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Effect of Supplementation on Stallion Fertility
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 22, 2012While research involving horses has been limited, studies in other species have indicated that fertility and semen characteristics can be improved by supplementation with various nutritional products, including products rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
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Function and Health of the Horse's Small Intestine
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · February 17, 2012Made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, the small intestine is an important organ for nutrient absorption. Its health is therefore of utmost importance.
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Feed Digestibility Improved by Dental Correction
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 14, 2012Correcting dental abnormalities allow a horse to get the most nutritive value from its grain, helping to keep the horse healthy and possibly saving the owner some money.
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Round Bale Feeder Design Affects Hay Waste and Economics
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · February 13, 2012Drawbacks of feed round-baled hay are hay waste, overconsumption, and weight gain among horses that are already in good body condition. Researchers conducted a study to measure hay wastage from several different round-bale feeders.
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Maintaining a Healthy Equine Digestive Tract: Stomach
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · February 9, 2012A horse’s stomach is relatively small when compared to the capacity of the entire tract. Rate of passage through the stomach is such that the food remains for only a short time in this organ.
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Function and Health of the Horse's Cecum and Large Intestine
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · February 7, 2012The cecum and large intestine (hindgut) house billions of bacteria and protozoa that enable the digestion of cellulose and other fibrous fractions of the feed. From microbial fermentation of feeds, the horse is able to derive energy and other nutrients.
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Colostrum Is Vital for Newborn Foals
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 6, 2012Literally the difference between life and death for foals, colostrum is loaded with antibodies that fight pathogens until the foal’s own immune system matures.
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Soaking Hay: How Effective Is it at Lowering Carbohydrates?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2012If your horse needs a low-carbohydrate diet, you can reduce the sugar concentration in hay by soaking it in water prior to feeding. While this has nearly become common knowledge, there is a lot of confusion about the best procedure follow.
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Glycemic Index Among Horse Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 2, 2012Glycemic index is a system used to rank carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose levels. The system compares available carbohydrates in individual feedstuffs, providing a numerical, evidence-based index of the level of glucose in the blood after a meal.
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Psyllium and Probiotics Combination for Prevention of Sand Colic
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 31, 2012Researchers investigated the usefulness of combining psyllium, probiotics, and prebiotics to increase fecal sand output.
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Maintaining a Healthy Equine Digestive Tract: Mouth and Esophagus
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 30, 2012A thorough understanding of the physiology of the digestive tract is important in order to grasp how it may influence the horse’s health and well-being, and first up is the mouth and esophagus.
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Assessing the Malnourished Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2012When a malnourished horse is presented for nutritional rehabilitation, the person who is caring for the horse should make a full assessment of the horse’s condition.
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From the Sales Ring to the Training Track: Feeding During the Transition
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · January 25, 2012Feeding young racehorses is a challenge because nutrients must be supplied to support both growth and exercise.
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Beyond Hay: Chaff and Haylage for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 23, 2012High-quality chaff and haylage are appropriate forage sources for horses, though they are less popular than pasture and traditional long-stemmed hay.
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Basics of Horse Feed Storage
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 18, 2012Horses should be offered only fresh, unadulterated products, so appropriate storage of feed is an important horse-keeping consideration.
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More on Food Allergies in Horses
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · January 16, 2012Diagnosing food allergies in horses can be difficult, but knowledge of human allergy testing can help advance the science in horses.
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Feeding Broodmares During Lactation
By Dr. Peter Huntington · January 12, 2012Proper nutrition of the mare during lactation ensures she produces sufficient quantities of nutrient-dense milk to her foal, and it keeps her in optimal body weight.
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Some Hulls Are Super Feeds for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2012Horse owners who read feed tags may be surprised to find the hulls of soybeans, rice, peanuts, or almonds as constituents of the horse feed they are buying, but some seed hulls are valuable ingredients in feed.
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Feeding Protein to Performance Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 9, 2012Hard-working horses need dietary protein to increase muscle mass, maintain muscle fibers, and repair tissue damage caused by the demands of strenuous exercise.
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Practical Nutrition Management for Stables
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 5, 2012Providing for the nutritional needs of many horses can be complex task. Here are a few tips that will help you provide simple, customizable rations to a diverse population of horses.
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Feeding Your Horse for Show Ring Success
By Dr. Peter Huntington · January 4, 2012There is no single secret formula for show ring success, as several factors are involved in getting your horse in prime condition. Feeding is a crucial part of having your horse look its best.
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Balancing the Microbes in the Horse's Digestive Tract
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · January 3, 2012The importance of maintaining a balanced microbial population in the equine digestive tract is often underscored in popular-press articles and primers on horse nutrition, but what does “balanced” mean?
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Pasture Quality and Abundance Affects Contribution to Horse Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 2, 2012Forage should be of primary importance when considering the equine diet, but it may be difficult to determine how much that forage contributes to the the nutritional and caloric requirements of the horse.
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The Importance of Magnesium in Horse Diets
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · December 29, 2011Magnesium is a vital macromineral, and it is becoming increasingly recommended by veterinarians for various treatments in the horse. So why do horses require magnesium, and how does it fit for therapeutic use?
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General Principles of Feeding Broodmares
By Dr. Peter Huntington · December 28, 2011By understanding the mare’s nutrient needs during the three stages of the reproductive cycle, an appropriate and cost-effective feeding program can be designed.
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Dental Correction Improves Digestibility in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 27, 2011Scientific study supports the theory that horses with dental problems or painful mouths derive less nourishment from ingested feed.
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Zearalenone Poisoning in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 23, 2011Zearalenone, a toxic mycotoxin produced by specific fungi, is sometimes found in low-quality cereal grains and less frequently in forages.
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Use of Cereal Grains in Horse Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 22, 2011Cereal grains are an important ingredient in traditional horse feeds. A typical sweet feed, for example, might contain a medley of grains such as oats, corn, and barley.
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Feeding Yearlings: Sales Preparation
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · December 20, 2011When preparing a yearling for sale, it is important to understand the nutrient requirements of the horse and the critical balance between feed intake and exercise as they impact condition and soundness.
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Miniature Horse Feeding Guidelines
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 19, 2011Despite their small stature, feeding guidelines for Miniature Horses diverge only slightly from those of their larger relatives. Requirements are simply scaled down.
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Nutritional Management of Draft Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 16, 2011How does the sheer bulk of draft horses affect how they’re fed? As it is, the nutritional management of draft horses differs little from that of their light-framed relatives.
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Importance of Dietary Protein in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 15, 2011Protein is important for rebuilding damaged and growing tissues, transporting nutrients in the blood, making blood-clotting factors, and a host of other functions.
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Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Equine Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 12, 2011Fat-soluble vitamins all have important purposes in the horse’s body, but they should not be supplemented to excess.
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Nutrition Affects Hoof Growth in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 9, 2011Hoof quality is dependent on balanced nutrition, and the correct building blocks are needed in the horse’s diet to ensure healthy hoof growth.
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Feeding Horses in a Group
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 7, 2011Owners should consider the dominant and passive behavior of horses when choosing to feed in a group.
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Effect of Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Horses
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · December 6, 2011Lipoic acid has improved glucose utilization and insulin activity in humans and certain animals, so researchers tested its effectiveness on horses.
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Feed Management Should Mimic Nature
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 1, 2011By understanding the horse’s instinctive feeding behavior, today’s feeding strategies can be shaped to mimic natural tendencies.
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Feeding Management at Boarding Stables
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 1, 2011While boarding your horse at a stable might simplify your role as a horse owner, it’s still up to you to ensure your horses are properly nourished.
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Beet Pulp: The Ultimate Fibre for Horses
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · November 30, 2011One of the most commonly fed super fibres is beet pulp, which is more digestible than traditional fibre sources.
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What Grasses Do Horses Prefer?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 29, 2011Hungry horses will try a bite of just about anything green, but given their choice, what type of grass do they find most appealing?
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Slower Feeding is Safer Feeding
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 29, 2011Horses evolved as wandering herbivores, moving slowly for hours and taking bites of whatever forage they came across in their rambles.
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How Much Water Does My Horse Need?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 28, 2011Season of the year, workload, reproductive status, diet, and climate factor into the volume of water needed by a particular horse on a specific day.
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Acidity of Water Affects Palatability for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2011How different does the strange taste, smell, or level of acidity have to be before horses will back off from a bucket of water?
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Remember the Mare During Weaning
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2011Careful observation of the mare following weaning will help ensure her well-being.
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Saliva Production and Function in the Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 22, 2011Like humans, horses produce saliva primarily to moisten and soften food, which in turn eases its passage from the mouth through the esophagus and into the stomach.
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Is Fit or Fat Best for Breeding Mares?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 22, 2011Though every mare should be managed individually with her specific needs in mind, a few general recommendations can be made.
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Vitamins Are Important in Horse Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 21, 2011Vitamins are required by the horse for growth, tissue maintenance, body function, and optimum athletic performance.
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Feeding Your New Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 18, 2011Formulate a plan to make changes in your new horse's nutrition as smooth as possible.
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Cribbing in Foals
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 18, 2011In foals, cribbing is often related to feeding schedule and composition of meals.
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Antioxidants for Horses: Just the Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2011When a horse is exercising strenuously, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism.
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The Use of Copra in Horse Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 16, 2011Copra is rarely a main ingredient in horse feed, and it is primarily fed as a supplement in regions where coconuts are grown and processed or where the product is easily available.
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Vitamin E Indicated for Horses Having Colic Surgery
By Dr. Peter Huntington · November 16, 2011High doses of antioxidants, including natural vitamin E, should be part of the treatment regimen for horses having colic surgery.
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Some Horses Like Pumpkin Treats
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2011For a treat or a sweet mealtime addition, consider giving your horse some cut-up pumpkin.
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Ration Balancers for Horses: Just the Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 11, 2011Balancer pellets pack a punch, with protein content between 25 and 35%, as well as concentrated minerals and vitamins.
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The Role of Weather in Colic
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 2011Do changes in weather increase the frequency of colic in horses? Some owners and veterinarians think so, while others are skeptical.
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Using a Nurse Mare to Raise an Orphan Foal
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · November 9, 2011There are some considerations that need to be made before the nurse mare option is chosen to raise an orphan foal.
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Pasture Adequacy: Are Your Fields Doing Their Job?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2011As herbivores, horses require large volumes of forages for optimal well-being. Just how much forage do horses require, though?
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Feeding a Horse on Stall Rest
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 7, 2011Whether recovering from injury or surgery, or confined for another reason, a horse on stall rest can be challenging to feed.
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Raising an Orphan Foal
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · November 4, 2011It is certainly possible to raise a healthy orphan foal, but particular care must be given to the changing nutritional needs of the foal.
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Supplementing Trace Minerals in Horse Rations
By Dr. Peter Huntington · November 3, 2011Trace minerals—those needed in only small amounts for proper nutrition—can be supplied in either a mineral supplement or a premixed feed.
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Storing Hay for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2011Follow these tips to keep stored hay dry and clean.
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Recent Colic Research Update
By Dr. Peter Huntington · November 2, 2011Recent research has identified one reason why stabled horses have a higher risk/incidence of colic.
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Providing Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus to Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · November 1, 2011Calcium and phosphorus comprise most of the mineral matter in the horse’s body.
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Starch and Fat Provide Extra Energy to Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · October 28, 2011Additional digestible energy (DE) is commonly provided by adding dietary starch, fat, or both to the horse’s ration.
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Hay Cubes and Pellets for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2011Hay pellets and cubes made from good-quality forage can help satisfy a horse's nutritional requirements, providing adequate fiber to keep the gastrointestinal tract fully functioning.
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Fibre: The Basis of Feeding Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · October 26, 2011Roughage contains fibre, which aids digestion, satisfies hunger, and meets basic energy requirements.
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Feeding Horses in Drought Conditions
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2011Horse owners with dusty, brown pastures can take simple steps to keep their horses healthy and preserve their land for when rain does finally fall.
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Feeding After the Finish Line
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 24, 2011Retired racehorses can present some nutritional challenges to their new owners. While no single approach will be the magic solution for every horse, some general guidelines can help your recently retired athlete flourish.
