Feeding horses that suffer from laminitis is an issue faced by increasing numbers of horse owners all over Australia.  There are so many conflicting “do’s and don’ts” out there that it can give you a major headache just thinking about it!  Having said this, here is what I know based on information that I have gathered from discussing the topic with Equine Nutritionists, Vets, Farriers and Horse Owners.  Please keep in mind that Equine Nutrition is an evolving science and as more research is done and more scientific evidence is gathered things could change in the future. Prevent ..read more

There is a common saying throughout the equestrian world, “No hoof, No horse!” Many horses cannot perform to their potential because they are suffering from hoof issues that keep them out of work or reduce their proficiency.  Nutrition has an immense impact on hoof health however, the importance of regular hoof care such as physical examination, daily picking out of hooves and regular farrier visits must not be underemphasized. A Balanced Diet It is important to remember that any inadequate diet will eventually be reflected in the horse’s hoof. If a diet is deficient in energy, protein, v ..read more

Now that we have an understanding of “what is laminitis and founder in horses” and “what are the most common signs of laminitis”, it’s time to talk about possible causes of this painful disease. A definitive cause of laminitis and the exact mechanisms by which the hooves are damaged is still unknown, despite being the most researched aspect of lameness worldwide.   Although laminitis occurs in the hooves, the underlying issue is often a disturbance elsewhere in the horse’s body.  Laminitis is commonly associated with horses that have any condition (e.g. Cushing’s Disease a ..read more

If you have read the previous blogs Laminitis and Founder In Horses, What Are the Most Common Signs Of Laminitis and What Causes Laminitis and you are concerned that your horse may be suffering from this condition then look into it straight away.  If you suspect that your horse or pony has laminitis treat it as an emergency and call your veterinarian immediately.  Laminitis is painful and definitely isn’t a ‘wait and see’ condition.  The sooner you contact your vet, the sooner treatment begins and the better the chance your horse has of recovering ..read more

One of the most common horse feed related questions that I get asked is, “What can I feed my horse that suffers from laminitis?”.  This is not surprising as laminitis is one of the most common causes of lameness and disability in horses and ponies.  Over the next few blogs I will be covering a number of topics associated with laminitis, but let’s start at the beginning. What is Laminitis? Laminitis is a disease of the hoof that can vary in severity from the smallest hint of lameness to a condition described as ‘sinking’ or founder that can be fatal.  Laminitis is a crippling con ..read more

Continuing on from the previous article on Laminitis And Founder In Horses.  Imagine walking out to get your horse from the paddock and you notice that he/she just doesn’t seem like their normal self and is walking oddly or not wanting to move at all.  This is a classic scenario where you may have to get a vet to check for laminitis as this debilitating disease can strike any horse of any breed and any age.  The aim of this article is to give you an idea of what kind of symptoms to keep an eye out for. The onset of laminitis can be sudden and the previously well horse ca ..read more

Chances are if you have ever discussed feeding your horses with us, you would have had to answer a few questions such as, “What kind of feed do you use and how much of it do you feed?” Usually I get an answer that goes a little like this, “I feed a scoop of this and a dipper of that!” But what I REALLY want to know is, how much does each different feed weigh in whatever scoop, dipper, coffee cup, tin or ice cream bucket that you use. Horses with continuous access to pasture will usually eat somewhere between 1.5-3.0% of their body weight per day in dry matter (of course there are always th ..read more

Bighead or its correct name of Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH), is a condition that develops because of a calcium imbalance within the horse’s diet. When horses are deprived of calcium, they will take calcium and phosphorus from their bones to maintain blood calcium levels within a normal range. If horses are kept in this calcium deficient state for a sufficient period, there will have been so much calcium and phosphorus taken from the bones that they become fibrous, brittle, and weak. Bighead can have severe and debilitating effects on horses including difficulty breathing, pa ..read more

Many horse owners in Australia are currently experiencing horse paddocks that contain dusty, brown pastures with grass coverage becoming more limited as the dry days go by.  Despite the lack of fresh grass, horses still require a balanced diet and to provide this, horse owners will need to supplementary feed in these situations. The most crucial factor to consider when feeding horses during drought conditions is ensuring that they receive adequate roughage such as grass, hay and chaff.  The very minimum amount of roughage that is required to maintain a healthy gut is 1.5% of the hors ..read more

Having a horse paddock filled with abundant grass species and beautiful fencing is the dream for many horse owners but can be significantly challenging to achieve.  Well managed, high-quality pastures can meet many nutrient requirements of horses and can significantly reduce the cost of supplementary feed, especially hay.   Unfortunately, many horse pastures are often dominated by weeds due to overstocking and selective grazing of palatable plants species. Tips for establishing a high-quality pasture To establish and maintain healthy, productive horse pastures there are a few im ..read more