Feed Room Chemist: An Equine Nutrition Podcast

This listener question episode digs into two topics. The first is the safety and effectiveness of aloe vera. The second explains  “inflammatory” ingredients, what that means for your horse, and what you can do to help balance the ratios of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory components of your horse’s diet. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this show: · Equilene Pro Care – feed with resear...

This episode talks about improving muscle stamina and endurance in horses and highlights some biologically active nutritional technologies that support muscle health and ultimately lead to improvements in performance. Have a horse that ties up? Listen to the end! Show Notes: To take advantage of the 50% off sale on “Moving Up” visit https://strideanimalhealth.com/moving-up/ Sale ends Monday Novemb...

This episode continues the journey through the equine digestive tract and focuses heavily on the hindgut. Dr. Nichols covers the main problems that can occur and what you can do to prevent negative issues from overtaking your horse. Show Notes: Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroomchemist so we can see which episodes you are loving! We will be sharing the...

This episode begins the journey through the equine digestive tract and focuses heavily on the foregut. Dr. Nichols covers the main problems that can occur in each section of the equine digestive tract and what you can do to prevent negative issues from cropping up. Show Notes: Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroomchemist so we can see which episodes you a...

Ulcers, hay changes, and hind gut pH changes are just a few of the reasons your horse may have gone off feed. Check out this episode for all the details on why your horse may have stopped eating his hay or grain. Show Notes: Please share this episode on your favorite social media channels using #feedroomchemist so we can see which episodes you are loving! We will be sharing the love with lucky lis...

Listener question episode! We cover a variety of questions, such as: Does coastal cause colic? Do I really need to feed a supplement? Does pasture alone provide enough fiber? How do I prevent laminitis when my only option is pasture turnout? Tune in to hear the answers, and don’t forget to hit subscribe and share with a friend! 😉 Show Notes: Wow, this episode resulted in a lot of product referenc...

Ever thought of green grass, iron supplements, and zinc as dangerous? Most people have not. This episode explains when normal nutritional components can turn dangerous. Show Notes: Feeds proven by Dr. Nichols to be “super-safe" if a horse were to break into the feed room! 😅 (Check out the episode for that inside joke).  Equilene Pro Care and Intensify Senior Therapy both by Bluebonnet Feeds....

Equine nutrition consultant, Lindsay Burer, joins us for our first ever guest episode! Lindsay offers insight on what it is like to be a traveling nutrition consultant with Bluebonnet Feeds and Stride Animal Health, what an owner can expect from a nutrition consultation, and the highs and lows of this kind of career. Show Notes: Connect with Lindsay, on Facebook: Lindsay Burer- Equine Nutrition Co...

This episode addresses listener questions around wobbler syndrome and how to feed weanlings to 2 year olds.  Dr. Nichols shares her secrets to helping reduce OCDs in a breeding operation. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: · Intensify Growth & Development by Bluebonnet Feeds · 101 Diet Balancer by Stride Animal Health · Ortho Max by Stride Animal Health · Surge by Stride...

This episode uncovers the benefits of using a metabolic pH balancer in equine athletes for improving hydration, supporting  muscle function, speeding up recovery time, and supporting normal movement of digesta through the intestinal tract. We are also going to address a listener question about anhidrosis in horses. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: · Turbo Mag BCAA – for hel...

This episode hits the high points in the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 PSSM and what you can do to manage these horses and help prevent episodes of tying up, or at the very least lessen their severity. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: · Moving Up – supplement designed for horses with PSSM · Turbo Mag BCAA – for helping a horse stay hydrated and maintain healthy metabolic...

This episode uncovers the secrets behind your horse’s manure and offers tips for abnormal situations. After that Dr. Nichols touches on the use of GMO ingredients in horse feeds (CAUTION: personal opinions may be involved), and then wraps it up by explaining why some people worry that flax seed might cause cyanide poisoning in their horse. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: · Turb...

This listener question episode digs into nutritional approaches to support: tendon and ligament health, degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD), recovery from stifle surgery, and osteochondritis dissecan (OCD) prevention. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: Ortho Max – provides the building blocks necessary for tendon-to-bone healing and improving bone fill during critical...

