http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/

Calm Healthy Horses, Rangiora (2026)

02/06/2026

A Significant Achievement!

Sue Dawson, our UK representative, took on Cloud as a 6 year old back in 2019 when all else had failed and he was going to be PTS.

He had been diagnosed as ‘PSSM2’ (by muscle biopsy), had multiple, seemingly insurmountable issues, and was considered unsafe to ride.

But when you see what he is doing now it is hard to believe!

Sue has done an outstanding job with Cloud, transforming him from being severely metabolically compromised to being a super-fit performance horse.

It took a change of management, an understanding of which nutrients to limit and which will help and being prepared to wait ‘UNTIL’. (More in the next post).

From Sue: “Today I found myself reflecting on just how much Cloudy has changed over the years.

As we picked our way confidently across steep slopes, loose stones, deep ruts and rough ground, I realised how easy it is to take these things for granted when they become normal.

He wasn't rushing. He wasn't hesitant. He wasn't looking for the easiest route. He was simply carrying me with confidence, balance and agility across terrain that many horses would find difficult, especially barefoot.

Watching him place his feet with such certainty reminded me that healthy feet don't happen by accident, but are the result of hundreds of small inputs made consistently over time.

Track life that encourages movement every day. A hay-based diet that respects how the horse is designed to eat. A balanced bucket feed that complements the forage.

Additional mineral support when its is needed. Appropriate training that develops strength, balance and confidence.

Together these things can create something quite remarkable - a horse that is physically capable, mentally relaxed and genuinely comfortable in his own body.

Years ago I would have admired a horse crossing this sort of ground and assumed he was simply lucky to have "good feet".

Now I know that what we are often seeing is the outcome of good management quietly adding up over time.

Today I was simply grateful for the horse underneath me and proud of what we have achieved together.

Moments like these are a real measure of success and make up for the less glamorous and many hours spent hours poo picking and hay-net filling while wading through the mud and rain.

Today the sun was shining, we had fun and all was well! 😊”

More on Cloud’s return to health and ‘PSSM’ in the next post.

Meanwhile for help with ‘PSSM’ or other issues please contact us via our quick and easy Enquiry Form.
Here is the link: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

31/05/2026

Grass & Nitrates

A friendly heads-up for horse owners in areas that have been very dry and are about to receive drought-breaking rain.

When the rain arrives, paddocks often green up rapidly. While at first you think the sight of fresh green grass is welcome, this sudden flush of growth can create significant health challenges for horses.

This is where additional supplements are appropriate as the normal balanced diet is suddenly inadequate.

How any individual horse will be affected depends on his metabolic status at the time.

-Preferably avoid your horse eating the emerging green grass by either removing him to a grass free dry lot or sectioning him off on an area that he will soon trash and consume hay instead.
-Make sure you add salt to feeds as the +ve sodium ion is first choice to latch onto the -ve nitrate ion so it can be excreted as sodium nitrate. Otherwise in the absence of adequate sodium, precious calcium & magnesium ions are used instead.

Many owners notice changes in behaviour first. Horses may become over-reactive, anxious, spooky or difficult to handle. If they are not their normal selves then ‘DON’T GET ON’!
Digestive disturbances, including loud gut noises, loose manure or colic. Some horses become "footy", while others may develop laminitis or head-shaking.

The nutrient composition of the grass alters as it responds to changing environmental conditions.

During drought, nitrogen can build up in the soil. When RAIN finally arrives, the grass which has been dormant, shoots out of the ground and the young immature plants can accumulate large amounts of nitrate nitrogen, mainly in the lower regions of the stems.

High nitrate levels are also likely when conditions are cool, cloudy, frosty, shaded, or where nitrogen fertilisers have been applied.

Under these conditions grass crude protein levels can climb to extraordinary levels, sometimes exceeding 30%.

However, not all Crude Protein is desirable. Some is actual "true protein" containing valuable amino acids that horses can utilise.

The rest is known as Non-Protein Nitrogen, largely in the form of NITRATES. Unlike cattle and sheep, horses cannot utilise this nitrate form of nitrogen because they do not possess a ruminant digestive system.

The result is that horses grazing grass after a drought-breaking may be consuming relatively large amounts of unwanted ‘spare’ nitrogen every day.

It can make them urinate more frequently and/or you may see burn patches amongst the grass.

