During a break at the recent Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, I sat down with Jennifer Brocker, Vice President of Client Marketing, Veterinary/Pet Care, CareCredit, and Kate Hayes, Vice President Equine Expansion, CareCredit. The company recently surveyed horse owners on the expected versus actual costs of horse care, and the results were pretty surprising.  

The study revealed that while 83 percent of horse owners believe they’re financially prepared, actual costs can be three to four times higher than expected—especially when unexpected veterinary needs arise, such as colic or orthopedic injuries that can cost up to $10,000. 

Horse Illustrated: Can you tell us what the new Equine Lifetime of Care Study means for equine vets and horse owners, and why many underestimate the long-term financial commitment of owning a horse?  

Jennifer Brocker: We originally did our Lifetime of Care Study for companion animals (dogs and cats). And then we decided we needed the same kind of information for equine veterinarians and horse owners, so they have a better understanding of how much money they spend over the lifetime of a horse. The way we saw it was, you’re helping prepare them for what’s to come. And since cost of care is one of the biggest barriers for horse ownership or pet ownership, we felt it was important knowing in advance and being educated on the ways that you can be prepared financially over the lifetime of your animal. We also thought it was important that veterinarians have a view into that as well.  

Kate Hayes: It’s such a great tool to educate and empower clinics and practices and veterinarians, but then also on the flip side, like Jen said, to educate horse owners. Because whether people rescue a horse or get into riding for the first time, they know what a riding lesson costs, but they don’t know what the full expense of owning a horse costs. This [study] is a great tool to empower and to educate practices and clinics because this gives them information to pass on to their clients. 

HI: What are some strategies equine vets are using to navigate rising costs, including tools to reduce financial friction with clients, while maintaining high-quality care?  

Brocker: The strategy a lot of equine veterinarians use is, “If you can’t pay me today, I provide the care, and you can pay me later,” which leaves the veterinarian chasing the money. So we can train the veterinarians to say, “I want to take care of your horse, but that requires financial responsibility. Here are the solutions that we have in our practice to help you be ready.” The horse owner needs to understand that the veterinarian must be paid just like their board bill or hay bill is paid.  

Hayes: We’re a partner with them and their business to help that shift. Regardless of what type of veterinarian you are, it’s cost that’s the biggest point of friction between you and your clients. If you talk about it from the beginning, that moment of friction is reduced, so the unexpected medical moment doesn’t also come with an unexpected financial crisis.  

HI: How is CareCredit partnering with equine clinics nationwide to improve access to care while supporting sustainable practice growth? 

Brocker: We’re partnering up with [equine vet practices/clinics] on various levels. First, helping educate their team. How do you have a comfortable financial conversation with a horse owner? If you don’t talk about it and you’re not comfortable talking about it, that in and of itself is a barrier. So we have a lot of training and education to help the veterinary team not be afraid to bring it up, helping them with proactive confidence in that financial moment where everybody’s really emotional.  

The other thing [CareCredit is doing to help equine vet clinics] is we’ve created an all-digital financial experience, so regardless of whether you’re in the clinic or you’re out at the barn, you can apply for CareCredit, get approved, and pay—all from your phone. We’ve always been available in equine practices, but when we first went into it, our payment experience didn’t fit their model. Now they can get paid anywhere, anytime. 

Hayes: If you look at our partnerships on a bigger scale with the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), being an educational partner for them allows us a platform. Education is the key word here. It supports the sustainability of the profession by providing resources that are specific to their workflows, because the ultimate goal is what’s best for the horse and what’s best for the horse owner. If we can help remove some of the barriers that are between a horse owner getting the treatment for their horse, then that’s what we’re here for.  

We also partner with universities. The future veterinarian is also very important to us, so by the time that they’re in practice, that financial conversation isn’t as quite as challenging. It’s tough being a veterinary student—there’s a lot of information thrown at you, so of course the business side isn’t always top of mind. By supporting the universities and organizations that support the future veterinarian, it allows us a platform to be able to educate and help them before they’re actually in practice.  

HI: What is CareCredit?  

Hayes: CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that horse owners can use for all types of veterinary services, treatments, and diagnostics.* It’s a great fit for the equine profession because instead of invoicing after service has been completed, this gives you the opportunity to pay upfront—the veterinarian is able to capture payment in full up front, but the horse owner has 6, 12, 18 months of interest-free [time to make the payments].

*Subject to credit approval 

Brocker: I think one of the best things about CareCredit is once you have the credit card, you are financially ready for whatever happens, whether it’s wellness or unexpected or surgery. And you can use it for whatever animal you have at the veterinarian. It is truly your family credit card for life’s unexpected expenses.  

View the entire Equine Lifetime of Care Study here. 

To learn more or apply for a CareCredit card, visit www.carecredit.com.  

The post What Does a Lifetime of Horse Care Cost? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Kentucky skies were finally blessed with bright sunshine all day for the conclusion of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L. With two rails in hand for the show jumping phase, Michael Jung (GER) and Fischerchipmunk FRH dropped only one to finish on a score of 25.0, granting Jung a record fifth Kentucky 5* win—the others came in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022.

Always modest and soft-spoken, Jung refused to tout his obvious and spectacular talent.

“It’s definitely luck,” he said afterward. “So many things can go wrong. I believe in my horse and this place, and I always have a lot of luck here. We had a pole down very early and had a long way to go. I gave him more balance it worked very well.”

Asked about his 17-year-old horse’s future, Jung was very positive.

“He’s looking super strong and getting better and better. Hopefully he stays like this, ears in front when cross-country starts. He loves jumping, and you can feel the horse is motivated in what he’s doing. Hopefully a few more years!”

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Finishing in second after a double-clear round on a score of 32.8 was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3. His other two 5* mounts, Fedarman B and Luke 140, finished in sixth and seventh, respectively. As the highest-place rider for the U.S., Martin was named USEF 5* National Champion for a fourth time.

“I’m very blessed at the moment to have a group of incredible horses,”said Martin. “Michael [Jung] is an inspiration to my riding; I watch videos and try to copy him in my riding. He’ll be remembered as one of the greatest-ever eventing riders. I was just hoping for second place.”

For a little background on Commando 3, Martin told an interesting story of how he found him.

