How to change feed

Does your horse eat everything, or is it a bit fussy

For some it is easy, for others more challenging, when part or all of the feeding plan changes. If your horse is used to soaked feed such as fibre pellets, beet pellets, mash or similar, and has the Labrador gene "I love food", you can simply switch over to Regulator Complete's feed from one day to the next.

Start by introducing the new feed with a taster that you hand-feed to your horse. Either it is curious or not fussy and eats it with relish, or it turns its head away. That does not mean it has to be difficult. You just need to act on your first impression.

Don't change all parts of the diet at once

A good starting point can be not to change all parts of the diet at the same time. If your horse is used to soaked fibre, carry on with that. If it isn't, start by giving the new fibre dry, the way it usually gets it. Both Regulator Complete fibre mashes are popular, and switching to them is usually easy.

When you switch to either Every Day Happy or Peak Performance, start by giving your horse half new and half old feed for the first few days. If that goes well, move to the full dose of the new feed over the following days.

Which pace suits your horse

The horse that is slightly sensitive to feed changes

If your horse is cautious about new feed, you can mix a little of the new Regulator Complete into the feed it is used to eating, and then gradually, over 7 to 14 days, get it used to the change.

If you want to change several parts of the diet at the same time, introduce them to your horse one at a time. That way you can see what your horse reacts to instead of guessing. For the vast majority of horses, switching to Regulator Complete is easy.

The horse that is very sensitive to feed changes: day-by-day plan, day 1 to 17

If your horse reacts very sensitively to new smells and tastes, getting it used to the feed requires slow changes in small steps. If your horse is also not used to soaked feed, it has to get used to two things: both a new smell and taste, and a new texture. The plan separates the two, so the switch becomes a positive experience for your horse.

Day 1

Feed your horse the hard feed it is used to, but today mix in a handful of either Every Day Happy or Peak Performance. Remember, you are the one who knows your horse best. Consider whether only a very small handful of the new taste is what your horse can cope with being introduced to. Ideally give it in the evening when your horse is in the stable, so it has time to get to know the new feed in peace and quiet.

Day 2 to 6

If your horse had no problems eating up on the first day, do exactly the same for the next 4 to 5 days. If there were problems, instead give only the equivalent of a teaspoon of new feed on top of the usual feed.

Day 7 to 11

If all goes well, in addition to the handful of Every Day Happy or Peak Performance, mix a handful of either +Energy Fiber Mash or +Fiber Mash into the current feed. Repeat this for the following 4 to 5 days.

Day 12 to 16

Once your horse no longer seems to react to the taste, it is time to get it used to a soaked feed texture. Soak the handful of +Energy Fiber Mash or +Fiber Mash together with a handful of Every Day Happy or Peak Performance in water and serve it to your horse, still mixed into the hard feed it had before Regulator Complete. Repeat this for the next 4 to 5 days.

Day 17 and the next 2 weeks

When you sense that your horse is happy with the smell, taste and texture, slowly start phasing out your previous hard feed over the next 2 weeks. At the same time, increase Regulator Complete to the full dose matching what your horse needs.

The dose you are working up to is in the feeding charts: Every Day Happy and Peak Performance, 0-14 years, seniors 15 years and over, +Fiber Mash and +Energy Fiber Mash.

Introducing salt

Once the change of feed has settled, it is time to introduce salt, if it is not already part of your horse's feeding plan.

To begin with, sprinkle a small half teaspoon of salt into the feed. Then slowly increase the dose over the next 14 days until you reach the daily amount: 10 g per 100 kg of horse per day for maintenance. For a 500 kg horse, that is 50 g a day.

For moderate work, give 15-17 g of salt and for demanding work 22-27 g per 100 kg on top of Every Day Happy or Peak Performance (with Supreme Minerals, 18-20 g and 25-30 g in total). Heat, pregnancy and lactation also increase the requirement.

Your horse has no salt reserves

Your horse has no salt reserves it can draw on. That is why salt needs to be given daily in the feed.

Salts are important components of your horse's body fluids. Among other things, their role is to maintain normal muscle and nerve function and a normal fluid balance. A salt lick is necessary, but it is not enough to make sure your horse gets the salt it needs. Give loose salt in the feed bucket.