TheHorse.com logo
Sign In or Create a Login
for access to 15,300+ articles
News and veterinarian-approved articles on
equine health care from The Horse magazine.



Go to Article #:
 
Adoptable Horse
Sponsored By Exclusively Equine


Get a DVM
Article Library

Please Note: We have put articles into topic categories only when they are focused on those topics, not just if they mention the topic once. If you are having trouble finding something, please use the search box above.

Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Nutrition/Supplements > Forages


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Study: Horses' Diets Affect Gastrointestinal Bacteria   *
Horses fed a diet of only forage have greater bacterial stability and fewer "bad" fecal bacteria, such as Streptococcus spp, than horses that are also fed concentrates. This finding, reported by a group of Swedish researchers, provides opportunities for the industry to develop more targeted feeding strategies to support equine health and welfare. "Diets ... Read full story
 10/9/2009
Alfalfa Conference to Focus on Profitability   *
Dismal prices, sluggish sales, high production costs, and challenging weather conditions have left alfalfa farmers with little to no profit in 2009, prompting a focus on "Improving Your Odds of Profitability" at this year's Western Alfalfa and Forage Conference, to be held Dec. 2-4, in Reno, Nev. "To salvage profitability though these tough times, ... Read full story
 9/23/2009
Weed of the Month: Common Ragweed  *
Common name: Common ragweedScientific name: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Life cycle: Warm season annualOrigin: United StatesPoisonous: No Common ragweed Common ragweed is distributed widely across the United States and occurs in pastures and cultivated crops. Infestations in pastures are usually more of a problem during periods of drought or ... Read full story
 9/18/2009
Colic: Diet Can Reduce Enterolith Risk, Review Finds  *
If your horse is at risk for intestinal stones or enteroliths, consider replacing an alfalfa-based diet with grass hay, said Diana M. Hassel, DVM, PhD, of Colorado State University. Hassel and colleagues evaluated two equine diets and water supplies to see their effect on minerals and the pH of the gut. The gastrointestinal tracts of horses with ... Read full story
 9/14/2009
Understanding Beet Pulp as an Equine Feed   *
Beet pulp has been a popular feed for horses for years without many people really knowing why. Beet pulp is a byproduct of the sugar beet industry and is predominant in the upper Midwest, Michigan, and California. Sugar beets look a lot like turnips that have been taking growth hormones--they are very large. The beets are grown and processed not ... Read full story
 9/7/2009
Apply Nitrogen to Horse Pastures in the Fall
Fall nitrogen application has long been promoted within the turfgrass industry to improve stand density. Researchers conducted a field study on four well-managed horse farm pastures in the Central Bluegrass region of Kentucky from September 2006 through March 2007 and repeated again during the same timeframe in 2007 and 2008. The objective of this ... Read full story
 8/24/2009
Exercising Horses: Effects of Eating Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue   *
Known to withstand drought and high traffic, tall fescue is common forage in the southeastern United States. However, these resistant properties are partly associated with an endophytic fungus that infects the tall fescue plant. While the endophyte might offer benefits to the plant, it produces compounds that can have negative effects on animals. Cattle ... Read full story
 8/14/2009
Six Simple Tips for Buying Good Hay   *
As bales of hay roll in from the fields on the back of farmers' wagons, it's again time to start staking your claim so that your hayloft remains full over the coming winter months. Here are some tips to help you select hay for your horses. 1. Remember that quality forage should be the backbone of your horse's diet (a minimum of 2/3 of their nutrition). ... Read full story
 8/11/2009
Hay Herbicides Not a Risk to Horses, Despite Manure-Fertilized Crop Loss   *
Recent reported crop losses in North Carolina and several other states are linked to certain broad leaf herbicides containing aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram, according to researchers. In North Carolina, people with gardens and organic farms who rely on horse manure or compost for fertilizer are noticing that some of their plants are dying. ... Read full story
 7/10/2009
Bermudagrass for Horse Pastures  *
Kentucky horse owners might find Bermudagrass to be a good summer pasture species for mares, foals, and yearlings, and it might also serve as an on-farm source of hay or bedding. These observations are based on a continuing four-year study at the University of Kentucky. Cold-hardy bermudagrass cultivars, developed by plant breeder Charles Taliaferro ... Read full story
 7/9/2009
Laminitis Risk Increased by Pasture Grass Sugars  *
Pasture-induced laminitis (sometimes referred to as founder) can be triggered when susceptible horses ingest high amounts of sugar or fructans that are naturally found in some pasture grasses. Susceptible horses include, but are not limited to, overweight or easy keeping horses, ponies, horses with metabolic syndrome, and horses that have foundered ... Read full story
 6/29/2009
Grazing Horses in Moderately Polluted Areas   *
Horses might serve as good management tools for pastures moderately polluted by trace elements, according to Spanish researchers. And provided the animals receive adequate, systematic monitoring through biological sampling, they can be kept on this land without adverse health consequences. Scientists conducted a study in the Agrio and Guadiamar River ... Read full story
 6/27/2009
Ingested Wires Cause Colic, Adhesions   *
When ingested, small wires can wreak havoc in the equine digestive system. They might even cause different segments of the tract to fuse together, leading to painful and usually fatal consequences, according to South African and American researchers who recently published a study on the subject. The four cases discussed in the medical review, which ... Read full story
 4/4/2009
Hay, Does Fertilization Matter?
