Coat Bloom; Health from the Inside Out!

Show time is here, and many of us will be using a selection of the many excellent, topical products available to help develop equine coat sheen.

But it is also important to develop a healthy coat from the inside; think of these topical products as being the icing on the cake, but true ‘bloom’ coming from within. The horse’s diet can influence all areas of equine health, and the coat is no exception. Here are some of the key areas of nutrition that affect equine coat and skin health:

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): These fats must come from the diet, as the horse cannot produce them; fresh grass has a good fat content of 3% to 5% fat, with sixty per cent of the fatty acids in grass being omega-3s. Omega-3s help boost immunity to allergies, while omega-6 fats help fight resistance to skin infections; both help improve the condition of the coat. Flax seed oil is a good example of a feedstuff high in EFAs, and feed products containing oil are also popular. (If you are supplementing your horse’s feed with pure oil, unprocessed corn or soya oil is said to be best for coat health.)

Protein: Protein is a key element of all body tissue, which of course includes skin, hooves and cartilage. Protein helps boost skin condition and elasticity. Older horses in particular may have an extra need for protein, due to factors including their diet. Particular amino-acids (the building blocks of protein) are required to boost tissue health and help the horse utilise its dietary protein; however, animals can only make about half of these compounds naturally. The amino-acids methionine and lysine are often added to equine supplementary products.

Lecithin: Another key ingredient to look out for is Lecithin, which supplies phospholipids, major components of cell membranes within the body. Lecithin is an important ingredient for helping maintain healthy skin and coat colour, and incidentally, is said to help reduce levels of equine excitability and anxiety.

Digestive aids:  A healthy equine gut promotes overall health, so make sure your horse’s diet is fibre-rich. Compounds such as yeasts and microbial feed supplements with probiotics are often used to help balance gut micro-flora, and help keep the large intestine functioning effectively. This in turn helps the horse break down food, and perform tasks such as producing vitamins and fighting immune challenges.

Vitamins and minerals: These compounds play a major part in coat health – for example, zinc deficiency may cause delayed hair growth, while copper helps maintain ‘bloom’ in a dark coat by aiding pigment production. Certain vitamins are specifically known to help boost coat health, particularly Biotin, and Vitamins A and B6. A well-balanced equine diet should include sufficient vitamins and minerals, although feed additives are widely available for horses requiring extra supplementation.

Once you have got your horse’s diet right, you will quickly see an improvement in his coat and skin health – it can take as little as a few weeks. Now your grooming will make a real difference!

Contact World Wide Tack on 01825 841 303 who stock a range of high-spec grooming products, including the Exhibitor Labs Grooming, Cowboy Magic and Absorbine ranges and the Grand Meadow Health Supplements including Grand Coat a specialist supplement for coat vitality and all-round health. Visit the website to view the products and shop online at www.worldwidetack.com

Winter Weather Grooming Guide and Tips!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter weather can really take it’s toll on our equine’s coat so it is a great time to talk about grooming. Grooming ensures the skin and coat remains in optimum condition, especially important when windy, wet and muddy weather is upon us! 

All horse owners want our horses to look and feel good throughout the year and whilst we retreat to warm houses and hot showers our horse’s cleanliness during the wintertime is solely dependent on our own efforts. Though taxing in these temperatures our equine’s will be grateful for our efforts, not to mention looking set for the show ring too; perfect for the busy winter competitors!

World Wide Tack’s Guide to Grooming with Top Tips!

1.) Thorough grooming on a regular basis offers care and maintenance of the skin and hair and allows your equine partner to remain clean and healthy preventing the build up of dirt and bacteria in the coat. Regular grooming sessions also allows horse owners to learn their horse’s individual anatomy and keep on top of any lumps, bumps or blemishes. This can prove extremely beneficial for the horse and also often protect the horse owner’s bank balance if problems are spotted and dealt with immediately!

2.) Top Tip! Invest in quality brushes and keep them clean. You can’t do a thorough job grooming your horse with dirty or dusty brushes. Plus, keeping them clean will help them last longer!

3.) Don’t neglect your horse’s hooves. They should be picked out daily, not just when you are getting ready to ride. Hoof picks are cheap so always use one to remove rocks and debris and replace the pick when it no longer does the job easily.

