Researchers from the University of Kentucky were looking for an effective way to reduce inflammation in horses suffering from equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), characterized as overweight and insulin resistant. EMS is generally treated with one of two pharmaceuticals—metformin or levothyroxine. However, there are questions about their efficacy and long-term usage. In humans, supplementation with the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, promote fat loss, and reduce inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine if DHA supplementation would have the same beneficial impact on horses, especially metabolic horses.

In a natural setting, pasture grasses provide the omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is one of two essential fatty acids, meaning it cannot be produced, and hence, must be in the diet. Within the horse’s tissues, ALA is converted to DHA, which has potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, the conversion rate is not efficient enough to offer significant potential for the horse already suffering from high levels of inflammation. Consequently, the researchers chose to supplement DHA directly.

Fish oils are high in DHA and another omega-3 known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). However, horses may have a palatability issue with many fish oils. Also, DHA has been shown to be more readily incorporated into tissues than EPA. Because of these factors, the researchers decided upon a DHA-rich microalgae for their study. Ten mixed-sex and mixed-breed horses with EMS were fed 16 grams of DHA per day for 46 days. Inflammatory status, glucose, and insulin were measured before and after the experiment.

The results showed a remarkable reduction in inflammatory markers. And interestingly, horses fed DHA-rich microalgae showed a lower insulin response to oral sugar administration than the control group experienced.

Implications of DHA Supplementation for Your Horse

Insulin is highly inflammatory, and can be elevated with Cushing’s disease, metabolic syndrome, and stress. It can lead to increased fat storage and leptin resistance, creating a vicious cycle of overeating and obesity. Reducing insulin, and hence, inflammation, can do wonders for a horse with metabolic conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids can assist with this.

Adding ground flax seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds to the diet will offer the two fatty acids that are considered essential: ALA–an omega-3, and linoleic acid (LA)–an omega-6. And for most horses, these feedstuffs will meet their needs. (Keep in mind that hay has virtually no essential fatty acids left.) But in circumstances where a horse has high levels of inflammation, the addition of DHA is a better approach because it is far more effective at modulating insulin and inflammatory markers than ALA.

Though not specifically tested in this experiment, the researchers also commented on how high-DHA microalgae can improve glucose and insulin response after dexamethasone administration. This is a significant piece of information for horse owners who may be reluctant to used dexamethasone on a short-term basis for allergies or other minor disorders when the horse also has metabolic issues.

Bottom line … consider high-DHA microalgae supplementation to help your horse recover from insulin-related metabolic conditions.

The post DHA Supplementation May Reduce Inflammation in Metabolic Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It was back in 2010 at a conference in Denver, Colo., that I came across a booth where chia seeds were being sold as a dietary supplement for horses. I had never heard of chia seeds! Did you know about them 10 years ago?

Since that time, chia seeds have become a booming crop for horses (and people). Maybe you’re feeding them to your horses as we speak, or maybe you’re not familiar with them. Either way, I’m here to delve into their benefits, and I believe you’ll appreciate chia seeds even more than before.

Chia Seeds Are Tiny

Each one measures approximately 1 millimeter—that’s about 1/25th of an inch! But don’t let that sway you—they offer a powerful nutritional punch. They are high in fiber (42%), protein (18%), vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants, but they are best known for their high essential fatty acid content (both omega 3 and 6).

Chia Seeds Are 30% Fat

This includes the two essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid (ALA)—an omega 3, and linoleic acid (LA)—an omega 6. They are present in a highly favorable 3:1 ratio of omega 3 to 6. This ratio comes close to what is naturally found in living pasture grasses. But most commercially fortified feeds have just the opposite ratio, where LA exceeds ALA. That’s because most of them use oils, such as soybean oil (commonly referred to as vegetable oil), corn oil, or safflower oil, all of which are very high in LA. The result is an inverted ratio between these two fatty acids, which unfortunately increases inflammation throughout the body. The way to counteract it is to add a source of omega 3s, such as chia seeds, to improve the ratio and reverse the inflammatory response.

Chia Seeds’ Additional Nutritional Benefits

· Caffeic acid—No, that’s not caffeine. It is a type of polyphenol found in plants that is known for its antioxidant properties and its ability to reduce inflammation.

· Quercetin—This is a biologically active flavonoid that works with vitamin C to provide an “antioxidant team.” It is effective in reducing the inflammation that occurs during allergic responses. It also protects against heart disease and cancers.

· Phenolic Compounds—These include vitamin E and beta carotene. They are potent antioxidants, which scavenge free-radicals and prevent cellular oxidation and disease.

· Mucilage—This is a water-soluble fiber, that holds water 27 times its own weight. It forms a gel when water is added to chia seeds.

· Kaempferol—A flavonoid that not only exhibits antioxidant properties, but also anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, as well as neuroprotective and anti-diabetic activities.

How Chia Seeds Can Help Your Horse

Their potent nutraceutical content significantly impacts your horse’s health and vitality by impacting the following conditions:

· Weight Management for Hard- or Easy-Keepers—Their high fat content provides calories for the horse needing to gain weight. But overweight horses also benefit. Their high ALA content lowers circulating insulin levels. In addition, they reduce inflammation created by body fat that can lead to leptin resistance, thereby aiding in weight loss.

· Easing Joint and Muscle Pain—ALA alleviates pain through its COX2 enzyme inhibition, much like the drug firocoxib (Equioxx).

· Ulcer Prevention and Cure—The mucilage and quercetin content of chia seeds helps protect and heal the mucosal lining throughout the stomach and remainder of the gastrointestinal tract.

· Colic Prevention—Chia seeds are often touted to prevent sand colic. While its mucilage content does not actually bind to sand, the gel adds significant bulk to the hindgut. This aids in ensuring that the cecum is full—a necessary condition because its entrance and exit are at the top! Therefore, for sand to reach the top, there needs to be enough digested material to carry it out the exit. By making sure your horse has access to forage 24/7, all day and all night, you’ll ensure a full cecum and reduce the incidence of colic.

· Allergy Relief (both respiratory and skin-related)—ALA is effective in reducing the histamine reaction that impacts your horse’s respiration. It can also benefits horses suffering from chronic airway inflammatory disease. Skin reactions, in particular allergic responses to culicoides (sweet itch), are improved by feeding a source of ALA.

· Metabolic Conditions (including insulin resistance and Cushing’s Disease—The high amount of soluble fiber in chia seeds slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, modulating insulin spikes.

· Healthy Hooves and Hair—The high-quality protein found in chia seeds supports the production of keratin, the protein found in hooves and hair. With more copper and zinc than iron, chia seeds balance these minerals with the high iron found in forages to further enhance hoof and skin health.

· Chronic Inflammation From Osteoarthritis, Laminitis, and Metabolic Syndrome—ALA modulates inflammatory responses throughout the whole body, whereas LA increases inflammation. Hence, a diet that offers more ALA than LA will reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

· Immune Response—ALA promotes a healthy immune response by stabilizing cell membranes.

How Much to Feed

An 1,100 lb horse does well with ¼ cup (2 fluid ounces) to ½ cup (4 fluid ounces) of chia seeds per day, which weighs approximately 2 to 4 ounces (approximately 50 to 100 grams), respectively. For serious health issues, dosing can be increased up to 1 cup (8 fluid ounces or 200 grams) per day, divided between meals. It is best to add water to them and allow them to plump up a bit before being fed, however, they do not need to be soaked and may be fed dry.

Disadvantages of Feeding Chia to Horses

There aren’t really and disadvantages to feeding chia seeds to horses, but there a few things to consider.

· Chia seeds are high in fat, and hence, high in calories. If your horse is overweight, you would want to reduce the dosage. But remember, horses require a source of ALA and LA every day because their bodies cannot produce them. And the hay you are feeding contains little if any of these two essential fatty acids.

· The genetics of donkeys, mules, and ponies calls for a diet lower in fat than for full-sized horses or even miniature horses. While they need less fat, this doesn’t negate the fact that they require a daily source of essential fatty acids. So, feed chia seeds; just feed less.

· The conversion rate of ALA to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is low. When a horse consumes ALA, it is elongated to the larger omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which have much more significant biological activity. These are typically found in fish oils. Since horses are not fish-eaters, they must rely on converting ALA to these omega 3 forms or be fed a fish oil. However, if the diet is high in LA relative to ALA, the high LA will inhibit the synthesis of DHA and EPA. For horses suffering from significant inflammation, supplementation of fish oil or high-DHA algal oil is beneficial.

Aren’t Flax Seeds Just as Good?

Yes, flax seeds are also wonderful. Offering similar nutrients, they are also high in essential fatty acids and are comparable to chia seeds with a few differences:

· The ALA content of flax seeds is a little higher than chia seeds. One ounce by weight (2 fluid ounces) of flax provides 6,000 mg of ALA, whereas one ounce by weight (approximately 2.5 tablespoons) provides 4,900 mg of ALA.

· Flax seeds need to be ground whereas chia seeds do not. Ground flax seeds are highly susceptible to oxidative rancidity, and therefore, must be ground daily, or a stabilized product must be used. Chia seeds have a long shelf life.

· The mucilage content of flax seeds is half that of chia seeds. While moistened flax seeds will become slightly gelatinous, chia seeds win when it comes to gel-forming ability.

· The antioxidant content of flax seeds is considerably lower than what is found in chia seeds. While flax seeds do exhibit some antioxidant activity, chia seeds for horses have far more associated with their polyphenolic compounds and the presence of tocopherols (vitamin E).

Bottom Line on Feeding Chia Seeds to Horses

All equines can benefit from the addition of chia seeds to the diet. As a whole food, chia seeds are nutrient dense in their natural state, offering a vast array of benefits that boost health and improve your horse’s overall quality of life.

The post Chia Seeds for Horses: Nature’s Tiny Miracle appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

If fed starchy cereal grains (oats, corn, barley, etc.) on an empty stomach, the horse will produce even more acid (potentially leading to ulcers) and it will be leave the stomach quickly. When this happens, there is a risk that it will not be fully digested in the small intestine (especially if large amounts are fed), and end up in the hindgut where starch can be fermented by the bacterial population. This can lead to endotoxin-related laminitis.

If hay is present in the stomach first, it creates a physical barrier for the grain to move out of the stomach as quickly. Since starch does not get digested in the stomach, the grain is simply mixed and churned into a semi-liquid mass, which enters the small intestine where it can be digested down to glucose.

If there is hay present, fiber mixes with the starch and the whole mass enters the small intestine. Fiber is not digested until it reaches the hind gut, but its presence slows down the digestion of starch, and obstructs the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, leading to a less dramatic rise in insulin.

One thing to note – there is more water involved when hay is present (from increased drinking and saliva production). This is a good thing since digestion within the small intestine cannot take place without water.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. Her research-based approach optimizes equine health by aligning physiology and instincts with correct feeding and nutrition practices. Dr. Getty’s goal is to empower the horseperson with the confidence and knowledge to provide the best nutrition for his or her horse’s needs. www.GettyEquineNutrition.com

The post Hay Before Grain? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Living pasture grasses and alfalfa are rich in fat and water-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein. But once they are cut, dried, and stored as hay, many nutrients that were once plentiful begin to dwindle.

