Dodson and Horrell Winter Mash - what did the expert think?

A few weeks back I was contacted by leading equine feed manufacturers, Dodson & Horrell about testing and reviewing their latest innovative product; Winter Health Mash.

The aim of the mash is to provide a warming herbal feed that supports the immune system and digestive function over the winter months.

Having owned horses for years now, I'm no stranger to the onset of winter and longer periods of time spent in stables, colder weather and more often leads to our four-legged friends loosing their appetite.  Additionally, with two veterans I'm always on the look out for a feed that can help support their immune system during a challenging time such as winter.

With added carrots, peas and herbs this brand new winter mash is ideal to get even the fussiest of horses to eat as well as an ideal way to disguise supplements and medicines if required. A source of oat and molasses free calories with 7.5% oil content, this palatable feed will also keep your horses coat shining throughout those dull winter months.

Additionally, with added effective levels of echinacea to support the immune system, this mash is ideal for ensuring your horse stays as healthy as possible during winter months when there is no goodness in the grass and more time is spent indoors.

What did the experts think?

With Ceaser getting well into his veteran years now, I'm more than fussy about what I feed him and ensuring he gets all the goodness out of his feed, where possible. 

Although we're not over the worst of the winter months, it's already been a long one with him getting recurring uveitis which caused a horrible eye ulcer that we struggled to get rid of. Unfortunately this resulted in several weeks of bute and days after days stabled, with limited turnout. 

Initially I was concerned he would loose condition from loss of appetite and at his age its something I didn't want to happen. Usually he's fed half a scoop of balancer and that does him, but with all the added stress on him, I was glad when Dodson and Horrell asked me to test their Winter Mash. 

Usually Ceaser is ridden most days and for roughly half an hour per day, but with his eye severely ulcered and the sunlight making it flare up, I was only able to ride as and when for a few weeks - so in the same breath, weight gain bothered me and I was conscious of getting his feed routine during this time right for him.

For me, I found the Winter Mash encouraged and enticed Ceaser to eat both his breakfast and dinner time meals. The fresh, herb aroma made it smell that good, I could have eaten it myself! Additionally, I liked that when mixed with his balancer, it made both a nice looking and smelling feed rather than mush which you often find with feeds you need to add water to. 

My primary concern was leaving our yard staff to make the feed. I'm always conscious with a feed that needs water adding to it, that there's enough water been added or it has been left to soak for long enough. Thankfully the Winter Mash needs only 10 minutes to soak, so by the time they had made the rest of the yards feeds it was good to go! 

Additionally, on the real cold and dark winter nights, when I felt he needed a 'winter warmer', I was confident that the Winter Mash just did that! All I did was add warm water instead of cold and it warmed him up. Other horse owners will know the satisfaction in being able to feed your horse something warm on cold December nights. 

During the initial box rest, all of us on the yard noticed Ceaser was slightly grumpy and to ride he felt lethargic and had barely any energy. None of us know the effects of painkillers such as Bute and antibiotics can have on the insides, so I felt comfortable in knowing I was adding something to his feed that was full of an immune system booster. 

Before long we all started to notice he was considerably brighter and to ride he felt fresher and seemed to have his mojo back after just a few weeks of being on the feed. Additionally I noticed his coat began to get its shine back - which was just as good as seeing the spring in his step return!

Since starting the trial with Ceaser and noticing the difference, I've put my other veteran on it and can already see a considerable difference after just a couple of weeks. Even better, a couple of our liveries have asked what I'm feeding and are keen to give it a go as well.

I cannot thank Dodson and Horrell enough for allowing me to trial the Winter Mash - it's certainly proved to be one of the most valuable feeds I've fed by far!

For more information on the Winter Health Mash, please visit the Dodson and Horrell website on: www.dodsonandhorrell.com or alternatively speak to one of the friendly and experienced nutritional advisors through the Nutritional Helpline - 0845 345 2627

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The 12 days of Christmas. 12 equine products I couldn't live without. Number 3....!

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 equine products I (Ceaser) couldn't live without!

The third product I want to recommend is Chestnut Horse Feeds, not only for their fantastic feed but brilliant customer service.

The avid readers of my blog will already know that I had energy level problems with Ceaser for quite a while, so when I found Chestnut feeds it was a refreshing change. 

I first heard of Chestnut feeds from fellow Charles James Fox sponsor, Show jumper, Tori Twite who speaks very highly of their feed and what they have to offer. Then when I was interviewing Geoff Billington and Oliver Townend last week on their Edge of Glory Tour, Chestnut Feeds came up in conversation regularly and I thought if its good enough for their horses then it was definitely worth looking at. 

The lovely Lisa from Chestnut Feeds agreed to do a yard visit once she returned off the Edge of Glory tour to show me the feeds and talk through all of my horses requirements. This was a year ago and we have since not looked back!

