As equine care-takers, ammonia is something that we battle on a daily basis, whether it is in stalls or in the trailer.Ammonia is that pungent odor that burns your nose, lungs, and eyes and is a result of urea,a nitrogen-containing molecule that is present in urine and feces. Urea itself is non-toxic and has nosmell, but once excreted, urea is rapidly converted to ammonia. Ammonia is very irritati…
Both
human and equine populations in the United States are trending toward a serious
epidemic – obesity. With domestication of the horse and improvements in
technology, we as horse owners and care-takers, have inadvertently subjected
the equine population to “over-nutrition”. Many pastures that horses
graze are well cared-for and the grasses are unlimited. Many other horses
are fed the mo…
In the last blog, we discussed the minerals required by a horse in large volumes such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. We also covered the importance of incorporating the trace minerals copper, zinc, and manganese into the diet and how organic forms of these minerals may improve absorption rates and utilization. Finally, we touched on vitamins A, D, and E. This month we will turn…
In the last blog, we discussed the first steps to take when reading a feed tag which included evaluating protein, amino acids, fat, fiber, and the list of major feed ingredients. We also touched on the differences between least-cost formulations, open labels and locked formulas. This month we will turn our focus to vitamins and minerals.The first minerals to evaluate are calcium and phosphorus.…
We’ve all been there; standing in the feed aisle trying to decide which product to choose, wanting to make an informed decision, the best decision. We think about the needs of our horse and we research the internet. We even compare feed tags, but when you don’t really know what to look for, they all look the same and it’s hard to tell if there really is any difference between one bag and another…
More than 15 percent of the U.S. equine population is older than 20 with many still participating in athletic activities. With so many of today’s horses living and working into their late 20's and even 30's, it is important to adjust their nutrition programs as they age. Dental UpkeepFirst and foremost, a senior horse must be on a routine dental evaluation program. The years take a toll on a…
