Feed Room Chemist: An Equine Nutrition Podcast

Should you let a hot horse drink cold water? Do you hose off a hot horse? Should you scrape the water or let it sit? Check out this episode for all the science-based answers! Show Notes: Don’t forget to register and attend for free! EquiSUMMIT 2021 – a virtual education event for horse owners July 9-10, 2021. Register at www.attendequisummit.com Research papers to support the answers in this episo...

Is your horse stressed out? What does that even mean for a horse? This episode uncovers the most common stressors in horses and how those can ultimately lead to leaky gut syndrome or other digestive disturbances. Dr. Nichols teams up with Kemin’s Michael Eggleston to describe what research-proven ingredients are available in terms of helping horses cope with stressed-induced gut issues. Show Notes...

Dr. Nichols discusses a general feeding program for stallions during breeding season vs off season. She also explains why horses might eat poop and what you can do to prevent it. Finally she answers a listener question about HYPP and what you need to be mindful of in the diet when caring for an HYPP horse. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode: 101 Diet Balancer - https://strideanimalheal...

Dr. Nichols addresses a listener question about horses that have gone a “lifetime” without a fully balanced diet. Is it harmful to put them on a good plane of nutrition later in life or would they be better off to continue through life the way they had been? Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode: 101 Diet Balancer - https://strideanimalhealth.com/101-diet-balancer/ Element Mineral - https...

Horses occasionally develop hives or protein bumps on their body. The term “protein bumps” should not be confused with the idea that there is too much protein in the diet, but rather a reaction to a very specific biological protein. Dr. Nichols explains this misconception along with the most common reasons horses get hives and the steps you can take to resolve them. Show Notes: Products mentioned...

Since we are in the midst of the Triple Crown races, it only makes sense to honor these amazing athletes with an episode on their nutritional needs! Show Notes: Products Dr. Nichols recommended during this episode: · Equilene® Track Master® Ultra Fat · RER/tying up: A) TurboMag BCAA or B) Moving Up · Hind Gut Dysbiosis: A) Health Hind Gut Program or B) ADR Powder · Bleeding: LIFELINE+ daily and Su...

The gut is incredibly complex. When choosing a gut supplement, you first need to identify what you are trying to accomplish before you can successfully choose the correct product. This episode provides that blueprint.  Show Notes: Stride Animal Health has solutions for each situation. Here are the products Dr. Nichols recommends for each situation. · Hind Gut Dysbiosis: A) Health Hind Gut Pro...

This episode covers two listener questions – one on feeding horses with liver dysfunction and the second on deworming protocols. Show Notes: Printable Deworming Protocol from Colorado State University: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vth/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/recommended-equine-deworming-schedule.pdf …. Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroo...

Independent equine nutritionist, Dr. Rachel Mottet discusses salt and the many forms including Himalayan, iodized, loose, block, you name it! Salt is an often over-looked piece of the horse’s diet, but is it absolutely critical to optimum health. Side note: we are dedicating this episode to all of the upcoming high school and college graduates still searching for the perfect career path!  Sho...

In this episode Dr. Nichols visits with Michael Eggleston about chromium – an ingredient recently approved by the FDA for use in horse feeds. Chromium plays a pivotal role in helping a horse deal with heat stress, improves muscle recovery, and even supports horses dealing with PSSM or equine metabolic syndrome. Show Notes: For downloadable documents and to learn more about the research behind chro...

Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronan (HA) are common ingredients in many joint health products for humans and animals. This episode digs into the science behind each one. Show Notes: · 101 Diet Balancer – base diet balancer to provide correct amounts of macro and microminerals and amino acids essential for a healthy diet. https://strideanimalhealth.com/101-diet-balancer/ · OrthoMax – join...

So, you want to be a horse feed manufacturer, eh? This episode is a replay of a presentation Dr. Nichols did for a college class. It describes what goes into equine feed manufacturing and the choices that a specific horse-focused facility (Bluebonnet Feeds in Ardmore, Oklahoma) has made in their journey to become one of the most respected equine feed manufacturers in the country. Show Notes: To vi...

Interested in nutrition for donkeys? This is your episode! Show Notes: Element Mineral by Stride Animal Health - Ideal mineral supplement for donkeys because it does not contain extra protein, sugar, or calories. …. Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroomchemist so we can see which episodes you are loving! _ If you have a topic or question you would like ad...

