Farm To Stable: An Equine Nutrition Podcast (Dr. Nettie Liburt)

As the temperature drops outside, it is important to ensure that a horse has enough energy to stay warm. Did you know that horses have their own internal heaters? Listen in this week as I discuss how it works, how to properly (and safely) feed your horse to support warmth and of course, dispel a few myths.

This week, I welcome my first guest, good friend and colleague, Kristen Janicki, MS, PAS to the podcast! Recently, a social media post went viral on the topic of choke in horses and soaking feed. Kristen wrote an outstanding response that broke down the myths and misconceptions of this frightening condition. Choke is something different in horses than it is in people. When a person is choking, their trachea (windpipe) is blocked and breathing in obstructed. In horses, choke refers to a blockage of the esophagus, the muscular tube that brings food from the mouth to the stomach when swallowed. Choke is a veterinary emergency, but managing diet is absolutely part of mitigating the risk. Listen in to our conversation as we talk about risk factors and mitigations of choke! (Episode art image by Dr. Maxine Brain in Equestrian Life Magazine).

Here in North America, the temperatures are slowly getting warmer, and grass is growing faster and faster. For many horses, that means a transition from winter hay to spring pasture. As with anything, such a change requires time to minimize the risk of digestive upset, and should not be done suddenly. This week the discussion focuses on some general tips whether you have lush pastures growing, a small amount of pasture or only a dry lot. Some additional resources are here from:

Penn State University: https://extension.psu.edu/transitioning-horses-to-spring-grazing

University of Guelph: https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2021/03/11/transitioning-your-horse-from-hay-to-grass-safely-this-spring/

These are quick reads with some easy to follow guidelines for transitioning to spring pasture. Thanks for listening!

Episode Art Photo Graphic from the University of Guelph Factsheet, link posted above.

I had more to say about beet pulp, and clear its name! More facts dropped this week on this super fiber, as well as some interesting tips about vitamin/mineral supplements. We'll also discuss some myths, and of course truths, about carbohydrates (always a hot topic!) Please join me as I bust more myths associated with feeding horses this week!

In this episode, I'll describe what hay steamers do and how they differ from soaking hay. If you have a horse with respiratory concerns, be sure to listen up! Thanks to Brian in AZ for this listener-suggested topic.

Colic is a general term for abdominal pain, and colic is the top killer of horses. While there is nothing we can do to prevent colic 100%, there are some dietary and management steps we can take to help reduce the risk. Tune in and

Continuing the theme of busting feed myths, this episode is all about some common feed ingredients and dietary supplements that you may have heard bad things about. Those nasty rumors are busted by science and research, so do take a listen and see if you've heard a myth, or happen to already know a myth that isn't true. Enjoy!

In this episode, I'll give some general tips for helping a horse gain weight. As winter gives way to spring, it is not unusual for horse owners and managers to notice that an animal has lost weight in the colder months. Also, weight may be needed to support additional training or performance. Whatever the reason, there are few simple things to begin with.

Link to Body Condition Score Card (Texas A&M University): https://vetmed.tamu.edu/files/vetmed/vmth/laminitis/Equine_Body_Condition_Scoring.pdf

Video about how to body condition score a horse: https://youtu.be/bq0ZXnSlsNQ?si=C-FmKaO5c9uCofxq

Link for forage analysis services: https://equi-analytical.com/

This episode talks about why Vitamin E is an important part of a horse's diet, and covers the difference between natural and synthetic Vitamin E. Discussion also includes general scenarios in which supplemental Vitamin E should be considered, what form may be appropriate and why. Vitamin E is always a popular topic, so enjoy!

This week we'll talk about blanketing, cold weather and how it can affect a horse's dietary energy needs. With so many options from clipping to not clipping, blankets to no blankets, what's a horse person to do? For some tips and advice, listen in. Of course we'll talk about how nutrition is involved as well.

For some additional reading, check out this Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet I co-authored in graduate school with Dr. Carey Williams:

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=FS1081

Following up to last week's podcast all about the broodmare, this week the focus is the foal and stallion. The growing foal has tremendous nutrient needs, often much higher than that of a high performance horse! Healthy growth takes a careful balance of exercise, energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Some general feeding examples will be discussed. We won't forget about the stallion, of course, but from a nutritional point of view, he's probably the easiest to feed!