Fat soluble vitamins. These include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin A (as beta carotene) along with vitamin E quickly become oxidized (destroyed) shortly after cutting due to exposure to heat, air, light, and moisture. Vitamin K diminishes as well, though the hindgut bacteria can generally produce all that the horse requires, unless his microbial population is weakened due to illness or antibiotics. Sun-cured hay does maintain adequate amounts of vitamin D, but the longer the hay is stored, the less vitamin D will remain. However, horses with normal sun exposure do not typically need additional vitamin D supplementation.

Water soluble vitamins. Vitamin C is the known as “the most unstable vitamin” and will quickly oxidize. B vitamins take longer to diminish, but over time their levels will taper off. Fortunately, a healthy liver is capable of producing vitamin C, and the hindgut microbial flora can synthesize the B vitamins.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs). Two fatty acids, linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are plentiful in fresh grasses and alfalfa. Hay, on the other hand, loses these EFAs as storage time progresses. Since by definition, essential nutrients must be in the diet, it is imperative that a source of LA and ALA be supplemented. Adding a feed source that has higher amounts of ALA than LA will better match what originally exists in living forages. Unfortunately, most commercial feeds are high in soybean oil, providing more LA than ALA, significantly increasing inflammation. Adding ground flaxseeds or chia seeds will help bring the ALA to LA ratio back into balance.

Protein and minerals tend to remain at similar levels as pasture. Water soluble carbohydrates (simple sugars and fructans) and starch, however, will decline after cutting because there is still some enzymatic metabolism of carbohydrates in hay until there is not enough moisture to support it.

In summary, horses who mostly rely on hay as their predominant forage source require supplementation to fill in nutritional gaps. Keep this in mind during the colder seasons when pasture is not as nutritious or plentiful.

The post Should you supplement your horse’s hay-based diet? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

For owners of insulin resistant horses, pasture grazing may not be possible. Grass can be too high in sugar and starch. Since horses love to eat a lot of it, very quickly, this grass can significantly raise the level of insulin in the blood. While grass tends to be lower in sugar/starch during the summer, the situation changes as the night time temperatures drop below 40 degrees F, making it especially challenging (and dangerous!) to allow pasture grazing. Many a case of laminitis has occurred during the fall when the nights turn cool.

But how can you be so sure that the grass is unsafe? You can’t. That is, you can only guess, unless you have it analyzed for its level of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), which include sugars, starch, and fructans. Insulin resistant horses (ones suffering from equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing’s disease) as well as horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) should not consume large amounts of sugar and starch. Fructans are mainly digested by the hindgut bacteria, so while they do not significantly contribute to an insulin surge, they can cause laminitis when too much is fermented, potentially leading to cecal acidosis and endotoxin release into the bloodstream.

Here are the guidelines during the fall:

• When the daytime temperatures are relatively warm, and especially when it’s sunny, the grass produces sugar and starch via photosynthesis. The grass would normally burn up these carbohydrates during the night, making the morning the safest time to let your horse graze. BUT when it gets cold, the grass doesn’t readily do that. Instead it may hold on to the sugar/starch, remaining concentrated in the morning; therefore, it is likely not safe to allow your insulin resistant horse to graze on pasture when it has been cold the night before. What I mean by “cold” is below 40 degrees F most of the night.
• Not all grasses, however, react the same way to cold temperatures. Cool season grasses such as timothy, brome, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, and fescue tend to continue growing during cooler months. Coastal Bermuda, buffalo grass, Teff and other Bermuda-related strains tend to go dormant as soon as fall hits. You’ll notice the grass turning brown, but be careful – spread the blades apart; if there is green at the base, there is still growth that can contain a lot of sugar and starch. If it’s brown clear down to the base, it is likely safe to feed.
• If there is frost on the grass in the morning, it is too risky to let your insulin resistant horse graze.
• If the grass has been stressed due to drought or overgrazing, the grass may be high in sugar/starch.

Once the night temperatures consistently fall below freezing, you can expect that the grass is dormant and is safe to feed. However, it is still a good idea to test your pasture, even during a dormant state.