“I tried him when I went to a friend of [Jung’s] in Germany to try another horse and liked the other horse, who turned out to be a lemon! Six months later, [Commando] was still for sale. He hasn’t been easy—he’s spooky and sharp, but he has amazing quality and plenty of Thoroughbred and I knew right from the get-go that he was a special horse. He took a while to get there, but he’s arrived now.”

Finishing in third and fourth was Harry Meade of Great Britain, finishing on a 34.2 with Et Hop du Matz and 39.6 on Grafennacht.

“The horses here have been brilliant,” said Mead. “It’s a wonderful feeling when they go well. It’s really about the pride you feel in the horses.”

He wrapped the press conference with some very kind words about Jung, calling him the greatest eventing rider that ever lived—a statement that is indeed hard to refute for someone with four Olympic gold medals (three as an individual), three World Championship gold medals, and seven European Championship gold medals.

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

In the 4* division, Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record dropped one rail but stayed in the lead, finishing on a score of 33.0. He won the 4* here last year, too.

“[The rail down] made me think a little more about the time allowed, but I stuck to my plan,” said Coleman. “He kept the last three jumps up—I got a bit lucky there. He’s always displayed a real knack for cross-country; that’s why we kept going with him. He’s not the most natural in the other two phases. He has his own style; his character is what makes him a good horse. He has a conscience about him, trying to do the right thing, especially in competition.”

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Finishing in second place was Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante, who wrapped the day on a score of 33.9. Dutton also finished in fourth with Denim on a 38.8.

“We all earmark this event early in the year,” said Dutton. “It’s a relief to be sitting up here and have a good result. It’s ironic, my best jumper is Denim!”

Rounding out the top three was Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS, her Paris 2024 Olympic mount. The pair went double clear around the tricky show jumping course and finished on a 38.0.

“It’s been an amazing spring season,” she said. “I came away from Paris feeling I needed to get the horses stronger and get more confident with where I need to sit with my body type. [Freedom] has always been strong in the jumping phases, but I’ve had to work more with her dressage. It’s pure joy to go out with her and see the fruits of our hard work all winter.”

Join us again next year for more coverage of “The Best Weekend All Year!”

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Final Results

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (25.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (39.6)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (40.6)
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B (40.6)
7. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
8. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
10. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (53.1)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Final Results

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (33.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.9)
3. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
4. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (38.8)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
7. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
8. Tamie Smith (USA) and Kynan (46.0)
9. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (48.2)
9. Jan Byyny (USA) and Beautiful Storm (49.9)

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Recap and Results appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After a day of deluges on Friday, cross-country day dawned dry, gray, and very cold for late April, with a “feels like” temperature of 45 degrees that persisted all day. The ground was still holding a lot of water, which turned out to be very deep and tiring for the horses, with scads of time penalties in both the 4* and 5* divisions.

Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L

Reigning Paris Olympic Champion and four-time winner of this event, Michael Jung (GER) rode his Paris mount, FischerChipmunk FRH, to an exceptionally fast round, with just 2.4 time penalties to stay in a comfortable lead. In fact, he has now set a 5* record for biggest lead margins after dressage and cross-country.

“I had a super ride,” said Jung at the press conference after cross-country. “He’s an amazing horse in the cross-country—he’s full of energy with very big strides, very honest. I can trust him. We get better together. We’re still learning, but a great partnership is very important for the cross-country. He felt a bit tired some places. I knew I was behind the time, but he kept galloping to the end of the course. He was really fit.”

Holding on to second place with 6.8 time penalties was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3, one of his three mounts in the 5* division. Always one to provide entertainment, Martin spoke at the press conference with his baby on his lap (who didn’t want to stay in the back with Mom), and his older son briefly joined them on the stage as well.

“It was a bloody tiring day, every ride I was huffing and puffing!” said Martin. “I went quick on [Commando]—he’s young and fit and gave me a great round, but the ground was a bit tiring.”

Harry Meade of Great Britain made an eye-popping climb up the leaderboard with the day’s only two double-clear rides (no jumping or time penalties), moving from 17th to third with ET Hop du Matz and 18th to fourth with Grafennacht. Meade is ranked No. 4 in the world eventing standings.

“I was confident they were fit,” he said. “I thought I’d get out there and see how they felt. The first horse [ET Hop du Matz] I know really well, and hoped he’d be a good 5* horse. He’s very adjustable and has a long stride. The mare, Grafennacht, I don’t know as well; I had this spring to get to know her and wasn’t thinking about coming here. Then she won an event by 24 points, so it was a no-brainer to bring her here. I was disappointed with her dressage test; she got a bit tight in the atmosphere—it was her first time in [a big crowd]. I was questioning whether to run her [cross-country] at 11:30 or 12 today, then thought I’d just start out and see how she goes.” Apparently, the answer was VERY well!

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Course designer Derek di Grazia was pleased with the safety of the course this year.

“You never know at the beginning the day what’s going to happen,” he said. “You hope it’s going to provide a good competition. I’m happy every horse walked home—there were only two rider falls in the 4* and one in the 5* class—beyond that, there were some great rides that were really enjoyable to watch. Their time management is so good; at the end they are right where they need to be. We had lots of little runouts here and there all over the course, but it provided a good competition.”

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Holding first place aboard Off the Record with the least time penalties in the division (7.2) was Olympic veteran and defending Kentucky 4* champion, Will Coleman (USA). Optimum time was 6 minutes and 37 seconds, compared to the 5*-L division at 11 minutes and 20 seconds.

“The roping and way the [jumps] were strung together made it tough to get the speed needed for time allowed,” he said. “It wasn’t surprising at all that nobody got close to it.”

As far as how his mount handled the course, he gives him all the credit it the world.

“When you have an older horse and they come out inspired to do it, it’s a rewarding feeling. I have nothing but admiration for that horse.”

Remaining in second and third with Possante (10.4 time penalties) and Denim (11.6 time penalties), respectively, was Phillip Dutton (USA).

“I feel a bit relieved,” he laughed. “It was a lot of hard work. I tried to have a crack at it. They both tried hard and will come out of it better.”

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Climbing from 14th to fourth with just 8 time penalties was Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix.

