Winter Feeding for a Calm and Healthy Horse
Winter isn’t without its challenges, and this includes keeping your horse healthy, happy and looking their best. Inevitably shorter days and dismal weather can mean reduced turnout, irregular exercise and less hacking opportunities to blow the cobwebs away. Feeding plenty of forage to keep the horse occupied when stabled for longer also means keeping an eye on your horse’s waistline.
Fibre and oil for a calm ride
For a calmer ride research has shown that feeding sources of slow-release energy from fibre and oil is key. Using a feed that supplies an appropriate amount of energy for a reduced workload will not only help with a calmer ride but also help to keep the waistline in check as well.
Dengie Hi-Fi Molasses Free combines chopped and pelleted alfalfa and straw with a light rapeseed oil coating, mint, and fenugreek for added tastiness. Hi-Fi Molasses Free contains very low levels of energy, sugar and starch making it ideal for horses at rest or in light work that need to watch their weight or can be excitable. Simply combine with vitamins and minerals to balance the ration.
Maintaining skin, coat and hoof condition
UK pasture and forage typically lacks the trace minerals copper, selenium and zinc and conserved forage also lacks vitamin E. Ensuring a balanced ration and adding some extra beneficial nutrients such as biotin can help with the environmental challenges to your horse’s skin, coat and hooves in the winter.
Healthy Hooves Molasses Free combines chopped and pelleted alfalfa and straw with a light rapeseed oil coating, vitamins, minerals, garlic and MSM. Healthy Hooves Molasses Free provides a balanced ration when fed at the recommended quantity and includes biotin at the level found in a hoof supplement. MSM, which is a bio-available source of sulphur, is also included as it is a key component of keratin for joint support as well as good hoof, coat and skin condition. Grass is the natural source of sulphur for horses and those on restricted grazing may benefit.
Managing weight and digestive health
We all know that trickle feeding is vital for digestive and behavioural health but in the domestic environment ad-lib forage feeding can often result in obesity. Choosing low calorie fibre sources is key for weight management and keeping the horse chewing.
New Dengie Ulser Lite combines oat straw with dried grasses, grass and alfalfa pellets with a light rapeseed oil coating, ADM Protexin in-feed formula, that combines prebiotic and live yeast, and herbal blend. At 8MJ/kg Digestible Energy Ulser Lite is a low-calorie fibre feed to support digestive health that can also be used to partially or totally replace the forage ration making it an ideal alternative when only more calorific forage like haylage is available.
Straw – a low calorie fibre source
Winter weight loss in good do-ers or overweight horses is a vital step to getting them to or keeping them at a healthy weight long term. In the UK our conserved forages such as hay and haylage can be too calorific when fed ad-lib and straw as a lower calorie fibre can be very useful to mix in the forage ration to keep a horse chewing without the calories. Some people are nervous regarding straw use, but research using straw to replace 50% of the haylage ration found no detrimental effects on digestive health. Furthermore, it helped to slow the overall rate of intake of the total forage ration which in turn lessened insulin response which is good news for those with insulin dysregulation.
Discover more at www.dengie.com.
Horse Owners Prefer Pets to Partners!
This probably won’t come as much of a surprise to most horse lovers, but recent research has shown that the majority of animal owners have stronger bonds with their pets than their families!
The recent research was carried out by equine charity Brooke and revealed that more than a quarter of animal lovers would rather stay at home with pets than meet up with family and friends, and three in five people prefer to cuddle with their pet rather than their partner!
Brooke is using the survey to raise awareness of the plight of working donkeys, horses and mules in Pakistan following the recent floods. Find out more at: www.horseandhound.co.uk.
Closer to home, we have recently launched our Winter Hay Appeal. Please visit our appeal page to find out more.
Happy Valentine’s Day, whether your plans are with your pets or your partners! 😉
Celebrating 40 Years
2023 marks the Sanctuary’s 40th Birthday, which is an absolutely amazing achievement especially given all the setbacks and issues that we have faced over those years. We are proud to have done so much good work and touched, helped and saved so many horses, ponies, donkeys and other animals over the years but we could not have done it without you and your help and support. Thank you so much for all that you do and have done for Remus over the years, and to our staff and volunteers, our vets and suppliers, and the Holistic Team and Physiotherapists who all come together to do the very best that we can for as many needy animals as we can.
“Wherever man has left his footprints in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we find the hoofprints of a horse beside it!”
It’s been a busy winter at Remus. You’ll remember that in the summer we had no grass due to the heatwave – the paddocks turned to scrub and dust! Then in October and November it was so mild that the grass just kept growing and growing, so we experienced (and saw) a lot of laminitic cases at a time of year when you would not expect it. Since then, we’ve seen flooding and freezing, and snow, and more flooding. And freezing. Which is why we have just launched our winter hay appeal. Please will you help us?
