Fats are an energy source and contain more calories than carbohydrates. It can an alternative energy source for horses that require limited carbohydrates, such as horses suffering from certain muscle diseases and those prone to laminitis. Fat supplies omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. What are fats and oils used Read more…
Digestible energy can be estimated by first measuring the total digestible nutrient (TDN) content of the feed. TDN is calculated as: digestible crude protein (CP) + (digestible crude fat (EE) x 2.25) + digestible cell wall (NDF) + digestible non structural carbohydrate (NSC). How is horse energy measured? The determination Read more…
Equitation science uses physiological measurements such as heart rate, blood, urine and saliva analyses to evaluate the comfort and stress level of the horse. It also evaluates behavioural indicators of ineffective horse-rider communication and conflict such as teeth grinding, tail swishing, rearing or bucking. What is the science behind horse Read more…
There are five different types of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the horse. The number of these different cells in the blood, and their numbers with reference to one another can give us a lot of information about your horse’s wellbeing. What kind of cells does a horse have? Eukaryotic Read more…
Any shortfalls in B vitamin production are supplemented through the diet by way of pasture and hay, provided there is ample supply. Vitamin B12 is the only B vitamin not produced in plants, and therefore the horse must rely on the supply from the hindgut bacteria. Where does B12 in Read more…
Vitamin E, as the body’s major antioxidant, is well recognised for muscle health, working in synergy with selenium, and adequate levels should be included in the diet of PSSM horses. Further, for fat fed horses, it is important to balance the daily oil with Vitamin E, roughly at a level Read more…
Glucose acts as a fuel for the muscles. We know, then, that horses need sugar to have enough energy for physical activity. Sugar in and of itself is not dangerous for horses. What does glucose do for horses? Glucose derived from non-structural carbohydrate digestion serves as an important energy source Read more…
Yes – both light and heavy. Did the Ottomans have horse archers? The cavalry archers were the most potent armed unit the Ottomans had to offer. They used bows and arrows long after the advent of firearms. The Ottoman bow. A precise replica will be used in an attempt to Read more…
The Ottomans encouraged formation of private stud farms in order to ensure a supply of cavalry horses, and Ottoman nobles, such as Muhammad Ali of Egypt also collected pure, desert-bred Arabian horses. What horses did the Ottomans use? The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an Oriental horse breed from the Read more…
Blood testing (serum and plasma) is the only way to know if your horse is deficient in vitamin E. Forage and hay may be tested to determine nutritional components. Testing for a vitamin E deficiency-related disease such as EMND is more invasive, and requires a muscle biopsy. How do you Read more…