Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
June 26 2011, Article # 18442
In an equine society dominated by supplements for everything imaginable--from joint health and calmers to antioxidants and vitamins and minerals--some horse owners likely wonder what, if any, feed additives they should provide their horses. Take magnesium for example: Science has shown us that horses require this macromineral to keep their bodies functioning properly, so should owners provide a supplement to ensure their animals get enough in their diet? According to an Auburn University researcher, hold off on buying that magnesium supplement, as it likely isn't needed by your horse.
Magnesium is an essential macromineral for horses that aids in maintaining normal nerve and muscle function, as well as the production of protein and DNA. Previous research from Cornell University indicates that horses need to consume just under 5 mg of the mineral to carry out normal body functions.
According to Allison J. Stewart, BVSc(hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, associate professor of equine internal medicine at Auburn, who recently composed a literature review on magnesium deficiencies in horses, "As there is generally a large amount of magnesium in vegetative matter (i.e., grass, hays, and grains), deficiency is rare in horses..."
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18442
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Lucerne Hay in Equine Diets
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 15, 2011
There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital fibre sources for horses. If you are fortunate enough to have a choice of forages, the decision of which type to feed should be based on what you are trying to achieve with the horse.
The major differences between a grass type forage (including oat and wheat chaff) and a legume (lucerne and clover) are energy, protein, and calcium content.
Energy content
The fibre found in forages is digested by the microbial population of the hindgut to produce energy for the horse. There are forms of digestible fibre and indigestible fibre found in any plant. The higher the percentage digestible fibre and the lower the indigestible fibre, the more energy there is in that forage. There tends to be more digestible fibre in the leafy portion of the plant and more indigestible fibre in the stem. So, forage with more leaf and less stem will provide the horse more digestible energy.
Lucerne that is harvested at the right time and handled carefully after harvesting will have a lot of very digestible leaves with some stem, and thus it is very high in energy. A poorly made lucerne will have more stems than leaves and will have less energy. The same goes for the harvesting of grass hay; the earlier in its growth it is harvested, the more leaf it will have and the better quality it will be...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/lucerne-hay-in-equine-diets1
By Dr. Peter Huntington · April 15, 2011
There are some differences between lucerne (alfalfa) and grass hay or oat chaff, but they all serve the same purpose of being vital fibre sources for horses. If you are fortunate enough to have a choice of forages, the decision of which type to feed should be based on what you are trying to achieve with the horse.
The major differences between a grass type forage (including oat and wheat chaff) and a legume (lucerne and clover) are energy, protein, and calcium content.
Energy content
The fibre found in forages is digested by the microbial population of the hindgut to produce energy for the horse. There are forms of digestible fibre and indigestible fibre found in any plant. The higher the percentage digestible fibre and the lower the indigestible fibre, the more energy there is in that forage. There tends to be more digestible fibre in the leafy portion of the plant and more indigestible fibre in the stem. So, forage with more leaf and less stem will provide the horse more digestible energy.
Lucerne that is harvested at the right time and handled carefully after harvesting will have a lot of very digestible leaves with some stem, and thus it is very high in energy. A poorly made lucerne will have more stems than leaves and will have less energy. The same goes for the harvesting of grass hay; the earlier in its growth it is harvested, the more leaf it will have and the better quality it will be...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/lucerne-hay-in-equine-diets1
Friday, June 10, 2011
Summer Riding: When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: University of Guelph
July 08 2010, Article # 16625
A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat?
It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter, much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.
Michael Lindinger, PhD, MSc, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: "It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse's temperature to dangerous levels. That's three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do."
And the effects can be serious. If a horse's body temperature shoots up from the normal 37 to 38°C to 41°C (98.6 - 105.8°F), temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43°C (109.4°F), a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suffering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic, and renal failure.
Lindinger, a faculty member in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently presented a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph's outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U.G.'s Arkell Research Station.
Horses are more susceptible to heat for several reasons...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16625
by: University of Guelph
July 08 2010, Article # 16625
A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat?
It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter, much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.
Michael Lindinger, PhD, MSc, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: "It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse's temperature to dangerous levels. That's three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do."
And the effects can be serious. If a horse's body temperature shoots up from the normal 37 to 38°C to 41°C (98.6 - 105.8°F), temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43°C (109.4°F), a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suffering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic, and renal failure.
Lindinger, a faculty member in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently presented a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph's outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U.G.'s Arkell Research Station.
Horses are more susceptible to heat for several reasons...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16625
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Blister Beetles: Deadly in Horse Hay
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
June 02 2011, Article # 18335
Purchasing hay is a ritual that many horse owners have down to a science: Select a type (i.e., grass, alfalfa, or timothy), grab a handful for a smell test, examine for dust and mold, and feed to the hungry horses waiting at home. As many hay producers will be harvesting hay in the coming weeks and months and passing the fruits of their labor on to consumers, it's important for horse owners to be aware of a tiny, toxic (and potentially fatal) tagalong in some perfectly healthy-looking alfalfa hay bales: the blister beetle.
Blister beetles naturally contain and secrete a chemical substance called cantharidin, which is extremely toxic to horses. The insects--which can be found in most parts of the United States, are ½-1 inch long, often cylindrical in shape, and can be a variety of colors--feed on alfalfa flowers and can easily, although inadvertently, be included in the hay during the baling process. Once baled in the hay, the beetles will generally appear dried up and might be crushed or broken into parts (due to the bailing equipment).
"Blister beetles tend to swarm to feed on alfalfa flowers," explained Sam L. Jones, DVM, PhD, professor of equine medicine at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "If large enough numbers of the beetles are incorporated into baled hay, horses can ingest the beetles."
Simply touching a blister beetle--either dead or alive--is enough to cause inflammation and blistering of a horse's skin within hours of contact...
Read more here:
No comments:
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
June 02 2011, Article # 18335
Purchasing hay is a ritual that many horse owners have down to a science: Select a type (i.e., grass, alfalfa, or timothy), grab a handful for a smell test, examine for dust and mold, and feed to the hungry horses waiting at home. As many hay producers will be harvesting hay in the coming weeks and months and passing the fruits of their labor on to consumers, it's important for horse owners to be aware of a tiny, toxic (and potentially fatal) tagalong in some perfectly healthy-looking alfalfa hay bales: the blister beetle.
Blister beetles naturally contain and secrete a chemical substance called cantharidin, which is extremely toxic to horses. The insects--which can be found in most parts of the United States, are ½-1 inch long, often cylindrical in shape, and can be a variety of colors--feed on alfalfa flowers and can easily, although inadvertently, be included in the hay during the baling process. Once baled in the hay, the beetles will generally appear dried up and might be crushed or broken into parts (due to the bailing equipment).