Episode Photo Art: Pixabay

Winter has come on strong here in much of North America, with some wild temperature swings. In winter, we rely more on hay for forage as pasture is unavailable. Hay and other dried forages have a lower water content compared to fresh pasture. In addition, extra hay is often provided to help a horse keep warm on cold days. More forage = more water needs! However, it is not uncommon for horses to drink less as temperatures drop. This week, we'll revisit some tips to help keep your horse hydrated in winter, and many of these tips are applicable all year as well. Some may sound familiar! The bottom line is that is is extremely important that a horse drinks sufficient water, especially in winter. Listen in for tips and reminders, and let us know if YOU have a good idea as well!

The study referenced in this episode:

Kristula and McDonnell, 1994. Drinking water temperature affects consumption of water during cold weather in ponies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 41(3-4):155-160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(94)90020-5

Carbohydrates are the main energy source used by muscles (and the brain!) for work. Horses need more time to replenish energy stores compared to a human. Can feeding a diet that is low in carbohydrates affect performance? Listen in this week to find out!

Scientific references used in preparation for this podcast are listed below.

Lacombe, V., Hinchcliff, K.W., et al. 2003. Effects of feeding meals with various soluble-carbohydrate content on muscle glycogen synthesis after exercise in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 65(7).

https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.916

Mesquita, V.S., Pagan, J.D., Valberg, S.J., Waldridge, B.M. and Whitehouse, C. 2014. Effect of non-structural carbohydrate, fat and fiber intake on glycogen repletion following intense exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal. 64(S46): 33. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12267_99

To celebrate the arrival of spring here in North America, we've got to talk about the coming bug season! If you haven't listened to the episode about healthy skin (Season 3, Episode 8), be sure to check that out as well, it covers the basics of healthy skin in general. This episode, we will focus on the many horses who suffer from itchy skin and allergic reactions to bug bites. There are plenty of things you can do to help reduce the irritation. Yes, there is a supplement you can feed to help as well!

One major management tip to help: STOP BATHING WITH DISH SOAP!!! It's too harsh for any horse's skin, especially those who are sensitive. Alternatives are discussed in this episode.

Listen in for advice on how to keep the bugs at bay and dietary options to help support your horse. Happy Spring!!

Research Reference:

O'Neill, et al. 2002. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation associated with reduced skin test lesional area in horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. 66: 272-277. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC227015/

What does it mean for a horse to be "metabolic?" We'll talk about that this week, particularly the difference between Equine Cushing's Disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. I'll give some very general tips to keep in mind for feeding horses with metabolic concerns and explain why. There's a LOT to unpack this week, so get ready for a ton of information!

Reading a feed tag can be confusing, especially if you're comparing two products with a similar guaranteed analysis but very different price points. What do the things on the label mean? Listen in for a breakdown of the basics of interpreting a feed tag.

Welcome back to season 3 of Farm To Stable. It's the time of year here in North America when many equestrians are getting ready to head south to warmer climates for the winter. Dramatic change in environmental temperature from cold to hot can trigger or exasperate anhidrosis, a condition in which sweating is drastically reduced despite an increase in body temperature. So, how is anhidrosis managed? We'll talk about it in this episode.

Research References:

Johnson, E., et al. 2010. An epidemiologic study of anhidrosis in horses in Florida. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 236(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.236.10.1091

Marlin, et al. 1996. Acclimation of horses to high temperature and humidity. Equine Athlete. 9: 8-11.

Marlin, et al. 1996. Physiological responses in non-heat acclimated horses performing treadmill exercise in cool, hot, dry and hot humid condition. Equine Veterinary Journal (Suppl.) 22: 70-84.

Marlin, D. & Nankervis, K. 2002. Thermoregulation. In: Equine Exercise Physiology. Blackwell Science. Publishing. Oxford, UK.

Shmalberg, J and Xie, H. 2009. The clinical application of equine acupuncture. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 29(8): 645-652.

Cover photo: istockphoto.com

At the recent Kentucky Equine Research symposium, Dr. Wendy Pearson of the University of Guelph gave a comprehensive review of Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS) in horses. Since questions about LGS arise frequently, I wanted to share some of that information, as well as some additional peer-reviewed information to talk about what LGS is, and what we do and don't know about it (which, unfortunately is a lot!) So if you've heard about "leaky gut," and aren't sure what it is or what the consequences are, tune in to find out.

Episode art, and some of the information in this episode, is from Stewart, et al., 2017. "Alterations in Intestinal Permeability: The role of the "leaky gut" in health and disease." Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 52, pp. 10-22.