Confused by all the feed choices out there? Inspired by a listener question, Dr. Nichols explains her 8-step process for selecting the brand or line of feed to best fit your needs. Show Notes: Feed Selection Road Map: 1. Is the nutritionist qualified? 2. Least Cost vs Locked Formula 3. Ionophore Stance 4. Feeding Rates 5. Trace Mineral Source (zinc methionine complex, copper lysine complex, mangan...

This episode answers listener questions about a horse with an auto-immune disorder and covers the basics of Streptococcus equi, also known as strangles. Show Notes: · Immune Health Program – 30 day “jump start” kit for horses dealing with immune system issues. · LIFELINE+ Equine – the only safe source of oral plasma for horses in the United States. Ideal for supporting the immune system. · ACVIM C...

Interested in miniature horse nutrition? This is your episode, it contains everything you need to know to safely feed these tiny fluffy equids. Show Notes: · Equi-Analytical – forage testing facility recommended by Dr. Nichols. · 101 Diet Balancer and Element mineral by Stride Animal Health – supplements recommended to support vitamin and mineral needs of miniature horses (just be sure to use a qu...

The truth is, hay is never what you think it is… this episode will convince you of that! This is a must-listen for every person responsible for feeding horses. Show Notes: Get your hay tested at Equi-Analytical.com. Find high quality slow feeder hay nets for round bales at haychix.com – these are research proven to help you get up to 94% out of each bale and significantly reduce hay wastage. · Equ...

Professional Barrel Racer and 2 time NFR qualifier, Shelley Morgan joins us for a competitor spotlight episode. Shelley explains how she made her way to become a full time barrel racer and dives into the nutrition program she uses to keep her team of horses performing at the top. Show Notes: Bluebonnet Feeds and Stride Animal Health products mentioned in this episode: · Intensify Omega Force – the...

Thermoneutral Zone and Lower Critical Temperatures are important aspects to understand for cold weather feeding. Dr. Nichols discusses what components of the diet you should change as the temperatures drop. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode: · TurboMag BCAA – metabolic pH balancer to encourage water intake and proper hydration within the digestive tract during cold weather. Please sha...

NOT "just another gastric buffer". Gastro pHix® is a highly effective foregut health supplement designed to support and help prevent all 3 types of ulcers that horses face in the foregut (non-glandular, glandular, duodenal). This is an audio replay of a webinar which can be found at strideanimalhealth.com/webinars. Show Notes: Gastro pHix® is a soothing foregut buffer recommended to support normal...

This episode walks through the entire process of feeding broodmares and foals to ensure you have a healthy horse for years to come. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode: · Intensify Growth & Development by Bluebonnet Feeds · 101 Diet Balancer by Stride Animal Health Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroomchemist so we can see which episodes yo...

This episode undresses the topic of feeding oats. We will cover the good, the bad, and the ugly of this historic horse feed option. Show Notes: Diet Balancers by Stride Animal Health that are excellent for correcting the nutrient profile of an oat and hay diet: · 101 Diet Balancer (pellet) · NutriMix Plus (powder with mega dose of biotin) Please share this episode on your favorite social media cha...

World-renowned equine nutritionist, Dr. Bill Vandergrift joins us to describe, in detail, the functional ingredients used in two unique supplements he designed which are aimed at having muscle enhancing effects. One which improves muscle stamina + endurance and another that increases muscle mass and improves libido in stallions. Grab a pen and paper, this one is full of information!  Show Not...

Sebastian Petroll takes the stage for our first competitor spotlight episode. We learn a little about what it was like moving from Germany to the United States to begin a career as a reining horse trainer, hear about his recent big wins at the NRHA futurity, and what he does from a nutritional standpoint to make sure his horses are feeling their best. Show Notes: Connect with Sebastian on Facebook...

Listener question episode! First Dr. Nichols addresses the impact that elevation has on athletes and what functional ingredients can be fed to help improve oxygen carrying capacity and athletic performance. Secondly, she explains the benefits of natural vitamin E and why synthetic E should not be feared. Show Notes: A functional yeast proven to improve athletic performance by increasing packed cel...