Desert Equine Balance

Challenging Gastric Health

2011-07-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

If you are considering adding a product to your horse’s diet to support your horse’s gastric health, first determine why you want to add it (ulcer prevention/treatment, improved digestion, condition or performance, colic/diarrhea prevention?) and understand how it works – which leads to why it might produce the results you expect. I recently took issue with Platinum’s “Take the Challenge”

What's This Got To Do With Horses?

2011-05-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Dog Food Advisor’s approach to choosing dog food is based upon one very important concept… No dog food can ever be magically better than the ingredients that were used to make itHow could it?Sounds familiar - There are no magic bullets in equine nutrition - the phrase which has been my watch word for several years now.The other day I picked up a bag of Pelican Bay dog food at Costco -

ECIR Group NO LAMINITIS! Conference Registration

2011-04-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open for the First Annual ECIR Group NO LAMINITIS! Conference.Attendees may register via Pay Pal or by mail.When: August 5, 6 & 7, 2011Where: Syracuse, New YorkFeatured Speakers : Eleanor M. Kellon, VMDRobert M. Bowker, VMD, PhDMembers of the ECIR Group Support TeamRegistrations received by June 5 qualify for an Early Bird ticket discount price of $150.00. Registration after

Help for Strapped Horse Owners

2011-03-10T09:48:00.001-08:00

This came from the March 2011 E-newsletter sent out by Harmony Horseworks Equine Sanctuary in ColoradoWHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO KEEP YOUR HORSE 1. Don’t panic by waiting so long that the proverbial horse manure has hit the fan. Plan ahead and prepare for this emergency so it isn’t such a big one. 2. Don’t automatically assume you can dump your horse at the local horse

NO Laminitis! Tee Shirts

2011-02-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

Now that the sun is starting to shine in parts of the country, I can finally wear my NO Laminitis! Tee shirt without a jacket over it - and share the message that laminitis can be prevented.These tee shirts will help support the ECIR Horse web site and the development of a data base for case histories which are currently spread over several sites. These case histories are the largest repository

EPSM/PSSM - A Quarter Horse Named Doc updated

2010-12-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Since I wrote this three years ago, there has been an increased awareness of equine neuro-muscular disorders by horse owners and their veterinarians. Draft-crosses are becoming popular - spurred by PMU mare/foal rescues many are being ridden by new or first-time horse owners - and their susceptibility to "traditional" draft horse neuro-muscular issues often forces their owners into a sharp

From Horse Apples to Poo Soup

2010-12-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

To most horse lovers, Parfum de Pommes Cheval is part of the stable lifestyle. But what happens when those fragrant horse apples turn into poo soup?Diarrhea in our horse is an indication that all is not well in his digestive tract and can have serious consequences. It may quickly lead to dehydration which can be a primary cause of colic. It's important to determine the cause but, while we're

"Allergies" - breaking the inflammatory cycle with a proprietary blend...

2010-11-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

I don't often reply/post on many of the on-line groups I'm subscribed to as I'm not often able to get back to follow-up. But recent discussions on "allergies" and herbal remedies (for "allergy" and other inflammatory conditions) on the EC/IR group and other groups caught my attention.The discussions on allergies made me think of my asthma - I really think many horses are not "allergic" but simply

Equine Pituitary Dysfunction Test Choices Analyzed by New Bolton Center's Jill Beech VMD

2010-11-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

From Fran Jurga`s Hoof Blog: Up-to-the Minute News from Hoofcare & Lameness Journal: Equine Pituitary Dysfunction Test Choices Analyzed...: "In our new age of horses as companion animals, a significant proportion of our equine population would be considered into or at least approaching the geriatric phase of life. Equine pituitary disease and disorders are a concern in the horse-owning public..."

