Feeding your Hunters - 'it's two eezy'

Article from RD1's 'Straight from the Horse's Mouth', June 2011.

The combination of feeding Dunstan Eezymix, an extruded cereal and rice based complete horse feed, with either Dunstan Eezybeet or Dunstan Sugarbeet, has become very popular within the hunting fraternity. This is due to the fact that they work so well together - the perfect combination of a natural energy feed and an extruded cereal feed in a palatable easy to feed nugget. It's two Eezy!

Dunstan Eezybeet and Dunstan Sugarbeet

Both Sugarbeet and Eezybeet are the natural dried residue of the root crop, Sugarbeet, produced after the extraction of sugar from the Sugarbeet root. Sugarbeet and Eezybeet provide a rich balance of energy sources for horses and ponies, plus a highly digestible fibre source, which, under bacterial fermentation in the horses hind gut, slowly releases energy, whilst maintaining the digestive tract in a healthy condition.

The combination of sugars and digestive fibre provides a slower release of energy than conventional cereals, ensuring a more constant energy supply to meet the horses requirement without the 'heating' or 'fizz' effect, or formation of lactic acid, and possible risks of tying up. Also both Sugarbeet and Eezybeet are calcium rich, which help balance the inherent poor calcium to phosphorus ratios from conventional cereals.

Sugarbeet and Eezybeet require soaking prior to feeding. Both, therefore, offer texture and moisture to a feed, which enhances overall diet palatability, and with extra water, can help rehydrate a horse, and provide a palatable carrier for electrolytes.

Sugarbeet (molassed) has additional molasses added back to the original shreds prior to drying. This additional molasses will raise sugar levels to above 16%, as compared to the 4% in unmolassed Eezybeet. The molassed Sugarbeet therefore has a higher energy value than Eezybeet but still in a highly available form. Sugar as an energy source is readily available and utilised by the horse, before cereal and fibre energy. This offers an advantage to horses that are ridden for long periods of time without food, such as endurance horses and hunters.

Dunstan Eezymix

Formulated to complement either Sugarbeet or Eezybeet, Eezymix is an extruded cereal and protein based complete horse feed, in the form of a palatable, easy to feed nugget.

Eezymix contains two oilseeds (linseed and full fat soya) to offer a blend of the essential fatty acids, Omega 6, 3 and 9, which will aid in the development of skin and coat condition and sheen.

Rice is also included to provide a very digestible energy source. Rice Bran Oil is included to enhance the fatty acid profile and to provide the natural compound Gamma Oryzanol, the muscle building compound of rice bran oil.

'It's two Eezy' combination

Feeding Eezymix with either Eezybeet or Sugarbeet will provide:

• Perfect combinations of a natural, moist and digestible fibre source with an extruded cereal based complete feed in a palatable, easy to feed nugget
• Constant energy supply without 'heating' whilst maintaining excellent digestive physiology
• Vitamins and minerals including organic selenium yeast - the safe and highly available form of selenium

Proudly New Zealand owned and operated, Dunstan's innovation and reputation has made them clear leaders in designing specific feeds for the New Zealand equine industry.

Dunstan have been formulating feeds specifically designed for New Zealand Horses performing under New Zealand conditions for over 20 years and understand the nutritional requirements of horses, whether being prepared for sales, on the race track, in the dressage arena or on the hunt field.

Disclaimer: Any views and comments expressed in this article are not necessarily the opinions of RD1 Limited nor associated agencies. This content is copyright of RD1 Limited.