Standlee Barn Bulletin

July 8, 2018

To understand how to use nutrition to prevent overheating in horses we must first understand fully how the digestive system works and creates heat. We will skip past the stomach and small intestine as very little to no heat is created here from digestion, and start at the beginning of the large intestine of the horse. In horses, the large intestine begins with the cecum; adjoining the cecum is the...

June 18, 2018

Horses are grazing animals –their digestive system is built to continually consume and digest small amounts of primarily fibrous material. Modern performance horses are meal fed high calorie feed stuffs with less emphasis placed on high quality fiber sources. This trend in feeding practices has led to a significant upswing in the amount of horses suffering from gastric ulcers. What are equine...

May 9, 2018

The horse has evolved as a grazing animal; pasture has played a pivotal role in equine nutrition. Reported intakes of fresh pasture by horses can range from 1.5% to 3.0% of body weight/day. Most horses today, however, are managed in far different conditions than their natural grazing environment. This is due to both lack of available land to create pastures for most horse owners and concerns with...

April 30, 2018

Originated in 1875, The Kentucky Derby is a very well-known annual race in American history held at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. Along with the history, the Kentucky Derby has earned itself many sacred traditions. Here are a few of our favorite traditions of the Kentucky Derby that you may not have been aware of. Garland of Roses The Garland of...

April 16, 2018

Forage is the most important ingredient in the horse’s diet, yet the choices in forage species and form are sometimes daunting. Understanding the types and physical forms of forage and importance of forage quality will help horse owners choose the best forage to feed their horse. 1. Forage Species Forage in the form of hay or pasture is the primary ingredient in the diet for most horses. Horses...