Feeding the “Good Doer” with Emily Mackintosh and “Harry”

Dr Caroline Foote B.Sc.Agr(Hons) M.App.Sc. Ph.D.

“Good doing” horses have a number of characteristics:

They tend to gain weight easily (signs include a cresty neck and localised fat pads);
They may be prone to metabolic disease characterised by increased adiposity; insulin resistance and a predisposition to laminitis;
They require small, concentrated handfed rations to meet daily dietary requirements;
They may require pasture intake to be limited (e.g. using a grazing muzzle).

Our feeding programs focus on three key aspects of equine nutrition:

The provision of fibre;
The supply of high-quality nutrients to promote optimal health and performance; and
The provision of suitable energy feeds according to the horse’s workload, body condition and energy requirement.

Example ration:

FIBRE FIRST

Suitable roughage sources might include limited amounts of lucerne chaff, Rhodes hay and soaked lucerne hay

NOURISH SECOND

Nourish–EQ^® is a concentrated premium balancer pellet that supplies a blend of over 25 vitamins and bone strengthening minerals (including organic trace minerals) in addition to antioxidants, a published dose of a pre- and probiotic, and a concentrated level of biotin. Nourish-EQ^® is also low in non-structural carbohydrates (<8%), therefore it is suitable for all horses.

FUEL THIRD

Additional low starch/sugar feed (e.g. high-fibre/grain free pellets; soaked soyhulls or sugar beet pulp) may be offered IF REQUIRED according to body condition

Case study: Emily Mackintosh and “Harry” (words by Emily Mackintosh)

My first encounter with Nourish Equine Nutrition (Dr Caroline Foote and Jordan Watson) came about following a veterinary consultation that concluded that my Welsh Cob pony, Seawynd Colorado (aka Harry), was required to lose weight. Bit of a hard pill to swallow to say in short – your pony is “too fat”!

What followed was exceptional. Consultation over the telephone with Caroline, followed up by a site visit in Canberra by Jordan. Onsite evaluation of the pony’s current dietary regime, physical activities (training) and checking the paddock/grass time. Then came the formulation of a diet that suited the targeted goal set for this pony – competing Medium Dressage, training Advanced/Prix St George.

The recommended diet of Nourish-EQ has enabled this pony to perform to his maximum capability and has allowed him to outperform the horses in medium competition, let alone the ponies!!!

The thorough assessment of this pony’s metabolic needs has certainly paid dividends – both in performance outcomes and physical wellbeing.

Contact

For further information, please contact us at [email protected].

Feeding the “Good Doer” with Emily Mackintosh and “Harry”

Dr Caroline Foote B.Sc.Agr(Hons) M.App.Sc. Ph.D.

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