4.) Grooming is a fantastic way to build your relationship with your horse or pony as the simple task offers a is a great bonding mechanism allowing you to build a stronger and more fulfilling relationship between you. Giving him this attention will be sure to go down a treat as grooming is in fact a horse’s natural way in which to bond and communicate with other equines. Top tip; Get to know where your horse’s ticklish spots are and be extra gentle around those areas!

4.) Removing the sweat and dirt from the coat is vital as it makes it much less likely that your horse will suffer tack sores and rubs. These rubs can develop when the leather work of your tack comes into contact with dirt and debris and then rubs this grime against your horse’s skin causing it to break and become sore and damaged.

5.) Using ‘horse friendly’ products to protect a healthy skin pH is crucial when bathing your horse. World Wide Tack stocks a range of specific equine shampoos and conditioners from big name brands such as Absorbine, Quic and Cowboy Magic not to mention a selection of detangling and coat shine products to get that special sparkle this season! Top Tip; If your horse’s mane or tail gets a stubborn knot in it, don’t cut or pull the knot out. Use Cowboy Magic Detangler & Shine to soften the knot, and carefully detangle the hairs with your fingers.

6.) Curry your horse every day. The more you curry, the more you bring the oils in the skin to the surface. When it comes to currying, there is no substitute for good old-fashioned elbow grease!

7.) Including a supplement in the diet can be highly beneficial to improve skin health and coat quality. Grand Coat from the Grand Meadow’s range available from World Wide Tack provides a rich source of omega fatty acids, key minerals and amino acids. The ingredient that really sets Grand Coat apart from other products is lecithin, which supplies phospholipids, a vital requirement for helping maintain healthy skin and coat color. If your horse’s coat is looking dull why not consider adding Grand Coat into the diet and encourage visible improvements from the inside out!

8.) Keep up with routine grooming chores, such as mane pulling, trimming fetlocks etc… That way horse owners will not be overwhelmed with last minute clean-up before a show.

9.) Grooming mitts are great for wiping dust off your horse and help promote circulation and cleans and polish the skin. World Wide Tack offer a gorgeous Sheepskin Grooming Mitt for just £6.25 excl. VAT or available FREE with any Cowboy Magic Product bought! Click here to view today.

10.) Remember; though your horse getting mucky and dirty is time consuming for you, rolling is a natural therapy for your horse and dirt isn’t permanent, so let him enjoy himself and try not to let your heart sink too much when you see him rolling in the field!

Visit World Wide Tack’s website to see the full range of equine grooming products  and supplements available today by visiting www.worldwidetack.com

The Good Doer Equine

The term ‘good doer’ refers to equines which have evolved to survive in harsh conditions hence are able to ‘make the most’ of poor quality grazing without loosing weight. These types of easy keepers are typically the native breeds such as Shetland, Highland and Connemara but modern changes to diet and lifestyle can mean keeping these types slim and healthy is a bit of a challenge when exercise levels are reduced and grass quality is improved!

Obesity can cause a number of serious health problems, including; insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, heart conditions, and potentially a decreased life span so in our latest blog we takes a look at feeding the equine good doer.

Forage is the most important aspect of your equine’s diet; forage such as grass and hay helps keep the digestive system healthy preventing issues such as gastric ulcers and hindgut dysfunctions like colic. However if your equine is suffering an ever expanding waistline it may be beneficial to reduce the amount of hours they are turned out, or their exposure to particularly lush pasture, and provide a low calorie hay as an alternative.

Always stick to a regular routine of exercise for your horse and pony and if your equine has got out of shape and overweight gradually build it up. A helpful way to increase workload  without overdoing things is to “cross-train” and vary the work they undertake – remember if you don’t have time to ride a 20 minute lunge offers a great alternative option!

Finally it is essential that you choose a concentrate feed which is low in energy and low in starch in order to reduce calorie intake, whilst ensuring the feed provides  adequate protein levels to prevent unwanted muscle loss.

Pairing a low calorie feed or low levels of feed with a vitamin and minerals supplement is highly beneficial as often the fully balanced comprehensive feedstuff only provides sufficient micronutrients when fed at the recommended levels hence leaving those equines on lower levels of feed deficient.

