Tag Archives: Equines

When it comes to horse food, being cheap can be expensive! -Hannah Botha (MSC Equine Science, Royal Agricultural College, UK)

When a bag of feed is R10 more expensive than an alternative brand it does raise eyebrows. When the price difference is R20 or more, most horse owners will query whether this is value for money. Interestingly, however, even discrepancies greater than these can become savings!

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When it comes to choosing a concentrate for your horse, opting for the bag with the budget price can turn out to be the expensive decision in the long run!

Not only does it often cost more in terms of Rands per month to feed cheap concentrates, but the negatives

also add up in terms of poor performance, poor condition, the cost of additional supplements, greater quantities fed and the possibility of additional veterinary bills which completely tip the scales.

 

When selecting your horse feed, you should do so in the manner you would select a veterinarian for your horse. Most horse owners choose a veterinarian based on the quality of service provided, not the price charged for this highly professional work. Your horse’s nutrition should be no less important.

There are many different feeds available on the market today and, without exception, cheaper feeds tend to contain a lot more fillers and less of the better quality ingredients. This is possibly even more relevant in todays climate, with raw materials increasing in price, and some companies may even swop out previously used ingredients for cheaper options.

The differences in nutritional value between different feeds are significant and, generally, the aid old adage

“You get what you pay for” is true.

Contrary to popular belief, the most expensive component of horse feed is not protein but rather the total energy value. Other important factors which add to the end price of better quality concentrates are:

 

  • the amount and type of oils used
  • the quality of the vitamins and minerals added
  • the selection of starches incorporated- to provide useable energy sources
  • the addition of a live yeast culture
  • The quality if proteins and amino acids used
  • the quality and quantity of the fibres used in the composition.

 

The correct inclusion of essential Vitamin B and E alone can easily add R4-00 per bag, a live yeast culture up to R8-00/bag and the inclusion of good quality oils can bump the cost up to more than R10-00 per bag. Just these 3 ingredients alone can account for more than R20-00 per bag but in the long run, however, can help you save money, improve performance and ensure that riding, breeding, training or any other equine activity can be fully enjoyed.

Horses are no longer kept for transportation, but rather, because we are passionate about them and equine related sports. Attempting to save R2.00 per day, thus, only to have a horse contract, tying up, laminitis or dangerous colic, all related to the choice of feed, becomes nonsensical.

It must be noted that where a horse is fed, for example, 4kg per day, the difference in feeding costs between a budget feed at R200/40kg compared to a much higher quality product priced at R220/40kg (ie.R20 more per bag) will be R2.00 per day. This becomes a negligible amount when compared to the cost of treating a bad colic, not to mention the costs of adding masses of additional supplements to “make your feed work”, impaired performance and the additional quantity required for feeding which is often required.

 

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING HORSE FEED COST EFFECTIVELY!

 

Always study the information!

Choice of concentrate has a major cost implication on the upkeep of your horse, hence the importance of studying the bag tag and also of researching all further information provided on the website of any product you use.

Do not make the mistake of stopping your research at the advertised protein level as the protein level per se does not tell the whole story. When comparing products it is important to study factors such as energy value, yeast addition, the amount of fibre, specified vitamin/ mineral levels, the use of organic minerals, fat percentage, the type of oils added and specified amino acids such as lysine.

You will usually notice a vast difference in values across brands, as well as the amount of information offered on the top end products as compared to budget lines which tend to specify only the minimum values as required by law. Keep in mind that this law was passed way back in 1947 and requires the declaration of certain minimum percentages of Protein, Moisture, Fat, Calcium, Phosphorous and Fibre only.

When comparing feeds ensure you are comparing apples with apples. Some companies may display their nutrient values “as added ”, so it will only tell you the amounts put in not what your horse is actually receiving, where as others will give a better picture by detailing “as fed”, this will give a better picture of the actual nutrients your horse is receiving.

