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February 2019
Providing your horse with adequate salt each day can go a long way in maintaining hydration which not only safe guards health but supports optimal performance as well. But, how much is enough and, are there risks in giving too much salt? In this article, Claire Thunes, PhD, a consultant nutritionist for Hygain Feeds, answers all these questions and explains why salt is an essential daily supplement for all horses year-round. Average daily requirements
February 2019
Very well-established in countries like the United Kingdom, where forage-based diets have been the traditional norm, feed balancers are becoming very popular in Australia as more and more horse owners get in step with the fibre-feeding mantra and move towards healthier, low-starch forage-rich diets for their horses and ponies. We know that forage-based diets are the most natural and the ideal scenario for most horses and ponies but they may not provide all the essential nutrients required.
July 2018
Droughts are part of life for horse owners in Australia. Each drought brings its own set of difficulties. How well you survive drought will depend on the initial plan of action and the modifications undertaken to your strategy as the drought progresses. Planning and decision-making must be done early. If you leave your decisions until the drought worsens, many of the management options available early on may no longer be available to you. Prices for horses usually drop dramatically, agistment dries up, and feed and hay prices generally soar.
March 2018
Together with Dr Petra Buckley, Senior Lecturer in Equine Studies at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, we challenged students to bust some common myths and misconceptions about horse training and management. You may find the results surprising. In case you’d like to continue your own research, we’ve included a list of the full references, so head over to Google Scholar and see the science for yourself. Myth #1: Two-year-old racing damages young horses Words by Erin Sykes, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
February 2017
Rebecca Feasey isn’t one of those people who grew up on the back of a horse. Growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, she didn’t get her first horse until the age of 26, when she took the plunge and bought a former trail horse from an acquaintance who was closing down his business.
When European settlers first arrived in Australia, grasslands and grassy woodlands covered much of the continent. Many of the explorers referred to grasses as the dominant plants in the landscape.
July 2014
In this first of its kind study, a collaboration between Ohio State University, an equine therapy centre and an adult daycare centre, researchers determined that spending time with horses eases the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia.
