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Feed Your Steed - Equine Diets Based on Science
- Qualified Independent Equine Nutritional Advice Horses are more than just performers, they are family.

Equine Nutrition is predominately a biological science, & as such, influences the entire horse’s body & cognizance. When helping horse-owners, I try to take exceptional care to achieve a thorough understanding of all the aspects of your horse's unique lifestyle, whether it is a competition horse or a retiree. This holistic approach permits me to analyse each horse's specific & individual situation. Horses are special & the bonds we form with them are like no other. For all their large size, they are really quite delicate & do rely on us to keep them healthy. Feeding horses appropriately for their age, body condition, physical requirements, & even their emotional temperament, requires more than hug & a smile ……. Horse’s, like people, are individuals & should be fed as such. What applies for a particular horse, may not work for another. This is why it is baffling to buy a supplement, let's say, based on the promoted benefits alone. Or, feeding the new wonder horse supplement on the market as your friend does to their horse. This may not work for your horse. This is where comprehensive nutritional advice from a qualified equine nutrition professional is advantageous. The advice you receive should be designed for your horse & no one else's. So, if you find you need friendly, practical advice & information in maximising & maintaining your horse's health through dietary means consider obtaining qualified equine nutritional support from Feed Your Steed, to help you make sense of it all.

12/11/2025

🧲 Feed Smart, Not Fast — Why Small Hard Feeds Matter (Even on Low-Starch Diets)

Even low-starch feeds can trigger insulin spikes if they’re fed in one big hard feed. Here’s why smaller, more frequent hard feeds keep your horse’s gut — and metabolism — calmer 👇

🐴 Horses are trickle feeders by design
Their stomach produces acid constantly — even when empty. They’re built to graze, not gorge.

🧪 Small intestine: can only handle limited starch and sugar before overflow to the hindgut.
🌱 Hindgut microbes: need a steady fibre flow to stay balanced and prevent acidity.

🍽️ Large hard feeds = insulin spikes
📈 Larger hard feeds mean faster glucose absorption → sharper insulin curves.
Even low-starch feeds can overload the system if fed in one bolus.

🌾 Fibre first, starch last
🐎 Continuous forage = slow-release energy (VFAs)
⚖️ Stable gut hormones (GLP-1, GIP) = calmer metabolism
🧬 More small hard feeds = healthier hindgut pH + reduced endotoxin leakage

📏 Practical guide for easy keepers / EMS horses
✅ ≤ 0.1 g starch per kg body weight per meal (≈ 50 g starch max for a 500 kg horse)
✅ ≤ 1 kg concentrate per 100 kg BW (dry matter basis) — less is better
✅ Base feeds on forage, beet pulp, soy or lupin hulls, and low-NSC balancers
🕑 Split into 2–3 small hard feeds/day + ad-lib forage (1.5-2% BWT. intake per day)

📚 Science behind the feed bin
Bamford, N. J., Potter, S. J., Harris, P. A., & Bailey, S. R. (2015). Effect of increased meal frequency on plasma glucose and insulin responses to concentrate feeding in Thoroughbred horses. Journal of Animal Science, 93(3), 1504–1510.
Borer, K. E., Bailey, S. R., Harris, P. A., & Menzies-Gow, N. J. (2012). Insulin and glucose responses to meal frequency in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 44(S43), 130–134.
de Laat, M. A., & McGowan, C. M. (2016). Insights into the pathophysiology of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis in horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 30(3), 831–838.

07/11/2025

🌾 You’d think WA’s dry summer would be kind to older horses.
But when the lush, moist grass disappears and hay takes its place, seniors face the hardest digestive shift of the year — tougher fibre, less water, and more work for ageing, worn molars.

🦷 Transitioning from Pasture to Hay Season for the Senior or Dentally-Compromised Horse

Fibre isn’t just “roughage” — it’s the engine, buffer, and ballast of your horse’s hindgut.
When fibre intake drops — whether from poor teeth, limited hay, or restrictive slow-feed nets — the entire system begins to unravel within hours (Harris et al., 2017; Julliand & de Fombelle, 2016).

1️⃣ Why Seasonal Change Matters
As WA pastures dry off in late spring, horses shift from fresh, moist C3 and C4 grasses to hay or conserved forage.
For horses with normal dentition, this mainly alters water and sugar content; for senior horses or those with Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EORTH) or worn molars, it can mean the difference between maintaining weight and rapid condition loss (Collins et al., 2018).