In contrast, mature, stalkier, yellow-green pasture typically contains crude protein levels up to10-12%, which is much more aligned with what the equine metabolism evolved to handle. This is why mature pasture often behaves more like hay and is safer for mono-gastric animals like horses.

Other sources of protein such as flaxseed, sunflower seed, soybean meal and copra are different because their protein consists largely of useful amino acids without any nitrate nitrogen. The exception is lucerne/alfalfa which stores nitrates in its leaves rather than lower regions of stems like grasses.

As drought-breaking rain approaches, monitor horses carefully for subtle changes. Walking more slowly, stiffness, foot soreness, unusual behaviour, digestive disturbances, head-shaking or increased sensitivity can all be early warning signs that the new grass may not be as harmless as it appears.

Brand new green grass does not always mean safe. Contact us via the link below for how to nutritionally help your horse at these times.

Understanding how these aspects of pasture affect horse health gives owners the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and help prevent problems before they become serious.

Please contact us via the Enquiry Form so we have all the info needed.
Here is the link: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

Photos - high risk grass
- After a drought-breaking rain
- Frosted new shoots

26/05/2026

Not Your Typical Candidate for Laminitis

One of the most common assumptions in the horse world is that if horses develop laminitis on short grass, then the short grass itself must be high in sugars.

Forage analyses of short grass (being < 4cm or 1 ½”) do not support this. In fact, the shorter the grass, the LOWER the sugar levels.

Yet horses — even those not considered “typical” laminitis candidates, like the lovely TB in the photo — can still develop laminitis while grazing very short pasture.

This TB was in great condition, was in work, was not EMS, not obese and had great hooves.

He was fed some hay every day yet he had sudden onset laminitis one Autumn. Quick action meant he recovered within a few days.
While there we managed to get enough of the very short green rye-grass & clover grass he was on to send away for analysis.

This grass was not high in sugars but was way too high in other nutrients (see below)

The upper two-thirds of grass leaves are like 'solar panels' – they convert sunlight to energy.

Leaf AREA, where the plant captures the sunlight and absorbs CO₂ is needed for photosynthesis/manufacturing of sugars to take place in order for the grass to grow.

Grazing removes the grass’s solar panels!

Then there is very little leaf area left. This is why overgrazed paddocks take so LONG to recover — the plant has lost much of its ability to generate energy for regrowth.

When grass has grown longer leaves AND growing conditions are favourable, it does manufacture sugars creating more risk for susceptible horses, especially those with Insulin Dysregulation.

Environmental conditions like cold nights, frosts, consecutive cloudy days and other environmental stresses can disrupt normal grass growth, causing accumulation of other nutrients like nitrates & potassium.

ALL are risk factors for horses prone to laminitis, head-shaking, spookiness, anxiety, irritability or uncharacteristic behaviours.

Focusing ONLY on sugar levels can cause us to miss other contributing factors.

For those interested in learning:

In this particular case, the late autumn grass analysed at:

Dry Matter (fibre) ........13.3% (green grass can be up to 25%, hay is 80-90%)
Sugars ....... ………….7% (< 10% is considered safe)
Starch………………< 0.5% (very low)
Crude Protein………..36% (should be close to 12)
Potassium .…………..3.4% (should be < 2%)
DCAD…………………..284 (Should be

22/05/2026

Would you like Hoof Abscesses to become a thing of the past?

Our horses used to be susceptible to hoof abscesses especially in spring, - I recall one time having 3 hooves in buckets – poor horse!

But none of our 19 CHH horses have had ANY abscesses for at least 15 years.

And this is despite their living environment being very stony ground. See video. No matter how often those stones are raked up they just keep appearing so we don’t worry about them any more. The horses do have soft areas too but they will happily gallop around on those stones!

Persistent or recurrent abscessing is a sign that there are underlying hoof, metabolic or dietary issues that need addressing.
They are a sign all is not as good as it should be with the horse’s internal health and/or hoof care.

Hoof abscesses occur when bacteria gain access into the sensitive structures inside the hoof capsule and the body mounts an inflammatory response. A ‘pocket’ of infection develops.

Because the hoof is a rigid structure, pressure builds up, which is why abscesses are often extremely painful and can cause sudden severe lameness.

The infection will follow the path of least resistance and burst out, often at the coronet or the heels but can end up anywhere.

Abscesses are a common sequel to a laminitis episode – a ‘double whammy’ for the poor horse. Damage inside the hoof can create areas of dead or compromised tissue that the body needs to expel.