“Freedom GS is pure class,” she said of her mount. “She’s a fun horse to ride cross-country. She looks for the flags. The way they roped it, she was fast and efficient. She was pretty green when we took her to the Olympics. The first time she did the 4* was last season, but she was unaffected by the crowds. At Paris [2024 Olympic Games] it would’ve been nice to have one more year of experience under her belt, because this year she feels so confident.”

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s show jumping phase to see who takes tops the final standings in both prestigious divisions.

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Cross-Country

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (21.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (35.2)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (36.6)
6. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (40.0)
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (41.7)
8. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
9. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (49.1)
10. Emily Hamel (USA) and Corvett (49.4)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Cross-Country

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (29.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.5)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (37.2)
4. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
=7. Alexander O’Neal (USA) and Redtail Penumbra (43.4)
=7. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (43.4)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
10. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (45.1)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Cross-Country Day appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Under threatening skies that provided on and off downpours and even some lightning, nobody could catch Germany’s Michael Jung on the second day of dressage at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Jung has four Olympic gold medals and four Kentucky 5* titles. He continued his almost super-human roll by breaking his own record yesterday with an all-time event low score of 18.6 in the dressage aboard FischerChipmunk FRH, his individual gold medal-winning 2024 Paris Olympics mount.

It was the last rider to go, Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3 who bore the brunt of a downpour that had held off for the rest of the 5* riders—yet he scored the best mark of the day from the judges, a 26.0, putting them into second place going into cross-country day.

“I glanced up at the skies in the warmup, and it wasn’t looking good,” said Martin at the press conference after his ride. “It was like a Louisiana typhoon!”

Admitting weather is something eventers have no control over, he thought the rain may have actually helped the horse keep his head low, even if it was an added distraction. When asked how he felt after his ride, he said, “Relieved that I could put some dry underwear on!”

All three of Martin’s 5* mounts had excellent scores below 30 (Luke 140 with 27.9 for sixth place, and Fedarman B with 29.8 for eleventh).

“I’ve been working hard with their dressage,” he said. “To have three horses in the 20s been a huge amount of work—not just for me, but my wife [dressage rider Silva Martin], who rides them when I’m away.”

In third place after a strong ride today going into cross-country was Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, who rode Brookfield Quality to a 26.2. McEwen won Olympic team gold medals at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Kentucky first-timer Libussa Lübbeke (GER) finished fourth after dressage on Caramia 34 with a score of 27.1 on Friday.

“The horse is bred by my parents,” she said. “It was wonderful to ride in that arena. She was listening and trying her best.”

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Sitting in the lead in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S after dressage is Will Coleman (USA) riding Off the Record, who scored a 21.8—a new Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S record.

“He’s at the tail end of his career at 16 years old,” said Coleman after the day wrapped. “He’s kind of like me—he thrives on progress and trying to get a little bit better. He still has remarkable work ethic and has proven to be a very trainable horse, even at this ‘old dog’ age.”

Coleman plans to see how he feels after this weekend with the possibility of targeting a 5* in the future.

In both second and third place after two days of dressage is Phillip Dutton (USA), who rode Possante today to a 23.1 and Denim yesterday to a 25.6.

“[Possante is] a pretty stunning horse to have,” said Dutton. “There’s not too much to do in the dressage; he does it all for me. I was pleased with the way he settled during the last few minutes of the warmup. He took a deep breath and held it all together. He has tons of potential for years to come.”

In fourth place going into cross-country is Chris Talley (USA) riding FE Marco Polo. The pair scored a 26.8, placing them above dozens of more experienced riders. Talley gives all the credit to this special horse.

“My horse is 9,” said Talley. “His owner sent him to me just over two years ago. He went from Training to 4* in just over a year. He’s incredibly special, [and also] kind of emotional like me. This is his first time at Kentucky, [although] I came in 2019. There’s a little bit of pressure with him being young. I was hoping he’d reward me, and he did. I wasn’t expecting to be sitting up here!”

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (18.6)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (26.0)
3. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (26.2)
4. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (27.1)
5. Tim Price (NZL) and Falco (27.8 )
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (27.9)
=7. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park (28.4)
=7. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (28.4)
9. Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy (29.1)
10. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (29.3)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Dressage

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (21.8)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (23.1)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (25.6)
4. Chris Talley (USA) and FE Marco Polo (26.8)
5. Ariel Grald (USA) and Diara (27.3)
6. Molly Duda (USA) and Disco Traveler (27.7)
7. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (27.9)
8. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (28.0)
9. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (28.3)
10. Sarah Kuhn (USA) and Mr. Cash van de Start (28.4)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day Two appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Picture this: a lush, green field with a horse peacefully grazing. This image is almost every horse owner’s ideal vision of their horse at his happiest. But danger can lurk for some horses if you look a little deeper.

Certain horses and ponies are prone to grass founder (laminitis), particularly in the spring when grasses are high in sugar. Most horse owners would rather prevent laminitis than deal with it after it happens, so the best course of action is to recognize the red flags—times to be more vigilant—and know what to do next.

High-Risk Horses

Horses most at risk for laminitis are those with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Cushing’s disease (also called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID).

Horses and ponies with EMS often have telltale symptoms, including a tendency toward obesity, insulin resistance and recurrent laminitis. Abnormal fat deposits along the crest of the neck, tailhead and above the eyes are typical, even when the horse is at a normal weight. The condition most often occurs in ponies and other breeds that evolved under harsh conditions and tend to be easy keepers.

Horses with PPID may have symptoms similar to EMS, such as patchy fat deposits and insulin resistance, but PPID usually begins to appear in older horses (over age 15). They may also start to lose topline muscling and develop a thick haircoat that sheds out later than normal, or eventually not at all.

If you suspect your horse has either of these conditions, schedule a vet visit for blood tests that will help confirm a diagnosis. If your horse has a metabolic disease, consider it a huge warning flag that he is at high risk for pasture-associated laminitis.

The Carbohydrate Connection to Founder in Horses

Laminitis can be caused by grazing on pasture that is too high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs). These include fructan, sugar and starch. Structural carbohydrates are the fibrous parts of the cell wall that give the plant rigidity; these are digested differently from NSCs.