Need some simple tricks to try for addressing your horse's hoof health? This episode discusses which specific vitamins and minerals have been shown to support healthy hoof wall and also zeros in on management practices which may be holding your horse's hoof health hostage. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: Fish Oil Factor  – omega 3 fat supplement to help add moisture to dry...

It’s case study time again! This particular horse suffers from Lyme Disease and is “running out of gas” during normal workouts. Dr. Nichols walks through her process for evaluating this horse in a virtual nutrition consult and provides recommendations for the owner. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: Ex-Factor Low Starch – a 10% NSC, extruded feed designed for horses with metaboli...

This listener question episode covers sand colic, black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS), Omgea 3’s and fat for overweight Cushing’s horses, and using seaweed derived calcium vs. calcium carbonate. Show Notes: Products mentioned in this episode are: 101 Diet Balancer – a vitamin and mineral supplement for horses. Fish Oil Factor – an omega 3 supplement that is fed in small amounts. Equilene Pro Care – a...

Ever heard of iron overload in horses? It’s becoming a popular topic that is causing some people to pull their hair out trying to find a perfectly balanced diet. Unless you have an insulin resistant horse, iron content in the diet might not be worth the worry. Check out this episode to learn why. Show Notes: Insulin Resistant horses may benefit from a low starch feed that is balanced in trace mine...

This listener question episode provides some insight around the use of apple cider vinegar in horses. If you have an ulcer prone horse or one with equine metabolic syndrome and/or insulin resistance, this is a must listen! If you have a topic or question you would like addressed on a future episode please email info@acbluebonnet.com Dr. Jyme Nichols is Director of Nutrition for Bluebonnet Feeds an...

Ever wondered if a horse can self-regulate their mineral intake? Curious if you can “over-do” by providing minerals in the feed? Ever wonder what the best way is to determine your horse’s nutritional status? This episode covers these questions and explains why blood analysis and hair analysis may not be the best way to determine nutritional status. If you have a topic or question you would like ad...

This episode dives into the research that has been conducted around saliva production and gastric buffer capacity in horses. It outlines how feeding time impacts your horse’s gastric health and highlights a new ingredient, seaweed derived calcium, that is showing promise not only as a gastric buffer, but also in bone formation, bone density, and can even impact a horse’s startle response. Show Not...

This listener question episode provides a full explanation of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and a “how to” lesson for calculating a total diet NSC content for your horse. In addition, Dr. Nichols addresses when it is and isn’t necessary to soak beet pulp and pelleted feeds. Don't forget to join the LIVE Webcast or show up in person for Dr. Nichols' session at the Built Ford Tough Arena in Exp...

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a potentially devastating neurologic disease in horses caused by the parasite Sarcocystis neruona . Early detection and medical intervention is key to helping horses recover. This episode outlines the signs of EPM and uncovers nutritional aspects for prevention and support of horses who have contracted the disease. Show Notes: Episode 13 goes in depth on...

Omeprazole is a drug commonly used to treat and prevent gastric ulcers in horses. This episode discusses pros and cons of omeprazole use in horses, and two drug-free alternatives that are showing promise for preventing gastric ulcers in horses. Show Notes: Episode 6 goes into much more detail on plasma and it’s benefits to a horse. LIFELINE®+ Equine – plasma supplement proved to prevent gastric ul...

There is a lot that goes into developing a good topline in your horse. Good nutrition helps but there is a lot more to it! This episode explains what steps you should take to determine why your horse may have a less-than-ideal topline. Show Notes: Episode 12 provides an in-depth review of amino acids, or you can watch the webinar video on Stride Animal Health’s YouTube channel. Competitive Edge –...

EVERYONE wants a horse with a long mane and tail! While your horse is limited by their own genetics, there are things you can do from a nutritional standpoint to maximize “what his mama gave him”. This episode covers two listener questions around mane and tail growth and molasses content in feeds and how to decipher what the true sugar content is. Show Notes: Episode 13 covers Omega 3’s in depth....