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Analysis of 2025 hay

Autumn is the season many of us start planning for the winter ahead and stocking up on the essentials that we may not have needed through the summer, such as bedding and hay.

2025 has been a particularly challenging year for farmers and many of us are aware there is likely to be a hay shortage as yields have been markedly down due to the prolonged hot and dry summer. 

Blackberry coats as Autumn approaches

With all the warm and dry weather we have had, it is hard to remember that we are fast approaching autumn. The horses are getting their “blackberry” coats.

No grass

The dry weather has seen most pasture grazed down to the ground. The grass has taken a pretty good caning. September usually brings us some rain, and this can be a good time to reseed very worn-out paddocks.

Do horses have nutritional wisdom?

Nutritional wisdom could be summed up as knowing what you need to eat, and eating it. This might be the basic needs of nutrition in terms of calories, protein and so on, or it could be knowing what is needed to support good health.

Have you spotted Birdsfoot trefoil in your paddock?

This is common Birdsfoot trefoil, although it is sometimes referred to as 'eggs and bacon'. It's an attractive wildflower, native to the UK, and one that can be of benefit to horses...

Why are we so hard on ragwort?

We do bang on about ragwort! It is an excellent plant for pollinators and the main food source for the caterpillars of the cardinal moth. It has a long flowering period, which means it is supplies nectar for a lot of insects, for a long time. Although it is poisonous, it is not palatable, so why are horse owners so keen to get rid of it from their pastures?

We are what we eat...

We are increasingly aware that ultra processed food is bad for us and that we should eat seasonal, fresh and local food. But what about our horses? They too will have reduced health when they have ultra processed food.

Why keeping sugar and starch levels low is not just advised for Laminitics

Owners of metabolic horses and ponies (those with EMS, IR, ID or PPID]) and those prone to laminitis, are well versed in keeping the diet low in sugar and starch. Most will work towards a cut off of 10% combined sugar and starch, often referred to as the Non-Structural Carbohydrate or NSC level.

What is sainfoin?

We are frequently asked, “What is Sainfoin?’ - whether it be out of interest’s sake, having come across it on our website, heard it mentioned on BBC Countryfile, or whether it has been specifically recommended for your horse. Sainfoin offers a wealth of benefits and is a unique forage type we are very proud to champion here at Simple System. 

Rain after drought, what happens to your horse's grass

Rain coming after a prolonged dry spell can be a shock, welcome or otherwise. The grass will readily welcome the rain and with decent rainfall, the grass reawakens and begins to grow again – sometimes very rapidly.