Feed Your Steed

28/08/2025

Important dietary considerations for horses with EMS/IR
The Challenge of Lucerne (Alfalfa) for EMS/IR Horses
While lucerne (alfalfa) is a fantastic forage for many horses, for those managing Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Insulin Resistance (IR), its use needs careful consideration. Here's why:
High Protein Content Matters: Lucerne is naturally high in crude protein (CP%). Some lucerne products, particularly WA-grown Lucerne hay & chaff, contain CP% levels exceeding 30%.
Exaggerated Insulin Response: Research shows EMS/IR horses, already struggling with insulin dysregulation, can have a significantly greater insulin response to high-protein meals compared to healthy horses. Studies noted a 9-fold greater insulin response in EMS horses fed a 31% CP feed.
Amino Acid Effects: Certain amino acids in high-protein feeds, like arginine and leucine, activate a pathway (mTOR) linked to cell growth and metabolism. While vital, its prolonged activation from high protein intake in EMS/IR horses could worsen insulin resistance and potentially increase the risk of laminitis.
Minimising Risks: Therefore, limiting or avoiding lucerne products with very high protein content (especially >30% CP) is a prudent strategy for EMS/IR horses to minimise this exaggerated insulin response and better manage their condition.
Hay Selection and the N:S Ratio
Nitrogen-to-Sulphur (N:S) Ratio: This ratio is important for protein metabolism and amino acid synthesis in horses, particularly for hoof health. Sulphur is essential for building amino acids like methionine and cysteine.
High Protein Hay (Over 13% CP): If your hay tests over 13% CP, the N:S ratio becomes more important. An imbalance, with too much nitrogen relative to Sulphur, can impact how efficiently your horse utilises protein, potentially leading to increased nitrogen excretion.
Consider Sulphur Supplementation: If your hay analysis shows an imbalanced N:S ratio, consider adding a sulphur supplement (e.g., methionine) to the diet to help your horse utilise protein more effectively.
Forage Analysis is Key: Since hay's protein and sulphur levels vary greatly, getting a hay analysis is crucial to understand its nutritional profile and guide dietary adjustments for EMS/IR horses.
Takeaway: Managing EMS/IR horses requires a holistic approach, considering both NSC (sugar and starch) and crude protein content. Limiting very high protein feeds like some lucerne forages and carefully monitoring the N:S ratio in hay (especially over 13% CP) are vital steps to support metabolic health and reduce laminitis risk.
Always consult with your vet or an equine nutritionist for help with your horses and ponies' feeds for your horse.

23/08/2025

Did You Know? 🐴

Ponies are not just small horses—they have unique nutritional needs! Their digestive systems are super-efficient, meaning they get more energy from their forage compared to the average horse.

Pony Facts You Need to Know:
Fuel-Efficient: Ponies burn about 15% fewer calories than horses at maintenance/rest.

Protein Power: They use around 10% less protein than horses.

As we head into spring, it's the perfect time to adjust your pony's diet. Monitoring their weight, Body Condition Score (BCS), and understanding their specific nutritional needs are key to keeping them happy and healthy.

By feeding your pony like a pony, not a horse, you can prevent common health issues and ensure they thrive.

21/08/2025

Feeding Recommendations for Horses with EMS and IR:
Practical Insights and Research

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Insulin Resistance (IR) are conditions where a horse's body does not respond normally to insulin, leading to health risks such as laminitis—a painful and potentially debilitating inflammation of the tissues in the hoof. When horses experience insulin surges after eating, especially if they have EMS/IR or Insulin Dysregulation (ID), they are at increased risk of developing laminitis and other metabolic complications.

One of the obstacles I often encounter with clients’ horses and ponies suffering from EMS or IR is the constraint of feeding hard feed only once daily, often due to agistment arrangements or owners’ limited availability. However, research strongly supports the practice of dividing hard feed into two small meals per day for these horses.

The research by Macon et al. (2022) found horses with insulin dysregulation (ID)—a condition where the body's ability to regulate insulin is impaired—exhibited significantly greater insulin responses to various feedstuffs compared to healthy horses. Notably, even a low NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrate; starch and sugars) feed can provoke an exaggerated insulin spike in ID horses, especially when consumed quickly. Since insulin surges can increase the risk of laminitis and other serious health issues, managing the amount and frequency of carbohydrate intake is critical.

Given these findings, it becomes clear why meal frequency and portion size are critical factors in managing EMS/IR horses. Not only is it important to select low NSC feeds, but it’s equally vital to pay attention to how often and how quickly horses consume their meals. For particularly sensitive EMS/IR horses, the recommendation is to keep starch and sugars (NSC%) in a single meal under 0.1g/kg of body weight. This strict guideline helps to minimise post-feeding insulin surges that can occur in sensitive horses, even with low-NSC feeds.

