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Horses on restricted diets have even greater need for a quality nutrient supply in the feed bowl. When grass intake is limited and forage is soaked, protein, mineral, and vitamin deficiencies can occur quickly.
Protein in particular is vitally important for all round health, organ function, repair and muscle tone – horses on restricted diets ideally need to lose fat but gain muscle. Protein is often under supplied when access to typically high protein grazing is restricted or removed altogether but also when forage is soaked.
Soaking hay not only reduces sugar but also protein, minerals and even fibre content. A horse on soaked hay often needs a much higher protein bucket feed and, a high protein balancer to ensure minimum supply is maintained. Too little protein in the diet can lead to muscle wastage, low energy levels, and poor healing/recovery.
Protein source is also important, as it is not just total protein but the balance of amino acids we need to consider. Certain amino acids are “limiting” because they reduce how much horses can use other amino acids. Supplying these limiting amino acids at the right levels means the horse can make use of all the protein they consume, without limit. Forage protein is considered higher quality than cereal protein because the levels of limiting amino acids are naturally higher. Protein from the legumes lucerne and sainfoin is better still.
A forage balancer such as Simple System MetaSlim is purposefully high in protein and nutrient rich, supplying natural support in the feed bowl to complement those on restricted diets and prone to laminitis. Pairing it with lucerne chop or pellets helps keep protein intake high while keeping sugar levels low.
Using a concentrated pelleted balancer lets us save the bulk of their daily intake for forage. Hay, chops, and soaked forage pellets take longer to get through, keeping them feeling full, mentally satisfied, and maintaining steady passage of feed through the gut.
For free nutritional advice, contact the Simple System Feed Line on 01728 604 008, or email info@simplesystem.co.uk
Thank you @@simplesystemhorsefeeds
#simplesystem #equinenutrition #horsecare
Work or volunteer in equestrianism? We want to hear from you
British Equestrian and Hartpury University want to hear from the people who make equestrianism happen across Britain.
Your experiences will help build a clearer picture of the people and roles that underpin equestrianism and help shape how the sector supports its workforce and volunteers in the future.
Take part by midnight on 31 October 2026.
Links in the bio
The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
When horses reach their senior years, do they automatically need to transition to a veteran diet? Not necessarily!Thank you to @saracen_horse_feeds for sharing this expert advice and supporting Feed Fact Fortnight!
#FeedFactFortnight #VeteranHorseCare #SaracenHorseFeeds #EquineNutrition #HorseHealth #BETA
Some horses are naturally selective, but a change in appetite can also be a reason to take a closer look at digestive health and nutritional balance. By combining traditional herbs (like garlic, mint, thyme, fenugreek, and marshmallow) with prebiotics and probiotics, you can support a healthy digestive system.
Because keeping a horse eating well is about more than making their feed tempting…
A healthy digestive system supports:
• Healthy appetite and normal feed intake
• Balanced gut microbiome, supporting normal digestive function
• Digestive comfort and healthy mucosal tissues
• Normal immune function and a healthy inflammatory response
• Normal metabolism, helping the horse make the most of the nutrients in their diet
Taking things back to nature makes sense.
Traditional herbs including garlic, mint, thyme, fenugreek and marshmallow have long been valued for their role in supporting appetite, digestive function and healthy mucosal tissues, alongside pre and probiotics to support a balanced gut microbiome.
Thank you @horsefirstsupplements for showing how taking things back to nature can help.
#EquineNutrition #DigestiveHealth #HorseHealth #FussyFeeder #EquineWellbeing #HerbalSupport
Fibre is the Foundation with @thunderbrook.horsefeed
When it comes to equine health, fibre is the absolute cornerstone of your horse`s diet. This makes it all the more important to understand the quality of the forage you are feeding. Join us for the FFF webinar with Rob Krabbenborg from Thunderbrook!
He will share his expert insights on the vital role of fibre, forage quality, and nutritional management as we head into the winter months.
• Date: 29th October
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Guest Speaker: Rob Krabbenborg (Team Lead Product Excellence, Thunderbrook)
On BETA Facebook , LinkedIn, Youtube and as a catch-up on Insta
FeedFactFortnight #Thunderbrook #EquineNutrition #ForageQuality #HorseHealth #BETA #LifetimeOfNutrition
🌿 Fabulous Forage Foundations- thank you, @spillershorsefeeds , for sharing knowledge during our FFF!
Wherever possible, forage should be the foundation of a horse`s or pony`s diet. Their digestive system has evolved to be constantly consuming and digesting forage. Trickle eating helps keep horses physically and mentally satisfied.
🌾 For poor doers and horses in hard work, free access to pasture and/ or forage is often best practise. Try to source good quality forage and put horse`s on the best pastures available if they struggle to hold their condition.
⏳For good doers and those overweight some restriction may be necessary to keep their waistlines a healthy shape.
Obesity increases risk of many health issues, so if your horse or pony battles the bulge getting their forage management right is essential. We recommend they eat a minimum of 1.5% of their bodyweight in dry matter each day. For a 500kg horse with no access to grazing, this works out as 9kgs of hay weighed out each day. For those with access to grass during the day, try half this amount if stabled overnight.
For speedy eaters, try providing multiple or small holed double nets to slow them down. To keep those with good dental health chewing for longer, you may want to include some straw in their diet; you can feed up to half their ration as straw and it`s lower calorie than hay.
For reducing grass intake, using a grazing muzzle, strip grazing or track systems can be useful strategies during turnout hours.
We have a great giveaway in partnership with Simple System!
WIN a bag of Simple System’s Meadow Forage Pellets: a nutritious blend of easily digested forages, grown together, to increase variety in the diet.
PLUS a Simple System Bucket Cosi to help keep your feed hygienic.
Thank you!
To take part in the competition, answer the question below in the comments.
Question: Why is it important to feed a variety of different forage types, such as the grasses, sainfoin, Birdsfoot trefoil and chicory found in Meadow Forage Pellets?
A. To support a diverse range of gut microbes
B. For environmental enrichment
C. To offer different tastes and textures
D. All of the above
Let us know in the comments below!
Then. . .
Follow us and @simplesystemhorsefeeds, if you haven’t already done so.
Like this post
Deadline for entries: 1st November, 12 pm
Winner announcement: 2nd November
This competition is run by BETA on both Facebook and Instagram. Correct entries will be combined from both accounts, and a winner will be selected at random from the combined entries. This competition is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram. No cash alternative is offered.
Good luck to everyone entering!
#simplesystem
#30yearsofforagefeeds
#superiorfeedsnaturally
A horse feed balancer is a versatile addition to any horse`s diet—whether you have a competition horse, a growing horse, or a good doer! Thank you to @redmillshorse for sharing this brilliant expert advice and supporting Feed Fact Fortnight!
#FeedFactFortnight #ConnollysRedMills #EquineNutrition #HorseCare #FeedBalancers #BETA