Q: Should I look for hay that comes from a fertilized or unfertilized field? In what ways would the nutrition be affected? Does fertilizing the field increase the protein content of the hay? What are appropriate questions to ask regarding the hay? Roberta, Camano Island, Wash. A: Whether or not a hay field is fertilized might be more ... Read full story
 3/1/2009
Equine Forage Conference at 3 Virginia Sites   *
Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council will explore how horse owners can best utilize their land for grazing and protect soil and water resources at the same time during this year's equine forage conference March 2-4. The conference will be repeated on Monday, March 2, at the Middleburg Agricultural Research ... Read full story
 2/5/2009
12 Months of Feeding Tips  *
Here's how to roll with Mother Nature through the seasons, nutritionally speaking. Sometimes it feels as if humans have divorced themselves from the rhythms of nature. Perhaps that's part of the appeal of horses. They seem so much more attuned to the natural world than we are. And when we spend time in their company, we're brought back into an environment ... Read full story
 1/1/2009
Teff Hay for Foundered Horses: A Good Fit?   *
In California, teff is being called the "perfect grass for foundered horses." But is teff hay always safe for horses that are intolerant of high-sugar forage? Teff grass (Eragrostis teff) is a new type of grass being introduced around the world for hay production. Originally from the highlands of Ethiopia, there are different varieties grown for grain ... Read full story
 12/22/2008
Beet Pulp Shortage Continues, Could Repeat   *
Plain shredded beet pulp, a source of digestible fiber for many horses, has been hard to come by this year for a number of East Coast horse owners. Some have wondered when supplies will replenish. While a temporary supply will be available soon, the long-term outlook on beet pulp availability isn't as clear. Burton Feed & Seed in Beaufort, S.C., ... Read full story
 11/14/2008
Forage Options for Special Needs Horses   *
At the recent Purina Equine Veterinary Conference, Katie Young, PhD, consulting equine nutritionist for Purina Mills, presented information on forage options for horses with commonly encountered special needs, including recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) or chronic laminitis. Horses with RAO (also known as heaves) have a hypersensitivity to airborne ... Read full story
 11/8/2008
Soy Safety: Depends on the Source, Nutritionists Say   *
Horses have varying protein requirements, depending on stage of life or performance level. Protein, the essential building block for new cellular growth, provides the amino acids necessary for maintaining all normal body functions in a horse, from synthesis and release of hormones to formation and repair of muscle and other soft tissues. Soy has long ... Read full story
 10/27/2008
Poisonous Plant Risk Increases as Pasture Grass Goes Dormant   *
As autumn rolls around, pastures become depleted as grasses and other plants slow their growth prior to going dormant for winter. So, it's not surprising that this time of year can also bring an increase in reports of horses becoming ill from eating something they shouldn't have. Karyn Bischoff, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVT, a diagnostic toxicologist at Cornell ... Read full story
 10/10/2008
Equine Nutrition With No Grain  *
A three-year study by nutritionist Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVN, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, and her collaborators involved feeding draft cross weanlings and yearlings total mixed rations (TMRs) that contained processed forages, a vitamin/mineral suplement, and wheat bran, but little to no grain. This ration was designed to meet or ... Read full story
 8/26/2008
Possible Beet Pulp Shortage Reported in Eastern U.S.   *
A lack of plain beet pulp in several East Coast feed stores is fueling some speculation that a shortage could be in the works. Beet pulp is a byproduct from the process of extracting simple sugars from sugar beets for the manufacture of table sugar. The pulp, which has 8-10% crude protein and 18% crude fiber, is often used as a livestock feed or ... Read full story
 8/17/2008
Horse Owners Cautioned about Hardy Toxic Plant  *
With cases reported already this year, horse owners are being cautioned about a toxic plant that flourishes during drought and in overgrazed conditions. Hoary alyssum is found across the northeastern and north central United States and Canada. A member of the mustard family, it produces small white flowers and can grow up to 3 feet tall. Grayish ... Read full story
 7/17/2008
Don't Guess. Test Your Hay  *
