It is well documented that horses are ineffective at utilising starch if fed in excess and recent studies have concluded that horses should be fed a low starch diet, as higher amounts can lead to the development of gastric ulcers, insulin resistance, laminitis and muscle myopathies (such as tying up). Read more…
DON’T feed more than 11 pounds of grain per day, or 4-5 pounds of grain per feeding, or the horse’s colic risk increases sixfold. Can you feed a horse too much grain? It also is important not to over feed grain to horses because this can cause digestive upset such Read more…
Measuring Energy in Horse Feeds Digestible energy is measured in megacalories per kilogram of feed (Mcal/kg). The DE requirements for a 500 kg (1,102 lb) horse can range from 15.2 Mcals (minimum maintenance) to 34.5 Mcals (very heavy exercise). DE of feed can be determined by performing feeding trials on Read more…
Early Spanish conquistadors, explorers, and priests brought with them their horses. Some of those horses, now known as mustangs, escaped and formed the first herds used by Native Americans. The name mustang comes from the Spanish word ‘mesteno’ which means stray or wild. Why do they call it Mustang horse? Read more…
The bucking horse is usually a mare, but occasionally, a gelding (a castrated male horse) is used. Is a buck a male horse? A bucking horse is any breed or either gender of horse with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, Read more…
Rations for all classes of horses without access to fresh forages should provide at least 30 IU active vitamin A / kg body weight (whether as beta-carotene or an active synthetic form such as retinyl acetate). What vitamins do horses need daily? Horses need vitamins A, B, C, D, E, Read more…
The list of ingredients thought to cause problems (make horses mentally hot or hyper and difficult to handle or train) include: oats, corn, barley, alfalfa (Lucerne) and molasses. Does sugar make horses hot? Fat is often referred to as a “cool” energy source. Feeds high in starch and sugar tend Read more…
Zesterra® lick tubs are a great way for your horses to reap the benefits of Zesterra® on a daily basis. Carefully formulated with essential nutrients including vitamins and minerals, these tubs provide an economical and convenient way to ensure your horses are receiving the support they need. Are protein tubs Read more…
The saliva of a horse contains only small amounts of amylase and there is little actual digestion that occurs in the stomach of most horses. Most digestion therefore occurs in the small and large intestines. Although the intestine itself secretes some enzymes, the pancreas releases by far the greatest amount. Read more…
small intestine. In the small intestine a majority of non-structural carbohydrate (starch), protein and fat is digested by enzymes and absorbed. Where are proteins absorbed in horses? small intestineThe digestion of protein begins in the stomach, through to the small intestine which results in the end product the free amino Read more…