"Blister beetles tend to swarm to feed on alfalfa flowers," explained Sam L. Jones, DVM, PhD, professor of equine medicine at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "If large enough numbers of the beetles are incorporated into baled hay, horses can ingest the beetles."
Simply touching a blister beetle--either dead or alive--is enough to cause inflammation and blistering of a horse's skin within hours of contact...
Read more here:
No comments:
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Managing Wet Feet
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marcella M. Reca Zipp, MS
May 01 2005, Article # 5695
Hoof care is one of the most important aspects of quality horse management. Hoof trimming, shoeing if necessary, good nutrition to ensure good hoof growth, and inspection for disease or injury to the foot are just a few of the tasks a horse owner needs to worry about. Yet no matter how much attention is paid to these steps, if your horse's feet are constantly wet, this can create a disastrous situation for proper hoof health.
A Product of His Environment
Water is nature's hoof moisturizer, but moderation is key. Too much moisture can lead to deformed hooves because as the hoof becomes softer, it loses its structural integrity. Prolonged and excessive environmental moisture leads to dangerously high hoof moisture levels.
To better understand hooves getting saturated, Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, owner of the Northern Virginia Equine practice in Marshall, Va., gives the analogy of water's effects on a board: "If you pour water over a board, the water will run off the board. But if you tie a rock to the board and submerge it in a water trough, the board will become saturated, become soft, and eventually fall apart.
"The horse is a product of his environment, and if he lives in a dry area, he's going to have dry feet. But if he lives in a moist area, he's going to have softer feet," he adds. "A horse from Florida does not have the same cup in the bottom of the foot as a horse in the North." This is due to softer hoof walls from excessive humidity coupled with the sandy soil (the primary type of footing); this combination causes the sole of the foot to flatten...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5695
by: Marcella M. Reca Zipp, MS
May 01 2005, Article # 5695
Hoof care is one of the most important aspects of quality horse management. Hoof trimming, shoeing if necessary, good nutrition to ensure good hoof growth, and inspection for disease or injury to the foot are just a few of the tasks a horse owner needs to worry about. Yet no matter how much attention is paid to these steps, if your horse's feet are constantly wet, this can create a disastrous situation for proper hoof health.
A Product of His Environment
Water is nature's hoof moisturizer, but moderation is key. Too much moisture can lead to deformed hooves because as the hoof becomes softer, it loses its structural integrity. Prolonged and excessive environmental moisture leads to dangerously high hoof moisture levels.
To better understand hooves getting saturated, Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, owner of the Northern Virginia Equine practice in Marshall, Va., gives the analogy of water's effects on a board: "If you pour water over a board, the water will run off the board. But if you tie a rock to the board and submerge it in a water trough, the board will become saturated, become soft, and eventually fall apart.
"The horse is a product of his environment, and if he lives in a dry area, he's going to have dry feet. But if he lives in a moist area, he's going to have softer feet," he adds. "A horse from Florida does not have the same cup in the bottom of the foot as a horse in the North." This is due to softer hoof walls from excessive humidity coupled with the sandy soil (the primary type of footing); this combination causes the sole of the foot to flatten...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5695
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Metabolic Response to Exercise in Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 11, 2011
Many people tend to think of Thoroughbreds as racehorses that excel at high-intensity exercise, and of Arabians as endurance horses whose strengths lie with low-intensity exercise. Are these perceptions based simply on the most common use of each breed, or on particular innate characteristics or abilities that set the breeds apart? A study conducted at Kentucky Equine Research was designed to test the hypothesis that Thoroughbreds are better suited to high-intensity exercise because they have greater aerobic and anaerobic capacities than Arabians.
Arabians have a higher proportion of oxidative muscle fibers (types I and IIa) than Thoroughbreds. For that reason, it was hypothesized that Arabians would make greater use of fat for energy. The study tested this hypothesis as well.
The study compared selected measures of exercise capacity and metabolism in a small group of Thoroughbreds and Arabians of similar age, training background, and diet. Five Thoroughbred and five Arabian geldings were placed on identical exercise programs and fed identical diets for two months. Each horse then performed three exercise trials on a high-speed treadmill set at a 3-degree incline.
Trial 1 was an incremental test in which each horse ran at a steadily increasing pace until he could no longer maintain speed. This trial determined each horse’s aerobic capacity...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/metabolic-response-to-exercise-in-arabian-and-thoroughbred-horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 11, 2011
Many people tend to think of Thoroughbreds as racehorses that excel at high-intensity exercise, and of Arabians as endurance horses whose strengths lie with low-intensity exercise. Are these perceptions based simply on the most common use of each breed, or on particular innate characteristics or abilities that set the breeds apart? A study conducted at Kentucky Equine Research was designed to test the hypothesis that Thoroughbreds are better suited to high-intensity exercise because they have greater aerobic and anaerobic capacities than Arabians.
Arabians have a higher proportion of oxidative muscle fibers (types I and IIa) than Thoroughbreds. For that reason, it was hypothesized that Arabians would make greater use of fat for energy. The study tested this hypothesis as well.
The study compared selected measures of exercise capacity and metabolism in a small group of Thoroughbreds and Arabians of similar age, training background, and diet. Five Thoroughbred and five Arabian geldings were placed on identical exercise programs and fed identical diets for two months. Each horse then performed three exercise trials on a high-speed treadmill set at a 3-degree incline.
Trial 1 was an incremental test in which each horse ran at a steadily increasing pace until he could no longer maintain speed. This trial determined each horse’s aerobic capacity...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/metabolic-response-to-exercise-in-arabian-and-thoroughbred-horses
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Prepurchase Exam FAQs
Myhorse.com - Full Article
Story by Jessica Jahiel, PhD
When you invest in an equine partner, a prepurchase examination is vital. Here's what you need to know.
After months of searching, you've found the perfect horse to buy. You envision long days in the saddle, going on challenging trail rides. All you need to do is hitch up your horse trailer, head over to the prospect's current barn, seal the deal, and drive him home.
Wait! Before you take the plunge, invest in a prepurchase examination by a qualified equine veterinarian. Here, we'll tell you why you shouldn't skip this all-important step and answer frequently asked questions about the exam.
Q: Do I really need to schedule a prepurchase exam for my prospect?
A: Yes, you do. You want your new horse to be healthy and sound. A prepurchase exam is your one chance to acquire important information about a horse before he becomes your horse.
Prepurchase exams can be nail-biters, but postpurchase exams can be stomach-droppers. After an unsatisfactory prepurchase exam, all you have to do is say "No, thank you" and walk away. A postpurchase exam is another matter entirely, because all the bad news is about the horse you already own.
Q: Are all prepurchase exams the same?
A: No, they differ depending on the horse's projected use. A good prepurchase exam isn't generic. It can't be. Every horse is unique; every rider is unique. Discuss your plans, goals, and ambitions with your vet when you schedule the exam, so that it'll be designed for this horse and for your purposes...
