Horses are unique because they absorb phosphorus from their hindgut… which is a stroke of genius on a horse’s part… here is why. Phosphorus in grains, legumes/oilseeds is bound up in a compound called phytate. ‘Phytate bound phosphorus’ is as good as indigestible for most monogastrics who absorb phosphorus from their small intestine (like pigs […]
Question: Does gastric ulcer medication reduce nutrient digestion in horses? Answer: Yes Research shows that starch from grains that were exposed to equine stomach fluid before being digested by small intestinal enzymes was between 17% (extruded rice) and 104% (cracked triticale) more digested than starch that wasn’t exposed to the stomach fluid. While the research […]
Many people wonder about how high sugar or high NSC forages affect their horse’s weight, so this is a question we are often asked. Our standard response has always been ‘well, it depends on the calorie content of the forage’, which then begs the question about the relationship between forage NSC and digestible energy content. […]
Does your horse get diarrhea on fresh alfalfa? Lucerne/Alfalfa… if it is really fresh and green it will often cause scouring/diarrhea. We’re not sure what causes the scouring, BUT observation over the years is that once it is stored for a few months the problem goes away (hence the old advice to always feed ‘shedded’ […]
Feeding a horse confined to a stable… it’s a balancing act… give them plenty of feed to keep them occupied but not so much you have them climbing them walls. Here is a little help on how to do it! Horses are sometimes required to be confined due to illness or injury with no exercise […]
Did you know it’s perfectly ok to adjust the amount of feed you give your horse from day to day?? In fact it’s something we recommend you do, for a couple of reasons. First is that it helps keep your horse’s behavior level and calm. Horses are funny creatures in that they will express the […]
Vitamin C for horses: what you need to know What is vitamin C? Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. It is an important antioxidant and broadly plays a vital role in immune function, collagen synthesis, and hormone production. Do horses need it? Did you know that vitamin C is not […]
Feeding grain free diets has grown in popularity in the last 10 years and there are certainly many benefits. BUT, need it always be the way to go? The answer is, it depends, but often no. Horses with conditions like laminitis, PSSM tying up, PPID/Cushing’s, equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance etc MUST be fed a […]
We talk a lot about a horse’s gut bacteria and how they impact health… have you ever stopped to think about your gut bacteria and how they might be influencing your health?? This relatively new area of science is quite literally mind blowing. These tiny critters control us in so many ways and have such […]
From experienced horsemen to attendees at educational seminars, many equine enthusiasts don’t actually know how a horse’s gut works and why forage is so important for horse health. Did you know that the equine stomach never stops secreting gastric acid? So even when your horse is not eating, it is filling the lower part of […]