You may have heard that fructan is the singular evil element in grass that causes horses to founder. However, more recent research has shown that pasture-induced laminitis cannot be attributed solely to fructan. There is no fructan in warm-season grasses, yet horses can still founder on them. Since the same environmental conditions that create high fructan concentrations also increase sugar and starch levels, it’s best to just limit all NSCs.

Conditions that Spell Trouble

In order to prevent laminitis in high-risk horses, you’ll need to start thinking about weather and grass-growing conditions. When the sun is shining brightly but other conditions limit the growth of the plant, NSC concentration in pasture plants will increase.

Here is a list of the danger signs to look for:

Temperature

“If it’s below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the enzymes that help the plant grow don’t function anymore,” says Kathryn Watts, an internationally respected consultant and researcher specializing in pasture grass and horses and ponies prone to laminitis. She is based in Colorado and maintains a website at safergrass.org. “However, photosynthesis [which creates sugar] happens as long as the sun is shining, provided that the plant is not frozen solid.”

Concentrations of NSCs can double or even triple if these conditions (sunny and below 40 degrees) continue for several weeks. Since this commonly happens during spring and fall in many parts of the country, these seasons are often associated with grass founder in horses.

TIP: A useful tool that you can find at any hardware store is a min-max thermometer. Put it on the back porch and check it every morning. If it’s been below 40 degrees that night, start paying careful attention to any high-risk horses. After a few nights below 40, any horse that’s had laminitis in the past or has the body type that says “founder waiting to happen” should probably be removed from pasture entirely and fed hay that’s tested for low sugar content (see “Testing Sugar Content,” below).

Lack of Fertilizer

“Another thing that can limit plant growth is lack of fertilizer—usually nitrogen,” says Watts. “The plant might have enough sugar, but if it doesn’t have enough nitrogen to put that sugar to work and grow, the sugar starts piling up. I use the analogy of an assembly line: If the plant does not have all of the elements it needs to grow, the line shuts down and the other raw materials pile up.”

Since a lack of nitrogen can limit grass growth, it’s important to have the right fertilization schedule for your region. “Approach your extension agent or fertilizer dealer and tell them you’re looking for a moderate fertility level, not maximum production,” Watts advises.

Drought

Drought is another form of stress that will result in sugars piling up within the plant. “For example, in Texas, founder season happens when it’s very sunny and very hot,” says Watts. Drought may also cause fructan in cool-season grasses to turn to sugar, increasing chances of metabolically driven laminitis.

Mature Grass

When managing pastures, it’s important to mow or top the grass before seed heads appear. “Sugars and starch are very concentrated in the developing seed heads,” says Watts. “Many horses selectively graze them off; it’s like horse candy.”

Weeds

Most pastures are filled with weeds that horses are more than happy to consume.

“Some of the weeds in your pasture have the potential to contain more sugar than the grass,” says Watts. “The ones that I have tested personally that are really high in NSCs include dandelion, plantain and thistle.”

You can treat pastures with an herbicide to kill broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, which are particularly palatable to horses. Often this is enough to decrease the incidence of founder.

A thick, healthy stand of grass is the best defense against invasion of weeds and clover. While proper fertilization can decrease sugar concentration per mouthful of grass, there may now be more sugar per acre. When grass is more plentiful in previously overgrazed pastures, you may need to start limiting intake with a muzzle or decreased time at pasture.

It’s important to note that weeds may grow around dry lots where horses and ponies are housed to keep them off pasture. If those weeds are within reach of desperate flapping lips of horses, the risk of founder is still there. You may very well save your horse from foundering just by running a weed-whacker around the dry lot.

“Safe” Grazing

Regardless of what season the calendar says it is, keep an eye out for dangerous grazing conditions all year long.

“The worst places for laminitis are those where the grass stays green all winter long, like in Great Britain and the Pacific Northwest,” says Watts. “Their grass doesn’t ever really die. When the temperature is below 40 degrees, any green grass creates a problem for high-risk horses, regardless of what month it is.

“Here in Colorado, by December the grass is completely brown,” she continues. “If the weather has been dry, the grass can still be high in sugars.” Sugars may be leached out eventually by rain and melting snow, except in the case of grasses with a waxy coating, such as fescue. Fescue is commonly found in Kentucky and the Southern states, so keep in mind that it may be holding on to sugar longer if you are planning to put your horse on it in the winter or during a summer drought.

“People assume that dead grass has no nutritional value if it’s brown,” adds Watts. “But sugar is not green. The chlorophyll and protein may be gone, but the sugar isn’t necessarily gone. Don’t assume that brown grass is safe.”

Testing Sugar Content

If you’re unsure about your grass or hay’s sugar content, the best thing to do is get it tested. “Grab a few handfuls of brown grass and send it to Equi-Analytical Laboratories [the equine division of Dairy One Cooperative Inc.] and have it analyzed,” says Watts. This is only accurate if the grass is completely dead. (If the grass is green, you would have to flash freeze it and send it overnight on dry ice, which is very expensive.) If it’s dead, you can treat it like hay.

Average grass hay is around 12 percent non-structural carbohydrates on a dry matter basis but can range up to 30 percent. For high-risk horses, grass or hay should be less than 11 percent. This varies by individual horse and how much exercise he’s getting. As you test more hay and compare how your horse does on each batch, you will learn what he can handle without gaining weight or getting sore feet. There is no “one size fits all” recipe.

If your high-risk horse has been pulled off pasture, it’s important to test your hay for sugar content. “Any kind of hay can be high or low in sugar,” says Watts. “It’s not about species; it’s about growing conditions.”

For a list of other National Forage Testing Association certified labs, visit www.foragetesting.org.

Managing the High-Risk Horse

If you have a high-risk horse with a cresty neck, one of the best things to keep an eye on is his neck. “When the sugars get high in the grass, you can palpate his neck and feel a difference,” says Watts. “I call it ‘the Neckometer.’ When you put him in the dry lot, within a couple of days you should feel his neck getting softer. If you do something wrong, his neck will get hard very quickly.”

If the weather is conducive to making high-sugar grass, horses with more mild risk factors may still be able to stay on pasture with a grazing muzzle on. “But if you put the grazing muzzle on and his neck is still getting bigger, then it’s time to put him in the dry lot and leave him there,” advises Watts. However, she emphasizes that the only way you can really assess your horse’s risk level is to get his insulin levels tested.

