Author Archives: Gina T.

Horse Feed: More Than Just Percentages

Horse owners frequently compare feeds based primarily on the information on the feed tag or supporting data from web sites.  While this is a quick comparison to make, it may not always be the best comparison.  Why, you ask? Well, what is …

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Posted in Feed Costs, Feeding Management, Horse Nutrition, Supplements
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When Should I Feed a Complete Horse Feed?

A complete feed is a fortified grain/forage mix that is formulated with high quality fiber sources to raise the total percent fiber in the feed, so that reduced hay feeding can be done safely. Some fiber sources in complete feeds include …

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Posted in Changing Horse Feed, Feeding Management, Hay/Pasture, Senior Horses
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B-Vitamins in Horse Diets

Water soluble vitamins, which are the b-vitamins such a niacin, thiamine, folic acid, and many others, are excreted from the body on a daily basis in the urine.  B-complex vitamins play an important part in allowing horses to metabolize the nutrients …

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Vitamin K in Horse Diets

Vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, meaning it can be stored up in the body. The main function of this vitamin is for blood clotting to occur, which we all know is critical to our accident-prone horses! The …

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Vitamin E in Horse Diets

Vitamin E is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, meaning it can be stored up in the body, and is of significant interest in horse nutrition. It is thought to be involved in muscular efficiency and may play a role as …

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Vitamin D for Horses

Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, meaning it can be stored up in the body.  It is often referred to as the “Sunshine Vitamin”, since the easiest way for both you and your horse to get your daily …

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Posted in Horse Feed, Horse Nutrition
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Vitamin A for horses

Vitamin A is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, meaning it is stored up in the body. It is potentially the most commonly deficient vitamin for horses that do not receive commercial feeds or do not have access to green forage. Roughages …

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Posted in Hay/Pasture, Horse Feed, Horse Nutrition
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Types of Vitamins in Horse Diets

There are two main classes of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-Soluble Vitamins: The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K, and they are listed on horse feed tags as IU/lb. This stands for “International Units per Pound”. They are …

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Calcium and Phosphorus Levels in Horse Diets

Where do calcium and phosphorus come from, and what can you as a horse owner do to balance the diet? As always, first examine your hay source.  Legumes are better sources of calcium than are the grass hays, but neither …

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Calcium and Phosphorus in Horse Diets

Horses are more likely to suffer from a lack of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) than of any other minerals.  Considering the detrimental effect on bone development that a deficiency of these two minerals can have, every horse owner should …

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