Education Zone

A guide to fitting your saddle When you want to get the best out of your horse, it’s vitally important your saddle fits correctly and comfortably. When fitting your saddle, it is important to have a basic understanding of the muscles, bone-structure and movement of your horse around the saddle area. The specific saddle-support area (diagram 1) of the horse consists of: The Spinal Column and the Thoracic Vertebrae; The Wither; The Ribs; The Scapula and the Longissimus Dorsi. The muscular diagram of the horse shows 3 main muscles that can be affected by a badly fitting saddle: Where should the saddle fit on the horse? Firstly, place the saddle forward of the horse’s wither, then slide the saddle back as far as it will comfortably go. This is determined by the conformation of the horse, but the resting point of the saddle should correspond with the lowest point of the horse’s back. The points of the saddle tree should now be located in the natural depression that is found directly behind the horse’s scapula (shoulder) and must not rest on or impede the scapula. Why is it important to get the saddle in the correct position? For the horse’s comfort and to allow you to adopt an effective riding position. A common mistake is to place the saddle too far forward over the horse’s withers. (diagram3) This will have the effect of placing the points of the saddle-tree over the horse’s scapula, causing pressure which could then impede the horse’s movement and may even cause saddle sores. What your saddle fitter will look for The wither measurement. Your saddle fitter will take an accurate measurement of your horse’s wither. This measurement is crucially important to ensure the front of the saddle gives absolute clearance of this sensitive area of the horse. Any direct pressure here will cause pinching and discomfort and can result in loss of performance and resistance in the horse. This measurement also allows your saddle fitter to check whether the horse is narrow, medium or wide across the shoulders. Remember, your horse can change shape depending on fitness, age and time of the year and this will affect how his saddle fits. Beware! An incorrect saddle-fitting of the withers will result in a saddle that is either too narrow or too wide at the wither. A saddle that is too narrow will be too high at the pommel. Effect on the horse: This will cause undue lateral pressure on either side of the withers, from the points of the saddle-tree and saddle-bars causing pain, sores/bruising of the muscles. In human terms this is similar to wearing shoes that are too tight! Effect on the rider: As the pommel will be too high the rider will be pushed backwards as though they are riding uphill. This will cause the rider to become unbalanced and subsequently cause the horse to feel unbalanced. A saddle that is too wide will be too low on the horse’s withers. Effect on the horse: There will be insufficient clearance of the horse’s withers, so the pommel of the saddle will put pressure on the sensitive wither area causing soreness and rubbing. The panel contact will also not be evenly distributed. Effect on the rider: The saddle will dip down at the front, making the rider feel unbalanced, like riding downhill. The Saddle Gullet. Channel The channel of the saddle gullet must be wide enough to ensure that it does not to press against the horse’s spine, as this is another extremely sensitive area. The panel of the saddle should be designed so that it enables the rider’s weight to be distributed evenly over the full extent of the horse’s bearing surfaces on muscles either side of the vertebrae giving the spinal column sufficient clearance. A well manufactured saddle should allow for a gullet-channel with 3-4 fingers in width in order that the panels rest comfortably either side of the horse’s spinal column and thoracic vertebrae. What about the rider? It’s also crucial that the saddle fits the rider properly, to allow for an effective position to be maintained at all times. SADDLE SEAT – The rider should be able to place a minimum of a full palms width of their hand in front and behind when seating in the saddle. SADDLE FLAPS – The lower leg should hang below the saddle flap, otherwise you will not be able to use your legs effectively. If you have had your saddle fitted by a qualified saddle fitter, try and use a saddlecloth that is slim, bulky saddlecloths and numnahs can interfere with the fit. And remember – choose a saddle for your chosen discipline – i.e. jumping or dressage, alternatively a general purpose saddle is a great choice if you enjoy a bit of everything!

By Dr Katy Taylor,De Montfort University Head Shaking is not a single condition One of the most frustrating things about headshaking is that each case is unique. So, what causes headshaking in one horse may not be the cause in another. It’s important to recognise that headshaking is the symptom of a problem with the horse rather than being the problem itself, although it is often treated as such. There are over 60 known causes of headshaking, including ear, eye and respiratory problems, which makes a veterinary visit all the more important. Simply assuming your horse is an untreatable head shaker may cause more harm. Likewise, be wary of products that claim to cure all head shakers. Headshaking is not a behavioural or management problem Because headshaking often only arises when the horse is ridden, it is commonly attributed to tack problems, bad riding, or resistance. However, studies in the US and UK have shown that around 50% of head shakers also show symptoms at rest. So, whilst exercise always worsens the symptoms, most owners find that changes in tack or schooling have little effect. Researchers at De Montfort University and the University of Lincoln investigated head shakers and non‑head shakers and found no important differences in their diet, use or turnout. The relative unpredictability of the condition and symptoms suggest that the headshaking is not a behavioural one unlike weaving or nodding. Not all headshaking is caused by sunlight (photic headshaking) Head shaking has often been attributed to a reaction to sunlight, but whilst this may be so for some, especially animals in more sunny places like California, many European head shakers seem relatively unaffected by light. Riding indoors or at dusk can still bestow benefits other than by restricting exposure to light so the best test for the photic form of this problem is to carefully cover the horse’s face whilst exercising. Headshaking is not horse hay fever The seasonal nature of headshaking (50% of head shakers only have symptoms from March to October), together with the signs of nasal irritation, has led many to believe that headshaking is a respiratory disorder similar to human hay fever. However, vets remain sceptical because, in general, hay fever medication is not very effective. In addition, vets rarely find clinical signs of an allergic reaction. Although headshaking may be in response to particles in and around the nose, an allergic reaction may not necessarily be occurring. So what does cause headshaking? Given there are a variety of causes, a large proportion of head shakers are thought to be suffering from some kind of pain originating within the head. Nerve pain (neuralgia) has long been considered, ie. damage to the sensory nerves of the head, which may have resulted from physical damage to the nerves or following infection from certain viruses. The involuntary headshaking movement could be a response to the misfiring of a faulty nerve and the rubbing of the face in an attempt to relieve the discomfort caused. Facial neuralgia could account for the general hypersensitivity around the muzzle that many head shakers experience, particularly to rain, snow and wind. In some cases, exercise or particles may be causing the blood vessels in the nose to swell and ‘squash’ the nerve, causing it to misfire. The reasons why some horses head shake and others don’t are not yet known. Frequently the onset of their problem has been traced back to the beginning of the horse’s working life so the many changes that occur within the horse or in its environment during this time may hold part of the answer. Because the problem is often not apparent until the horse is exercised, headshaking could have arisen earlier when the horse was very young but has lain undetected until the horse was backed. Future research into how we can prevent headshaking in foals may be fortuitous once we know more about the causes of headshaking.