Early Signs of Laminitis

Another tool Watts recommends to carefully monitor high-risk horses is a daily brisk trot on firm footing. Since the metabolic form of laminitis comes on very slowly, it’s possible to look for these subtle signs and get ahead of the problem.

“If you have a horse that normally has a nice, big trot and suddenly he just shuffles along stiff-legged or refuses to trot at all, that’s the horse that you bring back to your dry lot,” says Watts. “Feel his feet to see if there’s excess heat or an obvious pulse. These horses will often respond to being withdrawn from pasture very quickly.”

Keep the horse off of pasture until weather conditions have changed completely in a way that will lower the concentration of sugar in the grass. For any case of acute laminitis, contact your vet immediately.

Since metabolic laminitis is a relatively new area of research, make sure your vet is up to date on the condition and knows how to treat it.

“Endocrinology is a veterinary specialty,” says Watts. “The same goes for farriers. The farrier you loved when your horse was healthy may not have the skills to help him once he’s foundered.”

Exercise is Key

Many of the horses that struggle with grass founder are not exercised at all, or only very lightly.

“Except for a few rare cases of very hard-to-control insulin resistance, if you exercise the horse hard enough (to a sweat) three times a week, you can fudge a lot more on the diet,” says Watts. “It’s about balancing the amount of exercise with the amount of NSCs in the diet.”

Horses that are prone to insulin resistance should not carry excess weight. Watts recommends horses be kept fit, even with a slight hint of ribs showing. But the horse should also carry good overall muscle tone from an active fitness program—whether it’s riding, driving or longeing.

If you have a high-risk metabolic horse and you want to maximize his grazing time, you’ll need to be prepared to carefully evaluate him and the weather conditions every day. At the first sign of foot soreness or the crest thickening/hardening, move him to a dry lot and feed him low-sugar hay, or soak his hay for a couple of hours in plenty of fresh water to remove excess sugars. When your horse and the grass conditions improve, he can go back out again. However, it may not be until the season is over. Be prepared for a time-consuming challenge.

Further Reading
◆ Treatment and Recovery of Founder in Horses
◆ Feed to Prevent Founder
◆ An Overview of Laminitis

This article about grass founder in horses originally appeared in the April 2013 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe!

The post Preventing Grass Founder appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

On March 25, 2024, The J. F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., hosted its highly anticipated third annual Equine Training in collaboration with the OC Fire Authority’s Urban Search & Rescue Team (US&R). This unique event, generously funded by The Gary Sinise Foundation, offered an immersive experience for over 100 first responders seeking to enhance their skills in horse rescue procedures.

Established in 1978, The Shea Center stands as one of the world’s premier equine assisted services providers. With 27 horses and over 700 dedicated volunteers, The Shea Center addresses 87 distinct disabilities through programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, mental healthcare, and adaptive riding.

Firepower Meets Horsepower

The idea for this training followed on the heels of a remarkable rescue in 2021 where OCFA saved Choco, a Shea Center therapy horse. Choco ended up in a very tricky situation while out on a trail ride in the surrounding hills after he was struck by a bird flying into him. His rider dismounted to check on him and the spooked horse got loose, ending up trapped between concrete and rebar on his back in a culvert. He was extracted by helicopter airlift and amazingly came out of the ordeal with just a few scratches.

The first annual training initiative began in the wake of this rescue in March 2022, setting the stage for an ongoing partnership between heroes and horses. Horses and livestock are integral to Orange County’s culture. Firefighters’ proficiency in safely rescuing and evacuating these animals is crucial to ensuring the safety of both human and animal lives.

San Juan Capistrano, where the Shea Center is located, has California’s highest per capita ratio of horses to people, serving as the perfect location for this specialized training. [The OCFA’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of a community where the welfare of residents and their animals is paramount.]

“Our commitment to provide exceptional emergency support services to the nearly two million people we serve includes their pets, horses, and livestock, all of which add tremendous value and joy to our communities,” says Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. “The training necessary to extend our services to these large animals hinges upon the support of partners like the Shea Center and the Gary Sinise Foundation, and I’m grateful and proud that our collective work makes us a national model for large animal rescue.”

Comprehensive Equine Training for Firefighters

Participants engaged in comprehensive equine training, with four stations covering behavior and handling, equine anatomy, situational rescue procedures and equipment, and safe trailer loading and unloading.

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Thanks to a rail down by overnight leader Tom McEwen (GBR) on the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin, a clean trip over the show jumps bumped Oliver Townend (GBR) to the ultimate win at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Jumping in reverse order of standing, Townend’s clear trip aboard the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mare Cooley Rosalent left him in prime position as the final two to jump had rails down.

This was Townend’s fourth win at the Kentucky 5*, tying him with Michael Jung of Germany. Only Bruce Davidson, Sr., has more wins, with five between 1983 and1993.

Overnight 2^nd, reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain riding the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir, had one rail down, dropping them to 3^rd.

Everything’s Coming Up Oli

Believe it or not, Townend figured right off the bat this was not to be their weekend.

“I was fairly upset with myself after the dressage,” he said at the final press conference. “I thought it was going to be a bit depressing going home on that plane not having won. But I gave myself a kick into gear and said, ‘She’s an incredible galloper, there’s no excuse for being too slow.’

“After that, I had a very clear picture in my mind of what I wanted to do,” he said. “I was going to do my job and try to be competitive.”

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The mare is clearly in the right sport, with personality plus.

“She’s definitely female,” he smiled. “She knows what she wants, is pretty feisty and needs managing, but she feels like she loves her job in all three phases. I don’t think there’s any weakness. She’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden.”

When asked what drew him to buy the green and scrawny mare as a 4-year-old, it seems her pedigree sealed the deal.

“It’s rare you see one trot and move like she did. I found out her father was jumping a meter 60,” and her dam was an accomplished steeplechase racer, boding well for the cross-country and show jumping phases of eventing.

Also, he joked, “I like gray horses.”

Second Place … Again

Although he was surely disappointed to come in 2^nd two years in a row, Tom McEwen of Great Britain always has a great attitude.