The first sign is usually sudden lameness but they can also develop over several days. They are characterised by ‘pointing’ the toe and reluctance to bear weight.
Accompanied by a strong digital pulse and sometimes swelling from coronet up.

(In laminitis the horse will rock back on his heels and more often than not both front hooves are painful).

When an abscess “bursts,” the pressure is immediately released and the horse becomes instantly more comfortable

What predisposes a horse to abscess formation?

1. Lack of nutrients needed for growing down strong, healthy hooves — eg quality protein, zinc, copper, biotin which weaken hoof structure over time.

2. Knowing what we know now, the lack of sufficient daily fibre for microbial fermentation is the major contributor to abscess troubles.

ALL the Vitamins produced as a by-product are critically important for both PREVENTING & FIGHTING INFECTIONS.

3. Poor hoof integrity in general is another contributing factor. Abscesses are common in horses living on ground with poor drainage. When the hoof wall, white line or sole becomes soft, weak, stretched or cracked, it becomes much easier for debris/bacteria to gain entry.

This is why abscesses are common in horses with laminitis, white line disease, seedy toe and thin soles.

‘Stone bruises’, hard ground, long toes which cause stretched white line, poor trimming or a penetrating injury can damage sensitive tissues inside the hoof. Such damaged tissue then becomes susceptible to infection.

Hence nutritional factors which affect immune function also influence susceptibility.

Prevention is about feeding the horse so he maintains strong hoof structure AND is physiologically resilient:

• Feed a HIGH FIBRE, forage-based diet
• Support healthy hoof growth with quality minerals, vitamins & amino acids (Premium/Supreme MVA)
• Regular hoof trimming on a 4-5 week cycle, any longer damages white line integrity
• Have dry stand off areas so horses aren’t liviing on wet ground ALL the time.
• Be proactive when managing metabolic issues

For help feeding your horse to be healthy AND resilient feel free to contact us via our Enquiry Form: Here is the link:
https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

17/05/2026

Small-Scale Tracks Can Work Well!

When it comes to Tracks for horses, most people visualise extensive, large, multi-horse Tracks.

More and more horse owners, recognizing Tracks are a great lifestyle option for domestic horses, are creating them on a smaller scale on small properties.

They function as a very effective management tool for horses who have developed issues from consuming grass that doesn’t suit the equine digestive system.

Ange needed such a ‘life-saving’ option for her horse Oscar back in 2023 when he suffered a serious bout of laminitis.

Oscar’s grazing was the green ‘middle’ area in the photos - a particularly lush paddock. The only way to prevent an inevitable relapse was to make somewhere grass free for he and his companion to live full time.

Somewhere to enable elimination of unsuitable short or lush grass and where intake of high dry matter forage such as hay can be increased.

Somewhere Oscar wouldn’t be cooped up at all and that offered him choices of shade and shelter.

So an inner fence was built around this small paddock, using safe ‘V mesh’ fencing, (impenetrable to hooves or heads).

Crushed limestone was used as a base with washed sand as a surface.

The track goes under some trees at one end for shade in the summer. The circumference is approx. 1500m

Two hay stations keep the horses moving around the track.

Bungee cords are used so they can be given their daily feeds separately.

The on-site hay-barn makes storing hay and feeding out easy.

An excellent ‘Small Track’ setup that is ideal for the purpose

Oscar has never looked back!! He has never had sore feet or laminitis again.

Please tell us if you have a small-scale track - we'd love to see it!

Photos illustrate Oscar's Track

11/05/2026

Fibre Intake & Grazing Muzzles

Grazing Muzzles are very useful when options for controlling grass intake are limited or non-existent.

When owners don’t have the luxury of a grass-free track on which to keep their horses, grazing muzzles can be useful tools.

They allow freedom of movement and grazing when ad lib access to the grass could lead to health problems.

On the plus side studies show they lower grass intake by somewhere between 30 – 80% thereby reducing sugar/calorie intake in horses prone to being over-weight, EMS or laminitis while allowing them to stretch their legs and socialize.

The downside is the accompanying reduction in fibre intake which is rarely, if ever, considered.

This does not pose a problem when grazing muzzles are used for only 2-3 hours daily.

