Providing these precautions have been taken, forage may be fed ad lib to provide fibre calories and support gut health.

Meadow Sweet with Turmeric is a low starch, low sugar, high fibre feed that’s fully balanced and suitable for those prone to laminitis, excitable temperaments and sensitive stomachs. Formulated to provide moderate calorie levels, Meadow Sweet can support horses in up to medium work and will help maintain condition while encouraging a calm temperament.

{{question.title}}

To encourage weight loss, forage intake should be restricted to the equivalent of 1.5% of the horse’s bodyweight per day. Weigh all forage before soaking and use small-holed nets to make a small amount last longer and keep the horse chewing.

Some older horses need a low starch diet, while still having moderate calorie requirements. The inclusion of TurmerAid is also particularly appropriate for supporting joint and general good health and, when fed at recommended levels, Meadow Sweet with Turmeric will deliver the appropriate daily levels of TurmerAid complete turmeric supplement. (For more information about TurmerAid, visit www.goldenpastecompany.co.uk)Soaking hay/haylage for 12 to 16 hours will help to reduce the wsc content. Build up to this gradually as soaking can reduce palatability and be careful in warm weather to avoid fermentation or bacterial growth. Meadow Sweet with Turmeric’s low starch and sugar contents make it ideal for those prone to laminitis or who need to control their starch intake for other reasons(We would always recommend talking to our Nutrition Team, when feeding the laminitis-prone or thosewith other clinical conditions.). Its calorie content means that overweight horses or good-doers would be better suited to Baileys Lo-Cal Balancer, however.

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which sit at the base of the brain, are the command centre for the production of hormones. In horses that show signs of PPID, neurons (nerves) in the hypothalamus undergo progressive degeneration and produce insufficient quantities of a nerve transmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is important in controlling the secretions of a part of the pituitary gland called the pars intermedia, which in turn is responsible for controlling the secretion of hormones including ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin hormone) and cortisol, which results in the symptoms of PPID.

Light Chaff or Speedi-Beet may be fed as low calorie alternative or additional fibre sources as long as overall fibre/calorie intake is controlled. Some low energy mixes still have a high cereal content, which can be a bit much for excitable types. Meadow Sweet with Turmeric’s digestible fibre sources and soya oil provide slow release calories to maintain condition while encouraging a calm temperament. The best known, and probably the easiest to spot, is a long or curly coat that fails to shed fully. A pot-bellied appearance, usually as a result of muscle loss over the topline and abnormal fat distribution (above eyes, crest and above tail head). In addition to the above guidelines regarding turnout, access to grass may need restricting by use of strip grazing, muzzling etc.

Keep Calmand Meadow Sweet with Turmeric arefully balanced feeds which areboth low in starch and high in fibre and will help promote and maintain condition. Time at grass will need to be carefully managed to control fructan (sugar) intake. Turning out very late at night, when grass fructan levels are lowest, and ensuring they are brought in by mid-morning, is safest. Avoid turning out onto pastures during cold, bright conditions, such as frosty mornings, when the fructan levels increase. PPID is a common neurodegenerative endocrine (hormonal) disease associated with the ageing horse, although has been reported in horses as young as 7. In the healthy horse, hormones exist in a fine balance and play an important role in maintaining and controlling bodily functions. Those with PPID have an imbalance of these hormones. Alternatively, Lo-Cal or Performance Balancer may be fed to provide quality protein, vitamins and minerals without the starch or calories associated with a mix or cube. “Safe” calories can then be added to the balancer in the form of Outshine, Fibre-Beet or Alfalfa Plus Oil.

As later cut forages tend to be less nutritious, Alfalfa Plus Oil and/or Fibre-Beet, can be fed as additional sources of highly digestible fibre as well as some quality protein and other nutrients. Low starch, high fibre feeds often contain beet pulp and require soaking before feeding. Meadow Sweet with Turmeric is ready to feed and requires no additional chaff or beet, although these may be added, if desired. Where additional calories are required, Outshine high oil supplement may be added to an existing balanced diet. Whilst calories are required to promote or maintain condition, many traditional conditioning feeds must be avoided as they are based on cereals supplying starch, intake of which must be kept to a minimum. Ease & Exceland Ease & Excel Cubes arelow starch, high calorie feeds which can be fed to promote condition and support performance, while keeping cereal intake to an absolute minimum.