It is easy to do

Suitable labs can be found at local vet schools or county extension services. Equi-Analytical Labs is a good choice because they provide you with numbers that relate to horses, not cattle. The instructions are not complicated and can be found on their website: www.equi-analytical.com. Basically, you randomly select about 15 sites throughout your pasture, cutting only to the grazing height. For example, if an ungrazed area is 10 inches high, and your horse only eats the top 4 inches, cut samples that are four inches from the top. Chop into small strips, stuff in the provided bag, freeze overnight, and mail it in. On the order form, choose their “Fast Track” test for carbohydrate levels or their “Equi-Tech” test if you’d also like to know the mineral content.

Pasture Testing Glossary

Once you have your lab report, but before you do any calculations, it is best to know some key terms:

• Percent Moisture and Dry Matter: these numbers add to 100%. Notice that since pasture is mostly water, the moisture percentage will be very high.
• As Sampled column: these numbers describe the grass with its water content.
• Dry matter column: these values are more concentrated because they describe the forage without any water.
• Digestible energy (DE): number of mega calories (Mcals) per lb or kg of hay.
• Water soluble carbohydrates (WSC): simple sugars plus fructans. Fructans do not accumulate in warm-season grasses or alfalfa.
• Ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC): simple sugars.
• Starch: long strands of glucose (simple sugar) linked together that are digested down to individual glucose molecules.
• Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC): this will not be on the report. It is calculated as WSC+Starch.

Before you begin calculations, it is helpful to make your pasture comparable to hay.

We typically look for hay that has less than 12% NSC on an as-sampled basis, but now we’re dealing with forage. You can look strictly at the numbers under the “dry matter” column. Or you can make these numbers more comparable to what you’d find in the average hay. Though hay can vary in its moisture content, its average dry matter concentration is 93%. Therefore, the first step is to multiply the numbers in the “dry matter” column by 0.93.

Good Grazing Indicators

Your grass should ideally have the following parameters, on a “hay-comparable” basis, to be considered safe:

• DE should be less than 0.88 Mcals/lb (1.94 Mcals/kg) if your horse is overweight.
• NSC should be less than 12%.
• ESC + Starch should be less than 10%.

Sometimes the NSC level is above 12% but the ESC + Starch is less than 10%. Look at this example:

WSC = 14%
ESC = 6%
Starch = 2%

The NSC = 14 + 2 = 16%. This would normally be considered too high. However, the ESC + Starch is only 8%. In this case, you can feel comfortable feeding it. The difference between WSC and ESC is mostly from fructans. But if their concentration is too high, there is the potential for hindgut acidosis. If the NSC in this example had been upwards of 20%, even with a low ESC + Starch content, it would be too risky to feed.

When to Test Your Pasture

During the fall: Pay attention to the time of day and weather conditions when you take your samples. Try to test on a sunny day when the day before was also sunny.

It is best to take two samples on the same day:

1. In the morning before 8:00 am (best case scenario)
2. In the late afternoon after the grass has been exposed to sunlight (worst case scenario)

During the winter: Once the night temperatures stay consistently below freezing, the grass will stop growing. Test in the morning and late afternoon, to see if it is safe for your horse to graze.

Example Pasture Analysis

The analysis results below represent an actual pasture sample. To utilize these numbers, first calculate “hay-comparable” values (each dry matter value is multiplied by 0.93):

This particular pasture was tested in North Dakota during October when the night temperatures dipped below 40 degrees F for several hours, followed by sunny days. The sample was taken in the morning. Notice that the NSC is excellent – less than 12% (which was unexpected). Furthermore the sum of ESC + Starch is less than 10%. This pasture is safe for the insulin resistant horse and the owners can feel comfortable allowing their horses to graze during the morning hours. In order to know if it is safe for afternoon grazing another sample should be obtained.