Read more here:
http://www.myhorse.com/prepurchase-exam-faqs.html?utm_source=myhorse.com&utm_medium=emailnewsletter&utm_campaign=myhorse.comnewsletter
Story by Jessica Jahiel, PhD
When you invest in an equine partner, a prepurchase examination is vital. Here's what you need to know.
After months of searching, you've found the perfect horse to buy. You envision long days in the saddle, going on challenging trail rides. All you need to do is hitch up your horse trailer, head over to the prospect's current barn, seal the deal, and drive him home.
Wait! Before you take the plunge, invest in a prepurchase examination by a qualified equine veterinarian. Here, we'll tell you why you shouldn't skip this all-important step and answer frequently asked questions about the exam.
Q: Do I really need to schedule a prepurchase exam for my prospect?
A: Yes, you do. You want your new horse to be healthy and sound. A prepurchase exam is your one chance to acquire important information about a horse before he becomes your horse.
Prepurchase exams can be nail-biters, but postpurchase exams can be stomach-droppers. After an unsatisfactory prepurchase exam, all you have to do is say "No, thank you" and walk away. A postpurchase exam is another matter entirely, because all the bad news is about the horse you already own.
Q: Are all prepurchase exams the same?
A: No, they differ depending on the horse's projected use. A good prepurchase exam isn't generic. It can't be. Every horse is unique; every rider is unique. Discuss your plans, goals, and ambitions with your vet when you schedule the exam, so that it'll be designed for this horse and for your purposes...
Read more here:
http://www.myhorse.com/prepurchase-exam-faqs.html?utm_source=myhorse.com&utm_medium=emailnewsletter&utm_campaign=myhorse.comnewsletter
Monday, May 09, 2011
Long Toes in Horses: A Pain in the Butt?
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
May 03 2011, Article # 18195
Your equine athlete's performance hasn't been blue ribbon-worthy as of late. Or maybe your broodmare's gaits are looking a little off kilter. Could long toes on the hind feet be to blame? According to the results of a recent study, the answer in some cases is yes and sometimes the solution can be very simple.
"The hind limb stance in (horses with long toes) is one in which the load-bearing surface of the hoof appears to be too far forward in relation to the coronary band and to the fetlock and cannon bone," said Richard A. Mansmann, VMD, PhD, hon. Dipl. ACVIM, professor emeritus at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where this study was completed, and owner of the Equine Podiatry and Rehabilitation Practice in Chapel Hill. "These horses tend to 'stand under themselves' with their hind feet, meaning that at rest the foot is placed further forward than normal in relation to the vertical axis of the limb and the main mass of the hind quarter, giving the horse a sickle-hocked appearance."
Armed with that information, the research team set out to determine if long toes could be a cause of gluteal (the muscles that run along the back of a horse's hindquarters on either side of the tail) pain in horses, and if corrective trimming and/or shoeing could correct the problem and eliminate the pain...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18195
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
May 03 2011, Article # 18195
Your equine athlete's performance hasn't been blue ribbon-worthy as of late. Or maybe your broodmare's gaits are looking a little off kilter. Could long toes on the hind feet be to blame? According to the results of a recent study, the answer in some cases is yes and sometimes the solution can be very simple.
"The hind limb stance in (horses with long toes) is one in which the load-bearing surface of the hoof appears to be too far forward in relation to the coronary band and to the fetlock and cannon bone," said Richard A. Mansmann, VMD, PhD, hon. Dipl. ACVIM, professor emeritus at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where this study was completed, and owner of the Equine Podiatry and Rehabilitation Practice in Chapel Hill. "These horses tend to 'stand under themselves' with their hind feet, meaning that at rest the foot is placed further forward than normal in relation to the vertical axis of the limb and the main mass of the hind quarter, giving the horse a sickle-hocked appearance."
Armed with that information, the research team set out to determine if long toes could be a cause of gluteal (the muscles that run along the back of a horse's hindquarters on either side of the tail) pain in horses, and if corrective trimming and/or shoeing could correct the problem and eliminate the pain...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18195
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
TheHorse.com Presents Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Conditioning Horses
Thehorse.com
by: The Horse Staff
May 04 2011, Article # 18197
Hooray for warmer weather, more riding, and more training time! But before we hit the trails and arenas, let's not forget that if our horses have been in "winter storage," their bodies (and ours!) will need some conditioning before they're ready for a heavy work schedule. How does your horse's body adapt to exercise, and how can you tailor your conditioning program to maximize his fitness and soundness? How do you know when he is (or isn't) ready for more work? Find out during our free Ask the Vet LIVE online Q&A chat about Conditioning Horses on Thursday, May 26, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time!
Working horse in a field
When you register for this event, you'll be able to send in your questions ahead of time. You can also ask questions during the live event on May 26. This free live chat is brought to you by Farnam.
Our on-call panelists for this event will include the following:
Meg Sleeper, VMD Meg Sleeper, VMD, Associate Professor of Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and the school's Cardiology Section Chief since 2001. Her primary research interests include inherited heart diseases, in particular inherited cardiomyopathies and therapeutic gene transfer. She is also an avid world-class endurance competitor with more than 14,000 miles logged and placings in endurance competitions in six countries, in addition to a best condition award.
Todd Holbrook, DVM, Dipl. ACVIMTodd Holbrook, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Associate Professor of Equine Medicine at Oklahoma State University and the Equine Section Chief. His special interests in equine medicine include infectious disease, gastrointestinal disease, and sports medicine. He has worked at numerous endurance competitions, nationally, and internationally, over the past 15 years. He raises Quarter Horses and competes in reining with his family.
We hope you can join us on May 26 for this event! Reserve your Webinar seat now!
by: The Horse Staff
May 04 2011, Article # 18197
Hooray for warmer weather, more riding, and more training time! But before we hit the trails and arenas, let's not forget that if our horses have been in "winter storage," their bodies (and ours!) will need some conditioning before they're ready for a heavy work schedule. How does your horse's body adapt to exercise, and how can you tailor your conditioning program to maximize his fitness and soundness? How do you know when he is (or isn't) ready for more work? Find out during our free Ask the Vet LIVE online Q&A chat about Conditioning Horses on Thursday, May 26, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time!
Working horse in a field
When you register for this event, you'll be able to send in your questions ahead of time. You can also ask questions during the live event on May 26. This free live chat is brought to you by Farnam.
Our on-call panelists for this event will include the following:
Meg Sleeper, VMD Meg Sleeper, VMD, Associate Professor of Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and the school's Cardiology Section Chief since 2001. Her primary research interests include inherited heart diseases, in particular inherited cardiomyopathies and therapeutic gene transfer. She is also an avid world-class endurance competitor with more than 14,000 miles logged and placings in endurance competitions in six countries, in addition to a best condition award.
Todd Holbrook, DVM, Dipl. ACVIMTodd Holbrook, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Associate Professor of Equine Medicine at Oklahoma State University and the Equine Section Chief. His special interests in equine medicine include infectious disease, gastrointestinal disease, and sports medicine. He has worked at numerous endurance competitions, nationally, and internationally, over the past 15 years. He raises Quarter Horses and competes in reining with his family.
We hope you can join us on May 26 for this event! Reserve your Webinar seat now!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Psyllium for Glucose and Insulin Control
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
April 23 2011, Article # 18144
Veterinarians often recommend psyllium for use as a laxative, specifically for clearing sand out of horses' intestines to minimize the chances of sand colic. But new research indicates there might be another use for the phytogenic (plant-based) supplement: the control of blood glucose and insulin concentrations.
Research performed in humans indicated that oral psyllium supplementation reduced blood sugar and insulin response after eating, but psyllium's effects on horses' blood glucose and insulin levels had not previously been examined. Shannon John J. Moreaux, DVM, assistant professor of equine science at Montana State University, and a team of researchers set out to determine whether psyllium would have the same effect on horses.
Both insulin and glucose play a role in equine insulin resistance (IR), a hormonal disorder that most commonly occurs in horses with equine metabolic syndrome and in those with equine Cushing's disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, PPID). Insulin's main function is to control blood sugar (glucose) levels by signaling fat, muscle, and liver cells to take up glucose (a simple sugar resulting from the digestion of food) from the blood and store it as glycogen (stored complex carbohydrates--essentially, a main source of fuel for the horse). Insulin resistance is a reduction in a horse's sensitivity to insulin that makes it harder for the fat, muscle, and liver cells to transport the glucose out of the bloodstream and store it as glycogen...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18144
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
April 23 2011, Article # 18144
Veterinarians often recommend psyllium for use as a laxative, specifically for clearing sand out of horses' intestines to minimize the chances of sand colic. But new research indicates there might be another use for the phytogenic (plant-based) supplement: the control of blood glucose and insulin concentrations.
Research performed in humans indicated that oral psyllium supplementation reduced blood sugar and insulin response after eating, but psyllium's effects on horses' blood glucose and insulin levels had not previously been examined. Shannon John J. Moreaux, DVM, assistant professor of equine science at Montana State University, and a team of researchers set out to determine whether psyllium would have the same effect on horses.
Both insulin and glucose play a role in equine insulin resistance (IR), a hormonal disorder that most commonly occurs in horses with equine metabolic syndrome and in those with equine Cushing's disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, PPID). Insulin's main function is to control blood sugar (glucose) levels by signaling fat, muscle, and liver cells to take up glucose (a simple sugar resulting from the digestion of food) from the blood and store it as glycogen (stored complex carbohydrates--essentially, a main source of fuel for the horse). Insulin resistance is a reduction in a horse's sensitivity to insulin that makes it harder for the fat, muscle, and liver cells to transport the glucose out of the bloodstream and store it as glycogen...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18144
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Forage for Endurance Horses
Equinews.com - Full Article
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · April 5, 2011
Forage is perhaps the single most important ingredient in an endurance horse’s diet. Not only is it a major source of energy and essential nutrients, but also the presence of fiber in the digestive tract provides bulk to keep the tract functioning properly, keeps blood flowing to the tract even during exercise, stimulates thirst, and holds water and electrolytes in a reservoir.
Without the marvelous milieu of innumerable microbes populating the cecum and colon of the horse, forage would be indigestible. These microbes are not only responsible for breaking down the fiber in the forage but the end products of their fiber digestion are VFAs, which are sources of energy for the horse. The reason why the endurance horse is able to keep going for hours upon end has to do with the ability of these microbes to keep making VFAs that are absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed either to the liver (for conversion to glucose) or directly to the muscle cells to be used for aerobic energy formation. This, combined with the breaking down of glycogen stores in the muscle cells and the triglycerides from muscle and adipose tissue, makes for steady energy generation in the endurance horse...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/forage-for-endurance-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6806d3020e-Weekly_Feed_Northern_4_13_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
By Dr. Kathleen Crandell · April 5, 2011
Forage is perhaps the single most important ingredient in an endurance horse’s diet. Not only is it a major source of energy and essential nutrients, but also the presence of fiber in the digestive tract provides bulk to keep the tract functioning properly, keeps blood flowing to the tract even during exercise, stimulates thirst, and holds water and electrolytes in a reservoir.
Without the marvelous milieu of innumerable microbes populating the cecum and colon of the horse, forage would be indigestible. These microbes are not only responsible for breaking down the fiber in the forage but the end products of their fiber digestion are VFAs, which are sources of energy for the horse. The reason why the endurance horse is able to keep going for hours upon end has to do with the ability of these microbes to keep making VFAs that are absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed either to the liver (for conversion to glucose) or directly to the muscle cells to be used for aerobic energy formation. This, combined with the breaking down of glycogen stores in the muscle cells and the triglycerides from muscle and adipose tissue, makes for steady energy generation in the endurance horse...
Read more here:
http://www.equinews.com/article/forage-for-endurance-horses?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6806d3020e-Weekly_Feed_Northern_4_13_20111_12_2011&utm_medium=email
Teaching a Horse Ground Manners
Horsecity.com - Full Article
by Randy Byers
randybyershorsemanship.com
Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I was asked by an owner training a 2-year old mare ... 'What do I do and how do I teach her good ground manners?' There are two reasons why you want ground manners:
1. You want to be an effective leader and gain respect from your horse.
2. You want to use this stage to develop transitional cues to help with your introduction to saddle work in the near future.
In order to gain respect, you need to gain control of your horse's feet. That is the short answer to the 'what do I do?' question. If you get control of her feet, you automatically establish yourself as the leader and achieve respect from your horse.
In answer to 'how do I teach her good ground manners?' you will need to learn and execute techniques on how to gain control of your horse's feet. There are a variety of detailed exercises and maneuvers you can use to achieve this. You also will need to know how she thinks and you will need to think like her.
It is critical that you define your view of what acceptable ground manners are ...
Read more here:
http://horsecity.com/stories/041211/tra_manners.shtml
by Randy Byers
randybyershorsemanship.com
Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I was asked by an owner training a 2-year old mare ... 'What do I do and how do I teach her good ground manners?' There are two reasons why you want ground manners:
1. You want to be an effective leader and gain respect from your horse.
2. You want to use this stage to develop transitional cues to help with your introduction to saddle work in the near future.
In order to gain respect, you need to gain control of your horse's feet. That is the short answer to the 'what do I do?' question. If you get control of her feet, you automatically establish yourself as the leader and achieve respect from your horse.
In answer to 'how do I teach her good ground manners?' you will need to learn and execute techniques on how to gain control of your horse's feet. There are a variety of detailed exercises and maneuvers you can use to achieve this. You also will need to know how she thinks and you will need to think like her.
