Tag Archives: minerals

Topping Off Hay Diets

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

Hay is just dried grass and grass is the horse’s natural food so it shouldn’t need any supplementation – right? Wrong. Variety is a major difference between the diet of feral horses and that of  domesticated horses fed hay.  The … Continue reading →

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The Facts About Feeding Straw

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

Straw is often recommended as an alternative to hay in a variety of scenarios – hay shortage, for weight loss, to decrease sugar/starch in the diet or simply to give the horse something to chew on for longer periods without … Continue reading →

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Do Horses Really Need Supplements?

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

To stay alive – no.  To have the most vibrant health possible – yes! I’m not talking about specialty supplements here, like joint or hoof, just the core essential nutrients of protein/amino acids, vitamins and minerals.  Somewhere on earth there … Continue reading →

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Growing Horses in Cold Weather

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Dr. Kellon

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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Mid-Pregnancy Nutrition

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Dr. Kellon

When an average size mare delivers she will have produced a 100+ lb foal, an 11 pound placenta, and as much as 16 pounds of fluid. She has also greatly increased the size and thickness of her uterus and blood … Continue reading →

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Nutrition for the Lactating Mare

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Dr. Kellon

There is a reason the horse evolved to foal in the Spring. The rich, tender, high moisture young vegetation provides the energy and protein dense nutrition the mare needs to make sufficient milk. In peak lactation the mare needs 1.8X … Continue reading →

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Failing Pastures

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

I’m going to define failing pastures as those that no longer can meet the nutritional needs of the horse.  This can happen a lot sooner than you  might think. Brown, dormant grass is easy to spot but very mature green … Continue reading →

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Care of the Mare and Foal at Weaning

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

With feral horses, by the time weaning occurs naturally both mare and foal are more than ready for it.  When we hasten the process artificially, there is inevitable stress. Foals depend on their dams for basic survival needs of nutrition … Continue reading →

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Get Ready for Allergy Season

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

The groundhog was right about six more weeks of winter, but spring is just around the corner and with it all the plants, molds and insects that can spell allergy. Studies in several species and different equine breeds have uncovered … Continue reading →

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Nutrition for Advancing Pregnancy

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

In the last half of pregnancy the foal grows from the size of a small dog to an average 100 lb foal. Nutritional needs ramp up significantly in late pregnancy and calories are the least of the concerns.  This means … Continue reading →

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