Our Research Program

Every Mad Barn purchase directly funds our research program to improve equine nutrition, health, performance and welfare
Equine Research Program at Mad Barn
 
Mad Barn is dedicated to advancing equine well-being through investment in research on nutrition, health, management, and performance. We partner with leading universities, conduct in‐house trials under rigorous protocols, and develop tools that translate findings into practical solutions for horse owners, veterinarians and industry professionals.

Below is a detailed overview of our ongoing and completed research initiatives, including projects directed and executed by Mad Barn, and those conducted by external partners to which we’ve contributed financial or other support.
University of Guelph Utrecht University Wageningen University Ohio State University Aarhus University Alltech

Nutrition Research

Nutritional requirements for horses are currently calculated based on body weight and adjusted according to physiological status (e.g., growing, lactating, or exercising). [1]

In other species, such as poultry and swine, mathematical models precisely match intake to requirements, minimizing over- or under-feeding of key nutrients. These models account for nutrient partitioning, changing body composition over time, and transient factors (e.g., hot weather) that influence metabolism and feed-intake behavior.

Many horses are overfed energy and protein, which can negatively impact health and increase the environmental footprint of the equine industry. [2]

Objective

To feed horses more precisely, this project will simulate equine digestion and metabolism, yielding a detailed picture of how dietary nutrients are utilized.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project conceptualization
  • Financial support
  • Ongoing collaboration
  • Student advisory committee

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • OMAFRA
  • Mitacs

References

  1. National Research Council Nutrient Requirements of Horses: Sixth Revised Edition. 2007.
  2. Latham, C.M. et al. A survey of North American horse diets: What are we missing? J Equine Vet Sci. 2023.

Current prediction equations for forage intake in horses are based on body weight and physiological status. These equations do not account for forage characteristics, making it difficult to predict how much of a particular forage a horse will consume. This limits our ability to accurately estimate nutrient intake.

Objective

The aim of this project is to develop predictive equations for forage intake using a meta-analysis approach and to determine the relative influence of various animal and forage characteristics on intake.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project conceptualization
  • Financial support
  • Ongoing collaboration

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • Mitacs Accelerate

Status

In vitro (in a lab setting) digestion of feedstuffs allows researchers to characterize the breakdown of feeds without relying on research in horses. This contributes to our understanding of how feeds are handled by different segments of the horse's digestive system to predict when and where nutrients are available for absorption.

Objective

The objective of this project is to characterize the foregut (small intestine) digestion of common feedstuffs that are frequently added to equine feeds. The degradation rates of various nutrients will be used to inform a mathematical model of equine digestion and metabolism.

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Mitacs

Status

After feed passes through the small intestine, the remaining digesta enters the hindgut, where microbial fermentation breaks it down further. This process releases gases and volatile fatty acids. When hindgut fermentation is simulated in vitro, the rate of gas production and nutrient degradation can be measured over time.

Objective

This project aims to characterize the hindgut fermentation of common feedstuffs that are frequently added to equine feeds. The degradation rates of various nutrients will be used to inform a mathematical model of equine digestion and metabolism.

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Mitacs

Status

  • In vitro work completed
  • Manuscript in preparation

Mechanistic models of nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism are used in industry to support decision making. They are also used by academia to compile cumulative knowledge and identify gaps for future research.

To date there has been limited work on mechanistic models of equine metabolism.

Objective

The objective of this project is develop a mechanistic model of equine metabolism using existing data on nutrient partitioning and a meta-analysis approach to develop equations for predicting production of certain metabolic intermediates.

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • Mitacs

Status

Mean retention time (MRT) is the average duration that digesta remains in the gastrointestinal tract. It is influenced by both diet and animal characteristics, and in turn, affects nutrient breakdown and absorption.

To accurately predict how a diet will be digested, we need reliable methods to estimate feed intake, feedstuff degradability, and mean retention time (MRT).

Objective

The objective of this project is to compile data from individual studies that have measured MRT in horses to build predictive mathematical models of MRT.

