Kentucky Equine Research Inc.
Articles by Equine Research Kentucky
Feeding Starved or Malnourished Horses
January 30, 2012
Overfeeding these horses can cause them more harm than good. The best initial feed is often good-quality hay. Read More
Slower Feeding is Safer Feeding for Horses
December 10, 2011
A better equine feeding system will offer small amounts of grain and forage over many hours. Read More
DHA Positively Affects Semen Quality
January 12, 2011
Various supplements are commonly given to breeding stallions in hopes of improving semen quality, but conflicting reports exist on their effectiveness. Researchers have found, however, that the supplement ingredient DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found Read More
Feeding to Achieve a Moderate Body Condition
January 10, 2011
Every horseperson has seen the telltale signs of a thin horse: the disproportionately skinny neck, the protruding spine, the row of ribs, and the jutting hipbones. Thanks in part to advances made in feeding management, veterinary care, parasite Read More
Forage Buffering Capacity Relevant in Gastric Ulcer Prevention
January 09, 2011
The capacity of feeds and forages to counteract changes in gastric pH (their buffering capacity) plays an important role in the prevention of gastric ulcers in horses. Alfalfa hay has been shown to be more effective in reducing the severity of ulcers Read More
Fescue: A Danger to Pregnant Mares
January 02, 2011
In many parts of the world horse pastures contain a fair percentage of fescue, a hardy perennial grass that thrives despite heavy hoof traffic, intense grazing, and adverse growing conditions. Unfortunately, there's a drawback: 75% of all fescue is Read More
Bran Mash: What's it Really Good For?
January 01, 2011
What's in a bran mash? And what is it meant to do? Read More
Hay Cubes as Alternative Forage Source
December 31, 2010
According to Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist Kathleen Crandell, PhD, hay cubes are an option to consider as an alternative forage source for horses. "The most popular types of forage cubes are made from coarsely chopped alfalfa hay, timothy hay Read More
Flehmen Response in Horses
December 26, 2010
Flehmen is the term used to describe the behavior in which a horse extends its neck, raises its head, and inhales as it rolls its upper lip back, displaying its front teeth. Sharon Crowell-Davis, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVB explains that horses display the Read More
Heart Problems in Horses
December 25, 2010
The circulatory system (heart and blood vessels) and respiratory system (lungs and airway) work together to provide oxygen throughout the horse's body, and to transport waste material from the horse's tissues. During exercise, the circulatory and Read More
Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in Horses
December 24, 2010
Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) is a degenerative central nervous system disease of horses, humans, and other animals. Horses affected with NAD usually appear dull or depressed with weakness and mild to severe gait abnormalities (ataxia) that affect all Read More
Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Treat Arthritis
December 21, 2010
Researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids have direct anti-inflammatory actions that might be useful for the treatment of osteoarthritis and lameness in horses. Inflammation is characterized by pain, swelling, heat, redness, and loss of use. Read More
Antioxidants for Top Performance
December 19, 2010
Oxidation is a metabolic process that allows horses to transform carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy Read More
Dirt an Important Source of Iron for Horses
December 18, 2010
Horses constantly ingest dirt when they graze. While excessive dirt consumption sometimes causes problems such as sand accumulation in the large intestine, the dirt that horses normally consume while grazing supplies some essential nutrients Read More
Refeeding Malnourished Horses
December 09, 2010
Few sights are more tragic than malnourished or starved horses. Outright neglect does occur, but not all underweight horses are victims of abuse. Horses might be recovering from serious conditions that have led to weight loss, and their Read More
Soaking Hay Can Lower Dust Concentrations
December 01, 2010
Wetting hay before feeding can significantly reduce the dust concentration in the horse's breathing zone. Read More
Cold Weather Diets
November 12, 2010
While young or old horses might need feed changes, healthy horses usually tolerate winter weather. Read More
Targeted Diets Can Aid Horses with Liver Disease
October 29, 2010
The power of targeted equine nutrition programs is unquestionable. Take, for instance, the feeding management practices that almost entirely relieve horses of the crippling signs associated with tying-up. By reducing starch intake and filling Read More
Tying-Up: Current Diagnosis and Nutritional Management
September 22, 2010
Researchers estimate that three of every 100 performance horses will experience signs of tying-up. Read More
Poor Nutrition Impacts Hooves
July 15, 2010
In recent years more horse people have expressed an interest in the effects of poor nutrition and hoof health. Read More
Stymied by Long-Stem Versus Short-Stem Forages?
July 01, 2010
Nutritionists normally recommend horses consume some "long-stem" forage each day. Long-stem forage is best defined as hay or pasture. This recommendation respects the natural desire of horses to graze, as horses are hardwired to spend Read More
Forages: The Foundation of Equine Gastrointestinal Health
June 05, 2010
Horses have evolved over millions of years as grazers, with specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber. They are capable of processing large quantities of forage to meet their nutrient Read More
Spring Green: Sprucing Up Your Pastures
May 06, 2010
Picture the perfect horse farm in your mind, and you probably envision contented horses grazing velvety green fields that roll away in every direction. When you visit an actual horse pasture, however, reality often includes manure piles surroun Read More
Broodmare Nutrition Requirements Ramped Up
March 08, 2010
Mare nutritional status is a critical component in foal health from conception through weaning. Read More
Avoid Moldy Corn in Horse Feed
March 01, 2010
Farmers across the Midwest struggled last year to harvest their crops in what turned out to be an unseasonably wet autumn. These conditions led to reports of widespread mold in this year's corn crop. Moldy corn is a hazard for all species o Read More