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Factors Affecting Spontaneous Activity in Young Horses
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · October 21, 2011Have you ever wondered if the type of feed your horse eats affects how much he moves during the day? Little research has been done on the effects of diet on behavior, and specifically on spontaneous activity.
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Strange Tastes: Pica in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2011While traditional lore holds that horses with strange appetites are seeking to make up for a nutritional imbalance, studies have shown that’s not the case.
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Feeding Endurance Horses: Competition Day
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 20, 2011Here’s how to plan your endurance ride competition day so that your horse has the best chance, from a nutritional management standpoint, of giving you his maximal performance when the time comes.
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Corn and Other Agricultural Products Used in Bioplastics Manufacture
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 19, 2011Corn, a traditional component of horse feed, has found a wider use in the manufacture of bioplastics.
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Feeding Draft Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 17, 2011A common nutritional problem encountered in easy-keeping drafts is undersupplementation of key nutrients in their diets. If they are on a low-grain or forage-only diet, they are likely receiving inadequate quantities of vitamins, minerals, and possibly protein.
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Feeding Endurance Horses Before Competition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 13, 2011Getting to the race with a horse in great condition depends on the preparations made over the days just prior to the event. Here are four nutrition tips.
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Feeding Endurance Horses Day to Day
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 10, 2011 -
Feeding Bran and Pollard to Horses
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · October 6, 2011Wheat bran, wheat pollard, and rice bran are common ingredients in pelleted feeds for horses, but are also used by horse owners as separate feedstuffs.
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Effect of Diet on Insulin Resistance Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 6, 2011Researchers hypothesized that a base diet of oat hay would improve insulin sensitivity compared to a diet that would produce a more marked insulin response due to the addition of glucose.
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Maintaining Broodmares on High-Forage Diets
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · October 5, 2011Researchers studied whether gestating mares would be able to maintain weight with free-choice intake of alfalfa or timothy hay, and whether lactating mares could maintain weight with free-choice alfalfa hay.
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Digestibility in Aged Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 5, 2011In a recent study, no digestibility differences were noted between adult and aged horses, regardless of diet, and there were no differences recorded in daily feed, hay, or water intake, or urine or fecal output.
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Cresty Necks in Horses: Possible Physical Sign of Metabolic Issue
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 4, 2011Researchers assign a cresty neck score (CNS) to describe degree of fat deposition and to monitor changes in neck thickness.
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Slowing Feed Intake Might Reduce Insulin Spikes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 3, 2011The method by which you deliver your horse’s meals could affect insulin concentrations, and this could be valuable for horses with insulin resistance.
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Unusual Jaw Conformation in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 3, 2011Slight malocclusions often have no associated health problems, but those horses with severe cases might have trouble grazing and grinding feedstuffs.
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Slow Down Hay Consumption
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 29, 2011In order to prevent horses from bingeing in one session and extend the amount of time horses spend eating hay, many companies now offer hay nets, bags, and other devices designed to ration out small quantities of hay over a longer period.
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Feeding the Mare after Weaning
By Dr. Peter Huntington · September 28, 2011While it is true that mares, particularly those that have had previous foals, tend to weather weaning more calmly than their foals, nutritional changes in mares should not be forgotten.
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Homemade Horse Diets Might Be Lacking
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 26, 2011While horse owners often know their animals’ every expression and the story behind every bump and whorl, they might not be the best person to formulate or tinker with their diets.
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Arginine Beneficial to Breeding Efficiency in Mares
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 26, 2011Researchers found that mares supplemented with arginine had a significant reduction in the amount of intrauterine fluid present and increased blood flow to the previously pregnant horn.
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Feeding Chaff to Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 23, 2011Chaff is a suitable alternative forage for horses when hay is in short supply.
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Feeding the Foal after Weaning
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 20, 2011How the foal is fed following weaning often depends greatly on what is expected of it in the following months. In order for the weanling to achieve optimal growth, sufficient dietary energy must be supplied.
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Autumn Grass Poses Risk for Laminitic Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 19, 2011Horse owners know to be cautious when allowing horses access to lush green pasture in the spring. But that tired-looking autumn grass can be just as dangerous for some animals at risk of laminitis.
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Make Horse Feed Changes Gradually
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 16, 2011Horses are creatures of habit, especially when it comes to their feed and management.
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Muscle Atrophy in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 16, 2011When muscle atrophy occurs, the primary concerns to a horse owner are whether the muscle will regenerate and how to treat the horse to help it recover.
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Equine Metabolic Syndrome
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · September 16, 2011The syndrome was first described in 2002 and has many similarities to a comparable condition in humans. For years, veterinarians had recognized that obese young horses were at risk of developing laminitis but only fairly recently has this association been further investigated.
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Drylots for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2011As understanding of laminitis and metabolic issues increases among horse owners, drylots are becoming more commonplace on farms.
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Fish Oil Reduces Inflammatory Joint Compounds in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 14, 2011Researchers investigated the intra-articular production of a potent inflammatory compound following 90 days of oral supplementation with two different types of omega-3 fatty acids.
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Preventing Colic and Laminitis After a Horse Overeats
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 13, 2011A horse bingeing on grain is always a cause for concern, but with a plan and veterinary assistance, horse owners can help to keep ill effects of equine overeating to a minimum.
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Supplements for Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome Researched
By Dr. Peter Huntington · September 12, 2011Summary of several research studies on magnesium and chromium for horses with equine metabolic syndrome.
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Feeding Horses During Travel
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · September 9, 2011Careful management of horses’ nutrition while on the road can help to alleviate some potential causes of stress.
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Sprouts for Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · September 8, 2011With the beginning of growth, the starches and proteins of the grain are broken down in a process that is similar to the digestion of normal grains occurring inside the horse.
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Feeding Horses Before Travel
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · September 7, 2011A little pre-planning can help your travelling horse to remain healthy and well-fed.
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Timing of Feeding Affects Energy Level of Horses
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · August 29, 2011Timing of feeding can affect the horse’s energy level during exercise and can be critical to performance.
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Why Isn’t My Horse Gaining Weight?
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · August 25, 2011It seems like your thin horse is constantly eating, but he just doesn’t seem to hold any weight. What might be going on?
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Feeding Warmblood Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · August 16, 2011Two important considerations when feeding warmbloods are carefully regulating growth in young horses and maintaining moderate body condition in adults.
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Bioengineered Crops Increase Globally
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · August 12, 2011Bioengineered crops used in feeds for horses and other animals are currently grown on over one billion hectares (2.5 billion acres) around the world.
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Genetics of Laminitis in Ponies Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · August 12, 2011Researchers examined the heritability of grass founder in an inbred herd of Welsh and Dartmoor ponies.
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Feeding Ponies
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · August 4, 2011The basic principles of feeding horses can be applied to ponies, but there are a few simple points to consider.
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Horses on Pasture: When to Graze
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · August 4, 2011While many horses can still graze day after day without developing problems, some classes of horses should have limited pasture access to avoid the serious metabolic upsets triggered by consumption of the sugars in fresh grass.
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Revelations About Ponies and Pastures
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · July 29, 2011Researchers were able to verify something horsemen have known for a long time: ponies can eat a lot of grass. But how does restricted turnout or muzzling affect intake?
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Can Psyllium Influence Blood Glucose Level?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 28, 2011Horses supplemented with psyllium had lower blood glucose levels, both post-feeding and average, than control horses.
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Omega-9 Fatty Acids for Horses
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · July 26, 2011Many horse owners and managers know that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play important roles as precursors in the production of local hormones known as eicosanoids. But what about omega-9 fatty acids?
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Feeding Old Horses
By Dr. Joe Pagan · July 25, 2011Some old horses can be fed like their middle-aged peers. Others, particularly those with health problems, need special nutritional care.
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Study of Skeletal Development in Horses Sheds Light on Osteochondrosis
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 22, 2011Osteochondrosis may have several causes including genetic, biomechanical, and nutritional factors. These causes and the roles they play in the disorder are not clearly understood.
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General Rules of Equine Nutritional Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 22, 2011Managing your horse's nutritional well-being should not be frustrating or intimidating. Here are eight simple feeding rules that will keep your horse happy and healthy.
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The Basics of Protein in Horse Nutrition
By Dr. Joe Pagan · July 21, 2011Protein is the predominant component of all tissues in the body as well as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies, and it is a critical part of the horse's diet throughout its life.
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Feeding for Good Behavior in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 19, 2011Can you influence your horse's behavior by tinkering with his feed management? In general, many behavioral problems such as stall vices can be improved by giving the horse something to do instead of exhibiting the behavior.
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Watermelon: Summer Treat for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 13, 2011Next time you're enjoying watermelon on a hot summer day, consider dicing up some of the pulp and offering it to your horses.
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Preventing Equine Motor Neuron Disease
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 11, 2011Prevent equine motor neuron disease through a proper balanced diet with less confinement and greater exposure to green pasture.
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Feeding the Older Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 8, 2011Dietary fiber is the most important consideration when designing a diet for old horses, particularly those with dental problems.
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Horse Feed Management and EPM Prevention
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 7, 2011To prevent EPM, opossums should be kept out of the barn and especially away from sources of hay, feed, and water.
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Water Quality for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · July 5, 2011Drinking water for livestock should be tested periodically for various contaminants even if horses and other livestock do not show signs of disease or toxicity.
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Lupins in Horse Feeds
By Dr. Peter Huntington · June 30, 2011Lupins are a relatively new addition to the list of feeds deemed suitable for horses. Considered a legume, lupins are similar to peas or beans, having a hard, tough outer coating.
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Prohibited Substances, Feed, and the Performance Horse
By Dr. Peter Huntington · June 22, 2011A list of common sources of inadvertent contamination of performance horse diets with substances that may produce a positive drug test, and tips to to avoid or minimise the risk of contamination.
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Equine Nutrition in the Management of Flexural Deformities
By Dr. Peter Huntington · June 21, 2011Nutrition often plays an important role in the onset of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) in horses.
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Record Soybean Harvest Predicted in Brazil
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 20, 2011Brazil is expected to produce around 70 million metric tons of soybeans this year.
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Feeding Vinegar to Horses
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · June 17, 2011The taste of cider vinegar is appealing to some horses, and in small quantities, it can be used in a variety of ways to aid feed management.
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Drinking and Eating Behavior in Foals
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · June 14, 2011Young foals rely on milk to fulfill nutritional requirements, yet they often investigate other feeds when they are just a few days old.
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Researchers Discuss Nutrition Problems in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 13, 2011Several professionals at Kentucky Equine Research (KER) recently gave a presentation to some of the country's top feed manufacturers to shed light on common problems in equine nutrition from the standpoints of both veterinary care and feed management.
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Managing Equine Metabolic Syndrome
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 9, 2011Both diet and exercise are included in a management plan for horses with EMS.
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Tips for Handling Horse Feed in Hot Weather
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 7, 2011Tips on handling and storing horse feed during the hot and muggy summer months.
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Horse Feed Bumper Crop: South Africa Exports Corn
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 6, 2011The South African Grain Information Service reported that the country's 2010-2011 exports of yellow corn were the largest in 14 years.
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Most Horses Tolerate Carbohydrates Well
By Dr. Joe Pagan · June 6, 2011Horses with specific metabolic issues may benefit from diets low in nonstructural carbohydrates, but these types of "super-low-carb" diets are not necessary for normal sedentary or exercised horses.
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Feeding Show Horses: A Matter of Balance
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · June 3, 2011Nutrition plays a vital part in getting the ideal performance from your equine athlete.
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Fulfilling Forage Needs of Equine Metabolic Syndrome
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 3, 2011Appropriate forages must be selected for horses diagnosed with a metabolic problem. Forages low in nonstructural carbohydrates are typically the best choices for this subset of horses.
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Using Grazing Muzzles on Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 2, 2011For some horses and many ponies, grazing muzzles can be considered necessary equipment for much of the year. In many cases, they are life-saving apparatuses, especially for those equines that are susceptible to laminitis.
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Evaluation of Hay for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 1, 2011While chemical analysis of hay represents the gold-standard for forage evaluation, horse owners can tell plenty about a hay's quality by a thorough visual examination.
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Vitamin K: Essential for Bone Development in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 31, 2011Vitamin K status should be considered in the analysis of bone disorders in horses.
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Don’t Risk Poisoning Your Horses with Cattle Feed
By Dr. Clarissa Brown-Douglas · May 26, 2011Despite often looking and smelling similar, not all livestock feeds are the same. In fact, feeding cattle feed to horses can be fatal.
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The Nutritional Demands of Lactation in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 23, 2011The nutritional requirements of lactating mares exceed those of almost all other classes of horses, primarily because mares produce 2-4% of their body weight in milk daily.
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Yeast Supplementation and Fiber Digestion in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 19, 2011Better digestion of fiber has been reported in horses that were supplemented with yeast.
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Effect of Stress, Exercise, Feed Form, and Meal Size on Gastrin Levels in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 19, 2011Meals of hay and concentrates cause gastrin levels to rise, increasing gastric acid production.
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Nutrition of Mares Influences Milk Characteristics and Development of Foals
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 18, 2011The nutrition of the mare affects growth and development of the foal both in utero and via milk production. In foals, these effects carry over for a year or more.
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Gastrointestinal Tract Health for Top Performance in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 10, 2011A thorough understanding of the equine gastrointestinal tract will enhance your knowledge of digestion and will help you get the most out of your horse and the feedstuffs you dole out to him.
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Does Your Horse Really Need A Low-Starch Diet?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 4, 2011Low-starch feeds are not appropriate for every horse. Certain groups of horses require starch for optimal performance, so what lies behind the current low-starch craze?
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Laying to Rest Five Horse-Feeding Myths
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 3, 2011Five widespread feeding misconceptions are refuted in this article featuring equine nutritionist Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D.
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Genetic Improvements for Corn Plants
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 3, 2011Controlling transport of carbohydrates could also improve the conversion of corn plants to biofuels.
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Provision of Vitamins Important in Convalescing Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 28, 2011Vitamins are especially important when a breakdown in tissue occurs due to injury or illness.
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Feeding and Fitting Young Horses for Show and Sale, Part One: Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · April 26, 2011To be successful in preparing sales horses and halter horses, the fitter must be able to differentiate fat from fit.
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Horses Needed for Equine Metabolic Syndrome Study
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · April 25, 2011Researchers from several universities are collaborating on a study to investigate the occurrence and genetic pattern of equine metabolic syndrome.
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Feeding Horses with Gastrointestinal Disorders
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · April 25, 2011A myriad of gastrointestinal disorders beset horses, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening.
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Mycotoxins in Feed and Component Samples
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · April 20, 2011Mycotoxins are harmful substances produced by molds that contaminate grain.
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Mare Nutrition and Milk Production
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · April 20, 2011The nutrition of the mare affects growth and development of the foal both in utero and via milk production.
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Putting Weight on a Thin Horse: Just the Basics
By Dr. Laurie Lawrence · April 18, 2011Basic steps to helping a clinically normal horse gain weight.
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Lucerne Hay in Equine Diets
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 15, 2011There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital energy sources for horses.
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Food Allergies in Horses
Food allergy is an uncommon and poorly understood disease in the horse.
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Forage for Endurance Horses
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · April 5, 2011Forage is perhaps the single most important ingredient in an endurance horse's diet.
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Supplements for the Endurance Horse
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · March 31, 2011Supplements may help to fill in the gaps by providing certain nutrients required by the endurance horse.
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Gastrointestinal Tract Basics: The Horse’s Hindgut
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · March 31, 2011The horse is a hindgut fermenter, meaning that the large intestine is the site of fermentation of ingested fiber.
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Hay: The Favorite Lunch Munch for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 30, 2011A stalled horse's chewing instinct apparently remains strong even if the horse's nutritional needs are fully met by various feed products other than hay.
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Fat as an Energy Source During Injury Recovery in Horses
By Dr. Peter Huntington · March 30, 2011Fat is an important energy source for nearly all equine athletes, and it can be used to maintain a positive energy balance after an injury.
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Gastrointestinal Tract Basics: The Horse’s Foregut
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · March 28, 2011Knowing the architecture of the equine gastrointestinal tract is the first step in understanding proper feeding management.
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Inappetence in Horses
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · March 25, 2011Determining why a horse has decreased appetite or inappetence can be difficult, especially if it is the only clinical sign the horse is showing.
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Fiber: An Important Component in Equine Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 24, 2011The horse's digestive tract is designed to handle copious quantities of fiber and thrives best if it has a variety of fiber types to feed the different microbes in the gut.
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Feeding a Horse Recovering from Colic
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 23, 2011How to feed a horse after it has colicked depends largely on where the colic occurred--in the small or large intestine--and if the horse had abdominal surgery to resolve the colic.
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The Importance of Protein During Convalescence
By Dr. Peter Huntington · March 23, 2011Formulating an appropriate diet for a horse with a musculoskeletal injury requires knowledge of protein use within the body.
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Growth Comparisons Between Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 18, 2011Studying growth rates of warmblood and Thoroughbred foals reveals similarities.
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The Role of Energy in the Healing Process
By Dr. Peter Huntington · March 17, 2011Meeting energy requirements is one of the most important steps in promoting rapid healing after a musculoskeletal injury.
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Feed and Food Supply
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 16, 2011A predicted doubling of the world's human food needs by 2050 will mean increased competition for grains used in animal feeds.
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Help for Fat Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 15, 2011If you have an equine that seems to get fat just by breathing, you know it can be hard to manage his diet.
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Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 11, 2011The horse's tongue is anchored at the back of the throat and can be as much as 11 inches (28 centimeters) long.
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Horse Behavior: Role of Nutrition Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 11, 2011Common horse management practices of confinement and feeding a few large meals daily have been shown to cause digestive irritation. Horses typically managed in this manner generally exhibit the highest incidence of behavioral problems.
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Is Cow Hay the Same as Horse Hay?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 10, 2011The best way to determine if hay is appropriate for horses is by conducting a thorough visual inspection and sending samples for laboratory testing.
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Fit to be Tied: Part Three
By Drs. Peter Huntington and Stephanie Valberg · March 9, 2011Polysaccharide storage myopathy is a glycogen (muscle sugar) storage disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal polysaccharide in muscle.
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Body Condition Affects Mare Reproduction
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 9, 2011Body condition of mares can affect reproductive efficiency, with those in at least moderate body condition more likely to conceive than thin mares.
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Horse Feed Manufacture in India
By Dr. Peter Huntington · March 8, 2011Himalayan Horse has revolutionized horse feed manufacturing in India.
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Fit to be Tied: Part Two
By Drs. Peter Huntington and Stephanie Valberg · March 7, 2011In the second part of a three-part series, another form of tying-up, recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) is discussed in detail.
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Think Energy When Feeding the Racehorse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 7, 2011While racehorses certainly have a requirement for other nutrients, diet formulation for them usually begins and ends with energy.
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Reducing Stereotypic Behaviors in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 7, 2011Some simple management practices might prevent horses from developing stereotypic behaviors, or reduce their frequency once established.
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Optimal Growth: The Importance of Monitoring Growth Rate
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 4, 2011Optimal growth rate results in a desirable body size at a specific age with the fewest number of developmental problems.
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Fit to be Tied: Part One
By Drs. Peter Huntington and Stephanie Valberg · March 2, 2011Tying-up is a generic term commonly used to describe muscle disease in performance horses. Other terms often used interchangeably with tyingup include exertional rhabdomyolysis, azoturia, and Monday morning sickness.
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Creep Feeding Foals: Still in Vogue?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 2, 2011Creep feeding is still practiced, but there have been changes in how much and what type of feed is offered to foals.
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Calcium: How Important Is It for Hoof Health?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 28, 2011The macromineral calcium is important for hoof health.
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Nature Versus Nurture: Factors that Affect Growth of Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 25, 2011Several factors influence birth weight and mature body weight of horses.
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What Are Electrolytes and Why Are They Important?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 24, 2011Electrolytes are a necessary addition to the diets of exercising horses.
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Chelated Minerals Enhance Nutrient Bioavailability
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 24, 2011Why do the big words on the feed tag mean a slightly higher cost for the feed?
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Off to the Sales: Managing Sales Yearlings
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 23, 2011Taking yearlings to sales venues involves significant changes to their lives, and considerations must be made for potential stresses.
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Ready-Made Mash is a Tasty Treat
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 23, 2011A ready-mixed dry mash is a popular meal for European horses, but is virtually unheard of in the United States.
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Pass the Carrots: Beta-Carotene for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 23, 2011Most horses love carrots as an occasional treat. But do they have a real need for beta-carotene, perhaps the vegetable's best-known nutrient?
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Horses Show Grass Preferences
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 22, 2011Horses used in a study performed at the University of Kentucky showed a marked preference for one particular type of grass.
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Corn Oil in Equine Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 21, 2011Corn oil has been a staple in the diets of many horses for years, but has this much-loved additive fallen out of favor?
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Supporting the Equine Athletes at WEG
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 18, 2011With international expertise in feeding sport horses, nutritionists from Kentucky Equine Research helped the world's best equine athletes feel at home one meal at a time.
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Diluting Horse Feeds with Oats
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2011One common cost-cutting measure used by horse owners involves diluting a commercial feed with oats. If you're tempted to do this, proceed with caution.
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Ten Cold Weather Feeding Tips
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2011Paying attention to special nutritional considerations can help a horse overcome the challenges of dealing with cold weather.
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Vitamin E Requirements in Stallions
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · February 14, 2011Vitamins E and C are important antioxidants needed by sperm cells.
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Cereal Grains in Horse Feed
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 11, 2011Grains such as oats, corn, barley, and grain byproducts such as wheat bran, wheat middlings, and wheat mill run are used primarily as energy sources in horse feeds.
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Cold Weather Water Consumption
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 9, 2011Access to fresh, unfrozen water at all times is a staple of cold weather care for all horses.
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Body Condition Scoring
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 9, 2011Keeping a horse at its optimum body condition will help to ensure the horse can perform the work that is asked of it.
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Horse Weight Loss: Environmental Factors
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2011Numerous causes can account for a horse's inability to maintain weight aside from not consuming sufficient calories.
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Establishing Work Intensity in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2011Determining work intensity is essential in estimating nutritional needs.
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Disaster Planning
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 7, 2011As horse owners put together a disaster plan and cope with difficult situations, one of the first concerns should be minimizing changes in all phases of management.
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Manna Pro Horse Feed Recalled
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 7, 2011Manna Pro Family Farm Complete Horse 10 horse feed is being recalled by the FDA because certain lots contain monensin sodium or Rumensin.
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Horse Weight Often Underestimated
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 4, 2011A horse's weight is an important statistic for horse owners, managers, and veterinarians to know when formulating a diet or medication dosage for the animal.
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Testing Equine Supplements
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2011The most common issue seen in product marketing is reliance on anecdotal information gleaned from testimonials.
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Hay Nets: A Puzzle Solved
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 2, 2011Filling a hay net is a challenge, but here's a tip that might make the chore easier.
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Salt for Horses: Form Affects Water Intake
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 1, 2011The form of salt offered to horses could impact its effectiveness in encouraging the horse to drink.
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Horses Show Preference for Cherry Flavor in Study
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 1, 2011Flavors are often added to equine feed supplements and medications in order to make them more palatable. But which flavors do horses prefer?
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Feeding Horses Before Competition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 28, 2011Studies have been performed to assess the effects of feeding hay and concentrates at different times prior to exercise, as well as feeding only hay or allowing pasture access.
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Forage Key when Feeding Horses in Stressful Conditions
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2011Horses in training and competition must often be maintained in environments and systems that are not complementary to their natural needs.
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Feeding to Avoid Laminitis
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 24, 2011One of the simplest ways to help manage metabolic diseases in horses is through dietary manipulation.
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Equinews.com Officially Launched
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 24, 2011Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is proud to announce the official launch of Equinews.com.