Acupuncture can be used as a complementary veterinary treatment for horses, and other animals, amongst other things it can provide pain relief and generally improve a horses’ well-being. Treatment involves stimulation of specific points of the body using very fine, solid needles. It causes inhibition of pain pathways and stimulates the release of pain relieving chemicals in the brain and spinal cord. Acupuncture is an act of veterinary surgery and so can only be performed by a vet. This stimulation can generate many responses within an individual. It can affect muscle, the circulatory, digestive, reproductive and urinary systems, as well as anti-body and hormone production. Conditions which can respond to acupuncture include: back pain, both acute and chronic; lameness – tendonitis, sesamoiditis, laminitis and navicular disease; COPD; chronic gastrointestinal disease (unresolved diarrhoea or constipation); post viral fatigue; paralysis or muscle spasm; behavioural problems and infertility. A course of treatment usually consists of weekly treatments for a minimum of four weeks then gradually extending the time between treatments to a maintenance level which is different for each individual. Chess Valley Equine use a Western Scientific approach to acupuncture treatments and find that where it is used, either alone or in combination with other therapies, the results are very good. Unfortunately there are a small number of individuals and conditions that will not respond to acupuncture. Please visit their website for all the services they can offer:  www.chessvalleyequine.com

How to tell if your horse is happy Although every horse owner knows when to contact the vet, farrier or dentist, most haven’t considered what to do when the problem isn’t physical. As part of everyday horse care, it is routine to look after your horse’s health and ensure his feet, teeth and back are in the best condition possible. However, although it is easy to measure physical attributes, many owners overlook psychological health. Having a happy horse is vitally important as it can benefit his confidence, mood and performance, as well as helping him to get more enjoyment out of everyday activities such as hacking and schooling. The human effect Although juggling work and looking after a horse can sometimes mean constantly rushing around, it is important to remember that horses can feel our energy levels as well as just responding to words and body language. Equine behaviourist Sophie Ostler stresses that horses are prey animals. “If horses sense we are hurrying them or getting impatient they pick up on this as a rushed energy, which translates to the ‘flight mode’. It is important to remain calm, as they look to us, the ‘heard leader’, for reassurance”. Body language is key To assess you horse’s happiness it is often useful to look at his body language during everyday handling – this can be a very good indicator of what he is feeling. “From a behavioural point of view, an unhappy horse will typically display certain signs,” says Sophie. Separation anxiety when leaving his field mates, a reluctance to stand still, or staring into the distance with head held high and a tense jaw are all elements to look out for. “When a horse is in this state it is important he is allowed to keep moving until his attention shifts to the handler,” Sophie points out. “If the horse is ‘made’ to stand still during this mental state he can feel trapped and it can activate his ‘flight’ mode, making his behaviour worsen”. We are all part of a herd Although a horse’s ‘unhappy’ behaviour may seem obvious, there are also many happiness indicators, too. A happy horse sees his owner as part of his heard, ideally the ‘heard leader’, and licking and chewing are signs of a horse submitting to your leadership. Other signs include being responsive and calm, a lowered head, soft eyes and relaxed jaw. A contented horse will seek affection from his owner and show respect by not invading their personal space. “Yawning is also a good sign,” says Sophie. “It doesn’t necessarily indicate a bored horse, but is a sign of relaxation. When horses are stressed or in ‘flight mode’ it is physically impossible for them to yawn due to their increased heart and respiratory rate.” What can you do? It is important to spend time with your horse to build up a bond of trust and respect. Groundwork is invaluable for this, and will have a positive effect of all areas of handling and ridden work. Sophie suggests introducing your horse to new things can help him build confidence and improve your relationship. “Horses are naturally inquisitive about everything, so this can be used to your advantage. The more positive you make new experiences, the more trusting your horse will become, and the braver he will be when entering new or unfamiliar situations.” You are the boss Spending more time with your horse on the ground will be invaluable to your relationship, but it is important to remember that you are the boss. An overconfident horse may try and take the role of ‘herd leader’ by displaying bolshy behaviour and trying to dominate his owner into submission – a situation which will be bad for both of you. Remain calm but assertive when working with your horse from the ground, and remember to use your voice and body language to remind your horse if his behaviour is unacceptable. However, “being the boss should not be confused with rough handling,” Sophie warns. “This does not make for a safe or happy horse and will just make his bad behaviour worse”. How to have a happy horse To have a happy horse, it is vital to be aware of what is important from their point of view. When something is bothering your horse, think of ways you might be able to help. For example, if he is agitated, remember that a threatened horse will want to run, so don’t insist he stands still. Allowing him to walk around will help him settle. Having a secure and happy horse will benefit his behaviour, mood and performance in the school. However, most importantly, it will benefit your relationship and improve your trust, bond and confidence in each other.

Over recent years ‘Kissing Spine’ seems to have become a more widespread and commonly diagnosed condition. The good news is that with the correct treatment and/or surgery many horses are making near to full recoveries and it doesn’t necessarily mean an end to their ridden career whether this is as a happy hacker or a competition horse.  What is Kissing Spine? Kissing spine is a disease of the spine whereby the spaces between the upper dorsal processes of the vertebrate become reduced and the vertebrate actually touch, or ‘kiss’, causing bone to bone contact and in some cases damage to the ligaments within the spine which causes the horse great discomfort. What are the Symptoms of Kissing Spine? Signs indicating kissing spine may include poor performance or a sudden change in behaviour both on the ground and when ridden such as bucking, bolting, rearing, struggling to maintain a particular canter lead, stiffness through the back and hind quarters, reluctance to have the back area touched, groomed or a saddle placed on it. How is Kissing Spine Diagnosed? When the symptoms are realised a veterinarian should be consulted. He will assess the horse by seeing it trot up and/or schooled and then refer for appropriate treatment which could be x-rays, nerve blocks in the area, ultrasounds or scintigraphy (bone scans). How are Horses treated for Kissing Spines? Kissing Spine can be treated a number of ways such as corticosteroid injections, surgery or in some cases it can be managed or pain alleviated by more holistic approaches. These methods may be fundamental to the horse’s recovery post treatment. Surgery is commonplace with many new methods being introduced with the advancements of technology, for example key hole surgery or Svend Kold’s method which has been proven successful. Where can I find information from owners whose horses have as kissing spines? A number of websites and social media pages are available for horse owners with kissing spine horses to share their experiences – how they cope from when they first receive a diagnosis, through the treatment process to how they can assist the recovery of their beloved horse. These websites may not include information from qualified practitioners such as veterinarians or physiotherapists so your own vet/physio should be consulted prior to trying anything new with your horse. Two sites which may help support existing owners include a blog by Ruth Bishop, a 24 year old Riding Instructor from Cornwall whose Thoroughbred X, Adam, was diagnosed with kissing spines in January 2013 and a Facebook group called ‘Horses with Kissing Spines’ – Ruth’s Blog Horses With Kissing Spines – These sites provide horse owners a place to communicate with other owners whose horse has had kissing spines and see what recovery programme has worked best and what additional products they can buy to help make this time easier and keep their horses as comfortable as possible.