Nutrition and Hoof Quality

2010-11-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

My hoofcare provider (Courtney Vincent) emailed me to ask about a product she recently encountered:I trim 2 horses, same place, same feeds, 3-4 year age difference, both QH, both on 5oz AZ Copper Complete.Then [someone] gave her a sample of something called hoof armour or something like that - it is a yeast supplement for feet, very expensive. Have you heard of it? Anyway, she put the one horse

RAGTIME SUNKISSED

2010-09-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is what dreams are made of!photos by Eva Tannenberger, Tucson AZ

Freitag Entwicklung

2010-08-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome example of the rehabilitation that's possible with mineral balancing, supportive nutrition, correct trims and a dedicated owner (Equine Cushings List member in Germany) who respected the light in her horse's eyes. Freitag, previously diagnosed with PPID, had sole penetration following a trim; the pain resulted in weight loss and overloading his hind legs.Dr. Kellon's Nutrition

Update on Understanding Supplement Labels

2010-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

More and more US supplement manufacturers are showing supplement serving sizes in "grams". To us metrically challenged Yanks, this is confusing. So I'll try to lay out some general terms and "easy" math - with the understanding, of course, that if you're math challenged 2+2 can be tricky.First some basics. The metric system uses kilograms (equivalent to 2.2 lbs), grams and milligrams to weigh

Feeding Tips for Boarders

2010-06-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Boarding your horse always makes controlling your horse’s diet harder but many have found ways to work beet pulp into the routine. See the Beet Pulp articles for more information about beet pulp. Follow the same general guidelines if using hay pellets instead of beet pulp. If you can get to the barn daily, soak the beet pulp at home or at work or during

Smokin' Deal! - with strings

2010-06-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ad on Craig's list - Well bred Peruvian mare FREEDonitilla is a beautiful well bred mare she has been used for a broodmare only.She is a daughter of RDS Me LLamo Peru++ Double HNS Domingo She is bred as good as it gets. She is due to foal next month . I am giving her away provided i get the foal back and get one more foal back next spring. She must go to a good home only. Let's see - I want you

My Horse has DSLD-ESPA

2010-06-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

This blogsite has great information on this devastating systemic connective tissue disease that affects every breed - not just Paso's. My Horse has DSLD-ESPAThe original DSLD/ESPA INFORMATION site is continually updated with the latest research developments and ongoing support is provided by members of the DSLD-equine DSLD/ESPA Information and Management group.

Another Silver Bullet - the reply I didn't post

2010-05-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

In early May, I was introduced by a Veterinarian to Steadfast, by Arenus. He offered me a 30 day money back guarantee to try it on my horse's DSLD. It costs about $2. per day.My horse started Steadfast on May 25. I was told, if there is no improvement within 25 days, I could notify the company for a full refund. I thought it was worth a try since I don't think my horse is a responder to the

The Bigger They Are...

2010-05-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

I was talking with Sheila, my equine management associate here at Desert Equine Balance, this morning when we got on the topic of "big" horses and some of the different management issues they have.Draft horses generally have been bred for strength and size rather than being mainly a refined version of a more naturally evolved light horse. They were bred for heavy work on a regular basis - pulling

Probiotics - Do We Need Them?

2010-02-15T18:01:00.000-08:00

I want to know what everyone is using for probiotics - and didnt you tell me once you could just add some yogurt to their feed? Wouldnt this be a different kind of bacteria than a horse would normally get? The following quote is from Dr. Kellon's Nutrition as Therapy course. There's an entire chapter on probiotics/prebiotics which I can't reproduce here. "The bacteria you

Equine Pemphigus Foliaceus

2009-11-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

Pemph.... what?Pemphigus foliaceus (pem-fi-gus foli-a-shus) is an auto immune disease that affects humans and dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats and horses.In horses, it is characterized by primary lesions that often begin on the head and lower extremities; secondary lesions spread to other areas, with an exudate that dries to a crust. There may be extensive edema (swelling) in the legs and

2009-10-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

Equine Support and Research Group Celebrates Ten Year History and 8000+ Members New Web Site Launched - Success Stories Unveiled Health, longevity and quality of life for horses is an ever increasing concern among owners. Whether acting proactively or trying to help an animal with a history of chronic health conditions, public awareness of equine metabolic syndromes and

Responsible Nutrition

2009-10-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked what I think of "this supplement" or a particular feed.As most people I discuss equine (and human) nutrition with know, I don't believe in "magic bullets". I am adamantly against fear-based promotion (if you don't do this, your horse will die and you are a bad horse owner). I do subscribe to some basic principlesYou are responsible for what goes into your horse's mouth. This

Making It Through the Tough Times

2009-05-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

I work with a few people who simply can't afford a basic commercial supplement, even the very cost-effective HorseTech flax-based supplements (including AZ Regional Mix or Rod's standard products). A healthy horse doesn't need all the extras included in many supplements, such as biotin, methionine, probiotics, etc. As long as requirements are met, pasture or good quality hay with some supporting

AZ Regional Mix

2008-11-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

This is the first supplement I formulated for my own horses and had made up by HorseTech, which specializes in flax-based supplements. It's based on NRC guidelines and principles I've learned from Dr. Kellon. It will provide minimum levels of many nutrients which should be supplemented with Southwest hay but will not "balance" your forage - you can only do that with a full hay/pasture analysis.

High Quality Horse Forage - Not Straw

2008-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Many of us subscribe to newsletters from theHorse.com. I just received the first edition of their Nutrition e-newsletter, which links to an article called Nutritional Value of Forages . This hit one of my hot-buttons - perpetuating the myth that what we need for our horses is poor quality hay. The article quotes Jerry Chatterton, PhD, Research Leader of the USDA Agricultural Research Service,

Winter Water Needs for Our Horses

2008-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

As cold weather approaches (and already here for those in the North), we need to continue to pay attention to our horses' water intake. Horses who are used to obtaining some of their fluid from grasses may not increase their water intake as pastures brown up or as their winter ration begins to include more cured hay. Risks of Lowered Water IntakeImpaction colic, related to a diet of drier forage

Why Weigh Feed?

2008-08-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through some messages on the Equine Cushings and IR group when I came across this - Can someone also put the emergency diet in laymens terms (cups/flakes). I don't have a weight scale and not sure what things weigh. The Emergency Diet - for those unfamiliar with it - is a short term low sugar-low starch maintenance ration for horses experiencing laminitis or suspected of being

Pete Ramey - Equine Nutrition Warrior

2008-08-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Barefoot Hoof Guru Pete Ramey has been taking Eleanor Kellon, VMD's basic nutrition course, NRC Plus. Pete has enlivened the discussion on this online program - coining the title Equine Nutrition Warrior - and recently summarized his experience on his web site in an article called Feeding the Hoof.“I got so much out of the "NRC Plus"course- I can’t wait for the others. Join me in the “Equine

KFG Update

2008-07-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Kathleen's quest -http://parityquest.blogspot.com/more to come!

That's not what the label says...

2008-06-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Purina's foot dragging in their recent feed recall (or "retrieval", as they preferred to call it) has left us wondering about safety and quality control in our horse feeds. Some mistakes may make it out the door with even the best quality control but in horse feed, as in politics, it's the response that matters.About a week ago (June 3rd) I bought a couple of bags of Eagle Milling brand beet pulp

Keeping Good Horse Records

2008-05-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ever start feeding something to your horse but now you're not sure if you should continue it or not? Is he moving better under saddle because of the new pad or the chiropractic session? Did his blood work results improve because of the new hay or did you change his supplement? Is he standing better or worse after the latest trim?Keeping a written or photographic log of changes and events can help

Prosthetic Parity

2008-04-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Off topic for an equine nutrition blog? Not really...My friend Kathleen, who sent the email below to her friends, is a co-moderator on the Equine Cushing's group and is part of a group we call "The Balance Babes" - helping those who arrive at the EC List (often with a severely laminitic or foundered horse) sort through the options.Kathleen is the kind of person we all learn from - not just about

Slick & Pretty or Pretty Slick?