Research Collaborators

Status

The starch and sugar content of commercial horse feeds is often not disclosed on the feed tag. However, this information is critical for developing appropriate feeding programs, especially for horses with insulin resistance or gut health issues.

This project uses a mathematical approach to estimate starch and sugar content of a feed from given feed tag values, ingredients, and independent feed analysis reports where available.

Objective

To support decision-making when choosing appropriate feeds, this project will generate a tool that predicts starch and sugar content based on information provided on a feed tag.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Financial support
  • Student supervision
  • In-kind support

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Model development underway

How can you help?

  • Send us an email ( info@madbarn.com) to submit a sample of your feed for independent analysis.

The aged horse population is on the rise, bringing an increased focus on age-related health concerns. There are numerous senior horse rations on the market designed to support their special care concerns, including metabolic concerns, muscle loss, and digestive inefficiencies. However, the prevalence of these specialized care concerns and how owners adjust diets in response are rarely examined.

Objective

This study aimed to determine whether owners of senior horses report more health concerns, including metabolic, digestive, hoof, joint, calming, respiratory, and topline issues, compared to owners of mature horses.

Furthermore, we examined whether their diets differed in nutrient supply.

Methods

Horse owners in the U.S. and Canada submitted their horses' diets for review by a nutritionist. Owners were asked to provide information on their horses' age, weight, exercise level, diet composition, and special care needs.

Submissions and diets for 47 mature (9–14 years old) and 53 aged (21–35 years old) horses at maintenance or in light to moderate exercise were analyzed using Prism v10.4.1. Differences in special care needs between mature and aged horses were analyzed using a Chi-squared test. Dietary intake, expressed as a percentage of requirements, was compared between the two groups using two-tailed t-tests. A nonparametric Mann Whitney test was employed in cases where the data was not normally distributed.

Results

Owners of aged horses reported concerns for joint health (P = 0.006) more frequently than owners of mature horses. They also tended to report concerns for metabolic health (P = 0.09) and topline condition (P = 0.07) more often.

Dietary intake as a percentage of requirements did not differ between mature and aged horses, except for potassium, which was higher in mature horses (P = 0.02).

Given that the nutrient requirements of aged horses have not been shown to differ from those of mature horses, the lack of variation in intake was not surprising. However, the increased concern for age-related conditions such as joint deterioration, metabolic dysregulation, and topline muscle loss highlights the need for more tailored nutritional and management support for senior horses.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project conceptualization
  • Statistical analysis
  • Conference presentation

Status

  • Presented at the 2025 Equine Science Society Conference

Balanced nutrition is critical for the health and well-being of horses. To date, there is limited information on the composition of North American equine diets.

Objective

Assess the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies and equine health concerns in North America.

Methods

North American horse owners submitted their horse's diets for review by a nutritionist. They were asked to provide information on their horses’ age, weight, exercise level, diet composition, and health concerns.

They were also asked to classify their horses' body condition as underweight (UW), slightly underweight (SU), normal weight (NW), slightly overweight (SO), overweight (OW), or obese (OB). Our sample population includes mature horses of various breeds and exercise levels.

Diet nutrient composition was based on guaranteed analyses provided by manufacturers and an average hay analysis corrected for variations in regional soil mineral contents, or the hay analysis submitted by the horse owner where available. Nutrient intakes were compared with each horse's requirements based on their exercise level and body weight, obtained from the NRC, to calculate nutrient intake as a percentage of requirements

Results

  • Of the 6515 horses in our dataset, the vast majority (86%) had at least one health concern, as reported by horse owners
  • Many diets were oversupplying energy and protein
  • Many diets were undersupplying electrolytes and antioxidants

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project conceptualization
  • Statistical analysis
  • Conference presentation

Status

Digestible energy (DE) is not listed on labels for equine feeds, and existing equations for calculating DE often require inputs that are not commonly provided. This makes it difficult to assess the energy content of a feed and to compare different feeds effectively.

Objective

The goal of this project is to develop new digestible energy (DE) equations that estimate the energy content of feeds using values commonly listed in the guaranteed analysis. This will help horse owners better understand the energy provided by a feed and determine its suitability for their horse.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • In-kind support: Feed Bank Database
  • Financial support

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Presented at 2025 Equine Science Society Conference

High-protein commodities, such as soybean meal and canola meal, are expensive components of equine diets. Their competing demand in other livestock industries contributes to rising prices for equine feeds.

Black soldier fly larva is a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative with a suitable nutritional profile for horses.

Objective

This study assessed the safety, palatability, and preference for black soldier fly larva added to the diets of mature horses.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • In-kind support: Supplement production

Research Collaborators

Status

Forage nutrient profiles can vary due to several factors, including plant species, stage of maturity, growth conditions, and harvest and storage practices. The trace mineral content of forages is largely affected by growth conditions, namely soil nutrient content and soil characteristics such as pH level.

The only way to determine the nutrient composition of your hay is to submit a sample for analysis. Over the past 15 – 20 years, thousands of forage samples from across North America have been analyzed.

Objective

The objective of this project is to compile historical forage analysis data into a tool that horse owners can use to estimate the nutritional profile of their hay based on where they live and the type of forage.

This will help inform appropriate diet balancing strategies to prevent nutrient deficiencies.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Student guidance
  • User interface development

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Data analysis underway


Welfare and Management Research

Body condition scoring of horses is an important component of horse management. However, it is challenging for horse owners to objectively assess their horse's body condition. [1]

Objective

This project will develop a machine learning tool that enables horse owners to take a photo of their horse and receive an estimated body condition score.

The model will be trained using photos of horses representing the full range of the one-to-nine Henneke body condition scoring scale. Once developed, the model will be validated by comparing its results to in-person assessments conducted by trained professionals.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project conceptualization
  • Financial support
  • Ongoing collaboration
  • Internship placement
  • User interface development

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • Mitacs Elevate

Status

  • Model training underway

References

  1. Golding, E. et al. Rate of obesity within a mixed-breed group of horses in Ireland and their owners’ perceptions of body condition and useability of an equine body condition scoring scale. Irish Vet J. 2023.

There is limited data available on equine turnout practices and conditions (e.g., timing, companionship, space allowance, pasture quality). Additionally, little is known about how these factors vary across equestrian disciplines and geographical regions.

Objective

The objective of this study is to survey horse owners and caretakers across North America. It will represent the largest survey of turnout management practices conducted in the region.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Financial support
  • Ongoing collaboration
  • Student advisory committee

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Survey Participation Ongoing: You can partipate in the survey for up to $20 in Mad Barn store credit and a chance to win $1000 in products

Lesson horses often experience increased welfare challenges compared to other horses, indicated by a higher incidence of injuries, health issues, and abnormal behaviours in lesson herds. It is widely believed that improved knowledge of equine welfare will lead to better welfare outcomes for horses, but little research has been done on this subject.

Objective

To understand how educational and/or self-reflection programs highlighting equine behaviour may influence the welfare of riding lesson horses and their riders' understanding of their behaviour. These results will help identify strategies for promoting welfare improvements across the industry via improved understanding of human behaviour change.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Financial support through sponsorship of incentives provided to participating riders.

Research Collaborators

Other Funding Sources

  • NSERC
  • Brigitte Jager Grant via the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare
  • Equine Guelph


Health Research

Some mares develop prolonged inflammation after breeding, known as Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis (PBIE), which can impair their ability to conceive and sustain a pregnancy.

Objective

The objective of this study is to compare uterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma and oral supplementation of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA as potential treatments for PBIE.

The uterine microbiome of the mares will be compared as well as their response to an oral sugar test before and after the supplementation period.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • In-kind support: Product development
  • Ongoing student guidance

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Study ongoing
  • Manuscript in preparation

The nutritional management of broodmares affects the health of their foals in utero, during lactation, and throughout early development.

For neonatal foals, adequate intake of high-quality colostrum is essential for immune defense against common pathogens. This has a significant impact on their health during the early months of life.

In addition, the nutritional quality of the mare's milk can influence how quickly a foal grows. Foals that grow too quickly or have nutrient deficiencies are more susceptible to developmental issues such as osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), which is characterized by abnormal cartilage development in joints that can impact growth and future exercise performance.

Objective

The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the effectiveness of optimal vitamin and mineral supplementation, along with DHA and yeast supplementation, on colostrum and milk quality, and on health outcomes in foals.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • In-kind support: Product development
  • Ongoing student guidance

Research Collaborators

  • University of Guelph MSc Internship program

Status

  • Study ongoing

Horses sweat significantly during exercise, leading to fluid and electrolyte depletion.

Proper replenishment aids in preventing dehydration and supports exercise recovery. In order to support proper rehydration, riders and handlers need to be able to estimate how much their horses are sweating.

Objective

Mad Barn developed the Equine Loss of Electrolytes Calculator (ELEC), a tool that estimates the volume of sweat lost during and after exercise, as well as the amount of minerals lost through sweat.

This information supports evidence-based recommendations for electrolyte replenishment. The model was built using data from published studies that measured sweat losses under various ambient conditions and exercise intensities.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Model development
  • User interface development

Research Collaborators

Status

The Equine Loss of Electrolytes Calculator (ELEC) allows any horseowner to estimate sweat and electrolyte losses in their performance horses. This tool provides guidance on appropriate electrolyte and hydration replenisment.

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant for horses, protecting all cells in the body from oxidative damage. Horses on hay-based diets require supplementation to meet their vitamin E needs due to the rapid degradation of this nutrient in conserved forages.

Vitamin E supplements are available in two main forms: natural and synthetic. Research consistently shows that natural vitamin E has superior bioavailability compared to its synthetic counterpart. However, individual responses in blood vitamin E levels following supplementation are highly variable.

Objective

The objective of this meta-analysis is to quantify the relative effect size of serum response to natural and synthetic vitamin E in healthy, mature horses.

This will help determine the response to dosage, form, and duration of supplementation to refine supplementation guidelines and inform further research in horses.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Data aquisition
  • Statistical meta-analysis

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Meta-analysis underway

Horses kept in stalls are often exposed to elevated levels of ammonia in the air, which can irritate the airways and lungs.

This exposure may contribute to respiratory conditions such as heaves, also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). In performance horses, respiratory irritation can also impair exercise tolerance and athletic performance.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Yucca schidigera extract in reducing ammonia levels in horse stalls. The extract is incorporated into a fibre-rich feed, allowing for simultaneous assessment of changes in the fecal microbiome.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study execution
  • Data analysis

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Research in horses complete
  • Sample and data analysis underway

Insulin resistance is a key feature of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and can also occur in Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). These horses are at higher risk of laminitis, which causes debilitating pain and requires careful management to support recovery.

Nutrition and weight management play important roles in supporting metabolic health and promoting healthy hoof growth, both of which are critical for laminitis recovery and maintaining strong hoof structure. Providing optimal vitamin and mineral nutrition can support metabolic health by improving insulin sensitivity and support hoof health by promoting keratin synthesis.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate hoof growth and metabolic health in horses provided with one of three feeding protocols, blinded to both the researcher and the horse owner.

