UNDERSTANDING GASTRIC ULCERS May 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Equine gastric ulcers are caused because gastric acid (hydrochloric acid secreted by parts of the stomach lining), and, to a lesser degree, the digestive enzyme pepsin, irritating the lining of the stomach, causing ulceration. Gastric ulcers are common in horses. Their prevalence[…]
THE ART OF BODY CONDITION SCORING September 2016 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition All horse owners want their horses to be healthy, look good, and be physically fit athletes. Nutritional management is a simple, yet cost effective tool that we can apply to ensure, improved performance and health in our horses. Body condition scoring serves[…]
IN HORSES FOOD ALLERGIES December 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition With what seems to be a rise in food allergies in humans we find ourselves asking does my horse have a food allergy. In this article we will discuss what a food allergy is and how can we determine if our horse suffers from[…]
UNDERSTANDING POLYSACCHARIDE STORAGE MYOPATHY (PSSM) September 2014 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Polysaccharide storage myopathy is a muscle disease that occurs primarily in horses with Quarter Horse bloodlines such as Quarter Horses, Paint Horses and Appaloosas. Polysaccharide storage myopathy also occurs in other breeds including Drafts, Draft crossbreeds, and Warmbloods. The primary clinical[…]
UNDERSTANDING INSULIN RESISTANCE February 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s cells become less sensitive to the insulin that is being produced. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted or produced and released from the pancreas. Insulin is released in response to an increase in[…]
UNDERSTANDING OBESITY January 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? An obese horse is one that has accumulated so much body fat that it begins to have a negative effect on health. What are the symptoms? Obesity has a number of potentially negative effects, including: increased stress on the heart and lungs, greater[…]
UNDERSTANDING LAMINITIS December 2014 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae of the foot. The laminae are tiny finger like structures in the hoof that interlock to join the coffin bone to the hoof wall effectively suspending the bones of the foot inside the hoof wall. Inflammation damages[…]
UNDERSTANDING CUSHING’S DISEASE November 2014 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition What is it? Cushing’s disease, also known as PPID (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) is a progressive disorder that begins with the dysfunction of the pituitary gland. This gland at the base of the brain sends out a number of hormones, and a horse with Cushing’s disease[…]
FEEDING HORSES FOR WEIGHT GAIN April 2015 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition How to feed horses for weight gain is commonly asked question. Some horses do not maintain their body weight easily and it can prove a real challenge to keep them at an ideal weight. Ultimately your horse’s ribs should not be visible but[…]
FEEDING THE SENIOR HORSE May 2013 Written by Performance Horse Nutrition The nutritional management of the senior horse is challenging as there are not set criteria that define “old age” or the “senior” horse. The nutrient requirements of senior horses differ from other classes of horses because of the changes in metabolic and digestive efficiency that[…]