Q: My pony is a good doer and I am worried he may be at risk from laminitis, what feed would you advise?

In order to minimise the risk of laminitis it is important to provide a diet which is high in fibre and low in calories. This is becauseponies that are overweight are more likely to suffer from laminitis or metabolic problems than those that are kept fit and have a healthy body fat score condition of 3 out of 5. Always get your hands on your pony and use a recognised fat score system, feeling for a firm muscular toned body rather than soft flabby body. It is also advisable to monitor your pony’s bodyweight regularly using a weight tape; once a fortnight is recommended to enable you to detect subtle changes in body condition. You will need to "weigh"at the same time of day each time to avoid natural fluctuations.Overweight ponies are more susceptible to repeat attacks of laminitis and I would recommend that you aim to be able to feel their ribs but not see them.

If you are concerned about your pony’s weight then it is important to remember to reduce calories not bulk; all horses should eat a minimum of 2.5% of their bodyweight as food (includes hay,chaff and bucket feed i.e. anything he consumes!). Restricting intake to less will not help with weight control and means that your pony is at greater risk of developing gastric ulcers, stereotypy behaviour, colic and dental problems. So therefore consider the calories you are providing when feeding and look at feeds such as High Fibre Nuts and Safe & Sound which are high in fibre and low in calories.

For more advice and a copy of Right Weight Record Card contact the Dodson & Horrell Feed Team on 0845 345 2627 or visit www.dodsonandhorrell.com

Q: My horse has sweet itch what should I be feeding?

Firstly it is important to make sure that your horse is getting a fully balanced diet. If he is a “good doer” and doesn’t require very much concentrate feed one way of doing this would be to add a feed balancer, such as Ultimate Balancer, to his feed. This will ensure that he is getting optimum levels of vitamins and minerals and also provides good levels of Omega 3 & 6 oils to help promote good skin and coat health.

Secondly you can look at using a herbal supplement such as Itch Free. This is a blend of herbs, including: Chamomile, Burdock Root, Garlic & Nettle, which has been formulated specifically for horses that are prone to skin irritation to nutritionally support skin and coat condition.

 DODSON & HORRELL PRODUCT LINE UP

High Fibre Nuts

£7.50

Pasture Mix

£9.25

Take Control

£18.25 

Itch Free

£7.99