SPILLERS fed Leo’s journey to Olympia 2015: Part 1!

By Caroline Hamilton

First and foremost, let’s introduce the team behind this Olympia showing adventure

Leo with handler, Bethany

Lostock Huntsman (Leo): 24YO coloured stallion.
Bethany Driver: Leo’s 17 year old handler.
Caroline Hamilton: Bethany’s mother and breeder of Leo.

Leo’s fact file!

−        Sired by Lostock Blue and out of Daisy May. I am also the past owner of Lostock Blue.

−       Leo is an ex intermediate eventer.

−       He had an extremely successful showing career, both in hand and ridden. He notably won the Coloured Horse and Pony Championship at Horse of the Year Show in 1998.

−       He hunted for a total of 15 seasons, rarely missing a day.

−       Leo is still a working stallion who has sired numerous foals who have gone on to compete in similar disciplines to himself.

 

SPILLERS feed supports the senior, showing, stallion!

Leo before the trial

In the autumn of 2014, we had discussions with our feed supplier, Mole Valley, to seek their expertise about how to help maintain or improve Leo’s condition. It just so happens that Mole Valley were conducting a field trial for SPILLERS® Senior Conditioning Mix at that time. We duly entered the trial and sent pictures of Leo to SPILLERS and were extremely pleased to be chosen as one of the lucky participants.

The SPILLERS nutritionists provided us with a feeding plan for Leo which we consistently followed for the trials three month period. To say that the results were amazing is an understatement. Leo has thrived on the SPILLERS® Senior Conditioning Mix and his improvement is clearly visible in the pictures we took of him at the following intervals, Oct’14, April’15 and July’15.

 

If Leo’s got it, flaunt it!

We were all in agreement that Leo looked so well that he deserved to be taken out to a show. We joined the Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd and shortly after started looking at veteran, in-hand showing classes.

 

Leo after his bath!

There’s always a hiccup on show day!

Our first outing to test the waters of a veteran showing class didn’t quite go to plan. We had spent hours ensuring that Leo looked show ready which had included everything from grooming, bathing, tail washing to trimming and plaiting up. Just after we had loaded Leo up in the early hours of the morning, we discovered that the radio in the horsebox had been left on resulting in a very flat battery. Unfortunately on this occasion, we were a no-show.

Show day… Take 2!

Leo at the SSADL Show

Thankfully, our second outing on 12^th July proved to be a much more successful trip. Having completed our show day preparation making Leo look as smart as can be, we safely travelled to Arena UK for the SSADL Show. Coincidentally, this was the same show where the second round Olympia qualifiers was being held.

Leo was very much on his toes in the first class, failing to settle and finding the atmosphere of this pony party quite exciting. We had forgotten, of course, that is was some 12 years since Leo had been in a competitive showing environment. Although Leo was penalised for his manners, he managed to score high enough to win the Senior Plus Section which qualified him for the second round.

 



Leo's lap of honour after qualifying for Olympia!

The pressure was on!

The Second Round Section was much later in the schedule which gave Leo time to settle back at the horsebox. Once the second class had commenced, Leo found his composure and totally shone.

His paces were solid, he was well-mannered and obedient with Bethany’s expert handling. Leo went on to win the class AND the championship which in turn qualified us for the Olympia grand finale.

It was a very great moment for us as a family to watch Bethany and Leo’s partnership achieve such success. Keep an eye out for us at the Olympia International Horse Show 2015 and stay tuned for our next blog!

Feeding Sugar Beet – The Facts

Sugar beet has long been fed to horses, but trying to separate the myths and misconceptions from the facts, can often make the decision of whether or not to feed sugar beet a confusing decision. So what is sugar beet and what can we, or should we, really be using it for?

Sugar beet is a root vegetable, the root of which is high in sucrose (table sugar). The sugar beet pulp we feed to our horses is the by-product of sugar beet processing which provides the sugar to put in our tea!

Sugar beet is high in fibre but in low starch and sugar (if unmolassed- approximately 5%) and therefore is a safe, easily digested and non-heating feed. For laminitics, look for varieties approved by The Laminitis Trust. Sugar beet is also high in calcium and low in phosphorus (which is ideal for horses) and being rich in branch chain amino acids, can be a useful feed for horses with liver damage.  Sugar beet must always be soaked before feeding (10 minutes – 24 hours depending on the variety) so as not to cause choke or colic.

Although high in calories (up to 13 MJ/ DE/ kg depending on the variety) and commonly fed for weight gain, sugar beet contains approximately 80% water once soaked and therefore is of very little nutritional value unless fed in large amounts (nutrients are diluted in water). This considered, sugar beet is often not fed in large enough quantities to provide a significant level of calories. A scoop of soaked sugar beet weighing 1kg, actually equates to only 200g of feed (approximately). For good-doers this is of course ideal as once soaked,  only a small cupful will go a long way, helping to add ‘bulk’ without excess calories. The motto of the story here is to weigh your sugar beet before you soak it!

 

Being high in digestible fibre, sugar beet can also be fed as partial hay replacer for horses and ponies with poor teeth but again, take care to weigh it before soaking to ensure that you are providing enough fibre!

Used correctly, sugar beet can be a useful and versatile feed but like any other, must be understood if we are to see the benefits. Will you be feeding sugar beet this winter?

16 years young...



"I'm as young as I feel"



We all want to do the best for our horses as they get older, but when is the ‘right time’ to move to a senior feed? In truth, there is no definitive answer as like people, horse’s age at different rates.  In the past horses at 16 were sometimes described as ‘veterans’ however nowadays with suitable management many horses continue to live healthy and active lives well into their twenties or even thirties! 

Not all horses struggle to maintain condition as they get older, so it is important to choose feeds containing an appropriate level of energy (energy = calories). For those able to maintain weight well on forage alone, a balancer specifically formulated to meet the needs of senior horses, is the ideal way to ensure optimum nutrition without excess calories.

With age and previous worm damage, digestion and absorption of nutrients may be less efficient. A high fibre diet is essential for maintaining digestive health and constant access to water helps to prevent impaction colic. Some horses may also benefit from additional digestive support in the form of pro/ prebiotics. Feeds high in antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E, provide respiratory and immune support.

Quality protein is important for helping to maintain muscle tone and topline but again, protein digestion may be less efficient in older horses. As a guide, look for feeds containing 12-14% protein (for compounds feeds – balancers will be higher than this). Stiffness and arthritis (to varying degrees), are common in older horses and some may benefit from feeds or supplements containing additives such as glucosamine.

Teeth can become a problem for many older horses and should be checked regularly (every six months). If not addressed, difficulties in chewing can lead to conditions such as choke, colic and weight loss. Look for mixes containing smaller pellets or where necessary, feeds/ cubes that can be soaked to make a mash. Remember that this may need to include a full replacer, either in the form of soaked cubes or short chopped fibre feeds.

Horses and ponies with Cushing’s disease need the same, careful nutritional management as a laminitic; regardless of whether or not they are on medication or have previously suffered from laminitis. In practise, this means providing a diet that is high in fibre and low in starch (found in cereals), sugar and fructans (found in grass). If your senior horse has Cushing’s, or is prone to conditions such as colic or tying up; avoid mixes and seek advice from a nutritionist. Remember that the most suitable diet may include feeds that do not say ‘senior’ on the bag.

Whilst the ageing process is inevitable, nutrition can play an important role in supporting senior horses whether they are in work or enjoying retirement. How many years ‘young’ is your horse?