Whatever your discipline, it is essential to take good care of your horse’s joints to prevent future problems occurring. Most horse owners know that regular care of legs, feet and back can help prevent future problems and prolong their horse’s working life. However, many overlook proper joint care, something that could impact on all of these areas. Daily activities and everyday life causes wear and tear and places stress on joints, so being aware of potential problems early is important. Ongoing joint care can help minimise the risk of problems or injury, aid fitness and improve all-round performance. Joints explained A horse’s joints are designed to absorb shock and bear the weight of the body, while helping them to move easily and without friction. There are three main types of joints: – Cartilaginous – these joints have limited movement, such as spinal column and pelvis – Fibrous – fixed joints, such as the skull – Synovial – these are the moveable joints, such as the fetlocks, stifles, hocks and knees As the most active joints in a horse’s body, synovial joints are also the most likely to incur injuries or problems. Each end of the bone is covered with a lubricated cartilage, which absorbs the forces placed on the joint as the horse moves, and it is when this lubrication is affected that friction can cause joints to wear as a result. How are they affected? Problems usually occur when joint damage happens faster than repair, and there are many ways in which a horse’s joints can be affected. Although care and consideration go some way to protecting from unnecessary deterioration, age and general movement will always cause wear and tear. Conformation is also key – the better a horse’s conformation, the more balanced they will be, so the less impact will be placed on the joints. Poor conformation can exacerbate joint problems, as it more stress is placed on compensating joints, causing more wear and tear. Fitness, diet, foot condition and type of work can also play a part in general joint condition. Work on hard or rough ground can affect the movable synovial joints in particular, as it creates extra shock and impact. Things to look out for Horse’s can suffer from many different types of joint injury or problem, and treatment can range from massage and hydro-therapy to intra-articular medication (the injection of a drug into the joint), depending on the seriousness. As part of the daily routine, it is important to keep an eye on joints – as you would the feet and back – and look out for any abnormalities. Signs can include lameness, heat or swelling and pain on movement or flexion. In these cases it is important to consult your vet who can advise on what the problems are, and the best course of treatment. Prevention is better than cure When it comes to joints, prevention is better than cure, so it is important to be aware of what causes them extra stress, and how this can be minimised. Warming up and cooling down after exercise is essential, as it helps keep joints supple and reduces the chance of damage or friction. Competitions do have an impact, so if you are competing, be aware of the ground condition – hard ground or rougher terrain than your horse is used to will place more stress on joints. Leaving time enough time for the horse to rest after strenuous exercise or competition will allow them to recover and reduce the chance of lasting problems. When schooling, gradually help your horse build up a resistance on different surfaces, this will help protect from injury, keep joints supple, and improve condition in the long run. What’s on the market? There are a wide range of supplements available, designed specifically to benefit a horse’s joints. These can be used to support existing conditions or problems, or just to help maintain and protect healthy joints, and are manufactured by an array of equine brands. Using protective boots is also very important, especially when competing. They give protection to legs and joints, by absorbing impact and concussion, and providing extra support. Every horse is different Although there is no way to prevent general wear and tear on your horse’s joints, there are effective ways to reduce it. Every horse is different, so it is important to look at cases individually, and help your horse build up joint resistance slowly. Conformation, age and workload all play a part in joint condition, and while these are factors that can’t be changed, others can. Proper care will ensure joints are kept in the best condition possible, increase stamina, and ultimately help prolong your horse’s working life.

Stretch & Flex Wraps are made of a modern material called Stomatex, designed to ensure your horse’s legs remain cool and dry while being well-supported and protected during exercise sessions. Both sets of wraps are wonderfully soft, pliable and flexible allowing the horse to move freely, without the feeling of restriction. The wraps have been designed with the comfort of the horse in mind, so are suitable for sensitive horses. It is important to get the correct size to fit your horse/pony. Sizes range from small to extra large including a medium narrow which has been designed specifically for those skinny leg horses (having the same cannon width as the small boot but the length of the medium). For further details see the size guide. Stretch & Flex is made from Stomatex® originally developed for human athletes. Stomatex® was designed to provide four-way stretch, to enable use around mobile joints, and an outstanding ability to keep the skin dry. It is commonly used in the manufacture of heat acclimatisation suits, padding for wheelchairs, special wetsuits and sports injury support bandages. The material mimics the way a leaf ‘breathes’, which allows the horses leg to stay cool and maintains an ideal skin temperature over an extended period of time. The way the material works is by efficiently moving trapped vapour molecules from beneath the fabric by the flexing action of minute dome shaped chambers which contain a tiny pore in the centre. This also gives it its unique appearance. To provide breathable protection, Stretch & Flex was also developed using Automotive Grade Cushioning Spacer Mesh. This mesh is strategically placed over the vulnerable tendon area for extra protection. The spacer fabric has an additional jersey fabric on the inside of the boot to create an even softer lining against your horse's leg. Ideal to act as a ‘cushion’ and comfortable to wear, the spacer fabric is also fantastic at letting heat and moisture pass through easily to get sweat and warmth away from the skin. Stretch & Flex Flatwork Wraps Our Flatwork Wraps cover the leg from knee/hock to fetlock with a similar shape to brushing boots. These are perfect for flatwork, schooling and hacking. The wraps offer supreme levels of comfort whilst protecting against minor scrapes and knocks. Flatwork Wraps have a protective cushioned panel on the inside of the leg that protects the horse's fetlock joints and splint bones. STRETCH & FLEX FLATWORK WRAPS Stretch & Flex Training Wraps Training Wraps are particularly good for young, unbalanced horses whilst training new movements, and for big moving horses. They offer extra support, designed to extend further down the leg supporting both the fetlock joint and pastern. Extra thick, soft padding protects the tendons, the inside of the cannon bone, and the fetlock joint. A wrap-around strap snugly supports the fetlock joint and prevents sand and grit from getting up inside the boot. STRETCH & FLEX TRAINING WRAPS

