Introduction
We
all know how important fibre is as the major part of the diet of our
horses. Simple System Ltd has proved that by using a variety of fibre
sources in conjunction with oil-bearing seeds, we can feed our horses
without the use of cereals, supplements and molassed feeds. It really
works! It is feeding horses as closely as possible to the way nature
intended.
Horses are designed to eat a mainly fibrous
diet, low in soluble carbohydrates, so our feeds are based on this
principle. You will find high levels of digestible fibre, good quality
protein and a wide range of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.
In other words, we provide the food nature intended they should eat!
Our
range of feeds has been developed to meet the special needs of the
horse’s unique digestive system. You will find it is free from cereals,
pulses, molasses, preservatives and additives. Everything is natural!
Benefits
On the Simple System, your horse will enjoy:
- Increased time eating
- Constant blood sugar levels and reduced risk of bone/joint problems in growing youngstock
And you could find:
- Training easier
- Improved behaviour
- Improved stamina and recovery
It is suitable for:
- Laminitics
- Horses that tie up
- Those on box rest
- All levels of work and competition
And:
You can work your horse straight after a feed. Your horse can eat as soon as it returns from work, even if it is hot.
How does the Simple System work?
The
horse receives its nutrition from forage sources. Feeds are bulkier,
ideally soaked and will take the horse much longer to eat. Extra
nutrients for harder work, for instance, can be supplied by switching
to a forage with a higher energy level and increasing the nutrient
density with Simple System Ltd Instant Linseed. Forages naturally have
higher levels of vitamins and minerals than, say, cereals such as wheat
or oats, or pulses such as peas or beans. Where additional vitamins and
minerals are needed, these are from natural sources, such as Simple
System Ltd Pure Ocean Seaweed or Traditional Brewers’ Yeast. Our dried
green forages come from two main sources, Lucerne and Grass.
Lucerne,
called Alfalfa in America, is a deep rooting legume with high levels of
nutrients, but is very low in sugars. It is an especially good source
of digestible fibre, protein and calcium, with high levels of carotene.
This is the precursor of Vitamin A and an important anti-oxidant. It is
a suitable feed for most equines, but is most valuable when building
muscle and condition.
When horses are coming back to work
after a rest or illness, it provides all the right nutrients for
developing muscle, but does not cause any hotting up, due to low sugar
levels. This makes it particularly useful for laminitics, horses prone
to tying up and horses tending to get filled legs. It is also ideal for
breeding stock and growing youngsters. Natives, Arabs, Warmbloods and
Veterans all do well on various forms of Lucerne.
Grass is
what we all think of as horse food! The nutrient value varies over a
wide range, being highest when the grass is in its early stages of
growth, and lower after it has seeded. All our grass feeds are made
from chopped, flash-dried grass. Grass has useful levels of
phosphorous, and calcium. Carbohydrate and protein levels are highest
in young grass and lower in older grass, which has higher fibre levels.
Generally, the higher carbohydrate levels and useful iron levels make
grass feeds ideal for horses in harder work. Breeding stock without
access to pasture, Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods all do well on grass
feeds.
Unmolassed Beet Pulp is not strictly a forage, but
is an excellent source of digestible fibre and as it is fed soaked,
makes a succulent addition to the feed. Being unmolassed, it is
unlikely to cause scouring, so can be fed in generous amounts.