There are lots of other ways you can help us too: are you able to get one new member signed up; get some of our leaflets out; organise a fundraising event for us; ask your local shop about taking one of our collection tins? The winter is a particularly difficult time for us at the best of times, but in the present economic climate, that of course, becomes much more difficult – so please if you can support Remus in any way it would be such a tremendous help.
Please do get in touch if you can make a donation towards the winter appeal – you can do so online or by calling the office to make a donation over the telephone, or by sending a cheque. It is so rewarding at the end of a working day to walk around the Sanctuary and see all the animals happy, contented and eating, and relaxed, and to know that they are all safe for life and will never have to fear hunger, pain or suffering again. YOUR help makes this possible.
Click to learn more and donate to our Winter Hay Appeal.
The Best Things about Riding in Winter
The nights are dark and it’s cold and damp – but never fear, there are plenty of things to love about being a horse owner in winter!
It may be hard to get yourself up and out when it’s colder and dark, but there’s an upside to making the effort. Winter mornings can be crisp and fresh, so get to the yard and get all the jobs done early and you might be able to squeeze in a ride before you have to be at your desk – it makes a great way to start off the weekend, too.
And daytime/evening rides can be more fun too. Summer riding is lovely, but often you both end up feeling hot and sweaty and bothered by flies. Plan ahead, check the weather and make the most of the good riding conditions ahead.
If you’re a competition rider, there may be fewer events, so make the most of the ones that are happening – and look out for a host of training opportunities including clinics, demos and trainer lessons.
Finally, if you’re finding yourself with more time on your hands, take the opportunity to get to all those jobs that get neglected when you’re busy riding. Tack and feed rooms can benefit from a clearout at this time of year – rope in some friends to make it more fun!
For more benefits of winter riding head to: www.horseandrideruk.com/news/eight-ways-riders-can-embrace-the-clocks-going-back-for-winter/.
If you haven’t already done so, please check out our appeal to help raise funds to replace our perimeter fencing.
By the way, you might like to note that this year we’re celebrating our 40 year anniversary! More on that to follow in due course.
Fencing Appeal
Around 15 years ago, we changed our fencing from wire to post and rail. Unfortunately we are now finding that its come to the end of its life – the posts and rails are starting to deteriorate quite rapidly. This means we need to start a rolling plan of repairs asap – could it have come at a worse time?! We’ll start first with the perimeter fencing to keep the animals secure and with a 40-acre site that’s no mean feat!
As you can imagine, this cost on top of everything else right now is quite crippling.
Will you help us by buying a metre of fencing or by donating towards the cost of the fencing? Each metre of fencing costs in excess of £40 including the timber, labour and concrete.
We would love to hear from you if you can help us reach our goal. You’ll be able to see for yourself the difference you have made.
Please visit our JustGiving Appeal page to find out more> https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RemusFencing.
If you prefer to telephone the Sanctuary to make a donation, you can call us on tel: 01277 356191.
Use or Abuse – the Many Shades of Grey in the Horse World
As a horse sanctuary, our first consideration is for the animal, which is why our regular followers will know, we are not a fan of horse sports and events such as The Grand National.
So we were pleased to see that the theme of the 25th World Horse Welfare Conference in November, was ‘when does use become abuse?’
This year the international spotlight fell on horse welfare at the Tokyo Olympics where a German rider was seen whipping her horse, and the German coach was banned after punching the same animal.
Of course, not all eventers are as extreme or as high-profile, but it is good to see discussions taking place among experts, as the world’s views and the scientific evidence continues to change.
Read more about the debate at this year’s conference here.
If you’ve not already done so, we’d be grateful if you could take a look at our winter appeal to help raise funds to replace our perimeter fencing. Please visit our Just Giving page to find out more > www.justgiving.com/campaign/RemusFencing.
Today’s the Day to Make a Difference
Giving Tuesday is no longer just around the corner!
This year we are raising funds to repair our perimeter fencing, which has started to deteriorate quite badly.
The fencing was changed from wire to post and rail about 15 years ago. Our priority is to repair or replace the perimeter fencing first, in order to protect and secure the animals.
And we can’t do it without your generosity.
The Giving Tuesday campaign began in America in 2012 as a way to give back after the well-known shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It was brought to the UK by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2014 with the aim of encouraging people to think of others in the run-up to Christmas. The campaign is now coordinated in the UK by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
It’s become a global phenomenon; #GivingTuesday has broken successive world records for the most money donated online to charity. Leading charities and brands support the day including Natwest Group, PayPal and Salesforce. And, in 2020, #GivingTuesday was the top trending item on UK Twitter and generated more than 360 million impressions. In the UK, more than £20 million was raised in online donations, more than ever before.
Please visit our JustGiving page to learn more and make your donation online > https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RemusFencing.
