Tag Archives: minerals

Sugar And Hoof Health

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Dr. Kellon

Sugar phobia has reached a point where virtually any problem with a horse’s hooves may be blamed on sugar. From thrush to weak laminar connections, sugar is being blamed for hoof problems. This often comes with stories of how horses … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Insulin and Mineral Nutrition

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Dr. Kellon

High insulin in horses  does not have the clear inflammatory component documented in people but there is increased oxidative stress. The size of the upper legs is a good indicator of what this high insulin pony’s body should look like … Continue reading →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Equine Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment