What’s new in the world of horse nutrition Pagan JD Australian Equine Veterinarian 11(4), 177-179, 1993. Click here to access.

Energy is the factor that should be considered first when evaluating the nutrition of the performance horse, since it is the factor most likely influenced by exercise. A number of studies have evaluated different sources of energy for performance horses. Different levels of fat and protein have been fed to horses in an attempt to alter performance.

Thoroughbred foals raised in the United States typically remain with their dams for four to six months before they are weaned. Some breeders supplement nursing foals with additional feed while others feel it is better not to feed foals separately until they are weaned. If a foal is orphaned early in its life, then it is either raised on an artificial milk replacer or placed with a foster “nurse mare”.

These drugs are intended to fight infection by killing bacteria that have entered the horse’s
bloodstream. Unfortunately, they also kill beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. An oral antibiotic often used in horses is Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (SMZ). Sulfamethoxazole works as an antibiotic by inhibiting bacterial synthesis of dihydrolic acid by competing with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Trimethoprim blocks the production of tetrahydrofolic acid from dihydrofolic acid by binding to and reversibly inhibiting the required enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase. It is not known what effect chronic SMZ administration has on gut function in horses, but it has been reported to cause diarrhea and colic in humans.

Observations on the mineral status of mares and foals have been made in the course of a study which was concerned primarily with the influence of beta-carotene and vitamin A on reproductive efficiency and growth.

Pagan, J.D. 1992 Correct mixture of energy sources key in horse diet. Feedstuffs 64:23:11- 12, 22.

Jackson, S.G. and Pagan, J.D. 1992 Control colic through management. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 12:6:341. Access the article.

Vices affect a horse’s usefulness, dependability and health.

Lawrence, L. A. 1992. Stress management for horses. North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Annual Meeting and Conference. Tyson’s Corner, VA. November. pp.53-56.

Jackson, S.G. and Pagan, J.D. 1992 Respiratory stress and the performance horse. Journal Equine Veterinary Science 12:5:272-273. Access the article.