It is critical that you define your view of what acceptable ground manners are ...
Read more here:
http://horsecity.com/stories/041211/tra_manners.shtml
Monday, April 11, 2011
Equine Navicular Disease
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
January 01 2011, Article # 17730
The navicular bone is small in stature but continues to be a big pain in the foot.
The navicular bone is a small, boat-shaped bone nestled deep in the protective womb of the hoof, cushioned by the digital bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac), shrouded by the deep digital flexor tendon, and bathed in synovial fluid. It only measures approximately 6 cm wide and 2 cm deep (top to bottom) in an average 1,200-pound horse, so how can such a small bone be such a nuisance?
Part of the problem is that, despite its cushy abode and small stature, the navicular bone has a big job.
"The function of the navicular bone is to act as a fulcrum around which passes the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) before it inserts on the distal phalanx (pedal bone)," explains Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FRCVS, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust's Centre for Equine Studies in Newmarket, U.K. "The navicular bone is also an integral part of the distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint, which is one of the major shock absorbing joints in the lower part of the limb. The orientation of the DDFT depends on the position of the coffin joint (flexed or extended), and the position of the coffin joint also influences the size of the forces applied to the navicular bone by the DDFT, which are maximum in the propulsion phase of the stride just before liftoff."
Navicular disease is a common cause of equine lameness, primarily in the forelimb...
read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17730
by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
January 01 2011, Article # 17730
The navicular bone is small in stature but continues to be a big pain in the foot.
The navicular bone is a small, boat-shaped bone nestled deep in the protective womb of the hoof, cushioned by the digital bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac), shrouded by the deep digital flexor tendon, and bathed in synovial fluid. It only measures approximately 6 cm wide and 2 cm deep (top to bottom) in an average 1,200-pound horse, so how can such a small bone be such a nuisance?
Part of the problem is that, despite its cushy abode and small stature, the navicular bone has a big job.
"The function of the navicular bone is to act as a fulcrum around which passes the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) before it inserts on the distal phalanx (pedal bone)," explains Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FRCVS, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust's Centre for Equine Studies in Newmarket, U.K. "The navicular bone is also an integral part of the distal interphalangeal (coffin) joint, which is one of the major shock absorbing joints in the lower part of the limb. The orientation of the DDFT depends on the position of the coffin joint (flexed or extended), and the position of the coffin joint also influences the size of the forces applied to the navicular bone by the DDFT, which are maximum in the propulsion phase of the stride just before liftoff."
Navicular disease is a common cause of equine lameness, primarily in the forelimb...
read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17730
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
From Garrett's Desk: Hi-Tech Natural Horse Care
by Garrett Ford, Easycare Inc
Like it or not, humans changed the lives of horses when we domesticated them and fenced them in. As the fences and enclosures get smaller, horses have a tougher time and live further from the ideal life nature intended for them. They are intended to work for forage and nibble all day as they search for food. Horses are intended to live with others, socialize and covering long distances for food and water.
I recently visited a horse boarding facility in Switzerland that uses technology to combat some of the challenges horses have with domestication. The facility addresses several challenges that face most domesticated horses.
1. Lack of movement.
2. Adjusting nutrition and calories for horses of different breeds, weights and activity levels.
3. Boredom and the loss of a herd structure.
4. Spreading meals thought the day rather than two big meals.
5. Poor footing and lack of hoof function.
The boarding facility was 15 minutes outside Zurich, Switzerland, and was situated on roughly four acres of land. The 20 horses were housed on roughly two acres. All 20 horses lived together as a herd. All horses were barefoot. Most all used hoof boots for riding.
The facility revolved around the Schauer Feeding and access control system and is designed to combat many of the challenges mentioned above. Each horse is fitted with a microchip collar that monitors movement and gives the horse access to grain, supplements or forage based on activity level, weight or breed.
full article at http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/natural-horse-care-on-limited-acreage
Like it or not, humans changed the lives of horses when we domesticated them and fenced them in. As the fences and enclosures get smaller, horses have a tougher time and live further from the ideal life nature intended for them. They are intended to work for forage and nibble all day as they search for food. Horses are intended to live with others, socialize and covering long distances for food and water.
I recently visited a horse boarding facility in Switzerland that uses technology to combat some of the challenges horses have with domestication. The facility addresses several challenges that face most domesticated horses.
1. Lack of movement.
2. Adjusting nutrition and calories for horses of different breeds, weights and activity levels.
3. Boredom and the loss of a herd structure.
4. Spreading meals thought the day rather than two big meals.
5. Poor footing and lack of hoof function.
The boarding facility was 15 minutes outside Zurich, Switzerland, and was situated on roughly four acres of land. The 20 horses were housed on roughly two acres. All 20 horses lived together as a herd. All horses were barefoot. Most all used hoof boots for riding.
The facility revolved around the Schauer Feeding and access control system and is designed to combat many of the challenges mentioned above. Each horse is fitted with a microchip collar that monitors movement and gives the horse access to grain, supplements or forage based on activity level, weight or breed.
full article at http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/natural-horse-care-on-limited-acreage
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Pasure Sugars
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Heather Smith Thomas
April 01 2010, Article # 17618
Understanding how grass grows and how horses use sugars in grass and hay can help you better manage your equine charges.
Grass is grass, right? Wrong! That lovely green pasture you’ve diligently watered and kept weed-free can be like Jekyll and Hyde. If your horse is at risk for grass founder or has a low tolerance for high levels of sugar, a pasture that might be perfect feed in the morning can be his biggest enemy in the afternoon.
Sugars are building blocks for plant growth. Grasses create sugar during daylight hours by using carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun via photosynthesis. The sugar made by day is then turned into fiber for cell walls and energy for other necessary life processes. During the night sugar sources are generally depleted. Thus, the safest time of day for horses at risk for grass founder to graze is early in the morning.
Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, associate professor of Animal Science at Rutgers University, says 15 years ago very few people—not even equine nutritionists—paid much attention to the sugar content in pasture grasses and hay. “In the past 10 years, however, thanks in large measure to the efforts of Katy Watts (whose studies/articles are found at www.safergrass.org), people have become more aware of the need to pay attention to the cycle of sugar production in grass, for horses that are extremely prone to laminitis,” says Ralston...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17618
by: Heather Smith Thomas
April 01 2010, Article # 17618
Understanding how grass grows and how horses use sugars in grass and hay can help you better manage your equine charges.
Grass is grass, right? Wrong! That lovely green pasture you’ve diligently watered and kept weed-free can be like Jekyll and Hyde. If your horse is at risk for grass founder or has a low tolerance for high levels of sugar, a pasture that might be perfect feed in the morning can be his biggest enemy in the afternoon.