But it needs to be taken into account when grazing muzzles remain on for 12-14 hours a day. Because for example, fibre intake over this time for a 500kg horse wearing a muzzle will only be about 0.8kg***

The simple solution is to make sure this lack of fibre is compensated for during the remaining hours of the day with hay. A 500kg horse would need to eat 10-11kgs of 85% fibre hay to meet his fibre requirements.

For comparison, when hay is soaked, the sugars (and potassium) are reduced but the fibre component stays in there.

For the horse wearing a grazing muzzle, EVERYTHING is reduced which means the horse’s daily basic nutrient requirements need to be met with supplementary hay and a small bucket feed to provide protein/amino acids, fats, minerals & vitamins.

Add Premium/Supreme MVA (Minerals, Vitamins, Amino Acids) to your base feed as it is ideally formulated for these horses. MVA already includes the high levels of Vitamin E and all the B-Vitamins required when fibre intake may be on the low side. It also delivers the vital amino acids lysine, methionine & threonine, generally lacking in protein sources and contains suitable chelated calcium to balance phosphorous of micronized/crushed linseed.

***Here are the maths for those who are interested:

To maintain his condition, a 500kg horse needs to consume at least 2% of his BW daily in forage on a Dry Matter basis. That is 10kg of fibre which he would get from consuming 12kgs of HAY (which is 85% fibre. 12kg x 85% = 10.2kg fibre)

WITHOUT A GRAZING MUZZLE Out on mid-mature pasture he would consume 0.45-0.9 kg of grass per hour**. Using the average of 0.67kg/hour multiplied by 12 hours = 8kg grass.

WITH A GRAZING MUZZLE on this would reduce by 30 – 80% so say 50% meaning over 12 hours he is only consuming 4kgs of pasture grass which will be max 20% fibre and calculates to intake of 0.8kgs fibre over the 12 hours.

This needs to be compensated for by consuming 10 - 11 kgs of 85% fibre HAY over the remaining 12 hours.

Photo Courtesy Danee Finckh, Australia

*Grass needs to be up-right and ‘medium’ length. Muzzles don’t work well when the grass is either too short or too long.
https://www.equiculture.net/blog/grazing-muzzles-pros-and-cons
**KER
https://ker.com/equinews/calculating-pasture-and-forage-consumption-of-horses/

For help with ensuring you are providing daily essential nutrition please fill out our Enquiry Form.
Here is the link:
https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

03/05/2026

How the Horse’s Head Tells Us Which Grass Best

The design of the horse’s head tells us he evolved on LONG-STEM FORAGE which consists of coarse, fibrous material.

Their long heads accommodate the large banks of molar teeth needed to grind the coarse fibrous grass they are supposed to consume. Their eyes are positioned near the top of their head so they can still spot the approach of predators while they are eating.

(Imagine what their head would look like if they evolved on short grass………..)

If horses were adapted to consuming high nitrogen short, green or lush green grass all year round then they would have evolved as ruminants not mono-gastrics.

For horse owners the vital point to understand is that ALL GRASS IS NOT EQUAL and keeping horses on small acreages means they are consuming quite different grass on a daily basis to their feral counterparts who live in semi-arid, often high altitude regions and who are not confined behind fences.

Most horse owners do not have sufficient land to be able to keep this sort of grass ahead of their horses all year round.

This is where the best solution is to feed the horse’s grass as hay – it provides suitable forage for the horse’s digestive system over the times of the year when the grass is not suitable, no matter your grazing situation.

Whether grass is suitable or not, or how individual horses will cope on the available grass, depends on:
• Stage of growth of the grass, the season and the weather
• The physiological state of the individual horse that will be grazing the grass

The grass your horse is grazing will be likely work for parts of the year but not others.

It is not easy to wrap your head around the fact that the grass on your property or at your rented grazing is what is causing issues for your horse. The alternative of being unaware can, however, prove to be even more problematic and expensive.

If your horse has grass-related issues on the CheckList
(https://4aa3a3bd-b168-4157-b645-f1b64450f4d8.filesusr.com/ugd/006459_81709dcd870b40ee86b0ea746988b405.pdf)
indicates your grass isn’t suitable for one or more of the above reasons.

If you have any issues with your horse and his grazing please contact us via our Enquiry Form. Here is the link: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

Reference: Evolutionary Strategy of Equidae and the Origins of Rumen and Cecal Digestion – Christine Janis, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138 USA

28/04/2026

SOAKING HAY

Soaking hay is extra work but can be very worthwhile in the management of metabolically challenged horses and ponies. If you are going to go to the effort you need to know you are doing it properly.

