Giddy-Up Nets

26/05/2026

Did you know Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from quality fibre can supply up to 70% of the daily energy needs of a mature horse? Here's why it's such a good energy source...

🌿Horses evolved grazing pasture for 16-18 hours a day and their digestive system is engineered to process that fibre, converting it into energy through fermentation.

🌿When fibre reaches the hindgut, billions of beneficial microbes ferment it and produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which are absorbed and used as energy.

🌿The VFAs produced from fibre fermentation (acetate, propionate and butyrate) each play important roles in the horse’s body, providing slow-release energy, supporting glucose production and even helping maintain healthy hindgut cells.

🌿Fibre fermentation doesn't just produce VFA's, it also produces important nutrients like B group vitamins (including biotin) and vitamin K.

🌿The more quality fibre they eat, the stronger their gut microbiome gets, which means more fermentation, more VFA production, and more usable nutrients from every bite.

𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀 = 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗙𝗔𝘀 = 𝗩𝗙𝗔𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲

QUALITY MATTERS!
🏆Quality fibre sources are highly digestible and more efficiently fermented by microbes to produce a greater amount of nutrients. These include quality pasture and hay, lupin hulls, beet pulp and soy hulls.

👎Poor quality sources are high in indigestible fibre or lignin, which microbes can't break down and extract nutrients from. Examples include overly mature or stalky hays or pastures.

⚡Other energy sources matter too:
Starches, sugars and fats also play important roles in fuelling different metabolic pathways. Depending on your horse’s workload, condition, life stage and energy demands, these energy sources can help support performance, rapid energy availability, weight gain and athletic output, but should always be added to suit your individual horse's needs.

If you're looking for additional quality fibre, try adding Lupin Fibre Cubes or Lupin Fibre Boost to your horse's diet.

22/05/2026

🌾 Fresh Hay Rolls In Stock!
We’ve got Rhodes 4ft Rolls with 5% Lucerne — perfect everyday roughage with a little extra palatability — plus Lucerne 4ft Rolls for animals needing more condition or higher energy.

✔ Low‑sugar, high‑fibre Rhodes
✔ Protein‑rich Lucerne for performance or weight gain
✔ Great quality, great value

Available now at Stockfeed West Sawyers Valley.

20/05/2026

12/05/2026

Can what I feed give or improve my horse's dapples?

A glossy, rich coat with dapples is a reflection of good health and vitality in horses. But did you know that not all horses can dapple?

Dapples are round areas of hair that appear in a deeper or lighter colour than the rest of their coat. Dapples are genetically controlled, so some horses will be more predisposed to them than others, and some might not develop them at all. Dapples tend to be more common in some breeds, and certain coat colours are more likely to have them like greys, bays, buckskins and pallys. Dapples can fade over their lifetime (like in greys) and change seasonally.

But it's not just genetics! Dapples are also influenced by their health, good nutrition and coat care routines. Even if they have dapples in their genes, they might not show in an unhealthy horse. So, what can you do to help their dapples bloom?

1️⃣ Make quality, balanced nutrition a priority. They should be getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals in balanced ratios to meet their requirements, without excesses or deficiencies.

2️⃣ Keep good quality forage up to them to make sure their digestive system is working well. A healthy gut means a healthy horse! Adding super fibres, pre and probiotics can help.

3️⃣ Feed quality protein with good amino acids. The hair in their coats is nearly 90% protein!

4️⃣ Omega-3 Fatty Acids from high-fat ingredients like oils can give their coat an extra boost, promoting healthier skin and hair growth.

5️⃣ Keep a good parasite and health control program. Horses that are struggling with a parasite burden, allergies, illnesses or ulcers can often slip in their coat condition. Any of these issues need to be addressed first.

6️⃣ Look after their coat! Exercise and grooming increase blood flow and regularly removing excess hair and dirt helps to bring out healthy oils in their coat.

Remember, your horse's coat and their dapple potential is as unique as they are. Getting their health and diet right is the first, essential step to getting them looking and feeling great, dapples or no dapples.

