Nutrition FAQs, answering to your common questions

Weight issues

My pony is lazy but I am worried about making him fat. What can I feed my pony to give him more energy but without the calories?

We would all love to have a pony with all the energy we need them to have when ridden, but without the extra calories that can cause them to become fat. Unfortunately energy and calories and the same thing, therefore if you increase the energy in the diet you also increase the calories. If you are worried about your pony becoming fat or if he is a little overweight now, then try getting him to slim down a little bit by feeding him a low calorie balancer such as SPILLERS Lite Balancer and increasing his exercise; you may find that once he is a good weight he maybe less lethargic.

Other option you could try would be to change the energy source in the diet. Oil and fibre are 'slow release' energy sources which are absorbed and utilised slowly by the horse, so they are less likely to cause excitability, whereas feeds such as SPILLERS Instant Energy Mix contain cereal starch which provides more instant energy. Feeding a small amount of mix may give your pony the extra sparkle he needs. Although, he will need a low calorie balancer to provide him with the vitamins and minerals he needs and this option is only suitable if he hasn't had laminitis.

Will oil make my pony fat?

Oil is an energy source and will provide calories in the diet, however oil in the diet is not directly stored as fat in your pony's body, so as long as you do not feed more calories than your pony needs, he will not get fat.

Will sugar beet makes ponies fat?

Sugar beet is high in fibre and low in sugar and starch, so it provides calories in the diet in fibre form. Although sugar beet has been long thought of as a conditioning feed, when soaked it can contain up to 80% water, so would have to be fed in very large amounts to support weight gain. So although sugar beet can contribute to weight gain if fed in large quantities, predominantly it is a low calorie high fibre feed.

My pony looks well after the summer but he normally loses weight in the winter, how can I prevent this from happening?

It is quite normal for a horse or pony to put on weight during the spring and summer when there is more energy in the grass, but to lose weight in the winter. Not only is the grass lower in calories in the winter but ponies will use more calories to stay warm. Although losing weight in the winter is not always a problem and is natural for the pony, they may need extra energy and support from a compound feed such as SPILLERS Horse & Pony Cubes or SPILLERS Cool Mix^™, alongside plenty of good quality forage. If however, your pony is unable to maintain his condition on a lower energy feed then try switching to a higher energy feed such as SPILLERS Conditioning Cubes or Mix alongside SPILLERS Conditioning Fibre.

I have a cob that is very lazy but he puts on weight very easily, how should I feed him?

Unfortunately this is a very difficult problem to solve nutritionally, despite being quite common. If your horse is overweight you need to reduce his weight by reducing the calories in his diet. This could include restricting grazing by using a grazing muzzle, turnout on poorer pasture, or were appropriate, restricting daily feed intake. If you are feeding a higher calorie compound feed, try feeding a low calorie balancer instead, concentrated in vitamins, minerals and protein but without the extra calories, such as SPILLERS Lite Balancer or SPILLERS Original Balancer.

When you have a lazy good doer, it is important to remember that energy and calories are the same thing. If you feed a high energy feed in an attempt to liven him up unfortunately he is probably just going to put weight on. There is some evidence to suggest that lethargy and obesity are linked, so by reducing your horse's weight and increasing his fitness levels you may increase his energy levels.

Excitability problems

Can feeding oats cause excitability?

Sometimes, yes. Oats contain starch which can be broken down quickly supplying horses and ponies with 'instant energy', which in some cases can cause fizzy and excitable behaviour.

My pony is fizzy, what can I feed her this winter?

Fizzy horses and ponies may benefit from a low starch, high fibre and oil diet. Starch is a form of instant energy, which in some horse can cause excitable behaviour. Feeds that provide energy in the form of fibre and oil provide energy that is absorbed and utilised more slowly, therefore helping your horse to remain calmer. SPILLERS have a range of feeds which provide differing levels of energy from high digestible fibre and oil to help prevent excitable behaviour, these include SPILLERS Horse & Pony Cubes which are ideal for horses and ponies for light-medium work, SPILLERS Slow Release Cubes for horses in medium-hard work and HDF^® Power Cubes for horses in very hard work.

