Tag Archives: minerals

No Quick Fix for Laminitis Risk

Posted on May 29, 2017 by

It’s perfectly natural to want a silver bullet that will instantly remove the threat of devastating health problems like laminitis but it’s just not that simple.          The classical laminitis stance is something you never want to see. The latest … Continue reading →

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Designer Salt

Posted on March 16, 2017 by

Salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), is arguably the most important mineral.  Animal life is believed to have emerged from the sea. Blood has many similarities to sea water, including a high concentration of sodium and chloride.                                                              Salts of many colors … Continue reading →

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Hay Analysis in Equine Nutrition

Posted on December 26, 2016 by

If you think a hay analysis is just something else unnecessary to waste your money on, please reconsider. The dairy and beef industry has been utilizing hay analyses since the 1800s.  Why? Because it saves them money through maximized milk … Continue reading →

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Adjusting Nutrition for Winter

Posted on December 12, 2016 by

For some of us, winter has already arrived.  For others, it’s just beginning in earnest.  For all, the horse is facing some challenges. Horses actually tolerate and enjoy the cold a lot more than most of us do.  Their neutral … Continue reading →

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Hay – Much More than Fiber

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

Hay used to be widely viewed as having little or no nutritional value beyond being a source of fiber which provided horses with chew time and made them feel full between meals.  That has largely changed but even those who … Continue reading →

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Feeding Weanlings

Posted on October 24, 2016 by

Weanlings have intensive nutritional needs and you shouldn’t start feeding them like a smaller version of an adult. Nutrient dense diets are those that have high levels of protein/amino acids and minerals per calorie. As you might expect, mineral requirements … Continue reading →

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Pasture vs Hay

Posted on May 4, 2016 by

Hay is just dehydrated grass but there are several differences between hay and the live plant that you need to take into consideration when adding pasture to the horse’s diet. Note:  References in the following discussion to calories, protein and … Continue reading →

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In Defense of Wheat Bran

Posted on February 15, 2016 by

Wheat bran has gone from a darling of caretakers everywhere to one of the most widely criticized feeds.  The ensuing impression that bran is somehow “bad” is unwarranted.  In fact, bran has some very desirable characteristics. Bran’s high phosphorus content … Continue reading →

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Feeding the Heavily Pregnant Mare

Posted on February 9, 2016 by

Can you just increase the amounts you are feeding but basically feed the prepregnancy diet and maintain the mare’s weight in pregnancy?  Yes – her amount of fat anyway.  Can you get a live, full term foal?  Yes.  Are you … Continue reading →

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What Are You Feeding Your Horse

Posted on January 11, 2016 by

Ask that question and most people will answer [Brand] 10% – or whatever the protein percentage is of their bagged feed.  Some will answer [Brand] X/Y where X is the protein and Y is percent fat.  What does that tell … Continue reading →

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