Digestive/GI
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Using a Muzzle and Feeding Round-Baled Hay
By KER Staff · May 23, 2013Can I muzzle an overweight pony that eats from a round bale of hay?
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Grazing Muzzles for Horses: How Effective Are They?
By KER Staff · May 16, 2013Grazing muzzle works well for many horses in limiting intake of carbohydrate-rich grass, but still allowing horses the many benefits of turnout.
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Proper Diet for a Mule
By KER Staff · May 9, 2013Am I feeding my mule adequately?
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Young Gelding Develops Diarrhea When Given Most Forages
By KER Staff · March 15, 2013My young gelding develops diarrhea in response to many common forages. What gives?
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Thoughts on Extruded Feeds
By KER Staff · March 7, 2013What are your thoughts on extruded feeds?
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Young Mare with Recurrent Gas Colic
By KER Staff · March 4, 2013How do I feed my Quarter Horse mare to avoid recurrent gas colic?
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Maintenance Weight of a Quarter Horse Mare
By KER Staff · February 20, 2013Will my Quarter Horse mare maintain her weight on this diet or should I add a bit of high-fiber, high-fat feed?
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Diarrhea in an Aged Crossbred Mare
By KER Staff · February 12, 2013My aged mare gets diarrhea every fall when she starts eating hay. When she begins consuming pasture in the spring, she’s fine. Do you have any thoughts?
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Look to Excellent Nutrition for Better Hoof Quality
By KER Staff · February 5, 2013Rethinking a complete hoof management program for these horses with poor hooves often involves a closer look at the horse's diet.
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Keeping Miniature Horses Healthy by Managing Diet
By KER Staff · January 31, 2013Two factors typically work together to undermine moderate body condition among Miniature Horses: relatively sedentary lifestyles and efficient metabolism. Because of these factors, nutritional management of these horses involves careful planning.
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Feed or Supplement for a Horse with Hindgut Acidosis
By KER Staff · January 28, 2013What is a good feed or supplement for a horse with hindgut acidosis?
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Welsh Pony Mare Needs Proper Nutrition
By KER Staff · January 4, 2013Can you help me piece together a diet for my Welsh pony mare that competes in driving competitions?
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Hay: A Staple in Many Horse Diets
By KER Staff · December 5, 2012Equine diets should be based on forage, and hay is the forage form of choice for stalled horses and those that don’t have access to fresh pasture grass because of season or another factor. There are several ways to prepare or treat hay to make it more appealing to horses or to change its nutrient profile.
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Dietary Yeast Has Some Benefits for Horses
By KER Staff · November 1, 2012Various studies have investigated the benefits of feeding yeast to horses. A recent study examined the effects of yeast supplementation on closure of articular growth plates in young horses.
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Variations in Grain Processing Influence Digestibility by Horses
By KER Staff · October 30, 2012Processing grain makes the starch in the grain more digestible for horses. Increased digestibility is desirable because starch that is not completely digested in the horse’s small intestine can flow into the hindgut, leading to rapid fermentation and digestive upsets.
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Management of Drought-Stressed Hay Fields
By KER Staff · October 9, 2012With drought conditions beginning to ease in many parts of the country, hay growers may have questions about whether to do a late fall mowing or just leave their fields alone until spring.
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Feeding Round Hay Bales to Horses
By KER Staff · October 2, 2012Dry growing conditions in many areas of the country have reduced the forage harvest, leading horse owners to consider alternatives to traditional square hay bales. Round bales are often a suitable option.
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Diets Evaluated for Refeeding Starved Horses
By KER Staff · September 21, 2012Refeeding emaciated horses is a challenge because they have often lost all fat and carbohydrate stores and are staying alive by metabolizing protein, including heart and organ tissues. A recent study compared three different rations for refeeding starved horses.
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Anti-Ulcer Supplement for Horses with No Signs of Ulcers
By KER Staff · July 31, 2012Would it hurt to put my horse on an ulcer supplement even though he doesn’t have any signs of ulcers?
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Understanding Dry Matter in Forage for Horses
By KER Staff · July 30, 2012Horse owners may have heard suggestions as to how much hay to give their horses, typically around 1.5 to 2% of the horse’s weight in hay each day. This amount of hay is designated as a “dry matter” weight. What is meant by “dry matter,” and what is the importance of this designation?
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Feeding to Prevent Gut Pathology in Horses
By KER Staff · July 27, 2012Horses have a specialized digestive system based on their natural feeding pattern of continuous ingestion of grass and other forage. Variations to this pattern can easily lead to gastrointestinal upsets that can have serious consequences.
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Nutrient Digestibility in Horses
By KER Staff · July 25, 2012Digestibility of nutrients varies somewhat by feed source, and there are also interactions between certain nutrients that affect how well each is digested. Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has conducted numerous digestibility trials to evaluate different types of feeds and feed ingredients for horses.
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Understanding Crude Protein and Crude Fiber in Horse Diets
By KER Staff · July 24, 2012Crude fiber and crude protein are designations that are sometimes found on feed tags. A brief explanation of both will help horse owners better understand these values.
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Feeding Frequency: Does It Affect Digestion in Ponies?
By KER Staff · July 23, 2012The horse is a grazing animal by nature, with free-ranging horses spending up to 75% of their time grazing. Many horses to live in confinement now and are subjected to meal feeding. Does feeding frequency improve digestibility of nutrients?
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Gluten-Free Diets for Horses
By KER Staff · July 13, 2012Researchers set up a feeding trial to find out whether horses have a sensitivity to gluten that could contribute to inflammatory small bowel disease, similar to what is diagnosed in humans.
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Protein Levels and Environmental Impact of Equine Diets
By KER Staff · June 28, 2012Can your choice of feed for your horse have an effect on the environment? Theoretically, yes, according to the results of recent research.
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Carbohydrates in Equine Nutrition
By KER Staff · June 21, 2012There are a number of different types of carbohydrates in horse feed, and they vary considerably as to how well horses digest and utilize each one.
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Good-Quality Forage Important for Horses
By KER Staff · June 20, 2012During times when pasture is not available, the selection and purchase of hay or other forage sources becomes a vital decision for horse owners.
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Effects of Diet on Horse's Digestive Tract
By KER Staff · June 18, 2012The end effect that consumption of a diet has on the gastrointestinal tract is a function of physical form of the diet, percent concentrate compared to percent forage in the diet, chemical composition of the diet, and feeding rate.
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Why is Feeding Frequency Important in Horse Management?
By KER Staff · June 7, 2012Feeding frequency affects various physiological parameters, particularly gastric and intestinal function, as well as behavior, but number of meals per day depends largely on forage availability, workload, metabolism, age, and body condition.
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Protein-to-Energy Ratio in Young-Horse Diets
By KER Staff · May 18, 2012Requirements for protein and energy are closely linked in young horses, and a deficiency of either will result in a reduced growth rate.
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Forage: A Fluid Reservoir for Horses
By KER Staff · April 24, 2012Ingested forage holds water in the horse’s gut. While this may be advantageous for some equine athletes, it may not be for others.
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Intestinal Parasites and Equine Nutrition
By KER Staff · April 23, 2012Infestations of parasites usually aren’t fatal to horses, but parasites damage the gastrointestinal tract, may lead to diarrhea or colic, often cause a pot-bellied appearance and a rough coat, and may adversely affect the growth of young horses.
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Function and Health of the Horse’s Small Colon and Rectum
By Drs. Peter Huntington and Kathleen Crandell · March 30, 2012The small colon and rectum are the most posterior segments of the equine gastrointestinal tract. While fewer problems arise in these areas than in more anterior regions of the tract, knowledge of their function remains important.
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Feeding Recommendations for a Healthy Equine Digestive Tract
By KER Staff · March 22, 2012Following these ten nutritional management strategies will go a long way in keeping your horse healthy and content.
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Lipizzan Gelding with Chronic Loose Manure
By KER Staff · February 28, 2012My Lipizzan gelding has chronic loose manure on a high-fiber diet. What could be the cause?