Diet can have an influence on a horse's soundness and mobility. There are seemingly endless amounts of products on the market claiming to support movement, but do they work? In most cases the research is limited. Individual horses may respond differently to each supplement, so as long as a product is safe, it can be a matter of trial end error.

Don't forget the importance of a balanced diet to lay the foundations for optimum performance. That includes maintaining a healthy body condition. Here is an excellent video produced by TheHorse.com, that features Dr. Bob Coleman of the University of Kentucky describing how to body condition score (BCS) a horse. The link is: https://youtu.be/bq0ZXnSlsNQ?si=NlQJAZRkGrjB6KRj I highly recommend watching this and getting familiar with BCS!

We're getting into the available science (as always) this week, so listen in and see what we know (and what we don't!)

It's foaling season here in North America, and the nutrition of the broodmare is key for a healthy foal. A pregnant mare's nutritional needs are not static, and they do change throughout pregnancy and lactation. For example, a mare in the first month of lactation has about double the calorie needs compared to maintenance! Protein needs almost triple, and that also means amino acids increase too. Vital nutrients need to be balanced and carefully changed to address the mare's needs at each stage of pregnancy to ensure the foal has the best foundation for proper development in utero and growth when born. Listen in for some general guidelines!

Episode Photo Art: Soledad Lorieto/Upsplash.

Cover Illustration Art Credit: Merck Veterinary Manual (link below)

Many of us are in the throes of winter and the start of shedding season. Winter dryness also contributes to dry skin. Can nutrition help? As always, nutrition is supportive of skin health. While it can't cure everything, some key nutrients can help give your horse's skin and coat a boost for overall health.

Links of Interest this week:

Merck Veterinary Manual: Structure of Skin in Horses: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/horse-owners/skin-disorders-of-horses/structure-of-the-skin-in-horses

Essential Fatty Acids and Skin Health (human focus): https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/essential-fatty-acids

Recently, a barn mate asked me to help with her horse who had lost weight en route to a competition after a 14-hour trailer ride. Since many horses migrate for competition and other reasons, I wanted to discuss why a horse might lose weight on a long trip and what nutritional support helps support recovery. Weight loss is not the only physiological change that can occur during transport, but it is the focus of this episode. Note that any signs of distress should always be discussed with a veterinarian immediately. A nutritionist can help you get the diet on track for recovery of weight loss.

References for this episode:

Marlin & Nankervis, 2002. Transport. In: Equine Exercise Physiology. pp. 276-284. Blackwell Science. Oxford, UK.

C. L. Stull and Rodiek, A. V. 2000. Physiological responses of horses to 24 hours of transportation using a commercial van during summer conditions. Journal of Animal Science, 78(6): Pages 1458–1466, https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.7861458x

I recently heard from a friend who is at a barn that changed the type of feed they were providing. Sadly, they ended up with a few cases of colic. While I don't know all the details, I thought it was a good topic to discuss - when making changes to a horse's diet, how and why it needs to be done slowly and carefully. Listen in for tips and guides on how to do this and what to do if you need to add something new to the diet as well.

In the first of this two-part series, I'll talk about the background basics for feeding a performance horse. Many of the ideas hold true for ANY horse. But remember, good nutrition will support optimum performance, no matter the discipline. Junk in = Junk out, so the conversation begins with a basic understanding of how nutrients play an actual role in supporting a horse's best output.

This week I am joined by special guest, Dr. Katie Young, an equine nutritionist who consults for Kentucky Equine Research and who councils clients independently. Dr. Young has spend her career in the equine feed industry and is a wealth of experience an knowledge! This week, Dr. Young talks about Myofibrillar Myopathy (MFM) in horses. We'll discuss how it differs from polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) (types 1 and 2), what to look for and how to support MFM from a dietary standpoint.

Horses with MFM may present with decreased performance or unwillingness to go forward. Dietary management is quite different from PSSM. Listen in to learn more!

*Cover Art Graphic from:

Koutakis, et al., 2015. Abnormal Accumulation of Desmin in Gastrocnemius Myofibers of Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: Association with Altered Myofiber Morphology and Density, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impaired Limb Function. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. DOI:10.1369/0022155415569348

Additional reading on MFM can be found at these links:

https://ker.com/nmdl/resources/mfm/

Valberg, et al., 2017. Clinical and histopathological features of myofibrillar myopathy in Warmblood horses. Equine Vet J.;49(6):739-745. Online at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28543538/

Dr. Stephanie Valberg herself explains the diagnostics of MFM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdkNMUMhQvY

In this episode, we'll talk about one of my favorite groups of horses to work with, seniors! Many people ask the question, "At what age is my horse considered a senior?" and the answer is not so black and white. This week the discussion talks about how horses age as individuals, what differences can arise and some key takeaways for ensuring a healthy diet to support the aging horse. We've only scratched the surface, but it's a fun and easy to follow introduction to thinking about advancing age in horses.

Pre-, pro- and post-bitoics get a lot of attention in the world of equine nutrition. There is lots we do know, but even more that we don't (but we're working on it!) This week, I'll explain what each actually is and why we need more research in horses. Some of the references used for this podcast are listed below.

Adams, A.A., et.al. 2015. The effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA) and prebiotic supplementation on inflammatory cytokine production and immune responses to vaccination in old horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 35(5):407-408.

Auwerda, P. Undated. Digestive anatomy and physiology of the horse. Iowa State Extension and Outreach, Equine Science. Accessed online at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/equine/blog/dr-peggy-m-auwerda/digestive-anatomy-and-physiology-horse

Coverdale, J.A. 2016. Can the microbiome of the horse be altered to improve digestion? Journal of Animal Science. 94(6):2275-2281.

Heaton, C.P., et al. 2019. Are prebiotics beneficial for digestion in mature and senior horses? Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 76: 87-88.

National Research Council. 2007. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Ed. National Academies Press. Washington, DC.

Ray, L. 2018. Understanding a horse’s digestive system. University of Georgia Extension. Accessed online at: https://site.extension.uga.edu/forageteam/2018/09/understanding-a-horses-digestive-system/

Respondek, F., et al. 2011. Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructooligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses. Journal of Animal Science. 89(1):77-83.

Weese, J.S. 2002. Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 22(8):357-360.

Check out this bonus episode of the "Farm To Stable: An Equine Nutrition Podcast" in collaboration with Dr. Kris Hiney, Extension Horses and the Tack Box Talk Podcast! As part of the Extension Horses Working Group, I'm fortunate to work with land-grant university experts from across the USA who are teachers, researchers and horse lovers from all disciplines. The purpose of university extension is to conduct research that helps the community, make that knowledge accessible and facilitate putting information to work.

Dr. Hiney invited me to be a guest recently (Feb. 2025) to talk about basic nutrition of the equine breeding herd, since foaling season is in full swing. So I'm sharing that discussion here!

Please check out Tack Box Talk for more fun, practical and interesting topics, and share this one as well. Here's a link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tack-box-talk/id1492355719

Happy riding!

In part one, you heard about the building blocks of a performance horse's diet. This week incorporated muscle fiber types, a very general description of the types of fuel each muscle type burns, and how to use that information to build a diet based on the type of work your horse does. The differences between feeding for a sprint and feeding for endurance are just some of the examples discussed. Remember, the discussion here is very general and for illustrative purposes only. Each individual horse has unique dietary needs. Episode Art Photo Credit to TheHorse.com.

Haynets are a common site in horse barns, but have you ever thought about why there are there? Are they stressful for horses? Do they have nutritional benefits? Do they really work to reduce waste? We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode, and talk about where the research came from.

Cover Art Photo: iStock, Anja Janssen

Links to research and more information:

Extension Horses Fact Sheets: 5 Benefits of Slow Feed Hay Nets - https://horses.extension.org/5-benefits-of-slow-feed-hay-nets/

Extension Horses Fact Sheets: Do hay nets impact horse health? https://horses.extension.org/do-hay-nets-impact-horse-health/

DeBoer, et al., 2024. Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105051

Glunk, E., et al., 2014. The Effect of Hay Net Design on Rate of Forage Consumption When Feeding Adult Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 34, pp. 986-991 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2014.05.006

Glunk, et al., 2015. The effect of a limit-fed diet and slow-feed hay nets on morphometric measurements and postprandial metabolite and hormone patterns in adult horses. Journal of Animal Science. Vol. 93, pp. 4144–4152.

https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2015-9150

Ivester, et al., 2014. Environmental Exposures and Airway Inflammation in Young Thoroughbred Horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Vol. 28, pp.918-924. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12333

Locke, et al., 2023. Effects of prolonged hay net feeding on equine behavior. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Vol. 124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104529

Fresh from the Kentucky Equine Research Equine Health and Nutrition Symposium, I want to highlight one of the talks given by Dr. Katie Young, a well-respected equine nutritionist with many years in the industry and as a horse owner. She discussed the merits (or lack thereof) of hair mineral analysis and serum allergy testing. This is important information for any horse owner - tune in to find out why!