Question 1

How can I put together the appropriate ration for my horse?

Accepted Answer

Every ration starts with good roughage (grass, hay and/or silage). A horse's daily ration consists of 70% to 100% roughage, making it the most important source of nutrition for horses and ponies. The ration of (top) sport horses consists of 70% roughage, for most recreational horses it is around 90%. There are also horses whose rations consist of 100% roughage and no concentrate at all. Give your horse or pony between 1.5% - 2% of its body weight in roughage. So for a 600 kg horse, assume 9 to 12 kg of roughage per day.

To put together a healthy feed ration, it is important to know the quality of your roughage. Only when you know the energy, protein and sugar content can you choose the right supplement in concentrate and/or a balancer (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) based on your horse's energy requirements and condition (too lean, too fat).

Question 2

I am looking for a feed without sugar or protein. What would be best to feed?

Accepted Answer

The first question is why do you want feed without sugar or protein? The desire for feed low in sugar is understandable, as many horses do not need that much energy in their feed and it is linked to laminitis, gastric ulcers, certain forms of colic and emaciation, among others. Protein, on the other hand, is a necessary nutrient and forage research shows that there is less and less protein in forage. This means that many horses are more likely to be protein deficient, rather than surplus. Indications of a protein deficiency may include, for example, poor coat, poor hooves and poor resistance.

Therefore, always start from your goal: what do you want to achieve with the feed?

Small quantity, but sufficient vitamins and minerals: with Pavo Care4Life you feed your horse sufficient vitamins and minerals with a small quantity. Care4Life can be seen as a luxury vitamin and mineral balancer to supplement your roughage.

More energy: if your horse or pony needs more energy, but must have a low sugar content, the basic structure muesli Pavo Nature's Best is highly recommended.

Extra supplement to roughage: you can feed Pavo SpeediBeet as an extra supplement to an already complete ration to supplement extra energy from easily digestible fibre.

Really little sugar, but the necessary vitamins and minerals: then choose Pavo Vital. Pavo Vital is a molasses- and grain-free balancer for horses and ponies that get no or little concentrate feed.

Question 3

My horse is too thin and needs to gain weight, but he must not get hotter. What can I feed?

Accepted Answer

If possible, in this case first increase the amount of roughage and/or supplement your roughage with soaked beet pulp, such as Pavo SpeediBeet. SpeediBeet is a partial roughage substitute and contains highly digestible fibre with a high energy yield. Please note: you can only feed Pavo SpeediBeet in soaked form.

Does your horse need to gain weight and build muscles?

Then supplementing with a roughage substitute such as Pavo Fibrebeet or a concentrate such as Pavo TopSport is highly recommended. Pavo Fibrebeet is a combination of Pavo SpeediBeet with a supplement of high-quality protein from alfalfa. The ideal roughage supplement for lean, scrawny (sport) horses to get back in perfect condition.

Pavo Topsport is a protein and fat concentrate from soy and linseed, which perfectly supports the weight and muscle building of your hard-working (sport) horse.

Question 4

My horse/pony is sensitive to sugars or has PPID/Cushing, which feed is suitable?

Question 5

My horse has had colic, what is the best thing to feed now?

Accepted Answer

Constipation colic: after constipation colic, start feeding small amounts of roughage again. Should your horse or pony need concentrate feed, stick to Pavo Slobbermash only for the first few days. Our slobber is easily digestible and the mucilage and fats in the linseed ensure easy passage through the intestines.

Gas colic: In case of gas colic, feed only roughage until the intestines have calmed down again. Then you can slowly build up the concentrate feed again.

Question 6

What do I feed in cases of laminitis?

Accepted Answer

If your horse or pony has laminitis, you should only feed roughage. Therefore, it is very important to test your roughage for sugar content in this case. A good supplement to your roughage is a balancer, such as Pavo Vital. Pavo Vital ensures that the need for vitamins, minerals and trace elements also remains covered during the period of laminitis. If you are looking for a vitiminized muesli, Pavo EasyMix could also be an option.

Is your horse or pony prone to laminitis? Then it is important to keep the ration as stable as possible, especially when it comes to sugar levels. It is also wise to pay attention to the fructan content in the grass. After all, fructan can cause laminitis.

Question 7

What do I feed a horse with stomach problems?

