Dr. Fran Rowe | Mad Barn

About Dr. Fran Rowe, DVM, PAS

Dr. Fran Rowe is from the heart of horse country – Lexington, Virginia – where she grew up galloping over fields and up mountains fox hunting her Welsh Cob pony, Ant, and later eventing her OTTB, Mongo. Dr. Rowe completed her BS in Chemistry at Roanoke College in 2016, then her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 2020. Dr. Rowe spent 3 years in equine private practice prior to joining the Mad Barn team in 2023, completing a one-year Equine Medicine and Surgery Internship at Unionville Equine Associates in Oxford, Pennsylvania before joining a small practice in central Pennsylvania as an ambulatory veterinarian. Dr. Rowe is a certified Professional Animal Scientist (PAS) through the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS), signifying her commitment to science-driven, ethical practices in animal nutrition, care, and management, as well as her adherence to top professional standards in the field. When she’s not nose-deep in equine nutrition, Dr. Rowe enjoys spending time baking, gardening, entertaining her two cats, Peach and Toad, and (of course) riding!

14 Best Ways to Naturally Prevent Colic in Horses [Countdown] Brooklynn Liversidge, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

As many horse owners know, colic is an unpredictable, painful, and sometimes fatal condition. Colic refers to abdominal pain in your horse. It is an amorphous condition that can lead to potentially serious health complications. Colic may present as a...

Vitamins for Horses: Requirements, Roles, Deficiency & Excess Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential for all living things. Vitamins have diverse roles within the horse's body, affecting energy metabolism, growth and repair, muscle function, neurological health, immune function and much more. Vitamins function as cofactors for metabolic...

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Horses – Signs, Causes, Treatment & Diet Sydney Banton, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a broad term that describes a group of diseases marked by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract of the horse. Horses with IBD may show outward signs including recurrent colic, diarrhea, weight loss, and low energy...

12 Best Ways to Prevent Gastric Ulcers in Horses Hannah Godfrey, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

What can you do to prevent ulcers from developing in your horse? Equine ulcers are all too common, with studies showing that up to 90% of horses will be affected by ulcers in their lifetime. Stomach ulcers, also known as...

16 Best Ulcer Supplements for Horses – Safe & Natural [Research Review] Hannah Godfrey, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Equine supplements targeted towards ulcer prevention are on the rise, but not all products are created equal. Dietary management for horses with ulcers can include increasing forage and decreasing grain, as well as providing supplements that support a healthy digestive...

Laminitis in Horses: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Treatment Jane Meggitt, BA | July 31, 2026

Equine laminitis is a painful condition affecting the horse's hooves. Cases of laminitis range in severity from mild foot tenderness to chronic founder, potentially impeding the horse's ability to walk. Laminitis is the bane of any horse owner's existence. Horses...

9 DIY Enrichment Activities for Horses to Prevent Boredom [LIST] Brie Simpson, CHBC Candidate | July 31, 2026

Looking for ways to prevent boredom in your horse? Enrichment activities for your horse don't need to cost a lot and can be easy to set up. Many horse owners are aware of the basic components of animal welfare. You...

Fish Oil for Horses – Does this Supplement Work? [Research Review] Sydney Banton, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

You've probably heard about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, but does this supplement work for horses? Fish oil is often added to diets, both human and animal, as a source of the essential omega-3 fatty...

Amino Acid Requirements for Horses: When to Feed More Protein? Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Is your horse getting a balanced range of essential and non-essential amino acids from their feeding program? Your horse needs adequate amino acids in their diet to make proteins. Proteins are complex molecules that are required for almost every physiological...

4 Common Causes of Hindgut Ulcers in Horses [How to Treat & Prevent] Casie Bazay, BS, NBCAAM | July 31, 2026

Equine gastric ulcers are extremely common, especially in performance horses. But ulcers can also occur in the horse's hindgut and have negative consequences for digestive health. Hindgut ulcers are also known as colonic ulcers. Veterinarians often refer to the condition...

8 Key Principles for Supporting Joint Health in Horses [Countdown] Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Whether a foal, a broodmare, or a mature or aging horse, supporting joint health is a common concern for many horse owners. Being proactive can help to prevent joint problems from affecting your horse, robbing them of performance, comfort and...

Top 8 Joint Supplements for Horses [Validated By Research] Hannah Godfrey, B.Sc., M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Supplements targeting joint health are some of the most sought-after dietary supplements for horses, especially due to the high prevalence of joint injuries and deterioration later in life. But which equine joint supplements actually work and which are all hype?...

Lysine, Methionine & Threonine for Horses: 7 Reasons to Supplement these Amino Acids Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Lysine, methionine and threonine are known as rate-limiting amino acids that are required in the horse's diet because they cannot be made in the body. Of the 21 amino acids that exist, these three are most commonly deficient in the...

7 Common Causes of Gastric Ulcers in Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Have you noticed changes in your horse such as weight loss, a dull coat, disinterest in feeding or crib chewing that have resulted in poor performance? Your horse might be experiencing stomach pain, most likely due to gastric ulcers. Equine...

9 Science-Backed Benefits of MSM for Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a naturally occurring form of sulfur that is found in plants and animals. MSM is used to support joint comfort in aging horses and performance horses. Horses and other mammals cannot utilize pure sulfur in its elemental...

7 Research-Backed Health Benefits of Selenium for Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant mineral that is necessary in the horse’s diet. Horses derive selenium by consuming hay or grasses that grow in soils that contain this trace mineral. However, if you live in a region with low selenium...

Feeding Horses Mineral Vitamin Supplement

How to Give a New Supplement to Your Horse: Preventing Feed Refusal Noelle Ursel, B.Sc. | July 31, 2026

If you have taken the first steps towards feeding your horse a balanced diet that includes a concentrated mineral and vitamin supplement, there's a chance that your horse may turn its head up when first introduced to it. But don't...

Taking a Hay Sample for Your Horse and Understanding the Analysis Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | August 20, 2026

Feeding a quality forage should be the basis of every feeding program. Given the forage portion will account for the large majority of nutrient intake for your horse, isn't it important to understand what is in that forage? By knowing...