🌱 Fresh pasture = 70–80 % water, soft fibre, easy to shear.
🌾 Hay = < 15 % water, lignified fibre that takes effort to chew and lessens salivary buffering.

When chewing efficiency drops, so does fibre fermentation — leading to lower volatile-fatty-acid (VFA) energy, higher hindgut acidity, and reduced hydration (Julliand & de Fombelle, 2016).

💧 Hydration & Fibre Moisture
Fresh pasture provides 20–30 L of internal water daily to a 500 kg horse (Geor & Harris, 2020).
Switching to hay removes this silent hydration source — meaning older horses must drink more just as the weather dries out.

Encourage water intake with multiple buckets, soaked hay or fibre cubes, and adding salt or isotonic electrolytes (Sykes et al., 2014).

🪶 Practical Tips for Seniors in WA’s Hay Season
• Offer soaked hay or fibre cubes/pellets for easy chewing.
• Feed smaller, wetter feeds more often.
• Keep fibre available at all times to maintain hindgut motility.
• Ensure vitamin A and E supplementation, since hay loses these fat-soluble vitamins quickly after cutting.
• Regular dental checks — even minor uneven wear compounds fibre inefficiency.

📘 References available in the first comment below.

05/11/2025

🐎 Let’s talk about how WA’s crazy spring weather quietly affects hydration, forage moisture, and electrolyte balance.

💧 When WA Weather Can’t Make Up Its Mind
Hydration, Pasture Moisture & Electrolyte Balance for Horses

🌦️ Western Australia’s late-spring weather swings from warm winds to cool nights and patchy rain. Grasses aren’t quite dry, but they’re slowing down — and that subtle shift can quietly tip horses toward dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and digestive unrest.

🌾 Pasture Moisture: Hidden Water Loss
Fresh pasture = 70–80 % water, supplying 20–30 L/day to a 500 kg horse (Geor & Harris, 2020).

As the season dries, the moisture content is 30–50%. Hay only 10–15 % (Walthall & McKenzie, 1976; NRC, 2007).

💡 When that water disappears from forage, horses must drink it instead — but most don’t.

🩸 Less moisture = thicker digesta, slower gut movement, higher impaction-colic risk (White, 2021). Horses can quietly lose 5–10 L before you see signs.

🧠 How Horses “Decide” to Drink
Thirst relies on blood osmolality (saltiness of plasma) + blood volume (Sosa-León et al., 2019).

Cool nights blunt both signals → horses may not feel thirsty even as body water drops.

🧂 Plain salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) keeps thirst switched on (Meyer et al., 2013).
👉 450kg–500 kg horse at rest: 25–30 g/day.
👉 Warm/windy weather: 40–60 g/day, split between feeds.

🐴 The Hindgut: Nature’s Water Tank
Large intestine = over 60 L fluid reservoir (Frape, 2010).

Less water intake → smaller reservoir → slower fermentation → less energy + higher hindgut acidosis risk (Dougal et al., 2014).

🪣 Soaked hay, lupin fibre cubes, and beet pulp = safe ways to restore moisture (Longland et al., 2011).

⚡ Electrolytes: The Horse’s Electrical Grid
Electrolytes are charged minerals that keep the body’s “wiring” running:

🔹 Sodium (Na⁺)
🔹 Chloride (Cl⁻)
🔹 Potassium (K⁺)
🔹 Calcium (Ca²⁺)
🔹 Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

They power nerves, muscles, and pH balance (Meyer et al., 2013; NRC, 2007).

🌿 WA pastures/hays = high potassium (K), low sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) (DAFWA, 2023; Geor & Harris, 2020).
👉 Horses can’t balance sodium:potassium from forage alone. Grains don’t help (Frape, 2010).

💦 Sweat: Salt Leaving the Building
Moderate work @ 25–30 °C = 5–10 L sweat/hour (Geor & Harris, 2020).

Each litre ≈
🔹 3.5–4 g sodium (Na)
🔹 6–7 g chloride (Cl)
🔹 1.5–2 g potassium (K)
🔹 traces of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) (McCutcheon & Geor, 2008; Sosa-León et al., 2019).

➡️ 10 L sweat = 40 g sodium + 70 g chloride lost.

