Description
Anna Welch BVSc BSc MRCVS, Veterinary Nutrition Director who graduated from the School of Veterinary Science – University of Liverpool, in 2008, having also completed a BSc in Veterinary Anatomy / Equine Science at the University of Bristol in a one-year intercalated degree. She spent the following five years in a busy mixed, and ultimately equine, practice. She joined us in May 2023 for a fascinating webinar on pasture management, toxic plants, weight management, the equine digestive system and more.
What You Will Learn in This Webinar:
✅ The Importance of Forage – Why grass, hay, and haylage are fundamental to a horse’s digestive health, and how their digestive system is adapted to constant grazing.
✅ The Digestive System in Detail – How a horse’s mouth, teeth, and saliva play a crucial role in digestion. Learn about the unique function of the stomach, small intestine, and hindgut, and how they process fibre, sugars, and starches.
✅ Balancing Forage Intake – How to calculate the appropriate amount of forage for your horse based on dry matter, and how this varies depending on whether you’re feeding fresh grass, hay, or haylage.
✅ The Impact of Grass on Weight Control – How to manage grazing for horses that are good doers, whether by improving the quality of grazing or restricting grass intake.
✅ The Effect of Grass on Laminitis – How non-structural carbohydrates in grass, such as sugars and starches, can contribute to laminitis, and how to manage grazing to minimise risk.
✅ Factors Affecting Grass Quality – How grass species, stage of growth, environmental conditions, and soil health impact the nutritional value of grass.
✅ The Importance of Micronutrients – Why vitamin and mineral supplementation is necessary, even when horses have pasture access. Find out why salt is especially important for good doers.
✅ Pasture Management Techniques – Learn practical techniques such as harrowing, topping, soil analysis, fertilising, and resting paddocks to improve pasture quality.
✅ Managing Grazing for Weight Control – Discover different methods to control grazing, such as strip grazing, restricted turnout, and the use of grazing muzzles.
✅ Identifying Poisonous Plants – Recognise dangerous plants like sycamore, oak, and ragwort, and learn how to protect your horses.
✅ Understanding Colic – Discover how turnout can reduce the risk of colic and why pasture type and soil condition should be considered in colic prevention.
💬 “Usually, I find webinars by feed brands very basic, but this was epic! The lady really knew her stuff. I am already planning next winter based on the info given to keep the horses healthier!” – Mary S
A huge thank you to TopSpec for sponsoring this webinar. Anna has been a key part of their Multiple-Award-Winning Helpline (01845 565030) for nearly a decade, working alongside Nicola Tyler BSc (Hons) RNutr. and a dedicated team to provide expert, practical advice for horse owners and professionals.
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