Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses
You invest a lot of care and appreciation on your horses, so it is wise to spend some time considering their primary diet — forages.
The horse evolved over time to be efficient as a grazing animal thriving on forages. As we adapted the horse
After a long, dry summer that left pastures scant and dusty and hay production plunging, drought conditions across the United States show no signs of letting up. And neither do the challenges facing horses and their owners.
According t
Authored and narrated by Kathryn Watts, BS, a Power Point lecture on CD entitled “Soil Minerals: The Basis of Nutrition” is now available for horse owners interested in equine health and hoof care. The science behind mineral nutrition in grass and ha
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents.
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the
As if hay scarcity and high prices aren?t enough, experts are warning horse owners that imported hay could also hide horse health dangers including seriously low amounts of essential vitamins such as A and E, excessive amounts of selenium, and
From the three years of pastureland study done by the UK forage extension team, some common trends have emerged. One trend should trouble area farms because it directly limits the number of horses that can be supported on area pastures. Currently,
High levels of fungal species and mycotoxins (the toxins produced by some fungi) have been identified in equine feeds. This contamination can result in nutrient losses from the food, and it can negatively impact the health and productivity of
When the time came for Jamie Clifton to stockpile horse feed for the winter at Volunteer Equine Advocates, she found grain prices up and hay expensive and in tight supply. Now, she said, she’s wondering how high horse feed commodity prices can
Most forage crops perform best when soils have adequate, but not excessive, soil moisture. Standing water, flowing water and waterlogged soils following heavy summer rainstorms or extended periods of higher-than-normal rainfall patterns all can
The way you feed young horses could help them develop strong, properly formed bones and joints.
According to a recent scientific review, there is only limited evidence supporting the administration of herbal supplements in horses, despite their widespread use in the industry. Further, adverse events associated with herbal supplementation
Oats, traditionally grown in the spring as a grain crop, can also be planted in the summer as a late season forage, providing a feed alternative for horse owners and livestock producers short on hay or pasture.
Based on five years of Ohio
A feed supplement is anything fed to a horse in addition to a natural diet of forage. Technically grain is a supplement. But the term has come to mean any additional nutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals, extra protein, energy, etc.) tha
Placement of the barn in a convenient, well-drained location, close or adjacent to turnout areas should be your primary consideration. Access for hay, feed, or bedding delivery vehicles is important. Try to put the structure downwind from the house,
During hot weather, heat dissipation is primarily dependent on evaporation of sweat on the skin surface. Horses are capable of producing large quantities of sweat–sweating rates of 10-15 liters/hour have been reported during exercise in hot conditions.
Maintain perspective on additional sweetening compounds added to concentrated feeds and pellets.
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