👉 Rule of thumb: ≈ 60 g salt (NaCl) per feed (~120 g/day total) for working horses.
⚖️ Split doses over feeds = better absorption, less gut upset.

🧂 When to Use Electrolytes (Not Just Salt)
Salt = sodium (Na) + chloride (Cl) only. Sweating also drains potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca).

Ideal electrolyte mix:
🔹 Sodium + chloride ≈ 60 %
🔹 Potassium ≈ 20 %
🔹 Magnesium ≈ 2–5 %
🔹 Calcium ≈ 1–3 %
🔹 Sugar < 15 % (carrier only)

🚫 Avoid sugar-heavy mixes — they can slow rehydration (Geor & Harris, 2020).

🚱 Golden Rules of Rehydration

🪣 Always offer two buckets when using electrolytes:
🔹 one with plain fresh water, and
🔹 one with electrolyte water.

Some horses prefer plain; others like the salty mix first. Offering both lets them self-regulate and prevents over-concentrating the gut (McCutcheon & Geor, 2008).

💧 For fussy drinkers, let them sip the salty bucket first — it triggers thirst — then provide plain water right beside it to encourage ongoing drinking.

🚫 Never offer only electrolyte water.
If the horse is already dehydrated, concentrated salts draw water out of the hindgut and bloodstream into the intestine, worsening dehydration (Sosa-León et al., 2019; White, 2021).

Start rehydration with plain water + soaked fibre (lupin fibre cubes, beet pulp, hay cubes, wet chaff). Once drinking resumes, reintroduce electrolytes to maintain balance.

☀️ Shade troughs — black troughs in WA sun can hit 30 °C (DAFWA, 2023).
🔍 Watch early signs: dry gums, reduced manure moisture, skin tent > 2 s.

🧩 Behaviour & Metabolic Ripple Effects
Even mild dehydration (2–3 %) = ↑ cortisol, ↑ heart rate, ↓ and work tolerance by 10–15 % (McCutcheon & Geor, 2008).

Cranky or “off” horses may just be dehydrated, not difficult.

🌾 WA Twist
Sandy soils drain fast; low humidity = higher water loss.

Drying grasses = ↑ potassium (K), ↓ sodium (Na) → worsens Na: K imbalance (Jacobs et al., 2020).
✅ Daily salt + balanced electrolytes = simple antidote.

💧 Hydration & Electrolytes for EMS / IR Horses

When WA weather swings hot–cool and pastures dry off, hidden dehydration creeps in.
As grass moisture drops from 70–80 % to under 20 %, horses can quietly lose 15–30 L of daily water (Geor & Harris, 2020).

🥤 Tempt the picky drinkers
For EMS / IR horses, skip sugary mixes. Instead, add a trace of no-sugar raspberry cordial (e.g. Bickford’s No Sugar with Stevia). Just enough flavour boosts drinking without spiking insulin (Elzinga et al., 2017; Harris et al., 2017).

⚗️ DIY isotonic electrolyte — light-sweat days
Mix ≈ 9 g plain salt / L water (0.9 % saline) to match body fluids.
Add 1 g KCl (LoSalt) + 0.5 g MgSO₄ per L for a balanced 90 % sodium blend (Sykes et al., 2014).

🚰 Always offer choice
Provide:
✅ One bucket with the electrolyte or flavoured water.
✅ One plain bucket.
Never give only electrolyte water to a dehydrated horse — it can draw more fluid from the hindgut (Geor & Harris, 2020).

⚠️ For EMS / IR horses
Sweeteners are for taste, not sugar loading. Hydration first, glucose last.

🧮 🔑 Feed-Room Recap
🧂 Add loose salt (NaCl) daily (25g–60 g).
💧 Provide shaded, fresh water always.
🥣 Split salt across feeds.
🍃 Soak hay or fibre cubes.
⚡ Use low-sugar electrolytes for sweating horses.
🚫 Never replace water with electrolyte solutions.

👉 Hydration = foundation of gut health, calm behaviour, and performance.

💬 If your horse’s water bucket looks untouched tonight, add a tablespoon of salt tomorrow — it’s the simplest dehydration insurance you can buy.

