Feeding & Behaviour

Naturally in the wild horses are sociable, free-roaming prey animals. They are 'trickle feeders' and spend over 60% of their time feeding.

Management and feeding practices are really important to allow horses to express natural behaviour, and to prevent abnormal behavioural patterns.

Saliva plays a huge role in protection against gastric ulcers, but is only produced whilst your horse is chewing
Increasing grazing and the amount of time chewing can help to protect against gastric ulcers, which can cause discomfort and irritable behaviour
Regular access to pasture will also provide your horse or pony with opportunities to socialize with herd mates, as well as providing natural exercise
If you have limited grazing, or your horse needs limited access to pasture, it is important to allow foraging within the stable, this can be done by providing hay or haylage in more than one location around the stable.

Research has shown links between reduced access to forage and the development of stereotypies, which are abnormal repetitive behaviours such as crib-biting, bed eating and wood chewing.
Crib-biting has been associated with an increased risk of gastric ulcers and colic and so providing regular access to forage is essential
Weaving and box walking are more associated with boredom than nutrition
Providing sufficient access to forage can provide entertainment for the horse and help in preventing these behaviours

As horses are naturally trickle feeders their digestive systems have adapted to cope with small amounts of feed at a time
We recommend splitting large amounts of concentrates into several smaller meals per day of no more than 2.5kg for a 500kg horse
Excessively large meals of cereals can overload the small intestine, meaning that more starch reaches the hindgut which can disrupt the delicate natural balance of the hindgut
This could cause discomfort, irritability and could be linked to stereotypic behaviours

Just like humans, some horses are prone to excitable behaviour whereas some are much more laid back
Nutrition cannot completely change temperament but can minimise unwanted behaviour
Excitable or fizzy horses will benefit from diets high in fibre and oil rather than starch and sugar, as starches and sugars provide quick release energy which could promote excitable behaviour
Staypower Cubes provide enough calories from fibre and oil for a horse in medium to hard work, while for horses in lighter work Classic Fibre Cubes are ideal.
For those horses that need a little more 'oomph' we can use cereals to provide extra sparkle; horses in hard work will benefit from Competition Mix
It is important to check that your horse is receiving the right amount of calories for their weight and workload

Your horse's nervous system requires many amino acids, vitamins, minerals and oils to function correctly

- Low levels of selenium have been linked to depression and anxiety in humans

- Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve cognitive function and influence mood and behaviour

- Magnesium reduces anxiety in rats

Although it has not yet been proven that supplementation has any additional benefits it is important to check that your horse is receiving the correct amount of vitamins, minerals and oils
If you are feeding less than the recommended amount of concentrate feed you may need to top up with Daily Vitamins & Minerals or a balancer

While it has not yet been proven, many owners believe that some natural herbs or supplements can influence their horse’s behaviour
Chamomile, lemon balm and vervain are all said to have calming properties.
Prebiotics such as Digestive Support or Yea-Sacc can improve hindgut health, and minimise discomfort and unwanted behaviours

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