Once again it is time to think about getting our horses ready for winter. One thing to consider is worming for tapeworms to prevent them over wintering in our horses. This should be done in September or October. It may be best to do it after the first frosts; the reason for this has very much to do with the lifecycle of the tapeworm. Horses infected with tapeworms pass segments containing eggs in their dung.  An intermediate host, an oribatid or free-living mite found on pasture eats the tapeworm eggs which undergo a period of development of two to four months inside the mite before reaching the infective stage and then being ingested by horses. Frost will kill many of these ‘grass mites’, therefore reducing the chances of infection or re-infection. A double dose of Strongid-P will kill tapeworms, there are also tapeworm specific wormers on the market, ask your supplier for advice if you are unsure of which wormer to buy. If you are still unsure please give Will a call. You should worm for tapeworms even if you are having regular faecal worm tests done. The faecal worm test is not the definitive test for tapeworms.

We have received a report carried out in Belgian on the effective dilution rates for NOOF AZ WASH. It was found to be effective at deterring flies down to 20 ml/Lt dilution but only when the haircoat was still wet. For a lasting effect for the day levels of 40 ml/Lt and above was found to be most effective. We recommend 50ml/Lt.

When H G Wells lay dying they lay straw in the street below to muffle the sound of the traffic and everyone spoke in whispers as the great man slipped away. He had not only been one of the most popular writers of his time but was a man of the people and acknowledged for his intellect and logic. He had accurately predicted many of the catastrophes of the twentieth century and when his book War of the Worlds was read on US radio it actually caused mass panic amongst the listening population, the alien machines with their deadly rays seemed invincible and as each episode went by people were gripped by the inevitability of the end of mankind. Then suddenly, much to chagrin of those that would have liked a more far fetched blood and thunder ending, the machines collapse as a result of infection by simple bacteria from the stomachs of their human victims. HG, who had been taught biology by T H Huxley and had a strong sense of evolution, was adroit enough to place the alien organisms from outer space within the machines for if he had said they were purely robots controlled from elsewhere he would not have been able to have affected such a novel yet logical ending because to grow bacteria need organic material and above all moisture. Without water, life cannot begin nor be maintained hence our search for water on Mars and other planets, if it is found then theoretically (however remote the possibility) life could exist. The need for moisture and energy is the first concern of any microbe invading the body and that within the cells of the body are their prime target indeed a War of the Worlds is going on every second in every form of life since creation. Any weakness in cellular constitution means a foothold for an invader in the eternal Tug-O-War for food and water if our horse’s cells are strong and robust the invading bacteria starve to death if not in good health microbes will feed on the cells. The horse’s cells, as with all mammals are principally maintained by the presence of Potassium (K) it is the heavyweight, on the horse’s side of the rope. So it follows that K by maintaining strong robust cells for all the soft tissue functions of the body it is vital in maintaining the horse’s defences against disease. On good grazing for a reasonable amount of time per day and when being fed adequate quantities of well conserved forage made from a good sward there should be adequate quantities of K in the diet and providing Magnesium Mg levels are also adequate intake and utilisation can be taken for granted, however this is not the case with straw (an ingredient of many convenience chops) and sufficient reserves of K only last about 9 to 10 hours in the body K is also lost as a result of Magnesium loss due to stress, during dehydration, whilst scours prevail and when feeds are unduly diuretic, as well as constricting pre-muscular arteries and circulation, low K levels affect immunity status therefore it is always wise, to re-examine the horses diet for K and Mg and if necessary feed Hydrobase before or in conjunction with any attempt to boost immunity status. Hydrobase consists of two sources of potassium, two sources of magnesium and Betaine which the body creates from choline and is an important functionary of the bodies transport system and in helping to maintain cell integrity.

