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

Feed labels are the informational panels found on the backs of feed bags or seen in to the bottom seem. These labels provide a wealth of important details about the contents and composition of the feed, allowing horse owners to make informed decisions about how the feed might meet the nutritional needs of their horse. While the majority of these labels share a lot of information about the specifics of the feed such as the ingredients included and the amounts of various nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber, they also omit some surprising things.

In this episode we discuss:
-the legally required label information;
-who decides what must be on a label;
-how to use ingredients lists to understand the feed;
- what nutrients are guaranteed and how to use this information;
-the measurements units often used on feeds;
-feeding directions why they can make or break whether a feed will work for your horse;
-answer listener feed label questions;
-and so much more!

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Many horses are fed hay at some point during the year. Whether only in winter when pastures are sparse or year round due to lack of pasture access, hay is a vital source of nutrition for your horse and a major investment for you. This is the time of year when many owners are making decisions on the type of hay they will feed for the next year and are filling their hay barns. But what type of hay is right for your horse, how do you tell if it's good quality and what are the differences between the different types? In this episode we discuss:

-Different types of grass hay and their different nutritional properties;
-How legume hays like alfalfa differ from grass hay;
-Which horses benefit from legume versus grass hays;
-How maturity at cutting impacts the hay's nutritional value;
-What happens when hay is baled when it is too wet;
-Hays you should avoid feeding;
-Pros and cons of large versus small bales;

And so much more!

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

With more and more knowledge of the importance of gastrointestinal health on our horse's entire health, an ever increasing number of feeds and supplements on the market claim to support gut health. Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics have become commonly utilized ingredients but what exactly are they and does your horse need them? 

In this episode we discuss:

- what prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are and the difference between them;
- what they actually do;
- when horses might need them in their diet;
- reasons why they don't always work;
- how to pick a quality gut health feeds and supplements;

And so much more!

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Maintaining optimal weight and peak performance in horses, especially those used for high-intensity athletic activities, can be a delicate and ongoing challenge for even the most experienced equestrian. Throughout the various seasons and demands of the competition calendar, a horse's nutritional and exercise needs are in constant flux, requiring vigilant monitoring and adjustment to ensure they retain their competitive edge. Factors like changes in training load, seasonal shifts in forage quality, and the stresses of travel and competition can all contribute to weight loss and performance deficits. It can be difficult to strike the perfect balance. Even when a horse is maintaining their weight, these stressors can lead to subtle changes in muscle tone, energy levels, and overall attitude that impact performance.

In this episode we discuss these factors and others that may contribute to loss of weight and performance in our competition horses and share steps you can take to keep your equine athlete in top form.

If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at [email protected] 

Thanks for riding along with us!

In part 2 of our 2 part series Behind the Scenes at the Summer Games

Dr. Clair talks to Dr Joe Pagan owner and President of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). In addition to doing equine nutrition and exercise physiology related research work, KER have also sourced the feed for the last 7 Summer Games. 

They discuss: 
- how teams coordinate getting the feed their horses need to the games; 
- how you find enough carrots and other behind the scenes Games related stories; - the ground breaking research KER has done over the past 30 years; 
- what Dr Pagan wishes all horse owners would keep in mind when feeding their horses;

And so much more.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Wonder what goes on behind-the-scenes and what it takes to get horses to major international competitions?  In this episode Dr. Clair and Michelle are joined by Max Corcoran, a freelance groom, equestrian event organizer, and former longtime member of the O’Connor Event Team.  Max shares what it’s like to manage horses on the U.S. Equestrian Team as they travel to international competitions. 

You will learn about:

• The role of an elite professional groom.
• Essentials she always packs for the horses under her care.
• The importance of nutrition for elite equine athletes and the challenges of shipping feed to other countries.
• How horses are transported internationally.
• Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork (we bet that isn’t what comes to mind when you think about grooms!).
• The thing she always forgets (and her riders really need!).
• And more!

Thanks for riding along with us!

Equine feed labels and hay analysis results are full of abbreviations such  as ADF, NDF, CP, NSC, and WSC and together they make up an alphabet soup. Ever wonder what they all mean and whether they are important to your horse? And what about gas? Has your horse ever passed gas while being ridden? In this episode Dr Clair and Michelle answer some, listener questions, topics including:

-How much hay to feed your retired pasture horse;
-What might be causing excessive flatulence;
-Is feeding a balancer alone enough for a horse working moderately hard;
-And so much more!

If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at [email protected]   

Thanks for riding along with us!

Fly management is a crucial aspect of horse barn management this time of year. Flies—here we're talking about stable flies, horse flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more—​are a nuisance to horses and humans alike. They cause our horses discomfort, stress, and even the spread of diseases, such as Potomac horse fever, West Nile virus, pigeon fever, and vesicular stomatitis. And many horses exhibit signs of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), and allergic reaction to the saliva of biting flies that results in hives and severe itching. Effective fly management involves a combination of methods, including eliminating breeding sites, using insecticides and repellents, and providing alternative attractants for flies. It's a constant struggle!

In this episode Dr. Clair and Michelle talk about:

-Using fly traps and tape;
-Effective manure management;
-Nutrition strategies that might help horses cope;
-Applying insecticide and repellent sprays and ointments; and
-Water bucket and feed tub management to limit insect breeding grounds.

Join us as we discuss implementing a multifaceted approach to fly management!

Thanks for riding along with us!

Temperatures are starting to rise across the country!  We start to think about ways of keeping our horses cool in the summer months.  Switching turn out times to overnight hours, hanging fans and adding electrolytes are some of the common things that people do.  Horses rely heavily on sweating to keep cool.  In this episode, we talk to Dr. Samantha Brooks from the University of Florida where she heads up the Brooks Equine Genetics Lab.  In this episode we talk about:

How horses cool themselves;
What is happening when their cooling systems don't work;
What is anhidrosis;
Is this a permanent condition;
Best practices to help keep horses sweating and cool;
The state of equine research funding in the US;

And so much more!

To learn more about Dr. Samantha Brooks and the Brooks Equine Genetic Lab http://www.ufequinegenetics.org/home.html 

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

As we start our second season of the podcast, Dr. Clair takes time to answer listener questions.  In this episode Dr. Clair answers questions about:

-the difference between dry milled flax and flax oil;
-feeding instructions on feed bags;
-adjusting feed based on exercise;
-and more!
 
If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at [email protected]  

NRC Equine Nutrition Calculator - https://webassets.nationalacademies.org/nrh/ 

Thanks for riding along with us!