skin and coat
Iodine controls the production of thyroid hormones, which are necessary for optimal health. Iodine deficiency can cause a dry, lusterless coat and patchy or diffuse hair loss. The NRC (National Research Council) estimates that the iodine requirement of horses is 0.1-0.6 mg/kg of the total diet. Grass and hay contain very small amounts of iodine. Some plain grains contain more iodine, but most horses get iodine from trace mineralized salt or a coat and... Read More »
Category : Health & Management | Tips and Topics | Valuable Nutrients
Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD), commonly called sweet itch or summer itch, is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of a biting gnat known as the Culicoides midge. Many people refer to them as “no-see-ums.” These bothersome fellows are active from April through October. They live and breed in ponds, marshes, and areas where water is standing and stagnant. Gnats can travel up to half a mile to find a good meal. They tend to be most... Read More »
Category : Health & Management | Other Topics of Interest | Tips and Topics
Have you ever come across “lecithin” while scrutinizing the ingredient list of a favorite supplement? Have you wondered why lecithin was included in the mix? Because it benefits the horse on both the inside and outside, lecithin is anything but an “empty” ingredient. Lecithin is a combination of phospholipids that occur naturally in some plants. Made of many components including fatty acids, phospholipids are involved in a host of physiological... Read More »
Category : Fat & Fiber | Tips and Topics | Valuable Nutrients
Providing proper nutrition for your horse is one of the most basic ways to ensure his well-being. High-quality forage and well-formulated, properly fortified concentrates should provide the basis for his diet. Occasionally, however, these components are not enough to guarantee optimal health. In cases in which beneficial nutrients cannot be delivered through a diet of forage and concentrate, scientifically proven supplements should be considered. Care... Read More »
Category : Essential Vitamins | Tips and Topics
Does your horse struggle with dull, flaky hair coat? Are his mane and tail dry and brittle? The quality of your horse’s hair is based in part on his genetic makeup, but nutrition can also play a role. Nutrients affect hair quality Protein: Skin and hair need protein. Proteins are made up of different amino acids and each amino acid has a purpose. Protein deficiency is rarely seen, but your horse may be lacking certain amino acids that affect hair... Read More »
Category : Health & Management | Nutritional Minutes | Tips and Topics
Simply put, horses need energy. Energy is traditionally supplied by cereal grains such as oats, corn, and barley. These feedstuffs deliver energy as carbohydrates or starch. But what if you want to supply more energy to your horse without increasing his feed intake? Feeding a fat supplement is an excellent way to achieve this. Fat is added to the diet because it is an excellent energy source. It contains almost 2.25 times as much energy as an... Read More »
Category : Fat & Fiber | Tips and Topics
As pastures fade from green to brown, horse owners all over will soon be feeding hay to meet their horses’ energy requirements. A diet composed primarily of forage and the recommended amount of a well-fortified concentrate is all most horses need to maintain their weight. But many horses—like old horses or hard keepers—need more than the basics to stay plump and healthy through winter. To prevent an energy crisis in these calorie-needy horses,... Read More »
Category : Fat & Fiber | Tips and Topics
Biotin has become commonplace in feed rooms across the world because of its reputation as an effective hoof supplement. And while this is true, some horsemen believe it to be a man-made and mystical creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like the more familiar niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin, biotin is first and foremost a B-vitamin. Biotin is similar to other B-vitamins in that it is essential in the conversion of feedstuffs to energy so... Read More »
Category : Essential Vitamins | Tips and Topics