29/04/2026

🟢Meet Maintain & Spell Cubes (formerly Pony Maintenance Cubes)

As part of our commitment to healthier horses, clearer branding and better value for you, we have updated our Pony Maintenance Cubes to MAINTAIN & SPELL CUBES. This highly versatile feed still has the same ingredients and recipe you know and love, we've just added extra goodness with probiotics and more Vitamin E.

✔️ Maintain & Spell Cubes are a highly digestible fibre-based cube with quality energy and protein.

✔️ Formulated to maintain condition and health while meeting the dietary needs of horses and ponies at rest.

✔️Fully fortified with vitamins and minerals.

✔️ Now with added probiotics to support digestive function.

Maintain & Spell Cubes are ideal for feeding on their own or as a cost-effective base for grains, mueslis or concentrates.

Read the full ingredients list and nutritional analysis here >> https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/equine/maintain-and-spell-cubes
The new bags are heading out to stores; however, you may still see the original Pony Maintenance Cubes bags in store while the changeover rolls out.

28/04/2026

05/03/2026

Your horse is eating lots… so why are they still losing condition?
It’s frustrating when your horse seems to be eating plenty, but their condition continues to drop or just won't improve. The truth is: healthy condition isn’t only about how much a horse eats; it’s about how well their body can use what they eat. Here are some common (and often overlooked) reasons this might be happening:

1️⃣ Poor fibre quality = poor nutrition (even in large quantities)
Horses rely on the hindgut to ferment fibre into energy. If the hay or pasture is stemmy, over‑mature, low‑digestibility, or weather‑damaged, they simply can’t extract enough calories, no matter the volume.
Tip: Choose good‑quality, test hay with higher digestibility.

2️⃣ An unhealthy gut = inefficient digestion
A balanced microbial population is essential for breaking down fibre. Hindgut disruption from stress, rapid feed changes, ulcers, inconsistent feeding, or low‑quality forage can reduce nutrient absorption.
Tip: Ensure constant access to forage, minimise long gaps between feeds, and incorporate super‑fibres to support a healthy microbiome. If you suspect ulcers or gut pain, speak to your vet.

3️⃣ They may need a more energy‑dense diet
Horses only maintain or gain weight when the calories they absorb exceed the calories they burn (positive energy balance). High workloads, age or breed can influence their calorie demands. If the diet is low in digestible energy or the horse’s energy demand is higher than expected, they can remain in a calorie deficit despite eating large volumes.
Increase digestible energy per kilo by adding a more calorie‑dense feed, quality oils, or highly digestible super‑fibres such as lupin hulls or beet pulp.

4️⃣ Dental issues reduce chewing efficiency
Dental pain, uneven wear, loose teeth, and sharp points limit a horse’s ability to chew properly. They may “eat a lot” but don’t break down fibre adequately, so large particles pass through the gut undigested.

5️⃣ Parasites compete for nutrition
Even with regular worming, horses can develop parasite burdens if the program isn’t rotational or guided by faecal egg counts. Parasites damage the gut lining and compete for nutrients, leading to weight loss despite adequate intake.

6️⃣ The diet isn’t balanced — even if calories are high
If protein, vitamins, or minerals are inadequate, it can limit the uptake and effectiveness of nutrients in the body. For example, low protein or insufficient essential amino acids (like lysine) limit muscle building and recovery.

7️⃣ Underlying illness or pain
Chronic pain, PPID (Cushing’s), gastric ulcers, infections, and metabolic conditions can all increase calorie requirements or reduce how efficiently the body uses energy. Inflammation also raises the energy needed for basic functions. If you are concerned about your horse's health status, chat to your vet.

⭐ Use our free FeedSmart Diet Calculator to get a diet that is:
✅ Providing enough calories
✅ Balanced for key nutrients
✅ Meeting protein, mineral and vitamin needs
✅ Appropriate for their age, workload and condition
👉 Try it here: https://thompsonandredwood.com.au/equine/feedsmart-horse-diet-calculator