Creating the Right Diet for Your Horse
Credit to The Horse Your horse’s nutritional requirements depend on his life stage and individual needs Base forage selection on the type necessary to meet nutrient requirements. For a mature idle horse, this is typically an early to late-head grass hay. | iStock All horses need the same essential nutrients—water for cellular, tissue, and […]
How to Keep Horses Cool in Hot Weather
Credit to Purina As summer drags on, heat can become a serious problem for many horses.Sweating is the primary way horses cool themselves. Experts believe that prolonged, consistently high sweat rates can lead to “exhaustion” of the sweat glands. In horses, this may result in anhidrosis, or the inability to produce sweat adequately. It is […]
Should I Add Salt to My Horse’s Diet?
Credit to Purina Animal Nutrition A salt block allows your horse to have free-choice access, but there is no way to monitor their exact intake. | iStock Q:I feed my recreational horses a ration balancer per the manufacturer’s instructions, along with iodized salt and alfalfa. Is it still necessary to top dress with salt? Why or why […]
Feeding Off-Track Thoroughbreds
Credit: Purina Animal Nutrition The base of your OTTB’s diet should be forage to reduce digestive disturbances during the transition to a new diet. | iStock Q.I am a first-time OTTB owner and recently purchased my horse directly from the racetrack. She is going to let down over the winter before I start riding her […]
Nutrition for Improved Hoof Health in Horses
Credit to Purina If your horses have poor hoof quality, consider making changes to their diet to help strengthen their hooves. If your horse has poor hoof quality, evaluate his nutrition program to ensure his dietary needs are being met. | iStock Q.My gelding has always had “bad” feet. Despite my farrier’s and my best […]
Gastric Health: The Key to Your Horse’s Best Self
Credit to Purina Did you know that the prevalence of gastric discomfort in active horses is high? Studies indicate that the prevalence of gastric ulcers in performance horses is 90% or more1.Gastric discomfort may negatively affect a horse’s health, attitude and performance. Fortunately, recognizing signs of discomfort and providing proper management can help support your horse’s […]
Feeding Metabolic Horses: Risky Business or Simple Solutions
The diagnosis of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) has come a long way. Credit to: Purina Animal Nutrition But even with recent advances and increased scientific interest in EMS, the disease can still be difficult to pinpoint, leaving horse owners frustrated with how to manage a horse with this condition. In many cases, horses suffer acute […]
