The Equine Connection Podcast

The nutraceutical market for horses in the United States is worth over $80 million in sales per year. Thus, horse owners may wonder if they are making wise purchases. A major concern is whether or not these expensive supplements work like they claim they do. Calming supplements are one of the major types of supplements horse owners either have used or are curious about using. Therefore, in this week's podcast, we dissect what calming supplements are, what they claim to do, and what the scientific evidence says about them. We also talk about the safety of calming supplements for your horses and why you may want to avoid them. For those that compete with their horses, you may especially want to listen to this podcast, as many calming supplements are on banned substance lists for organizations. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

To celebrate our 100th episode, we went in a different direction. We wanted to look back at where we were feeding horses over 100 years ago. Then we wanted to look at where we are going in the next 100 years. Horses were a mainstay for many people in the early 20th Century. Even back then people were careful what they fed their horses. Yet, there was not much research or study in equine nutrition. With the advent and increased used of the automobile, horses were no longer needed and nearly forgotten. It was not until the 1960s with the rediscovery of our love for horses did their population boom, and along with it, a huge interest in the science of what we feed them. A fun topic to chat about and to celebrate our listeners. In the spirit of 100, those first 100 listeners that complete this survey will win a fun price. It can be found HERE We want to thank you for listening and your continued support! You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

As we enter the fall and winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, we wanted to revisit how best to prepare your horses and help them through the colder months. In this episode, we first discuss calories and why you need to know about them and why they are important entering the winter months. We discuss the seasonal changes and how horses adapt and regulate their body temperatures via thermoregulation. Then our focus shifts to highlighting how best to manage your horses, especially on what to feed that will help them stay warmer and maintain body condition. For any horse owner, this episode is a great refresher and worth a listen. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

When meal feeding horses, owners might often wonder if it matters what is fed first: hay or grain. Most would assume hay should be fed first. Yet, realistically, not many owners are feeding their horses hay an hour or two before feeding any sort of grain. Others would say it does not matter which feedstuff is fed first. In this week's podcast, we tackle this topic and dig down into the research. What do equine scientists suggest? The answers may surprise you. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

We have mentioned these bugs in the digestive tracts of horses in many podcasts. It was time we finally devoted an entire podcast to them. What are the hindgut microbes, what do they do for the horse, and why are they so important? We answer all those questions and more. We also highlight why we are so careful on what and how we feed our horses. This is because we need to maintain a healthy hindgut microbial population to keep our horses healthy and happy. A critical topic for any horse owner. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Horse owners often wonder not only how their horse's feed is made, but also how to ensure it is safe? In this week's podcast episode, we talk about how horse feeds are not only formulated and created, but also the steps companies should take to ensure their horse feeds are wholesome and safe. We chat about how the manufacturing process can and has gone wrong with some horse feeds, and what steps companies like Tribute® take to ensure the safety of their horse feeds. If you have ever wondered how horse feed is made, this is the episode for you. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

While it may sound like a dry topic, talking about the importance of B vitamins is actually quite interesting. This is because there are 8 specific B vitamins that are critical to horse health and performance. One of the most interesting facts about B vitamins is that the horse's hindgut microbes actually make them. However, they may not make enough, which is why B vitamins are often a hot topic in horse nutrition. Interestingly, studies have also shown the addition of B vitamins to the diet of a horse can increase performance. So this week is everything B vitamins and what you need to know to help your horses stay healthy and perform better. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

We have often highlighted that it is important for every owner to formulate a feeding plan for their horses. In this week's podcast, we are joined with a Tribute Equine Specialist, Sarah Ranker, who talks with us about the importance of having a feeding plan for your horse. Sarah spends much of her time speaking to horse owners about what they are feeding their horses and she helps them formulate the ideal diet. Sarah shares with us much of what goes into the thought process of creating a feeding plan and how she and other equine nutritionists can help you. As we mention in the podcast, if you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us at tributeequinenutrition.com. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Beet pulp is a common feedstuff fed to horses. It is often included in horse feeds and commonly supplemented by horse owners. However, it is when it is added to your horse's diet that there should be some caution. In this week's podcast, we explain why beet pulp is a good food source for horses. We talk about how it is a highly digestible fiber source, making it a great ingredient for horse feeds. We then talk about some issues owners may have when feeding beet pulp, or especially, when feeding too much. Included are some tips on how best to feed beet pulp and what to watch out for. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