In our effort to 'cover all the bases,' many of us feel we have to supplement with fortified grains in an effort to feel secure that we are providing enough vitamins, minerals and protein in our horses diet. Grain may present an unnecessary amount of sugar and starch that may even be dangerous to those horses suffering from laminitis or other forms ... Read full story
 7/3/2008
Readers Respond: Where's the Hay?  *
Almost 1,300 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "Are you having problems getting hay?" Results were as follows: Yes: 32.76% (420) No: 67.24% (862) Readers shared their hay problems in the comments below. Results of weekly polls from TheHorse.com are published in The Horse Health E-Newsletter. Published every week, ... Read full story
 6/19/2008
North Dakota Database Connects Horse Owners, Hay Sellers  *
Drought conditions in parts of western North Dakota have some livestock producers in need of additional forage. Farmers and ranchers who have forage for sale can list it on a North Dakota State University (NDSU) database designed to help feed sellers and buyers connect. Producers can also use this service to list pasture they have available for rent. ... Read full story
 5/13/2008
Fiber in Hay: What's the Magic Number?   *
Horses evolved to eat a lot of fiber, spending up to 17 hours a day grazing various forage plants. But not all fiber is created equal, especially when it comes to hay. Hay carries a few challenges compared to living forages. One, compared to fresh forage, dry hay lacks the moisture needed to move fiber along the digestive tract. Unlimited access ... Read full story
 5/1/2008
Prepare for a Reduced Hay Crop in 2008   *
The USDA has released several crop reports that indicate the number of hay acres will be down in 2008. The department also reported that the existing hay supply is lower than previous years. This information, combined with higher input costs (fuel, fertilizer, land rent) and higher grain prices (corn, soybean, wheat), will likely lead to increased ... Read full story
 4/22/2008
Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program Available   *
Optimal use of horse pastures has always been important. As news of the high price and limited supply of hay continues to worry horse owners, the health of horse pastures becomes ever more critical. Consulting with forage experts might be one of the best investments a horse farm owner can make. That's where the University of Kentucky's Horse Pasture ... Read full story
 4/17/2008
Control Spring Pasture Access   *
Horses might be as eager to get out in the sunshine as we are to break out the shorts and T-shirts, but after a winter cooped up in a stall eating hay, don't give them free rein to that scrumptious spring pasture just yet. According to Thomas Goetz, DVM, chief of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine ... Read full story
 3/31/2008
Use Caution When Transitioning to Alternative Forages   *
Hay is at a premium. Whether it is the result of weather conditions making forage scarce or prohibitively expensive, or if there's some other reason, there could come a time when horse owners need to consider alternative sources of forage. Equine nutritionists say that when this is necessary, you should change a horse's diet gradually to avoid stressing ... Read full story
 1/11/2008
Penn State Professor Says African Grass Could Replace Timothy, Others  *
An Ethiopian summer annual grass called teff could be a valuable asset to growers, according to a crop specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Marvin Hall, MS, PhD, professor of forage management, said he is optimistic that teff can be grown in Pennsylvania as successfully as other summer-annual grasses. "I must admit I was ... Read full story
 11/2/2007
Drought Continues to Challenge Horses, Owners   *
After a long, dry summer that left pastures scant and dusty and hay production plunging, drought conditions across the United States show no signs of letting up. And neither do the challenges facing horses and their owners. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, a drought-monitoring service based at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, ... Read full story
 10/21/2007
Imported Hay Could Hold Hidden Health Dangers   *
As if hay scarcity and high prices aren’t enough, experts are warning horse owners that imported hay could also hide horse health dangers including seriously low amounts of essential vitamins such as A and E, excessive amounts of selenium, and even life-threatening insect infestations. "It all depends upon where the hay is coming from," said Peggy ... Read full story
 9/23/2007
Autumn Tips for Healthy Spring Pastures   *