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Long-Stem vs. Short-Stem Forages
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2011Long-stem forage is best defined as hay or pasture. Forage products that include extremely short pieces of fiber such as cubes, pellets, or chaff are often fed in lieu of long-stem forage.
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Assessing Energy Balance
By Dr. Laurie Lawrence · January 20, 2011Knowing a horse's body weight doesn't tell us if that is the best body weight for that horse
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Feed Storage Tips
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 19, 2011Proper storage of horse hay and grain can save time and money.
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Free Equine Metabolic Syndrome Webinar Jan. 25
By Press Release · January 19, 2011Equine metabolic syndrome refers to a condition in which an inappropriate insulin reaction occurs after a horse consumes carbohydrate-rich hay or feed. So how do you feed these horses without setting them up for a crisis?
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Prevent Cold Weather Weight Loss Woes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 18, 2011Nutritional management plays an integral role in helping horses maintain healthy body conditions during cold weather.
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Cecal Microbial Populations Could Be Unique To Individual Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2011Cattle researchers have learned that individual cows might have a unique rumen microbial population. Could the same be true for cecal microbial loads in horses?
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Feeding Old Hay
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 7, 2011Hay that is stored properly retains most of its nutrients fairly well.
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Mycotoxins
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 7, 2011The impact of molds and mycotoxins on the animal industry can be seen in several areas.
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Broodmare Diets are Critical for Health of Mare and Foal
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 29, 2010Proper feeding of broodmares during pregnancy is an essential part of producing healthy foals.
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Fescue: A Danger to Pregnant Mares
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 27, 2010Endophyte-infected tall fescue causes legions of problems, collectively called fescue toxicosis, in broodmares.
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Geophagia: Eating Dirt Could Have Several Explanations
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 27, 2010While the behavior is not uncommon in both domestic and feral horses, the cause of geophagia (eating dirt) often can't be easily explained.
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Dandelions Turn Skin a Harmless Yellow
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 20, 2010Horses that eat dandelions may develop a noticeable yellow tinge in areas where the skin is bare.
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Insulin Resistance in Horses
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · December 20, 2010Insulin resistance (IR) is defined as reduced sensitivity to insulin that results in increased insulin release and/or decreased activity of insulin.
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Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Arthritis
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · December 17, 2010Omega-3 fatty acids have direct anti-inflammatory actions that can be useful for the treatment of osteoarthritis and lameness.
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Antioxidants for Tip-Top Performance
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010In instances of strenuous exercise, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism. Supplementation of antioxidants is therefore necessary to help ward off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise.
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Electrolytes and the Endurance Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010Every endurance competitor appreciates that electrolytes are a critical component of a horse's nutritional program. Electrolytes are mineral salts that play an important role in maintaining osmotic pressure, fluid balance, and nerve and muscle activity.
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Nutrition of the Breeding Stallion
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010During the breeding season, the addition of energy-dense feeds, usually grains may be necessary to satisfy calorie requirements for the increased workload of breeding. No more than 0.75 pounds of grain per 100 pounds of body weight should be fed to a stallion per day, and no single meal should weigh more than five pounds.
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Does My Horse Need a Vitamin E Supplement?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010A superior nutritional plan is one key to turning that dream into reality, and natural vitamin E is one of the crucial elements in the equine athlete's dietary regimen. Whether a horse's work involves racing, eventing, endurance, trail riding, or reproduction, vitamin E plays a huge role in both overall health and specific performance.
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Food for Thought: Details of the Equine Digestive Tract
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010The horse's digestive system is made up of the foregut (stomach and small intestine) and the hindgut (cecum and colon). Each part has an important function, and each can also be the site of problems ranging from the slightly troublesome to the deadly serious.
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Feed to Succeed: Supplements to Help the Endurance Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010Keeping an endurance horse fit and healthy involves more than just putting in a large number of miles on trails. The work required of these horses is quite different than that of any other equine athlete. The challenge is to provide the correct combination of nutrients that will support the special needs of these athletes during both training and competition.
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Dirt an Important Source of Iron for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2010Horses constantly ingest dirt when they graze. Excessive consumption of dirt, especially when pastures become short, sometimes causes potential problems such as sand accumulation in the large intestine. However, the dirt that horses normally consume while grazing supplies some essential nutrients, notably iron.
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Grain Bin Entrapments and Fatalities
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 13, 2010Grain bin entrapments in 2010 totaled 46, the highest number since records have been kept.
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Clean Up Mold on Barley
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 13, 2010Barley contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) can have the level of mycotoxin significantly reduced by pearling.
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Feed Management May Influence Behavior Including Stereotypies
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 13, 2010The effects of feed types and feed management have been studied to determine the effects, if any, of modern feeding practices on equine behavior.
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Can You Make Them Drink?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 7, 2010Transported horses need to stay hydrated, but they often refuse to drink en route.
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Natural Plant Extracts Fight Fungi
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 7, 2010The use of natural plant extracts as a fungicide might delay the development of resistant molds and fungi.
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A Pony is Every Inch an Equine
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 1, 2010Although an exact definition may be elusive, most people know a pony when they see one. What comes to mind is an animal that is smaller and often somewhat more heavy-bodied for its size than a horse.
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Vitamin E Important for Elderly Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 30, 2010Supplemented horses showed higher vitamin E blood levels, better ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, and higher levels of blood immunoglobulins than control horses.
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Obesity is Dangerous
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 30, 2010Obesity in horses is a dangerous condition that can be linked to a variety of health problems.
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Webinar: 10 Key Concepts for Feeding the Performance Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2010Dr. Kathleen Crandell, a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research, explains the 10 key concepts for feeding the performance horse in a free on-demand Webinar.
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Hay Selection for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2010Hay can be classified into three general types: legume, grass, and mixed. Mixed hay is usually defined as a blend of grass and legume plants, though some hay producers and horse owners may define it as a combination of several grasses.
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Future Hunters Require Balanced Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2010For those patient, forward-thinking individuals that seek satisfaction in creating the next generation of hunters, regardless of their future use, there exists the hunter breeding division at shows sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Entries are judged on conformation, way of moving, quality, substance, soundness, and suitability to become hunters, according to USEF rules.
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Refeeding Malnourished Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2010Understanding the effects of starvation, the likelihood for recovery, and basic principles of refeeding will help horse owners should they encounter a horse that requires a nutritional overhaul.
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Selenium Webinar Available On Demand
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2010For those who couldn't attend the recent live online seminar and Q&A on selenium in equine nutrition hosted by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), the archived version of the presentation is now available online.
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Ration Balancer Pellets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 22, 2010A ration balancer pellet is a useful yet little understood type of horse feed. Though the pellet might look no different than other pelleted feeds, it can be a dynamic addition to any feeding program and a surefire solution to many feeding dilemmas.
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Moldy Corn a Risky Ingredient for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 11, 2010Farmers across the Midwest struggled last year to harvest their crops in what turned out to be an unseasonably wet autumn.
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Nutritional Requirements of Broodmares Ramped Up
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2010Without a doubt, the nutritional status of mares is a critical component in foal health from the moment of conception and continues through weaning.
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Fescue Facts
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2010Problems associated with fescue are recognized among nutritionists and breeders alike.
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Bulking Up
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · June 20, 2010Increasing the body mass of horses through weight gain is a particularly timely topic because more horses are turning up in rescue situations and a clear understanding of weight gain and changes in body condition are warranted.
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Forages the Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 21, 2010Horses have evolved over millions of years as grazers, with specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber.
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Poor Nutrition Impacts Hooves
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 15, 2010Equine nutritionists are frequently asked questions about dietary influences on hoof health.
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Racing-Related Equine Deaths
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010In a lecture at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, Dr. David Nunamaker of the New Bolton Center cited the following statistics: In California, 83% of racing-related equine deaths result from musculoskeletal injury.
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Storing Hay Safely
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010Storing hay before it has dried thoroughly is a risky practice because of the danger of spontaneous combustion.
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Storing Hay Safely
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010Storing hay before it has dried thoroughly is a risky practice because of the danger of spontaneous combustion.
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Chances of Twins in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010Double conception in horses is not unusual, although birth of live, healthy twin foals does not happen with any regularity. One or both embryos are commonly absorbed by the mare early in pregnancy.
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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are effective in relieving pain, but extended use of bute and other common NSAIDs frequently causes irritation of the horse's gastrointestinal tract.
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Handling your Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010Recent research suggests that horses prefer to be handled from the left side, possibly due to the way they interpret things seen with the eye on that side.
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Performance Limited by Genetics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010In a lecture at the 2007 Alltech conference, Dr. Ernie Bailey of the University of Kentucky explained that about 30% of racing performance in Thoroughbreds is due strictly to genetic make-up, leaving about 70% influenced primarily by other factors (age, track surface, training, nutrition, and so on).
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Helping the Cast Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010A horse that has lain down too close to a fence or wall and gotten into a position from which he can't get up is referred to as a "cast" horse. Cast horses sometimes panic and struggle, while others simply lie in the cast position until help arrives. The problem may be that the horse is unable to straighten his front legs, or get his hind legs in a position to push himself up, or both.
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Radios in the Barn
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Many stables leave a radio playing on the theory that music and/or human voices help to reduce boredom and keep horses calm.
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Colic caused by Persimmons
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Severe discomfort may not be noticed until several months after ingestion of persimmons, so if horses with access to persimmons develop colic signs at any time, owners need to mention this possibility to an attending veterinarian.
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Stereotypies and Learning Rates
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Stereotypies are repetitive behaviors like weaving, stall walking, head bobbing, and cribbing that are often seen in horses that spend a great deal of time confined to their stalls.
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Link between Gastric Ulcers and Exercise
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010A study at the Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory at the University of Florida has uncovered information showing a possible link between gastric ulcers and exercise.
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Radios Causing Gastric Ulcers
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Should you keep a radio playing in the barn to keep the horses company?
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Weight Calculation
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Don't know how much your horse weighs? Here's a formula from Equus that may give you a rough idea.
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Getting Horses Back into Condition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Once a horse is in fit athletic condition, taking a week off now and then won't bother him. However, if he's idle for a longer period-three months, for example-how do you begin getting him back into condition, and how long will the process take if you want to avoid injuring him by asking too much?
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Low pH Levels and Stereotypies
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 15, 2010Stereotypies are repetitive behaviors such as weaving or cribbing
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Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Although mare reproductive loss syndrome has not been a problem in recent years, researchers continue work to pinpoint the exact cause and devise protective management steps.
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Cardiac Disease Causes Poor Performance
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010An article in Hoof Beats indicates cardiac disease is the third most significant cause of poor performance in horses, following problems with the respiratory or musculoskeletal systems.
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New Uses for Grains Discovered
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Besides feeding humans and livestock, grains are being put to new uses.
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New Uses for Grains Discovered
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Besides feeding humans and livestock, grains are being put to new uses.
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Broodmare Weight Gain
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010A study conducted on a Thoroughbred breeding farm showed that initial broodmare body weight averaged 1,272 pounds (577 kilograms), with an average weight of 1,448 pounds (657 kilograms) at the end of gestation.
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Equine Proliferative Enteropathy Caused by Lawsonia
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Equine proliferative enteropathy is an emerging disease caused by the Lawsonia intracellularis bacterium. It is seen most commonly in recently weaned foals but can affect adult horses.
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PSSM: Feed Management Provides Relief
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Low-starch, high-fat feeds seem to help many horses suffering from polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a condition that causes painful muscle cramping known as tying-up.
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Stallion Group Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Turning stallions out in pairs or groups can be moderately risk-free and allows the horses to develop social relationships.
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Foals Need Exercise
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010At Colorado State University, researchers studied the effect of galloping exercise in addition to turnout for Thoroughbred foals.
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Feeding Laminitic Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010Horses recovering from an acute case of laminitis must have a carefully designed feed management plan in order to avoid a recurrence of the problem.
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Hot Horse: Cool Him Down with Water
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010The best way to cool a hot horse is to hose or sponge cold water over him, scrape the water off with a sweat scraper, and repeat the process until the horse is cool.
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Acetate for Muscle Glycogen Replacement
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010During prolonged moderate exercise, horses deplete muscle glycogen which needs to be replaced after the exercise period ends.
