Ask The Horse

Developing a well-rounded and balanced nutrition plan for your competition horse can be challenging. He needs a feed program that meets all his basic nutritional needs while giving him enough energy to keep up with training and showing. Listen in to learn how to determine your horse’s nutritional needs and how to meet them in a safe way. This podcast is brought to you by Purina Animal Nutrition. A...

Horses can show discomfort for a plethora of reasons. Injuries, aging, veterinary procedures, and more can cause pain, and knowing how to manage it is paramount to equine welfare. Join our host, Alexandra Beckstett, as she interviews Dr. Lori Bidwell, of East West Equine Sports Medicine. You'll learn how to tell if your horse might be in pain,  discover successful pain management strategies,...

Prioritizing joint health is imperative to your horse’s comfort, both under saddle and in the field. Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Erica Secor, of Cornell University, and Dr. Julie Settlage, of Boehringer Ingelheim. You'll learn about early signs of joint discomfort, equine osteoarthritis, joint injections, nutritional management of joint disease, and much more! This p...

Horses with insulin issues need to be managed carefully to live good-quality lives. Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Dianne McFarlane, of the University of Florida, and Dr. Vern Dryden, of Bur Oak Veterinary and Podiatry Services. You'll learn about the signs, causes, and treatment of insulin resistance in horses, and science-based steps you can take to combat it.    This...

Good nutrition and a balanced diet are important for all horses, but do senior horses have special requirements to consider? Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Shannon Pratt-Phillips, of North Carolina State University, and Dr. Kelly Vineyard, of Purina Animal Nutrition . You’ll learn about the nutritional requirements of senior horses, feeding the older horse with dental issues...

Do you have an allergy-prone horse? Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Lara Tomich, of Dermatology for Animals. You'll learn about potential causes of allergic reactions, treatment and management options for allergy-prone horses, insect bite hypersensitivity, and much more! This podcast is sponsored by Kinetic Vet. About the Expert:   Lara Tomich, DVM, grew up surrounded by...

Does alfalfa make horses “hot”? Should they not eat before exercising? Many of our feeding practices are based on tradition, but what’s really best for our horses? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews equine nutritionist Dr. Clair Thunes, of Clarity Equine Nutrition, and Dr. Robert Jacobs, of Purina Animal Nutrition. You'll learn about feeding horses alfalfa, beet pulp, and oth...

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is notoriously difficult for veterinarians to diagnose and equally tricky to treat. But there’s hope as researchers continue to investigate this neurologic disease. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Sarah Colmer of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. You'll learn about EPM, how horses contract it, current diagnosti...

An upset digestive system can lead to bigger problems, ranging from gastric ulcers to colitis to colic. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Alicia Long of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. You'll learn about the microbiome, gastric ulcers, diarrhea, colic, fecal water syndrome, and much more!  This podcast is sponsored by Purina.  Alicia Long, DVM, receiv...

Regenerative medicine is giving us new options for treating horses with joint disease and other injuries. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Weston Warnock, of Brazos Valley Equine Hospital, and Dr. Bill King, a consultant for Zoetis with more than 15 years of experience in regenerative medicine in human and animal health. You’ll learn about different types of biologics availa...

Laminitis is an extremely painful and often deadly hoof disease in horses with several causes. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Vern Dryden, of Bur Oak Veterinary and Podiatry Services, and Dr. Nicholas Frank, of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. You'll learn about the different causes and risk factors of laminitis, feeding horses to preven...

How do you feed recreational riding horses to meet their nutritional and digestive needs without causing weight gain? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews equine nutritionists Abby Keegan, MS, PAS, of Cargill North America and  Clair Thunes, PhD, of Clarity Equine Nutrition. You'll learn about the nutritional needs of recreational riding horses, hay and forage options, how to e...

Is your horse getting the nutrition he needs to reach his athletic potential? Are you looking to build his topline or increase his stamina? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Marty Adams, of Cargill Animal Health & Nutrition, and Dr. Clair Thunes, of Clarity Equine Nutrition. You'll learn about the nutritional needs of performance horses, protein and amino acid requir...

Massage can promote relaxation, support your horse’s muscles, and improve his performance.  Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Michele Haman, owner of Equi-Librium Therapy, LLC, and veterinarian Dr. Gina Tranquillo-Shade . You'll learn about equine massage therapy, how to find a qualified massage therapist for your horse, and how it can benefit certain types of horses.  This...

Your horse’s head, face, and mouth comprise sensitive nerves, bone, and soft tissue. While many of us focus on saddle fit, bridles and bits often get overlooked as a cause of discomfort. Bits can cause mouth pain and injury, and research shows many nosebands are adjusted too tight to the point of cruelty. Is your horse wearing the right bit and bridle? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she inte...

From learning theory and counterconditioning to supplements and pharmaceutical options, we’ll take a look at ways to safely help nervous, high-strung, and energetic horses relax.  Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Camie Heleski, PhD, and Jenny Biehunko, PhD. You’ll learn about different health conditions that might contribute to a horse’s anxiety, how to handle a herd bound horse...

Equine nutritionists and veterinarians agree: Forage should be the cornerstone of the equine diet. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Laurie Lawrence, of the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Stephen Duren of Performance Horse Nutrition. You'll learn about different forage options for horses, including beet pulp, alfalfa, and more.  This event is brought to you by Standlee...

Few horses are lucky enough to have constant, year-round access to fresh, green grass, which provides the best natural source of vitamin E. This powerful antioxidant supports muscle and nerve health. Is your horse getting enough? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Carrie Finno. You'll learn about horses' vitamin E requirements, signs of a vitamin E deficiency, and ho...

Do you manage a pastures for your horses? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Krishona Martinson, PhD, MS, of the University of Minnesota Equine Extension Program. You’ll learn about grass health, maintenance, rotational grazing, weed control, dry lots, and much more. Dr. Krishona Martinson, is a professor of equine science and leads the University of Minnesota Extension Horse Prog...

Sometimes we as horse people get stuck in our traditions and habits or are influenced by mythology and marketing. But is there a better way? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Camie Heleski of the University of Kentucky. You’ll learn about how equine welfare plays an important part in training and managing horses, how  equine welfare is measured, improvements we can make to ou...

How cold is too cold to ride? Does your horse need a blanket? What should your horse eat during frigid weather? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Karen Waite, PhD of Michigan State Extension. You'll learn about blanketing, winter horse nutrition, preventing injuries in icy pastures, and how to encourage horses to drink water during the colder weather.  Dr. Karen Waite is par...

Do you have a young horse in your life? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Brian Nielsen, a professor and researcher at Michigan State University. You'll learn about the importance of nutrition and exercise for growing foals, common developmental disorders, and how training can impact a horse's bone growth and development. Dr. Brian Nielsen is an animal science profe...

Surviving natural disasters becomes even more complicated when you’re responsible for horses and other animals. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews emergency planning expert Rebecca Gimenez-Husted, PhD. You'll learn about resources and information you need prior to a disaster, what supplies you'll need if you evacuate or shelter in place, and how you can keep both yoursel...

Aging horses often require individualized care to keep them comfortable and happy. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Bryan Waldridge of Park Equine in Lexington, Kentucky. You'll learn about managing older horses with PPID (equine Cushings) and metabolic syndrome, how to help the arthritic older horse, the special nutritional needs of senior horses, colic risk, and more....

Your horse’s feet are his foundation. What does a healthy hoof look like? Does your horse need shoes, or is he fine barefoot? And what about hoof boots? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Scott Fleming, and equine podiatrist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, in Lexington, Kentucky. You'll learn how to work with your farrier (or trimmer) and veterinarian to ensure your...