Several factors can affect your horses nutritional needs. | Photos.comHorse ownerswant the best fortheirequine companions. But the inevitable changes intheirhorsesage, activity levels,and health often leavethemscratchingtheirheads abouttheanimalsevolving needs.This is especially true when it comes to a horses diet. With so much confusing and conflicting information out there, how can you ensure yours is gettingoptimalnutrition?Your veterinarian can offer some guidance. However, your best bet might be to consult an equine nutritionist who is trained in this specialty.FactorsThatAffectEquineNutritionalNeedsSeveralfactors can affect your horses nutritional needs,saysKristyn Sturken,equineproductmanager atSentinel Horse Nutrition,includinglifestage, activity level,and health conditions.Physiological/LifeStageYoung, growing horsePregnant/lactating mareSenior horseStallionActivityLevelAmount of regular activity: maintenance, light, moderate,or heavyType and intensity of work: shorter sessions or longer, endurance-type activityHealthConditions/DiseaseMetabolic conditions such as insulin resistance,equinemetabolicsyndrome,orpolysaccharidestoragemyopathy (PSSM)/equinepolysaccharidestoragemyopathy (EPSM)Pituitaryparsintermediadysfunction(PPID, formerly equineCushings disease)LaminitisHistory ofcolicordigestiveupsetHistory ofchokeHistory ofgastriculcersSignsYourHorsesDietMightNeed anUpdateCommon signsa horses current diet is not working for him can sometimes be easy to overlook or dismiss. However,youllwantto take them into consideration when discussing your horse with any equine health professional.Perhaps heis either over or under his ideal weight, orhe has itchy or irritatedskin. His haircoat might bedullor his hoovescrumbly, soft,or prone to cracking.Has your horse been ill a lot lately, off hisfeed,or lacking his usual energy? Does he seem uncharacteristically on edge, even overreactive? Allthese signs might point to a dietary issue. The same goes for poor growth rates in young horses or reproductive problems in broodmares or stallions.When toConsult anEquineNutritionistSo,which nutritional issues can be managed with help from your veterinarian, and which couldbenefitfrom the input of an equine nutritionist?That really depends on the condition and health concern, saysSturken, cautioning, The veterinarian should always be involved when there is a specific health condition or disease, colic, etc.A nutritionist is the expert when it comes to specific nutrient needs and can make nutritional recommendations for life stages, activity levels,and many physiological things, she explains. Nutritionists can also help with looking at the total dietboth hay/pasture and concentrates or grain and/or supplements.In addition, if a horse has a specific health concern or condition, nutritionists can help identify the best nutrition to support or help with those particular challenges.In some cases,youllwant to take a team approach to your horses health. That means seeking input fromand encouraging communication betweenyour veterinarian, an equine nutritionist,and even yourfarrier, if needed.Information toProvideWhen selecting an equine nutritionist,Sturkenadviseschoosing a professional with a degree in nutrition who has worked closely with the equine species. A Master of Science or PhD in related nutrition would be best.Prior to your first appointment with your equine nutritionist,youllwant to gather the following pieces of information:The type of hayyourefeeding (and analysis, if available)Ingredient/nutritional content tags from the bags of feed and supplementsyourefeedingYour horses vet records and health historyYour horses age, sex, breed,and activity levelThe total amount of both hay and grain your horse is eating daily (in pounds), as well as the amounts of any supplementsWhat toExpectAn equine nutritionist can provide insights into various things that might be happening in your feeding program and your horses body.First and foremost, he or she can help you evaluate and test yourhay, review your current regimen,and make recommendations to improve your horses nutritional intake.What needs to be done to a feeding program may be major or minor, depending on the situation,Sturkensays. It could be as easy as feeding more or less of the current feed but could be changing the feed completely.A good review of feed management practices is always a good idea, too, she continues. That includes how you feed, when you feed, how often, individual feeding vs. group feeding, etc. Communication isKeyIt mightnot always be necessary for your equine nutritionist and your veterinarian to communicate regularly. But, asSturkenattests, It is always a good idea with more challenging conditions or disease.You canassistyour veterinarian byanticipatingwhatsneeded. It would be helpful for you to have a copy of the guaranteed analysis and feeding directions for the feed you are using, as well as the supplements,Sturkensuggests. Having a scale and weighing your feed are also helpful, she says,so when working with either your veterinarian and/or nutritionist, you know exactly what is being fed and canmake adjustments.This goes for hay, too, she adds. Know what type and how much you are feeding.Anequinenutritionist can help improve your horses health and attitude in ways you might never have considered.