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Stretching: Does It Help?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010A note in Equine Science Update says that passive stretching exercises may or may not help your horse move more freely, and could even produce the opposite result.
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Cloned Foals: Some May Need Expert Neonatal Care
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010When health records from 14 cloned foals produced at Texas A & M University between 2004 and 2008 were examined, it was noted that 6 of the 14 were normal at birth while 8 showed problems such as angular forelimb deformities, neonatal maladjustment syndrome ("dummy foals"), and enlarged umbilical remnants.
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Exercise Important for Stalled Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010A study of the effect of different types of exercise on behavior among stalled horses suggested that regular exercise was likely to provide positive benefits on horse welfare, training ability, and handler welfare.
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Hay: How Much is Enough?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010Buying hay for the winter? Here's an easy way to decide how much hay to purchase.
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Omega-3 Benefits
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010In a presentation at the recent Veterinary Sport Horse Symposium, Dr. Kyle Newman indicated supplementing horses with omega-3 fatty acids could have a positive effect on their health and endurance during exercise.
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Rotary Gallop May Be the Fastest Gait
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010Quarter Horses can reach speeds of about 45 miles (72 km) per hour in short bursts. What gives cheetahs the ability to run so much faster--about 70 miles (112 km) per hour? Several factors of conformation are responsible, but part of the answer is that cheetahs use a rotary gallop, while horses and a number of other mammals prefer a transverse gallop. Many animals, including horses, use both forms in some instances.
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Grazing Multiple Species
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010As selective grazers, horses tend to eat some pasture plants and avoid others, leading to fields with some overgrazed and some undergrazed areas.
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Poisoning by Common Pasture Plants
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 3, 2010Reports of horses poisoned by pasture plants tend to increase in late fall and early winter, possibly because pasture grasses are less available due to dry conditions and the beginning of dormancy.
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First Horse Show: Prepare Your Young Horse for Success
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 1, 2010If you've competed at lots of horse shows, the drill is pretty routine. You know what will happen at the show, whom you will probably see there, and how long you'll be gone. Assuming your horse is a show veteran also, there shouldn't be many surprises.
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The Horses Are Out!
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 1, 2010For a horse owner, almost nothing is more frightening to think about...and most horse enthusiasts have encountered this situation from time to time, either with their own horses or someone else's. It seems that no amount of thought or precautionary management can completely protect horses from the danger, and owners from the worry, resulting from an escape.
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Weaning: Stress Can be Minimized by Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2010Every foal has to go through it; every owner admits to some worries about it; and almost everyone survives it. For something that happens every year, weaning never seems to take on the status of "just another day's work." Separating a foal from its dam is guaranteed to produce some anxiety in both animals.
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Colic Caused by Stomach Distention is a Life-Threatening Condition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2010Colic is a fact of life for horse owners. Chances are very good that anyone who keeps several horses for several years will encounter colic at some time. Mild episodes may resolve on their own before a veterinarian can arrive, and more serious equine abdominal discomfort can often be managed with medication.
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Managing Horses with Airway Disease
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2010A common name for the problem is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also known as recurrent airway disease, recurrent airway obstruction, or inflammatory airway disease. The descriptions of the gelding and mare seem to discuss very different conditions because the disease can result from reactions to varying environmental stimuli.
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Hay Storage and Use
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 27, 2010Nationwide, improper hay storage and wasteful feeding methods cause losses of around three billion dollars a year. It is estimated that up to 10% of a farm's livestock production costs can be traced to inefficient hay management.
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Equine Glycogen Replacement After Exercise
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 24, 2010Glycogen is a large, highly branched sugar molecule that is stored in muscle and the liver, and is used by the body as an energy source. Made of long chains and branches of glucose, glycogen is used for quick, high-intensity exercise. Depleted muscle glycogen and buildup of its end products, lactate and pyruvate, contribute to muscle fatigue.
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Feeding Starved or Malnourished Horses
By Dr. Bryan Waldridge · January 24, 2010Few sights are worse than the tragedy of malnourished or starved horses. It is important to consider that not all underweight horses are the victims of abuse or neglect. Occasionally, horses may have or be recovering from serious conditions (cancer, inflammatory/infiltrative bowel disease, parasitism, colitis, surgery, etc.) that have led to weight loss, and their owners are doing all they can to help the horse regain its previous condition.
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Nutritional Support of Kidney Disease in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 24, 2010Serious kidney (renal) disease in horses is fairly uncommon. Clinical signs of kidney disease can be difficult to differentiate from other conditions but include lethargy, depression, inappetence, ulcers on the mouth or tongue, and edema or swelling of the legs and lower abdomen.
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Nutritional Support of Horses with Liver Disease
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 24, 2010The power of targeted equine nutrition programs is unquestionable. Take, for instance, the feeding management practices that almost entirely relieve horses of the crippling signs associated with tying-up. By reducing starch intake and filling the caloric void with fat and fiber, many racehorses genetically predisposed to the disease have become successful athletes.
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Equine Protein Requirements
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Horse owners want to provide their horses with adequate nourishment, but they may be confused about the best way to meet the protein requirements of animals with different workloads or ages.
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Researchers Take a Closer Look at Teff
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Teff hay is a warm-season grass that thrives in a variety of climates and soil types. Despite low resistance to frost and pests, researchers have recently tested teff to see how the grass stacks up against cool-season standbys, timothy and orchardgrass.
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Prevalence of Cecal Intussusceptions in New Zealand
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010California researchers performed a retrospective study on the prevalence of cecal intussusceptions. An intussusception occurs when a segment of intestine pushes into another section of the organ, similar to the way in which a camera lens slides in and out of its casing, and remains fixed.
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Diagnosing Equine Metabolic Syndrome
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Most horses affected with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) are overweight and have abnormal fat deposits that include a cresty neck, fat around the tailhead that makes the tail look inset into the body, and fat pads around the shoulder, sheath, or udder.
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Nutrition for Horses with Small Intestinal Colic
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Small intestinal colic can result from gas or fluid distension, obstruction of the small intestine (ileal impaction or roundworms), or twisting of the gut (small intestinal volvulus or pedunculated lipoma in old horses).
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Large Intestinal Colic in Horses: Nutritional Considerations
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Colic of the large intestine can result from gas or fluid distension, obstruction (impaction or enteroliths), or twisting of the gut (as in large intestinal volvulus or displacement of the large colon).
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Researchers Get a Close-Up of the Equine Small Intestine
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 21, 2010Endoscopic examination of the stomach, sometimes referred to as gastroscopy, removed all guesswork from gastric ulcer diagnosis.
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Choke: Age, Sex, and Severity Affect Outcome
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2010Obstruction of the esophagus, commonly known as choke, is a life-threatening condition for horses and a panic-inducing event for their caretakers.
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Vaccine Decreases Unwanted Horse Behavior in Study
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2010Vaccination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a reproductive hormone, might decrease unwanted behavior in stallions and mares, researchers recently reported.
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Intrauterine Marbles Fail to Alter Estrous Cycles or Related Behavior
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2010Intrauterine placement of marbles in pony mares did not change reproductive physiology or normal sexual or social behavior, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Liverpool.
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Does Nutrition Influence Equine Behavior?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 13, 2009In cases where a thorough veterinary exam does not turn up a medical explanation for the horse's actions, changes in feed management may be important in modifying the way a horse behaves. Advice from a professional horse trainer or riding coach is also an option, especially if the horse presents a danger, rather than just an aggravation, to it owner or handler.
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Training and Bone Development
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2009The main role of the equine skeleton is to provide structural support. In addition to bones, the skeletal system also includes tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Each element of the musculoskeletal system must be functioning correctly in order for the horse to travel soundly.
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Yeast Culture: Value-Added Ingredient in Horse Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2009Researching the effects of yeast culture supplementation in animals began with ruminant nutritionists. As these scientists uncovered the positive effects of yeast culture supplementation in cattle and other ruminants, equine nutritionists began to measure the effects of supplementation in horses.
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Source of Omegas May Matter
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2009Each type of omega-3 has distinct functional properties. Seafood/algal omega-3s, also known as long-chain omega-3s, are more potent than terrestrial plant sources of omega-3s and boast certain functions that terrestrial plant based omega-3s simply cannot perform.
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Feeding Horses During Natural Disasters
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2009Suppose that unexpected events- floods, fire, winter storms-play havoc with horse management. As horse owners put together a disaster plan and cope with difficult situations, one of the first concerns should be minimizing changes in feed management.
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AAEP Workshop Focuses on Equine Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2009At the 2008 convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, horse owners were allowed to attend a seminar on the subject of equine nutrition. The workshop identified nine keys to understanding horse nutrition. Keeping these points in mind should help horse owner's work out the best feed management plan for their horses.
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Feeding Performance Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2009The inherent athletic ability of the horse is impressive. However, to achieve optimal performance in any equine sport, a conditioning program must be designed that improves cardiovascular function, capillary density in muscle, flexibility, bone strength, increased muscle mass, increased energy substrate storage, and more efficient utilization.
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Water: The Overlooked Nutrient
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2009The most important nutrient in the horse's diet is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. The amount of water required by the horse is determined by the magnitude of water losses from its body. These losses occur through feces, urine, respiratory gases, and sweat and, in the case of lactating mares, milk.
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Nutritionist Q&A: Winter Care for Senior Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 23, 2009Should I add more fat and fiber to their diets this winter?
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Yeast Culture: Value-Added Ingredient
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 17, 2009Feeds are more than a composite of cereal grains, soybean meal, and a dash of vitamins and minerals.
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Equine Metabolism Woes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2009EMS is one of several disorders affecting horses that is either triggered or aggravated by excessive starch and sugar intake.
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Surveying Sport Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 20, 2008The sport in which horses participate often dictates the body condition in which they are maintained. Polo ponies are typically sleek and trim their fitness evident in a tight, tucked-up appearance. The same can be said of most racehorses. Pleasure horses, those mounts used to poke around trails and forests, are sometimes softer and less muscular, carrying more body fat.
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Psyllium for Prevention of Sand Colic in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2008A number of treatment options have been used to evacuate sand from horses' gastrointestinal tracts. Previous research projects studying the effects of feeding psyllium to remove intestinal sand have had mixed results.
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Forage Buffering Capacity Relevant in Gastric Ulcer Prevention
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2008Gastric ulcers are very common in performance horses, affecting more than 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses. There is growing evidence that the type of hay fed to horses has a significant impact on acid neutralization and the incidence of gastric ulcers.
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Horse Feed Prices
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2008If you've paid careful attention to your receipts from the feed store, you certainly have noticed that the price of horse feed has crept up to unheard-of levels. And while it might be tempting to assign blame to your local feed manufacturer, larger forces are at work.
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Feeding Horses: Just the Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2008Everybody knows horses need forage and grain...but how much? How often? What kind? What else? The answers may be slightly different for each horse depending on size, breed, use, and stage of development.
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Feeding to Prevent Developmental Orthopedic Disease
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2008Proper nutrition of the mare throughout pregnancy and lactation and of the young horse during its first two years of life will help prevent developmental orthopedic problems
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Body Condition of Sport Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2008Equine nutritionists and researchers are uncovering interesting trends related to body condition and metabolic conditions, some of which directly relate to whether certain sport horses are as susceptible to metabolic conditions as horses that are exercised from time to time or not at all.
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Choking Horses: Prevention and Treatment
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2008If the horse is fed in a group where he must eat quickly to avoid competition, isolating him at feeding time may help. Making sure the horse is not quite so hungry at mealtime, either by feeding some hay before grain or by feeding smaller meals more frequently, may slow the greedy eater.
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Turning Your Horse Out to Pasture
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008It's worthwhile to cater to the horse's nature by making turnout part of his daily schedule.
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Skeletal Development in Thoroughbreds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008While bone tissue continues to respond to exercise throughout the horse's life, cartilage loses almost all of its ability to adapt or regenerate by the time the horse is mature.