  1. Optimal vitamin and mineral nutrition
  2. Optimal vitamin and mineral nutrition with the herbal supplement jiaogulan
  3. No supplementation

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study execution
  • Data analysis

Status

  • Research in horses complete
  • Manuscript in preparation

Optimal vitamin and mineral balance can support hoof growth as well as coat quality. Horses that are deficient in copper and/or zinc are more susceptible to faded coat color. For example, horses with black coats may appear rusted while those with chestnut coats fade to a yellow-ish tone.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of optimal vitamin and mineral balance on hoof growth and coat color in Friesian horses with apparent sunbleaching.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study execution
  • Data analysis

Status

  • Supplementation in horses ongoing

Mad Barn is proud to support innovative research at Wageningen University and Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

The Bacin2Dliver research program is using cell culture techniques to study how digestive processes and liver function are interconnected. This will provide insights into mechanisms of colic, laminitis, and other gut-related health conditions.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study evaluation
  • Ongoing financial support

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Multiple projects in design or execution


Future Research

Based on the currently established nutrient requirements for horses, most horses are significantly overfed protein. [1]

This is costly and can also impact exercise performance. Identifying the optimal level of protein and/or amino acid supplementation that meets the needs of exercising horses without imposing additional metabolic burden will support their performance and reduce the environmental footprint of the equine industry.

Objective

The objective of these studies is to evaluate the effect of lower protein diets with or without amino acid supplementation on performance outcomes and metabolic responses in horses. We will also evaluate the role of gut health support on improving protein utilization under these conditions.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study execution
  • Student advisory committee
  • Data analysis

Status

  • Grant in preparation for submission to federal agencies

References

  1. Latham, C.M. et al. A survey of North American horse diets: What are we missing?. J Equine Vet Sci. 2023.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) affects up to 27% of horses in susceptible breeds. [1] [2] [3] EMS is marked by hyperinsulinemia, adiposity, and increased risk of laminitis. [4]

Mad Barn has been awarded grant funding for a five-year research program that will investigate the underlying physiology of EMS and impact of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions.

Objective

This program has several objectives:

  1. Characterizing the role of gut hormones in metabolism and EMS
  2. Investigating dietary fat and insulin resistance in horses with EMS
  3. Exploring the mechanisms of equine hypertriglyceridemia

This work will inform the development of nutritional interventions to support metabolic health in horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Additionally, the data will contribute to the ongoing development of a mathematical model of equine digestion and metabolism.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Study execution
  • Student advisory committee(s)

Status

  • NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Dr. Priska Darani, PhD (Director of Research)

References

  1. Carslake, H.B. et al. Equine Metabolic Syndrome in UK Native Ponies and Cobs Is Highly Prevalent with Modifiable Risk Factors. Equine Vet J. 2021.
  2. Morgan, R. et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hyperinsulinaemia in Ponies in Queensland, Australia. Aust Vet J. 2014
  3. Pleasant, R.S. et al. Adiposity, Plasma Insulin, Leptin, Lipids, and Oxidative Stress in Mature Light Breed Horses. J Vet Intern Med. 2013.
  4. Durham, A.E. et al. ECEIM Consensus Statement on Equine Metabolic Syndrome. J Vet Intern Med. 2019.

Gut health issues such as gastric ulcers are a major concern in horses, particularly for those in heavy work or with stressful lifestyles. Developing novel nutritional strategies to support gastric health may improve exercise performance, support a calm demeanour, and improve appetite and feeding behaviour.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate gastric ulcer presence and severity in horses under race training.

A novel gut health supplement will be compared to no supplementation and to the standard pharmaceutical treatment with omeprazole.

Mad Barn’s Role

  • Project design
  • Financial support
  • Research presentation

Research Collaborators

Status

  • Preliminary trial underway


Collaborate with Mad Barn Research

Mad Barn is committed to advancing equine science and is actively seeking research collaborators, including academic institutions, veterinarians, and equine facilities with suitable horses, to partner on a wide range of studies, including:

  • Interventional trials (e.g., controlled feeding and supplementation studies)
  • Observational research (e.g., analysis of diet, health, performance, welfare and management practices)
  • Survey-based projects (e.g., horse owner or rider questionnaires)
  • Student projects (e.g., support for graduate or undergraduate research projects)

Depending on the scope of the project, Mad Barn may provide study funding, in-kind support such as free products and formulation services, funding for laboratory and statistical analyses, and ongoing nutritional support for participating facilities.

If you are interested in partnering on a research project, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us to get in touch with our research team.