Furthermore, the study suggests splitting small hard feed into several meals a day may offer additional benefits for severely affected horses, helping to further reduce insulin peaks.
In summary, feeding a horse or pony with EMS/IR twice a day with low starch and sugar hard feed (threshold for NSC% of around 0.1 g/kg bwt. /meal), as informed by these research findings, supports stable blood glucose, reduces post-feeding insulin spikes, and promotes healthy digestion. This approach is essential for lowering the risk of laminitis and supporting overall metabolic health.

To make these recommendations more tangible: For instance, if your pony weighs 300 kg, each hard feed should not exceed 300g of starch & sugars. Monitor their response to this feeding schedule and adjust quantities and frequency with guidance from your veterinarian or equine nutritionist. Regular monitoring and adjustments ensure their diet meets your horse’s individual needs and supports their ongoing health and wellbeing.

By understanding the science behind these guidelines and applying them thoughtfully, owners can make a real difference in the health outcomes for horses and ponies living with EMS or IR.

Reference: Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Caldwell Barker A, Adams A
Equine Vet J. 2022 Dec 20. doi: 10.1111evj .13910. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36537847.

22/07/2025

Remember, horses do not like cold water !! Horses generally prefer their water at a temperature between 7°C & 18°C. This range is considered to encourage them to drink adequately & should feel natural and comfortable. Think of it like the temperature of a refreshing drink you’d enjoy on a mild day—not ice-cold, but pleasantly cool.

Water which is too cold or too warm can be unappealing and lead to reduced water intake, potentially causing health issues, for example, impaction colic. This is why, on a cold morning, I always add some warm water to my horses' buckets of water to encourage them to drink.

Some people might use some molasses to encourage them to drink. But if you have an EMS/IR horse or pony, use a low sugar cordial but make sure it contains Stevia as a sweetener, e.g., Bickford's No Sugar Raspberry Cordial.

For those who have not read the paper: Research showed stevioside was well tolerated in EMS/IR horses because the stevia did not induce the same metabolic responses as the molasses.

Elzinga, S.E., B. Rohleder, B. Schanbacher, et al. Metabolic and inflammatory responses to the common sweetener stevioside and a glycemic challenge in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.

DEHYDRATION RISK - Why is it high in winter, even if it's cold? Believe it or not, hydration is just as important in winter as it is in summer but is often overlooked. The cooler temperatures can actually decrease the urge to drink, so even though our horses are still exercising, they may not be getting the water needed.

💧Hydration is especially important if you are needing to feed hay that is lower in quality to reduce the risk of impaction colic.

What can you do?
1️⃣ It's important to make sure your horse is getting enough essential electrolytes to support their critical processes and encourage them to drink. You can add salt to their feed or give them access to a pink salt block in their stable or paddock. Salt is an essential electrolyte and is also vital for the drinking reflex.

2️⃣ Offer a soaked mash feed or add a fibre mash supplement like Lupin Fibre Cubes or Lupin Fibre Boost with plenty of water to give them extra hydration. These can even be soaked with warm water to help keep fight the winter chills.

09/07/2025

Why You Should Keep an Eye on Your Pony’s Weight During Winter
Monitoring your pony's weight during the colder months is key to keeping them healthy, comfortable, and prepared for spring. Winter-specific challenges can often hide their true body condition and cause unexpected weight fluctuations.
Measuring a Pony’s Weight with Three Key Measurements:
Estimating a pony's weight without a scale is easy with just three tape measure readings. Simply follow the steps below and use the formulas provided to calculate the weight accurately.
Required Measurements
•Heart Girth (HG): wrap the tape around the chest, just behind the elbows and withers.
•Body Length (BL): measure in a straight line from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock.
•Height at Withers (Ht): measure vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers.
Ensure your pony stands square on level ground and the tape is snug but not tight.
Core Formula (Carroll & Huntington, 1988)
Use this two‐point formula (HG and BL in centimeters) to estimate weight in kilograms: Weight (kg) = (HG² × BL) ÷ 11877
This method is proven reliable for adult horses; ponies often need a small downward adjustment (see next section).
Pony-Specific Adjustments
Ponies carry more roundness relative to length, so the horse-derived formula can overestimate by approximately 3%–6%.
To correct:
•Multiply the result by 0.94–0.97.
•Or derive a custom divisor: if your known-weight pony measures HG and BL, solve D in (HG² × BL) ÷ D = true weight.
Alternatively, some calculators use a four-point exponent formula calibrated for ponies: Weight (kg) ≈ (HG¹·⁴⁸⁶ × BL⁰·⁵⁵⁴ × Ht⁰·⁵⁹⁹ × Neck⁰·¹⁷³) ÷ 3606
Here, all measures are in centimeters and the divisor 3606 is specialized for pony conformation.
Tips for Maximum Accuracy
•Take each measurement twice and average your readings.
•Measure girth after the pony exhales (no deep inhale).
•Use a non-stretch tape (calibrated weight tape).
•Record measurements on level, firm ground with the pony standing square.