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“Dubs has been amazing this weekend. We’ve cemented our partnership; he’s a really quiet, kind character. He did the most amazing dressage, and I was gutted the mark was not as good as I thought [it would be]. He was absolutely flying on cross-country—he’s crazy special. He showed half of what he can produce in the dressage test. I know in his day he will wipe floors clean, [but I] put myself in a great position in an Olympic year.”

Close But Not Quite for Yas

After finishing 2^nd in 2022, this year young up-and-comer Yasmin Ingham (GBR) had another solid podium finish in 3^rd.

“We had an unlucky rub on an oxer. Our day will come. I’m absolutely delighted with him, from the beginning of the week until today. He feels amazing, and we’ll go work even harder.”

Top Finisher for the U.S.

After Mia Farley had four rails down with 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Phelps (she mentioned yesterday he struggles in the show jumping phase), Lauren Nicholson moved into 5^th place after one rail aboard 17-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Vermiculus to become the highest-placed American at the Kentucky CCI5*. This is her third time earning that honor, behind only Phillip Dutton, who has done it five times.

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“We came feeling a touch rusty,” she said. “He hasn’t had a big outing since Pratoni [FEI World Eventing Championships in 2022]. He came here to be competitive, and I would’ve liked to beat this lot! He has such a fan following and is such a character anyway.”

USA goes 1-2-3 in the CCI4*-S

Winning the CCI4*-S division was William Coleman (USA) aboard the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Diabolo; Coleman also came in 3^rd on 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Off the Record.

“I’m surprised but not shocked,” he said. “At home, [Diabolo] gave me the feeling he was on the verge of doing something big. We’ve been biding our time until he was ready to show it to the rest of the world.”

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The horse had to make the Southern-Northern Hemisphere adjustment after being imported from Australia.

“We couldn’t do a whole lot with him last year, so we laid low and got to know him. That served us well. It did feel like this spring there were some good results around the corner.”

In 2^nd place was two-time Olympian Boyd Martin (USA) with 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3, and 4^th place with 14-year-old KWPN gelding Fedarman B.

“I’m very blessed with the two horses,” he said. “They’re hard to split; both are very good in all three phases. It’s a wonderful position to be in with a couple of favorites—like your children, you shouldn’t have one more favorite than the other.”

The third rider to finish in the top five (with a 5^th place finish) was 2023 Pan American Games individual gold medalist Caroline Pamukcu, who rode her Pan Am mount, the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake.

Of her young string, she said, “He’s the oldest horse I have. My other four-star horses are heading to Europe in May for the European tour. If all goes well, hopefully we’ll be looking toward the [2024 Paris] Olympics.”

Attendance for the CCI5* and CCI4* eventing combined with the Grand Prix show jumping held two nights during the event produced a new attendance record of 101,239.

2024 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L Final Top 10

1. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent
2. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin
3. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir
4. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K
5. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus
6. Bruce Davidson Jr. (USA) and Sorocaima
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist
8. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker
9. Christoph Wahler (GER) and D’Accord FRH
10. Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle

Find all of our coverage on our 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

The post 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Recap appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In a day of heat, then rain, followed by blazing sun, the sun indeed shone brightest on the British riders as they claimed the top three spots after cross-country at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L.

Tom McEwen (GBR) and 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin had 4 time faults, but enough of a head start to maintain their overnight lead. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir had 5.6 time faults but maintained 2^nd place. Oliver Townend (GBR) and 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Rosalent moved up from 8^th into 3^rd with just 0.4 time faults.

Lauren Nicholson and Elisabeth Halliday of the USA, who were tied for third going into this phase, each had a few time faults that bumped them down to 7^th and 8^th, respectively.

Mia Farley is now the leading U.S. rider after a fast and clear round aboard her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Phelps. She sits in 5^th place going into Sunday’s show jumping.

A Banner Performance for Brits

Having finished 2^nd here last year in the CCI5*-L, Tom McEwen also holds team gold and individual silver from the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.

“The pressure was performing up to what I know the horse can do,” he said after his ride. “Obviously this year we’ve all come here for a place on the [2024] Olympic team. It was really a rider’s track today. It rode really well and was a great place to be.”

When asked how he feels going into the show jumping phase tomorrow, he said, “Dubs is a great jumper. He’s done it plenty of times before, it’s just down to me.”

Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) had a smooth round with one lucky bobble.

“He was brilliant today,” she said. “Everything pretty much went to plan—sometimes it doesn’t. He had one small moment at the Head of the Lake, where he got close to the corner. He was super honest and stayed on his line.”

Riding in his 100^th five-star and ranked the No. 1 eventer in world, Oliver Townend (GBR) made the trip to Kentucky in order to go all-out and get a highly competitive slot on the British Olympic eventing team this summer in Paris.

“I’d like to think [Cooley Rosalent] is in the mix [as a Paris horse],” he said. “She’s been to [the 5*] at Maryland and here. She’s proved she copes with the crowd and quick tracks.”

When asked why he’s prepping for Olympic selection in a 5* versus the 4* that many American riders are using as their final prep, Townend said that the talent pool in Great Britain is so vast that you want to prove yourself against the toughest competition.

“And if the selectors could listen to that, that would be great, thank you,” he joked.

Top U.S. Rider

Sitting in 5^th overall but the highest-placed American is Mia Farley, whose Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred, Phelps, is owned by Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor.

Having ridden him at two five-stars with no time faults—a feat only done 37 times out of 1,000 horses to attempt it—Farley and Phelps are clearly ones to watch.

“With Phelps and a lot of Thoroughbreds, you set a pace at the beginning of the course, and at the end you can ask them to go, and they have it.”

Going into his weakest phase, Farley hopes recent training will be just the ticket.

“He’s been working hard at show jumping.  Sunday is his weaker phase, and I hope his training at home has been working.”

USA Tops the CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Miks Master C sit on top of the CCI4*-S leaderboard going into the final day.

“He was very keen today,” she said after cross-country. “He’s a very good jumper and he’s very careful. Although he was strong between the fences, he jumped great.”

Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo sit in second place currently.

“I was thrilled with him,” said Coleman. I have a lot of belief in the horse. We’re still getting to know each other. This was a step in that direction, and he enjoyed the Kentucky atmosphere and ate it up.”

Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 also held their spot, sitting in third on the leaderboard.