2008-04-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

There's a million ways to get your money in the horse world - most are not new but a slicked up version of something pretty basic."Ration analysis" or "ration balancing" programs seem to fall in this category.You can go to the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses Computer Model website and determine your horse's basic (minimum) requirements for free. No fancy graphs or bells and whistles - but

Stupid Trees to Have Around Horses

2008-01-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

The article Stupid Trees to Have Around Horses at the North Carolina School of Veterinary Medicine website concentrates on three - Oleander, Red Maple and Wild Cherry.In the Southwest, Oleander is everywhere. Its evergreen foliage and beautiful flowers make it an attractive landscape plant, used extensively in new housing development. Unsuspecting newcomers to the area may have oleander planted

Every Horse Counts

2007-12-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

The 2007 USDA Agriculture Census will begin this month. While horses are a small part of the overall census, counting every horse is important to the equestrian community. You can respond to the census online, but need to get a packet in the mail first for a "survey control" number.Article from The Horse -http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10934State Horse Councils, legislators and

Sudan Grass Hay - Caution

2007-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

I first wrote this when hay was really tight in AZ in the winter of 2005/2006. As hay continues to be in short supply in many areas, some will see the availability of Sudan hay as a solution.There is a great temptation to buy Sudan grass hay as it is CHEAP - it can be found in areas around Arizona for about $6/bale and Bermuda and alfalfa are expensive! I, personally, do not feed Sudan grass hay

EPSM/PSSM and a Quarter Horse Named Doc

2007-11-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Cookies and Other Good Things

2007-04-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

I just came across Lori's website - Skode's Horse Treats. She has an array of guaranteed low NSC goodies for your horse - and her website is a reminder that I usually take life too seriouly.Check out her store and articles while enjoying the delightful illustrations there!

Speedy Laminitis/Founder Recovery ?

2007-03-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Recently, I responded to a question on the EC list about one of the targeted "magic bullet" supplements that are becoming heavily marketed toward horses with laminitis. The supplement in question isn't a bad supplement - it is safe and would likely do the job - but in my mind it supplies some unnecessary nutrients, is overpriced and appeals to the emotional vulnerability of our desire to do the

AZ Regional Mix and AZ First Balance

2006-12-31T08:27:00.000-08:00

AZ Regional Mix was formulated as a maintenance supplement to safely provide nutrients known to be typically needed with Arizona and Southwest hays without supplying excess amounts of any nutrient, and not include nutrients usually found in excess in regional hays (such as iron and, often, manganese).I originally formulated this custom mix for my own horses. Several friends began using it with

Understanding Supplement Labels

2006-10-15T01:47:00.000-07:00

Many supplements will show the actual grams (g) or milligrams (mg) of a mineral per ounce, scoop or pound. But many only show a “guaranteed analysis” – either “%” or “ppm”. So if you want to know how much of a mineral is actually contained in the scoop, you need to do some math. The math is not difficult, but can be confusing at first.The same math can be used for converting bagged feed label

Calculating Protein Needs

2006-10-15T00:57:00.000-07:00

Going back to the NRC tables we see our 1102 lb horse in light work requires 820 grams of crude protein (CP) a day. (A nutritionist will use a more detailed formula, but the tables provide a good starting point for most horse owners.)Hay can range from a low of 4% protein up to 14% or higher. If you've had your hay analyzed or have been able toget a good idea of your regional averages, you can

Questions and Comments?

