Nutrition

Also referred to as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an important water-soluble vitamin for horses. It works together with vitamin E and selenium to provide antioxidant protection against cell damage. Vitamin C has additional roles in the equine body including...

BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) are muscle-building supplements that have become popular among equine athletes for performance, recovery and fatigue. BCAA include leucine, isoleucine, and valine, and play a crucial role in protein synthesis, muscle growth, and energy production.

Feeding horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), previously referred to as Equine Cushing’s disease, can be a challenge. Horses affected by PPID are typically older and may have other health issues including equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). This condition can...

Raising a healthy foal involves working closely with your veterinarian and equine nutritionist to make sure they are maintaining proper growth and development. Foals grow quickly in the first few months after birth, reaching ~80% of their mature height and...

Performance horses have higher energy and protein requirements than horses at maintenance (not exercising). Formulating diets to meet the requirements of horses in work should take into account their level of work and performance goals, as well as help mitigate...

Forage is the single highest volume component in the equine diet. The type, quality, and maturity of the forage you feed have the greatest impact on the nutritional composition of your horse's ration. The only way to precisely assess the...

In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has gained popularity as a natural remedy for some equine medical conditions. Currently, research into the effects of CBD on horses is very limited, and many reports of its purported benefits are anecdotal. Cannabidiol is...

Chia seeds are derived from the Salvia hispanica plant and are fed to horses to support gut health and provide nutrients. A member of the mint family, chia has been cultivated for over 5,000 years in Central America. The seeds...

Turning horses out on pasture is one of the best ways to encourage natural grazing behaviour. Fresh forage can be a valuable part of a balanced equine diet, but grass does not have the same nutritional value throughout the year....

Alfalfa is a popular forage choice for horses and an ingredient in many equine feeds. This legume forage can be processed and preserved in many different ways to make it easier to incorporate into the diet. Alfalfa is nutrient-dense and...

For horse owners and barn managers, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a challenging condition to manage. How do you know which hays and feeds are safe and how should pasture turnout be regulated? Horses and ponies diagnosed with EMS cannot...

By-product ingredients are a fixture in equine diets, either as components of a complete feed or as concentrates added into the diet on their own. Although the term “by-product” may carry a negative connotation, these feeds are often high-quality, cost-effective...

Carbohydrates are the main energy source in an equine diet. These macronutrients are naturally abundant in forages, grains and grain by-products. Carbohydrates can be categorized based on their function in the plant and how they are digested by the horse.

A variety of supplemental oils including camelina, flax, soy, corn, fish, and canola are commonly used in equine diets. Although every oil provides the same amount of energy, each one has a different fatty acid profile which can influence the...

Rice bran oil (RBO) is an increasingly popular fat supplement fed to horses for weight management, cool energy, and coat quality. The oil is derived from the germ and bran of brown rice grains and contains essential fatty acids and...

Fructans are a storage form of carbohydrate and a component of the non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) found in cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue, timothy, orchardgrass, and perennial ryegrass. Fructans are indigestible by horses, passing through the foregut to the hindgut...

Is hair analysis a reliable way to evaluate your horse's mineral status? Mineral testing is an important aspect of monitoring your horse's health, especially if forages in your area are known to be deficient or excessive in a given nutrient....

Straw or chaff is a high-fibre low-sugar forage that is ideal for horses that are overweight or insulin-resistant. Straw adds bulk to your horse's diet without contributing significant calories or protein. Research shows that adding straw to a forage ration...

A forage-based diet is the best way to support your horse’s health and happiness, but it is not always easy to know how much hay to feed. Horses that are allowed free-choice (ad libitum) access to hay-only diets will typically...

Also known as linseed, flaxseed is produced from the flax plant and can be used to provide fat, protein, and fibre in the equine diet. Flax products are cost-effective, calorie-dense and commonly fed to horses for weight gain or to...

An increasingly popular equine forage, teff grass is grown in warm geographic regions and is commonly cultivated in the Southern USA. Native to Africa, teff is a warm-season grass that is high in fibre and low in sugars and starch....

Proper vitamin and mineral nutrition is critical to maintaining your horse's health and well-being. But how do you ensure that your horse gets everything they need to balance their diet? Horses on a forage-only diet universally have deficiencies in key...

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are two of the most common ingredients found in equine joint products. These natural supplements are purported to promote mobility and joint comfort in hard-working performance horses and aging seniors. But despite their commercial success, there...

Hay dunking describes an abnormal equine feeding behaviour in which horses dunk their hay in water before chewing and swallowing it. This can be a messy habit and many horse owners want to know why it happens and how to...

Has your horse started eating or licking the soil? The ingestion of soil in animals is referred to as geophagia. The reason some horses eat dirt is not fully understood. But the behavior is thought to serve a nutritional purpose...

Have you noticed changes in your horse's appetite and eating behavior? Perhaps your horse has gone off their feed or is no longer interested in eating as much forage as usual. Or maybe your horse's appetite has increased, and they...

Your vet has just confirmed that your mare is pregnant, and you can’t wait for that healthy foal to arrive! When should you be changing her feed? How much weight does she need to gain? What additional nutrients does she...

Soy is a common ingredient in many equine feeds. Different parts of the soybean can be used to provide protein, energy, and fiber in your horse's diet. Soybeans are popular because of their versatility and affordability. Soy oil is a...

Adding fats and oils to your horse’s diet is a great way to increase calorie supply without relying on grains and high-NSC feeds. Fats can be added to the diets of underweight horses as weight gain supplements. Oils also provide...

Is your horse getting what she needs in her current diet? Does she have health concerns that could be improved through feeding practices? If you own or care for horses, chances are you have asked yourself these questions at some...