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Response of Quarter Horses to High Fat, Low Carb Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008Excessively high insulin sensitivity and a build-up of glycogen in the muscle fibers are also characteristic of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a chronic form of tying-up syndrome. Horses with clinical signs of PSSM have been known to benefit from diets lower in starch and higher in fat than traditional equine rations.
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Benefits of Soaking Hay for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008Even the cleanest, best-quality hay is likely to contain a moderate amount of fine material. Collectively known as the respirable dust concentration, or RDC, these fine particles can cause severe airway irritation in sensitive horses.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Provides Significant Benefits
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008Horses need to consume both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but the traditional equine diet tends to provide a skewed ratio of these compounds, minimizing the supply of omega-3s and oversupplying omega- 6s. Continuing research is revealing more information about the benefits of supplementing horses with omega-3 fatty acid to achieve a more nutritionally sound balance.
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Handling Suspected Horse Poisoning
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2008A pastured horse develops hair loss, itching, dermatitis, colic, laminitis, or even sudden death, and the owner is certain the problem must have been caused by something the horse touched or ate. The first and most urgent task is to have a veterinarian diagnose and treat the affected horse. The second, and possibly more difficult, problem is to prevent another poisoning occurrence, a challenge that involves identifying susceptible horses as well as finding and removing the poisoning agent.
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Flehmen: The Horse with the Upturned Lip
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 23, 2008Flehmen is the term used to describe the behavior in which a horse extends its neck, raises its head, and inhales as it rolls its upper lip back, displaying its front teeth.
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Principles of Bone Development in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 17, 2008The relationships between growth, nutrition, bone strength and development, body weight, and the forces applied to bone are all orchestrated in a careful balance when optimal growth is achieved.
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Putting the Brakes on Horse Weight Gain
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 16, 2008Every horseman has seen, at one time or another, the telltale signs of a thin horse.
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Horses’ Weight-Carrying Ability Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2008A horse's weight-carrying ability depends on a number of factors.
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Relieving Metabolic Problems
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2008Knowing what to feed, and in what amount, is often the key to overcoming metabolic disorders.
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Thoroughbred Growth and Future Racing Performance
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2007The racing success of a Thoroughbred horse is determined by a multitude of factors, many of which are impossible to evaluate. Thoroughbreds destined for the racetrack are often sold at weanling or yearling sales where buyers must rely on subjective methods, rather than performance history, to select future athletes.
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Growth of Thoroughbreds Around the World
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2007One of the most important goals for Thoroughbred breeders is to produce a fully-grown, sound, and top-performing athlete. Rapid growth in horses has been associated with compromised skeletal growth; however, horses that grow too slowly may not reach optimal size, possibly reducing their sales value and lessening their chances of becoming elite athletes.
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Conformation in Thoroughbred Yearlings Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2007There is a belief among many people that defects in conformation predispose racehorses to poor performance and injury, and horses with obvious conformation problems tend to bring lower prices at public auction.
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Revisit Feeding Strategies as Horses Age
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 2007The care and management of old horses has been the focus of much scrutiny of late. The reason is obvious: horses are living much longer than they once did, and horsemen needed to know how to offer appropriate care.
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Understanding Digestion in the Horse: Comparative Approach
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2007Therefore, a basic understanding of the function fermentation plays in a wide range of species is critical when considering its importance in the horse. An appreciation of the continuity of microbial fermentation across several species allows information gathered in one species to be used for the benefit of other species.
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Subclinical Acidosis: Is Your Horse At Risk?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2007Certain situations trigger the pH of the hindgut to drop sharply. The two most common causes are the overconsumption of high-starch concentrates or pasture grasses rich in fructan. The demands placed on horses-as athletes and as breeding animals-dictate that substantial quantities of energy-laden feeds be consumed.
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Horse Colic Can Be a Real Pain!
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 28, 2007Colic is a catch all term used to describe abdominal discomfort from any cause. Signs of horse colic include pawing, kicking at the belly, looking at or nipping the flanks, rolling, sweating, or straining as if to pass urine or feces.
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Forage Alternatives
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2007Hay, or some other source of fiber, is absolutely necessary to the health and function of the horse's digestive tract. Because of a scarcity of hay in many regions, can you just skip feeding hay this winter and make up the deficit by doubling your horse's grain ration?
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Sugar Accumulation in Grass May Harm Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2007Scientists have revealed that Dr. Green may not be the best prescription for all horses. Under specific growing conditions, common pasture plants can harbor sufficient sugar to cause metabolic problems in certain horses that are especially sensitive to carbohydrates.
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Lawn Clippings and Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2007When a pile of lawn clippings is placed in front of him, the horse can consume the cut grass much more quickly than if he were grazing naturally. If your horse has a tendency to bolt his feed (eat it very quickly), he may do the same with lawn clippings.
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Managing Horses on High-Fructan Pastures
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2007All horses are subject to digestive upsets associated with lush spring pasture. The content of highly fermentable carbohydrates in lush pasture can be overwhelming to the unadapted digestive system.
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Salmonella Infection is something to Avoid
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2007The bacteria produce toxins that irritate the intestinal lining of the animal they infect. Some strains cause illness in horses, and others are responsible for infections in cattle and other animals.
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Tips for Maintaining the Older Broodmare
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2007An aged broodmare sometimes requires an extra dash of diligence by caretakers and health-care professionals. Despite some misguided lore, it is possible for those grizzled, sunken backed doyennes of the broodmare band to be fleshy and in fine fettle during all phases of production.
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Nutritional Considerations for Warmbloods
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2007European warmbloods and warmblood crosses have become prominent as sport horses in the United States, where they compete regularly in dressage, show jumping, and three-day eventing. Feeding nutritionally balanced rations and attending to nutrition-related idiosyncrasies of warmbloods are the first steps in producing and maintaining sound athletes.
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Questions about Insulin Resistance
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2007Insulin resistance occurs when the cells become less sensitive to insulin, thereby limiting the uptake of glucose. When this occurs, more and more insulin is required to move glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells. When insulin resistance is severe enough, glucose accumulates in the blood, thus limiting the availability of energy to cells.
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Acidosis and Starch Fermentation Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2007Digestibility of various grains was quantified and fecal analyses were conducted to establish which grains held the greatest risk of hindgut starch fermentation and acidosis. Hindgut acidosis can impair performance, and could be career-threatening if it leads to laminitis.
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Overweight Horses Face Multiple Health Risks
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2007In a recent study conducted by the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, 300 horses were examined between June and August of 2006. Of these, more than half (51%) were determined to be overweight or obese.
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Forages the Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 17, 2007Horses have evolved over millions of years as grazers, with specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber.
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Revisit Feeding Strategies as Horses Age
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 17, 2007The care and management of old horses has been the focus of much scrutiny of late.
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Nutrition and Convenience in Cube Form
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 14, 2006The most popular types of forage cubes are made from coarsely chopped alfalfa hay, timothy hay, alfalfa/grass hay, whole corn plants, and alfalfa hay/whole corn plants," said Crandell. Horsemen derive numerous benefits by choosing hay cubes over more traditional long-stem hay.
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Yearling Growth on Alfalfa and Soybean Meal Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2006Both protein amount and type are important in the diets of growing horses because certain amino acids cannot be produced in the horse's body and must be provided by ingested food. The site of protein digestion is important to optimal absorption.
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Horse Splints
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2006To understand splints, we need to remember that prehistoric ancestors of the modern horse had multiple toes on each foot. The horse of today walks on the tip of its middle toe, but vestigial traces of the other toes are still present. Two of these leftover toe bones, called splint bones, lie along the inner and outer sides of each cannon bone beginning just below the horse's knee or hock and tapering to an end above the fetlock.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2006Scientists are delving deeper into how certain fats help horses. Researchers have focused their attention on two distinct families of fatty acids: the omega-3 family and the omega-6 family.
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Basics of Horse Feed Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2006Forages, concentrates, and other basics of equine nutrition.
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Reed Canarygrass and Timothy Compared as Horse Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2006Yields of timothy hay grown in some areas of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania have dropped as much as 70%. Shortages of this popular horse hay have led growers to look at other forage crops that produce high yields, offer equivalent nutrition, and are less susceptible to cereal rust mite damage.
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Hurricane Disaster Response: Equine Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2006Following Hurricane Katrina it became clear that thousands of cattle, horses, and other livestock were in need of basic food and care. Tons of hay and pallets of feed were required immediately, and in enormous quantities. It was clear that no quick or easy "fix" was going to sustain these large animals throughout the months ahead.
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Plan Ahead to Avoid Weaning Woes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2006Foals are generally weaned when they are somewhere between four and six months of age. Well before this time, young horses need to be eating grain regularly, deriving the majority of their nutrition from pasture and concentrates. One way to do this is by providing an enclosed feeding area in the pasture that allows foals to enter while excluding mares.
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Size Matters at the Horse Sale
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2006Yearlings that commanded bids higher than the median price of the session in which they were sold tended to be heavier and slightly taller, but not fatter, than yearlings receiving bids below their session's median price.
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Cold-Weather Horse Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2006While very young, very old, or ailing horses may need specific changes in stable routine, healthy horses with an intact coat can usually tolerate winter weather with few problems if owners pay attention to basic feeding and management principles.
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Check Broodmare Hay for Fescue
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2006Most mare owners know the dangers of grazing late-pregnant mares on endophyte-infected tall fescue. The grass causes legions of problems, collectively called fescue toxicosis, in broodmares: prolonged gestation (as long as 13 to 14 months), foaling difficulties, thickened placentas (including "red bag" emergencies), and a decrease or complete absence of milk upon delivery.
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Scratching Out Equine Allergies
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 20, 2006At times, identifying a food allergy seems more like trial and error than hard-core science. While diagnosis involves tremendous dedication, the result--a happy, healthy horse--is well worth the effort.
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Four Horse Management Tips to Consider as Cold Weather Descends
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2006As we all know, hay is often a mainstay of winter diets.
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Feeding Management Tips for Freshly Retired Racehorses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2006Lives of Thoroughbreds in race training differ greatly from those of most sporthorses.
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Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 1, 2005It is most commonly seen as a sign of dehydration and electrolyte depletion among horses performing in endurance races.
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Keeping Tabs on Carbs in Equine Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2005Can't live with them, can't live without them. Humans have been inundated with the supposed evils of carbohydrates. But what contributions-good or bad-do carbohydrates make to the equine diet? Must horsemen be mindful of counting carbs in their horses' diets? As with most topics in equine nutrition, the question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.
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Tips for Feeding Weanling Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2005Weaning is synonymous with stress. The process produces anxiety among foals and mares, not to mention their caretakers. To ease the transition all foals must face-from maternal coddling to self-sufficiency among peers-owners can do a little homework before the day of parting arrives.
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Get the Scoop on Feed Forms
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2005Extruded, pelleted, or sweet feeds can all provide energy, and each feed form has other attributes that owners should consider as they look for the best products to suit their animals. Examining the pros and cons of each type of feed can clarify the decision.
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Corn Sensitive to Fumonisin Infestation
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2005The plant disease might involve individual kernels or clusters of kernels on an ear of corn. Discoloration of kernels is usually the first visible sign, with kernel caps becoming salmon-pink or a light shade of red. Once the signs develop, the pathogen may continue to spread on the ear, knitting a cotton-like growth that might eventually cover the entire ear. Complete coverage is likely to occur if moisture was trapped beneath the husk. Not all infected kernels, however, show signs.
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Refeeding the Starved Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2005A sound nutritional plan, along with careful attention from a handler, veterinarian, and farrier, can save many starved horses. Recovery may take several months, and during this time each horse must be evaluated and treated on an individual basis.
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Ground Line: Building a Base for Grand Prix Performance
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 19, 2005Grand Prix show jumper turns to careful equine management in his quest to qualify for the Olympics.
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Laminitis Triggering Allergens
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 1, 2004This result indicates that laminitis flare-ups may be triggered by allergens and also by reactions to ingredients in common vaccines.
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Pass the Salt: Endurance Horses and Electrolytes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2004If a horse sweats little, access to a generous amount of high-quality hay and a salt block will provide sufficient electrolytes. If the horse sweats profusely or is allowed only minimal forage, an electrolyte product containing sodium, chloride, and potassium is recommended. Consistent supplementation with electrolytes may be just the thing to transform lackluster summertime performances into winning ones.