🏷️ Suggested Hashtags

📚 References
DAFWA. (2023). Seasonal horse management guide for Western Australia. Department of Agriculture and Food WA.
Dougal, K., Harris, P. A., Edwards, A., Pachebat, J., Blackmore, T., Worgan, H., & Newbold, C. J. (2014). A comparison of the microbiome and metabolome of different regions of the equine hindgut. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 93(3), 1–11.
Elzinga, S. E., Rohleder, B., Schanbacher, B., McQuerry, K., Barker, V. D., & Adams, A. A. (2017). Metabolic and inflammatory responses to the common sweetener stevioside and a glycemic challenge in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 60, 1–8.
Frape, D. (2010). Equine nutrition and feeding (4th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Geor, R. J., & Harris, P. (2020). Equine applied and clinical nutrition: Health, welfare and performance. Saunders Elsevier.
Harris, P. A., et al. (2017). Dietary glycaemic index and insulin response in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. Equine Veterinary Journal, 49(4), 507–514.
Jacobs, J. L., Ward, G. N., & McKenzie, F. R. (2020). Pasture non-structural carbohydrate dynamics and implications for equine feeding. Animal Production Science, 60(1), 37–45.
Longland, A. C., Barfoot, C., & Harris, P. A. (2011). Effects of soaking on water-soluble carbohydrate and crude protein content of grass hays. Veterinary Record, 168(23), 618.
McCutcheon, L. J., & Geor, R. J. (2008). Thermal and cardiovascular responses to dehydration in horses. Journal of Applied Physiology, 104(1), 76–83.
Meyer, H., Coenen, M., & Hintz, H. F. (2013). Horses: Nutrition and feeding (2nd ed.). Blackwell.
NRC. (2007). Nutrient requirements of horses (6th rev. ed.). National Academies Press.
Sosa-León, L. A., Valenzuela-Medina, M., & Romero-Solís, D. (2019). Water and electrolyte homeostasis in equids. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 79, 102–110.
Sykes, B. W., et al. (2014). Electrolyte supplementation and hydration strategies in exercising horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 34(5), 576–584.
Walthall, B., & McKenzie, R. A. (1976). Water content changes in pasture and implications for horse hydration. Australian Veterinary Journal, 52(3), 145–149.
White, N. A. (2021). Equine colic: A practical guide to diagnosis and management (3rd ed.). CRC Press.

24/10/2025

💊 Feeding the EMS Horse in WA – Part 4: Supplements & Balancers

If you hang around an equine nutritionist, you hear us say, "Not all supplements are created equal.”
Recently, magnesium has been in the spotlight — but phosphorus is often overlooked as the forgotten key to gut health.

Rhodes & Meadow hay are safe, low‑sugar base — but it leaves big gaps in the diet. WA hays are high in calcium, iron, and potassium, but low in phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium, and iodine. That imbalance means hay alone is never the full answer.

🌾 Why Hay Alone Isn’t Enough when grass is cut and stored as hay:
💊Vitamins A, D, E, and K are lost
🍊Vitamin C levels drop
🐟Omega‑3 fatty acids vanish

👉Key minerals & trace elements, e.g. P, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Se, and I, are already low in WA soils.

️🚨 Red Flag Minerals:
Both Selenium and Iodine are critically low in WA forage.
️🛡️Selenium supports antioxidant defence and muscle recovery — but WA levels hover around ~0.05 ppm, far below safe thresholds.
🔥 Iodine is essential for thyroid and hormone regulation — and WA soils consistently fail to supply enough.
👉 That means hay‑only diets leave horses short of essentials for metabolism, immunity, muscle recovery, and gut health.

📋 The Forgotten Nutrient: Phosphorus (P) Magnesium gets plenty of press, but phosphorus is often overlooked.
👉Yet it’s vital for:
⚡Energy metabolism (ATP)
🦴Bone strength (works with calcium)
🦠Gut health (supports microbial fermentation)
⚖️Balance with calcium (too much Ca without enough P disrupts absorption & gut function)

👉Don’t Forget Vitamins & Omegas
💊Fat‑soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K): lost in hay, essential for immunity & muscle
🐟Omega‑3s: pasture is rich, hay is poor → vital for anti‑inflammatory balance
🍊Vitamin C: horses make some, but levels drop off grass or under stress

🐴 Takeaway: A WA‑formulated feed supplement or balancer should add what’s missing — especially phosphorus. Without it, horses may survive on hay, but they won’t thrive.

