My horse has recently had an injury requiring an operation and is on box rest for four weeks. He has lost condition, what shall I feed him?
Horses on box rest should be fed a low starch, high digestible fibre ration with additional oil, if further calories are required. Your horse should be fed ad lib good quality hay as the base for your feeding programme. You should then add a low starch feed such as Badminton Horse & Pony Cool Mix or Badminton Horse & Pony Cool Cubes. If your horse needs more condition, feed Triple Top-Up, a fat supplement which is rich in calories. When a horse is not being exercised, constipation can be a problem. Add one measure of Lakota Salts in each feed to gently stimulate peristalsis. If his droppings appear hard, you can increase this to two measures/feed.

My horses has a tendon injury and needs six weeks of box rest. How do I manage his feed?
Make his stable as light and airy as possible and feed ad lib hay. If he is inclined to put on too much weight, use a haynet with small holes or place a handful each hour on the floor. Evenkeel is very low in starch and will provide the essential nutrients his body needs for repair. Badminton Easy Rider is another low starch alternative, where fibre and feed are already mixed together for you in one bag. Add Badminton Tasty Treats to a Boredom Breaker Ball, which will help him pass the time. The treats are high in fibre, low in starch and sugar, but do not contain an vitamins or minerals to affect your horse's dietary balance.