From Field to Stable

In winter, we often make changes to our horse’s routine – for example, bringing them in at night after a summer spent out at grass 24/7, some are often brought in full time. This change of seasons not only involves changing their main source of forage from grass to hay, but it also involves introducing hard feed and a change of surroundings.

Horses and ponies that were once free to roam fields grazing during the summer are now confined to a stable, which can cause its own stress. As a result, horses lose out on the ability to engage in natural behaviours. Restricting their activity in this way can lead to stress and anxiety. If you have a horse prone to stress, we recommend Horse First Relax Me.

RelaxMe is a unique double action formula which works on both the gut and the nervous system. RelaxMe combines magnesium, vitamin E and B group vitamins to create a calmer more easy-going horse. With RelaxMe the secret is in the loading, so when feeding for the first time give a loading serving, two to four 25g scoops for the first 5-10 days morning and evening until the desired effect is obtained. Then cut back to maintenance level.

We also recommend getting your horse out of their box which can include, paddock time, hand walking, lunging, riding or putting them on the walker. All are great ways of providing stimulation outside of the stable.

Many leisure horses do perfectly well on a forage-based diet, but it’s difficult to know exactly what vitamins, minerals and proteins they’re receiving. Therefore, it’s recommended to feed a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement daily to make sure your horse is getting exactly what they need. As wintertime represents a significant change in the horse’s diet and management, it should be completed gradually over 10-14 days.

With horses coming from a healthy grass diet, now is the time to introduce Omega Oil. It has been proven that supplementing the equine diet with oils that contain higher levels of Omega 3 are highly beneficial to all horses. As well as having anti-inflammation properties the short-term benefits include improved skin and coat condition. Omega-3 fats can support a calm demeanour, immune function, and joint health. The Horse First Omega D Oil is formulated by our nutritional experts to insure the correct ratio of Omega D Oil and Vitamin D for maximum benefits. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and vital for bone development and strength. Added to high quality Omega Oil, gives the Horse First Omega D Oil even more nutritional properties.

In their natural environment horses consume only a forage diet, mainly grass. The grass does contain small amounts of fat and most of that is made up of omega 3 fatty acids. With horses stabled and in regular work, it is important to substitute these oils as supplementation may benefit your animal. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) that are essential in the horse’s diet. The horse cannot synthesize these essential fats on their own, which is why they must obtain them through the diet.

Research has shown many benefits for feeding Omega D Oil. For animals that have difficulty gaining weight they could also benefit from essential fatty acids as a dense energy source. This allows you to introduce more energy in your horses to support healthy weight gain without feeding higher volumes of hard food.