Summary

Pasture testing may need to be done several times throughout the season to see how the grass behaves under varying circumstances. You may be pleasantly surprised, which would make your horses happy and give you peace of mind. During times when your pasture is not appropriate, move your horse to a dry area and provide hay (which you have also tested) free-choice, available all day and all night.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an internationally respected, independent equine nutritionist who believes that optimizing horse health comes from understanding how the horse’s physiology and instincts determine the correct feeding and nutrition practices. Visit www.gettyequinenutrition.com to sign up for her informative, free monthly newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum; and purchase recordings of her informative teleseminars.

The post Safe autumn grazing for horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Add this to your collection of useful horse facts that (surprise!) you actually needed to know: Horses don’t have a gallbladder because horses are designed to eat constantly.

We humans, on the other hand, eat few, relatively large meals. Our gallbladder serves as a storage pouch for bile – the emulsifying agent produced by the liver that is needed to start fat digestion. When we eat a large amount of fat at one time, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine to aid in digestion.

Horses, on the other hand, are trickle feeders – they are supposed to continuously graze on forage, all day and all night long (virtually all the time, with a few minutes of napping here and there). The small amount of fat that they eat is easily managed by the liver. Therefore, there is no need to store bile in large quantities.

In recent years, however, fat has been shown to be an alternative to high starch diets, since it is more concentrated in calories. There was initial concern that large amounts of fat would not be sufficiently digested. However, the horse’s liver has the ability to compensate. This adaptation takes several weeks; therefore it is best to slowly increase fat levels.

Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an internationally respected equine nutritionist available for private consultations and speaking engagements. Visit her website, www.gettyequinenutrition.com, for more equine nutrition information.

The post Why don’t horses have a gallbladder? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

How does sunshine convert to vitamin D? The key is in the skin’s oils, which contain a derivative of cholesterol called 7-dehydrocholesterol. When exposed to sunshine, this compound is converted to Cholecalciferol, which is then converted to the actual vitamin D, known as 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, or D3, for short.

D3 is actually a hormone. A hormone, simply put, is a substance that is produced in one place and delivers a message to another place. D3 is produced in the kidney, and its message is to insure correct blood calcium levels which are critical to the proper function of your horses’ bones, joints, and muscles. D3 looks first to increase absorption by the intestine of ingested calcium, then if necessary, it will key the bones to give up calcium, and finally, it will instruct the kidneys to reduces calcium losses through urine.

There is a vitamin D2 which is found in plants. Plants make D2 from sunlight exposure, much in the same manner as D3 is made in animals, except the original starting point is ergosterol. Most vitamin supplements, however, contain the animal source – vitamin D3 – because it tends to be more stable and therefore has a longer shelf life. But when your horse eats fresh grass, he is getting the plant form. Once inside your horse’s body, they both have the same function.

Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you might think.

Risk Factors for Vitamin D Deficiency in Horses

• Horses that are kept indoors have the highest risk.
• Frequent bathing with soap inhibits the body’s ability to produce vitamin D simply because the precursor in body oil (7-dehydrocholesterol) is washed away.
• The reduced intensity of sunlight during the winter or at higher latitudes (starting with the upper one third of the U.S., into Canada) inhibits vitamin D production.
• Vitamin D does not survive in hay.

Deficiency causes reduced appetite, slowed growth, physitis in growing horses, bone demineralization (leading to stress fractures and bone deformities), and poor muscle contraction.

Horses do best when they receive at least 6.6 IU of vitamin D per kg of body weight. For an 1100 lb (500 kg) horse, this translates into 3300 IU/day. Sunlight exposure—5 to 8 hours/day under optimal conditions—will produce this amount of vitamin D.

Too Much Vitamin D

Vitamin D toxicity is unusual but possible, and somewhat confusingly, the signs of toxicity are similar to deficiency: reduced feed intake, poor growth, and an unthrifty appearance. An upper limit of 44 IU/kg of body weight (22,000 IU for an 1100 lb horse) has been established. Improper supplementation can cause excessively high intake; check all your supplements and fortified feeds to make certain you’re feeding a safe amount.