I am competing my horse regularly and feel he needs more energy, but when I feed a traditional competition mix he gets too excitable. What options do I have?

This is a common problem amongst horse owners either you can't feed too much as it makes matters worse, or your horse ends up with not enough energy for the work you want to do. Traditional competition feeds are normally high in cereal starch and are therefore best avoided when choosing feeds for naturally exuberant or difficult characters. Fibre and oil, on the other hand, release fuel to the horse gradually and tend not to encourage excitable behaviour, despite being valuable sources of energy. It is therefore possible to feed hard working or poor doing horses plenty of calories whilst keeping over-exuberance at bay. SPILLERS RESPONSE^® Slow Release Energy Cubes and Mix are ideal for these types of horses; providing a medium level of energy suitable for the competition horse without the high level of starch seen in traditional competition feeds.

Why do some feeds make my horse excitable?

A horse's behaviour can be influenced by the type of energy in their diet, as well as the amount. Whilst diet cannot fundamentally change a horse's temperament, it can be a useful tool in encouraging the right behaviour. Traditionally cereal is the main source of energy in many compound feeds and is responsible in the majority of cases of excitable behaviour. Straights such as oats, barley and maize, as well as some coarse mixes, all contain a relatively high proportion of cereal starch. Starch is rapidly broken down and absorbed to release a rush of fuel into the bloodstream, which can encourage excitability. Starch may also contribute to fractious or bad-tempered behaviour if it is fed in excessive quantities: if the amount of starch in a feed overwhelms the horse's small intestine, it will be broken down in the hind gut, which can alter the environment there and affect the balance of microbes which can lead to problem such as colic and laminitis.

High starch products are therefore best avoided when choosing feeds for naturally exuberant or difficult characters. Fibre and oil on the other hand release fuel to the horse gradually and tend not to encourage excitable behaviour, despite being valuable sources of energy. It is therefore possible to feed hard working or poor doing horses plenty of calories whilst keeping over-exuberance at bay. If your horse is easily excited that try to stay away from high cereal feeds and try high fibre and oil diets such as SPILLERS Horse and Pony Cubes or SPILLERS RESPONSE^® Slow Release Energy Cubes.

Elderly horses

My 28 year old native pony has no teeth left and he cannot manage his hay any more, he just chews it into a ball and spits it out

Unfortunately as your pony gets older his teeth can deteriorate making it hard for him to chew hay. If your pony can manage chaff, then try feeding SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF^® in replace of hay. This can be fed as a full hay replacer and can even be fed ad lib. Remember to feed weight for weight, not by volume, as different types of feed weigh different amounts. SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF^® also contains vitamins and minerals, so when fed at the recommended level will provide your pony with his daily vitamin and mineral intake. If he cannot manage chaff, then SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes can be soaked into a mash with warm water and fed to replace hay; they can also safely be fed ad lib. There are many veteran horses and ponies happy and healthy living solely on SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes.

I have a native pony that is 27 but is prone to weight gain. Does he need any additional supplements due to his age?

Due to better feeding, management and veterinary care, horses are living longer and often do not require the high calories that traditional veteran feeds supply. If your horse needs a little extra support but without the extra calories then try a specialised senior balancer such as SPILLERS Senior Balancer rich in vitamins, minerals and protein as well as additional functional benefits such as glucosamine for joint support, antioxidants, digestive support from live yeast and biotin to support healthy hooves. This can be fed alongside a double handful of SPILLERS Senior Fibre, to slow eating and add fibre to the diet to maintain a healthy hind gut.

My older pony struggles to hold his weight over the winter, how do I prevent this?

Winter can be a difficult time for some elderly horses. Energy requirements may increase by 30% or more in order to maintain body temperature and veterans are often very prone to weight loss as grass quality deteriorates and the weather gets colder. Older horses with poor teeth or previous worm damage are particularly at risk.

If your senior horse or pony is starting to find winter a little difficult to cope with, make sure that you introduce a suitable conditioning feed. Look for higher calorie compound feeds, containing good quality protein such as SPILLERS Senior Conditioning Mix. Ensure ad lib forage is also available so that your pony can get plenty of fibre. It is also important to remember that horses will receive most of their calories from forage.