Sponsored content in collaboration with DengieHelping an overweight or fat horse lose weight takes time, dedication and a lot of careful management, and it is easy for some of those early good habits to slip once progress starts to show.However, reaching a healthier weight is only part of the picture regular monitoring and small day-to-day checks are just as important when it comes to keeping your horse on the right track.Here are 10 practical tips to help you manage your horses weight long-term. 1 Weigh your horse regularlyUsing a weigh tape every two weeks will help to identify the trajectory of your horses weight. If it starts to creep up, then you will be aware and able to act sooner.If you have the opportunity to weigh your horse on a weighbridge, use the weigh tape at the same time to calibrate how much difference in weight there is between the two. Weight loss takes time and it has been suggested that losing between 0.5-1% of bodyweight per week is safe and realistic. That means, if a 500kg horse has 100kg to lose, based on a loss of 0.5% of bodyweight per week it will take almost a year to achieve your target. Plot your horses weight on a graph to see how far theyve come and how your hard work has paid off.2 Fat score monthlyFat scoring is the most practical tool we have to identify if your horse still needs to lose weight or whether they have reached a healthy weight. However, changes in fat score can be frustratingly slow, so dont be disheartened if it is taking time for a change in fat score to be apparent.On the five-point fat scoring scale, it takes around 40-60kg of weight to be lost to reduce the score by one point, but if your horse was a 5+ on this scale, then it could take much more. Taking photos from the side and from behind can also help you step back and see changes in your horses weight over time when reviewing the pictures. 3 Grazing muzzlesIf you are using one, check the grazing muzzle hole(s) regularly and the grass length in the paddock. Over time with regular use, the size of the hole(s) in your horses grazing muzzle can increase with wear. A bigger hole means more to eat, so replace as necessary.As the summer progresses, and particularly if we have drought conditions, check the grass remains long enough to poke through the muzzle hole(s). Its important your horse still has something to eat, so consider what alternative options you have available if there isnt enough grass. 4 Strip grazingIf you strip graze, keep an eye on the grass growth in your strip and compare to an ungrazed area outside of the strip. If your horses isnt losing weight, and the grass is actively growing in the ungrazed area, it may mean that the size of your horses strip needs to be reduced to continue to encourage weight loss.Equally, if the grass is very sparse in the strip, and not actively growing in the ungrazed area, then additional forage will need to be provided to maintain digestive health.Plan ahead so that, if extra forage is needed, you dont undo your hard work by introducing higher-calorie options. Soaked hay, straw, or low-calorie forage replacers such as Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs can all help maintain forage intake while supporting digestive and behavioural health. 5 Count the droppingsCount the number of droppings you are picking up. This can give an idea of whether your horses food intake is increasing or decreasing over a period of time. Keeping an eye on the consistency of droppings and knowing whats normal for your horse can also give you a window into their digestive health. 6 Check their diet is balancedIf you have made significant changes to your horses diet then their essential nutrient intake will also be significantly reduced. Possible changes include restricted or no grazing, feeding soaked hay, using more straw in their diet, all of which means the horses essential nutrient intake will be significantly reduced. This may mean they need a higher feeding rate than usual of products (supplements or balancers) to maintain a balanced diet or require a higher specification product.Work with an ENFAR-registered equine nutritionist or feed adviser who will be able to help advise the most appropriate products to ensure that your horses diet remains balanced. Check out the BETA Equine Nutritionist and Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR). 7 Weigh all forageWeigh supplementary conserved forage not only whats offered, but also whats left over.If you are providing your horses minimum forage requirement of 1.5% of their bodyweight on a dry matter basis daily in a bid to manage their weight and they arent eating it all, then they wont be consuming sufficient forage.Soaking hay in the summer months when the weather is hotter can make it less palatable and a shorter soaking time may be necessary. When introducing straw to the diet it can also take some getting used to. 8 Get forage testedAt this time of year, you are likely to be moving on to a new supply of conserved forage post-harvest. If you have a consistent supply, getting it tested with a basic NIR package can be useful to give an overview of its nutritional quality, including an estimate of digestible energy (DE), which tells us how calorific the forage is.If you know the forage is likely to supply more energy than your horse needs to maintain weight, then you can take additional measures to reduce the calorie intake from forage by soaking the hay, or by mixing straw through the hay or haylage ration.Straw should only be considered if your horse has good teeth and must be introduced gradually to the diet to allow time for the digestive system to adapt. 9 Keep a record of the work theyre doingKeep a diary of your horses exercise. It can be really helpful to track how much and what exercise they are doing, plus any notes about the sessions. Doing this can give you some good insight into your progress. If you notice that your horse is getting fitter and finding the work easier, then its a good sign your hard work is paying off. 10 Monitor insulin levelsIf your horse is overweight and has been diagnosed with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), work with your vet to monitor insulin levels, as these can help to indicate how at risk of laminitis your horse is, and whether further dietary management changes are required. Main image ShutterstockRelated contentHow weight loss transformed my horse: four case studies you need to readFat horses: why the equine obesity epidemic matters now more than everHorse weight loss plan: 10 ways to lose those excess pounds *Sponsored*Dr David Marlin explains how to ride a horse so that they burn more caloriesThe post 10 top tips to help manage your horses weight *Ad feature* appeared first on Your Horse.

