Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

Ep. 54: Understanding Pasture Grass Sugar Levels — The Long and the Short of It with the Equine, PhD


Listen Later

Is short grass really sweeter? Is tall grass actually safer for
metabolic horses? Or have we been grazing on myths?  In this powerful,
research-backed episode, we sit down with Dr. Michelle DeBoer of
Equine, PhD, the voice behind the viral post that ignited over 1,500
likes, 400+ comments, and 1,200 shares—and shook up everything we
thought we knew about grass height, NSC (non-structural
carbohydrates), and sugar intake in horses.

We dive into:
-What current research really says about grass height and NSC levels
-How time of day, weather, and pasture management impact sugar content
-Why warm- vs. cool-season grasses behave differently
-Why maturity doesn't always mean "safe" when it comes to NSC
-Why forage testing and horse-specific data matter more than social media myths
-How the equine research system works—and why more support is desperately needed

Whether you're managing a pony with metabolic issues, a performance horse on
turnout, or just want to feed smarter with science, this episode will
challenge what you know and empower you to make more informed decisions.

Don’t miss the original post that inspired this episode:
Tall Tales About Short Grass – Evaluating the Role of Grass Height & NSC Levels
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16sC8Xeqoo/

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for riding along with us!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About NutritionBy Dr. Clair Thunes and Jill Jackson

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

12 ratings


More shows like Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

View all
10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,592 Listeners

Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth by Dr. Erica Lacher and Justin Long

Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth

339 Listeners

Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall by Stacy Westfall

Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

446 Listeners

The Humble Hoof by Alicia Harlov

The Humble Hoof

137 Listeners

Ask The Horse by The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care

Ask The Horse

38 Listeners

Be Your Best Horsemanship by Phil Haugen

Be Your Best Horsemanship

344 Listeners

Feed Room Chemist: An Equine Nutrition Podcast by Dr. Jyme Nichols

Feed Room Chemist: An Equine Nutrition Podcast

429 Listeners

The Money Barrel by The Money Barrel

The Money Barrel

247 Listeners

The Journey On Podcast by Warwick Schiller

The Journey On Podcast

451 Listeners

Wendys Whinnies by WendyMurdoch

Wendys Whinnies

27 Listeners

The Equine Connection Podcast by equineconnectionpod

The Equine Connection Podcast

73 Listeners

In Stride by Ride iQ

In Stride

79 Listeners

I've Had It by Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan

I've Had It

14,441 Listeners

Tom McCutcheon's THE SHOW by Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses

Tom McCutcheon's THE SHOW

39 Listeners

Dear Horse World by NOËLLE FLOYD

Dear Horse World

26 Listeners