Keeping track of these estimates, along with occasional weighbridge checks at your pony's vet, will help you refine your divisor over time.

30/06/2025

As they say in the classics got to be in it to win it ….

🟣 Do you feed Calm Care Plus? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your horse or pony's Calm Care Plus transformation to go into the draw to take home a 3-month's supply* of Calm Care Plus!

TO ENTER: Head to our website and fill in the form with your horse or pony's story with our team >>
https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/giveaway-win-a-3-months-supply-of-calm-care-plus

Entries close Friday 1 August 2025, and a prize winner will be chosen by our nutrition team. Winners will be notified via the email provided.

*Prize includes 9 x 20kg bags, or 3 months' supply for a 500kg horse in moderate work (nearly 6 months' supply for a pony being fed 1kg per day!)

⚠️ Please be aware of scammers. We will not send you friend requests, invite you to join a group or ask you to input any financial details.

01/02/2025

A great guide to worming horses

24/01/2025

Phil & Emma have asked me to post the results of Curulli Meadow Hay for the 2024-2025 season. I am sure there are quite a few people interested in these results.

21/01/2025

⚠️Health alert ⚠️ High heat, dehydration and impaction colic:
Did you know that dehydration is a contributing factor to impaction colic? Impaction is a type of colic that occurs when the water content in the large intestine decreases, and the feed content can dry out and become difficult to pass through or even cause a blockage. With more extreme heat this week, keeping our horses cool and hydrated is essential for prevention.

Risk Factors
⚠️ Horses are particularly at risk of dehydration during periods of hot weather and intense exercise which increases their requirements, or when they are not drinking enough clean, fresh water (if their trough gets low, warm or dirty).
⚠️ An increased amount of dry forage, or poor-quality grasses and hays that are higher in indigestible fibre can mean the contents of the large intestine become too dry.
⚠️ Reduced fibre intake can also increase the risk of colic.

Prevention is key - here are some things you can do:
1️⃣ Make sure your horse has constant access to clean, cool and fresh water. They might not drink if the water gets too warm, or their troughs are dirty.

2️⃣ Offer a soaked mash like Lupin Fibre Cubes or Lupin Fibre Boost with plenty of water to give them extra hydration and keep highly digestible fibre in the gut. You can split this into smaller feeds throughout the day.

3️⃣ Ensure your horse is getting enough essential electrolytes to support their critical processes and encourage them to drink. You can add salt to their feed or give them access to a pink salt block in their stable or paddock.

Why does adding salt encourage them to drink?
💡 Salt is not only an essential electrolyte, it is vital for stimulating the drinking reflex.
When a horse's body gets low in sodium, it starts to conserve more water, and it actually LOWERS their thirst stimulus. So even though the horse needs to consume more water, their body isn't telling it them to drink more which only increases their dehydration.

If your horse is showing any signs of impaction colic, early recognition and treatment can improve outcome so call your vet immediately.

17/01/2025

Hay results are starting to come back from the USA.

Our results are out for the year, [lease check the website https://limerickfodder.com/2018-hay-test-results/

31/12/2024

A good reminder to check your horses mouth. This could caused by spear or barley grass left on the paddocks or in the horses hay.

30/12/2024

As they say in the classics … you have to be in it to win it… this feed is very personal. I hope your horses and ponies love it 🥰

🟣 GIVEAWAY! New year...new feed? 🟣
To kick start your horse or pony's health in 2025 we're giving 3 lucky people the chance to win 2 x 20kg bags of our new Calm Care Plus. This is a great opportunity to try our new grain-free complete feed!

🟣TO ENTER 🟣
- Comment below with a photo of your horse or pony
- Tell us why Calm Care Plus would kick start their health in 2025

Calm Care Plus is a nutrient-rich, concentrated pellet with added pre & probiotics, amino acids and magnesium to help your horse or pony calmly achieve superior health, condition and performance. PLUS it's laminitis safe! Read more here >>> https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/equine/calm-care-plus

T&C's - This competition is open to WA residents only. Entries close 11.59pm AWST Sunday 5 January 2025. Entries will only be accepted that satisfy both criteria above. Winners will be announced in a post on the official Thompson and Redwood page.

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