Forageplus Horse Feeds (matched to grass & hay)

Strong hooves always need a high nutrient density diet. Getting the balance right of magnesium, zinc and copper is critical, not just adding them in, but providing them in the correct ratios, matched to grass and hay, so they can actually be absorbed and used. Magnesium plays a key role in metabolism and is essential for supporting a well-connected, resilient laminae structure. Zinc and copper are fundamental for keratin formation and hoof integrity, but without balance, absorption is compromised. Protein drives hoof quality, but it’s not just “protein levels.” Always we must address the availability of all essential amino acids across the total daily diet. Each element of your horses diet matters for balance and absorption. The body will always prioritise vital organs and systems first… so hooves only benefit when there is enough left over to build strong, durable horn, white line connection and frog health. Our database of over 12,000 samples of forage shows us what hooves need. What we typically suggest for hoof support: • Copper: 400 mg • Zinc: 1200 mg • Magnesium: 12 g Essential amino acids: • Lysine: 10 g • Methionine: minimum 5 g You should increase methionine to 10 g/day where hoof issues are present Then: • Increase overall protein by 100 g/day using a quality protein source (500 kg horse) • Consider adding a full-spectrum essential amino acid supplement (all 9 EAAs) 💡 Feed these amino acids in a small meal after work because this is when the body is most primed to absorb and utilise these nutrients effectively. Balance first, matched to forage. Then build. That’s how you grow stronger hooves. 💫 Know a friend with a horse with poor hooves? Save this or send this to them 💫 #poweredbyforageplus #barefoothorse #horsehoof #horsecare

Chaff isn’t automatically good or bad for your horse ….. it depends on why you’re feeding it, when, and what you expect it to do. Comment TEACH ME and we’ll send you a clear, evidence-based guide 👇 #poweredbyforageplus #horsefeeding #horsetips #horsecare

Seed oils are very common in horse feed… but are they helping or harming? Most feeds are loaded with omega-6 oils which create an unhealthy imbalance with critical and essential omega-3. 👉 Want to know what to avoid and what to feed instead? Comment “OIL” and we’ll send you the full guide 👇 #poweredbyforageplus #horsefeed #horsecare

HELP 💫 Teilo needs a taller cone for this year’s belly scratching 😂 #poweredbyforageplus #younghorse #positivereinforcementhorsetraining

Replace ugliness with soft, relaxed horse consent. Your place in this educational group is completely FREE (limited spaces) Link in today’s story or the event highlight button. We want to challenge the outdated use of bits, which cause pain, and give people the knowledge to go bit free successfully with any horse. Can’t attend on the day? We’ll send you the meeting recording including the Q&A session. People still believe horses must be controlled through escalation of pressure, pain and force. But the science has changed, and once you see what horses are capable of when they feel safe, listened to and understood… there is no going back. Explore bit free, positive reinforcement, horse training methods and the latest welfare science shaping the future for horses. Open the door to a different relationship, a level of relaxation and communication that the horse world still hasn’t discovered. Don’t be part of the ugliness. #poweredbyforageplus #bitless #bitlessriding #positivereinforcementhorsetraining #horsetraining

👇Does fructan really cause laminitis? The science says the real trigger is insulin, not fructan itself. Simple sugars (ESC) and starch are what matter most for EMS, insulin dysregulation and endocrinopathic laminitis. 💫 If you want no laminitis then paying attention this is important. Comment “FRUCTAN” and we’ll send you the full guide explaining what the research actually shows and how to interpret horse diets for laminitis prone horses correctly. #poweredbyforageplus #nolaminitis #laminitis #pony #horsecare