In days gone by, it was not uncommon to warm up some water and mix it with some bran to make a nice mash for your horse. Many believed it helped warm their horses during a cold winters night. Others believed a bran mash had a nice laxative effect and aided their horse's digestion. In this week's podcast we highlight why feeding bran or making a bran mash may not be such a good idea for your horse. We highlight what exactly bran is, what nutrients it has and why it may be a bad idea, even as a treat. We offer other alternatives that are better and healthier treats for your horse and how you can help them better during those cold winter nights. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

At some point if a horse suffers an injury they may be required to be put on stall rest. Here they are confined and not expending much energy. So a dilemma many horse owners may face is, how do I feed them? In this week's podcast we talk about if you need to alter your horse's diet if they are put on stall rest. We address how you should transition them, and why feeding hay may not be the best idea. We also talk about how to transition them back on to their normal diets once they are off stall rest. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Horses are unique amongst the many other large herbivores, like cattle, sheep, and even deer. Rather, horses and their cousins, the donkeys, zebras and other equids, are part of a smaller group known as "hindgut" fermenters. This week, we discuss the horse's digestive tract. We start at the teeth and go all the way through, giving highlights to each structure and what makes horses so unique. This is important, as it makes understanding all the many recommendations given to owners regarding equine nutrition easier to understand. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Equine nutritionists often suggest owners test their hay to ensure their horses are receiving quality forage. In this week's podcast, we discuss not only why you should test your hay, but what it will tell you. We also jump into what a hay test can do for you when formulating your horse's diet. We also chat about how often you should get your hay tested. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. Sometimes, like with hurricanes, we are given ample warning. In others, like fires or tornadoes, we are often given little to no warning. In either case, have you ever wondered what will happen to your horses? Also, if evacuation is necessary, what do we feed them? Or, what if, suddenly, all their feed is gone? We address these issues and more in this week's podcast. Every horse owner, regardless of where they live, needs to plan for every eventuality and how best to care for their animals. How and what to feed them or just how to get through the major disruptions is a theme of this week's topic. A must listen to for every horse owner. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

You may have heard the term "hay belly" used to describe a horse that looks obese, but isn't. Many do not quite know what hay belly really is. Thus, in this week's podcast we talk about hay belly and tell you exactly what this condition is and how to identify it. We then go on to describe which types of horses may be prone to experience hay belly and what the underlying causes are. Prevention is the best cure, so we give some tips on how to avoid this condition. We then finish off the podcast giving advice on how to alleviate hay belly if your horse is experiencing it. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Many would assume that you could feed your donkey just like any horse. While donkeys are equids, they are a different species and their nutritional requirements do differ from horses. In this week's podcast, we address how best to approach when feeding our horses' smaller cousin, the donkey. Many donkeys can be quite similar to our easiest of keepers in horses, and thus, owners want to take caution when feeding them. We talk about what type of forage donkeys should be given and also which feeds they may need. Because donkeys are equids, they do require the same nutrients, the major difference is quantity. An exciting topic and one that is fun to learn about! You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Trace minerals are nutrients often forgotten about by horse owners. This may be due to not understanding their importance. This week's podcast highlights what trace minerals are and why they are important for your horse. Some trace minerals, like selenium, have received a lot of attention by nutritionists, feed companies and the like. On the other hand, trace minerals like copper and zinc may not receive as much "press", even though they are just as important. We explain the importance of these trace minerals, as well as where your horse is receiving them from and why every horse needs additional nutritional support beyond forage. This is an important topic for every horse owner! This podcast is brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition.

One of the common recommendations for many horses with various ailments like metabolic syndrome and many others, is to soak your horses hay. This week we tackle this topic and discuss why or why you should not soak your horses hay. We do address which health conditions a horse may be suffering from that may have you considering to soak your horses hay. Then we touch upon what that entails and what soaking is doing to your hay and how it may benefit your horse. Yet, we also discuss why soaking hay may not always be advisable. We also do talk about how to go about soaking your horses hay and some things for you to consider. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition

Should you or shouldn't you allow your horses suffering from a metabolic condition to graze on pastures? That is the focus of this week's podcast. Here we briefly highlight what we consider a metabolic horse and then discuss the dangers of allowing them to graze on pastures. We talk about all the differing factors that can influence a pasture's sugar and carbohydrate load and how that can impact your metabolic horse. We also talk about how you can possibly allow them to graze on pasture, but it does carry some risk. An important podcast for any horse enthusiast. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition