Give your horse a Summer Glow!

Is he Looking Good for Summer?

It is generally perceived that skin and coat condition reflect the general health and well-being of animals, and horses are no exception.  For this reason we all want our horses to look good, but if you are competing this summer you will know that stepping into the ring with a horse that is literally "gleaming" will be sure to get you noticed.

Although grooming can make a difference to coat conditition and there are many "lotions and potions" that can be applied topically to the coat and hooves, nutrition has an important role to play in providing the foundations for looking good.  The way we spend our wages each month, paying the bills first before buying luxury items, is similar to the way the horse's body uses nutrients.  The horse's body initially uses nutrients for general body function before using them to produce good coat condition, as essentially this is a luxury item in terms of survival.  If we want our horses to look their best it therefore stands to reason that a balanced diet is vital.

Why would my horse's diet not be balanced?

Although in most cases a horse's requirements for major nutrients such as protein will be met, vitamins and minerals are often the forgotten part of the ration.  There are many situations when the addition of a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, such as one of the Natural Vitality Vits and Mins range, would be important to provide a balanced ration.  Some of these situations are;

Horses at Grass, or stabled and fed a forage only diet:

Many people perceive that if their horse is out at grass and maintains weight easily that no supplementary feed is necessary.  Although at certain times of the year grass supplies more energy or "calories" than some horses need to maintain weight, it is unlikely to provide sufficient trace minerals.  Grass is only as good as the soil it is grown on.  Copper and selenium are just two nutrients that tend to be inadequate in many pastures.  With storage, forage also has significant nutrient losses and loss of Vitamin E, an important antioxidant is particularly rapid.  If you are feeding one of the Dengie Alfa-A or Hi-Fi products as the sole feed to your horse, then it is equally as important to add a vitamin and mineral supplement. Although alfalfa is rich in natural vitamins and minerals, it will still need to be supplemented to ensure the diet is fully balanced.

Horse's fed restricted quantities of feed with added vitamins and minerals:

There may be some circumstances when a horse does not need the full recommended quantity of a mix or cube for example because it maintains weight easily.  In these situations although a feed is provided that has added vitamins and minerals because it is fed under the recommended quantity it is possible that your horse will miss out on important nutrients and so it is advisable to top up with an additional vitamin and mineral supplement.

What if my horse needs a little extra help to look really good?

Despite having a balanced diet some horses need that little extra help to get them looking their best.  If you are looking for show coat "glow" adding Dengie Natural Vitality Joint & Condition to your horse's ration may help.  Natural Vitality Joint & Condtion is a natural oil supplement that provides omega-3,6 and 9 essential fatty acids.  Natural Vitality Joint & Condition is the best non-marine source of omega-3 available for your horse.

The essential fatty acid omega-3 has gained much attention in the media recently for providing a whole host of health benefits from heart health to intelligence and concentration in humans.  Omega-3 is also a constituent of cell membranes and is vital for maintaining normal skin structure and function, which is why it can be beneficial to promote good skin and coat condition for our horses.

If your horse has poor coat and hoof condition then Dengie Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof may be a more appropriate option than just oil alone.  Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof is formulated to be fed on top of a balanced diet to provide higher levels of certain ingredients and nutrients that are specifically linked to promoting good coat and hoof condition.  The key ingredients to look out for are;

Alfalfa:  This forms the base of Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof and is known to provide good levels of quality protein and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.  Research has shown that alfalfa improves the quality and quantity of hoof growth (Vet Record, 1987), which is likely to be due to the good levels of calcium, zinc and protein, which combined are important constituents of hooves and hair.

Omega Oils:  These are added to Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof from marine sources which provide the best quality omega-3 source available to animals.

Biotin:  This is particulary beneficial for cracked and crumbling hooves and Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof provides 16mg of biotin per day for a horse.  Research has shown that supplementing biotin at this level significantly improves hoof growth and hardness.  Biotin is also used in Dengie Healthy Hooves, which is a complete low calorie feed that is also suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Zinc:  This is added to Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof as it plays a crucial role in regulating cellular metabolism particularly in relation to the maintenance of a healthy coat and skin condition.

With so many feeds and supplements available how do I know which one to use?

Dengie offers flexible feeding options to provide your horse with the foundations for looking good in three easy steps'

Step One:  Choose a Dengie Alfa-A or Hi-Fi product according to your horse's workload and bodyweight.  You can use the Fibre Feed Finder to help you to choose.

Step Two:  Choose a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement from the Dengie Natural Vitality range to provide a balanced ration.  We have made an easy to use Supplement Finder to assist in this process.

Step Three:  Top up on specific nutrients by adding either Dengie Natural Vitality Joint & Condition or Coat & Hoof for the finishing touches and your horse will steal the show this summer!

If you would like more advice on how to get your horse to have summer glow, call the feedline on 0845 345 5115 or  click here to send us an e-mail - we will be happy to help!