The very good news is that sunlight exposure cannot lead to excessive vitamin D production. So give your horse as much time outdoors, with minimal chemical or physical barriers. Let that vitamin D message do its wonders for the good of your horse.

The post Vitamin D Requirements for Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A full-sized horse does best on a diet that offers 1 to 6 mg of iodine each day to keep his thyroid gland working properly. Because the iodine content of grass is too low to measure, it is best to rely on supplementation — from salt or other sources — to meet your horse’s need. Many supplements and fortified feeds already add it. It’s always best to know what your horse is consuming since too much iodine can damage the thyroid gland.

Since all full-sized horses require at least one ounce (2 tablespoons) of salt per day for maintenance (and up to 3 ounces/day when perspiring heavily), iodized salt is a good way to add iodine and provide the needed salt as well. Granulated salt that you buy in the grocery store comes in both non-iodized and iodized versions; one teaspoon of iodized table salt contains 0.4 mg of iodine (3 tsp = 1 Tablespoon = 15 ml).

White and brown salt blocks generally do not contain iodine, whereas blue and red ones do. Sea salt, kelp, and other natural salt sources can vary tremendously in their iodine content. Only use reputable sources that guarantee their iodine analysis in writing.

Looking for more advice on optimal nutrition for your horse? For more than 20 years, Dr. Juliet Getty has taught and consulted on equine nutrition. Her comprehensive book, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse: Optimizing your horse’s nutrition for a lifetime of vibrant health, is available in hardcover and CD through her website or at Amazon.com. At www.gettyequinenutrition.com horse owners and managers will find a library of helpful articles, the “Ask the Nutritionist” forum, and a calendar of appearances, teleconferences and interviews; register at the website for Dr. Getty’s popular (and free) monthly e-newsletter, “Forage for Thought.”

The post Iodized salt can help your horse’s health appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Key nutrients for hoof health include omega-3 fatty acids, quality protein, minerals (including copper, zinc, and silicon), beta carotene (which is used to make vitamin A), and the old standby – biotin (approximately 20 mg per day).

It’s important to realize that hooves are low on your horse’s list of priorities. Available nutrients will first be used for survival – feeding vital organs (heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, glands). If nutrients remain, they can be used to feed hoof tissue. Therefore, unhealthy hooves are an indication that there just aren’t enough nutrients to go around. A forage-based diet, with proper vitamin/mineral supplementation to fill in nutritional gaps, will help ensure overall health, while protecting your horse’s feet.

Looking for more advice on optimal nutrition for your horse? At www.gettyequinenutrition.com horse owners and managers will find a library of helpful articles, an online store, and a calendar of appearances, teleconferences and interviews. Dr. Getty also offers a popular (and free) monthly e-newsletter, “Forage for Thought”; sign up through the website.

Further Reading
Eight Hoof Care Myths
Guide to Horse Hoof Problems

The post Good nutrition is the key to healthy hooves appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Are you tempted to cut your grass, then rake it into soft, fragrant, tasty piles of clippings for your horse to nibble? According to equine nutrition expert, Dr. Juliet Getty, this should be the last thing you encourage your horse to eat. It has to do with that extra step: raking.

Grass clippings that stay on the pasture after mowing, where they can dry in small amounts, are generally not a problem. But never gather them into piles to feed them to your horse. It’s partly because clippings are too easy to over-consume, and eating large amounts at one time can lead to excess fermentation in the hind gut, potentially causing colic and laminitis. Piles of clippings can rapidly invite mold to form (especially prevalent in hot, humid environments), which can lead to colic. Finally, because there is no air inside a dense pile, botulism can develop, which turns this “treat” absolutely deadly.

Further Reading
Ten Rules to Feed By

Get more equine nutrition advice from Dr. Getty’s website, www.gettyequinenutrition.com.

The post Equine Nutrition Tip: Grass Clippings are Not Safe for Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.