The Phoenix caught up with Jessica Jackson, Regional Sales Manager for Pryde’s EasiFeed and got some tips for horses during dry times.
• Base diet on roughage (chaff, grass or hay). Horses should get at least 1.5-2% per 100kg of bodyweight per day so that’s at least 7.5kg per day for a 500kg
horse.
• Use tools like hay racks, slow feeding hay nets or slow feeding barrels to prolong hay consumption and decrease risk of gastric ulcers and sand or dirt accumulation.
• Beware of the risk of sand and dirt accumulation in the gut. Horses are trying to pick at everything on the ground looking for grass, so are therefore at risk of collecting more dirt and sand. You can reduce this by feeding lots and lots of hay which isn’t easy sourcing right now so another method is to use psyllium husks. Use 50g per 100kg of bodyweight- per day – single meal – in something tasty like our EasiResult feed. This acts as a fibre goo that the dirt and sand attach to that can then be passed out in the manure.
• Beware of toxic weeds being eaten in drought times when no other grass is available. Weeds like fireweed and patersons curse are toxic to horses. Paddock
weed control is encouraged and enough roughage to keep your horse full so he doesn’t keep searching for weeds to eat.
• Protect trees and fence posts from bored and hungry horses in drought. Majority of trees being ringbarked is from boredom but can also be from mineral deficiencies or lack of salt. Tree guards are useful and you can also put out salt or mineral licks as an extra precaution.
• Choose the right supplementary feed program. When needing extra feed to maintain energy or weight during drought and winter, make sure it has a full vitamin and mineral profile, the right energy for your horse and fits into your budget.
• Remember also in these trying conditions to always supplement feed the young, the old and the pregnant horses. Pryde’s EasiFeed has over 30 varying
feeds to choose from, Australian owned and operated, have a look today: www.prydes.com.au
By Jessica Jackson