Summer is arguably the most pleasurable time to own a horse, but it’s important to consider your horse’s nutrition throughout as this can be just as important as it is in winter. Here at Smart Horse Nutrition, we have a number of nutritious feeds to support work and health throughout the summer months, whatever the […]
With the current fine weather that we’re enjoying in the UK and Ireland, you might be wondering how best to keep your horse comfortable and healthy in the heat? Follow these guidelines for the best care and nutrition when the temperature rises. Hydration Water is easily the most essential nutrient in your horse’s diet […]
As grazing herbivores, horses are finely tuned to consume a continuous supply of forage, which provides a low protein, high fibre diet. Ideally, horses should be grazing 16-18 hours per day on high fibre grasses, plants and herbs, creating natural biodiversity within the diet. Providing forage biodiversity can help support optimum health and nutrition but […]
Good fertility lies at the heart of successful breeding. Whilst other factors can influence a horse’s fertility, nutrition plays a central role in maintaining and promoting it in both mares and stallions. Read on for some essential advice to help support optimum fertility in your horse through feeding. Body Condition One of the single most influential […]
Mashes are a versatile feed, with nutritional benefits for a wide range of horses, our ace nutritionist – Lisa Elliott, Msc – explains more. Why Feed a Mash? Mashes are often though of as a feed for older horses who are unable to chew or a warming feed in colder weather. And while they are […]
Longer days and warmer temperatures have arrived: Spring is here and it’s a welcome relief to horse owners after a long, wet winter. Milder spring temperatures mean that the grass starts to grow, winter coats start to shed, and once lockdown restrictions are eased we hope to start to be able to spend more time […]
We all love the idea of our horses out grazing green pastures, especially after a hard winter where your horse may have spent a lot of time stabled. With good energy, fibre and micronutrient levels, grass offers excellent nutrition, but if your horse hasn’t had access to it for a while, going back out in […]
What is a Balancer? A balancer is a nutrient dense feed containing vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids – the ‘building blocks’ of protein, alongside a negligible number of calories. Balancers are normally created in a pelleted form but can also take the form of a mix and they effectively ‘balance’ the diet, supplying essential micronutrients for optimum […]
During the winter horses can drop condition due to reduced nutrition in grass and lower temperatures. Providing the right nutrition and management helps promote condition, so if your horse drops weight in winter, follow these guidelines to keep your horse in excellent health. Winter Nutrition Good nutrition will support body condition, but it’s important to […]
Whether you are a one mare owner or run a large stud, you will want to give your foal the best possible start in life and weaning is a key part of that. Weaning can be a stressful experience for a foal, but with the right care and nutrition you can help minimise this stress […]