Upon meeting Lisa I told her I was fed up of having to feed my six horses all different and individual feeds. Of course I understood Ceaser couldn't have the same feed as my Thoroughbred and my laminitic pony couldn't have the same as the good-doer pony... However I was sure we were spending ample amounts of money on various types of feeds when in reality, there must be a way of doing it differently.

The experts working at the company have designed the feed range with palatability in mind and have carried out extensive research to ensure they only offer feed that is both nutritionally balanced and appetising. Each feed has been made with individual horses in mind.

The feed includes:

NO Chemically processed ingredients 
NO syntehtic materials
NO by-products from industrial processes
NO Animal by-products or fishmeal

Chestnut Feeds also offer a unique Bulk Bin Feeding System that enables you to pick the size bin you want; either small or large and that is then delivered straight to your door with the feed of your choice in. When your bin is running low you simply place your next order and they will replace the empty bin with a full one. 

I told Lisa that I wanted Ceaser on a feed that provided him with enough energy to compete in the type of competitions he does, such as affiliated level dressage, but not get fizzy on it. I have noticed lately he's been getting a "Lucozade effect" type of energy where he'll have a sudden burst, take off, spook and then 10 minutes later have no energy left. I explained I needed something that had a slow release energy but something I could rely on to provide with him enough to compete at 3-day competitions as well as keep his condition. 

As well as this I needed something for the riding school ponies, as well as my old laminitic pony and the thoroughbred that could get fizzy at the sight of oats. 

Lisa was absolutely fantastic and together we sat down, worked out what I am feeding the horses now, how much I am spending and what in reality they all require as individual feeding needs. 

Ceaser is on their Alpha plus which is a digestible balanced blend of alfalfa, oil and cereals complete with vitamins and minerals. 

What I like is that it is not only suitable for competition horses but also veterans - so I have something that is almost made uniquely to suit Ceasers needs. As well as this, one of their bins lasts me about 5 months so I am making a huge saving! I have been on Chestnut feeds just over a year now and I am still only on Ceaser's third bin! 

The riding school ponies are on Chestnut Lite. Its low in sugar molasses but still has all the vitamins and minerals needed for good condition. 

My thoroughbred is on to Alfa Easy which is a slow releasing energy food that has low starch and high fibre meaning it helps to avoid over exuberant behaviour and maintain and even temperament. It is also suitable for ponies at risk of laminitis!

All of the feed I am now feeding is a complete feed so there is no more hassle of having to buy different Hi-Fi for different ponies and then a different mix to suit each one. Whilst running a very busy riding school and livery yard its hard to keep a tab on what each pony is having and keeping track of ordering all their feed. At least now we can worry less and know that our feed will be delivered when we need it.

I would highly recommend Chestnut Horse Feeds to anyone looking at changing their horses feed and wanting a balanced diet but still with all the added goodness. For those who went to the Edge of Glory Tour you cannot deny how good Geoff's horses looked and all of his are fed on Chestnut Feeds! 

To view the website for more information please visit their website.  Don't forget to quote "Sian Lovatt" when you buy your feed though please! 

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On the 1st day of Christmas my horse gave to me....

For the next 24 days leading up to Christmas I am going to recommend a product a day that either I absolutely love using on my horses or would like to own. It's just a fun feature that I am sure you will all find helpful and informative.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave me to....

To coincide with the awful wet weather we are having at the moment, the first product I want to recommend is Golly Galoshes.

These are fantastic and I don't know where I would be without mine. Here's what I wrote about them earlier in the year when Ceaser was struggling with mud fever.

Ceaser sporting his lovely pink and orange pair - which he loves!

"If I use my normal turnout chaps on Ceasers legs and then put the Golly Galoshes over the top my problem is solved. The material they are made by enables me to hose them off at night and not worry if they will dry in time for use the next day. They are dry within the hour and I can even towel dry them if I need to use them again quick.
They are also waterproof so the mud and wet do not get anywhere near my turnout chaps and together they make a fantastic combination of protecting legs from mud fever but also keeping boots clean and dry!

Whilst the weather was bad I also found Ceasers exercise bandages were getting covered in sand from our arena and also wet. With the use of my Golly Galoshes on top of the bandages it stopped the sand from sticking to them and the rain wetting them through.

These are just two uses of the Golly Galoshes but with the reflective stripe down the middle they are also brilliant for hacking out in, enabling drivers to see you much sooner than they would without them on.

My set of Golly Galoshes have made life much easier and without them I am very sure Ceaser would have to be on limited turn out in bad weather. With this not being ideal I am so glad I have now found a product I can rely on to help protect his legs and stop mud from covering his legs when out in a wet field.

