Part 1, Feed
Feed Introduction
Food is essential for horses and ponies to maintain bodily condition as it provides raw materials for growth and tissue repair, as well as energy for work. Horses have evolved naturally as roaming grazing animals, eating for 18 out of 24 hours. Their digestive system is designed to cope with frequent small amounts of fibrous grass or other high roughage forage rather than large quantities of high starch concentrate feed. Still today, well-managed pasture can go a long way towards providing the basic nutrition and maintenance energy that horses and ponies require. In contrast, unmanaged pasture will present the equine grazer with unpalatable weeds, sparse grass growth and minimal nutrition and energy at the best of times! Wide ranges of manufactured horse and pony feeds boast a herb, legume or grass content that is so natural within a horse's diet. With good pasture management, these attributes can be readily available within grazing.
This information is not intended to provide a comprehensive feeding guide, just an indication of the feed value that can be available to horses grazing on well managed pasture.
Watch Feed and Bedding advice video (Transcript at bottom of the page)
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Problem
There is no doubt that owning or keeping a horse is a time and labour-consuming activity. Grassland management should be of paramount importance to every horse owner but is sadly sometimes overlooked. It is important to consider grazing as more than a low dust environment where voluntary exercise, social interaction and sometimes ridden work can occur. With appropriate management, the nutrition within grazing will increase as will the safety, security and aesthetic appearance of land. And of course, supplementary feed costs will decrease.
The nutritional value of grazing varies according to the grass species, stage of plant growth, soil type, drainage and fertility, climate and weather conditions. Not only is the horse's digestive system kept active by fibrous material, but also the length of time taken to consume roughage prevents boredom, promoting general well-being.
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Welfare
The welfare of horses and ponies must be the primary consideration.
Dietary requirements vary from horse to horse depending on age, type, size, workload, management, environment, appetite, health and condition. Health risks such as laminitis must be taken into consideration and access to grazing limited during spring, summer and autumn risk periods. Beware of fast growing lush grass containing high levels of fructan sugars, which are known triggers for laminitis. Levels elevate during daylight and differ within grass species.
Both fresh and preserved grass can be analysed by feed specialists to determine feed value levels and to allow precise dietary control. Consult a Veterinary Surgeon or Equine Nutritionist for expert feeding advice. Some poisonous plants (e.g. Common ragwort, Senecio spp) remain poisonous but become increasingly difficult for horses to detect when dried, so examine forage routinely.
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Grass
Grass contains fibre, carbohydrate, protein and a high water content. Many minerals and vitamins are also present but it is a good idea to provide a mineral or feed block for horses and ponies that are not fed concentrate feed. The actual nutrient content varies greatly throughout the year depending on the stage of plant growth. As grass ages it consists of more stem and less leaf. Nutrient levels fall and the indigestible fibre levels increase. During the winter, when grass growth is reduced, it is often necessary to supplement grass with additional forage.
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Additional forage
The quality of preserved forage is affected by many factors, including grass species and weed presence, soil pH and fertility, stage of grass growth, weather conditions at cutting, the production process and storage.
Hay
The most traditional way of preserving grass for horses is haymaking. Hay contains most of the nutrients found in good quality grazing without the high water content. Carbohydrate and protein levels differ, depending on the amount of leaf present on grass when it is cut. Hay should be sweet smelling, a green/yellow colour and free from contamination with weeds, dust or mould spores.
There are two predominant types of hay:
Meadow. This is produced from traditional pastures and contains a mixture of grass types, for example: ryegrasses; fescues; meadow grasses; timothy and cocksfoot. Because so many different species are present in the grass composition, it is not always possible to cut for hay before some of the species seed, resulting in variable protein levels. Meadow hay greatly comprises of leaf, so is softer and often easier for older horses to eat.
Seed. This comprises just a few grass species - often ryegrass and timothy - which are grown together for the purpose of producing hay. Grass is cut before going to seed, resulting in a potentially higher protein content. Seed hay is generally coarser, with more stalk content and less leaf.
Haylage
Semi-wilted forage is an alternative to hay that has a higher moisture content and provides slightly elevated feed values. Grass is cut earlier than during haymaking and is not left to dry for the same length of time but is baled, packed and sealed in plastic wrapping. Haylage should be dust and mould free with a pleasant smell. Grass composition can vary and package instructions must be followed indicating the number of days a bale must be fed within following opening of the wrapping.
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Improving feed value
Utilising the correct acreage and following the advice in the Grassland Management Advice Note (003) will ensure pasture is well maintained. Appropriate fertilising, resting, harrowing and rolling all influence the health of soil and grass growth. Dung removal and weed control is equally important. The inclusion of palatable grasses with varying flowering dates within a sward maximises growth periods. Topping through the growing season will encourage new leaf growth and help maintain nutrient levels.
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Forage and conservation
A few simple measures can help maintain grass species and wildlife habitats:
Check for nesting birds or other wildlife before using machinery. If breeding birds are present, wait until after the 1st July before cutting. Cutting across a field in strips will allow wildlife to escape.
Avoid using machinery on land when it is wet as this will damage grass and soil structure.
Don't cut grass too low or bare patches will form which will be invaded by undesirable weeds. Soil will also contaminate haylage and is undesirable in hay, as it can cause digestive problems in horses.
When annual plants are growing within pasture ensure they are suitable for including in forage. Cutting annual plants before seeding will reduce the following year's growth so aim for a balance between preserving rare species and gaining feed value.