When the weather warms up, keeping horses cool and comfortable becomes a top priority. The right cooling products can make a big difference.

Football fever has taken hold at a Devon donkey charity, with residents practising their football skills ahead of Englands World Cup opening match this evening (Wednesday 17 June).Donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary have been showing off their agility, balance and fancy hoofwork through football-themed enrichment activities at the charitys site in Sidmouth.The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off last week and is being hosted by three countries: Mexico, Canada and USA. England mens team will play Croatia in their first group match at 9pm this evening in Dallas, Texas.Residents at The Donkey Charity have been enjoying football-based enrichment activities.Natural talentDonkeys are naturally alert, sure-footed and great communicators, they thrive as part of a team and stay calm under pressure all qualities any footballer would be proud of.Enrichment activities are a vital part of the donkeys lives. They prevents boredom, ensure physical and mental stimulation and encourage them to play and interact with different objects as well as their environment.The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen who was appalled by the state of the donkeys she saw at a market in Exeter. She started buying the donkeys who were in the worst condition and The Donkey Sanctuary was registered as a charity in 1973. Since then the charity has transformed the lives of millions of donkeys around the world.Images The Donkey Sanctuary.Related content from Your HorseArsenal socks a game changer for horses and donkeys at RedwingsCharity asks Senegal totake a stand against the donkey skin tradeOur donkeys are suffering: Concerns raised for the UKs working equines as summer approachesEquine charity launches petition to urge Amazon UK to ban sale of donkey skin products6 fascinating facts about donkeys as we celebrate World Donkey DayThe post Match of the Bray: residents at donkey charity hone their football skills appeared first on Your Horse.

Looking forward to the week ahead, Leo Lorimer is riding Touareg TMaestro Midnight Solstice. Shannon Lorimer is riding Liu-Jo VLSWe wish everyone who trains with us a very successful show and hope you all get the results you want and deserve!

According to the State Department of Agriculture, two horses in Baker County, Oregon, have tested positive for strangles. The horses are quarantined.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

According to the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, four new vesicular stomatitis (VSV)-positive equine premises have been identified in Valencia County, New Mexico.Since October 2025, VSV has been identified at 15 equine premises in Arizona, one equine premises in Colorado, and seven equine premises in New Mexico. All confirmed caseshave been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) serotype.The last outbreak of VSV in the U.S. occurred from May 2023 through January 2024, affecting 319 premises across California, Nevada, and Texas. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion to the U.S.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Vesicular StomatitisVesicular stomatitis is a viral disease of horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, swine and New World camelids that occurs in the Western Hemisphere. It is named for the characteristic vesicular lesions it causes in the form of blisters, crusts and ulceration of the lips, muzzle, nose, tongue, ears, sheath, teats and/or coronary band. The virus is transmitted by biting midges and therefore is seasonal.Clinical Signs for vesicular stomatitis include:Vesicle formation leading to ulcerative lesions on the lips, muzzle, nostrils and tongue. The tongue is often the most severely affected area.Ulceration of the inner surface of the lips.Crusting of the muzzle, nostrils, and/or inside the ears.Excessive salivation secondary to the oral lesions.Difficulty picking up and chewing feed.Lameness due to painful erosions on the coronary band.Lesions can occur on the udder, sheath and inside of the ear.Lesions can develop secondary infections resulting in slow-to-heal wounds.Animals on pastures are at increased risk of vesicular stomatitis.Initial diagnosis is based on recognition of characteristic vesicular lesions. Infection is confirmed via laboratory testing for serum antibodies and/or virus identification in fluid samples from active lesions. Veterinarians are required to report suspected cases to state/federal animal health officials who will direct sample submission to an approved regulatory laboratory for diagnostic testing.There is no specific treatment for vesicular stomatitis. Best practices include implementing good biosecurity and treating affected horses with pain relievers, anti-inflammatories and supportive care as recommended by a veterinarian.Isolating all affected animals and placing the premise on immediate quarantine is required until all horses have fully recovered and no active lesions are present. The State Veterinarian will work with the local veterinarian to determine and implement necessary quarantine procedures.