We’ve had such a fantastic response to our new Horse Care Ultra Cubes! There have been lots of queries; here are some frequently asked questions that might help you work out if Ultra Cubes are the right product for your horse.
Q. What’s the difference between Horse Care Ultra Cubes and Horse Care 10? Which is more conditioning?
A. Both feeds have similar calorie content, so will be equally ‘conditioning’. They also both contain our unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package. However, Horse Care Ultra Cubes have a higher protein content so, depending on the horse’s current diet, they may be more suitable for horses that need to gain muscle and topline. In addition, whilst all the feeds in our Horse Care Range are low in starch because Horse Care Ultra Cubes are cereal grain-free they contain exceptionally low levels of starch (4%).
Q. How do Ultra Cubes compare to Horse Care 14 Cubes?
A. Both feeds contain similar amounts of energy (calories) and the same amount of high quality protein. Both feeds also contain our unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package. Although all the feeds in our Horse Care Range are formulated to contain low levels of starch, Horse Care 14 Cubes do contain oats and therefore may not be ideal for horses that are sensitive to oats or other cereals. In these cases we’d recommend Horse Care Ultra Cubes as they are completely cereal grain free and contain just 4% starch.
Q. How is it non-heating but 14% protein?
A. Protein is not used as an energy source except in extreme cases (such as starvation). It is an essential nutrient needed for a number of roles in the body, including growth, muscle development and recovery. Generally, the harder the horse is working the more protein they will require.
The main sources of energy in the horse’s diet are starch, oil and fibre. Oil and fibre are commonly known as slow release energy or ‘non-heating’ energy sources whereas starch (oats, barley, maize) is a fast release energy source. Horse Care Ultra Cubes are cereal grain free, ultra-low in starch and contain highly digestible fibres, therefore making them ideal for horses that need an exceptionally non-heating feed with the added benefits provided by our unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package. You can find out more about protein in the horse’s diet here or watch our Ask Our Expert Protein video.
Q. Are these Alfalfa free?
Horse Care Ultra Cubes do contain Alfalfa. A full list of ingredients can be found here.
Q. What is the sugar content?
The sugar content is 5%. More information on the nutrient content of Horse Care Ultra Cubes can be found here.
Q. Is it suitable for horses that have been treated for gastric ulcers?
A. All the feeds in our Horse Care range are suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers. Not only has our range of Horse Care feeds been formulated to be low in starch, they also contain our unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package, which includes a natural long-lasting gastric buffer to help maintain stomach health. If you’d like to discuss your horse’s diet or need help choosing the most suitable feed from our Horse Care range please get in touch with our nutrition team.
Q. How do these compare to other low starch products on the market?
A. Horse Care Ultra Cubes were developed by our nutritionists from our unique suite of ingredients and our highly developed horse feed manufacturing processes. We believe it’s quite different to anything on the market and we’ve had excellent feedback from customers who have used it. As with all the Horse Care Range, Horse Care Ultra Cubes contain the unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package which contains yeast and the prebiotics MOS and FOS, a long-lasting gastric acid buffer, therapeutic levels of biotin and additional antioxidants to provide the horse with optimum nutritional support.
We can’t comment on other products. For anyone looking for an ultra-low starch horse feed with conditioning attributes and the inclusion of our RED MILLS Nutrition Care package, this is the product we’d recommend. If you’d like to discuss your horse’s dietary needs, get in touch with our nutrition team.
Q. What are super fibres?
A. Super fibres such as sugar beet, soya hulls and alfalfa are higher in calories (energy) and more easily digested compared to other fibres sources such as hay or haylage. The benefit of this is that they can make a significant contribution towards your horse’s calorie requirements and provide an excellent source of slow-release energy.
Q. What does cereal grain-free mean?
A. This means that Horse Care Ultra Cubes are free from cereal grains such as oats, barley or maize, resulting in a feed that is exceptionally low in starch.
Q. Why is low starch important?
A. Whilst most horses in work will benefit from a feed that contains a reasonable level of starch, some horses require a low starch feed for a variety of reasons, for example, temperament or specific clinical conditions such as;
- Equine Gastric Ulcers and/or colonic ulceration
- Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER)
- Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)
- Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID or Cushing’s disease)
- Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
- Insulin Resistance (IR)
If your horse is prone to or suffering from any of the clinical conditions list above we recommend that you speak to our nutritional team who will be able to advice you on the most suitable diet for your individual horse’s needs. You can find out more about starch here or what our Ask Our Expert Starch video.
Q. Is it good for putting on condition for a horse with no other issues?
A. Horse Care Ultra Cubes have a digestible energy content of 12 MJ/kg and so are suitable for horses that need to gain condition and would benefit from the RED MILLS Nutrition Care package. However, before changing your horse’s diet we recommend that you contact our nutrition team so we can make sure it’s the most appropriate feed for your horse’s individual temperament, body condition and workload.
Q. Will it provide my horse with enough energy to go eventing?
A. Horse Care Ultra Cubes provide slow-release energy, which is ideal for event horses, and many top eventers already feed this product. As with all our Horse Care feeds, Horse Care Ultra Cubes contain our unique RED MILLS Nutrition Care package which includes elevated levels of antioxidants, a long-lasting natural gastric buffer, yeast and two prebiotics, all of which may benefit horse’s that are competing and travelling regularly. However, in order to ensure that this is the most suitable feed for your event horse we’d recommend speaking to our nutritionists.
Q. My horse is hot, what should I feed?
A. The best feed for your horse will depend on their temperament, workload and body condition. All the feed in our Horse Care range are suitable for horses needing a low starch diet, however, in some cases, a cereal grain-free, ultra-low starch diet may be needed. We’d recommend you get in touch with our nutritionists to discuss your horse’s needs.
Q. Is this available in Northern Ireland?
A. Yes this product is available in Northern Ireland and the UK.
Q. Would it be suitable for donkeys?
A. Generally donkeys do not require large amounts of hard feed and in most cases a nutrient-dense balancer such as PerformaCare Balancer is ideal. However, in certain circumstances, for example if your donkey is losing excessive weight, then Horse Care Ultra Cubes may be suitable but we’d recommend you get in touch with our nutrition team.
If you have any further queries or would like to discuss your horse’s diet or individual needs, get in touch with our nutritionists.