As the University of Kentucky's Horse Pasture Evaluation Program begins to wrap up its third year serving Central Kentucky horse farms, forage experts share some of the horse pasture trends they've seen during the past three years and recommend steps farms should take now to ensure healthy pastures next year. "The UK forage extension team has ... Read full story
 9/12/2007
Ethanol to Take a Bite out of Equine Food Supplies?   *
When the time came for Jamie Clifton to stockpile horse feed for the winter at Volunteer Equine Advocates, she found grain prices up and hay expensive and in tight supply. Now, she said, she's wondering how high horse feed commodity prices can go, and how her organization can meet the resulting demands on financial resources. Clifton is not alone. ... Read full story
 9/6/2007
Summer Flooding of Hay Fields and Pastures: Will Forage Survive?   *
Most forage crops perform best when soils have adequate, but not excessive, soil moisture. Standing water, flowing water and waterlogged soils following heavy summer rainstorms or extended periods of higher-than-normal rainfall patterns all can cause management concerns for forage crops. Iowa State University Extension forage agronomist Stephen Barnhart, ... Read full story
 9/2/2007
Late Season Oats Can Reduce Autumn Hay Use   *
Oats, traditionally grown in the spring as a grain crop, can also be planted in the summer as a late season forage, providing a feed alternative for horse owners and livestock producers short on hay or pasture. Based on five years of Ohio State University Extension research, oats planted in late July or early August can be grazed well into winter. ... Read full story
 8/2/2007
Motion Capture Confirms: Horses Chew Different Feeds in Different Ways  *
Horses eating a diet consisting mostly of pellets or grain could require more dental maintenance than horses eating predominantly hay or pasture grasses, according to researchers at Michigan State University who used motion capture techniques to track the movement of horses' jaws. The results of their study showed that horses use slower, larger movements ... Read full story
 7/31/2007
Overweight Horse Study: More on Improved Forages   *
More than half of 300 horses involved in a study at at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech were found to be overweight or obese. The researchers also found that generous grain diets weren’t the issue in these cases of apparently overzealous eaters; ... Read full story
 7/20/2007
Drought Aftermath: Missouri Vets Reporting Vitamin E, Selenium Problems  *
While much of the Midwest has recovered from the drought that parched the area last year, horses are continuing to experience effects from the hot, dry summer of 2006. Due to a bad hay crop, University of Missouri-Columbia veterinarians are reporting an increased number of horses in that state with chronic selenosis and vitamin E deficiency. Both of ... Read full story
 6/11/2007
Drought: Managing Horses in a Long Dry Spell  *
Drought conditions, exacerbated by the long-term effects of last year's dry season on hay production, are making life tough for horse owners in several areas of the country. According to a May 29 report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, large areas of California, Arizona, Colorado, and Florida are in D3 (severe) drought condition. Most of the land in ... Read full story
 6/2/2007
Changing Carbohydrate Evaluations in Animal Diets  *
Nutritionists are doing away with "nonstructural carbohydrates" in favor of more specific measures. If you own a horse with laminitis or a metabolic problem such as insulin resistance or Cushing's disease, chances are you've heard recommendations to minimize his intake of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). However, many nutritionists and feed analysts ... Read full story
 4/15/2007
Food for Thought: Digestive Health  *
A favorite pastime of humans and horses alike is to eat. Our world view of eating revolves around fundamental expectations of the types of food we eat, how these foods make us feel, and how different foods are processed through our bodies. Unlike our human intestinal constitution, the horse has a unique intestinal structure and function for processing ... Read full story
 4/1/2007
Hay Alternatives for Horses  *
Adverse summer grass growing or harvesting conditions or excessively long, cold winter weather can make it difficult to find or afford horse hay. These problems might tempt horse owners to feed their horses an all-concentrate diet. However, horse owners should remember a diet without roughage can be detrimental to the horse. A constant fiber source ... Read full story
 2/8/2007
Hay for the Laminitic Horse
Q: Is there a particular type of grass hay that is better than others as a long-term part of the maintenance diet for a horse prone to laminitis? Sue, via e-mail A: If a horse has a history of chronic laminitis, my first concern would be addressing the metabolic issues contributing to the problem, usually obesity and/or pituitary ... Read full story
