Beyond the Barn

When it comes to horse nutrition, understanding energy is key to building a healthier, more resilient equine partner. On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss important insights into horse energy needs, including: What “energy” actually means for horses and why it’s different than you might think How carbohydrates, fats, and fiber each contribute differently to a horse’s e...

What if the key to solving your horse’s lingering hoof issues isn’t a different supplement or shoe, but a completely different way of looking at their feet? On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr and guest Dr. Sammy Pittman, a veterinarian, farrier, and equine podiatry expert, discuss how the environment, biomechanics, and nutrition all play a role in horse hoof soundness, inclu...

Many horse owners focus on choosing the best hay, grain, or supplements, but research shows that when you feed can also impact how well your horse utilizes protein and amino acids. On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr and guest Dr. Sara Mastellar, equine nutrition researcher and professor at Ohio State ATI, break down her research on meal frequency and protein metabolism in ho...

***Complete our short survey by Tuesday, April 8, 2025 to be entered for a chance to win Standlee free product coupons and some fun Standlee swag –  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/btb2025podcast _______________________________ On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss the importance of feeding horses consistently, including: How horses are impacted if the feeding schedule c...

***Complete our short survey by Tuesday, April 8, 2025 to be entered for a chance to win Standlee free product coupons and some fun Standlee swag – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/btb2025podcast _______________________________ On this episode, co-host Katy Starr and guest Sarah Dean, the incredible artist behind Sarah Dean Arts, discuss her journey as an equine artist, including: How her real-life...

On this BONUS episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss the benefits of supplementing a horse’s current diet with high quality hay, including: What is a supplement? How to improve a horse’s diet by improving the fiber portion, which makes up the majority of what they eat What feed changes have the GREATEST impact on horses needing a low sugar and starch diet? We also introduce the...

On this episode, co-host Katy Starr and guest expert Dr. Stephen Duren, PhD, MS, PAS discuss the confusing terminology of NSC, WSC, ESC, sugars, starches, and fructans, including: What are sugars, starches, and fructans? What are non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) - is it something that can be measured or is it a calculation? What feed changes have the GREATEST impact on horses needing a low sugar...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss the critical role of vitamin A and vitamin E in horse diets, including: How to tell if your horse is deficient in vitamin A or vitamin E Which type of vitamin E is more bioavailable to your horse – Natural or synthetic? Can an excess of vitamin A or vitamin E in the diet interfere with the absorption of other vitamins? Learn why cho...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr and guest Dr. Michelle DeBoer discuss using hay nets for horses, based on scientific research, including: How do hay nets benefit horses? How much hay could potentially be wasted without using hay nets? Can hay nets damage your horse’s teeth? Dr. DeBoer provides an easy-to-understand breakdown of her research on using hay nets for horses an...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss horse cribbing, including: How is cribbing different from other horse stereotypies, like weaving or stall walking? Is horse cribbing genetic or a learned behavior? What management practices can be implemented to help reduce the likelihood of a horse developing a cribbing habit? Horse cribbing can be a difficult behavior to manage. T...

*** Beyond the Barn is going on a break! See the note below our episode description for more details. ***   On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss equine Cushing’s disease in horses, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), including: What type of horses are most likely to get Cushing’s disease The difference between equine Cushing’s disease and equine...

On this episode, co-host Katy Starr chats with guest expert Dr. Stephen Duren, PhD, MS, PAS about the history of equine nutrition, including: The differences between horses used in war, agriculture, and transportation and how they were fed for those uses versus how they are fed now How and why the industrial revolution put a halt to equine nutrition research What has been the greatest advancement...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr chat with Dr. Stephanie Bonin, a principal and senior biomechanical engineer, about her research on the movement of how horses chew and why it matters, including: How horses chew long-stem hay or grass versus smaller pelleted feeds and forage How the height at which horses eat can affect their jaw movement and teeth alignment Potential dent...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss salt requirements for horses, including: What are the different types of salt and what kind does your horse need? Do horses know when they need more salt (or other nutrients) in their diet? Can they self-regulate? Feeding loose salt versus block salt – which is better for horses? There are SO many different types of salt, it can be...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr chat with guest expert Dr. Briana Hamamoto, large animal veterinarian for the California Veterinary Emergency Team, about how to best prepare horses and other livestock for an emergency disaster, including: The BIGGEST mistake horse and other livestock owners make when it comes to natural disaster emergencies and preparedness What to includ...

On this episode, co-host Katy Starr and guest expert Dr. Geoffrey Lossie, a board-certified poultry veterinarian who works as an avian diagnostician at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab and clinical assistant professor at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, discuss:   Top tips to properly prepare for bringing home new chicks  How to identify signs and symptoms for the most co...

On this part two episode, co-host Katy Starr continues her conversation with long distance trail rider, Jodie Morton of Green, Gold and Blues about: One item that she will never, EVER leave home without for a trail ride Her process for planning a safe and successful trail ride on big trails A brilliant strategy she uses with her horse Thelma, to make elevation gains the most efficient Riding horse...

On this part one episode, co-host Katy Starr has a candid conversation with corporate life employee turned long distance horse rider and trailblazer for mental health, Jodie Morton of Green, Gold and Blues about: How the loss of those close to her inspired her journey to start Green, Gold and Blues, riding horses to break down the stigma with mental health in rural communities Leaving a relationsh...

***Last chance to complete our short survey by Tuesday, March 12th to be entered for a chance to win Standlee free product coupons and some fun Standlee swag –  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/btb2024podcast   Leave a rating/review on Apple –  https://podcasts.apple.com/.../beyond-the-barn/id1541221306 Leave a rating on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/3dmftQmwLKDQNueUcCJBZa ________________...

**Complete our short survey by Tuesday, March 12, 2024 to be entered for a chance to win Standlee free product coupons and some fun Standlee swag – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/btb2024podcast *SPECIAL NOTE - if you tried to complete the survey within the first few hours of the episode release and it only let you answer one question, please try again. The survey has been fixed. You may have to us...

On this episode, co-host Katy Starr and guest expert Dr. Stephen Duren, PhD, MS, PAS discuss healing a horse’s damaged digestive system including:   Different ways horses can have a compromised or damaged digestive system and how to heal it Preventative solutions to minimize gastric ulcers in horses How an unstable microbiome can impact multiple functions of the horse’s body   An ounce of preventi...

Welcome back to the new year!   On this episode, co-host Katy Starr and guest expert Dr. Stephen Duren, PhD, MS, PAS discuss carbohydrate sensitivity in performance horses including: The differences between dietary starch, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC), and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) – and what carbohydrate sensitive horses should and should NOT con...

This is our final episode for 2023! Our next episode will release Tuesday, January 16 2024 . Enjoy the holiday season, catch up on some past episodes, and we’ll see you back here in the new year! On this part two episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr and guest Dr. Michelle DeBoer continue their discussion about the hot topic of blanketing horses, including: The different ways horses ke...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr and guest Dr. Michelle DeBoer discuss the hotly debated topic of whether or not horses actually need blankets in the winter, based on scientific research, including:   Changes in hair coat length and diameter in blanketed and non-blanketed horses How body weight, body condition score and dry matter intake are impacted in blanketed horses Th...

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr discuss the topline of horses including: The most common reasons for a poor topline in horses Tips to improve a horse’s topline with nutrition Specific nutrients that impact a horse’s topline Poor topline in horses is a common concern among horse owners, so this topic will be sure to provoke considerable interest! Send this to someone you t...