Why use horse boots, wraps and chaps? With so many boots available, finding the right boots for your horse can be confusing. As riders and horse owners, we ask our horses to live and work in ways that they would not in the wild.  This may be working harder, in different ways, with more repetition, on surfaces, carrying a weight and wearing horse shoes. As a result we need to provide them with leg protection against injury from external impact, self-inflicted harm, and stress-related problems. Why wear horse boots? The current fashion trend for ‘matchy-matchy’ should not be the reason to ‘dress’ your horse in boots. First and foremost, horse boots, wraps, chaps and bandages are worn to protect the horse’s legs from injury.  Leg injuries can be caused by brushing, knocks, grazes, over reaching, penetration and concussion. But the use of horse boots and bandages can itself cause problems associated with: Heat and moisture retention Restriction of movement or blood supply Excessive weight on the leg It’s important to weigh up all of these factors when deciding what boots to choose for your horse. Does your horse actually need to wear boots at all? Consider the level of work you are doing and the complexity of the work. Dressage horses may not need the same protection as a show jumper or event horse. Minimise risk – consider the negatives of wearing horse boots To minimise risk, boots should be chosen not only for the protection and support they provide, but also for the extent to which they keep the leg cool. This can be achieved by the use of modern breathable fabrics, combined with careful design and construction of the boot. The boot should allow air to flow from the leg though the boot to prevent heat build up. Overheating horses’ legs can cause long term tissue damage. Choose boots that are made of breathable fabrics. There are a lot of modern technical fabrics that actually actively allow the legs to remain cool as they exercise. Adding small amounts of weight to the end of the leg in the form of a boot increases the effort the horse must put in to move. A heavy boot or one which retains water or moisture can lead to injuries caused by tiredness. Wherever possible choose a lightweight boot that’s comfortable for the horse to wear.  Check that the boots are made from materials that won’t absorb and hold water when going through puddles, long grass or cross country. If boots are constructed of inflexible (i.e. stiff) material or if boots are applied too tightly, they have the potential to restrict joint movement. Look for boots made with flexible fabrics that move with the horse’s natural movements. Boots, wraps or bandages should be flexible and not applied too tightly. So now we know what features and design elements to look for when choosing horse boots, let’s look at what boots to wear when! Horse Boots Features & Benefits: Boots offer a choice for every discipline at any level from amateur to professional. Convenient and easy to use, with superb protection without restriction.Ideal for: schooling, flatwork, jumping, hacking, galloping, eventing, everyday use.SHOP HORSE BOOTS Leg Wraps Features & Benefits: Designed for soft, flexible protection and support during exercise. Combine the support offered by an exercise bandage and the convenience of a boot. Offer flexible protection that moulds to the exact contours of the horse's legs allowing complete freedom of movement. Eliminates rubs and chaffing caused by hard, ill fitting boots.Ideal for: schooling and hacking.SHOP LEG WRAPS Horse Chaps Features & Benefits: Designed to offer your horse's legs extra protection during turnout or stabling. Chaps extend down over the pastern, coronary band and sensitive heel area to provide extra protection to these vulnerable areas.Ideal for: turnout, mud fever prevention, leg protection in the stable.SHOP HORSE CHAPS

We are dedicated to creating carefully designed products that improve the wellbeing of the horse.  All of our products are thoroughly researched, tested and quality checked. The Equilibrium Massage Pad has been independently tested by Myerscough College in Lancashire. The results, following 4 weeks of testing, show that the massage pad offers significant benefits to working horses, improving back flexibility, promoting relaxation and that it could help to increase stride length. There were two parts to the study: 1) The horses were measured for signs of stress / relaxation immediately before, during and after the application of the massage pads over a six week period 2) The horses were assessed in terms of flexibility and suppleness. There were two groups of horses – a treated group and a control group. Test Methods Back flexibility was assessed using the ‘Arch Dip Test’.  The Arch & Dip test is a reliable and proven indicator of back flexibility (Pelham & Schobesberger 2006). It involves the use of pressure stimulus to generate a reflex in the horses’ back. Pressure applied to a specific region in the spinal area results in the horse ‘dipping’ away from the pressure, with a more flexible back allowing the horse to exhibit a greater ability to dip away from the source of the pressure. The arch test involves the application of pressure to the horses’ midline, in order to stimulate an upwards arch reflex in the horses’ back away from the source of pressure. Similarly, a more flexible back allows the horse to exhibit a greater ability to arch the back upwards away from the source of the pressure. As a measure of relaxation, the horses also had their heart rates monitored. Results Reducing Stiffness Test results demonstrated an overall improvement in back flexibility of approx. 46%. Stride Length The trial showed that the stride length of the horses who wore the Massage Pad which was turned on increased over the test period by 12cms, whereas the control group showed little improvement. Horse owners know that a small change in stride length can make a major difference to the way of going in the horse. Promoting Relaxation Using a heart rate monitor, horses wearing the Equilibrium Massage Pad had a consistently lower heart rate than those in the control group. Conclusion The results after 6 weeks of testing indicate that 1) the horses appeared more relaxed and 2) the performance of the horse would be expected to improve due to the increased flexibility of the horses’ back muscles. Relaxed muscles will assist with flexibility and movement in particular for competition horses performing dressage movements and jumping technical fences.

Animal physiotherapy including Massage and Magnetic has become popular for the maintenance of the musculoskeletal system in recent years. Massage, essentially the manipulation of soft tissues, has been noted to aid the prevention of injury, recovery from fatigue, relaxation and increasing mobility. (Hemmings, 2001). Performance depends on freedom of movement, full flexibility and an absence of musculoskeletal pain, all of which can improve with massage (Gellman, 1998). Traditionally massage methods have been manual but with recent advances in technology, electrical modalities have been introduced. The Benefits of Massage Massage has been shown to improve flexibility and promote relaxation in horses. Tension is often one of the most common reasons for poor performance in horses and by increasing relaxation and improving back flexibility; the negative effects of tension can be reduced. Like us, most horses can benefit from a massage session but maintaining a healthy back through massage can help prevent performance inhibitors such as stiffness, hollowness, shortened stride length, or in more serious cases napping, bucking and rearing. Massage stimulates blood flow to the area treated and has a similar effect to the tissue as heat does ie. promoting vasodilatation. Vasodilatation increases blood flow; bringing with it increased oxygen and nutrient supply to the muscle and after exercise this can help with the removal of toxins such as lactic acid. When to use Massage For horses on box rest to promote blood flow After exercise to help with toxin removal Before exercise as part of warm up At a show to help recover from travelling On your horses day off as part of a maintenance programme Anytime as a reward  

Headshaking doesn’t mean an end to riding. Nose nets and other facial coverings have played a large part in returning many head shakers to normal function. They remain the most successful, preventative, home treatment for headshaking. A recent trial showed the use of nose nets halved the severity of headshaking symptoms in 50% of the horses studied with some improvement in symptoms seen in up to 80% of sufferers. In addition, our research has shown that nose nets do not appear to work by actively filtering out pollen particles and stop them from being inhaled – the holes are just too big! Instead, it is thought that they may work by distorting the airflow to the nose and their presence may distract or comfort the horse. British Dressage and British Eventing have now accepted the use of nose nets in competition. Face and ear nets can also be effective in alleviating headshaking which may suggest that for some horses there is a different cause or that these nets also have a distracting or protective role. Alleviating headshaking Creating a good relationship with your vet and trusting their judgement is an essential start to managing headshaking.  Drugs are available such as commonly used cyproheptadine and carbamazepine. Surgical techniques can be used to cut faulty nerves that are thought to cause headshaking. The success of these methods is variable but is increasing as we learn more about the condition. Keeping a diary of headshaking attacks may help you to identify potential triggers or times when the headshaking is worse. As a rule, preventing an attack is better than attempting to ride the horse through one. Remember, most head shakers are suffering from an underlying clinical problem that causes the headshaking. Some owners report improvements when their horses are stabled during the day and turned out at night in the summer. In addition, wetting hay reduces the possibility of any respiratory complications. A recent report concluded that acupuncture is unlikely to be of benefit in the majority of cases. With careful management, the outlook for many head shakers is bright and a happy and rewarding relationship can still be maintained.  Although it seems that in terms of potential causes we’re doing more ruling out than ruling in research is progressing and the future is promising.