 9/1/2006
Endophyte-Infected Fescue  *
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a nutritious cool-season perennial grass that grows on more than 35 million acres in the United States. Introduced from Europe more than 100 years ago, it didn't become popular until the mid-1940s after it was found to be productive and hardy in a wide variety of climates. It now provides hay and pasture for more ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
Selenium: A Balancing Act
Today's horse owners are very supplement-oriented. When a new supplement hits the market, many horse owners are tempted to use it if they think it will somehow improve their horses' health. The problem occurs when a well-intentioned owner oversupplements a horse's diet either by not knowing the horse's current intake of minerals, or by thinking if ... Read full story
 3/1/2006
Will Eating Grass Seeds Hurt My Horse?
We are new horse owners who know very little about horses. We've had our horse "Trouble" (a 2-year-old Standardbred-Arabian cross) for almost a week now. A local horseman said it would be fine to dump our two bags of buckwheat, red clover, and twitch grass seed in the exercise area. The problem is that in the last few days, she has completely abandoned ... Read full story
 2/1/2006
Equine Winter Nutrition
Come the days of long shadows, when the sun lies low in the sky, jeweled leaves crumble and fade away, and the wind's crispness hints of the cold, gray days on the way. The pasture dies down. It's time to start getting extra fuel into your horses. Unless you live where temperatures are warm year-round, they need extra energy to stay warm through the ... Read full story
 12/1/2005
Analyzing Forages   *
We all know a horse's primary food is pasture grass and/or hay (forage). The quality of the forage is, thus, a major factor affecting his health. Do you know if your horse's forage meets his needs? Truly, most of us don't--but we should. Forage analysis can tell you whether your forage alone will provide the nutrition your horse needs, or whether ... Read full story
 10/1/2005
Fall and Winter Bring Forage Risks
Now that we've had our first frost in Central Kentucky (and many areas have had more than that), your pastures might be higher in carbohydrates and thus more dangerous for laminitic and/or metabolically challenged horses (such as Cushingoid ones). And while weather plays a significant role in forage carbohydrate levels, high levels often trace back ... Read full story
 11/10/2004
Nutritional Value of Forages  *
To feed your horse the best forage for his needs, you have to understand the plants and what affects their nutrient content, said Jerry Chatterton, PhD, Research Leader of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Forage and Range Research Laboratory in Logan, Utah. He spoke at the Equine Forage: Risks and Rewards Seminar and Summit held Oct. 22-23 at ... Read full story
 11/9/2004
Basic Concepts in Nutrition   *
The options and opinions on what to feed your horse are numerous. My goal in this article is to review the differences between the "simple-stomached" creatures (such as ourselves, dogs, cats, etc.) and the horse. In addition, we will take a look at how domestication has impacted the horse's digestive system and subsequently how that impacts their general ... Read full story
 9/1/2004
New Method of Counting Carbs   *
A new carbohydrate analysis method developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) might be able to help researchers answer some specific questions about equine forages. Until now, it has been difficult for forage researchers to define exactly how much of several kinds of carbohydrates are present in forages. However, this new ... Read full story
 8/19/2004
The Grass is Not Always Greener   *
The word "horse" conjures up images of graceful, powerful animals roaming across miles of rolling hills, periodically stopping to graze on lush, green grass. In reality, such scenes are rare; these days, many horses live without grazing at all. Equine nutritionist and veterinarian Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MSc, of Wellington, Colo., says ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
Other Ways of Roughing It   *
For many years there has been a saying among horse owners concerning what to feed equines. It goes something likes this: "Dr. Green is an excellent veterinarian." What is meant by that statement is that green grass prevents a lot of equine health problems. For example, horses on good pasture rarely colic, and unless the pasture is located in an extremely ... Read full story
 12/1/2003
Forages for Stabled Horses   *