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Evaluating Feeding Practices at Boarding Facilities
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2004The most important component of any feeding program is forage, be it pasture or hay. Without question, a survey of the paddocks, pastures, and other turnout areas in which your horse may reside is in order before finalizing a boarding arrangement.
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Gear Up For Warm Weather
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2004As the grass brightens from brown to green, the nutrient content of the plant changes considerably. Horses will undoubtedly relish the newfound forage, but care must be taken to allow only the amount of grazing time necessary to sustain optimal body weight. If horses are allowed unchecked access to spring grass, they can quickly become overweight. The perils of obesity include decreased stamina and a greater likelihood for unsoundness.
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Mounted Police: A Horse on the Force
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 2004What makes a police horse's job unique is the variety of experiences and challenges that each day brings. While all horses are expected to respond to their riders' signals, it's of paramount importance that the mounted police officer can trust his horse to remain calm and obedient, no matter what happens.
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Fiber for Horses: Soybean Hulls a Quality Source
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2004Soybean hulls are high in pectin and other soluble fibers. Because they are digested mostly in the cecum and contain relatively small amounts of starch, their use in equine diets does not pose a high risk for colic and laminitis.
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Is Alfalfa the Right Choice?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2004As forage for horses, alfalfa is both revered and disparaged. While it may not be the best hay choice for all horses in all management setups, high-quality alfalfa possesses sufficient nutrients to support high production such as growth and lactation.
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An Introduction to Protein Supplements for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2004A number of feedstuffs can be incorporated into horse feeds to satisfy protein requirements. Though soybean meal is used preponderantly in the horse feed industry, other sources can deliver adequate protein, especially to mature horses.
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Equine Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 2004Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, also called tying-up syndrome, refers to the severe muscle cramping and cellular damage seen in some exercising horses. Various forms of tying-up affect horses of several breeds and are caused by different metabolic processes.
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Roaring and Choking Down in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 2004These terms are common names for conditions that restrict airflow in the laryngeal area. In both cases, noisy breathing and exercise intolerance are probably the first signs that will alert an owner or trainer to the problem.
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Equine Grass Sickness
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2004Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a mysterious and often-fatal disease that strikes down healthy young horses as they graze. Most cases have occurred in England, Wales, and Scotland, but EGS has also been seen in Europeand South America. Mal seco, an equine disease reported in South Africa, appears to be identical.
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Dorsal Displacement in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2004Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a misalignment of tissues in the horse's throat. This condition, which is common in horses that work at high speeds, causes a drop in performance because affected horses are unable to breathe freely.
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Foal Heat Diarrhea Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 25, 2004Mares come into estrus about seven to 14 days after giving birth. This period coincides with the occurrence of diarrhea in about 80% of foals, hence the name "foal heat diarrhea." There is no certain explanation as to why foals get diarrhea at this time, and various possible causes-influence of hormonal changes in mare's milk, foal begins to eat mare's manure, bacterial infection, parasite infestation-have been advanced.
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Protein and Fat in Horse Diets Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 21, 2004Exercising horses need a certain level of dietary protein to build and repair muscle tissue and to replace the protein lost in sweat. This study was designed to test whether decreasing dietary protein quantity, while increasing protein quality by supplementation with lysine and threonine, could reduce the negative effects of excess protein while providing sufficient amino acids to support tissue maintenance.
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Equine Behavior Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 23, 2004Why do horses behave the way they do?
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Nutritional Management of the Mare and Foal
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 2004Lactating mares use energy, calcium, and phosphorus at a greatly increased rate.
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Oats: The Perfect Horse Feed?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 29, 2003Most oats fed to horses are whole, meaning each kernel is encased in a hull or fibrous sheath. Oats are frequently subjected to processing, typically rolling or crimping, which cracks the hulls and adds slightly to their digestibility.
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Molasses used in Horse Feed for Palatability and Energy
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 6, 2003In addition to the type and amount of concentrate being fed, owners of hyperactive horses should look at other areas of management. Horses that are kept in a stall or small corral much of the day will likely be more difficult to handle than horses that have more liberal access to free exercise. Full-time turnout and regular work are sometimes all that is necessary to curtail the expression of excess energy.
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Nutritional Guidance for Feeding Thin Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 6, 2003Horses, like humans, come in a variety of body shapes. Some breeds and individuals tend to be "easy keepers," naturally assuming a well-rounded shape. Others always seem to look a bit thin and ribby, no matter how they are managed.
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Effects of an Aluminum Supplement on Nutrients and Minerals Studied
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 6, 2003Studies in ruminants and ponies found that high levels of aluminum disrupted the use of calcium and phosphorus. On the other hand, one study found no adverse effects on macro- or micromineral digestibility and balance when small amounts of aluminum (less than 1500 parts per million) were ingested.
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Shout: Foals Weigh In
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 29, 2003Higgins, on the other hand, weighed a walloping 243 pounds at 28 days of age. Colts of his age born in April usually hit the 205-pound mark. This fact makes Higgins about 18% heavier than others his age. Higgins is not obese, in fact few foals are, but he possesses height and scope, likely a reflection of his tall, lanky mother.
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Shout: Weaning Day for a Young Colt
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2003When the realization hit that his dam was nowhere to be found, Shout became uneasy and lapped the field at a full tilt gallop. Higgins did little to ease Shout's anxiety, merely watching the seemingly half-crazed Shout careen around the field. Skean seemed less fazed by the separation; she may have even been relieved to bid farewell to her youngster.
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Shout: Welcoming an Overdue Foal
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2003Skean, completely exhausted, lay motionless on the floor, breathing deeply. Milk once again flowed from her udder. Meanwhile, the veterinarians resuscitated the foal and gave him a thorough once-over, declaring him healthy except for a few fractured ribs. Skean gently rolled onto her chest, folded her legs underneath her, and offered the softest, most endearing nicker any mare could possibly bestow.
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Feeding After the Hammer Falls
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2003Thousands of horses change hands annually at public auctions. While the most conscientious of buyers may flood the seller with innumerable questions regarding their most recent equine acquisition, many horses are shipped without feeding instructions. When they arrive at their destination, the horses are often placed immediately on the new owner's feeding schedule, which may be considerably different than the familiar one.
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Equine Extremes: Feeding Ponies and Draft Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2003Almost all the guidelines on feeding and caring for horses are aimed at the middleweight or light horse population, those that weigh in at about 1,000 pounds or so and little information is available regarding the equine extremes - ponies and draft horses. Generally speaking, horses are horses regardless of their size, but there are some differences in the nutritional requirements and management of these equids.
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Nurse Mares Provide Crucial Service to Breeding Farms
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 15, 2003Raising an orphan foal is a formidable task. Often nurse mares are difficult or impossible to acquire during emergency situations, and bottle-feeding an orphan foal requires a significant commitment of time and resources.
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Alternative Grass Hays for Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003Researchers at the University of Kentucky measured the voluntary intake of big bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass, and timothy grass hays in a group of mature horses.
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Bran Mash: What’s it Really Good For?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003Bran mashes remain a staple in the feeding regime of some horsemen and continue to be a traditional meal for horses recovering from sickness, for mares immediately following foaling, and for aged horses with dental problems. A bran mash is often the meal of choice for horses following an intense workout, especially for those that do not drink adequately during or after intense exercise and teeter on the brink of dehydration.
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Biotin Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003In order to achieve maximal improvement in hoof health, a horse should consume 20 mg of biotin per day. If improvement has been seen within eight to 15 months, the horse will need to remain on biotin the rest of its useful life to maintain that improvement. Cutting the dose is not advisable because it may affect the results, and care should be taken not to buy more than what can be used up in six months.
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Putting the Kibosh on Cribbing
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003Wood chewing is simply the nibbling and splintering of wooden surfaces with the teeth; sometimes the wood is swallowed and sometimes not. This behavior is thought to spring from the horse's natural appetite for a varied diet.
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The Nitty Gritty on Salt
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003The most popular way to feed salt ad libitum is a salt block. These were originally designed for cattle, which possess a rough tongue, but are suitable for most horses. Occasionally a horse may be seen biting or gnawing at the corners of the block.
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Cutting Horse Feeds with Cereal Grains and Protein Supplements
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003Random blending of whole grains or protein supplements with commercially manufactured feeds can skew the nutritional balance of feeds and induce growth problems in young horses. The best way to ensure sound nutrition and thus favorable growth, performance, and production is to choose a fortified feed that best complements the nutritional profile of the intended forage and the proposed use of the horse.
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Bridge the Gap Between OCD and Nutrition
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003During normal bone growth, cartilage is remodeled into bone. It is during this physiologic revision that ossification goes awry and OCD lesions originate.
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Optimal Body Condition Scores for Breeding Mares
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003Evaluating the body condition of pregnant mares may become more difficult during late gestation, as the combined weight of the fetus and amniotic fluid may pull the skin tightly over the vertebral column and ribcage. Therefore, it's best to place emphasis on other key areas: along the withers, behind the shoulder, and around the tailhead.
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Feeding Horses in Australia and New Zealand
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2003The components of a typical diet for horses in Australia and New Zealand may seem an unlikely lot. Lupins, tick beans, and copra meal are certainly not common in the vernacular of the horse community in North America. Nutritionists have adapted these native, though seemingly unusual, ingredients into well-balanced rations that support growth, performance, and reproduction.
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Laminitis Basics
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2003While obesity-associated laminitis is not well understood among researchers and veterinarians, affected horses may go on to lead otherwise healthy lives if treatment is swift and diligent. Recommended treatments center around corrective trimming and shoeing, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain, and strict diet. Forced exercise can be imposed once all laminitis-related pain has abated.
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Colic Risk Factors
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2003Equine colic is loosely defined as abdominal pain. The causes are numerous, and the signs of discomfort (rolling, kicking at the abdomen, pawing, sweating) are familiar to most experienced horse handlers. Colic is one of the most common health emergencies, with an incidence of just over 9 cases per 100 horses in an average year. It is a leading reason for surgery and a frequent cause of death in horses.
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Out of Work: How to Let Your Horse Down in the Off-Season
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 2003Now you're planning to give your horse a well-earned rest. You know he'll enjoy a few months out of his stall, rolling in the grass and taking afternoon naps with his pasture buddies. You realize that you'll be modifying just about everything in your horse's day-to-day routine. How can you keep your horse healthy as he makes this change?
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Equine Hair Analysis
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 2003First and foremost, hair helps in the formidable task of bodywide temperature regulation, and one integral aspect of this role is providing a shield against environmental conditions, hence the dense, wooly coats of winter and the slick, short coats of summer. Other functions of hair include protection against predatory insects and a pathway for transport of pheromones and other physiological signals from the body.
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Animal Feed Imports Increasing
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 2003Figures released by the USDA and the United Nations show that North African and Middle Eastern countries have steadily increased imports of animal feeds in the last decade.
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Oxalates
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · December 20, 2002The importance of calcium in the diet of horses and ponies is crucial. When coupled with phosphorus, the two minerals compose up to 70% of the total mineral content in the body. Calcium is necessary for skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle function, nerve conduction, and a host of other metabolic reactions.
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Managing Broodmares on Fescue Hay or Pasture
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2002For mares with known or suspected fescue exposure, managers should be sure the foaling is attended and a veterinarian is available. This is recommended even if mares have been treated with domperidone or fluphenazine. The attendant may need to cut the thickened placenta or help the mare expel a very large foal that is several weeks overdue.
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Digestive Aids: Does Your Horse Need Them?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 2002Products defined as digestive aids can be broadly categorized as either probiotics or prebiotics. These aids can be fed as part of the horse's regular diet, or administered only occasionally in response to a particular need.
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Why Horse Supplements?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 2002Do not choose supplements on price alone, but look for economical products that meet actual needs. A concentrated, low inclusion product will be more expensive than one in which the dose is larger. Look at the weight of the pack and the dosage amount, not the size of the bucket.