The twelve week period following removal of shoes is a critical time. Instead of concussive forces being dissipated up to the shoulders they will now diminished by flexion of the hoof itself so it is important that the hoof has the necessary elasticity as well as growth and strength. If the hoof is poor and you know that as soon as you attempt to take the shoes off the hoof will start to disintegrate around the nail holes it is probably better to try to improve the integrity on the hoof before going barefoot by feeding Seagarden 7161 Foot Formula or at least feeding a spoonful of Maglyte. If you take the shoes off and you then find things are not so good as you thought Seagarden 7161 FOOT FORMULA becomes even more imperative or alternatively, if your horse does not like seaweed, TENDERFOOT FORMULA. Both formulae contain quantities of available Silica, that helps to impart elastic strength and suppleness, and a full range of other nutrients so necessary for the even growth of good strong hooves. All tissues depend on Silica for elasticity insufficiency leads to an increase in body calcium and rigidity and brittleness. For formulating, the best sources of available silica are all naturally occurring namely Seaweed (Kelp), Bamboo Gum (Arun Powder) and Schindele’s Minerals. Arun Powder (very good for maximising elasticity in the lungs) has the highest level of available silica but it is difficult to incorporate and so our usual choice for increasing elasticity in hoofs is the two formulae. If you are already feeding adequate levels of Seaweed then feed Formula 4161+Maglyte.

We recommend some good quality oats should be included in every horse’s diet. As little as a handful put in with the chop/chaff for those horses that do not need the extra energy and an increasing amount for those horses in work particularly high heartbeat activity. The constant "handful" ensures amylase production by the pancreas which means that when concentrate intake is increased following periods out of training the metabolism smoothly deals with increased daily amounts without upset. Oats are approximately 10.5% crude fibre which is half their secret as it means that they "Fill" up at the right ratio with being "Fed up". Too high a calorie concentrate feeds up before filling up and to low a concentrate feed fills up before being fed up. Correct energy density (Energy/Kg of the total diet) is important and crucial in obtaining optimum performance from the individual, much depends on where you start. When roughage has an average energy value (0.5 Horse Feed Units/Kg DM) the concentrate portion of the diet that needs to be fed for activity especially higher heartbeat exertion is ideally met by feeding good bushel weight clipped oats (0.9 HFU/Kg)*. If the roughage is much below 0.5 (poor hay is about 0.4 to 0.45 HFU) some Flaked Maize** (1.2 HFU) should be mixed in with the oats to increase energy density. Alternatively if the forage is above average in energy concentration 0.55 to 0.6 HFU or more) then some OB pellets*** (0.5 HFU) or suitable High Fibre chop/nuts should accompany the oats portion of the diet. For details on optimum energy concentration for horses please visit our website. (*Oats should crushed if the horse is inclined to bolt its feed), (**Steamed Flaked Maize is no longer freely available and some horses are not so keen on the hard processed flakes especially if they have been hanging around for a bit in store so ask us to make up some fresh Extaform (Marinated heat treated oat kernels 1.3 HFU) it has a similar energy concentration and is very palatable) (***OB Pellets are Oatfeed pellets available nationally from Morning Foods)

After 22 years together Blesse’s foal collapsed in the field and despite valiant efforts to get her to stand, she sadly had to be put down. For several days Blesse was lost, distressed by the occasion and distraught being on her own then gradually her whole temperament changed. For the first time ever she stood to be caught, she became loving and now enjoys attention where before she was always wary and aloof. Her whole character has become sweeter and more affectionate – Was she been guarding her foal for all those years?

Iron is essential for production of haemoglobin which absorbs oxygen from the lungs and is carried throughout the body by red blood cells. Iron is a component of enzymes that play a vital role in oxidation of food and in the release of energy. The metal is not produced in the body and has to be obtained from external sources however it is conserved following the breakdown of old red blood corpuscles. Iron is notoriously difficult to absorb in to cells particularly if cells are compromised by K & Mg loss of due to stress or dietary deficiency. HYDROBASE-Fe in a combination the three elements in a highly usable form and can be most useful in readdressing optimum iron status. Older horses may not be able to absorb iron as well as younger animals. When a full spectrum feed for anaemia is needed we include Hydrobase-Fe with other limiting nutrients to create a complex called Blood 43. Ask us for the formula at any time.

Do remember that we can often add Glucosamine and MSM to formulations. When requested we usually add 6g of Glucosamine Hydrochloride to Seagarden 7161 Foot formula and make up the MSM to 10g in every 250g.