will display the Crude Protein amount, which is an important figure to know and understand, the amino acid profile that makes up that CP content is more important. Lysine is a limited essential amino acid. So if you spot this on the feed label, then you know that it contains quality protein.

I can help you and your equine with a diet overhaul. Providing a detailed report on the current diet and advice on any improvements to ensure you have a nutritional balanced ⚖️and appropriate diet for your equine.
Qualified Equine Nutritionist - www.boundaryequestrian.co.nz

23/12/2024

2024 - where have you gone?

Thank you to everybody that has crossed my path this year. I've really enjoyed meeting and chatting to you all about horses!

This year I finished my studies and became a qualified Equine Nutritionist. This was a few years in the making and really hard to juggle work, life, husband, horses & study!

This qualification goes well with Emmett and my goal for 2025 is to attend some dissections along with getting back in the saddle & having some fun.

Below is a pic of my 3 - I'm no photographer & couldn't get all 3 heads up - here 3 photos..... Guess which 2 are the mares 😁 oh & Clyde 🐈 who is never far away.

Merry Christmas everyone.

22/12/2024

CARBOHYDRATES, the second level of the horse feed pyramid

CARBOHYDRATES = FUEL

CARBOHYDRATES provide fuel to your horse for:
✔️Correct and species appropriate digestive function.
Horses are grazers and their digestive system works from a slowly fed but consistent flow of appropriate roughage. The hind gut relies on CARBOHYDRATES in the form of long-stemmed roughage to help the microbiome work effectively and efficiently.
✔️Main source of energy.
Energy used by the horse is required for tissue repair, organ function, growth and the workload/exercise that is required of them.

CARBOHYDRATES consist of:
➡️Long stemmed roughage (pasture, hay, baleage, haylage)
➡️Chaff
➡️Grains

CARBOHYDRATES can be broken down into 3 main categories:
1️⃣NSC = Non-Structural Carbohydrates.
They do not provide a structure to cells and consist of sugars, fructan and starch. Further broken down into:
▶️WSC = Water-Soluble Carbohydrates consisting of sugars and fructans
▶️ESC = Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates consisting of sugars
▶️Starch

2️⃣NDF = Neutral Detergent Fibre. Provide a structure to cells and consist of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin

3️⃣ADF = Acid Detergent Fibre consisting of cellulose and lignin. Lignin is indigestible and the higher the ADF the less digestible that feed is.

Metabolic horses:
It is best to keep roughage under 12% NSC content. Testing your hay is the only way that you can safely determine the NSC value.
✔️Sugars
➡️can lead to insulin resistance if this is the main content of NSC.
➡️Typically warm season grasses (e.g. cocksfoot, kikuyu) have higher sugars levels.
✔️Starch
➡️Can lead to insulin resistance if this is the main content of NSC (e.g. grains)
✔️Fructan
➡️Can lead to laminitis as it is fermented in the hindgut
➡️Typically cool season grasses (e.g. timothy, clovers, lucerne, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, browntop, sweet vernal) have higher fructan levels.

CARBOHYDRATES from grains containing starch is digested in the small intestine, will produce glucose and used as an energy source.

CARBOHYDRATES from roughage is digested in the hind gut, will produce VFA’s (volatile fatty acids) and are also used as an energy source.

Grains can produce more energy than roughage, but if too much grain is fed it can overload the small intestine with the excess flowing through to the hind gut. Once in the hind gut, the fermentation process of the starch can have a negative effect on the microbiome and can cause colic or lactic acid.

By feeding the appropriate type and amount roughage, you will provide your horse with the best chance to maintain a healthy gut and have the energy required for maintenance, repair and exercise.

I can help you and your equine with a diet overhaul. Providing a detailed report on the current diet and advice on any improvements to ensure you have a nutritional balanced and appropriate diet for your equine.

Qualified Equine Nutritionist - www.boundaryequestrian.co.nz

14/12/2024

💧WATER 💧The most important nutrient in a horses diet 💧

WATER is an essential nutrient – ALL LIVING THINGS DEPEND ON WATER TO SURVIVE – it’s that important!

I’m sure you’ve all heard the proverb “You can lead a horse to WATER but you can’t make it drink”. The meaning of this is that you can provide the opportunity but you can’t force them to take it. This proverb is so totally suited to horses, especially mares!!

Proverbs aside, WATER provides life and wellbeing to your horse.
WATER is approximately 75% the weight of the horse. A loss of approximately 6% of body water will affect their vitality, temperature regulation and energy. A loss of approximately 10% can be deadly.