When hay is soaked, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and potassium are drawn out into the water, reducing both the sugar and potassium load on the horse’s metabolism.

When you soak out the WSC’s you ARE soaking out the calories from sugars but the calories from the FIBRE component remain fundamentally unchanged - even with long soaking they barely reduce. The calories from the fibre provide the energy to keep your horse functioning.

Is one hour enough or should it be longer? HOW you soak is the critical thing.

SOAKING HAY PROPERLY

Using PLENTY OF WATER COMPARED TO HAY is VITAL to the process, as effectiveness of soaking lessens as the water becomes more SATURATED.

One hour works well when you have a high water-hay ratio

If the container is small relative to the volume of hay, it is best to change the water and soak again.

Water temperature also has an influence, hot water increases the rate of leaching.

After soaking rinse off the sugary water and then allow the hay to drain for half an hour (in the shade). Then it is much easier to lift and transport to the horse.

The colour of the water is unrelated to the sugars leached out - it is due to pigments soaking out. It is great water for your garden.

Long soaking does not reduce calories any further but what does increase is the loss of other useful nutrients and the risk of bacterial growth and fermentation. You can end up with poorer quality forage with reduced palatability.

**Katy Watts who researched the process thoroughly, maintains “There is no reason for soaking hay overnight”

Soaked hay should be fed promptly, particularly in warmer conditions, in order to avoid bacterial contamination.

The downside of soaking is that sodium and chloride are also lost, so adding salt to feeds remains important.

Potassium also reduces substantially during soaking, around 50% which is helpful for horses with metabolic and other issues like head-shaking.

Done properly, soaking hay is a useful tool for reducing WSC and potassium intake.

WHAT IT DOES NOT DO: It does not significantly reduce the digestible energy (DE) of the forage, because the fibre, which provides much of the energy remains unaffected.

** Katy Watts https://www.safergrass.org/safergrass-blog/the-best-way-to-soak-hay

25/04/2026

Mika – Three Months to a Completely Different Pony!

Back in Feb Emma contacted us about their recently purchased 14.2hh, 17yrs Kaimanawa mare Mika:

“We have had Mika for about a month and I just want clarification that I am doing the right things to help her lose weight and hopefully reverse the EMS diagnosis.

She is 8/9 on the body condition scale.

We limit her turn out and she is strip grazed at night with three other horses on mature, stalky grass that has been rested since early spring. However there is green underneath from the recent rains. She is a little spooky and girthy at the moment.

She is turned out from 8pm until 9am the next morning and gets some hay during the day.”

Mika was already on a good feed with Timothy chaff, crushed linseed, sunflower-meal, Premium MVA & salt.

We recommended she come completely off the grass to eliminate her being able to eat the ‘green underneath’.

In our experience this is what compromises the metabolism of EMS horses and amongst other things, causes them to carry a lot of excess fluid.

Emma mixed her hay with barley straw because due to being on tank water, soaking wasn’t an option.

We recommended
-supplements to help bring her metabolism back to normal functioning
-as much exercise as possible.

On Apr 24 we received this update from Emma:

“Just thought I would give you can update on our EMS girlie.

Mika has been off the grass now since February with a hay/straw mix with the daily feed as recommended.

She’s been worked 4-5 times a week with lots of walking, hill work and trot poles.

We are working on building up her topline, strength and balance but look at her now compared to back in January!

She is a completely different pony! The girthiness and spookiness are gone and she is now popping over small crossbars with no hesitation.

We have had to use a smaller girth now so certainly heading in the right direction.

Thanks so much for your help.”
Emma de Jong

Emma has done an EXCELLENT job bringing Mika’s metabolism completely back to normal.

Well done Emma and thanks for sharing!

For specific assistance with feeding your horse please fill out the Enquiry Form so we have all the info needed.
Here is the link: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

23/04/2026

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AMONGST HORSE OWNERS

THINKING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HORSE

When, more often than not, the issue lies in how the horse is being managed.

BELIEVING ANY PASTURE IS SUITABLE FOR ALL HORSES

Grass is highly variable and often inappropriate for our domestic horses.

Successful management requires both the knowledge and the facilities to control access, not just turn out and hope for the best.