“We’re all on very good show jumpers,” said Martin of Sunday’s jumping test. “The goal would be to give horses a good night’s sleep, school on the flat tomorrow, and do our best.”

Defender Kentucky CCI5* Top 10 going into Show Jumping

1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin
2. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir
3. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent
4. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist
5. Mia Farley (USA) and Phelps
6. Christoph Wahler (GER) and D’Accord FRH
7. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus
8. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker
9. Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle
10. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K

Find all of our coverage on our 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page. Catch the livestream here.

Visit kentuckythreedayevent.com for a complete list of scores.

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

This article about cross-country at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., nailing the dressage test at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L.

McEwen rode a steady and accurate test aboard the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin for a score of 24.6, bumping fellow countryman Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir’s leading score of 26.1 from yesterday down to 2nd place going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.

McEwen’s story of a 2nd-place finish at this event last year was overshadowed, as Tamra Smith was busy becoming the first American to win since 2008. But McEwen rides for the most competitive nation in the world in eventing, yet was good enough to win team gold and individual silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021).

“I’m just lucky to be back here,” said McEwen after his ride. “Dubs has been on amazing form, and today’s test really showed that. Yes, we were hoping to do a little bit better, but if you can perform on your not-so-great days, that’s pretty good.”

When asked why he makes the journey all the way across the Atlantic to compete in Kentucky when there is a 5* at Badminton in the UK right around the corner, he had nothing but praise for the locale.

“This is one of the best venues in the world,” he said. “We’d all like to be going to the Olympics [this summer], and this has got the terrain, the ground is amazing, and it’s designed beautifully. I came here to try for the British team—at every show they’re so strong. Everyone’s got different ideas [of how best to make the team], exposing [the horses] to something like that is perfect really.”

USA in Position

Tied for 3rd place after today’s ride is the co-highest-placed U.S. rider, Elisabeth Halliday. Riding the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutcracker, Halliday put in one of her usual dazzling rides for a score of 30.6.

She describes the horse as quite a powerhouse throughout the three phases of eventing.

“He’s very careful and powerful; he has a big engine, and he’s very brave.”

Tied for 3rd with Halliday is Lauren Nicholson (USA), who rode long-time partner Vermiculus, a 17-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding.

“He was extremely excited to be back at the party [after missing last year],” Nicholson said after her ride. “He was the wildest I’ve ever had him. It’s been a collaborative effort keeping him happy and taking him out all the time for grass. We do a lot of groundwork with him as it works his mind without drilling under saddle.”

Asked about her exuberant mount, she laughed.

“He’s an Arab cross. You’re never going to wear him out. He felt extremely fresh in the ring, and it’s a fine line between being impressive and [performing] airs above the ground. The whole test I was just trying to keep that balance, and I was relieved we did it without any exciting moments.”

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s exciting cross-country phase. This year’s designer is once again Derek di Grazia, who is known for tough but fair challenges that allow the horses an “out” if they get into any trouble. One of the last selection trials for the 2024 U.S. Olympic eventing team, riders are sure to give it their all over the 27 obstacles on this 4+ mile course over undulating bluegrass terrain.

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Top 10 After Dressage

1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin, 24.6
2. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Louir, 26.0
=3. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker, 30.6
=3. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus, 30.6
5. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63, 30.7
6. Kirsty Chabert (GBR) and Classic VI, 31.0
7. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K, 31.1
=8. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent, 31.4
=8. Calvin Böckmann (GER) and The Phantom of the Opera, 31.4
10. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist, 31.9

Visit kentuckythreedayevent.com for a complete list of scores.

Find all of our coverage on our 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page. Catch the livestream here.

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

This article about dressage at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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DO: Feed lots of high-quality forage.

Since horses originated in the wild as grazing animals, they do best when eating a diet of mostly forage (hay and/or pasture). Grain is a modern invention—a form of concentrated calories fed to horses that do a lot of exercise, or hard keepers that need help putting weight on.

Horses need to eat a minimum of 1.5 percent of their body weight in forage (dry weight) per day, which equates to 15 pounds for the average 1,000-pound horse. A great investment is a scale to weigh your portions. Put the hay in a hay net and hang it from a fish or luggage scale. Horses that need more hay can be fed free-choice (unlimited), which equates to up to approximately 2.5 percent of their body weight per day.

Lush pasture grass is very high in calories and will often pack the pounds on faster than hay will. Limit grazing time if your horse becomes overweight, and opt for feeding hay instead.

DON’T: Feed poor-quality hay.

Most horses eat more hay than pasture, so be vigilant about hay quality. Hay should be free of weeds, debris, mold or any musty smell. It doesn’t necessarily have to be bright green in color, but hay should smell fresh and be more soft than stemmy.

Hay contaminated with dead mammals can cause botulism, which is more likely to happen when making round bales. Always vaccinate your horse for botulism if you feed round bales, and only buy those that were stored under cover. Round bales made for cattle are usually too poor quality for horses.

Be particularly picky about mold in your hay. Reject the entire load if you examine some bales and find obvious black or brown mold, or smell a musty scent. Mold particles will damage your horse’s airway and cause respiratory disease that can permanently affect his breathing.

If you feed alfalfa hay, check for leaf shatter before buying. If the leaves shatter too easily, you’ll be losing a great deal of the hay’s nutrition before your horse is able to eat it. Also be on the lookout for blister beetles that feed on alfalfa. They release a toxin called cantharadin, and even small particles of these beetles contain enough toxin to make a horse quite sick.

DO: Be prepared for a hay shortage.

Many areas of the country are frequently, but not predictably, hit with drought years. This drives up the cost of hay when it has to be brought in from farther away, or makes it impossible to find altogether.

As long as it is baled and stored properly, hay that was harvested at a later maturity or has sat in storage for up to a year can still be fine to feed, particularly when options are limited. Some horses may find mature hay unpalatable, however, and refuse to eat it. Older bales that are free of excessive dust are usually fine once opened, even though the outside may be bleached in color, indicating vitamin loss.

Be prepared ahead of time by buying as much hay as you can store at a time (up to a year’s worth), and know your alternatives. Ask your feed store about bagged hay cubes or other “hay stretchers,” such as complete feeds, to make your remaining hay go as far as possible. Use feeders or hay nets over rubber mats to prevent waste and trampling.

