Tag Archives: vitamins

Whole Food For Horses

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Dr. Kellon

The “whole food” claim is being used to market some feeds and supplements for horses but what is a whole food and are these products really superior? Does this look like whole food to you? The term whole food is … 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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Skeletal Development in Young Horses

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Dr. Kellon

“You are what you eat” is never more true than with a gr0wing animal.  The mare will rob her own body if necessary to provide for the growing foal, but by 2 months, when he starts eating solid food, only … 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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Can You Recognize Muscular Performance Issues?

Posted on March 11, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

There is no missing it when a horse ties up, or even has a severe localized muscle injury, but generalized muscular dysfunction is more difficult to recognize and can cause significant pain, poor performance, gait and/or behavioral issues. Sustained daily … 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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Balance is Everything

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Dr. Kellon

Homeostasis is a continuously occurring dynamic process that seeks to maintain balance between body processes and a stable internal environment. The Chinese describe it as a balance between Yin and Yang.                  There’s a lot going on beneath the surface … Continue reading →

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Matching Feeding to Activity Level

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Dr. Kellon

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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Hay – Much More than Fiber

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Dr. Kellon

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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Selecting Good Hay

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Dr. Kellon

Many people still consider hay nothing more than filler, a boredom buster, but it is much more than that.  Even if feeding a highly fortified commercial feed, hay will still provide the bulk of your horse’s protein, minerals and vitamins.  … Continue reading →

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