In addition to providing honest advice, we at AskHELTIE believe it's important to have a wealth of information available for horse owners. This way, you can expand your knowledge and help your horse to the best of your ability. Together, we ensure that horses come a little closer to nature.
Feeding
Pasture
A pasture full of sugar cubes, what now?
The title of this article may sound a bit strange, but let us explain. Analyses show that Dutch grass has recently contained an enormous amount of sugar. So much so, that it is actually not healthy for horses. Especially if the animals are sensitive to obesity, EMS, laminitis, insulin resistance or summer eczema. The hay that comes from those grasslands often has a high sugar content as well!. The sugar content in hay is determined by a number of factors. These include a combination of weather conditions, the moment of mowing, fertilization, and the types of grass used. What can you do about those fields full of sugar cubes? How can you make the pasture healthier for your horse? Types of Grass Many horses in the Netherlands are still on former cattle pastures. And Dutch hay often comes from these grasslands as well. Cows need a lot of energy because they need to produce as much milk a...
Minerals
Feeding
Pasture
Copper and zinc deficiencies in pasture and roughage
Today, it is often heard that some soils have insufficient levels of copper and zinc. This could have implications for the nutritional value of grass and hay. Does the shortage of minerals in Dutch soil have consequences for our horses? And what can you do about it?. According to Pavo's roughage monitor, grass and roughage in the Netherlands almost always have low concentrations of the trace elements zinc and copper. These minerals are involved in important bodily functions. They do not need to be present in large quantities in the diet, but it is important that your horse gets a little of both. Since Dutch soil is often rich in iron and manganese, horses rarely have a deficiency in those elements. Peat Soil and Sandy Soil On soils with high phosphorus, high...
Feeding
Pasture
What herbs can you sow in your horse pasture?
That a horse pasture is different from a cow pasture is well known to most people by now. For example, dairy cows need a protein-rich pasture while horses cannot use this. Horses benefit more from a pasture where they can enjoy different herbs. Read in this blog why herbs in the pasture are so important for horses and which herbs every horse can use in a horse pasture.. Why a horse needs herbs Herbivores (plant eaters) are top herbivores. This is because herbivores have alkaline stomach acid and herbs are alkaline. Alkaline is the opposite of acid. Stomach acid must have a certain acid-base balance in order to function optimally. This balance also directly affects the intestinal flora and therefore the overall resistance of the horse. In addition, herbs are rich in various minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. By offering herbs to horses, you give them a much...
Nettle
Dandelion
Pasture
Weeds or actually healthy for horses?
In your horse's pasture, there is often more than just grass. This is not a problem, in fact, it is often a good thing. In the wild, horses do not only eat grass. Herbs, bushes, and trees are also on the menu.. Each plant offers something different and diversity is healthy. But of course, you don't want your horse to eat toxic plants. That's why it's good to know which plants belong in your pasture and which ones don't. 'Green desert' In the Netherlands, many pastures are very monotonous. They mainly consist of English ryegrass or sometimes grass clover, a mixture of ryegrass and clover. This type of grass is good for cows that need to produce a lot of milk. But these pastures are too rich for horses,...
Pasture
Fertilizing horse pasture? Preferably no artificial fertilizers!
Dutch farmers regularly use artificial fertilizers on their fields and pastures. However, artificial fertilizers are less suitable for fertilizing a horse pasture. The grass becomes 'too rich', which can lead to all sorts of issues for horses. Horses do better on 'poorer' grass.. Artificial fertilizers emerged in the previous century. They are used to increase production in agriculture by adding high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil. Artificial fertilizers are made using a lot of energy from natural gas and are therefore not very sustainable. However, they are relatively cheap and nutrients can be dosed very precisely. You also see results faster than when using animal manure on your pasture. That is why many farmers prefer to work with a...
Feeding
Pasture
How do you get your horse used to grass?
Spring is on its way! As the ground warms up again, the grass starts growing. And when the grass has grown strong enough, your horse can go back to the pasture. Naturally wonderful. But how do you ensure the transition to pasture grazing goes as smoothly as possible so that your horse can get used to the grass?. Grass starts to grow when the soil temperature is between 5°C and 8°C. Grass growth is optimal between a soil temperature of 12°C and 20°C. When the soil temperature exceeds 25°C, the grass temporarily stops growing. So, a soft and moist spring is optimal for grass growth. Transitioning Diet If your horse has not been on grass during the winter, the switch to pasture grazing can be quite drastic for the digestive system. Going from a diet of dry hay to juicy and sugary grass is a big change for...
