Q. My horses have always been on 'improved' horse pasture, so why should this be a problem for some horses?
A. A large number of improved pasture seeds contain Rye Grass, Clover or Kikuyu (learn more about why these grasses can be bad for horses under Paddocks-Yards-Grasses and Aspects of Pasture and Feeding that can Adversely Affect Your Horse). Some fertilisers such as superphosphate will bind up vital nutrition that horses require and cause a notable mineral imbalance. Plus things like chook manure or too much of any manure could cause a spike in nitrate which will also trigger a notable mineral imbalance.
Q. How do I find out what grass is in my paddock?
A. You can send samples to your closest Royal Botanical Gardens. They will require the grass to be dried, pressed and preferably with the seed head and roots attached (no dirt). There is a small cost involved (approximately $17.50 per sample). Alternatively, you can have your local agronomist or reliable grassier visit. If your grass is short you might like to tape off a corner or strip of your paddock with electric tape and let the grass grow long enough to seed so you can more easily identify the different grasses and weeds. Spring and early summer are the best times to identify grasses.
Dr Deb Bennett from the Equine Studies Institute has a wonderful CD, Poisonous Plants in the Pasture: A Horse Owner's Guide which includes a dictionary of grasses which is available to purchase through Gotcha Equine. Also available is Plant Poisonous to Horses: An Australian Field Guide by Melissa Offord, published by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
Q. My horse does well on what I am currently feeding him. If I change will he keep weight on?
A. You will be pleasantly surprised how little horses need to retain good body weight once their nutritional requirements are correctly met. The Gotcha Equine Feed Plan offers an economical and healthy way of feeding your horses without affecting a healthy body weight.
Q. What is De-Tox made from?
A. De-Tox is made from a natural yeast cell wall extract, providing lots of sites for toxins in the feed to latch onto which takes them out with the manure. It is not a cure so if the number of toxins is high you may also need to remove the horse from the paddock.
Q. How much a week will it cost me to feed the Gotcha Equine Plan?
A. If you only buy the smallest supplement containers it will cost you more than the more economical, larger size containers. Not only that, horse safe, grass hay prices vary depending on the time of the season. The best time to book your hay is in early November before it is cut and pick the bales straight out of the paddock.
- One week of essential supplements only, in smallest size for one 500Kg horse: approx. $20*
- One week of essential supplements only, in economic size for one 500Kg horse: approx. $18*
* Please note, prices are subject to change without notice, is based on light work and does not include Mag Max. Plain non-iodised fine salt should be approximately $12 for a 25Kg bag.
Q. What is the general difference between cheap supplements and the Gotcha Equine products?
A. Cheap supplements are made up of cheap ingredients which is old technology. Now the true value of high quality ingredients is better understood for vitamins and minerals. Supplements contribute to optimal health and desirable behaviour. Cheap supplements have only bare minimum levels, or omit completely, ingredients such as MSM (organic sulphur), Inositol, biotin and chromium. Cheap supplements do not contain organic forms of minerals which can be many times more bio-available and useful to the horse, than inorganic forms. We have anecdotal evidence of this many times over; science is usually five to ten years behind anecdotal evidence. Minerals such as selenium are much safer and less likely to cause toxicity when present in their organic form. Iron when present in its inorganic form interferes with the absorption of several other minerals.
The best supplements contain small quantities of organic iron. Demineralisation of the horse, especially the skeleton, is not something you see from the outside. Often the first sign is the onset of degenerative diseases like arthritis before the horse is twenty. Everyone wants a calm, healthy horse that will give you many hours of safe riding and live a long, useful life. By feeding the best vitamin and minerals, you will find no need for joint, hoof and coat supplements. A blend of top quality, well balanced vitamins and minerals feeds the whole horse and you may find less need for other treatments. You will spend less time worrying and more time riding!
Q. What role does selenium play in the overall scheme of things?
A. Selenium is vital in conjunction with vitamin E to prevent tying up in performance horses and contributes to muscle strength and stamina. Selenium is also one of the major antioxidants (along with vitamins A, C and E). Other products containing selenium should not be fed at the same time as Gotcha Equine Vit & Min range. NB. Do not fertilise with selenised products or prill while feeding Gotcha Equine Vit & Min range. The next time you have a vet check, have the blood levels tested for selenium (basic test only), then again twelve months later. You can compare the levels and check to see they are still normal.
Q. Should I plough my paddock before I reseed?
A. No. It is not advisable to plough your paddocks as this will disturb the natural micro organisms which are vital for good soil balance. After ploughing it can take years for any grass to grow properly again.
Q. If my horse is turned out without work should I still need to feed them according to the Gotcha Equin Feed Plan, such as vitamins and minerals?
A. Yes. Often we hear about horses that have come back from being turned out without supplementation and they are very fresh or out of control. This is due to mineral imbalances and possibly a myco-toxin overload which can take months to get back into balance again. Therefore, it is best not to allow this to happen by continuing the Gotcha Equine Feed Plan regardless if they are not being ridden.
Q. Is it better to feed De-Tox once or twice a day?
A. Feed De-Tox twice a day to help ensure better protection 24/7 against myco-toxins for your horse.
Q. Do I need to feed any extra Calcium with the Vit & Min Range?
A. NO extra calcium is required and that also includes No lucerne, when feeding any of the Gotcha Equine Vit & Min range.
Q. Why is it only one horse that seems to be affected and not all of them?
A. For the same reason that only one person in a household becomes diabetic or gets depressed. Different physiologies, different history of exposure. Usually they are all affected in some way. Sometimes it takes longer to become obvious in some horses.
Q. Why are your vitamins and minerals better than others currently on the market? My horse is already getting a vitamin and mineral supplement so why do I need to change?
A. This particular combination of vitamins and minerals, including many minerals in their organic forms, has been exceptionally successful. The blend has wonderful synergy which means the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual ingredients. Success is measured by the consistent achievement of consistently calm, healthy horses in a relatively short time. People are happy because they can get on with riding. When their horse is well they feel safer and more confident.
Q. If I plant horse safe grasses, when they are green and growing, can the horse still graze safely on them? How is the sugars and potassium levels in grasses such as Rhodes?
A. Horse friendly grasses still need to be managed to minimise stress on the grass. Grasses like Rhodes Grass, Cocksfoot and Brown Top are safer for horses because they are inherently lower in NSCs (sugar), potassium and nitrates than Rye-Grass, Clover and Lucerne. Fertilising, keeping the grass at a young stage of growth by constant grazing and some climatic conditions will reduce their horse friendliness and bring out the worst in the grass. Grass is best for horses when it is more mature and not heavily fertilised (no nitrogen, superphosphate, urea or potassium).
Q. What type of pollard will work well with the Gotcha Equine Feed Plan?
A. Rice bran and rice pollard are one and the same. Wheat bran is derived from wheat flower. Pollard has more energy but lower fibre levels than wheat bran, plus both need careful balancing for calcium with Gotcha Equine Vit & Min range as bran binds up calcium (bran disease). Rice pollard is for horses requiring more energy, wheat pollard is good for putting on condition. Neither should be fed to laminitic prone horses. Bran is very high in phosphorous compared to calcium so is best not fed to horses on oxalate grasses and should only be a small part of the ration if it is to be fed.