Leaving an uncut margin around field boundaries will help maintain wildlife corridors and will allow natural plant reseeding to occur.
Having a soil analysis and using as little fertiliser as possible will help encourage even growth of meadow grasses and principal species. The use of organic slow release fertiliser is also advisable.
When buying hay or haylage, make an effort to support local farmers.
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Feed Summary
Grassland management is essential to allow the maximum nutritional benefit to be gained from pasture. Whichever additional sources of roughage are fed, the quality must be the most important consideration.
Part 2, Bedding
Bedding Introduction
Traditionally stables have contained bedding material to provide warmth, insulation and comfort whilst promoting the removal of urine by assisting drainage or absorption. Many different types of bedding material are available, so selection depends on several factors: cost; local availability; convenience; dust and fungal spore levels and ease of disposal after use.
Problem
Environmental issues involved with the production and disposal of bedding materials must be considered. The bedding used and subsequently removed from commercial stables along with urine and droppings is classed as Controlled Waste. The most environmentally friendly general method of disposing of this manure is via composting. This produces a fertiliser that may be spread on land or used in gardens. Shavings or wood-chips have become a popular convenient choice of material for use in stable yards but the period of time necessary for decomposing is grossly increased. Removal costs for shavings based manure are therefore frequently higher than for other materials. Burning used shavings is unfriendly to the environment and your neighbours.
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Welfare
The welfare of horses and ponies must be the primary consideration. The general use of bedding can help prevent capped hocks and elbows, stiffness, musculoskeletal trauma, slipping and becoming cast. Different qualities are sought from bedding options depending on the requirements of individual equines and handlers. Whenever possible, low dust bedding should be chosen to prevent inhalation of spores that can damage the respiratory action of equines and people. Be aware that bedding labelled as dust-extracted is not necessarily dust-free. Deep-littering beds keeps dust levels down and reduces daily labour, quantities of bedding used and costs. However, moulds can grow which may trigger respiratory disorders and damp conditions can lead to hoof problems. Free draining or very absorbent materials are generally preferable, as harmful ammonia odours become less intense when urine is drained from or soaked up within a bed. Whatever bedding material is used, stables should always be kept very well ventilated.
Some horses and ponies find straw bedding appetising but feasting can cause colic, obesity and the associated health problems. The best solution to this problem is to avoid any bedding that individuals find appetising!
In addition to the demand that has grown for dust-free bedding, lightweight materials have become preferable, as they do not place unnecessary strain on handlers' backs.
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Solutions
Whichever type or combination of bedding is used, management practices will define the ultimate environment presented by a stable. If locally produced high quality sustainable materials can be used, so much the better and preference should be given to materials that decompose rapidly after use.
Options
Rubber matting
The development of rubber matting appropriate for use within stables presents an option which considerably reduces the heavy labour involved in mucking-out and the expense of bedding costs over a length of time. Matting provides a cushioned but durable surface that is low maintenance and totally dust-free but does require hygienic washing down to prevent the build up of ammonia fumes. Some users do choose to scatter additional bedding material over rubber surfaces to provide absorbency if urine does not drain and to provide banks and an appearance of increased comfort. Either way, disposable bedding quantities are reduced if not eliminated and some mats contain a percentage of recycled material. Rubber strips or sheets may also be used on the lower parts of walls to protect horses who knock themselves whilst down or become cast.
Wood products
Shavings bales are convenient as they can be purchased from feed suppliers and are heavily compacted, allowing each bale to go a long way. Several grades of dust-extracted shavings are available at price levels that reflect the quality. Shavings beds are easy to maintain and absorbent. Some shavings available are by-products of sawmills whilst others are made purposely from renewable soft wood timber. Sawdust should be avoided due to the excessive dust levels contained. Dried wood pulp, a highly absorbent dust extracted by-product of the paper industry which decomposes faster than shavings is also available.
Paper
Different types of paper bedding are now manufactured in a range of shred lengths, including recycled staple-free office paper. Thicker paper with a lower ink content is increasingly absorbent and less likely to irritate sensitive white legs or discolour horses! All paper composts well.
Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard bedding is another by-product and gives warmth due to layers of air becoming trapped between corrugations. Cardboard is dust-extracted, absorbent and composts well. It can also be utilised as garden mulch following use.
Straw
Oat, wheat and barley straw qualities depend largely upon the crop cutting, drying and storage processes. When assessing the quality of straw, open a bale and sample a section from the centre to look for dust or mould. Straw traps air, creating a warm bed and allows for drainage more than absorbency. Straw is a cost-effective bedding choice and rots with manure into compost fairly quickly.
Others
The outer fibre of hemp is used within several industries but the plant core is available as dust-extracted absorbent bedding. Specific management may be required and hemp is principally used in deep litter systems. Less frequent topping up is required, it has a pleasant smell and it breaks down easily after use. Hemp is currently more expensive to purchase but production in this country is being encouraged and the amount grown may increase. Look out for other innovative bedding supplies at your feed store.
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Bedding Summary
There are many types of bedding readily available for today's horse-keeper with differing properties. Selection must be based on several factors, the health implications for horse and handler being the foremost. Stabling is not natural for equines, so measures must be taken to ensure a healthy, comfortable and happy environment is created. Priority must also be given to materials which are readily biodegradable following use.
The advice note is also available in a PDF version by following the link below.
