ACHIEVINGWEIGHT LOSS — or preventing excess weight gain — inmany cases requires some degree of forage restriction, and this can leave owners concerned about the risk of gastric ulcers. So how can gastric health be supported while tackling an expanding waistline?
Forage — how much is enough?
If your horse has piled on the pounds the aim is to feed him as much forage as possible while still achieving a healthy rate of weight loss. The level of restriction required will vary between individuals and may depend on many factors, including body condition, the energy (calorie) content of the forage, how sensitive the horse/pony is to changes in diet and the amount of forage normally consumed.
For most horses, total forage intake shouldn't be less than 1.5% of current bodyweight per day on a dry matter basis. For a 500kg
