When a horse arrives at a veterinary hospital, several nutritional or feeding challenges may be encountered. Feeding programs should aim to avoid weight loss, unless it is required for a specific condition (e.g., equine metabolic syndrome). Negative energy balance can lead changed intestinal microbiota, reduced immunity, and increased incisional complications. Some horses with peracute or […]

Horses have evolved over millions of years as roaming grazing animals, and they have specialized digestive tracts adapted to digest and utilize diets containing high levels of plant fiber. They are capable of eating and processing large quantities of forage to meet their nutrient demands. In an attempt to maximise growth or productivity, horses are […]

The aim of this study was to gather information on feeding practices and to identify nutrient imbalances of racehorses in Turkey. A total of 134 racehorses who visited the Turkish Jockey Club Racecourse Equine Hospital in Istanbul were referred for professional nutritional advice in 2013. Each horse was examined, and body weight (BW), body condition […]

Large investments in horses are made in China annually, but the wastage rate due to poor performance, slow growth, suboptimal body condition, colic, lameness, infertility, and other disease is high. Ten key issues related to nutrition and feeding horses in China have been identified as possible contributors to this wastage. These issues include lack of […]

Although described clinically for several centuries, stringhalt remains an intriguing and enigmatic condition. In pasture‐associated stringhalt (PSH), the clinical sign of exaggerated, prolonged hindlimb flexion is associated with a peripheral neuropathy affecting the larger myelinated axons that is thought to be the result of exposure to a plant‐derived neurotoxin. Multiple host and environmental risk factors […]

Bone quality is important for the long-term health and soundness of performance horses. In racehorses, insufficient bone density is associated with shin soreness, an important cause of lost training time and reduced starts, as well as other aspects of bone fatigue. Risks of injury during training are associated with insufficient bone density. Research has previously […]

Most Australian horses rely on pasture for some of their nutrient intake, and many are just on pasture without supplementary feed for some part of the year. To determine the nutrient intake of horses on pasture for comparison with recommended daily allowances, nutritionists need to know not only the pasture intake but also the nutrient […]

Most Australian horses rely on pasture for some of their nutrient intake, and many are just on pasture without supplementary feed for some part of the year. To determine the nutrient intake of horses on pasture for comparison with recommended daily allowances, nutritionists need to know not only the pasture intake but also the nutrient […]

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is very common, with a prevalence estimated from 53% to 93%. A major contributor to its pathogenesis is excessive gastric acid. Omeprazole (OM) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that inhibits gastric acid secretion in horses and is the most popular treatment for EGUS. PPIs are also widely used in […]

Bone density and strength are important for the long-term health and soundness of performance horses.  Marine-derived calcium mineral complexes have been shown to improve bone density and strength in laboratory animals and humans. This study evaluated the effect of a supplement containing marine-derived calcium (Triacton™) (TA) on bone density in Thoroughbred racehorses.  Thirteen horses (average […]