✨ Hashtags:

📌 Save this post for later as your quick reference to WA hay gaps

17/10/2025

🌼 Capew**d in WA : What It’s Really Telling You (and How to Get Rid of It for Good)

✨ Capew**d (Arctotheca calendula) isn’t just a w**d — it’s your soil waving a big yellow flag saying “⚠ I’m unbalanced!”
✨ Each rosette hides a story of compacted soil, lost biology, and nutrient imbalance (DPIRD WA, 2024; Hoyle et al., 2016).

🔬 Why Capew**d Loves WA Horse Properties

💨 Acidic, compacted soils: Most WA horse paddocks sit below pH 5.5 (CaCl₂) — perfect for capew**d but toxic to grass roots (Hume et al., 2002).

🧫 Bacterial domination: Hooves + manure destroy fungal networks that perennials need; capew**d thrives in this bacterial soup (Verma et al., 2020).

🐴 Horse habits: Selective grazing + constant traffic = bare patches, compaction, and manure hotspots rich in nitrogen but poor in phosphorus.

🌦️ Seasonal setup: Capew**d germinates within days of the first autumn rain, fills every gap, then seeds before summer — leaving thousands of viable seeds for next year (GRDC, 2022).

🧪 Why It’s a Problem for Horses
⚗ High sugar + nitrate spikes during stress, spraying, or slashing → laminitis risk (Longland & Byrd, 2006).
🧬 Low fibre, unbalanced minerals → gut instability, poor coat, muscle soreness (Harris et al., 2006).
💩 Low calcium : phosphorus ratio → weak bones and hoof quality.
Capew**d = poor forage + hidden metabolic stressor.

🧠 The Science of Getting Rid of Capew**d

1️⃣ Correct the Soil First
Test pH, organic carbon, and phosphorus every 2 years.
Apply ag-lime to lift pH above 6 (CaCl₂); capew**d hates neutral soils (Hume et al., 2002).
Add composted manure, humate, or biochar to rebuild fungal life (Hoyle et al., 2016).

2️⃣ Starve the Seed Bank
Mow or slash before flowering (Sept–Oct).
Spot-spray rosettes early (MCPA or clopyralid) + keep horses off 4–6 weeks post-spray (Bayer Crop Science, 2023).
Reseed immediately with competitive low-NSC grasses; otherwise the bare patch just grows more capew**d next year.

3️⃣ Re-seed with the Right Mix

Use WA-approved, horse-safe blends like
🌾 Irwin Equi First or Bell’s Low NSC Horse Mix — certified seed, suited to rainfall and soil zone.
Target species: Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana), Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Tall Fescue (EF-free).
Add sub-clover or strawberry clover for nitrogen.
Exclude horses until new pasture is ≥ 15 cm tall and rooted.

4️⃣ Rebuild Biology
After spraying, re-introduce microbes with compost extract or biological soil stimulants.
Maintain a fungal : bacterial ratio > 1.0 to favour perennials (Verma et al., 2020).

5️⃣ Manage Grazing Pressure
Rotate horses: short graze (2–4 days) ➜ long rest (25–40 days).
Keep at least 70 % ground cover year-round.
Use a sacrifice paddock or track system for high-traffic zones.

6️⃣ Expect the Long Game
It takes 2–4 years to deplete the seed bank and stabilise soil.
Each year of healthy grass reduces capew**d seeds > 90 % (GRDC, 2022).

🌿 Bonus Tips
🧪 Test soil before autumn reseeding — correct pH before you plant, not after.
💧 Keep troughs clean post-spray; wash off drift and residues.
☀ Never graze horses on wilted, sprayed, or freshly slashed capew**d — sugar and nitrate levels can triple in 48 hours.

⚖️ Key Takeaway
✨ Capew**d doesn’t invade healthy pastures — it fills the gaps left by poor soil, poor grazing, and poor biology.
✨ Fix the soil, reseed smart, rest the land and capew**d simply runs out of excuses to grow. 🌾🐴

If any one is interested I will try and place the link to the PDF in the first comment.

