Australia is a naturally dry continent with dry seasons part of the normal weather cycle. With the dry season comes feed shortage and the obligation of supplementing with hay and or complete feeds. Feeding horses in dry conditions requires careful planning and management to ensure the horse receives adequate nutrition and hydration. Hay is the preferred supplement though is often in short supply, expensive and variable quality.

Supplementary feeding can become complicated and expensive. By having a feeding strategy, you can save money, support your horse's health which in turn can reduce the worry and stress that comes with making these decisions. Below is a basis for a well-balanced feed strategy:

1. Clean water - Will aid digestion and support hydration. 
2. Dentistry - Have teeth checked regularly as sharp teeth cause reduced saliva flow, which impairs digestion and gut function. If your horse is quidding (dropping feed) start by getting their teeth examined. 
3. Roughage - Horses are herbivores who eat at least 18 hours a day. They require at least 1.5% of bodyweight as roughage. Feed hay in racks and or hay nets to encourage slower eating and do not feed on the ground. This will assist to avoid wastage and potential sand colic. Be careful of mouldy hay and wherever possible rotate paddocks to avoid overgrazing. 
4. Energy - How much Digestible Energy (DE) can you buy for your dollar? The feed might be cheap, but if the horse cannot digest it then it is an expensive source of Digestible Energy. Remember water has no nutritional value, so calculate your feed costs per unit of dry matter, and then per unit of Digestible Energy. 
5. Balanced diet - Balance the diet with a proven mineral, vitamin, and electrolyte supplement. Use a nutrition calculator such as Stance Equitec TruGuide or FeedXL.
6. Physiological state - Performance horses, yearlings and brood mares will require additional energy. Be careful with concentrate feeds containing more than 10% sugar plus starch (NSC) as this will contribute to metabolic issues including ulcers and lameness. Only feeding twice a day can cause an insulin spike, make sure you select feeds that have a low NSC and high Digestible Energy additionally make sure your horse has roughage between feeds. 
7. Condition score - Do not be afraid to let your horse lose weight. Condition score 4 is acceptable. If possible, weigh your horse so that you can monitor their weight.
8. Worms - Regularly treat / test for worms as dry conditions can increase worm exposure to horses. Be aware that wormers can cause digestive upset in horses and are toxic to dogs.
9. Sand Colic - Horses eating close to the ground will consume sand, which can accumulate in the gut causing sand colic. Do not feed on the ground and check the manure for the presence of sand (Watch video on how to check for sand)
10. Mycotoxins - Hay, grain and pasture all contain mycotoxins which can cause a range of issues from gut health, bad temperament, skin conditions and mineral deficiency (BigHead). This can be addressed with a toxin binder and a balanced mineral mix.
11. Electrolytes - Dry times are associated with hot conditions. Always consider feeding an electrolyte to avoid dehydration.
12. Ulcers - When horses are stressed, they will develop stomach ulcers. Omeprazole based pastes act on the proton pump in the stomach and reduce acid production. These pastes should not be fed long term as they affect the gut microbiome, mineral metabolism and pulls calcium from the body. Select a dietary suitable digestive aid such as UlcaBuf.
13. Keep it simple - Avoid rapid changes. Allow the gut microbiome to adapt to any changes in feed.
14. Keep a diary - Write down what you are feeding and any changes that you make to your regime. Your diary will prompt you in the future to recall what combination works for your horse and what may not have suited. Your diary will also make it easier to diagnose any issues that may occur.

• TruGuide: Will assist you to choose the right feed for your horse and your individual conditions. 

• DIGESTIBLE ENERGY (DE): Offer a base low NSC high DE feed to complement roughage. Feed 1-2kg/day of CoolStance which provides a simple, safe, and cost-effective supply of low NSC Digestible Energy.

• FIBRE: Essential in any conditions Stance CoolFibre Lupin pellet (coming soon) provides easy to feed digestible roughage. 

• SAND COLIC: SandBuster will aide to clear intestinal sand. 

• MINERAL AND VITAMINS: Equlibrium mineral and vitamins mix is formulated for all Australian conditions and provides a baseline mineral mix to balance the diet. VitaStance supplies additional minerals, vitamins, and amino acid for performance horses.

• ELECTROLYTES: Osmoplex can provide the essential electrolytes needed to support normal and additional hydration requirements under hot and dry conditions.
  

• MYCOTOXINS: Address with ToxFree Toxin Binder

• BIGHEAD: Equilibrium mineral and vitamin mix will provide calcium requirements to address BigHead. Also add ToxFree Toxin Binder to remove aflatoxins that can bind calcium making it unavailable to the horse. Join the Mycotoxin Awareness Group on Facebook.

• ULCERS: UlcaBuf is an excellent supplement to support normal stomach and hindgut digestive function.

• GUT HEALTH: It is essential to support the gut microbiome. Regular treatment with Clean Culture is beneficial to microbial communities in the gut, especially before and after worming.

• ALWAYS ASK FOR ADVICE: Pick up the phone and speak to the experts who are every day assisting people to tailor individual diets that best suit their horse/s needs and their specific property and climate conditions. Call us on 1800 782 623 or email sales@stanceglobal.com