Accepted Answer

For horses with stomach problems, it is important to choose a feed with a lower sugar/starch content. It is also important that your horse produces more saliva while eating concentrate. This is because saliva neutralises gastric acid. Pavo SpeediBeet and Pavo Ease&Excel are very suitable for horses that need stomach support. SpeediBeet contains pectin which can create a protective layer in the stomach. Pavo Ease&Excel is a sports feed specially developed to support horses with stomach problems. As extra support, you could also mix Pavo DailyPlus through the concentrate feed. Pavo DailyPlus is a roughage mixture that ensures that your horse spends longer on his or her concentrate meal and additionally stimulates saliva production.

Question 8

My horse is 18 years old, should I start feeding Pavo 18Plus now?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that from the age of 18 the needs of horses change. For instance, the body needs more protein to keep the muscles in good condition and it has more and more trouble processing sugars. As long as your horse is still in good condition, you don't need to worry, but as soon as your older horse loses weight, you need to take action and adjust your feed accordingly.

Pavo 18Plus has been specially developed for the changing needs of the older horse. It contains extra high-quality protein, is packed with easily digestible fibre to compensate for reduced digestion and has an adjusted sugar/starch content. Another advantage is that Pavo 18Plus can be fed both dry and wet.

Is your 18-plus still in full work and your horse's condition is still good? It is always important to keep a close eye on your horse's energy needs. Is it still being ridden actively, for example? Then a feed with a higher energy value may be necessary. Then choose Pavo SportsFit.

Question 9

My old horse is getting too thin, what should I feed?

Accepted Answer

As soon as your older horse loses weight, you should supplement your roughage with a feed that takes into account the changing needs of 'seniors'. Pavo 18Plus has been specially developed for older horses and ponies. It contains extra protein of a very good quality, is packed with easily digestible fibre to compensate for reduced digestion and has an adjusted sugar/starch content. Another advantage is that Pavo 18Plus can be fed both dry and wet.

Does your horse keep losing weight? Then try mixing Pavo 18Plus with a beet pulp, such as Pavo SpeediBeet or Pavo Fibrebeet. Due to the easily digestible fibre and extra energy, SpeediBeet and Fibrebeet are a very good option for building and/or maintaining weight. You can think of it as a healthy 'fattener'.

Follow the step-by-step plan:

Step 1: Feed more roughage.

Step 2: Choose a feed made for older horses, such as Pavo 18Plus

Step 3: Mix Pavo 18Plus with soaked beet pulp, such as Pavo SpeediBeet or Pavo Fibrebeet. Adding vegetable oil can also be a good option, but not every horse absorbs this easily.

Question 10

My horse is quickly sore or often stiff after training, what can I do about this?

Accepted Answer

When you work your horse or pony hard, he may experience muscle pain or stiffness. This is due to muscle acidification and an accumulation of waste products. Supplements have been developed for such problems, which can support your horse with a good training schedule. Always keep in mind that your horse or pony needs time to recover from heavy training, just like humans. Does the muscle pain and/or stiffness persist even after the recovery time? Then you can try giving 100 grams of Pavo Eplus before and during intensive training or competitions. Pavo Eplus supports your horse in keeping the muscles supple.

Does Pavo Eplus have no effect? If your horse or pony has more severe complaints or there is, for example, a history of muscle strain, then give Pavo MuscleCare. Pavo MuscleCare helps to make stiff and stiff muscles supple again and ensures that the acidification moment of the muscles is postponed. Give horses with serious problems 200 grams per day.

Does your horse sweat a lot? If your horse sweats a lot, it loses moisture and with it important body salts. This can also be a reason for reduced stamina and willingness to work. With Pavo E'lyte you supplement the loss of body salts, allowing your horse to recover quickly.

Question 11

My horse does not keep up the work well and becomes sluggish quickly, what can I feed?

Accepted Answer

If there is no medical cause of poor performance, simply feeding more energy is not always the solution, as in some horses and ponies this only results in short fierceness rather than endurance. Important nutritional values to watch out for are extra protein for muscle strength and extra fats for endurance. Pavo TopSport is a muesli topping that combines both nutritional values.

Tip: include enough fitness work in your training. In this way, you will also ensure that your horse will more easily keep up the work.

Question 12

My horse is nervous and scared of everything, what can I do about this?

Accepted Answer

Some horses are more nervous and curious in character than others. A nervous character trait is therefore difficult to remedy with food, but it is definitely worth trying products with magnesium and L-tryptophan, such as Pavo NervControl. This is because these nutrients help to release tension in the body more quickly and bring more calmness and control.

Question 13

How do I feed my gestating mare?

