July 9, 2020

Top Tips For Managing Forage For Horses On The Go: Part One

Whatever discipline it is you are aiming at, as we move from one competition to the next, it is key to consider what worked and what didn’t and try and put into place key changes to make the next competition or next competition season even better than the last. When it comes to feeding and feed management for the performance horse, particularly when that involves travel, there are some key areas to consider. We will be considering a few of these in detail over the coming weeks.

Know Your Horse Inside Out

It may sound obvious but the better you know your horse, the more likely you are to notice when something’s not quite right and this definitely applies when it comes to feed management. Knowing your horse’s typical forage and water intake at home and when competing away can make all the difference when it comes to performance gains.

Consistency In Horses Is Key

When it comes to forage and concentrate feed, maintaining consistency is essential. Where possible take forage with you or identify a stockist nearby where you can source your chosen M&T product. Where this is not possible, take as much as you can to allow for a reasonable change over when you arrive.

Don’t Underestimate The Value Of Preparation

This comes down to knowing what’s normal for your horse so you can identify a potential problem (whether this is reduced water or forage intake while travelling or staying away) ahead of time and come up with a solution or strategy to cope with these challenges. Ensure any new feeds that you may need to use have been introduced well ahead of time, maintaining a small amount in the daily ration means that the digestive system should be adapted to this product should amounts be increased when needed (still aim to make these increases gradual where possible).

Manage Your Horses Forage: On The Go

For most, travelling to and from competitions is an integral part of the competition season. It is also a key opportunity for dehydration, stress and potentially a period of reduced or completely suspended forage intake. Knowing how well your horse travels and monitoring his forage intake can again provide essential feedback for areas where feed management can be improved going forward.