What's under your Horses Feet.

 SPRING IS HERE — TIME TO LOOK UNDER YOUR HŌIHO’S FEET

Spring pasture brings changing nutrient levels and mineral balance. With a potential El Niño ahead, now is the time to assess what your horse is grazing and plan for the months ahead.

 HERBAGE TESTING

A herbage test shows what your pasture provides and where gaps may exist.

Testing grass can reduce guesswork and help prevent over- or under-supplementing.

You may be surprised by how much money you save once you know which gaps actually need filling.

 ARE WE PROVIDING ENOUGH FIBRE?

As a guide, horses generally need around 2% of their body weight in fibre daily for maintenance.

The type of fibre matters too. Forage remains the foundation, while older horses (maybe with less teeth), fussy eaters and poor doers may benefit from additional fibre sources.

Consider:

 Quality roughage

 Low-lignin, highly digestible fibre

 A balanced mineral supplement based on your pasture, hay and other feeds

Together, these can support a complete feeding programme and healthy gut function.

 PLAN AHEAD FOR THE DRY MONTHS

Spring is the perfect time to secure enough hay or another suitable fibre source before pasture growth slows.

A reliable backup helps maintain consistent fibre intake and avoids sudden diet changes. Consider how much you’ll need, where it will be stored and which alternatives are available if pasture quality or quantity drops.

Reassess your Hōiho’s diet now — and prepare before the season gets away from you.

What’s under your horse’s feet right now?