Sales Prep: Feeding for behaviour and temperament

Sales Prep: Nutrition for Calm Temperament in Fizzy Young Horses

A well-developed and mannerly yearling will show themselves to their best with a flowing walk and workman like attitude. A potential buyer will not be able to make a thorough assessment of an individual if it is unable to stand to be seen and likewise if it is only able to jog and not walk freely.

While consignors will have their tried and tested feeding protocols in place for their preps, it is not unusual to have one individual that will require special consideration for their nutritional requirements based on their temperament. When feeding the excitable yearling the first port of call is to reduce their starch and sugar intake. Enzymes in the small intestine quickly break down starch and sugar into glucose, which is then rapidly absorbed and used as fast release or instant energy source.

Low Starch Horse Feeds are the Perfect Solution for Excitable Young Horses

Feeding horses a feed that is high in starch and sugar may exacerbate undesirable behaviour in nervous or excitable individuals. In these situations, a low starch concentrate feed from the Connolly’s RED MILLS Horse Care range, which provide controlled energy release from a unique blend of super fibres and cereals, is recommended.

Horse Care 14 Cubes & Mix are a Happy Medium Horse Feed Choice for Temperament

Horse Care 14 Cubes & Mix are high in calories and a happy-medium of fast- and slow-release energy sources which may help to keep your horse more level-headed while also providing beneficial additives such as prebiotics, probiotics and a gastric acid buffer for digestive health, along with antioxidants to support immune function and high levels of biotin, chelated copper and zinc for optimal hoof and coat condition.

Consider the Sugar Levels in Your Horse's Forage for Temperament Alongside Your Low Starch Horse Feed

Horse Care Ultra Cubes also include the forementioned extras in an ultra-low starch format for horses (just 4% low starch horse feed) with known digestive issues or those with hot temperaments that are becoming hotter as feed rates increase.

Consideration can also be made when choosing a forage to feed your yearlings in prep, having your forage analysed will provide you with an accurate picture on both sugar content and digestible energy. Knowing whether you have an early or a late cut hay gives valuable information, early cut hay will be higher in digestible energy, protein, starch and sugar in comparison to a later cut hay.

Exploring Equine Calmers is Another Option for Excitable Young Horses

The inclusion of an equine calmer in the horses diet may also be warranted for highly-strung individuals and those that may find the sales experience a little overwhelming. While there is an abundance of equine calmers available on the market ranging from those containing herbal blends to the more commonly formulated B-vitamin, magnesium and L-Tryptophan combinations, it is an exercise in finding one which works best for the horse in question.

Foran Equine Nutri-Calm Gel: Top Grade Equine Calmer that includes B- Vitamins and Magnesium for Horses

Foran Equine Nutri-Calm is a dietary equine calming supplement for horses that may help to alleviate stress and anxiety related behaviours by providing optimised levels of specific nutritional factors known to promote calmer behaviour, allowing horses to better maintain focus and concentration.

Foran Equine Nutri-Calm Gel and Syrup contains B-vitamins, which play an important role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, magnesium for muscle relaxation, regulating cardiac rhythm and nerve signaling and L-Tryptophan an essential amino acid and the precursor to serotonin. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, is commonly referred to as the ‘happy hormone’. It is associated with the inhibition of fear or stress and plays a vital role in tempering anxiety and nervous tension. It is advisable to start supplementation in the weeks coming up to sale.