Headshaking explained Maybe you’re just getting to grips with a new mount this spring or you’re bringing on your youngster.  Imagine your horror when you find your horse starts headshaking. Your dreams of being able to compete or even hack safely begin to crumble around you.   But don’t despair – headshaking need not mean the end to your horse’s riding career.  New research is helping vets and owners to better understand this condition and give practical solutions for managing the problem. What is headshaking? Nowadays it seems that everyone knows someone with a head shaker.  But what is a ‘head shaker’ and what distinguishes them from a horse with a short-term irritation or behavioural problem? Most horses shake their heads from time to time to get rid of flies or when frustrated. Horses that simply nod their heads when stabled or as they turn home from a ride, may not be head shakers but ‘nodders’, a condition that is responsive  to changes in management. ‘Nodders’ do not usually cause great problems to themselves or their owner. True head shakers do so persistently and for no apparent reason. They exhibit sharp, jerky vertical and horizontal head movements.  The severity of the movements can vary from small flicks to huge, sweeping arcs which threaten to hit the rider on the nose or unseat them. Experts now recognise that head shakers also exhibit symptoms that suggest the horse is suffering from irritation within or around the face and muzzle.  Head shakers that also snort excessively during an attack will try to rub their face or act as if a bee has gone up their nose. They may even run their nose along the ground or strike the ground during the attack.  Moreover the unpredictability of the length and occurrence of these attacks can severely limit a rider’s ability to compete or even ride safely. By Dr Katy Taylor De Montfort University

What is an overreach injury? An overreach injury occurs when a horse steps on the back of a fore limb heel with the toe of a hind limb. In extreme cases an overreach injury can be potentially life threatening for a horse. This is because there are several extremely important structures on the back of the leg. What factors increase the risk of an overreach injury? Overreach injuries are more common in horses with short backs and/or active hind legs! They are also more common in muddy conditions, when the horse's front foot may stay on the ground for a second longer than it normally would, allowing the hind foot to come into contact with the heel bulbs before the front leg has been lifted. The horse must also be well trimmed and shod; too long a toe on the hind feet can increase the risk of the horse over reaching. What are the most common areas affected? The horse more often will cut into his heel bulbs when he over reaches, which, although rarely life threatening, may well mean a few weeks, or more, off work, whilst the wound heels, and this could indeed end your competition season early. How to tell? An overreach injury can vary in appearance; it could present as small cuts and abrasions, heat and swelling with no wound, or as deep lacerations and open wounds. How to treat an overreach? A heel bulb wound is very difficult to keep clean, due to its proximity to the ground. It is also very tricky to bandage this area, as any bandages will just end up like a bracelet around the pastern. Some heel bulb injuries can be so severe as to require the horse to have a foot cast applied, to allow the wound to heel without movement. For minor cuts and abrasions it is advisable to keep the horse in as clean an area as possible leaving the wound to heal, cleaning it once or twice a day depending on the severity. Always consult your veterinarian if you are unsure how deep the wound is or at any signs of infection. What’s the most sensitive area? The most serious would be if the horse struck into the back of his pastern. A few millimetres under the skin, on the back of the pastern, lies the lower portion of the tendon sheath. This tendon sheath is a synovial structure, which means it as important as a joint as far as infection goes. Higher up - overreach injuries on the back of the leg may also end up with the horse in surgery, due to lacerating tendons on the back of the leg, or once again going into the tendon sheath just above the fetlock. How serious is this? If a horse overreaches and cuts into the back of his pastern, he may well end up on the operating table. If the injury penetrates the tendon sheath, then it will require surgical flushing and closure. How do you prevent overreach injuries? Overreach injuries can be prevented by correctly fitting over reach boots.  If overreach boots are too big they may end up being trodden on by the hind feet, resulting in a nasty fall. Keeping hind toes short will also reduce the risk of injury. Natalie McGoldrick - MRCVS

  Dietary management for EMS or Cushing's Disease For a pony or horse suspected of having Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or diagnosed with Cushings Syndrome, diet and exercise management is essential. Try and keep them fit with a target body condition score of 5 (out of 9) on the Henneke Body Condition Scale for horses. Feed little and often, and encourage them to eat slowly, to avoid large peaks and troughs in blood glucose and insulin – keep meal sizes small (less than 1kg for ponies, 2kg for horses). Manage the diet to ensure a low starch and sugar content – the target is below 10% total starch and sugar in the overall diet: Use feeds that are high in fibre and low in starch and sugar – Laminitis Trust approved main meals are a good indication of these nutritional parameters. Feed low sugar forage Hay and haylage can contain up to 10-15% sugar (they contain little starch). The sugar content can be checked by feed analysis, or alternatively the forage can be soaked. 12-16 hours soaking will deplete the sugar content by half. (However in warm weather reduce this significantly to prevent the soaking water becoming foul and smelly.) Soaking haylage may seem counter intuitive given it is already moist, but the purpose of soaking is to remove readily soluble sugars from the material, which will not happen otherwise. (Steaming doesn’t reduce the sugar content by as much as soaking) Ensure the diet is fully balanced and contains plenty of antioxidants