Grand Vite from Grand Meadows and offered by World Wide Tack is a proven comprehensive, balanced, broad spectrum formula containing over 40 nutrients designed to maximise overall performance and wellbeing.

Providing a dietary supplement such as Grand Vite alongside a low calorie chaff and concentrate feed can ensure the diet is balanced and all the nutrients required are provided- despite low levels of feed being offering.

For more information about the Grand Meadows range including supplements for joints, calming, the digestive system and much more visit the website at http://www.worldwidetack.com and search for Grand Meadows!

Grooming your Horse

 

 

Grooming your horse is an important equine management task not just ensuring your four-legged partner looks good but also ensuring that their skin and coat remains in optimum condition, contributing to their  general well-being.

The importance of equine grooming is often by-passed as a simple or obvious concept but this can mean in some cases that this essential part of equine care is in some cases neglected.  In our latest blog as experts in equine grooming and top of the range grooming products World Wide Tack takes a look at why this equestrian task really is so important.

Five Top Reasons to Groom your Horse; A Guide from World Wide Tack 

1.)    Regular, thorough grooming offers good care and maintenance of the skin and coat and allows your horse or pony to remain clean and healthy. A good grooming session prevents a build up of dirt and bacteria in the coat limiting the risk of bacterial or yeast infection developing in the coat and offers the horse owner the opportunity to spot any skin irritant such as lice or mites.

2.)    Removing the sweat and dirt from the coat by grooming and bathing regularly with products such as the Cowboy Magic, Absorbine or Quic range from World Wide Tack reduces the risk of your horse suffering rubs or tack sores which can occur when the leather work of your saddle and bridle come into contact with dirt and debris resulting in this being rubbed against your horse’s skin sometimes causing it to break and become sore.

3.)    Grooming is also a great way to bond with your equine allowing you to build a stronger and more fulfilling relationship. Giving your horse attention he enjoys will be sure to go down a treat! In addition grooming is in fact horse’s natural mechanisms to bond and communicate with each other!

4.)    Regular grooming sessions allow horse owners to really know their horse’s anatomy and this helps them keep on top of any lumps, bumps, blemishes, rashes or skin complaints enabling horse owners to spot any problems pronto! This can prove extremely beneficial for the horse and also often protect the horse owner’s bank balance if an issue is highlighted and dealt with immediately.

5.)    Finally, complimenting your grooming routine remember it is important to consider the horse from the inside out. The skin and coat will not look it’s best if your equine is nutrient deficient so always ensure their diet is rich in the nutrients they need such as the vital macro nutrient; water, protein, carbohydrate, fats and vitamins and minerals for equines to look and feel good! Supplements such as Grand Vite from the Grand Meadows range from World Wide Tack supply over 40 essential nutrients and the supplement packed with vitamins and minerals can boost coat and skin condition promoting a lovely glossy shine!

To find out more about the range of grooming and bathing products from World Wide Tack visit the website today at www.worldwidetack.com 

 

 

Vitamins and Minerals for the Grazing Equine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The equine has a sensitive digestive system and they are designed to be what is known as a “trickle feeder”. This means that they are intended to eat small amounts of food often with a natural lifestyle involving unlimited turnout in pasture allowing them to roam and graze ingesting a variety of grasses.

Whilst many horses are now often stabled what are the vitamin and mineral requirements of a grazing horse and how do we as horse owners meet them?

Many horses require some degree of concentrate feed in order to provide them with sufficient energy but forage remains the most important aspect of any equine’s diet in order to maintain a healthy, mobile gut and to keep your horse or pony’s digestive system functioning correctly.

A grass diet, or a diet where the nutrients are predominately sourced through grass, can be supplemented with additional vital vitamins and minerals our equine’s need through a supplement. For those horses not needing excessive added calories in their diet through concentrated feed a supplement providing vitamins and minerals can successfully complement a natural diet.

Vitamins and minerals are important because they play a multitude of roles within the body including supporting the immune system, bone and teeth structure and they benefit the eyesight and assist in nerve and muscle functioning.

World Wide Tack offer Grand Vite as part of the Grand Meadows supplement range. The multivitamin and mineral supplement containing over 40 essential nutrients! The palatable supplement can be fed in just small amounts of feed; perfect to ensure your grazing equine is getting everything they need!

For more information about the Grand Meadows Supplements available from World Wide Tack.