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Function and Health of the Horse's Small Intestine
By KER Staff · 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 KER 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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Maintaining a Healthy Equine Digestive Tract: Stomach
By KER Staff · 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 KER Staff · 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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Maintaining a Healthy Equine Digestive Tract: Mouth and Esophagus
By KER Staff · 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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Hindgut Buffer and Probiotic Compatible
By KER Staff · January 24, 2012Can EquiShure and probiotics be fed together?
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Balancing the Microbes in the Horse's Digestive Tract
By KER Staff · 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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Dental Correction Improves Digestibility in Horses
By KER 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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What Grasses Do Horses Prefer?
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Saliva Production and Function in the Horse
By KER 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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Feeding Your New Horse
By KER Staff · November 18, 2011Formulate a plan to make changes in your new horse's nutrition as smooth as possible.
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Appropriate Feed for Aged, Laminitic Mare
By KER Staff · November 11, 2011Would Re-Leve Original be an appropriate feed for a 26-year-old mare prone to laminitis?
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The Role of Weather in Colic
By KER 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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Recent Colic Research Update
By KER Staff · November 2, 2011Recent research has identified one reason why stabled horses have a higher risk/incidence of colic.
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Hay Cubes and Pellets for Horses
By KER 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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Feeding Horses in Drought Conditions
By KER 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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Strange Tastes: Pica in Horses
By KER 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 the Underweight Older Horse
By KER Staff · October 17, 2011I have several older horses that just aren't thriving. How can I safely put a little meat on their bones?
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Saliva Production in Muzzled Horses
By KER Staff · October 12, 2011Does decreased intake affect saliva production and potentially gastric health?
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Feeding Bran and Pollard to Horses
By KER Staff · 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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Digestibility in Aged Horses
By KER 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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Slowing Feed Intake Might Reduce Insulin Spikes
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Autumn Grass Poses Risk for Laminitic Horses
By KER 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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Vitamin K Supplementation for Horses
By KER Staff · September 19, 2011New research has shown that the most effective way to supplement horses with vitamin K is in the form of K3, or menadione.
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Make Horse Feed Changes Gradually
By KER Staff · September 16, 2011Horses are creatures of habit, especially when it comes to their feed and management.
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Drylots for Horses
By KER 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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Preventing Colic and Laminitis After a Horse Overeats
By KER 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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Feeding Horses During Travel
By KER Staff · September 9, 2011Careful management of horses’ nutrition while on the road can help to alleviate some potential causes of stress.
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Feeding Horses Before Travel
By KER Staff · September 7, 2011A little pre-planning can help your travelling horse to remain healthy and well-fed.
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Why Isn’t My Horse Gaining Weight?
By KER Staff · 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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Horses on Pasture: When to Graze
By KER 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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Can Psyllium Influence Blood Glucose Level?
By KER Staff · July 28, 2011Horses supplemented with psyllium had lower blood glucose levels, both post-feeding and average, than control horses.
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General Rules of Equine Nutritional Management
By KER 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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Feeding the Older Horse
By KER 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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Feeding Vinegar to Horses
By KER Staff · 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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Yeast Supplementation and Fiber Digestion in Horses
By KER 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 KER Staff · May 19, 2011Meals of hay and concentrates cause gastrin levels to rise, increasing gastric acid production.
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Gastrointestinal Tract Health for Top Performance in Horses
By KER 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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Feeding Horses with Gastrointestinal Disorders
By KER Staff · April 25, 2011A myriad of gastrointestinal disorders beset horses, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening.
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Putting Weight on a Thin Horse: Just the Basics
By KER Staff · April 18, 2011Basic steps to helping a clinically normal horse gain weight.
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Forage for Endurance Horses
By KER Staff · April 5, 2011Forage is perhaps the single most important ingredient in an endurance horse's diet.
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Gastrointestinal Tract Basics: The Horse’s Hindgut
By KER Staff · 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 KER 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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Gastrointestinal Tract Basics: The Horse’s Foregut
By KER Staff · March 28, 2011Knowing the architecture of the equine gastrointestinal tract is the first step in understanding proper feeding management.