Busy training schedules and fears about injury often limit pasture access for performance horses. Prolonged stall confinement, however, can be detrimental to a horse's attitude. Boredom can lead to destructive behaviors, including weaving, pawing, and ingestion of bedding. Recently, researchers from Southampton and Leicestershire in the United Kingdom, ... Read full story
 10/1/2003
The Mycotoxin Problem  *
There can be a number of reasons why a horse might have performance problems. A diagnosis can be frustrating, but one reason that might be overlooked is mycotoxicosis. It wasn’t until recently that the significance of mycotoxins was realized, said Thomas Buckley, MS, head of microbiology at the Irish Equine Centre. Buckley presented “Coping With Mycotoxin ... Read full story
 6/25/2003
Pasture Grass: The Healthy Choice   *
Few nutritionists will dispute that grass is the most natural feedstuff for horses. The horse's digestive tract is well designed for continuous or "trickle" delivery of pasture forage. As well, it seems intuitive that the opportunity for socialization and exercise provided when horses have access to pasture is important for their health and well-being. ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
AAEP 2002: Recent Developments in Equine Nutrition  *
A lot has happened in the field of equine research in the last five years. Ginger Rich, PhD, of Rich Equine Nutritional Consulting in Eads, Tenn.; and Leslie Breuer, PhD, of LH Breuer and Associates, updated veterinarians and others who attended the Current Concepts in Equine Nutrition in-depth session at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioners’ ... Read full story
 2/4/2003
Last Year's Drought on This Year's Pasture?   *
Throughout Kentucky, the summer of 1999 will be remembered for hot days and a lack of rain. While the drought and its effects were readily noted this past summer and fall, horse owners need to consider what the drought may have done to their pastures for the upcoming grazing season. With some fall moisture that hopefully will rejuvenate some of the ... Read full story
 10/11/2002
Letter: Copper Sulfate and Ergot  *
The following letter from a reader was run in the June 8th Issue of The Blood-Horse, a sister publication to The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. The subsequent response is from Dr Jimmy C. Henning, Extension Professor of Agronomy at the University of Kentucky, and gives some insight on ergot. Ergot Warning I am writing this letter as a warning ... Read full story
 6/21/2002
Fructan Possible Key to Laminitis  *
Common "grass founder," the bane of fat ponies and aged broodmares, might be the key to understanding the bigger picture of systemic laminitis according to a recent study completed by Christopher C. Pollitt, BVSc, PhD, of the Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit at the University of Queensland. Pollitt presented 10 seminars on the role of fructan ... Read full story
 4/10/2002
Fescue Toxicosis  *
Mares grazing on tall fescue pastures infected with a toxin have increased gestation lengths, mare and foal deaths, agalactia (absent milk secretion after birth), retained placentas, premature separation of the placenta at birth, and increased placental weights and thickness. The endophytic fungus, called Acremonium coenophialum, lives on the grass ... Read full story
 10/9/2001
Risk Management for MRLS in 2002 Detailed; Cause Still Unconfirmed  *
Researchers have not pinpointed the cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), but on Tuesday night they gave Central Kentucky farm managers some proactive steps in hopes of preventing its effects next year. Dr. Scott Smith, the dean of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, presented suggestions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm ... Read full story
 10/5/2001
Preserve Productive Pasture  *
Your horse's favorite activity could be time spent with "Dr. Green"--the horseman's name for turnout on pasture. Left on his own in a field, your horse nibbles for long periods of time. Grass forage is an important part of most horses' diets; therefore, it is up to you to maintain pasture quality. The amount of nutrition your horse gets depends on ... Read full story
 7/1/2001
Forage Alternatives  *
Man might not live by bread alone, but horses can live on forage just fine. As grazing, herbivorous animals, forage (grasses and plants that grow on pastureland) is what they're designed to eat. Other components of the equine diet--grains, fats, apples, and carrots, for example--are merely the "bells and whistles." It's high-fiber grasses and legumes ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Fescue Toxicosis And Treatment  *
When tall fescue first arrived in the United States during the 1940s, it was considered a wonder grass. It was easy to establish, it yielded a good amount of forage, it was tolerant of a wide range of management regimens, and it could handle a variety of climatic conditions as well as sustain heavy foot traffic. Farmers and ranchers embraced the new ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Hay FAQ  *
Ask any Average Joe on the street what a horse eats, and chances are he’ll answer, ‘hay.’ Even those who’ve never picked a foot or mucked a stall recognize that fibrous dried forage as the foundation of a horse’s diet. Given that, it’s surprising how little respect hay gets. Perhaps it’s not as sexy as a bag of high-powered grain or a bucket of space-age ... Read full story
 12/1/1999
Scientists Sleuth Forage Secrets   *
How do certain forage plants coax cattle, sheep and goats into coming back for more? Scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service are sleuthing the secrets of how to tempt the palates of these ruminants. Knowing more about the culinary cues should mean healthier animals that make better weight gains and bigger profits. Research studies ... Read full story
 10/1/1999
Feeding Beet Pulp
Q: I've been told I should feed beet pulp to help put weight on my skinny Thoroughbred. But I'm worried about the stories I've heard about beet pulp expanding in the horse's stomach and causing colic -- or worse! Is beet pulp a good addition to my horse's diet, and if so, how can I feed it safely? A: Beet pulp is the fibrous material left over ... Read full story
 5/1/1999
Pasture Management Tips to Minimize Carbohydrate Content   *
Carbohydrate research done on forages, though not specific on carbohydrate type, has provided information on pasture management that owners can use to manage their horses' intake of carbohydrates. This is particularly of interest to owners with laminitic and/or Cushingoid horses. Kathryn Watts of Rocky Mountain Research and Consulting, a leading equine ... Read full story
 4/24/1999
Alfalfa Cubes: An Alternative Forage   *
Good quality forage is the basis of feeding programs for all horses. When hay is being fed, horse owners need to select a hay that is nutritious but also free of dust and mold. However, when mold-free hay is not available, horse owners can consider the use of alfalfa cubes as a viable forage alternative. The difference between alfalfa hay and the alfalfa ... Read full story
 4/16/1999
Eating For Two  *
No one ever said mothering was easy. As your broodmare gets closer and closer to her due date, you've been noting, with some satisfaction, her bulging belly, her increasingly matronly attitude, and the look of lazy contentment in her eyes. But while she might look relaxed on the outside, inside, her growing foal is making ever-increasing demands on ... Read full story
 3/1/1999
Allergic Reactions in Horses  *
Allergic reactions are complicated and somewhat unpredictable events that are triggered by various environmental factors or other physiologic abnormalities. There are several special cells and blood proteins that mediate most allergic reactions. Of the immune proteins (IgG, IgE, and so on), Immunoglobulin "E" is the one most often involved with allergic ... Read full story
 9/1/1998
Hay Alternatives  *
Although regular baled hay is the mainstay of equine diets across North America, it's sometimes more trouble than it's worth. Heavy to stack, bulky to store, prone to vitamin breakdown, and -- heaven forbid! -- also spontaneous combustion, not to mention dust and molds that can aggravate both human and equine respiratory allergies, hay is hardly a ... Read full story
 7/1/1998
Warming Up In Winter  *
Before the summer Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, Ga., considerable research effort went into studying how the horse is affected by heat and humidity. As a result of this research, veterinarians at the Olympics were well prepared to help the competing horses cope with heat stress. As I searched the research literature in preparation to write this ... Read full story
 2/1/1998
Fiber Facts  *
Grazing is a full-time job for horses. Given their druthers, they'd graze for 12 hours or more every day, their broad, flat teeth and sideways chewing motions making short work of the tough, stemmy grasses and weeds they favor. Like all true herbivores, horses get most of their daily energy requirements from eating plant fibers. Yet, ironically, horses ... Read full story
 12/1/1997




AAEP Media Partner AAEVT Partner WEVA
Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.

Facebook | Twitter | RSS | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without written permission of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS is prohibited. THE HORSE, THE HORSE logo, THEHORSE.COM and THEHORSE.COM logo are trademarks of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS.