GOOD quality forage is the most essential part of every horse or pony’s diet. As the great British climate becomes more changeable, making good quality forage has never been more challenging and this season has been no exception.
A very dry spring followed by variable weather throughout the country over summer, means most farmers are reporting reduced yields. Rain, which came to some areas later in the season, has been a mixed blessing, helping to boost second cuts for many producers, but also making harvesting crops difficult.
Traditionally, hay has been the supplementary forage fed to horses, but with more and more farmers producing haylage it has become more readily available. However, they are two very different products, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Whichever you chose it is important it is good quality. Paying a little more for a good product will be more cost effective than buying inferior feed, which can actually do your horse more harm than good, or may end up being wasted.
The nutrient value of hay and haylage depends on the grass species used, the time of year it is cut and the environment conditions at the time, but generally the nutrient value of haylage is higher.
Forage is a horse’s natural feed and should be the basis of its diet, with extra feed added only if forage cannot supply sufficient nutrients. A hard working horse is likely to require some concentrate feed in addition to forage, but for horses and ponies with low nutrient requirement, who are good doers and in light or no work, forage should supply all the energy and protein they need.
However, even the best quality forage may not supply all the vitamins and minerals a horse needs and horses on a forage-only diet should be fed a balanced source of vitamins and minerals.
Forage can vary significantly in nutrient value and the only sure way to know exactly what you are feeding is to have your forage analysed. Many producers now offer a nutrient analysis or you can have this done yourself.
Protein, fibre and energy analysis is relatively cheap, but vitamin and mineral analysis is more expensive. If in doubt, use a broad spectrum or forage balancing supplement alongside your forage.
The obvious difference is haylage is wrapped in plastic and hay is not. Grass for haylage is usually cut later than for silage, but several weeks sooner than for hay. Therefore, grass used for haylage tends to be younger and so is more digestible to horses and they tend to do better on it, so this must be taken into consideration when feeding it. They usually find it more palatable and will consume more than hay if fed ad-lib.
Mown grass for haylage is tedded and raked in a similar way to hay, but is baled and then wrapped a day or two earlier. Good hay will have been dried relatively quickly, ideally to about 14 per cent moisture. Hay which has been rained
on will have had some of the nutrients washed out, but more importantly may have been baled with too high a moisture content, leading to the growth of mould and fungi.
When you cut the strings on a good bale of hay it should ‘spring’ apart, be a greenish colour and smell sweet. If dried for longer it may be more yellow in colour and have less nutritional value, which may be more suitable for good doers and ponies. Hay which is dark in colour and has an ‘off’ smell should be discarded.
All hay contains some dust and mould spores and its low moisture content means these become airborne and are a health risk to horses, particularly if stabled, and can cause respiratory problems.
As haylage is dried for a shorter period than hay it contains more moisture, often between 40 and 50 per cent. Sealing it in plastic excludes the air and the fermentation process then preserves it. Well made haylage contains very few, if any, mould spores, and because of its higher moisture content any which are present do not become airborne and, therefore, do not cause problems.
Although haylage is often more expensive than hay it can be better value as concentrate feed can often be reduced because haylage is more nutritious.
The quality of the haylage will be reduced if the wrapping has been punctured at any time allowing air in and mould to develop. Bales should be tightly wrapped with at least six layers of plastic.
Hay will remain in good condition for a long period of time if stored correctly, but haylage will start to deteriorate once opened and should be used within a few days, meaning it is not always practical for one or two horse owners.
How much to feed
To maintain your horse’s appropriate fibre intake you will need to feed a larger weight of haylage because it contains more moisture. For example, a typical 500g 16hh riding horse requires a minimum daily roughage intake of about 1 per cent of its bodyweight ie, 5kg of hay or, due to its higher moisture content, 7-8.5kg of haylage. Although you need more haylage by weight, you will need less by volume, as again, due to its higher moisture content, haylage is denser than hay. If you have only just started feeding haylage, it may be a good idea to weigh it out initially until you get used to judging the correct amount.
Feeding haylage
If changing from hay to haylage do so gradually to allow your horse’s digestive system time to adapt
Always buy from a reliable source and check all bales for damage
Once opened use a bale as quickly as possible, as exposing it to air means there is potential for mould to develop. Do not feed mouldy haylage to horses
Sometimes on opening a bale you will see tiny white/cream round ‘colonies’ on the haylage. They have a creamy consistency and are not powdery or fluffy. These are yeasts, not moulds and will not harm horses as they do not produce spores
Silage is baled and wrapped sooner after mowing than haylage, when the moisture content is higher. It has a strong smell and is not palatable to horses. If fed it can result in digestive upsets and scouring. Some farmers still refer to all wrapped forage as silage, so the only true way to see what they are offering is to have a look at it
Do not feed any haylage which has been contaminated by soil as this can lead to the risk of toxins causing listeriosis and botulism
As long as the sealed wrapping remains intact and has not been punctured haylage will remain well preserved and nutritious for a long period of time - it does not need to be used up in the year it was made
Ideally, horses should be fed ad-lib forage on the ground to replicate their natural environment, but if it has to be restricted, break it up into as many small feeds as possible. Using a hay net with small holes will slow down eating and make forage last longer
Haylage facts
Dust free - healthier than hay
Can be stored outside
Has a higher nutritional value, but not suitable for all horses/ponies
Can be more cost effective as it can reduce concentrated feed use.
Can be difficult to move around
Is more palatable than hay
Must be used quickly once opened - not practical for everyone
Is a more natural feed than hay and more digestible
Autumn watch
Spring and summer are not the only times when laminitis can strike. Autumn is notorious for the onset of the problem, even in horses and ponies with no previous history, particularly if there is a late flush of grass - so take care.
Don’t turn out in frosty conditions as changes in the grass caused by the cold can induce laminitis
Monitor your horse’s weight - learn to condition score or use a weigh tape
Increase your horse’s workload. This will not only keep the weight off, but reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance which can lead to laminitis
Check your horse’s diet and analyse forage - it is the only way to tell how many calories it is providing. Most feed companies provide this service
Pasture management - restrict grazing by grazing paddocks with sheep or other horses or by strip grazing. Use a menage for turn out.
Are you interested in horses and looking for more information and live in or around the Crieff, Perthshire area, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's very own Riding Centre, set within 900 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside at the foot of the Knock of Crieff, the Crieff Hydro Riding Centre boasts a unique setting for horsey lovers. Check out the official Hydro Riding Website for more information- http://hydroriding.com/
Showing posts with label Crieff Hydro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crieff Hydro. Show all posts
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Friday, 8 March 2013
Clearance Sale Now On at TicTac Equestrian
We're doing a little bit of spring cleaning at TicTac Equestrian, so we've put together a great selection of clearance products, with significant discounts (up to 50% off) on a wide range of items, from gloves, boots, rugs, and other accessories.
These are just some of the many items we have on offer in our fantastic clearance sale at TicTac Equestrian, so don't delay, head over to the official store for some great Spring deals!
If you are interested in horse riding and live near Crieff, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel and Resort's very own riding centre, check out its official website for more details http://hydroriding.com/
Among our fantastic range of care products for horse, pony and stable owner alike, we have the Fal Pro Bulldog 200g Turnout Rug, reduced from £164.99 to a stunning £131.99.
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| Fal Pro Bulldog 200g rug, now reduced! |
We also have a fantastic deal on these eye-catching, yet thoroughly functional tweed-style wellies from Maniera. They will keep you warm, dry and clean when your caught in the rather dismal U.K. Spring weather! Reduced by almost half price, from £89.99 to £49.99, these boots are a steal for any funky horse lover, or fashion-conscious stablehand.
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| Funky Tweed-style Wellies from Maniera |
If you are interested in horse riding and live near Crieff, make sure that you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel and Resort's very own riding centre, check out its official website for more details http://hydroriding.com/
Thursday, 7 March 2013
American Wild Horse Crisis
There are 10,000 more horses and burros in the wild than their habitat can support, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
But, the agency says, there will soon be little they can do about it.
The overpopulation problem is now putting a big strain on the agency as it tries to figure out how to keep the spiraling population from harming the ecosystem.
The current conundrum can be traced in part to 1971. At the time, Congress passed the Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which tasked BLM with preserving the wild animals in the 10 western states where they roamed. As with any grazing animal, though, the absence of predators caused the population to boom. After their numbers doubled in five years, Congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act which made BLM responsible for keeping wild horse and burro populations in check.
Fran Ackley, who runs BLM's Wild Horse Program holding facility in Canon City, Colo., said that since there are no predators, federal officials "act as predators in that we remove horses (from the wild)." This, he said, "kind of serves as a similar act in controlling the population."
Rounded up animals are placed in long- and short-term holding facilities and put up for adoption. Adoptions, however, especially in the recent recession, have been far lower than the number of horses taken off the range. The result is that there are now some 50,000 "wild" horses and burros in BLM holding facilities around the West.
That's compared with roughly 37,000 currently in the wild, a number BLM says is 10,000 more than it should be. The agency says room in its holding facilities will reach capacity this year.
"The growth rate 'in the wild' is about 20 percent," Ackley explained. "So that means we're going to have another 7,400 horses this summer after foaling season. And right now it looks like we cannot remove all of them, maybe between 5,000 and 6,000 animals."
Each coming year, the population in the wild will increase, and if something isn't done, the BLM will be unable to remove any of them, according to Ackley. "If we don't manage them they're going to eat themselves out of house and home and destroy the habitat that supports -- not only them but, you know, endangered species, other plant and animal species and wildlife."
Currently the Wild Horse and Bureau Program spends about $50 million a year just to feed the animals held in captivity. That's around 70 percent of its annual budget, and horses in captivity live up to 25 years. When it comes to other grazing animals like deer, elk and bison, hunting acts as a substitute for natural predation. Hunting horses, though, is prohibited.
And while horse meat is consumed by humans in much of the world, selling any of the horses to slaughter houses is a public relations nightmare the Bureau is determined to avoid.
"We'd like to see reproduction targeted as part of a solution," said Karen Herman, owner and operator of the Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary near Santa Fe, N.M. She said it's obvious to everyone the current system for managing wild horses is broken. "I think we need to be much more creative and innovative, and I think PZP is a science-based solution that's also ecologically and economically sound."
PZP, porcine zona pellucida, is a birth control drug that can last up to two years. Longer lasting fertility drugs are being developed. Herman has been involved in PZP trials in the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico where mares are darted in the wild to inject the drug.
"It limits their reproduction so they can stay free, they can be wild." Herman said. "And yet their numbers aren't exceeding the capacity that the land can hold. There's 20 years of data that shows it's totally safe, it's 90 percent effective (and) it doesn't change their family behavior, their social behavior."
Many wild horse advocates oppose fertility control but Herman says the alternatives of roundup or overpopulation are far less attractive. "There's nothing humane about starvation -- it's a long, cruel, slow death. I respect other peoples' right to their perspective. Mine is that we have the means to help horses stay healthy and free. Why not use it?"
Ackley also feels that PZP is promising and points out that the BLM is also conducting trials. He agrees, though, that fertility control is only part of the solution.
"I'm going to guess there's in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 herds that we can actually do that: approach the horses on foot with a dart gun and put the drug into them. But you know, in Utah, Wyoming, California and Nevada, their horses are a lot more wild ... so that's really not practical in those populations."
Recently, Kathleen Mussetter came to the BLM Canon City holding facility to adopt one of the mustangs removed from the wild. "They're just so amazing. Just completely honest," she said.
Mussetter said she also worries about what will happen to the mustangs still roaming wild. "They reproduce out there, but the range is not reproducing. So I believe the BLM is kind of between a rock and a hard place. They're trying to do the right thing for the horses but what can you do? It's hard for a horse lover, it's a hard subject."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/26/american-west-running-out-room-for-wild-horses/#ixzz2OhZfV1Ec
For more information on all things horses, as well as horse riding in Crieff, make sure you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's Riding Centre Website at http://hydroriding.com/.
But, the agency says, there will soon be little they can do about it.
The overpopulation problem is now putting a big strain on the agency as it tries to figure out how to keep the spiraling population from harming the ecosystem.
The current conundrum can be traced in part to 1971. At the time, Congress passed the Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which tasked BLM with preserving the wild animals in the 10 western states where they roamed. As with any grazing animal, though, the absence of predators caused the population to boom. After their numbers doubled in five years, Congress passed the Federal Land Policy and Management Act which made BLM responsible for keeping wild horse and burro populations in check.
Fran Ackley, who runs BLM's Wild Horse Program holding facility in Canon City, Colo., said that since there are no predators, federal officials "act as predators in that we remove horses (from the wild)." This, he said, "kind of serves as a similar act in controlling the population."
Rounded up animals are placed in long- and short-term holding facilities and put up for adoption. Adoptions, however, especially in the recent recession, have been far lower than the number of horses taken off the range. The result is that there are now some 50,000 "wild" horses and burros in BLM holding facilities around the West.
