Diet & Nutrition
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Equine Hydration: The Key to Muscle Glycogen Storage and Performance
Water plays a crucial role in many physiological processes in a horse’s body, including the storage of glycogen in muscles. Glycogen is a form of stored carbohydrate that serves as a readily available energy source for muscles during exercise. Here’s how…
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Understanding Fascial Adhesions: Causes, Effects, and Reducing the Risk of Developing
Fascial adhesions refer to the abnormal binding of fascial tissues, which are thin, fibrous layers of connective tissue that encase muscles, bones, and organs. Fascia plays an essential role in stabilizing and supporting the body, and transmitting forces and energy throughout…
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Bring Out the Dapples in Your Horse
Dapples on a horse are textured rings of color with a darker outer ring and a lighter color on the inside. I’ve heard them called “money spots” in the US and in the UK, they’re sometimes called “hammer marks” like the…
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Understanding Ulcers: How Massage Can Play a Role in Post Ulcer Performance
Equine gastric ulcers are fairly common in horses. According to studies, up to 90% of racehorses and up to 60% of other performance horses may develop gastric ulcers at some point in their lives. They can affect any horse at any…
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Enhancing Equine Wellness: Weight Management and Massage
Weight management is an important part of caring for your horse. An overweight horse is at risk for a number of heath issues, including but not limited to; Your vet can help you come up with a healthy weight management plan…
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Temperature of Water Affects How Much Horses Drink
According to the AAEP the ideal water temperature for maximum palatability is between 45-65°F. Horses tend to consume less water if it falls outside this range, making your horse prone to dehydration, poor digestion efficiency, and intestinal impactions. Studies also show…
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Vitamin E and Vitamin E-Responsive Myopathy
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and an important antioxidant for horses. It helps maintain a healthy immune system and supports normal nerve and muscle function. Horses cannot synthesize vitamin E in their body. It’s found in fresh, green grasses and…
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5 Tips for Winter Care and Safety
1. Make sure your horse has access to plenty of hay. Digesting food creates heat and can help a horse maintain body temperature in cold winter weather. The greatest amount of heat is released when microbes in the gut digest high-fiber…
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Everything You Need To Know About Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential minerals involved in regulating your horse’s fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, and other important physiological processes. If your horse is training, competing or living in hot and humid conditions it may require more electrolytes than if it…
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Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)
Bracken Fern is found throughout the world in open pasture and woodland. It’s one of the top 10 most toxic plants for horses in the United States. Bracken fern has broad, triangular fronds that grow up directly from stout, black, horizontal…