Q: I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding. I've noticed that he drools when he is eating grain. I also noticed that he's eaten the bark off two oak trees in his pasture. My other horse has...
“Now that spring is here, we need to take it slowly when transitioning any of our horses from hay to pasture,” says equine nutritionist Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. “And for those of us with insulin resistant horses,” she adds,...
When it comes to enjoyment and quality of life, a horse's true fitness may mean more than just a pasture and some oats. While most horses get the majority of their nutrients from pasture and grain, many may not...
Hooves are made of a hard, crusty protein called keratin. You cannot add keratin by painting it on – it is produced by specialized cells within the hooves called keratinocytes, which rely on a nutrient-rich blood supply.Key nutrients for...
Q: I have a 10-month-old miniature colt and his 13-year-old mini companion turned out on about an acre of pasture. Is it safe to turn them out on fresh grass in the spring? How many hours can I keep...
Ever been told that your horse has a hay belly and needs to lose weight? Well, relax! He’s not fat, he just has gas. In fact, gas production is normal and healthy. It indicates that your horse is getting...
Q: A few months ago, I acquired a 13-year-old Arabian gelding to use as a lesson horse. He was very skinny when he came to me, and I have not been able to put weight on him. I've been...
It's well-known that obesity rates in humans are alarmingly high in the western world. In the United States, nearly two-thirds of adults are obese or overweight. In England, the rate is more than 50 percent and projected to continue...
Piles of fluffy snow in your pasture—and a horse that nibbles at them—might make you think your horse is all set for water this winter. Think again, please! The main cause of colic during the winter is from reduced...
How do you know if your horse is too fat, too thin, or just right? The Henneke Body Condition Score (BCS) system assigns a value from 1 (extremely emaciated) to 9 (extremely obese). Most horses are considered healthy at...
