By Tina M. Anderson, PhD A horse in its teens may typically be thought of as “old”, but the reality is that the genetics of the individual, plus how it was cared for during its life, will dictate when the nutritional needs begin to shift from that of an adult mature horse to that of a [...]
Water is the main component of the body. In fact, an average 1000 pound horse is roughly 660 pounds (80 gallons) of water. About two-thirds of this water is inside cells, called intracellular fluid, and one-third is outside cells or extracellular fluid. To function normally, the body must keep the amount of water in these [...]
Now that the weather has finally warmed up, horse owners are starting to spend more time with their horses, and are looking forward to even more enjoyable riding weather. There are some nutritional concerns, however, during this season, and some management issues we should address to ensure the health and performance of our horses. First, as [...]
When a mare foals, her daily nutrient requirements increase significantly, nearly double that of early gestation. These nutrient needs must be met for the mare to recover from foaling stress, produce milk, and rebreed without losing body condition. Underfeeding mares during early lactation will result in lower milk production and weight loss. Early lactation weight [...]
In the past several years, multiple sources have recommended yeast products for inclusion in equine diets for many purposes, including improving fiber and phosphorus digestibility, increase feed efficiency, support hindgut bacteria, and even prevention and cure of gastric ulcers. However, a close look at the published data available on the efficacy of supplementing yeast culture [...]
Heat and humidity put an added burden on horses during training, showing and hauling. Horses are actually better equipped to work in cold weather than in the heat. They build up a tremendous amount of body heat due to the internal heat produced by fiber digestion and the large mass of working muscles, combined with [...]
Spring has officially sprung! Remember that sudden forage changes in your horse’s diet may trigger digestive issues. Feed hay immediately before turn-out to help him or her from overeating on lush, green pasture. Restricting grazing time will also help minimize risks. Here’s a rule of thumb: allow 30 minutes of grazing once or twice a day [...]
Cold winds and changing winter weather may not seem like contributing factors for equine colic. However, these conditions can foster changes in routine and eating habits that may affect the well being of your horse. “A common winter time equine health concern is colic,” notes Dr. Glennon Mays, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College [...]
Cold weather presents horses with some specific nutritional and management demands. As winter approaches it is a good idea to evaluate horses, housing and feeding programs to insure that horses get through the cold weather in good shape. All warm-blooded animals have a critical temperature. This is the temperature below which the animal must produce additional [...]
Now that winter is approaching and the temperature is dropping, horse owners need to consider how to winterize their horses. During the cold season, horse owners must make sure that their animals receive proper feed, water and shelter to stay healthy and comfortable. Further, since riders usually put a lot of time and effort into [...]