Also recommending this product are Natasha Baker, THE paralympic star and Eventer, Victoria Bax."
Golly Galoshes are fantastic to use in any weather. They are so versatile they can be used for hacking, protecting boots, helping to prevent mud fever and so much more. Not only this but the owner of the company is both down to earth and lovely to talk to. When I first spoke to them I had a million and one questions about the product and IF they would actually help. Not once did they tire of my endless tweets and messages, but answered every question the best they could. Add these to your Christmas list, not only will you love them but your horse will too!


For more information on Golly Galoshes see their website: http://gollygaloshes.com/ or tweet them at @GollyGaloshes"

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Preparing your horse for those winter months - Part 1

Despite it only being September, now is the time to start preparing your horse and its surroundings for the winter months.

Yes, it seems a depressing thought that winter is just around the corner, but if you prepare early you can make those cold, wet and dark days a bit more bearable.

Hopefully these tips I am about to give you will help you through the days where you're emptying frozen water buckets and your hands feel like they are about to drop off.

Winter months are a challenge for both horses and their owners. Unfortunately winter means daylight is short and nights are long. Whatever region you live in, you can guarantee you will receive rain, rain and more rain. For those that are particularly unlucky, snow will also get in the way. Extra care and attention is needed by our much loved four-legged friends during winter months and sometimes it can be very time consuming.

More time and attention is needed by horses during the winter, they require extra rugging up, sometimes more feed and often bringing in from the field earlier than usually required. Should you feel you cannot tend to these extra needs then you may want to finding a good livery yard than can offer assistance. For example, if you work until 5.30pm most days, it is usually pitch black at this time. Horses will often need bringing in before this and livery yards will be able to assist with something like this. 

Riding:

Riding in the winter is no different to summer months but owners will need to consider roads being icy and horses catching a chill.

Most owners wanting to still ride throughout the winter look at clipping their horses depending on what type of work they will be in. Often those still in hard, competition work will have either a full or hunter clip. For sweaty ponies only ridden at weekends, then a trace or blanket clip is much more suffice. Clipping your horse will help prevent it from getting a chill if you're planning to work him hard still. They are very much like us and get very warm when being worked, but then feel the cold once they stop. If you don't clip your horse it will sweat up and in winter the sweat will take much longer to dry, sometimes resulting in a chill occurring.

Often riders find riding in the snow a liberating and exciting experience. Whilst its fun to ride around in picturesque scenes like snow, you must always beware. If the snow is deep and compact you cannot see what is underneath it. There could be anything from ice to holes underneath that is masked by the snow. Also, snow can become compact in your horses hooves that can damage tendons or cause them to trip. If you are planning on riding in the snow then avoid roads and stay in an arena where you know the ground underneath is suitable. Also take precautions like putting grease in your horses hooves to stop the snow compacting.

Buy extras in:

Be prepared for road closures due to snow or heavy rainfall by ensuring you have plenty of everything in. Prepare yourself by purchasing extra hay, feed, bedding and anything else you may need in. I am sure we aren't the only ones last winter that found ourselves snowed in due to heavy snow fall over a series of days. Once the snow hit we were stuck with it for weeks and thankfully we had well prepared.

Body heat that is generated by eating and digesting forage like hay will help keep your horse warm. Avoid under feeding by weigh taping your horse and then working out how much hay/haylage and feed he needs. Putting weight on during the winter is much harder for horses than during the summer. Most recent nutritional recommendations are that a horse should receive 2% of its body weight in hay (or some form of forage) per day.

Turnout:

For many, turnout in winter is limited due to the fields getting very wet and ruined. If you don't want to use all of your fields during the winter to 'mess' all of them up, then why not nominate one field for everyone to use on a rota? That way it saves all fields becoming boggy with mud and water. Should you need a drier field throughout the winter or have a horse with mud fever that needs to stay out of boggy areas then you can use one of the fields you saved. Now would be a good time to start thinking about which fields you're going to save.

Top tips:

- Over the next few weeks think about what condition your horse is in. Does he look a bit lean or like he could do with a little more weight? If so, start to think about putting it on now before the weather gets cold.

- Insulating water pipes if you have automatic water drinkers may stop them from freezing during the colder months. When we first installed our automatic drinkers we didn't even think of this and they were constantly freezing then bursting, spraying water everywhere. Put insulator around the pipes and it will stop them from freezing.

- Make your horses bedding deeper to ensure they aren't standing on cold concrete. This can be uncomfortable but also can make your horse colder.

- Start investing in some tennis balls - these are brilliant to put into water buckets to stop them from freezing and becoming full of ice!

That's it for now, make sure you check back soon for Part 2 and more top tips! If you have any of your own tweet me @FurryMane or comment below.

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