Accepted Answer

Gestating mares have greatly increased needs in certain nutrients, including protein, in the last three months of pregnancy. It is therefore important that your roughage contains sufficient protein. Indeed, based on your protein content, you determine the supplement to your ration. In doubt about the protein content? Then do a Roughage QuickScan.

Does your forage contain enough protein? If your mare gets enough protein from the roughage, you can suffice in the first months of pregnancy with a standard concentrate such as Pavo Condition or Pavo SportsFit if you are still riding. From the 9th month onwards, we recommend switching to the mare chunk Pavo Podolac or Pavo PodoLac Muesli. You can also continue to feed this during the suckling period.

Does your roughage contain (too) little protein? If your roughage contains insufficient protein, it may be wise to switch to a protein-rich mare's pellet, such as Pavo Podolac or Pavo PodoLac Muesli, from the 6th or 7th month of pregnancy.

Question 14

How do I feed my foal?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Start with the foal pellet Pavo PodoStart or Pavo PodoJ unior, which is suitable for foals up to about 8 months of age. Would you like to feed less foal chow than the recommended amount, for example because the foal gets fat quickly? Then you can replace this partly or completely with the feed supplement Pavo PodoCare.

Ratio PodoStart - PodoCare
In terms of vitamins and minerals, 1 kg of Pavo PodoStart equals 200 grams of PodoCare. If you feed 1 kg of PodoStart per day, no supplement is needed. If you feed 500 grams per day, it is best to supplement this with 100 grams of PodoCare per day. If you do not feed foal pellets at all, we recommend feeding 200 grams of PodoCare per day.

Step 2: From 8 months onwards, you can gradually convert your foal to Pavo PodoGrow. This is a rearing chunk for horses up to about 2.5 years old. Feed a foal with an expected adult weight of 600 kg about 1 kg Pavo PodoGrow per day. Is he skinny? Then you can increase it to 2 kg per day. If, on the contrary, he will quickly become overweight, you can reduce the pellet and supplement it with Pavo PodoCare. The ratio between Pavo PodoCare and Pavo PodoGrow is the same as that of Pavo PodoCare and Pavo PodoStart.

Tip: Does your foal not like to eat the pellets? Then try mixing it with some alfalfa or Pavo DailyPlus for palatability.

Question 15

How do you feed a lactating mare?

Accepted Answer

During the first two months of lactation, a mare passes on an awful lot of essential substances to the foal. So it is very important that your mare gets the right feed then, so she does not have to give away her own reserves. With a slender mare it is important to keep her on mare's chow Pavo PodoLac or Pavo PodoLac Muesli. Is your mare slightly on the full side? Then it is better to give a little less mare's chow and combine it with the mineral supplement Pavo PodoCare. This supplement also contains all the necessary substances, but makes the mare slightly less full.

Question 16

How do you feed a 1 or 2-year-old?

Accepted Answer

A 1- or 2-year-old horse has different needs from a 6- or 7-year-old horse. Foals need a higher protein content in feed and, in addition, a higher calcium/phosphorus ratio is important. A foal pellet is also often higher vitaminised than 'normal' feed for adult horses. We therefore advise against giving 1- or 2-year-old horses basic or sports feed. Pavo PodoGrow is completely tailored to the needs of a young horse. And optimally supports your foal during this period of growth.

Question 17

My horse has turned 3, what should I feed now?

Accepted Answer

As soon as your horse comes out of rearing and has reached the age of 30 months, a switch to Pavo Condition as a basic sport pellet or Pavo Nature's Best muesli in combination with a good quality roughage is recommended. With a Roughage QuickScan you can have your roughage analyzed for protein, sugar and energy content. For your young horse, these are important values to adjust your complement of concentrate. Want to know the quality of your roughage? Have your roughage analyzed.

Low forage? If your roughage is low in protein and/or your young horse is still very skinny, you could also continue with Pavo Podo®Grow for a while.

Question 18

Can I combine different supplements?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is no problem to combine 1, 2 or a maximum of 3 different supplements. Just make sure that when you give supplements with overlapping ingredients, you keep an adjusted dosage. For instance, if both supplements contain a lot of selenium, it may be wise to keep half a dose of both supplements. In fact, too much of this can be toxic for your horse!

Why a supplement?

In certain situations it may be necessary to supplement your horse's ration with a supplement, for instance to support resistance and muscle building. There are many different types of supplements on the market.

Personal feeding advice?