**dControl

📚 References:
Bayer Crop Science. (2023). Capew**d growth physiology under stress.
DPIRD WA. (2024). Capew**d ecology and management in Western Australian pasture systems. Government of WA.
GRDC. (2022). Managing capew**d seed banks in southern farming systems.
Harris, P. A., Ellis, A. D., & Fradinho, M. J. (2006). Fermentation, gas production and colic in horses. Equine Vet J., 38(S36), 26–32.
Hoyle, F. C., Murphy, D. V., & Fillery, I. R. (2016). Microbial dynamics and carbon–nitrogen interactions in sandy soils of SW Australia. Soil Research, 54(3), 231–243.
Hume, I. H., Dolling, P. J., & Porter, W. (2002). Soil pH management in pasture systems of south-west WA. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 40(1), 123–135.
Longland, A. C., & Byrd, B. M. (2006). Pasture non-structural carbohydrates and equine laminitis. Journal of Nutrition, 136(7 Suppl), 2099S–2102S.
Verma, S., Paterson, E., & Murphy, D. V. (2020). Shifts in fungal : bacterial dominance explain w**d resilience in degraded pasture soils. Applied Soil Ecology, 156, 103708.

15/10/2025

🌾 Feeding the EMS Horse in WA – Part 3: Fibre & Protein Balance

💬 “A question I’m asked time and again is whether straw is a safe option for horses, especially those with EMS.

Fibre is the cornerstone of every horse’s diet — but not all fibre is created equal.
In Western Australia, barley and oaten straw can look like “safe low-sugar forage,” yet behave very differently from the conditioned straw used overseas.

🌏 UK vs WA Straw — Not the Same Product

In 2020, a University of Edinburgh / Redwings trial fed ponies a 50 : 50 barley straw + hay mix for weight control.
📖 Result: No colic, no laminitis (Dosi et al., 2020, Vet Record doi: 10.1136/vr.105793).

👉But our WA straw is a different animal 👇
🔬 UK trial straw (conditioned & treated):
✅ Conditioned → lignin partly broken down, softer fibre, better digestibility.
✅ Reduced dust & mould.
✅ Consistent, tested nutrient quality.
✅ Clean, short-cut barley straw fed under supervision.

⚠️ WA straw (raw & untreated):
❌ Straight from harvest (barley, oaten, wheat).
❌ Coarse, high in lignin & silica → poorly digestible and abrasive to teeth.
❌ Often contaminated with grain heads 🌾, w**ds 🌿 or twine 🧵.
❌ Very low protein (< 4–5 %), low energy (< 7 MJ DE/kg).
❌ NSC can range 10–18 % 😳 — test to be safe.
🚨 Feeding > 25 % of the forage as untreated straw raises risk of impaction and Free Faecal Water (Lindroth et al. 2021).

💧 Hydration & Testing Matter
👉Dry, fibrous straw + low water intake = colic risk.
🧂 Always provide ample fresh water and salt, especially in WA’s heat.
👉Before feeding, send a sample for analysis — it tells you everything you need to know.

📊 What to Check on a Straw Analysis
🔹 NSC % (WSC + Starch): High NSC (> 10–12 %) = laminitis risk.
🔹 Crude Protein %: Often too low (< 5 %) → poor muscle tone and hoof quality.
🔹 Lignin %: “Woody” fibre horses can’t digest; > 6 % = reduced fermentation and hydration.
🔹 NDF %: Bulk measure; > 65 % = gut fill but low energy.

👉 Straw can help dilute calories and slow intake — but only when used in moderation and balanced with protein and minerals.

💪 The Protein Problem

👉WA barley straw averages ~4 % crude protein — far too low for any horse or pony.
👉Low protein = weak hooves, dull coat, poor topline and reduced immunity.
👉Every horse still needs amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine) for tissue repair — add a balancer or quality protein source.

🐴 Why It Matters
❌ Too little fibre → ulcers & stress.
❌ Too much of the wrong fibre → impaction & nutrient gaps.
✅ Balanced protein → strong muscles, healthy hooves, robust gut health.

✨ Healthier horses in WA come from simple choices: the right fibre, feeding the correct proteins, and minerals that support the whole horse.

📚 References & Further Reading

Feed Your Steed Wet-Chemistry Straw Dataset, WA 2024.

Equi-Analytical Laboratories (2019 – 2024). Cereal Straw Feed Profile (ID 518). https://equi-analytical.com

Dosi M.C.M. et al. (2020). Inducing Weight Loss in Native Ponies: Is Straw a Viable Alternative to Hay? Vet Rec. 187 (7): e37.

Jansson A. et al. (2021). Straw as an Alternative to Grass Forage in Horses. Animals 11 (7): 2108.