 

A Tribute to Nabab Forever

‘Thank you Nabs for showing me what special horses are made of. You are the horse of a lifetime, and I will forever be so honoured and privileged to have ridden you’ – Lorette Knowles -Taylor

Professional riders have horses come and go through their yards all the time. What separates one from the other? In the case of the imported Belgium-bred warmblood, the holder of the South African 6-bar (high jump) record, the Nissan sponsored Nabab Forever wriggled his way into the Taylor family’s hearts with his (as Lorette says) ‘big head and bigger heart’.

Nabab was bought by Lorette and Barry Taylor from Chris Ellis in Europe in order for Barry to campaign for the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010. Their friend Dave Macpherson had been desperate to buy the talented showjumper for years, and when Ellis decided he needed money to build his house, Macpherson orchestrated the sale to help his friend.

But as many riders know, the strain of competing overseas while trying to still maintain business in South Africa is heavy, especially when doing so as a privately funded individual. Not only that, but ‘Nabs always needed extra help, and in Europe it was hard to maintain him without the support structure of physiotherapists, veterinarians, grooms, solariums, and all the other things we have included in our care routine at home,’ Lorette says. The decision was made in 2010 to bring him home to their yard Farnham, based in Chartwell, Gauteng.

Nabs spent  the  next  year  competing  on  the local circuit,  winning the Shongweni leg of the World Cup series. But the next legs saw him struggling to maintain soundness, and they decided to retire him in 2012.

Nabab did not want to be retired, they say laughing.

He spent much of his time plotting escapes, dragging grooms, and cantering loose around the yard to keep himself occupied, until in January 2013 they decided to try him on Fulvic to help maintain soundness and offered the ride to a client who was horseless at the time. They thought that she could have fun just popping him around the odd one metre class, giving her confidence and Nabab some purpose. Lorette starts giggling as she recalls the ‘trial ride’, which ended after fifteen minutes of flat-out extended canter around the arena, leaving the pupil shaking and saying ‘I’m reeeeeally grateful… but I don’t think this is going to work.’ Nabab for his part was completely unapologetic, proving that as much of a schoolmaster as he was, he was not just for anyone. We debated who would be best to partner with this quirky horse, until our work rider Emma Garson stepped in.

Nabs was delighted. He’s always loved girls ‘Lorette smiles’

Emma was his original partner in the 6-bar event, taking him to the occasional 1.30 class as a warm-up, but when she left for Europe in December 2013, it was my responsibility to take him over. I was reluctant because he loved her, but he also loved competing.

The next two years saw Lorette and Nabab together in the ring at many events. Our highlight was winning the Nissan 6 bar at Shongweni Derby 2015 with a new record of 2.05m, ‘I cried as I cantered into the arena because when he saw the jumps and pricked his ears, I new we had won it!’ He excels at the six-bar because he really does believe he knows best, and we should not be interfering with his towing into ANY jump! I had minimum input at the best of times and just trusted his ability.

‘He’s a true showman’ – when he sees the competition arena, he suddenly pricks his ears, focuses, and says “That’s my arena,” you can see him absorb the atmosphere and grow. He just loves jumping for people, that’s really his game, he loves the acknowledgement.

And in true form, the big black horse could come haring out of the arena, and then stand patiently for bare-footed fans to have a photo with him at the truck. ‘He would suddenly say “Oooh! A photo op!” and stand carefully around the kids minding their toes. I don’t know what to say. He’s a truly strange horse.’

In keeping with this, Nabab has retired in their back garden with his ‘girlfriend’, an old mare. But he won’t let her in HIS paddock… he’s still a bachelor, after all. He occasionally gives the grooms hell, but will play ball with their eleven year old daughter Ashlee. A special and strange horse, Nabab and his big personality will continue to occupy this space in the Taylor’s home and hearts indefinitely. ‘Although if he keeps trying to escape, he might need another whizz around the arena from time to time’, Lorette shrugs with a twinkle in her eye.