DON’T: Allow easy keepers too much pasture.

Although horses are naturally grazing animals, farm pasture grasses are usually improved nutritionally to provide extra calories. The starches, sugars and fructan in grass can lead to crippling laminitis, a painful inflammation in the hooves, if eaten in excess.

Horses that gain weight easily — often called easy keepers — are most at risk for pasture-related laminitis. Signs that the pasture may be storing extra starch, sugar and fructan (instead of putting them toward plant growth) include any time it is sunny but the temperatures go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and when the grass is stressed by drought or overgrazing.

DO: Manage your pastures carefully.

It may be tempting to look at the abundance of spring grass and add more horses to your pasture, but that’s usually not a good idea. Depending on how arid your region is, you may need 1 to 10 acres per horse for adequate full-time grazing.

To minimize bare spots that will get colonized by weeds, pastures need to be rested. Ideally, you should have two or more fields to rotate your horses between. It’s not necessary to spend lots of money on fencing; for interior pasture separation, you can use step-in T-posts and electric tape with a solar charger. Always use a solid perimeter fence for safety.

If your pasture has been overcrowded and grazed down or has suffered from a drought, it’s best to re-seed and wait six to 12 months before returning horses to the field. Weeds should be managed with mowing or an herbicide; follow directions for keeping livestock off the pasture until it’s safe for grazing.

DON’T: Forget the exercise.

A fit horse, like a fit human, will have greater muscle mass and bone density. For a horse with minor arthritis, low-intensity movement can help alleviate aches and pains and keep him feeling better. For overweight horses, an exercise program is absolutely essential for health and shedding pounds.

DO: Feed a balanced diet.

Since hay alone may not provide your horse with enough calories, many horse owners supplement the diet with grain. If your horse needs grain for extra calories, you should use a commercially formulated horse feed. These will be nutritionally balanced to meet the vitamin and mineral requirements of horses, unlike a straight grain (corn, oats, barley, et cetera).

DON’T: Overfeed your horse.

It is helpful to learn about body condition scoring so you can keep your horse from becoming obese and suffering from related health problems. Some ponies and certain horse breeds are very easy keepers and do not need to eat grain. Fortunately, ration balancers are made by most commercial feed companies that contain all the vitamins and minerals a horse needs without all the calories found in grain. Talk to someone knowledgeable at your feed store to help you select a ration balancer.

Additionally, always keep your feed room/grain bin locked up so that your horse can’t break in and gorge on feed. This happens more than you might think, and can lead to a life-threatening bout of laminitis.

DO: Feed concentrated calories if your horse needs them.

On the other end of the scale are hard keepers, often Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses. This type of horse requires a higher calorie intake to stay at a healthy weight. If your horse is already eating unlimited high-quality hay and a maximum amount of grain (no more than 5 pounds per meal in order to prevent digestive upset), you can add fat to his feed to supplement calories.

Vegetable oil is the most inexpensive form of supplementary fat, and most horses prefer the taste of corn oil above all others. Start off by adding just a couple of tablespoons to each grain meal, working upward over a span of two weeks to a maximum of 1 cup of oil twice a day. It takes time for a horse’s body to learn to metabolize fat and get used to the taste, since it’s not naturally found in large quantities in the equine diet. After acclimating, he may be fine with eating these quantities.

For picky eaters, or if you want to incorporate a fat source with more omega-3 fatty acids (corn oil is mainly omega-6 fatty acids), you can purchase a powdered equine fat supplement at the feed store that may be more palatable. These are formulated to help put weight on and be tasty, and often contain rice bran.

DON’T: Ignore your horse’s specific needs.

If your horse is a senior citizen or has a health condition such as insulin resistance, he will probably need a more specialized diet. Talk to your vet about his individual needs.

If a senior is missing teeth, he may need to eat soaked hay cubes or senior feed in order to ingest enough forage and/or calories in his diet. Beet pulp is another highly digestible source of calories from fiber, although plain beet pulp is not a balanced feed and should not make up more than 25 percent of the diet. Always soak it in plenty of water for at least one hour before feeding to prevent choke. If you have any left over, it should be fed within the day so that it doesn’t begin to ferment.

DO: Be aware of special concerns for youngsters.

Young horses have special nutritional needs. If you have a young horse that’s still growing, he will have slightly higher protein and calcium needs than an adult horse. The calcium/phosphorus and other mineral ratios in the diet are particularly important at this time, so you should talk to your equine veterinarian, a nutritionist at a feed company, or an equine extension agent to see if the diet you’re feeding is appropriate. Feeding concentrates (grain) made specifically for young, growing horses will take into account these particular needs.

You should also avoid raising an overweight/obese youngster, as joint strain at this age can cause permanent damage. Use your body condition scoring chart often to make sure he stays in the middle of the BCS range.

DON’T: Oversupplement.

If you’ve spent any amount of time in a feed store, you’ve probably noticed the numerous equine oral supplements on the market. The variety can be dizzying.

Supplements exist to address specific health issues from digestion to respiratory health. If your vet recommends trying a joint supplement for an arthritic horse, for example, try it out and see if you notice a difference after six weeks. If there are additional issues you want to address with supplements, check with your vet or an equine nutritionist to make sure your horse’s diet stays balanced when you add your supplements.

DO: Provide free-choice salt.

A hay and grain diet usually doesn’t provide sufficient salt, particularly during hotter weather. Always keep a salt source in your horse’s field or stall; several kinds are available. If your horse will lick a regular salt block, you can choose either a white or trace-mineral (brown) type. Newer to the market are Himalayan salt licks, which can be more palatable for horses that don’t like the other solid types. A free-choice feeder for loose salt is also an option if your horse doesn’t like a block.

DON’T: Forget the water.

Many people forget that water is the No. 1 nutrient your horse needs. Horses are often sensitive to dirty water or water that’s too hot. Make sure your horse always has plenty of clean water at a good drinking temperature. When troughs freeze or buckets sit empty, there is the potential for digestive contents to dry out in his gastrointestinal tract and cause impaction colic, a very serious veterinary emergency that is easily avoided with a bit of diligence in this area.

This article about horse feeding dos and don’ts originally appeared in the 2014 edition of Your New Horse.

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