Are you over looking any colic risk factors? Colic prevention is about supporting how the horse’s digestive system is designed to function: Constant access to forage and fibre Effective chewing and saliva production Good hydration and sodium intake Consistent movement and turnout Low stress routines Gradual feed changes Healthy teeth and parasite control The equine digestive system depends on movement, fibre, water, saliva production and stable gut bacteria. Horses are designed to trickle feed almost constantly. Some important points many owners miss 👇 * Horses often drink less during stress and travel * Poor chewing reduces saliva and increases impaction risk * Low sodium levels can reduce thirst and water intake * Sudden feed changes can disrupt gut bacteria * Lack of turnout slows gut motility * More than 4 hours without forage increases gastric stress * Tapeworm burdens can contribute to irritation and blockages Practical tips 👇 1. Use slow feeder nets to trickle feed hay. 2. If forage has not been tested, assume sodium is low and add 1 x 15 ml scoop of salt daily. Especially important if soaking hay. 3. Carry out regular worm counts and saliva testing for tapeworm. 4. Older horses may need partial or full hay replacement diets if chewing becomes ineffective. Check out our guide at Forageplus.co.uk 5. If your horse won’t eat or drink while travelling, use a soaked fibre feed before travelling home to increase water and fibre intake. 6. Where only very short grass is available, provide additional hay or haylage for long fibre intake. Consider turning out with a full stomach of fibre. Small daily habits create resilience 🩵 SAVE this post for later when: • turnout changes • travelling increases • grazing becomes restricted #poweredbyforageplus #horsecare #horsetips #equestrian #colic

A different future for horses starts with people willing to question escalation of pressure, equipment which works through pain, explore consent, and choose trust over force. If you feel there might be another way… come and join the movement. Positive reinforcement. Bit free riding. Emotional welfare. Willing, happy horses. Join us at the next Positive & Bit Free Horse Group meeting on June 17th. #poweredbyforageplus #bitlessriding #bitless #bitfree #horsetraining

Is it the LOW or HIGH nutrients causing the real problem in horse diets? The answer is BOTH. Most horse owners focus on what might be missing in the diet… but often the biggest issue is poor balance against what the data shows is in grass and hay. Across more than 12,500 UK forage samples we repeatedly see the same pattern: LOW sodium LOW protein LOW copper LOW zinc LOW magnesium But at the same time forage is commonly: HIGH iron HIGH manganese HIGH calcium This is where things start to matter. Because nutrition is not just about amounts, it must always be about balance, ratios and absorption. For example: Excess iron and manganese can interfere with copper and zinc utilisation. Too much calcium can make balancing phosphorus difficult. Low protein means the horse may not have enough essential amino acids for hoof quality, muscle repair, connective tissue and metabolic health. So many horses are simultaneously: Deficient AND blocked from absorbing what they need. This is why generic balancers and broad-spectrum supplements can sometimes make things worse instead of better or just have no effect. At Forageplus we start with forage first. Because grass, hay and haylage make up the majority of the horse’s diet, not the bucket feed. Then we target a bucket feed that just adds in what is missing. It’s simple ….. Balance to the forage. Not to the feed bag. #poweredbyforageplus #horsefeed #horsecare #equestrian #horsetips

A click is incredibly powerful when training young horses because it removes so much confusion and emotional pressure from learning. It bridges the tiny gap between the behaviour and the delivery of the food reward. This matters because horses learn from timing. The clearer the timing, the clearer the lesson and the faster the learning Instead of: “Keep trying until pressure stops…” The horse hears: “Yes. That. You got it right.” The click creates clarity, predictability and emotional safety. Young horses begin to actively search for answers, offer behaviours, stay engaged and process information with confidence rather than tension. This is why well-timed positive reinforcement often produces horses who are relaxed, curious and mentally connected during training. The communication becomes incredibly precise, and precision reduces frustration for both horse and human. Georgie is entire and rising three in June. He started learning hind quarter yield two sessions ago and now we are adding a visual cue with our arm. There is no lead rope, he does all his training free. He is wearing the head collar to get used to it because head collars are very annoying when you are still 2 years old 😂. I love this way of training - there is no pressure to upset the horse and the outcomes are much more relaxed than a pressure, release based system, with the added bonus that the Georgie learns the movement truly on his own with no interference from me. He is free to walk away and eat from food in a feed pan whenever he likes so the training is always consent based . #poweredbyforageplus #younghorsetraining #horsetraining #positivereinforcementhorsetraining #clickertraining

Elite level horsing is shouting your horse’s name across a field… and watching them turn around and gallop over to you voluntarily. No headcollar No chasing No bribery panic Just a horse saying “Yes human, I would like to be near you.” #poweredbyforageplus #horse #equestrian #horsetraining

Join us for our second FREE meeting to explore how to train with consent, trust, and real communication, both on the ground and in the saddle. ✨ Free to attend 📍 Online (Zoom) or in person (Mold, Flintshire) 📅 June 17th | 7–9.30pm #poweredbyforageplus #bitlessriding #bitless #positivereinforcementhorsetraining #horsetraining