That's compared with roughly 37,000 currently in the wild, a number BLM says is 10,000 more than it should be. The agency says room in its holding facilities will reach capacity this year.
"The growth rate 'in the wild' is about 20 percent," Ackley explained. "So that means we're going to have another 7,400 horses this summer after foaling season. And right now it looks like we cannot remove all of them, maybe between 5,000 and 6,000 animals."
Each coming year, the population in the wild will increase, and if something isn't done, the BLM will be unable to remove any of them, according to Ackley. "If we don't manage them they're going to eat themselves out of house and home and destroy the habitat that supports -- not only them but, you know, endangered species, other plant and animal species and wildlife."
Currently the Wild Horse and Bureau Program spends about $50 million a year just to feed the animals held in captivity. That's around 70 percent of its annual budget, and horses in captivity live up to 25 years. When it comes to other grazing animals like deer, elk and bison, hunting acts as a substitute for natural predation. Hunting horses, though, is prohibited.
And while horse meat is consumed by humans in much of the world, selling any of the horses to slaughter houses is a public relations nightmare the Bureau is determined to avoid.
"We'd like to see reproduction targeted as part of a solution," said Karen Herman, owner and operator of the Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary near Santa Fe, N.M. She said it's obvious to everyone the current system for managing wild horses is broken. "I think we need to be much more creative and innovative, and I think PZP is a science-based solution that's also ecologically and economically sound."
PZP, porcine zona pellucida, is a birth control drug that can last up to two years. Longer lasting fertility drugs are being developed. Herman has been involved in PZP trials in the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico where mares are darted in the wild to inject the drug.
"It limits their reproduction so they can stay free, they can be wild." Herman said. "And yet their numbers aren't exceeding the capacity that the land can hold. There's 20 years of data that shows it's totally safe, it's 90 percent effective (and) it doesn't change their family behavior, their social behavior."
Many wild horse advocates oppose fertility control but Herman says the alternatives of roundup or overpopulation are far less attractive. "There's nothing humane about starvation -- it's a long, cruel, slow death. I respect other peoples' right to their perspective. Mine is that we have the means to help horses stay healthy and free. Why not use it?"
Ackley also feels that PZP is promising and points out that the BLM is also conducting trials. He agrees, though, that fertility control is only part of the solution.
"I'm going to guess there's in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 herds that we can actually do that: approach the horses on foot with a dart gun and put the drug into them. But you know, in Utah, Wyoming, California and Nevada, their horses are a lot more wild ... so that's really not practical in those populations."
Recently, Kathleen Mussetter came to the BLM Canon City holding facility to adopt one of the mustangs removed from the wild. "They're just so amazing. Just completely honest," she said.
Mussetter said she also worries about what will happen to the mustangs still roaming wild. "They reproduce out there, but the range is not reproducing. So I believe the BLM is kind of between a rock and a hard place. They're trying to do the right thing for the horses but what can you do? It's hard for a horse lover, it's a hard subject."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/26/american-west-running-out-room-for-wild-horses/#ixzz2OhZfV1Ec
For more information on all things horses, as well as horse riding in Crieff, make sure you check out Crieff Hydro Hotel's Riding Centre Website at http://hydroriding.com/.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Horse Riding Holidays
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| A horse Riding Holiday is a great way to treat the family and brush up on your skills! |
With only a few months before the Summer Holidays, we've been thinking it's a great time to start planning a special holiday for the horse lovers in your family.
If you're thinking the same thing, then you're in luck as there are a number of great places where you can go to relax and explore beautiful surroundings with a number of fantastic four-legged friends and some of the finest facilities in the country.
The four-star luxury leisure resort, Crieff Hydro Hotel - set within a lush estate near the quaint town of Crieff in rural Perthshire - is a haven for horse lovers, with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
They regularly look after guests who are experienced riders, while others have never even met a horse, let alone sat on one. Either way, they're well-equipped to cater to any and all of your horse-riding needs. Ultimately, if you want to explore the serene 900-acre estate on horseback, they'll make it happen.
The Crieff Hydro Riding Centre is approved by the British Horse Society (BHS) and the Trekking and Riding Society of Scotland. Suffice to say, the horses are at Crieff Hydro Hotel are happy and our people have proper certificates.
For children under five, they offer hand-led pony rides, while there are larger ponies for children over six. For adults, lessons, horses and supervised routes for all levels. For more information, just contact the Riding Centre Site.
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