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Fiber: An Important Component in Equine Nutrition
By KER 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 KER 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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Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
By KER 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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Questioning Hindgut Health
By KER Staff · February 24, 2011<p> How can I be sure my gelding's hindgut is as healthy as his stomach appears to be?</p>
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Forage Key when Feeding Horses in Stressful Conditions
By KER 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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Long-Stem vs. Short-Stem Forages
By KER 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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Hindgut Buffer and Weight Gain
By KER Staff · January 12, 2011<p> Will a hindgut buffer help this mature gelding gain weight?</p>
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High-Fiber, High-Fat Feed for Ulcer-Prone Horses
By KER Staff · January 6, 2011<p> Is high-fiber, high-fat feed appropriate for horses that are susceptible to gastric ulcers?</p>
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Antioxidants for Tip-Top Performance
By KER 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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Food for Thought: Details of the Equine Digestive Tract
By KER 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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Refeeding Malnourished Horses
By KER 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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Forages the Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health
By KER 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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Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications
By KER 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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Colic caused by Persimmons
By KER 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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Link between Gastric Ulcers and Exercise
By KER 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 KER Staff · February 15, 2010Should you keep a radio playing in the barn to keep the horses company?
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Low pH Levels and Stereotypies
By KER Staff · February 15, 2010Stereotypies are repetitive behaviors such as weaving or cribbing
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Equine Proliferative Enteropathy Caused by Lawsonia
By KER 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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Feeding Laminitic Horses
By KER 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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Omega-3 Benefits in Horses
By KER 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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Grazing Multiple Species
By KER 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 KER 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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Colic Caused by Stomach Distention is a Life-Threatening Condition
By KER 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 KER 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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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Fish Oil Supplements for Horses
By KER Staff · January 24, 2010<p> Can supplementing 60 ml of fish oil a day give a horse diarrhea? </p>
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Feeding Starved or Malnourished Horses
By KER Staff · 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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Equine Protein Requirements
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Nutrition for Horses with Small Intestinal Colic
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Does Nutrition Influence Equine Behavior?
By KER 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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Feeding Horses During Natural Disasters
By KER 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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Water: The Overlooked Nutrient
By KER 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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Psyllium for Prevention of Sand Colic in Horses
By KER 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 KER 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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Understanding Digestion in the Horse: Comparative Approach
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Acidosis and Starch Fermentation Studied
By KER 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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Forages the Foundation for Equine Gastrointestinal Health
By KER 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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Nutrition and Convenience in Cube Form
By KER 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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Basics of Horse Feed Management
By KER Staff · October 27, 2006Forages, concentrates, and other basics of equine nutrition.
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Hurricane Disaster Response: Equine Feeds
By KER 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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Keeping Tabs on Carbs in Equine Diets
By KER 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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Refeeding the Starved Horse
By KER 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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Fiber for Horses: Soybean Hulls a Quality Source
By KER 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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Foal Heat Diarrhea Studied
By KER 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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Oats: The Perfect Horse Feed?
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Colic Risk Factors
By KER 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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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Preventing Sand Colic in Horses
By KER Staff · October 29, 2003<p> What is sand colic and how can I safeguard my horse from it? </p>
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Oxalates
By KER 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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Digestive Aids: Does Your Horse Need Them?
By KER 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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Oats in the Equine Diet
By KER 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 KER 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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Yeast Supplementation used in Horse Diets
By KER 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 KER 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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Avoid Risks from Fumonisin in Corn
By KER 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 KER 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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Feeding the Horse Following Anterior Enteritis
By KER 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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Forage Forms
By KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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 KER 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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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Feeding Rations for Horses
By KER Staff · October 27, 2001<p> How much feed should be fed to a horse in a single meal?</p>
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Don’t Pass on Processed Feeds
By KER 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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Equine Nutritionist Q&A: Slowing Down the Fast Eating Horse
By KER Staff · October 27, 2000<p> How do you slow down a horse who bolts his feed?</p>
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Preparing the Halter Horse
By KER 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 KER 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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Stabilized Rice Bran–Just the Facts, Please
By KER 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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What Are Those Pellets in the Sweet Feed?
By KER 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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Equine Dentistry: Benefits of Proper Care
By KER 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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