ASSUMING ‘HORSE-FRIENDLY GRASS’ IS JUST ABOUT SPECIES

With few exceptions grass is most suitable at a mature, stalky stage of growth (yellow/brown), not when it is lush and actively growing (green).

Owners with the fewest issues tend to be those managing poorer land or adopting more regenerative, low-input systems.

THINKING HAY ALONE IS ENOUGH WHEN OFF GRASS

Ad-lib forage is essential, but it does not reliably provide a complete nutritional profile. Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (from protein) & omega fatty acids must be supplied daily to support health and function.

THINKING HORSES ARE DEPRIVED ON TRACKS OR DRY LOTS

In reality, horses with appropriate forage, movement, and social structure are more settled, healthier, and more comfortable than those struggling on unsuitable grazing.

EQUATING FAT AND SHINY WITH HEALTH

A glossy coat and good condition can mask underlying metabolic disturbance.
Issues often appear later as:
• poor movement
• muscle tightness
• behavioural changes
• EMS / laminitis

ASSUMING GRASS TURNOUT PREVENTS ULCERS

Not necessarily. Many horses on 24/7 grass develop gastric issues, while those managed on ad-lib hay-based systems do not. Because of its high fibre content, hay is the most effective prebiotic support for gut health.

ASSUMING MOVEMENT ISSUES HAVE A PHYSICAL CAUSE

Problems such as:
• sacroiliac dysfunction
• locking stifles
• various gait abnormalities
• stumbling/knuckling over
are frequently linked to underlying metabolic or dietary imbalances, not just mechanical injury.

ASSUMING NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES HAVE A PHYSICAL CAUSE – FOR EXAMPLE AN IMPINGEMENT

When they are actually a ‘bio-chemistry injury’ which affects the normal functioning of nerves and muscles.

THINKING GUT DYSBIOSIS ALWAYS ORIGINATES WITH THE MICROBIOME

When the VAGUS nerve that innervates the digestive tract is not functioning properly peristalsis is impeded affecting gut motility.
When the contents of the digestive tract sit there too long the internal environment (the ‘soup’ in which the flora reside) alters resulting in changes to the populations making up the microbiome

SPENDING MONEY ON ENDLESS SADDLES AND SADDLE FITTING

When the underlying issue is a horse, whose body is continually tight and uncomfortable due to biochemistry disturbances, metabolic stress and resulting poor posture.

No saddle can stay correctly fitted on a horse that is uncomfortable, sore and tight. Until the root dietary causes are addressed, saddle issues will keep reappearing.

ASSUMING ALFALFA / LUCERNE IS ‘SAFE’ BECAUSE IT IS LOW SUGAR

Nutritionally, lucerne/alfalfa has a very similar nutritional composition to young, green grass.
For already compromised horses, it can add to the problem rather than alleviate it.

BELIEVING HORSES CAN ‘SELF-SELECT’ WHAT THEY NEED

Horses select based on palatability, not nutritional wisdom (salt being a key exception). Highly palatable plants can drive excess intake of certain nutrients, for example, high potassium intake, placing additional strain on the metabolism.

BELIEVING ‘DETOXING’ IS NECESSARY

Most so-called “detox” needs arise from ongoing dietary overload. Removing or reducing the source, particularly lush grass intake, is far more effective than attempting to manage the consequences

UNDER-ESTIMATING THE IMPACT OF DAILY MANAGEMENT
Practicing consistent, thoughtful and responsive approaches to the horse’s diet, turnout, movement and environment, supports the horse’s well-being far more than a habitual approach with highly reactive interventions as things go wrong.

The horses that do best are not the ones receiving the most intervention, but the ones managed with consistency, control, and attention to detail every day.

Photos – both taken today in the McKenzie Country South Island New Zealand

These photos show a landscape which is relatively suited to the horse, rainfall is low, summer is hot and winter cold. These large acreages of grassland provide a sparse, brown fibrous cover over stony ground.

However, look at the green areas, what has happened here? These areas are of improved pasture created by farming where water and fertiliser have been supplied to promote grass growth. In these areas the resulting pasture is green and lush with a much thicker sward than exists in the natural areas.

This is where our problem starts, the horse is not naturally adapted to those green pastures. Without careful management he is exposed to dietary imbalances that are the root cause of the problems most owners are struggling to manage.

For guidance with your horse in your situation please fill out our Enquiry Form. Here is the link: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7424581212632515616

Calm Healthy Horses

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