Guest blog
Pasture
# Guest blog Horse & Habitat: everything about sowing your pasture
Spring is a good time to start sowing. Sowing has several advantages. You can fill in bare spots with plants you want to have there, which inhibits the growth of unwanted plants such as ragwort. You can also improve the composition of your pasture by sowing grass species that are lower in sugar than English ryegrass.. When sowing, you naturally want the germination of your seed mixture to be as good as possible. You have invested money and time in the seed mixture and sowing. The success of the germination of a seeded grass mixture depends not only on the quality of the seeds. In fact, seeds must meet certain quality requirements and actually only deteriorate if stored for a long time (longer than a year). The success of the germination of a seed mixture mainly depends on the type and conditions of your soil....
Vitamin E
Feeding
Pasture
# 'You can't go against the pasture': These nutrients are found in grass, but not in hay
If your horse has plenty of grazing in the summer and is stabled in the winter, you may be familiar with this old wisdom: "You can't go against the pasture." A horse is almost never as shiny, vital, and energetic as when he is in the pasture. Why is that? What nutrients are present in grass but not in hay? And how can you - even in the winter - get as close as possible to the fantastic effects of grass with your feeding policy?. Hay is nothing more than dried grass, but unfortunately, during the drying process, some things are lost. Especially vitamins and fatty acids. If your horse is on pasture for less than four hours a day, or wears a grazing mask, it is necessary to supplement with some nutrients. For example, with a supplement or a balancer. Hay alone is really not enough, not even for hardy breeds! Vitamin A for the eyes, growth and fertility Vitamin A and vitamin E are the most important vitamins to consider whe...
Pasture
Why now is the moment to provide the pasture for horses with extra minerals
Growing grass and grazing horses extract nutrients and minerals from the soil. That is why now is one of the moments to provide the soil with extra minerals. This year was (unlike previous years) sultry and rainy, very conducive to growth. But due to the fact that pastures have experienced a lot of drought or extreme rain in recent years, the quality of grass has deteriorated significantly. Now is the time to provide the pasture with extra minerals. Read in this blog how that works.. Why now? At the end of the grazing season is the time to start providing extra minerals to the soil for the coming season. This way, you ensure that there are enough minerals in the soil when the grass starts growing again. Growing grass and grazing horses extract nutrients and minerals from the soil. Also, the fields are not too wet right now, so you can even drive a tractor over them if needed. The advice is to provide the soil with minerals at least three times a year. But it can also be done...
Pasture
How do you ensure a mineral-rich soil and grass for horses?
A healthy soil, with a rich soil life and plenty of readily available minerals, provides better grass and therefore better forage for your horse. Why should you actually fertilize the soil or provide it with additional minerals? What should you pay attention to? What is the best solution for the horse pasture? And how do you take care of the oh so important soil life, such as earthworms?. The soil is the top layer of the earth's crust. And although you might not think so, it is actually just a very thin and fragile skin on top of an enormously thick layer of rock. This small layer of soil plays a very important role in the planet's freshwater cycle, as a carbon reservoir (essential for plant growth) and even in climate regulation. Large-scale agriculture and modern methods to increase agricultural production have rapidly depleted the soil of nutrients such as carbon and minerals....
Others
Pasture
Less flies and odor at the manure heap
Where there are horses, there is manure. And where there is manure, you almost always have a manure heap. The disadvantage of this is that such a heap can smell and cause flies. Do you need a manure heap? What are the rules? And how can you prevent a fly outbreak or odor nuisance?. If you only have a few horses that are not in stables, you can make a compost heap with the dry manure from your pasture and paddocks. This involves some trial and error, you also use, for example, garden waste, and you have to turn over the compost. The advantage is that you can eventually use this compost for your (vegetable) garden and you do not have to dispose of the manure. Permit required for the manure heap? When cleaning your stables, there is bedding and urine in your manure. In that c...
Feeding
Pasture
Grass: the biggest sugar bomb for your horse
It's spring, and soon most horses will be allowed back into the pasture. Hooray! But not for all horses is grazing a delight. Especially for hardy breeds and sensitive horses, the pasture can be a dangerous place. Grass can (sometimes) be packed with sugars, especially in the spring and fall after cold nights. However, with proper management, these horses can also enjoy grazing.. Grass and hay contain varying amounts of carbohydrates such as sugars, starch, and fructan. The amount of sugars in the grass depends on the time of day and the season. The type of grass in the pasture also has an influence. Excessive intake of sugars, starch, and fructan is associated with digestive issues and metabolic diseases such as laminitis, insulin resistance, and EMS in horses. Horses with summer eczema or those sensitive to mites also benefit from a low-sugar diet. Tip: Pay attention t...