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Supplements to Help the Endurance Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 2002Keeping an endurance horse fit and healthy involves more than just putting in a large number of miles on trails. The work required of these horses is quite different than that of any other equine athlete. The challenge is to provide the correct combination of nutrients that will support the special needs of these athletes during both training and competition.
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Horse Pasture Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2002In the wake of the 2001 outbreak of equine foal and embryo deaths known as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), proper pasture development and maintenance have received increased attention. The need to determine a cause for the devastation visited upon Kentucky and adjoining states by MRLS led many researchers to look towards pasture anomalies for clues.
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Oats in the Equine Diet
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2002Plain oats may have a place in the diets of some horses. Mature horses in light work and without the demands of reproduction may do just fine on plain oats, especially if pasture is scarce or low quality or if the forage source is low in energy. If oats are chosen as a way to increase caloric intake, a feed balancer should be used to ensure proper levels of vitamins and minerals are consumed.
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How Sweet It Is: A Molasses Primer
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2002Manufacturers of horse feeds use molasses to improve palatability, reduce dustiness, eliminate or decrease sorting of certain components in a textured feed, aid in the pelleting process, improve mixing integrity of a concentrate, and add nutrients or other ingredients to a ration.
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Shuttle Stallions Do Double Duty
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 4, 2002Temperament is certainly a factor in deciding which stallions make good candidates for shuttling, but it is only one small piece of the decision-making process. Bloodlines are a larger factor.
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Nutrition for Horses on Stall Rest
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 3, 2002Horses recovering from colic, surgery, high fever, or colitis can present many challenges for their owners, but one that is frequently overlooked is how to feed horses through the illnesses. While countless researchers have devoted years of study to determine the proper nutritional balance for horses of different ages and workloads, little has been done to outline proper nutrition for the sick adult horse.
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Equine Arthritis, A Pain in the Joint
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2002Acute arthritis can be caused by injury or by bacterial or viral infection. Chronic arthritis is often osteoarthritis that results from the cumulative effects of day-to-day activity and stress. Old injuries, joint infections, and years of training and performance can all lead to the development of joint pain and stiffness. Poor conformation, hoof deformities, and problems with trimming or shoeing are other contributing factors. Probably there is some genetic influence also.
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Preparing Young Horses for Sales
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 2, 2002The polished weanlings and yearlings and the athletic two-year-olds that grace the sales rings throughout the world today are slightly different from the horses that went before them. Technology and research have combined to provide consignors and buyers with a slightly different opinion of what constitutes good health.
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Dental Care
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 29, 2002Some veterinarians provide dental treatment in addition to their other services. Others prefer to supervise a professional equine dentist who has the specialized training, equipment, and experience to complete the work quickly and competently.
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Head Shaking May Have a Variety of Causes
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 29, 2002Have an equine dentist do a thorough oral exam to make sure the teeth do not have sharp points or edges that are irritated by the pressure or position of the bit. In young horses, the shallow-rooted wolf teeth sometimes interfere with the bit and can easily be removed by a dentist or veterinarian.
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Is My Horse the Right Size?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 29, 2002How can a rider decide what size equine is right? To answer this question, it is necessary to consider several factors about both the rider and the horse.
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Warmbloods: Same Feeding Plan as other Horses?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Feeding well-balanced rations and attending to nutrition-related idiosyncrasies of warmbloods are the first steps in producing and maintaining sound athletes. The primary nutritional goal of managing young warmbloods should be ensuring slow, steady growth and reducing the risk of developmental orthopedic disease.
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Yeast Supplementation used in Horse Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002In an effort to determine the effect of yeast on digestion in horses, researchers in France carried out a study to look at the influence of feeding a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a strain of yeast, on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fiber or a high starch diet.
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Nutrition for Horses with Metabolic Disorders
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Proper nutrition is extremely important in managing horses with metabolic disorders. Regulating the amount and type of feed, with special attention to carbohydrates, allows many horses to show minimal disease signs, maintain healthy body condition, stay comfortable, and safely perform exercise.
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Stocking Rate: How Many Horses on This Pasture?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Stocking rate is defined as the number of horses allowed to graze a unit of land for a specific amount of time. Making the most of pastures by optimizing stocking rate may reduce other forage expenditures. Stocking rate is contingent upon numerous factors including grazing behavior, level of pasture management, forage species, seasons, and weather patterns.
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Avoid Risks from Fumonisin in Corn
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Unlike some fungus or mold species that cause problems in stored grain, Fusarium grows on corn plants before they are harvested. Stress from weather or insect damage can make plants more susceptible.
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Feeding the Miniature Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Regardless of their size, all equines have the same basic nutritional needs. Each animal must consume enough water, forage, and (possibly) grain to meet the requirements of growth, tissue repair, reproduction, exercise, and maintenance of all body systems. Factors such as body size, age, breed, work, climate, health status, and metabolism affect the type and amount of hay, pasture, and grain a particular horse should be given.
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Pica: The Peculiar Palate
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Pica is the desire to eat unusual substances that possess little or no nutritional value, such as dirt, wood, hair, and feces. This phenomenon has been observed in horses of all ages, breeds, and sexes.
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Recovery from Enteritis Dictates Changes in Feed Management
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine. More specifically, anterior (or proximal) enteritis affects the duodenum and jejunum, sections of the small intestine anatomically closest to the stomach.
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Feeding the Horse Following Anterior Enteritis
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Depending upon the severity of the disease, horses may have to receive nutrition parenterally (intravenously) during treatment. This is particularly true if a bout of anterior enteritis lasts longer than three or four days.
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Feeding Frequency
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Continuous ingestion of feedstuffs keeps the digestive tract running smoothly. Modern management practices dictate that many horses remain in confinement for long periods of time with limited or no access to pasture.
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Forage Forms
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Forage remains the primary constituent of most well-balanced equine diets, but nowadays it can be proffered in a multitude of forms, from traditional long-stemmed hay to symmetrical cubes. The five most common forage forms are pasture, hay, cubes, pellets, and haylage.
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Determining Work Intensity
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Optimal nutrition of the performance horse hinges foremost on the exercise it performs. Just as the diet of a human bodybuilder is dissimilar to that of a marathon runner, horses are fed with performance goals in mind.
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Feeding the Mare and Foal after Weaning
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Weaning is a stressful time for foals and mares. While mares are often ready to say good-bye to their rambunctious, rowdy charges, foals can be far more fretful. As such, weaning rarely negatively impacts a mare. In fact, some mares may blossom and begin to flesh out once they are freed from the burden of milk production.
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Super Fibers
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 10, 2002Forage is chock full of fiber, a dietary component that is subjected to microbial fermentation in the cecum and colon of the horse. This fermentative process produces volatile fatty acids, important sources of energy for horses fed high-forage diets. Fiber can supply a horse with 30-70% of its digestible energy requirements.
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Feeding Fallacies
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 2001Feeding horses properly is not difficult. Reliance upon an educated horseman, a veterinarian, or an equine nutritionist is paramount if a feeding management question arises. This is particularly true when confronted with an old wives' tale.
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Forage Falsehoods
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 5, 2001While some old-fashioned feeding practices remain pertinent in this day and age, others have fallen by the wayside. Over the last several decades, research has debunked some commonly held beliefs concerning the nutritional management of horses.
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Don’t Pass on Processed Feeds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 17, 2001Understanding the methods used to process feeds and knowing why they are used will make the idea of feeding processed feedstuffs more savory.
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Foaling Management Tips
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 23, 2000The ideal environment for a mare that is about to foal is a clean grass paddock where the mare can be observed with as little disruption as possible, but inclement weather or insufficient lighting can make this impractical.
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Feeding the Weanling Requires Careful Consideration
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 2000Few topics in equine nutrition stir more controversy than feeding the weanling. Many factors add to the confusion of providing nutrition at this critical stage of growth.
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Putting Weight on a Skinny Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 3, 2000Some horses are metabolically inclined to be hard keepers while others have medical, psychological or environmental reasons for having difficulty in maintaining weight.
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Why Is This Horse So Skinny?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 3, 2000Insufficient caloric intake is the primary cause of failure to maintain sufficient body condition in horses. A variety of reasons may account for caloric deficiency. Some are easy to pinpoint and simple to address, such as parasite loads or teeth problems. Others are impossible to diagnose without euthanizing the horse and performing a necropsy. Physical problems of the digestive tract account for many of these problems, but there may be psychological and environmental reasons as well.
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Taking Care of the Senior Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 2000As we become more aware of the problems facing geriatric horses, they have a much better chance at surviving into their golden years than they would have had 100 years ago. Strong emotional ties can motivate many owners to be observant of their beloved beasts and to take the extra steps it requires to maintain them in health and comfort.
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Preparing the Halter Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 1999There are many additional "tricks of the trade" that can be applied to help the halter horse reach his optimum potential, but the successful basics remain the same. It is essential for halter horses to be on a properly balanced diet. Exercise must be carefully designed for each individual animal to avoid potential injury and build the valuable muscle tone that can make a difference between winning and being just another horse in the class.
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Gastric Ulcers in Horses: A Widespread but Manageable Disease
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 1999Every equine practitioner appreciates the delicate nature of the equine gut. Problems related to the small intestine and large intestine are well understood and routinely treated. What may be surprising to many is how often the stomach is affected. Specifically, the incidence of gastric ulcers is extremely high, particularly in performance horses.
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Love and Devotion Help Special Filly Beat the Odds
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 17, 1999To anyone who has ever loved a horse, every healthy foal is a miracle. It is a joy and a wonder to watch them stand on their wobbly legs, take their first tentative steps, and find their first meal. While the vast majority of foals born every year find their way into the world in the usual fashion, occasionally a foal will arrive that provides a new definition for the word miracle.
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Vitamin E and the Performance Horse
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 1999Vitamin E is a non-toxic, fat soluble vitamin which has an important role in many physiological functions such as reproduction, immune response and nerve and muscle function. It also has overlapping yet independent roles with selenium, an essential trace mineral.
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Making Sense of the Supplements
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 10, 1999Sorting through the numerous supplements displayed on the shelves of your local feed store or in the pages of your favorite horse magazine can be difficult. As an equine nutritionist, it is sometimes difficult for me to figure out the intended purpose of certain supplements. However, supplements can be divided into two broad categories.
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Selenium for Horses: How Important Is It?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 9, 1999Subclinical signs of selenium deficiency may be easily overlooked. Because the major role of selenium is in the oxidative defense system, deficiency would first compromise cellular integrity.
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Stabilized Rice Bran–Just the Facts, Please
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 9, 1999Rice bran is a highly digestible by-product of the rice milling industry. It should be heat and pressure stabilized prior to feeding to prevent rancidity and digestive upset. The primary feature of stabilized rice bran is its high (20%) fat content.
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Different Horse Feeds for Different Needs
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 1999When a young horse begins training, horse owners and managers must realize the horse is still growing. The dual demands of training and growth make it especially important to pay attention to proper nutrition.
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What Are Those Pellets in the Sweet Feed?
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 8, 1999This diet food scenario has proven very effective when feeding broodmares in late pregnancy. Most mares will sail through pregnancy in good body condition and can be fed the recommended amounts of sweet feed to provide essential protein, vitamins and minerals.
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The Hoof and Its Relation to Balance and Soundness
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · November 1, 1999Flat-footed horses are very sensitive to the type of footing on which they live and exercise. They are intolerant of exercise on rough ground and may require pads to help them to be comfortable. Careful attention to providing corrective trimming and shoeing can greatly help horses that have hoof abnormalities.
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Alfalfa Hay: A Major Component in Many Horse Diets
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 27, 1998Methods to maximize the benefits of alfalfa in equine diets and balance the weaknesses often associated with alfalfa.
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Equine Dentistry: Benefits of Proper Care
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · October 26, 1998Signs of equine dental problems are as varied as are the horses that present them. From the obvious, handfuls of feed dropping from the mouth as the horse eats and grain passing directly through the animal, to the subtler head tilting and weight loss, the solutions involve knowledge, proper equipment, and fortitude.
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Nutritionist Q&A: Fats
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · September 15, 1998Do we have adequate research and understanding of what the impact of high-fat diets might be to their metabolism or to their overall physical development?
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