The Equine Connection Podcast

We are back to revisit Fiber and finish up our discussion with just how much fiber a horse needs each day. Surprisingly, there is no set amount of fiber that a horse is required each day. So in this week's podcast we discuss what that means and how you can ensure your horse gets enough fiber in their diet. We briefly revisit the quality of fiber and why that matter and what types of feeds you shou...

There is concern that horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) might need to be on a low protein diet. This thought is based on research out of the University of Kentucky, which showed that EMS horses when fed diets high in protein experienced large abnormal insulin spikes. Just one of the detrimental factors of horses with EMS. However, as interesting as it was the study may not have demonstra...

You hear about fiber week in and week out, when chatting about what to feed your horse. The quality of that fiber has a major influence on your horse's health, well-being, and performance. Thus, in this week's podcast, we chat about fiber, its importance to your horse and then jump right into fiber quality. We also warn owners about low quality fiber! Cheaper feeds may contain poor quality fiber,...

The feeding of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) is certainly a hot topic in horse circles around the globe. The days of feeding straight oats, crimped corn or sticky sweet feeds should be far behind us. We now know, through solid research, that diets high in NSC can lead to a whole host of health disorders in horses. Thus, in this week's podcast, we specifically highlight which horses need low N...

The saying of "no hoof, no horse" still holds true today than it did in days past. When it comes to hoof care, one of the ailments that can strike any horse is White Line Disease. This can be a serious issue that, in some extreme instances, can potentially result in euthanasia of the horse. However, there are steps you can take to help limit or prevent White Line Disease, which is the focus of thi...

We are revisiting the topic of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). For all horses, carbohydrates are critical to overall health, as well as performance. When it comes to sugars and starches, or the nonstructural form of carbohydrates, it can become tricky. For horses that have metabolic issues, are overweight, or are sensitive to NSC in their diets, thankfully, there are many ways to help them meet...

As our advancements in equine nutrition continue at incredible speed, so, too, is our understanding of their exercise physiology. Some of the most interesting and promising research in horse showing is just how critical nutrition is to helping horses become better athletes. In this week's podcast, we discuss how muscle is built in horses. We then discuss what the research says about how protein an...

Can feeding soy be harmful to mare reproduction? While soy is often thought by some to cause allergies in some horses (data says less than 5% of horse allergies are caused by soy), others wonder if soy can cause infertility in some mares. That is the question we answer in this week's podcast.  We discuss why soy might be a cause of infertility in horses and then dig into what scientific data that...

Dental disease can be crippling to any horse. One such disease is EOTRH, or also known as Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis. This disease primarily affects older horses and can be difficult to manage. Thus, in this week's podcast we explain exactly what EOTRH is, which horses may be more susceptible to the disease and how it can impact your horse's welfare. We then discuss...

Protein is one of the more discussed nutrients for horses. With that, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings about protein and what it does for the horse. Thus, in this week's podcast, we tackle common myths about protein. Such as, is more protein better? Is protein a good source of energy for horses? Alternatively, can protein cause horses to be excitable/hot? We discuss these top...

It can be quite challenging to feed horses when they are grouped together. This can apply to a pair of horses up to a large herd. So, how can you do it and ensure all your horses are receiving all the nutrients they need? That is the topic of this week's podcast. We talk about how to manage their forage in group feeding situations. We then switch our focus on how to manage their horse feed intake...

How we store our horse feed is actually more important than we often think. Not only can it cost us more when our horse's feed spoils or cannot be fed, it can also lead to a loss in nutrients and may lead to nutritional deficiencies. In this week's podcast, we tackle this topic and give you some tips and tricks. We chat about how best to store your forage. Then, we turn our attention to horse feed...

Essential oils are quickly becoming a popular alternative form of therapy for many horses. These should not be confused with food quality oils, or those that we feed our horses. Rather, essential oils are those that are derived from plants and are used either topically or as aromatherapy. In this week's podcast, we highlight which essential oils are currently being used by horse owners. We discuss...

Because of the advancements we've made in our understanding of horse nutrition, many horses are living longer and healthier lives. Wondering when to switch your older horse to a senior feed is a tricky question for many. Thus, in this week's podcast, we discuss in detail what senior feeds are and when you may want to start feeding them. For many horses, age is just a number and there is no set age...

Have you ever wondered how feed companies determine the costs of their horse feeds? Well, a listener asked us and we respond in this week's podcast. We carefully explain everything that goes into making a bag of horse feed and what it takes to get it into your hands. We then chat about how the multiple supply chains we use have been impacted by the pandemic and how they are influencing costs. Fina...

At some point in their lives, a horse will likely get an illness or infection requiring antibiotics. We also may call these broader spectrum treatments "antimicrobials." The purpose is to, of course, kill off any harmful pathogen, usually bacteria, to allow the horse to heal. The problem with many of these drugs is that they kill off bacteria, fungi and other microbes indiscriminately, including t...

A horse suffering colic is unfortunately an issue almost every horse owner will face at some point. Put simply, colic is the general term used to describe any abdominal disturbance in the horse. It is often quite painful and understandably a worrying experience for all involved. Fortunately, with quick veterinarian care, the vast majority of horses survive colic. A small percentage of horses may a...

For a good part of the year, many mares throughout the world can become "moody." What this means is, due to a mare's natural breeding cycle, her body experiences drastic changes in her hormones. This often leads to mares becoming challenging to handle. They can be difficult to train, ride, and sometimes downright mean. However, there are many strategies, including alterations in their diet, that c...

The nutraceutical market for horses in the United States is worth over $80 million in sales per year. Thus, horse owners may wonder if they are making wise purchases. A major concern is whether or not these expensive supplements work like they claim they do. Calming supplements are one of the major types of supplements horse owners either have used or are curious about using. Therefore, in this we...

To celebrate our 100th episode, we went in a different direction. We wanted to look back at where we were feeding horses over 100 years ago. Then we wanted to look at where we are going in the next 100 years. Horses were a mainstay for many people in the early 20th Century.  Even back then people were careful what they fed their horses. Yet, there was not much research or study in equine nutrition...

As we enter the fall and winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, we wanted to revisit how best to prepare your horses and help them through the colder months. In this episode, we first discuss calories and why you need to know about them and why they are important entering the winter months. We discuss the seasonal changes and how horses adapt and regulate their body temperatures via thermoregul...

When meal feeding horses, owners might often wonder if it matters what is fed first: hay or grain. Most would assume hay should be fed first. Yet, realistically, not many owners are feeding their horses hay an hour or two before feeding any sort of grain. Others would say it does not matter which feedstuff is fed first. In this week's podcast, we tackle this topic and dig down into the research. W...

We have mentioned these bugs in the digestive tracts of horses in many podcasts. It was time we finally devoted an entire podcast to them. What are the hindgut microbes, what do they do for the horse, and why are they so important? We answer all those questions and more. We also highlight why we are so careful on what and how we feed our horses. This is because we need to maintain a healthy hindgu...

Horse owners often wonder not only how their horse's feed is made, but also how to ensure it is safe? In this week's podcast episode, we talk about how horse feeds are not only formulated and created, but also the steps companies should take to ensure their horse feeds are wholesome and safe. We chat about how the manufacturing process can and has gone wrong with some horse feeds, and what steps c...

While it may sound like a dry topic, talking about the importance of B vitamins is actually quite interesting. This is because there are 8 specific B vitamins that are critical to horse health and performance. One of the most interesting facts about B vitamins is that the horse's hindgut microbes actually make them. However, they may not make enough, which is why B vitamins are often a hot topic i...