However, they are rapidly fermented in the hindgut. NSC calculated for the purposes of horse nutrition is: ESC + Starch = NSC. How is NSC hay calculated? NSC is commonly estimated by adding starch plus WSC. Since some horses can be very sensitive to dietary starch and sugar (i.e. horses Read more…
Horses tend to absorb excessive calcium from the intestine and then eliminate it via urine, which gives it a cloudy/milky appearance. Do female horses pee? Urination behavior in horses is sexually dimorphic: female horses urinate in a posterior direction and male horses urinate in an anterior direction. Why do mares Read more…
NSC = Simple Sugar and Starch aka Nonstructural Carbohydrates. In order to know the true NSC value of your hay you will have to test it. Multiple cuttings from the same field of grass can yield hay with different levels of NSC. The recommended NSC level in hay for insulin-resistant Read more…
A. The abbreviations “ADF” and “NDF” stand for “acid detergent fiber” and “neutral detergent fiber,” respectively. They are measures of feeds’ cell walls, or structural carbohydrate components. Which is better ADF or NDF? In general, low NDF values are desired because NDF increases as forages mature. Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF): Read more…
Discipline determines how fast your horse can switch gaits. The more discipline you have, the easier it is to switch gaits. How do you do discipline in horse Valley? When training for discipline, you need to go to the circle shaped arena located behind the arena with the barrel racing, Read more…
heaves, also called broken wind, chronic disorder of the lungs of horses and cows, characterized by difficult breathing and wheezy cough. The symptoms are worsened by vigorous exercise, sudden weather changes, and overfeeding. Heaves resulting from bronchitis may be associated with the feeding of dusty or moldy hay. What happens Read more…
A benchmark race is a Handicap race based on ratings. There is no upper or lower limit on eligibility. In simple terms, a benchmark race is open to all horses. The weights assigned to each entry relate to the benchmark rating assigned to the race. How do horses get their Read more…
Heaves, properly known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), is caused by a hypersensitivity to inhaled triggers, usually hay and barn dust, or in the case of travel, fumes and particulates from car and truck exhausts. What is heave line? Definition of heaving line : a light line that has a Read more…
Once a horse gets heaves or broken wind, there is no cure. Symptoms can be alleviated a little bit by soaking hay in water before feeding or keeping the horse in a well ventilated area, but it will not make it go away. The severity of the condition may be Read more…
Treeless saddles are often said to be more “natural,” more comfortable for riders and/or horses, or more universally fitting for all equine back shapes and rider seats. What is the advantage of a treeless saddle? Some riders opt for treeless saddles to make it easier to lift them onto the Read more…