Sugars are building blocks for plant growth. Grasses create sugar during daylight hours by using carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun via photosynthesis. The sugar made by day is then turned into fiber for cell walls and energy for other necessary life processes. During the night sugar sources are generally depleted. Thus, the safest time of day for horses at risk for grass founder to graze is early in the morning.
Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, associate professor of Animal Science at Rutgers University, says 15 years ago very few people—not even equine nutritionists—paid much attention to the sugar content in pasture grasses and hay. “In the past 10 years, however, thanks in large measure to the efforts of Katy Watts (whose studies/articles are found at www.safergrass.org), people have become more aware of the need to pay attention to the cycle of sugar production in grass, for horses that are extremely prone to laminitis,” says Ralston...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17618
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Tips and Tricks: Teaching tailing
Mountain rides are mostly fun rides for horse and rider. Horses can use their muscles in various ways and perform therefore overall better than on rides that are only over flat ground. Riding steep uphills certainly require a higher energy output and horses tire faster on sustained uphills. The rider can help his horse a lot by dismounting and walking or running with the horse.
At the Global Endurance Training Center we teach tailing in our endurance clinics. Tailing helps horses to conserve energy and helps the rider to stay in shape. So everybody wins!
When you tail, you are pulling on a horse with about 10 to 15 lbs. That small amount of pull allows the runner to double the cadence of the footfall. You will run twice as fast compared to running next to your horse without tailing. For the horse, the difference between carrying the weight of the rider and a little pull on the tail is huge in energy conservation.
Now, where do you start?...
Read more here:
http://globalendurance.typepad.com/global-endurance-blog/horse-training/
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Why Riding Helmets Work
Discoverhorses.com - Full Article
By Myhorse.com
Everyone has an excuse for not wearing a helmet when they ride: "I'm not going to jump; I'm just going for a trail ride; my horse is perfectly safe; I'm only going to let my horse stretch his legs for a few minutes; I'm not going to do anything dangerous."
Now think back to the last time you came off your horse. Were you jumping a high fence on a strange horse after an hour of hard work? Probably not. You were more likely doing an activity you do every day with your horse and the unexpected occurred, something you never could have anticipated.
That's why it's a good idea to wear a helmet every time you climb on a horse. You never know when and how an accident will occur. We work with our horses to minimize spooking, runaways and other dangerous situations. But we can't anticipate everything. And if we're challenging ourselves and our horses athletically, eventually we're likely to attempt something that will cause a fall.
Fortunately, helmet manufacturers have been working to design better and safer helmets. So if you wear one and do fall, you're much more likely to avoid a head injury than ever before. That's important because, according to the American Medical Equine Association/Safe Riders Foundation, head injuries account for 20% of all equestrian injuries and 60% of fatalities occur from head injuries...
Read more here:
http://www.discoverhorses.com/why-riding-helmets-work.html
By Myhorse.com
Everyone has an excuse for not wearing a helmet when they ride: "I'm not going to jump; I'm just going for a trail ride; my horse is perfectly safe; I'm only going to let my horse stretch his legs for a few minutes; I'm not going to do anything dangerous."
Now think back to the last time you came off your horse. Were you jumping a high fence on a strange horse after an hour of hard work? Probably not. You were more likely doing an activity you do every day with your horse and the unexpected occurred, something you never could have anticipated.
That's why it's a good idea to wear a helmet every time you climb on a horse. You never know when and how an accident will occur. We work with our horses to minimize spooking, runaways and other dangerous situations. But we can't anticipate everything. And if we're challenging ourselves and our horses athletically, eventually we're likely to attempt something that will cause a fall.
Fortunately, helmet manufacturers have been working to design better and safer helmets. So if you wear one and do fall, you're much more likely to avoid a head injury than ever before. That's important because, according to the American Medical Equine Association/Safe Riders Foundation, head injuries account for 20% of all equestrian injuries and 60% of fatalities occur from head injuries...
Read more here:
http://www.discoverhorses.com/why-riding-helmets-work.html
Thrush: Phew! Stinky Feet!
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Michael Ball, DVM
May 01 2003, Article # 4335
Thrush is very common, and it typically is a mild disease that can be easily treated. More importantly, it can be prevented with adequate foot management and good stable husbandry. However, if you choose to ignore these preventive measures, or you come into possession of a horse with thrush, it needs to be addressed immediately and aggressively as complications and chronic lameness issues can result. Thrush can be very insidious in the early stages, and it can become severe enough to cause permanent lameness.
Foot Anatomy
First, let's discuss some descriptive anatomy of the foot to better understand the problem. When looking at the foot from the bottom, the hoof wall circles from the lateral (outside) heel around the point of the toe (the dorsal surface) and on to the medial (inside) heel. The frog is the brownish/ black rubbery-textured triangle with the flat base at the heel and the point two-thirds of the distance to the toe (see page 92).
The remainder of the whitish structure on the bottom of the foot is the sole. The frog has a central invagination or groove called the central sulcus, and the deep grooves at its junctions with the sole are the lateral and medial sulci (sometimes called the paracuneal grooves)...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4335
by: Michael Ball, DVM
May 01 2003, Article # 4335
Thrush is very common, and it typically is a mild disease that can be easily treated. More importantly, it can be prevented with adequate foot management and good stable husbandry. However, if you choose to ignore these preventive measures, or you come into possession of a horse with thrush, it needs to be addressed immediately and aggressively as complications and chronic lameness issues can result. Thrush can be very insidious in the early stages, and it can become severe enough to cause permanent lameness.
Foot Anatomy
First, let's discuss some descriptive anatomy of the foot to better understand the problem. When looking at the foot from the bottom, the hoof wall circles from the lateral (outside) heel around the point of the toe (the dorsal surface) and on to the medial (inside) heel. The frog is the brownish/ black rubbery-textured triangle with the flat base at the heel and the point two-thirds of the distance to the toe (see page 92).
The remainder of the whitish structure on the bottom of the foot is the sole. The frog has a central invagination or groove called the central sulcus, and the deep grooves at its junctions with the sole are the lateral and medial sulci (sometimes called the paracuneal grooves)...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4335
Thursday, March 24, 2011
On Horses and Autism
Discoverhorses.com - Full Article
By: Christine Hamilton for The American Quarter Horse Journal
“Animals and autistic people don’t see their ideas of things; they see the actual things themselves,” writes Dr. Temple Grandin in her book, “Animals in Translation.” Temple is an associate professor in livestock behavior and handling at Colorado State University.
“The brain of the horse is very specific,” she says. “If a horse gets a fear memory, it’s stored as a picture, a sound or a feel. It could be smell, but usually not. A real common thing is feeling: like bucking when you change gaits. A saddle feels different at each gait and creates a different feeling picture in the brain.
“Use a computer metaphor,” she continues. “The way the brain works is that fear memories can never be erased. You can train the horse to close the file on the fear memory, but you cannot delete it off the horse’s hard drive.
“You have some of the same problems with autistic children, especially if they’re nonverbal,” Temple says. “Let’s say a fire alarm went off and hurt the child’s ears. Now you can’t get him into a room where he sees a fire alarm; he sees the little red box and starts screaming...
Read more here:
http://www.discoverhorses.com/horses-and-autism.html
By: Christine Hamilton for The American Quarter Horse Journal
“Animals and autistic people don’t see their ideas of things; they see the actual things themselves,” writes Dr. Temple Grandin in her book, “Animals in Translation.” Temple is an associate professor in livestock behavior and handling at Colorado State University.
“The brain of the horse is very specific,” she says. “If a horse gets a fear memory, it’s stored as a picture, a sound or a feel. It could be smell, but usually not. A real common thing is feeling: like bucking when you change gaits. A saddle feels different at each gait and creates a different feeling picture in the brain.
“Use a computer metaphor,” she continues. “The way the brain works is that fear memories can never be erased. You can train the horse to close the file on the fear memory, but you cannot delete it off the horse’s hard drive.
“You have some of the same problems with autistic children, especially if they’re nonverbal,” Temple says. “Let’s say a fire alarm went off and hurt the child’s ears. Now you can’t get him into a room where he sees a fire alarm; he sees the little red box and starts screaming...
Read more here:
http://www.discoverhorses.com/horses-and-autism.html
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Preparing Your Horses for Spring - the best nutritional approaches
TeleSeminar, Sponsored by The Evolution of Animal Health Care
Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:00 – 6:00 pm (Pacific), 8:00 – 9:00 pm (Eastern)
Free of charge. (Your long distance phone charges may apply)
To connect, call 712-432-3100 and enter Code: 871332
Please mail in questions in advance to gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com
(note -- though the deadline has passed for advance questions, if there is still time available, Dr. Getty will try to get to last minute questions)
The event will be recorded for those who missed it or wish to listen again.
Thursday, March 24, 2011, 5:00 – 6:00 pm (Pacific), 8:00 – 9:00 pm (Eastern)
Free of charge. (Your long distance phone charges may apply)
To connect, call 712-432-3100 and enter Code: 871332
Please mail in questions in advance to gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com
(note -- though the deadline has passed for advance questions, if there is still time available, Dr. Getty will try to get to last minute questions)
The event will be recorded for those who missed it or wish to listen again.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Basic Conditioning of the Equine Athlete
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture
August 02 2010, Article # 16758
Basic conditioning of the equine athlete involves consideration of the event in which the horse will be competing, the level of competition that you expect the horse to achieve, the time you have in which to condition the horse, and the horse's previous conditioning for the event.
The goal of any basic conditioning program is to enhance the psychological and the physical responses to exercise. Psychological responses with conditioning include greater confidence and desire to perform and minimized boredom and resentment. Physical responses include greater strength and endurance, enhanced skills (such as jumping and reining), and minimized soreness or injury due to exercise. Some of the most important physical adaptations achieved by conditioning involve:...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=16758
by: University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture
August 02 2010, Article # 16758
Basic conditioning of the equine athlete involves consideration of the event in which the horse will be competing, the level of competition that you expect the horse to achieve, the time you have in which to condition the horse, and the horse's previous conditioning for the event.
The goal of any basic conditioning program is to enhance the psychological and the physical responses to exercise. Psychological responses with conditioning include greater confidence and desire to perform and minimized boredom and resentment. Physical responses include greater strength and endurance, enhanced skills (such as jumping and reining), and minimized soreness or injury due to exercise. Some of the most important physical adaptations achieved by conditioning involve:...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=16758
Supplementing the Equine Diet with Essential Fatty Acids
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Uckele Health and Nutrition
March 16 2011, Article # 17937
Although feeding fat to horses has often been a topic of heavy debate, current research indicates that supplementing essential fatty acids in horses' diets is not only useful, but might very well be a requirement. In fact, researchers have shown that feeding essential fatty acids (EFAs) for health-promoting benefits can be justified for not only maintaining skin and hoof health, but also mental, digestive, reproductive, pulmonary and joint health.
Jack Grogan, CN, and chief science officer for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has formulated nutritional supplements to support healthy metabolic balance in horses. Grogan explains that an added benefit of supplementing fat is that it generates less internal heat while being digested than protein or carbohydrates, keeping your horse cooler.
"Other benefits of higher fat diets can include enabling your horse to perform longer without fatigue, lowering the risk of injury, improving the ability to maintain body weight with less grain, and reducing the risk of colic and founder," he adds...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17937
by: Uckele Health and Nutrition
March 16 2011, Article # 17937
Although feeding fat to horses has often been a topic of heavy debate, current research indicates that supplementing essential fatty acids in horses' diets is not only useful, but might very well be a requirement. In fact, researchers have shown that feeding essential fatty acids (EFAs) for health-promoting benefits can be justified for not only maintaining skin and hoof health, but also mental, digestive, reproductive, pulmonary and joint health.
Jack Grogan, CN, and chief science officer for Uckele Health & Nutrition, has formulated nutritional supplements to support healthy metabolic balance in horses. Grogan explains that an added benefit of supplementing fat is that it generates less internal heat while being digested than protein or carbohydrates, keeping your horse cooler.
"Other benefits of higher fat diets can include enabling your horse to perform longer without fatigue, lowering the risk of injury, improving the ability to maintain body weight with less grain, and reducing the risk of colic and founder," he adds...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17937
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Physiological Functions of Equine Nutrition
Fresnostatehorses.com - Full Article
(Carbohydrates and Fats)
Anne Rodiek, Ph.D.
Californa State University, Fresno
Feeding horses is both a science and an art. Horses have done well on a wide variety of diets for hundreds of years. While evolved as a roaming and nibbling eater, horses have adapted to confinement and meal feeding. While evolved on a diet of fibrous feeds, horses have adapted to highly digestible, high energy rations. While man has tried a myriad of dietary manipulations to cause horses to perform better in the service of man, horses have remained robust and still willing to serve man. From a large view, it could be summated that horses have done an amazing job at continuing to do what they do in spite of what man has fed to them, rather than because of it.
DIGESTION, METABOLISM AND FEEDS
The digestive system of the horse is designed to maximize digestion of both high and low quality feeds. The small intestine is the site of enzymatic digestion of soluble carbohydrates, proteins and fats, the components of which are absorbed into the circulation. Insoluble carbohydrates pass to the cecum and colon where they are fermented by bacteria and protozoa, similar to those of the ruminant. Prececal digestion is relatively rapid, while postileal fermentation is quite slow with total rate of passage exceeding 24 hours. Although with large variability depending on diet and physical form of the feeds. This anatomical arrangement allows enzymatic digestion by the horse before fermentation by microbes ensuring that high quality nutrients are absorbed directly by the horse and are not converted to lesser quality nutrients by the microbes.
