Advice, NAF Calming, NAF Care and Skin, NAF Digestion, NAF Health, Support, Vitality and Immunity, NAF Hooves, NAF Joints
Preparing Horses for Bad Weather
Dec
Preparing Horses for Bad Weather
With advice from NAF
With fewer hours of daylight over the winter months, there is less time available for turnout and riding therefore increasing the time stabled for our horses. This increased time can result in respiratory issues, swollen joints, increased weight, increased energy when ridden, boredom for the horse, and smelly hooves. To help you prepare for bad weather and to help reduce the risk of these issues occurring, Jo Howse from NAF has provided some handy tips for both stabled horses and those out in the field.
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Use bedding with lower dust values such as shavings, wood pellets, or flax.
Discover some of our top low value dust bedding below or shop all bedding.
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Feed steamed, soaked hay (soak for 10 minutes), or haylage to reduce dust, and soak for 1-2 hours.
Take a look at some of our haylage options below or shop all feed here.
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Add a joint supplement to support older joints.
Take a look at NAF’s Pink Senior Powder below or shop all joint supplements.
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Reduce hard feed or change to a lower calorie version to help control weight and reduce the energy source, but supplement to keep a balanced diet. Remember some balancers still have a high energy and calorie level.
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Add a Calmer, if needed, to focus your horse when ridden.
Shop NAF’s selection of Calmers below or shop our full selection here.
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Use a pre and probiotic product to support the horse’s digestive system as their regime changes.
Take a look at NAF’s Pre and Pro-biotics below or shop all supplements.
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Use toys to stimulate the horse whilst they are in.
Take a look at a few of our favourites below.
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Place haynets in different areas of the stable to encourage movement for the joints and mental stimulation
Shop from our selection below or take a look at all haynets.
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Pick out hooves regularly and use an anti-bacterial hoof dressing
Take a look at some of NAF’s hoof care products below or shop our full range.
For horses who are kept out in the fields, there are different concerns: increased mud, lost shoes and soft soles, meaning horses are more prone to infection, potential weight loss, and wet, heavy rugs
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Use a barrier cream or spray to prevent the mud sticking or affecting the skin of the horse.
Take a look at NAF’s barrier cream range or shop all horse care.
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Have regular farrier appointments so shoes stay on.
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Use good fitting turn out rugs to keep your horse toasty and dry, especially for older horses and ponies who drop weight, if you ride regularly or your or horse is clipped.
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Feed hay or haylage if grazing is poor, or the ground is frozen or snowy.
Take a look at some of our haylage and balancers below or shop all horse feed here.
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Increase hard feed or step up a level on calories if your horse loses weight.
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Add a pre and a probiotic to support utilisation of the feed and boost immunity.
Take a look at NAF’s products below or shop all supplements.
Remember to stock up on bedding, forage, feed and supplements so you don’t run out midweek or when it starts snowing!
ABOUT NAF
NAF have an award winning range of supplements, nutritional advanced formulas, topical applications and care products, which they have developed over the last thirty years to help improve your horses’ diet, performance, health and wellbeing.
They pride themselves on using the best natural ingredients, which are fully traceable and are combined to create unique formulas by their team of veterinarian scientists. Their extensive range includes effective products for joints, breathing, hooves, digestion, gut health and calming supplements to silky mane and tail detanglers, super shampoos and luxury leather care.