Tips for feeding a new horse

I am just about to buy a new horse, but am unsure what to feed. Can you help?

Before you get your new horse home it is important that you are prepared. If possible ask the old owner what he was already being fed, so that you can have some ready. Remember that even if you decide to switch him to another feed you will need to switch gradually. If you don't know what he was being fed, opt for a low energy , high fibre feed such as SPILLERS Horse & Pony Cubes or SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes until you get to know him and you will need to ensure you have plenty of forage ready to help your horse settle in.

Respiratory health

I stable my horse during the winter but worry about his respiratory health

A typical horse breathes in over 70,000 litres of air every day so making sure their lungs are healthy and working properly is hugely important for a horse's performance and general well-being. Unfortunately, the stable environment presents the horse's lungs with a significant challenge, especially if they are stabled for long periods of time.

It has been estimated that under stabled conditions, more than 12 million tiny particles are inhaled with each breath; these particles include dust and mould spores and are a major cause of respiratory problems within the horse population. Even horses with no obvious signs of disease may have airway inflammation and mucus accumulation which can affect their health and performance.

But how does feeding affect the respiratory system?

Dusty or mouldy feeds can greatly increase the amount of spores and particles that your horse breathes in, so it is essential to choose high quality, clean forage. Well made haylage is sometimes preferable to hay as it is less dusty, however remember it must be used within 3 to 5 days of opening otherwise it can quickly spoil and allow moulds to grow. If hay is used it can be soaked so that the mould spores swell and are less likely to enter the lower airways; the hay should be submerged in water for 20-30 minutes and should not be allowed to dry out before it is fed. Hay replacers such as SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF^® also offer a clean, convenient and practical alternative to hay and haylage.

Certain nutrients can also play a vital role in keeping your horse's lungs healthy. A major research project at the Animal Health Trust has proven that supplementation with a unique blend of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, can help support lung health by increasing antioxidant levels in the fluid lining the horse's lungs; these antioxidants levels are reduced in horses facing respiratory challenge and may need supplementing.

What else can I do to help?

There are a number of other measures you can do to reduce your horse's exposure to dust and mould spores, and keeps his lungs healthy. Ensure that his stable is well ventilated and turn him out as much as possible. Deep litter should be avoided if possible as urine contains ammonia, and its accumulation can cause respiratory irritation in some horses.

Laminitis

My pony has had laminitis this spring, what is the best feed for him in the winter that will help avoid laminitis again next year?

Any horse or pony with laminitis or prone to laminitis should be managed on a high fibre and low starch diet and have their grazing carefully managed. For ponies that are prone to laminitis it is important to stay away from mixes, as these can contain a large amount of cereals and are high in starch. Remember that even laminitics need good quality forage. Unfortunately you can never guarantee the amount of sugar in hay and haylage, so to guarantee that it is safe for a laminitic, why not try SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF^®, our hay replacer, or SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes, both ideal for laminitics and approved by the Laminitis Trust.

Breeding issues

My mare is in foal but also has a foal at foot, what do you recommend I feed her and should I feed the foal?

Ensuring the mare is in good condition and receiving adequate nutrition is the key to producing a healthy foal. When putting together the ration for your mare it is important to look at the different stages involved, early gestation, late gestation and lactation. Early gestation covers the first 8 months of pregnancy, during this time the foetus growth is low so as long as your mare has a balanced diet, then she will not need any more energy. A good quality balanced maintenance diet such as SPILLERS Horse & Pony Cubes or SPILLERS Cool Mix^™ perfectly adequate for the mare in most circumstances, during this time. During the months 8-11, foetal growth increases and your mare will need extra support from either a stud balancer or a stud feed.

In the case of your mare, a foal at foot will result in the mare requiring a diet to support her through lactation as well as early gestation. The first 3 months of lactation is critical for the development of the foal, it also puts a high energy demand on the mare so she will need extra support. It is important not to allow your mare to drop condition but also to ensure she receives a good supply of vitamins and minerals. If you mare does not need the calories then try feeding a stud balancer such as SPILLERS GRO 'N WIN^®. If your mare needs those extra calories then feed a stud feed such as SPILLERS Stud & Youngstock Mix.

When it comes to your foal, from about two weeks old you may notice that your foal will start to nibble on their mother's feed and forage, which is why it is important for the mare have a stud feed that is also suitable for a foal, such as SPILLERS Stud & Youngstock Mix. At approximately six weeks old a the foal's requirements increase, therefore a feed will need to be introduced, such as SPILLERS Youngstock Pellets or if your foal is a good doer then feed SPILLERS GRO 'N WIN^®.

What should I feed my 6 month old native foal that is just about to be weaned?

Weaning can be extremely stressful for a foal which can result in weight loss, gastric ulcers, reduced growth rates and the development of stereotypical behaviours. In order to decrease this stress as much as possible it is important that we establish foals on a youngstock feed before weaning takes place. Look for feeds that contain controlled starch levels for positive behaviour and optimal levels of quality protein for muscle and topline development. For the native foal that does not need many calories, a stud balancer such as SPILLERS GRO 'N WIN^® Win would be suitable. If more calories are needed then feed SPILLERS Youngstock Pellets. Remember that we want a steady even growth, so don't be tempted to suddenly increase concentrates post weaning.

Sugar

I have been told sugar is bad for my horse, is this true?

Sugar often receives a bad press, which is not wholly deserved. Firstly sugar is essential for every day life and, secondly, it is a natural component of the horse's diet, particularly as grass contains high sugar levels.

The horse has evolved as a herbivore eating grass and other pasture plants, which are naturally high in sugar, which may explain why horses have also developed a sweet tooth, and why feeds containing molasses are more palatable to the horse. Horses have evolved to very efficiently digest sugars in the small intestine. Problems only arise when horses become overweight, under exercised and receive sudden large amounts of sugar in their diet, such as when ponies are turned out for the first time on lush spring grass, or on bright frosty mornings. This can cause an overload of sugar in the small intestine which can lead to digestive problems such as laminitis

The largest source of sugar in a horse's diet, particularly in the spring is grass. Other contributors of sugar to the diet may be hay, chaff or chop and molasses although these are to a much lower extent.

Protein

I have been told that protein makes my horse excitable, is this true?

Put simply, the answer is no. For many years it has been a popular belief that low protein diets are essential to help prevent excitability; however, this is not the case. Protein is not a cause of excitable behaviour as it is not used as a primary energy source by healthy horses. Protein is mainly used to provide building blocks for growth, muscle development and repair of damaged tissues and not as a primary energy source.

How did this myth begin?

There are a number of theories which have led to the myth that protein makes horses excitable, but by far the most important seems to be the link between the level of protein and the level of energy in some feeds. Many feeds high in protein are also high in energy. The cereal starch, which is the main energy source in these feeds, provides instant energy which can make some horses excitable. As these high starch feeds are often high in protein, it makes sense that many people have made the link and have blamed protein for this excitability.

Feeding queries

Eating too much will make your pony sick.

Ponies only have a small stomach about the size of a rugby ball and it works best when only 2/3 full. If a pony is suddenly given a very large meal, it can overload the stomach which can result in colic. To prevent this make sure meal sizes are kept small, 2kg or less (even less for small ponies).

Should I add vitamins and minerals to my pony's coarse mix?

If you are not feeding the recommended amount of compound feed then adding a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement or low calorie feed balancer such as SPILLERS Lite Balancer is beneficial to ensure they get all that they need, however if you are already feeding the recommended ration, then adding vitamins and minerals is unnecessary. Apart from adding to your shopping bill, certain vitamins and minerals can reach maximum tolerable levels if too much is added.

It is better to make up your pony's feed from separate feeds (oats, chaff, maize, etc)

Cereals, if fed in large amounts can imbalance the diet due to their high phosphorus level, therefore it is better to feed a compound feed that has already been fully balanced and will provide all the essential vitamins and minerals in the right proportions.

Nutrition FAQs

Answers to your common questions