Feed management of the competition horse with Cushing's Disease The main challenges for the competition horse with Cushing's Disease are ensuring your horse has sufficient energy, strength and endurance to compete whilst reducing the risk of complications caused by Cushing's Disease  (PPID).  Pergolide, the main medicine used to treat Cushings Disease is not permitted in competition and there is a need for a withdrawn period before competing – this makes managing the diet even more crucial.  Managing a much increased risk of laminitis whilst feeding for competition:  Managing the laminitis is achieved via a high fibre / very low starch and sugar diet. However very low starch and sugar diets have been associated with a drop in performance / top line  in high performance horses. By low starch and sugar we are talking about 10-12% total starch and sugar in the overall diet. This means: Feeding soaked hay rather than haylage. Haylage can be higher than 10% sugar; soaking hay reduces its soluble sugar content.  Soak for 6-12 hours – 12 hours can reduce the sugar by up to 50% but may not be practical in warm weather) Hard feed: Feed several small meals to avoid any large peaks in glucose and insulin There are few very low starch and sugar hard feeds, but they do exist. Or: use a feed balancer – these are generally low in starch and sugar and are well supplemented with vitamins and minerals, but as your horse’s work intensity increases, or if he needs more condition, additional supplementation of energy would be required. Supplementing Vitamin B12 before and after competition helps to increase energy levels. Managing weight loss/muscle tone A rich supply of amino acids from quality protein sources would help with this.  Standard commercially available conditioning feeds can be 20-30% starch and sugar so are best avoided. Supporting the immune system PPID results in increased circulating levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  This depresses the immune system (as well as increasing the risk of laminitis).  To provide extra support to the immune system, feeding high doses of antioxidants is recommended.  Vitamin E and Selenium supplements are the best known for this –  avoid any herb-based products in case of potential interactions with the Pergolide and any other medications the horse might be receiving. Boosting the diet with Vitamin C is a useful respiratory supplement and will help support the immune system.

There is nothing more frustrating than when your horse either turns his nose up or doesn't finish his feed.  Some may be plain fussy, but others seems to go off their feed as the showing season progresses. Tempting stressy horses is a challenge as they can seem to melt away in front of you. For some horses the root cause is physical and for others it’s psychological. Careful considerations For the horse that starts to turn his nose up unexpectedly, consider what might have changed – from a step up in work level to a new batch of feed or forage.  Also consider if there may be any underlying issues such as worn teeth or gastric ulcers. Amongst the physical causes of poor appetite, top of the list could be digestive discomfort, usually in horses eating small amounts of forage.  The discomfort could be from gastric ulcers - a reduction in forage means less chewing time and a build up of stomach acid. Discomfort in the large intestine may also be a cause of poor appetite as a result of starch overflow (from a high cereal meal) into the hindgut disrupting the delicate microbial balance there. Something as simple as a new batch of forage can precipitate this, even in horses that usually cope OK on such a regime, but so can stepping up the hard feed as work increases or for more condition.  Also don’t forget the power of spring grass which is lush and sugary at this time of year. For horses for which the excitement of the day ahead gets in the way of settling into their feed, tricks like feeding at the front of the stable, frequent small meals , turning out, or providing a companion may help. Finally for sudden loss of appetite in a horse, especially those that are good eaters, you cannot rule out illness or disease, so if in any doubt, check the vital signs and consult with your vet. Tips for tempting fussy feeders:  Turn out to chill out:  increase the time turned out, especially if the horse can have a pick of grass while out.  Variety: research has shown that horses increase their time spent eating if they are offered variety whether it is in the forages offered or in feed toppings, as this helps recreate the natural browsing instinct and extends eating time.  Go for a high fibre diet:  As well as that supplied by forage and chaff, look to add extra fibre in cunning ways , such as with a fibre block or changing the hard feed to one high in fibre. Gorse:  this old wives tale does seem to work.  A stick of gorse in the manger is said to encourage appetite, even if it sounds a bit prickly! Added vitamins: Vitamin B12 injections are often used as a pick me up, and to perk up a jaded appetite.  B-vitamins are produced by the hindgut so if there is anything amiss with its function, a course of B vitamins may help. Make the meal more tempting:  offer less per meal, and feed more meals per day; also mix in something highly appetising to make the meal more interesting by using products such as : Simplyirresistible is a healthy & delicious feed-topping bursting with goodness, designed to liven up mealtimes and support a healthy gut. Made from only natural ingredients and available in two tasty varieties, simplyirrestistible can be sprinkled on top of hard feed, chaff or forage to add flavour and variety to dull everyday feeds. Simplyirresistible can also be fed to good doers on restricted diets, to tempt picky eaters or ideal to feed  with medication or supplements in a hard feed. Each variety is packed full with an array of delicious tastes and textures, is full of natural plant antioxidants and contains a proven probiotic to support digestive health and help the horse get the most out of its feed. Ruth Bishop BSc (Hons) Dip Eq S Ruth is well-recognised in the world of equine nutrition, as a consultant and as a former technical director of a large horse feed manufacturer.  She also wrote the Dr Ruth nutrition column in Horse and Hound for many years, and is the author of the Horse Nutrition Bible (David & Charles).  She has in the past provided nutrition inputs to the British Equestrian Federation World Class Performance squads.  

What are the challenges of feeding a laminitis prone or overweight horse? We understand that when you have a horse or pony that is prone to laminitis – such as one that easily gains weight or has had laminitis before – managing his diet and alleviating boredom is priority. Dietary guidance is readily available. This includes restricting or removing grazing time, turning out at night, reducing the soluble carbohydrate content of the diet, or implementing a weight loss programme with limited amounts of feed and increased exercise. In practice, however, this means a laminitis-prone horse spends more time indoors without much to eat.  As an example, an overweight pony on a restricted diet could receive, per day, as little as 2 slices of hay, a scoop of balancer and a scoop of feed specifically formulated for laminitis. Such meagre portions may be effective against laminitis, but this routine can mean long periods without food. This can lead to behavioural problems linked with boredom or result in gastric health issues.  Horses are grazers which mean they are born snackers! They are designed to eat 24/7. So, how can we manage laminitis and weight and still ensure our horses get the grazing time they need?  Vitamunch offers a healthy snack for laminitis and weight management Brighten up the life of your overweight or laminitis-prone horse or pony with Vitamunch – the healthy equine snack with added benefits. Our range of Vitamunch healthy snacks offer a unique solution to ensuring your laminitis-prone horse has access to food over longer periods of the day and night. If your horse is at risk of laminitis, then adding Vitamunch to his feeding regime can help, because: the quality-assured, high fibre, low calorie, low sugar composition with added vitamins and minerals complies with published dietary recommendations for laminitic horses; the timothy fibre base of Vitamunch is beneficial for horse’s digestive system; Vitamunch snacks are eaten slowly because the compressed form encourages nibbling, and when fed in the innovative Munch Net, eating time is extended even further; portion control is easy since each Vitamunch snack weighs just 1kg Struggling to get your horse or pony to eat their medication? Our horses and ponies seem to be great at sniffing out anything different in their feeds, especially if they are receiving small portions for weight reasons. Simply Irresistible is designed to disguise medications and supplements, and contains a probiotic too, to help support the digestive system. Not sure your horse is getting everything they need? Generally, a good quality diet of fibre and hard feed is usually sufficient to meet your horse’s daily nutritional needs. However if your horse is a good doer on a restricted diet, there’s a chance they might not be getting everything they need. A multivitamin, such as Simply Sunshine, could help fill the gaps to support a balanced diet.

Equine Nutritionist, Ruth Bishop BSc (Hons) Dip EqSc considers some good general principles of the nutritional management of the competition horse, looking at how to feed your horse before, during and after an event. Feeding and nutrition have important supporting roles as one component of your management “tool box”, alongside training, veterinary monitoring, good farriery, physiotherapy, sports psychology and the like. It requires both long term and short term strategies: long term its about finding a combination of forage, feeds and supplements that work for your horse, whilst short-term competition-day feed tactics can help ensure the best performance on the day, and help recovery afterwards. Horses are of course individuals – the way they hold condition, their temperament, and the work and training level they are at are unique to each. However what and when you feed your horse influences all of these – as well as their basic health. As a horse’s workload increases, many physiological changes take place, from increased blood flow to the tissues, increased tissue damage (often at a microscopic level) that requires ongoing repair, and changes in bone density. All these mean that the horse requires an increased plane of nutrition: not only in terms of energy, but also in relation to amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It’s also a paradox of feeding that the harder we work horses, the more we challenge the natural function of the digestive tract by feeding against its design. Inner health is key The digestive tract as a whole is a huge organ that accounts for about 15% of a horse’s total weight when full, and is designed for the evolutionary horse that roamed plains, constantly eating fibrous feedstuffs. This means they have a relatively small stomach and small intestine, followed by a large fibre-fermenting hindgut. Given its size, ensuring the digestive tract functions correctly is essential for health and behaviour. The challenge with competition horse is that we often want and need to feed them differently to free roaming grazing animals, with small discrete meals and restricted forage. For the competition horse, forage, and more importantly, the fibre it supplies, are essential for inner health as the large intestine comprises approximately two thirds of the digestive tract. Changes to the diet or restricted forage can affect hindgut function and may cause colic or other digestive upset. Forage and fibre can also help to protect against gastric ulcers. Horses have evolved to consume ad lib fibre and so its relatively small stomach produces gastric acid continuously to begin the digestive process. However saliva is only produced when chewing, so that if there is a gap between feeds, acid builds up in the stomach with the result that it can reach unprotected parts of the stomach, causing ulcers. Since fibre takes longer to chew than compound feeds, it reduces the time for that acid to build up. Fibre is also thought to produce a fibrous “matrix” within the stomach that prevents gastric acid from “splashing” into unprotected parts of the stomach. Increasing the length of time a horse spends eating fibre via short or long chopped fibre sources reduces the risk of gastric ulcers. The importance of good forage Given that it forms the largest part of many horse’s diets, forage is often taken for granted as an inert base to the diet, contributing bulk but not much else. As a result it receives little attention in terms of understanding its quality and contribution to the diet. There are many kinds of forage available e.g. grass, hay, haylage, and each is inherently variable in their moisture energy and protein contents, and so can have a major impact on a competition horse. Additionally a concern with hay is its potential dust content in relation to respiratory irritation and disease. Haylage is largely dust-free, but is consumed faster than hay, and can be nutritionally richer, which may not make it the ideal replacement in every case. Another challenge with haylage can be portion control – large bales or compressed small bales and variable moisture contents make it difficult to measure the precise amount of fibre the horse receives. These considerations are especially important in relation to the fine-tuned diets of competition horses, such that all competition diets should begin with a forage plan. Consider which forage; how much (little or large) does your horse work best off; can you source quality and consistent material; does this provide a decent base level of fibre (e.g. at least 50% of intake) and if not how other sources of fibre can be incorporated into the diet to help support digestive health. Power, control and condition Another main feeding challenge is maintaining the balance between power, control and condition, especially as work intensity increases. Generally one of three things happens – You increase the feed rate as the amount of work increases but this negatively affects the horse’s behaviour As work rate increases or the competition season gets going, your horse drops condition. This is difficult to replace with increased feed because it has an adverse affect on his behaviour. You have a good doer who although you want to feed more to support more work, just gets bigger. With modern feeds there are plenty of options in the balance of energy sources to help manage each of these scenarios. Energy sources available to horses from their feed and forage are: Fibre: fermentable in the hindgut, made up of plant cellulose, hemicellulose and pectins. The nature of the fibre affects the speed at which the microbes in the hindgut break it down and therefore its energy content. Starch and sugar (also known as non-structural carbohydrates): these are digested by enzymes in the small intestine and are rapidly available. Oil: Horses can digest and utilise oil well as an energy source. Nutritionists recommend that for every 100mls added, extra Vitamin E is added to the diet to help cope with the added free radicals such high oil produces. Competition day itself Whilst competition day is what you have been building up for, it also represent a massive change in daily routine for the horse with added travel and excitement. There is much debate as to what to feed on competition day. It’s tempting to withhold forage on the way there to keep the horse light, but the current consensus is that feeding concentrates less than 5 hours before a competition is not beneficial. This is because not only does it take several hours to digest and process a meal, but the horse has already got stored in its muscles the energy needed for the day ahead. Competition day management should therefore be focused on health – so provide plenty of water, and in terms of actual feed, feeding small amounts of forage in the morning allows the horse to chew, provides fibre into the delicate stomach and hindgut, and has a lesser metabolic impact than a starchy meal. In summary, when feeding the competition horse, little should be left to chance. Day to day digestive health is paramount, but so is making sure the overall diet is calculated and fine-tuned for the individual. Competition day management is also important to get the best out of the horse on the day. Munch Fibre Blocks provide a convenient way to feed quality forage before, during and after competition. The compressed 1kg blocks of timothy grass, each with added vitamins, minerals and herbs are sealed in packs which can be stored without opening ready for use at any time. Restricted forage? For competition horses that keep their condition well and for whom forage and other feeds are restricted, feeding munch™ blocks provides a low energy, portion-controlled way of providing high quality fibre together with vitamins and minerals in the diet. Each munch™ block weighs 1kg and when fed in the unique munch net can last over an hour. For haylage based diets that tend to be eaten more quickly than hay, a munch™ block offers a consistent, high fibre, low energy, long-lasting addition for horses standing in for long periods of time. On competition day, munch™ blocks provides a perfect fit on competition day. It makes the ideal morning fibre “chaser” to keep the digestive system healthy ahead of the day’s work; it can provide a boredom breaker for long periods waiting in the lorry or trailer, or on late running days. Fortified with additional vitamins and minerals it provides additional nutritional support on the day, and the compact, packaged form mean it fits well into any travelling situation with minimal mess; Find out more about the full munch™ range of healthy snacks with added benefits. Feeding Post Competition After the competition is over, feeding and nutrition tactics should focus on rehydration and replacement of energy reserves and nutrients. The effort of competing together with the excitement of the day mean the horse has used up muscle energy reserves – how much or little depends on the intensity of the effort. Fast or intense work efforts such as cross country, polo, endurance, show jumping or point-to-pointing utilise muscle glycogen stores, which provide instant energy during work, but once used up take 72 hours to restore. (Less intense work efforts are unlikely to have used up muscle glycogen however). After sweating Generally, after the competition, offer plenty of water plus electrolytes after exercise, taking care for it not to be too cold or for the horse to drink too much in one go. When it is particularly hot or humid or the horse is competing in particularly hard work the horse may need an electrolyte replacer added to its feed or water. Also offer plenty of forage for the horse to nibble at. A small hard (concentrate) feed, once the horse is cool and relaxed, will begin to replenish lost glycogen stores or bodyweight. Electrolytes, principally sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium, are responsible for the correct function of nerves and muscles. They also help maintain normal hydration and are integral in maintaining the functioning of the digestive system, and the other vital organs. One litre of horse sweat contains around 3.5g of sodium, 6g of chloride, 1.2g of potassium and 0.1g of calcium

The digestive system of the modern horse The evolutionary horse was constantly on the move, covering large distances across grassy plains, browsing and foraging as it went. The digestive system of the modern horse is still that which evolved to serve the lifestyle of little-and-often feeding. As such there remains an intrinsic need to eat for the majority of the day in horses today. The digestive tract is huge and accounts for about 15% of a horse’s total weight when full. The process of digestion breaks down the feedstuffs a horse eats into various sub-units that can be digested, absorbed and utilised by the individual cells of the body. Principally the horse operates a dual system of digestion – a foregut that digests simple carbohydrate sources, proteins and oils, and a large hindgut for digesting fibre. The digestive system from start to finish: The Mouth Food is taken into the mouth either by the lips, or, in the case of forage, torn by the incisor teeth. The horse is able to use its lips to deftly select (or otherwise) its preferences – we all know plenty of horses that can pick out the bits they don’t like from their feed. The dental arcade of the horse consists of sharp biting teeth at the front, the incisors, followed further up the jaw by the chewing and grinding teeth of the premolars and molars. The rhythmical chomping sound that horses make when chewing is one of the signs of a contented horse. Chewing and grinding break the food down into tiny particles for mixing with saliva. The more chewing, the smaller the particles, and the more mixing with saliva, which then lubricates the bolus of food that passes down to the stomach. Chewing time is longer for hay than compound feeds – per kilo of hay a horse produces typically 6 litres of saliva, compared to only about 2 litres for the equivalent weight of compound. The Stomach The stomach is small in comparison to the rest of the digestive tract, holding typically 9-15 litres, accounting for about 10% of the digestive capacity, and as it works best when approximately two thirds full, its active capacity is therefore less. This relatively small size of the stomach reflects the little and often way a horse evolved to receive its food. A large stomach isn’t necessary when food is constant. A quirk of this design however is that the stomach produces acid continuously regardless of whether food is there or not. This is in contrast to the mouth, which only produces saliva when the horse chews. This continual production of gastric acid is thought to lie behind the development of certain stereotypical behaviours and also gastric ulcers in horses that spend periods without access to food, that then produce only limited amounts of any acid-buffering saliva. The Small Intestine Like the stomach, the small intestine is relatively small compared to the total digestive capacity of the horse, again reflecting the little and often, high fibre diet of the horse. The small intestine is a narrow tube of about 25 metres in length and comprises about 20% of the horses digestive capacity. Starches, sugar, protein and oils are digested here, as are minerals, trace elements and vitamins A, D and E. Depending on the diet, food particles can pass through the small intestine typically between 45 minutes and two hours. Again its size reflects the evolutionary need -to digest the naturally low or moderate amounts of soluble carbohydrates, protein etc., in a mainly fibrous diet. The large Intestine Animals cannot digest fibre by themselves – they do so in a symbiotic relationship with microbes, whereby fibre is broken down by microbial fermentation. In the horse, this fermentation takes place in the large intestine or hindgut. This comprises about two-thirds of the whole digestive tract, and can hold about 30 gallons (about 100 litres) of water and food. Here the microbes ferment fibre, together with any starches, sugars, oils and proteins that have by-passed the small intestine. In horses on a principally forage diet, feedstuffs can stay in the hindgut for as long as 48 hours. Absorbed from the hindgut are the volatile fatty acids and B vitamins generated by the microbial fermentation of fibre, plus water and some minerals, notably phosphorous. The microbial population adapts to match the kind of diet it receives. Any sudden changes to the horse’s overall diet will not give the microbes time to adapt and can cause digestive upset. Such changes are usually the result of sudden drops in fibre or forage intake, or from large excesses of starch and sugar arriving from the small intestine, for instance if hard feed intake is increased suddenly.

In the wild horses browse almost continuously, nibbling small parts from a variety of plants, and taking in relatively small amounts per bite. It’s well known that this intrinsic need to snack remains in our own horses. It’s what they are designed to do Horses are browsing herbivores that have evolved over the centuries to process the grasses, shrubs and other herbaceous plants that formed their natural diet for millennia. Fibre from forage remains the most important part of the diet. As a basic rule of thumb, a horse should eat a minimum of 1% of its bodyweight per day as forage-fibre. This is equivalent to 5kg for a 500kg horse. Their digestive system fits with the principle of frequent small meals: saliva is only produced when chewing – on the basis that a horse expects to chew for a large proportion of the time. 1 kilo of dry forage for instance requires approximately 3400 chews. In addition, horses have relatively small stomachs that continuously produce acid to begin the breakdown of the feedstuffs (on the basis that food is consumed almost continuously); and a relatively small small-intestine. However they have a highly developed large intestines hindgut adapted to digest the natural fibre in the diet. But they don’t always get the chance In the wild, horses browse and forage for food for 16-18 hours per day. Domesticated horses, even those stabled, will eat for 60% of the time when given free access to forage. But there are many instances when a horse does not get an opportunity to munch for the extended time it is hardwired to expect, for example – When fed a restricted diet – overweight or those prone to laminitis may be on restricted rations to aid weight loss; When forage is not ad lib, particularly some haylages that can be eaten quickly. Competition and racehorses where the energy demands of their sport mean that less forage is consumed and increased levels of compound feed. Compound feed is eaten much more quickly than forages. At a show, when waiting between classes or for the prize-giving When waiting in for the vet or farrier Long periods without food, against their physiological design, can affect both mental and physical health. Gastric ulcers occur as a result of the imbalance between continuously produced acid and buffering saliva arriving intermittently via discrete meals; stereotypical behaviours may be associated with same or be related to the innate need to browse and chew not being fully met.   The munch factor - let them snack... In these situations born snackers can have snacks, but these must have the following essentials features: A perfect digestive fitThe ability to satisfies foraging instinctsSome added nutritional worthBe eaten slowlyAnd be store and feed.