Articles
Feeding Horses After a Flooding Event: Essential Guidelines

Feeding Horses After a Flooding Event: Essential Guidelines

Feeding horses after a cyclone or severe flooding requires careful planning to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. The aftermath of a natural disaster can present numerous challenges, from feed shortages to water contamination. By following these steps, you can help your horses recover and maintain their nutritional health. 

Immediate Steps: 


  1.  Assess the Situation: Check the safety of your horse's environment and the availability of feed and water. Look for hazards such as downed power lines, debris, or compromised structures. 
  2. Check Feed Supplies: Ensure that you have access to safe and sufficient feed. If regular feed supplies have been compromised, consider alternative feed sources. 
  3. Safe Water Supply: Make sure clean, fresh water is available. After a flooding event, natural water sources may be contaminated, so it may be necessary to provide water from a trusted source, such as rainwater tanks, bore water or transported clean water. 

Feeding Considerations: 

  1. Gradual Transition: If you need to change your horses' feed due to availability issues, make the transition gradually over several days to avoid digestive upset. 
  2. Quality of Feed: Inspect any stored feed for mould, spoilage, or contaminants. Any damaged feed should be discarded to prevent health issues. 
  3. Nutritional Needs: Consider the energy requirements of your horses. Depending on their workload and condition, you may need to increase their calorie intake temporarily. 
  4. Supplements: If pastures have been damaged and forage is limited, consider providing hay or other forage options to meet their nutritional needs.  

Observation: 

  1. Monitor Health: Keep an eye on your horses for any signs of stress, illness, or changes in behaviour, such as weight loss, lethargy, or digestive disturbances such as colic or diarrhoea.  Post-disaster situations can be stressful for animals.
  2. Veterinary Care: Be prepared to contact a veterinarian if your horses show signs of distress, unusual behaviour, signs of toxicity, digestive distress and any other concerns about their health.   


Returning Horses to Flooded Paddocks 

  1. Exercise caution when reintroducing horses to flooded pastures. Floodwaters may have left behind contaminants such as bacteria, mould, or toxic plants. 
  2. Before turning horses out, assess the pasture for signs of damage and allow sufficient regrowth to restore nutrient levels. 
  3. Avoid grain based feeds that are prone to fermenting. Feeds such as Coolstance copra are low in sugar and starch and so do not readily ferment
  4. Introduce grazing gradually to avoid digestive upset.  Restore the gut microbiome with Clean Culture
  5. Use a product like ToxFree Toxin Binder which may support gut health during pasture transitions.   
  6. Use TruGuide your Trusted Guide to supplement selection 


Keeping Your Horse in Peak Condition Before, During and After Wet Weather


Consistent Base Diet: 

 A high quality base diet is important to always keep consistent. Feeding a quality feed such as CoolStance Copra Meal, and a balanced vitamin mineral mix such as VitaStance to support your horses general health and wellbeing. 


Immune System: 

 During bad weather horses may be at risk of a weakened immune system. This includes horses with open skin irritations, senior horses, or horses who may be susceptible to catching any water born disease or illness. ProMune can be added to your horses feed during winter & times of bad weather to provide immune system support.


Skin Health:

 Rain scald in horses is a non-contagious skin condition that can occur during prolonged wet weather. Topical gels like Turmericle Golden Gel can be applied to your horses coat to help form a protective barrier and support skin inflammation.


Digestive System: 

 Many horses suffer from digestive issues, whether it's due to stress, diet changes, or other factors. Clean Culture is perfect for promoting digestive health, especially during stressful periods. UlcaBuf is an all-natural, non-medicated supplement formulated to maintain stomach and hindgut health and is safe for use in horses with ulcers.


Hydration: 

 It's important to keep up with electrolytes during bad weather. The sodium in OsmoPlex encourages horses to drink even when it is cold and windy. As horses use so many muscles to keep warm OsmoPlex may also support a smooth recovery.


Mycotoxins: 

 Harmful mycotoxins are abundant in the green grass and weeds after rainfall and may also be present in feed and hay. Toxin binders also may help manage and prevent greasy heel. You can add a toxin binder (such as ToxFree Toxin Binder) that may help prevent mycotoxin overload.


Calming: 

 Horses may experience high levels of stress and anxiety during heavy rain and windy weather. Keeping horses calm during this time is important. Feeding a calming supplement with Vitamin Bs and magnesium (such as Placid Rein PLUS or Equilibrium B1 Cool Mix) can support your horse in staying calm.


Plan for long-term recovery by evaluating pasture conditions and feed availability. If necessary, develop a plan to replenish supplies or seek assistance from local feed suppliers or equine organisations. Ensure that your horses have a secure and safe environment as you navigate the recovery process.  

flood contaminated cyclone disaster