2006-10-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

If you have questions or comments about anything written here please post them - just click on the Comments field at the end of the article (or at the end of this post) or you can email your comment to me at Desert Equine Balance.I will answer questions to the best of my ability - if I don't know or if the reply is "my opinion", I will let you know that and we can continue to learn together.I am

Minimum Dairly Requirements

2006-10-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

So how do you figure out what your horse's requirements are?The NRC tables list minimum daily requirements for many nutrients based on weight, age, reporductive status and work level. The tables are available at the Equi-Analytical website by selecting "Nutrient Requirement Tables" from the "Putting Results to Work" menu.Enter your horse's body weight (the breed selection option roughly

Beet Pulp II - How to Soak and Feed

2006-10-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Beet Pulp is available Plain - no molasses added. The only ingredient listed on the label will be "Beet Pulp". The sugar content of unmolassed Beet Pulp can range from 6% to 12% but is usually less than 10%. Molasses added. The label will list "Beet Pulp" and "Molasses". The sugar content of molassed Beet Pulp can run from around 12% to higher than 20%. Small amounts of molasses may be added for

Beet Pulp I - You want me to eat WHAT???

2006-10-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Beet Pulp Is the fiber left over after the sugar is removed from sugar beets Averages 9.6% protein Is low sugar (avg 10.1%) and starch (avg 1.3%) Provides energy at 1.2Mcal per pound (similar to alfalfa, slightly less than oats) Can replace up to 25% of the hay ration Can help “hard keepers” gain/maintain weight without adding excess sugar and starch Will hold 3 to 10 times it’s volume in water

NRC and KER

2006-10-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

The National Research Council (NRC) was organized by the National Academy of Sciences, "a private, nonprofit, self-prepetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare" for the purpose of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government.The NRC

How Much Iodine Does My Horse Need?

2006-10-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

Iodine Requirements in Equine RationsThe requirement for iodine in equine rations has been estimated from other species requirements and by evaluating thyroid function. Iodine intake in humans is monitored by testing renal (urine) levels, but normal standards have not been established for equines. Most geographical standards for iodine are mapped based on iodine deficiency in humans; this is

Are We Feeding Rocks?

2006-10-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

A friend emailed me recently about my opinion whether minerals from plant sources are really superior to minerals that come from "rocks".This was my very basic reply.Gee - ALL minerals originally came from "rocks".Inorganic minerals (sulfates, oxides, etc.) are basically the forms/compounds as they occur in nature (most elements combine in nature with other elements to form a "compound" such as

Developing a Horse Ration

2006-10-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

The FoundationHorses evolved eating plains grasses with only nature’s supplements. Our modern horses’ diet today should still be based on grass and hay for the foundation. But forage has changed since horses roamed the plains and our pastures and hay may be lacking in essential nutrients.There are two simple ways to know what our horse needs• We can look at what is known about our region and use

Nopales (prickly pear cactus pads) - for horses?

2006-10-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

You want me to eat WHAT? I thought Beet Pulp was the last straw - even though it is now one of my favorite foods - but now you're telling me to hang out in the desert and eat cactus? This nouveau California cuisine may be OK for humans and burros - but I'm an elite equine and expect only the best.OK, OK - I know I've been eating all the prickly pear cactus I can find all summer and that I look

Thoughts on Feeding the IR/Cushing's Horse

2006-10-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

So one morning while I should have been fixing the kitchen drain or catching up on my charting or cleaning the corral, I'd been answering posts on the Equine Cushings Group which is what I really want to be doing.There are so many new people feeding grain to their IR horses, so I posted this:Horses evolved eating grasses and their bodies are built to get calories/energy from the digestible fiber

Analyzing Hay and Feeds

2006-08-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

(with updates 22 May 2010)Relying on tradition or advertising to formulate your horses ration can be misleading - the only way to be certain of what your hay or feed contains is to have it analyzed by a forage laboratory. Despite traditional thought, many grass hays are more than adequate in calcium and protein for most adult horses. Sugar and starch content can vary dramatically depending on

Desert Equine Balance ~ Perla's Story

2006-08-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

~ In memory of Perla de Oro ~I lost my first Peruvian mare, Perla de Oro, because of poor nutrition. What I didn't know at the time was that she most likely was insulin resistant (IR).Perla was pregnant with twins (the last sonogram showed only one) which she lost at eight months; one was mummified and likely had been dead for a while. The placenta was retained and, despite the best efforts of my