Common questions

Will a very thin pregnant mare be able to lose weight during lactation? How should I feed her?

Lactating mares are the equine physiological group with the highest nutritional requirements. EPOLDRIN is a food specially formulated to cover the nutritional needs of this physiological group. Its increased protein, mineral and vitamin energy density maximizes the quality and quantity of the milk produced, as well as maintaining the mare's body condition in the last third of pregnancy and during lactation.

EPOLDRIN

My horse drinks a lot of water after working intensely, does it need electrolytes?

When horses sweat they naturally lose water and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium and magnesium. Does the loss of electrolytes cause fatigue, muscle weakness and a decrease in the natural response to dehydration ? the head office. Having said this, it is essential to bear in mind that both water and electrolytes must be replenished in the horse's body, the latter in the form of a supplement.

REHIDRAMAX

Will a foal with large, broad limbs develop developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs)? Should I just feed it hay so it doesn't grow too fast?

The problem with feeding the foal only hay or natural pasture is that both are deficient in essential nutrients for proper growth and development. Crucial minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium and phosphorus are usually deficient or out of balance in these forage foods. Quality protein sources are also necessary for the foal to grow up healthy, so if the foal's diet is based only on pasture/hay, the protein levels will also be compromised and lysine, the limiting amino acid, will be in deficit.

Providing a specific concentrated feed for the growth phase of the foals, in conjunction with good pasture and/or hay, is therefore essential to ensure their correct development.

YOUNG

What is the ideal period of time to feed my horse before a competition race?

Providing small amounts of hay before exercise and providing water constantly is always recommended. As for concentrated food, it is recommended that it not be given 2 to 3 hours before the test. On the other hand, providing concentrated food right after exercise can make it difficult for the horse to recover. Thus, the ideal would be to provide hay and water first and then a meal of concentrated feed can be provided, which ideally will be 1.5 hours after exercise.

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What to do when the horse has a big belly, but looks thin in the flanks and sides?

If a horse has a very large belly, it could be a sign that it is ingesting poor quality forage. The large intestine naturally retains poor quality forage longer in an attempt to break down the fiber in order to obtain as much nutrients as possible. This process will cause greater retention of fiber in the large intestine causing distension of the horse's abdomen.

The solution to this situation is to improve forage quality by using forage with greater digestibility. Since it is not possible to significantly improve the fodder you provide, we advise you to replace part of the fodder supplied with a good fibrous product, for example a lucerne-based product.

WAFER

ALPHALPHA

ALFABEET

What to do when the horse eats little but is still too fat?

Horses that have a high predisposition to gain weight may not need extra energy from a concentrated feed, although they do need to receive nutrients for their physiological needs. The use involves providing a balanced food for the forage component of the diet. BALANCE is the ideal product for these cases, being supplied in low quantities and having a low caloric density, it acts as a protein, vitamin and mineral supplement, ensuring the correct nutrition of the horse without it gaining weight.

BALANCE

How to feed a horse that is really too thin?

During the starvation process, the body initially uses its available fat and carbohydrate reserves to meet energy needs. Then, the body tends to use the protein present both in the muscles and in vital organs such as the heart, tending to ?destroy? the body to meet energy needs. If a horse in this weakened condition ingests a high energy food or a large amount of food, it may suffer a gastrointestinal disturbance, showing signs of "colic", among other problems that may arise.

The ideal, in these cases, is to provide small and frequent meals of hay, complemented with lucerne forage, preferably wet, as the horses may be dehydrated.

WAFER

ALPHALPHA

ALFABEET

With regard to concentrated food, opt for a high-calorie, highly digestible food such as NATURE MASH.

NATURE MASH

What are the best foods for very nervous or excitable horses?

The ideal for more nervous horses is to use foods that have an energy supply based on fibers and lipids of high bioavailability. Intacol offers products suitable for these situations, formulated without oatmeal such as EASYMIX and PALATIN, in highly excitable refractory cases we recommend NATURE MASH or GASTRO PRO. Consult your Intacol technician to find out which product best suits your horse.

EASYMIX

PALATIN

NATURE MASH

PRO SPEND

Do oats excite horses?

Oatmeal is an excellent cereal for horses as it is very digestible, but in certain cases it can contribute to a certain excitability. The energy in oatmeal may end up, in some way, contributing to more expansive behaviors. For this reason, the ideal for more nervous horses is to use foods without oats (EASYMIX, PALATIN) that have an energy supply based on fibers and lipids of high bioavailability.

EASYMIX

PALATIN

Are muesli foods better than sprinkles?

No, they are just different ways of presenting the food. The decision to choose is purely practical, as certain horses react better to one type of food and others to another. However, muesli food can be more appetizing in most cases, although in case of doubt it is best to consult one of our qualified technicians.

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Is it necessary to supplement my horse's diet with supplements?

Intacol concentrated feeds, if properly selected, ensure the optimal daily supply of nutrients known to be essential in the horse's diet, between the most diverse physiological and growth stages, and even depending on the type and intensity of work required. However, in competition horses or in certain specific cases, it may really be necessary to supplement the diet with supplements. Consult the Intacol technician.

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What is the minimum amount of hay I should give per day?

The horse's daily diet should consist of at least 60 to 70% of forage feed. A horse weighing around 500 kg at moderate work should eat around 10 kg of dry matter a day, which means he should eat approximately 3 to 4 kg of concentrate feed and 6 to 7 kg of quality forage feed.

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How many times a day should I feed my horse concentrate?

The horse has a very small stomach, so it has a limited digestive capacity, especially when compared to other monogastric species. Intacol recommends distributing the concentrated food in as many daily meals as possible, with at least three being desirable. It is necessary to take into account that no more than 2 kg of concentrated feed should be exceeded per meal.

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What is the best way to make changes to my horse's diet?

The horse is a monogastric herbivorous animal. In the large intestine (cecum and colon) there is an important microbial flora that is responsible for the balance of the entire digestive tract. Thus, all changes to the horse's food management should be made gradually, mixing the old food with the new one over a period of approximately 7 to 10 days. Any dietary change can have ?visible effects? only after 3 to 4 weeks.

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How to choose a good food for my horse?

In-depth consultation of our website can help you choose the best food for your horse. However, Intacol has a team of professionals in the field of equine nutrition who provide personalized and specialized advice. Do not hesitate to contact us.

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How to choose good hay?

Intacol provides a free, very complete consultancy service, which allows you to be sure of the ideal product for each horse. Analyzes the nutritional quality of the hay in order to rigorously advise the best diet for your horse. Do not hesitate to contact us.

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Is hay better or worse than straw, and why?

Straw is just the stem of cereals while hay is the complete plant. This difference makes the nutritive value of hay superior to that of straw. Straw has a lower digestibility, which can hinder the horse's normal digestive flow, thus leading to a loss of well-being and performance. It is therefore necessary to supply quality and quantity hay, which must be the basis of the horse's diet.

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Should hay be given before or after concentrate feed?

Long fiber? hay or hay silage? should preferably be provided before the concentrate feed for several reasons. By ingesting the hay first, the horse will eat the concentrated food more slowly and will be able to digest it better, ending up making better use of its nutrients. Fiber stimulates gastric motility so, when given after the concentrated food, it ends up accelerating its speed in the small intestine, reaching the contents more quickly in the large intestine; this is not desirable as it can cause intestinal acidity and dysbiosis, which can lead to the development of colic or laminitis.