Alternatively, if you prefer, please call the Sanctuary on 01277 356191 to make your donation over the telephone.
Together we give.
Remus Horse Sanctuary Joins #GivingTuesday 2022, the Global Day of Generosity on 29 November
Remus Horse Sanctuary is thrilled to announce that it is one of the thousands of organisations taking part in this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign, taking place on 29 November.
This Giving Tuesday 2022, Remus are fundraising to carry out the necessary repairs to their perimeter fencing which protects the animals. Each metre of fencing costs £40 which includes the cost of the materials, concrete and labour. Please buy a metre of fencing by donating to the appeal at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/RemusFencing.
There are numerous other ways to get involved and support Remus:
- Sign up to volunteer with us in 2023
- Buy your Christmas Cards from us this year
- Shop online with Give-As-You-Live and raise free funds for us
- Set up a regular donation
- Share our social media posts and newsletters with your friends, family and colleagues.
Remus Horse Sanctuary provide rescue and rehabilitation for animals such as horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep and cats that have been victims of abuse whether through malicious intent or neglect.
The Giving Tuesday campaign began in America in 2012 as a way to give back after the well-known shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The campaign is coordinated in the UK by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
Giving Tuesday partners increased by 19% in 2020 from the previous year, with many notable names – including one of our Patrons, well-known actress Claire King – and a considerable 678 media mentions were observed.
On the day in 2020, £14,000 was raised each minute to support good causes, with a total overall donation amount of £20.2 million – This figure increased by £6 million from the previous year. Throughout the day, Giving Tuesday was trending on Twitter, amassing 360 million impressions.
Daniel Fluskey, Giving Tuesday UK Campaign Lead at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, says: “Giving Tuesday provides such a fantastic opportunity for every business, charity, individual, or any type of organization to celebrate generosity and encourage people to be involved in something charitable.
“This year, alongside the encouragement for people to give and support charities, Giving Tuesday will be celebrating our shared pride in the amazing generosity that we see all around us – showcasing all the different ways people support charities and communities as well as highlighting the difference that support makes.”
Sue Burton, founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary adds: “With the challenges that everyone has felt and continues to experience this year, Giving Tuesday is a great moment for us to come together to remember, share, and celebrate the causes we care about and the things we value.
“The generosity of our supporters never ceases to amaze me. Without them, our work would be impossible. I thank each and every one of them – however they are able to help us.”
For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.
Giving Every Horse a Chance
Some of the horses we rescue are in the latter years of their life, but here at Remus Horse Sanctuary we believe that age is just a number.
So it was heartening to read this article in Your Horse magazine, which details several cases of older horses who have been ill or injured, and who, after treatment, recovered enough to live happily ever after.
As well as their owners seeking help quickly, and the vet treating them accordingly, the other common themes in these success stories are love and care – something that is not in short supply here at Remus.
This is why we never euthanise our horses based on sickness or age alone – they trust us to look after them, however old or sick they are and that is exactly what we do. Euthanasia is always a last resort for us.
Can you help us? The soaring temperatures in the summer turned our tasty green paddocks into wasteland and they’ve yet to recover. If you can, please contribute to our Urgent Hay Appeal.
Support us this Winter for FREE
Help us enter Give as you Live Online’s £10,000 Giveaway before 31st December 2022.
Supporting Remus Horse Sanctuary couldn’t be simpler this winter thanks to Give as you Live Online’s winter giveaway, and here’s how you can take part.
Give as you Live Online are giving you the chance to earn a £10 bonus donation on top of the regular free donations you can raise by using their free shopping tool. When you sign up to support Remus Horse Sanctuary on Give as you Live Online and complete 3 fund-raising shops by the end of the year, they’ll pay us a bonus £10 donation.
Plus, when you use Give as you Live Online, you’ll raise a free donation with almost every purchase you make at over 6,000 stores, including John Lewis & Partners, Argos, Sainsbury’s, Wilko and Booking.com.
For example, if you were to click through Give as you Live Online to do your monthly grocery shopping at Sainsbury’s, you could raise up to 7.5%* of your spend back as a free donation for us. Based on a click and collect shop of £100 per month, you could raise an extra £35 a year for us, for free! Plus, there’s no limit to how much you can raise.
Getting the free £10 donation
Signing up is easy:
- Click here to be taken to our charity page on Give as you Live Online, and click ‘Sign up’
- Sign up for an account. You’ll only need to provide your name and email address
- Complete 3 shops by the end of December. As well as a £10 bonus donation, you’ll earn a donation on each shop
Full Terms and Conditions can be found here.
*Calculation of £35 a year is based on 1 £100 shop as a new customer using click and collect at 7.5%, and 11 subsequent shops as an existing customer using click and collect at 2.5%. Rates are subject to change at retailer’s discretion.
Other Appeal