WATER is required for:
💧Metabolic functions of cells (chemical reactions in cells to create energy, create proteins and lipids and eliminate metabolic wastes)
💧Digestion and absorption of nutrients (especially the water -soluble B group vitamins and vitamin C)
💧Maintaining fluid balance (general hydration)
💧Maintain kidney function
💧Production of milk in lactating mares
💧Growth of a young horse
💧Excretion/elimination of waste in urine

WATER is obtained from:
💧Drinking water
💧Green pasture (contains approximately 80% water)
💧water added to hard feeds
💧Mares milk (approximately 87% of milk is water)

Horses require a minimum of 4 litres / 100kg body weight
(500kg horse = 20 litres minimum).
This amount increases as temperatures and workload increases.

During hot weather ☀️, a third of the WATER consumed is used in cooling the body through sweating and exhaled water vapour from the lung surface.

During long periods of exercise, urinary output is reduced so that the body can maintain and conserve fluid levels.

Your horse’s need for WATER increases when:
⬆️Dry feeds or hay are fed
⬆️Electrolytes are fed
⬆️During hot weather
⬆️After heavy or long periods of exercise

WATER provided for your horse must be clean, fresh and free from chemicals and decomposing organic matter.

I can help you and your equine with a diet overhaul. Providing a detailed report on the current diet and advice on any improvements to ensure you have a nutritional balanced and appropriate diet for your equine.

Qualified Equine Nutritionist - www.boundaryequestrian.co.nz

30/11/2024

EDITED 01/12/24: Purchase must be made direct from Boundary Equestrian.

Competition time!
A Christmas gift for your horse - drawn in time for Christmas!

29/11/2024

🦄Last one for this year.....🦄
Pole lessons next Saturday 7th
PM me to book

24/11/2024

Every equine diet should contain these 6 nutrients - amounts will vary according to age, bred, exercise, living situation and any conditions the horse may have.

The key is BALANCE ⚖️⚖️

A horse can get all their nutritional needs from pasture 🌿🌾 but this is pasture growth and horse specific.

🦄If you would like a comprehensive diet performed for your horse, get in touch. Qualified Equine Nutritionist.

23/11/2024

⭐️Showcasing⭐️Duwell Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil⭐️
Contains essential fatty acid Omega 3.

🇳🇿Created by an Equine Nutritionist and manufactured in New Zealand!🇳🇿

▪️ Flaxseed (sometimes referred to as Linseed) contains the essential fatty acid omega 3.
▪️ Omega 3 is an anti-inflammatory (omega 6 is inflammatory).
▪️ Omega 3 is essential and NEEDS TO BE FEED IN THE DIET.
▪️ Natural form of omega 3 is found in green pasture.
▪️ A horses diet should be higher in omega 3 than 6.
▪️ Cold pressed = mechanical extraction = no heat or solvents used.
▪️ Oil = calories = fat. All horses require fat in their diets to enable cell generation and longevity, aid in the fat-soluble vitamins to be transported and absorbed and also provides a source of energy.
▪️ Feeding oil aids in a shiny coat. Sebum, a natural oily substance is produced by the horse from glands when fat is feed in their diet. Sebum will coat the skin and hairs aiding in protection from weather and dirt.
▪️ Feeding oil helps the symptoms of dry, scaling skin.

Dose rate = 30 to 80ml daily dependent on requirements
2L container = $60.00.
One container will last a horse up to 2 months.
Pick up from Boundary Equestrian or can post for extra $15.00

**NOTE** store in a cool dry place - preferably refrigerate after opening. Oil has the potential to go off and become rancid, tasting "off" and losing its effectiveness.

I am a qualified Equine Nutritionist and am available to create an appropriate diet for your equine.

Send a message to learn more

22/11/2024

And here he is.....helpful as ever ❤️

22/11/2024

Simple straight lines for today's lessons. All while maximizing the entire arena , no cutting corners today!!
Also had a bit of unhelpfulness from Miss Bonnie. Have no idea where the other one is? Most probably visiting the neighbours!🦊

20/11/2024

Simple stuff, walking over poles. Such a great workout with proven results!
Pole lessons this Saturday - still a few spots left to fill - PM me to book.

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽 - 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀

Walking your horse over a series of poles (set at a distance of 0.7-1m apart) is good for:
✅ Improving rhythm
✅ Strength
✅ Control
✅ Developing back rotation
✅ Lateral flexion

Walk poles can also help stop jogging or an irregular or lateral walk.

18/11/2024

Final one in this series.
❓This is WHY series ❓ Part 6 ❓
❓Why it is Important to Introduce Fed Slowly❓

13/11/2024

Simple exercise that gives so much benefit.

Send a message to learn more

11/11/2024

OK folks - I'm back at it!!
🦄Poles Lessons are BACK🦄
All details all below and PM me to book.

04/11/2024

Perfect cheap do up float for someone. PM me to view.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/horse-floats/listing/5002797337?ed=true&bof=AWWd4xd9

Send a message to learn more

03/11/2024

Sorry folks - I forgot to post this last week!
❓This is WHY series ❓ Part 5 ❓
❓Why a Regular Dental is Important in the Health and Nutrition of your Horse❓