Tag Archives: fat

Growing Horses in Cold Weather

Posted on December 28, 2019 by

Hoof growth isn’t the only thing that slows down in cold weather. The growth of young horses can too [Onoda et al 2013, 2014]. Several studies have now documented a slowing down of growth rate in the winter with a … Continue reading →

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Prepping for Shedding

Posted on February 23, 2019 by

If dealing with shedding was the worst problem we had to face with horses we would be blessed indeed – but it’s still a pain. Getting to that glorious new coat underneath will always be predominantly a matter of time, … Continue reading →

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Cold Weather Feeding

Posted on November 11, 2018 by

As the country rapidly slips into winter, questions on cold weather feeding increase.  People want to know what to feed and how much more in winter. The short answer is, it depends. If you have done any reading on this … Continue reading →

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Hard Keepers

Posted on November 4, 2018 by

Overweight horses are grabbing all the headlines but horses that tend to be very thin can also be a major headache for their owners.  While obesity is clearly to be avoided, there is such a thing as too thin. Photo:  … Continue reading →

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Feeds for Carb Sensitive Horses and Weight Control

Posted on August 19, 2018 by

By carb I am referring to hydrolyzable carbohydrate digested to glucose in the small intestine. This includes starch and the sugar/ESC (ethanol soluble carbohydrates) fractions on an analysis. These are the carbs that elevated glucose and cause an insulin response. … Continue reading →

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The Benefits of Feeding Flax

Posted on March 4, 2018 by

Even fans of feeding flax may not realize all its benefits.  It’s a very healthful supplemental feed item for horses of all ages, classes and uses. People usually feed flax for its high omega-3 fatty acid content. There are two … Continue reading →

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Supplementing Old Hay

Posted on January 28, 2018 by

It’s the time of year when even last year’s hay isn’t so new anymore and hay is getting hard to find, leading many people to settle for hay that is actually 2 years old. Properly cured hay stores well in … Continue reading →

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The Skinny Older Horse

Posted on November 5, 2017 by

Impending winter weather and loss of good pasture make all owners of thin senior horses anxious.  Some things to consider when a horse is underweight span all age groups, but seniors have additional considerations. Transverse ridges on the chewing surface … Continue reading →

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Matching Feeding to Activity Level

Posted on October 15, 2017 by

Show season is winding down, vacations over, kids back in school, holidays on the horizon and many horses are getting less work as a result.   It’s important to scale back calories, and in some instances type of calories.  It’s equally … Continue reading →

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Is Your Horse Too Fat?

Posted on October 1, 2017 by

We’ve all seen at least one article claiming a high percentage of horses are overweight; even that it’s an epidemic.  While the numbers are true, 40+ years as a veterinarian and a lifetime of observing horses tells me it’s nothing … Continue reading →

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