Keeping Equine's Waistline in Check this Autumn!

With the weather on the turn and autumn weather heightening the risk of laminitis The Saddlery Shop takes a look at keeping our equine's waistlines in check! Feeding horses and ponies that are prone to gaining weight can be a real puzzle for lots equine owners so how do we keep their waistline in check whilst providing all nutrients they need to live a healthy lifestyle? Some breeds, particularly native types are sensitive to grass which is high in starchy and sugary calories sometimes resulting in an expanding waistline. If you own a “good doer” and forage is the main part of their diet, for health reasons it may be wise to restrict their access to excessive grazing when it is especially lush. This can be achieved either by using restrictive fencing or a grazing muzzle available from The Saddlery Shop so that you don't have to limit your horse's turnout time. Your horse needs access to plenty of low calorie forage but some equines, if they are carrying a few unnecessary pounds, may need their concentrate feed to be reduced. However it is essential to remember when reducing calories in our equine’s diet that they may require supplementation of vitamins and minerals in their diet to maintain optimum health and wellbeing. This is because in order to be healthy our horses and ponies require a balanced diet which incorporates all the vital vitamins and minerals they need. Vitamins and minerals play a multitude of roles within the body including supporting the immune system, bone and teeth structure, benefitting eyesight and assisting nerve and muscle function. The Saddlery Shop offers a range of vitamin and mineral supplements in health and well being including brands such as; Clop, Equivite or Benevit. Don’t forget a healthy lifestyle should also include regular exercise too and any dietary changes should be implemented gradually.

The Rain is Back!

It is that time of year again and the weather is starting to feel distinctly more autumnal. The rain showers are back so why not invest in a waterproof exercise sheet to keep your horse or pony warm and dry whilst riding? The are a range of Waterproof exercise sheets available from The Saddlery Shop including brands such as; Horseware, Weatherbeeta, Luna, Rambo and Shires. The specially designed rugs are cut to cover just the loins and hindquarters of the horse which is perfect for ridden work and preventing your horse, particularly once he has been clipped, from catching a chill. The range available from The Saddlery Shop also includes a range of high visibility, reflective waterproof rugs keeping you safe on the roads during darker, foggy or low light weather conditions. Visit the website wwww.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to find out more and to purchase your waterproof exercise sheet today!

Equine Insulin Resistance

Many of us will have heard the term insulin resistance, but some remain unaware this harmful condition can affect our horses o her at The Saddlery Shop we thought we would tell you a little more about it. Insulin Resistance in horses is becoming more common an research has indicated that the condition results from an improper lifestyle, feeding and exercise regimes. Studies have found that 51% of horses are overweight or obese from a lack of exercise and an improper diet contributing to the risk of our equines suffering Insulin Resistance. So what is Insulin Resistance? Insulin is a hormone that is produced by cells that are present within the pancreas. The action of insulin in the body is widespread targeting the metabolism of sugar, starches, fats, and protein and is required by most cells in the body to transport glucose across the cell membrane providing fuel and energy at a cellular level. The body’s natural response to the release of insulin is elevated blood glucose. When the food source is high in starch a higher proportion of glucose is required in order to complete the digestion of the starchy substance. When a horse or pony has the condition known as Insulin Resistance (IR) this means that their body does not process glucose properly not only depleting their energy stores but causing the delivery of glucose to the cells to not occur, instead storing the glucose in fat and muscle instead of in the cells. Insulin resistance can lead to the equine having fatty deposits around the body, an increased level of inflammation, body and hoof pain, lack of energy and a higher risk of laminitis. What can horse owners do to prevent Insulin Resistance? Regular exercise and low levels of concentrated feed are essential alongside maintaining a forage based diet. Forage provides natural fibre for our horses, giving a low carbohydrate and low sugar food source. In addition feeding a supplement such as the range of vitamin and mineral supplements available from The Saddlery Shop will help boost the levels of nutrients in the diet, ensure the horse receives optimum nutrients which promote health but without increasing the calorific quantity of the diet. In addition, reducing excessive access to lush pasture and maintaining regular, correct hoof care plays a crucial part in preventing Insulin Resistance. Reducing stress levels has also been beneficial in reducing the instances of the condition so your horse’s environment should offer calm, solstice and meet your equine’s needs. Studies have shown that including Magnesium in the diet can help to reduce stress and highlighted it’s involved in the secretion of insulin so the inclusion of Magnesium in the diet can be helpful. To see the range of equine supplements available from The Saddlery Shop including vitamin and mineral and magnesium supplements visit the website www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk

How Has The Heatwave Affected Our Equine's Feet?

This summer has brought warmth and sunshine quashing any British complaints of a lack of summer but it is well worth considering how the recent heat wave may have affected our horse's hooves. We are all familiar with the old proverb "no foot, no horse" and this sentiment still couldn't be truer today. In actual fact the dry weather is not quite as detrimental as extremely wet weather for our equine's feet, as it is in fact the wet weather causes the bonds within the horse's hooves to weaken on a molecular level. Nonetheless the hot weather can result in the following; Inactivity; A lack of exercise during the summer months as a result of the summer holidays, hard ground or simply when it is too hot to ride can cause the the amount of circulation to the hoof to decrease which can compromise hoof integrity. To prevent issues like this affecting your horse provide regular turnout and exercise where possible. Imbalance or Lack of Vitamins and Minerals Dry, overgrazed or parched grazing is common during the hot weather and this can cause there to be a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Offer your horse a vitamin and mineral supplement which is specific to his needs will help to balance the diet. Poor Shoeing or Trimming. During the summer your horse's hoof growth can sometimes reduce when this is paired with poor shoeing or trimming it can be a recipe for disaster. Always provide the best hoofcare in order to allow the hoof to function as effectively as possible and limit the negative effect of any environmental factors. Provide optimum hoof care is paramount to equine health and wellbeing. For a range of products to compliment our horse's lifestyle visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk.