With the temperature dropping and the nights beginning to draw in, the autumn season is upon us. There is always a lot to think about in order to effectively care for your horse or pony so in our latest blog Scientific Nutritional Products offers a helping hand and some top tips for the new season and optimum autumn care for your equines!
Autumn Equine Care Five Top Tips from Scientific Nutritional Products
1.) Change your horse's routine slowly. If your horse has enjoyed being turned out at pasture 24/7 during the summer months, ensure the transition to stabling is completed gradually in order to allow him to physically and mentally get used to the change. Always provide ample fresh forage to your horse when stabled and build any concentrate feed offered to him slowly. Include a vitamin and mineral supplement in your horse's diet such as Horse & Pony Multivitamin or Competition Horse Supplement in order to meet his nutritional requirements, particularly important in the late autumn when the grass begins to lose its nutritional value.
2.) Watch out for Laminitis. During the autumn time the cool nights and warm days can lead to an increased accumulation of sugars in grass. In order to minimise the risk of laminitis avoid turning your horse out on frosty grass or allowing them excessive grazing on lush pasture. Always maintain a regular exercise routine and ensure your equine's diet supplies adequate levels of vitamins and minerals.
3.) Worm your horse or pony. During the autumn the focus of a worming programme should be on the management of tapeworm and encysted small redworm. Horses can become infected with worms from eating forage and as the exposure to worms is greater during the summer months due to increased turn out the autumn is the ideal time to treat your horse for worms.
4.) Protect your horse from Chills. Many of us will, if we haven't already, clip our equines during the autumn season. Make sure your horse is adequately rugged in order to protect him from chills once he is clipped and if he is still sporting a hairy coat after exercise if he has become sweaty place a fleece rug or cooler on him so he can reduce temperature safely and slowly.
5.) Manage the Mud! Mud related conditions often affect the skin and coat of our horses during the autumn. To limit the mud at your yard avoid turnout on very wet days and place hardcore in the driveways and particularly the gateways; where our equines often stand! The wet and muddy weather conditions sometimes cause cuts to develop and skin to become damaged which can cause bacterial infections. Mud Manager from Scientific Nutritional Products can help to combat these issues as the handy supplement supplies high quality and easily absorbed Chelated Zinc, MSM, Biotin for horses which encourages natural regeneration of healthy skin and hair and provides essential nutrients to maintain a glossy coat during the autumn.
Please feel welcome to call us on 01377 250105 if you would like to talk to us about feeding a supplement during the Autumn/Winter months.