More than 70% of the horse’s daily feed intake is used to provide energy to fuel the horse’s metabolism. Traditional horse feeds are comprised primarily of carbohydrates with very little (less than 5%) fat. However, research over the past twenty years has shown that horses absorb and utilize fat efficiently. As such, both carbohydrates and fats (and to a lesser extent protein) can be used as energy sources for all activities of horses.
Carbohydrates
Plant materials contain both structural and nonstructural carbohydrates...
Read more here:
http://www.fresnostatehorses.com/physiological%20functions%20of%20equine%20nutrition.htm
(Carbohydrates and Fats)
Anne Rodiek, Ph.D.
Californa State University, Fresno
Feeding horses is both a science and an art. Horses have done well on a wide variety of diets for hundreds of years. While evolved as a roaming and nibbling eater, horses have adapted to confinement and meal feeding. While evolved on a diet of fibrous feeds, horses have adapted to highly digestible, high energy rations. While man has tried a myriad of dietary manipulations to cause horses to perform better in the service of man, horses have remained robust and still willing to serve man. From a large view, it could be summated that horses have done an amazing job at continuing to do what they do in spite of what man has fed to them, rather than because of it.
DIGESTION, METABOLISM AND FEEDS
The digestive system of the horse is designed to maximize digestion of both high and low quality feeds. The small intestine is the site of enzymatic digestion of soluble carbohydrates, proteins and fats, the components of which are absorbed into the circulation. Insoluble carbohydrates pass to the cecum and colon where they are fermented by bacteria and protozoa, similar to those of the ruminant. Prececal digestion is relatively rapid, while postileal fermentation is quite slow with total rate of passage exceeding 24 hours. Although with large variability depending on diet and physical form of the feeds. This anatomical arrangement allows enzymatic digestion by the horse before fermentation by microbes ensuring that high quality nutrients are absorbed directly by the horse and are not converted to lesser quality nutrients by the microbes.
More than 70% of the horse’s daily feed intake is used to provide energy to fuel the horse’s metabolism. Traditional horse feeds are comprised primarily of carbohydrates with very little (less than 5%) fat. However, research over the past twenty years has shown that horses absorb and utilize fat efficiently. As such, both carbohydrates and fats (and to a lesser extent protein) can be used as energy sources for all activities of horses.
Carbohydrates
Plant materials contain both structural and nonstructural carbohydrates...
Read more here:
http://www.fresnostatehorses.com/physiological%20functions%20of%20equine%20nutrition.htm
Saturday, March 12, 2011
It Is a Mental Condition
Trot On Hank Blog
March 8, 2011
We know we must do physical conditioning of our horses for distance riding, but how many of us think about MENTALLY conditioning for the conditions?
We are faced with many challenges at a distance ride, and the more homework you can do ahead of time, then hopefully the better prepared one will be. While I think those new to the sport are more often finding some of their pre-ride training end up with a few holes in it, I have seen experience riders have some issues that they might have been able to lessen had they done a few extra preparations before heading off to a competition.
When we prepare and condition for rides, many of us have a tendency to only ride in weather that is more perfect, as we have a choice. If it is windy, or cold, we can wait a day or so for something better to head out to enjoy some trail time. But when we get to a competition, we do not always know what the weather is going to do. If it is not to our liking, we can always choose to not ride. And that is up to each individual. This has to be fun, and if riding in less than wonderful weather is not to ones liking, that is their choice, and theirs alone. This is recreation for us. But if one does choose to ride no matter what the conditions, then consider training for those conditions. On the physical end, consider doing some training in muddy conditions to be prepared and know how your horse might handle that footing before you end up at a ride and the sky opens up and changes things from dry and perfect, to muddy and slick...
Read more here:
http://trotonhank.blogspot.com/2011/03/it-is-mental-condition.html
March 8, 2011
We know we must do physical conditioning of our horses for distance riding, but how many of us think about MENTALLY conditioning for the conditions?
We are faced with many challenges at a distance ride, and the more homework you can do ahead of time, then hopefully the better prepared one will be. While I think those new to the sport are more often finding some of their pre-ride training end up with a few holes in it, I have seen experience riders have some issues that they might have been able to lessen had they done a few extra preparations before heading off to a competition.
When we prepare and condition for rides, many of us have a tendency to only ride in weather that is more perfect, as we have a choice. If it is windy, or cold, we can wait a day or so for something better to head out to enjoy some trail time. But when we get to a competition, we do not always know what the weather is going to do. If it is not to our liking, we can always choose to not ride. And that is up to each individual. This has to be fun, and if riding in less than wonderful weather is not to ones liking, that is their choice, and theirs alone. This is recreation for us. But if one does choose to ride no matter what the conditions, then consider training for those conditions. On the physical end, consider doing some training in muddy conditions to be prepared and know how your horse might handle that footing before you end up at a ride and the sky opens up and changes things from dry and perfect, to muddy and slick...
Read more here:
http://trotonhank.blogspot.com/2011/03/it-is-mental-condition.html
Monday, March 07, 2011
Hoofin' It in Boots
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Christy West, Digital Editor/Producer
May 01 2010, Article # 17632
Hoof boots let a horse go barefoot with many of the benefits of traditional shoes.
Hoof boots aren't just for emergencies or soaking injured feet; these boots are made for walking, running, climbing, and more. Today an increasing variety of boots adorn the other-wise bare feet of trail horses, working horses, dressage horses, and even highly competitive endurance horses.
The benefits are pretty straightforward: The horse gets foot protection and traction when needed, while still going barefoot most of the time. There's no risk of tearing off shoes or misplaced nails.
However, boots aren't a license to be lazy about hoof maintenance. Booted horses require proper trimming and balancing, perhaps even more often than shod horses. And boots come with their own risks and challenges, such as sores from chafing if they are left on too long and/or incorrectly sized.
Are boots right for you and your horse? If so, how do you pick out the right boot? Read on to find out...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17632
by: Christy West, Digital Editor/Producer
May 01 2010, Article # 17632
Hoof boots let a horse go barefoot with many of the benefits of traditional shoes.
Hoof boots aren't just for emergencies or soaking injured feet; these boots are made for walking, running, climbing, and more. Today an increasing variety of boots adorn the other-wise bare feet of trail horses, working horses, dressage horses, and even highly competitive endurance horses.
The benefits are pretty straightforward: The horse gets foot protection and traction when needed, while still going barefoot most of the time. There's no risk of tearing off shoes or misplaced nails.
However, boots aren't a license to be lazy about hoof maintenance. Booted horses require proper trimming and balancing, perhaps even more often than shod horses. And boots come with their own risks and challenges, such as sores from chafing if they are left on too long and/or incorrectly sized.
Are boots right for you and your horse? If so, how do you pick out the right boot? Read on to find out...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17632
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