Lindroth K.M. et al. (2021). Feeding and Management of Horses With and Without Free Faecal Liquid. Animals 11 (8): 2245.

Van Soest P.J. (1994). Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. Cornell Univ Press.

National Research Council (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Horses. Natl Acad Press.

Santos J. et al. (2015). Risk Factors for Colic in Horses. Equine Vet J. 47 Suppl 48.

Getty E. (2020). Feeding Straw to the Insulin-Resistant Horse — May Be a Mistake. https://gettyequinenutrition.com

✨ Hashtags:

10/10/2025

💧🌾 When Moist Matters 🌾💧

Sorry for the humour. Equine nutrition can get a little dry🙄

One of the biggest mix-ups I see with hay analysis is horse owners forgetting the difference between Dry Matter (DM) and As Fed.

👉 Most hay lab reports come back in Dry Matter only. That’s great for comparing feeds evenly, but it can trip horse owners up. If you don’t convert DM to As Fed, you’ll think your hay has more protein, energy, or sugars than your horse is actually eating.
🥕 As Fed = includes the moisture in the hay (what goes in the bucket).
🌱 Dry Matter = water removed (best for comparing pastures, since moisture changes daily).

💡 Why moisture matters:
Horses eat hay as fed — moisture and all.
If you use DM values without converting, you’ll overestimate nutrients.
Many people reject perfectly safe hay thinking sugars are too high — when in fact, once you account for moisture, it often comes in under 10% NSC (WSC + starch), which is the safer range for laminitis and EMS management.
Remember fructans (a type of sugar stored in grasses) are part of WSC. Horses can ferment fructans for energy, but too much at once can upset the hindgut — so they’re included in the 10% NSC safe limit. Fructans don't affect insulin. But they need to be included for WA horses.

🚩If hay moisture is above ~13%, there’s also a risk of mould growth .

🔎 How to convert DM → As Fed:
1️⃣ Take the % nutrient on a DM basis.
2️⃣ Multiply it by the % dry matter of the hay (e.g. 90% = 0.90).
3️⃣ That gives you the As Fed %.
✅ Example:
Hay NSC = 11% DM
Hay is 90% DM (10% moisture)
11 × 0.90 = 9.9% As Fed ✔️
👉 That hay is actually suitable for many laminitis- or EMS-prone horses once you look at the As Fed values.
In short:
✅ Use As Fed for hay & hard feeds.
✅ Use Dry Matter for pasture.

👉Always convert your horses' hay before deciding — it could save you from dismissing excellent hay.

📌 “Save this post — next time you read a hay test, check if it’s as‑fed or dry matter.”

08/10/2025

🌱 Feeding the EMS Horse in WA – Part 2: Replacing Pasture Nutrients

💡 “What your EMS horse is missing when you take them off pasture — and how to put it back.”

Removing pasture protects EMS and IR horses from dangerous sugar spikes — but it also removes vital nutrients. And while Rhodes or WA meadow hay are excellent low‑sugar bases, both come with quirks that owners must balance.

⚖️ Rhodes Hay Imbalances
• 📈 High calcium but low phosphorus & sodium → throws off mineral balance
• ⚖️ Ca:P and Ca:Mg ratios often skewed → excess calcium can block phosphorus & magnesium uptake
• 🧲 High iron & potassium → interfere with copper, zinc, and magnesium
• 🧂 High potassium also increases sodium demand → without added salt, electrolyte balance suffers
• 💧 Irrigated growth → can create poor‑quality crude protein from an imbalanced nitrogen: sulphur ratio

🌾 WA Meadow Hay Quirks
• ❓ Highly variable — depends on what grasses are in the mix (ryegrass, capew**d, couch, etc.)
• 🔍 Can look “safe” but hide higher NSC levels — always test if possible
• 📉 Often low in phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, iodine, and selenium
• 🧲 Still carries the WA signature of high iron & potassium
• 💪 Protein quality can be poor — low lysine & methionine, which are critical for hooves, muscle, and metabolic support

🧂 Choosing the Right Supplement in WA
✅ Pick one that adds phosphorus & magnesium to balance Rhodes and meadow hay
❌ Avoid eastern‑state mixes that add calcium — WA horses don’t need more
✅ Ensure it includes copper, zinc, selenium, and iodine to offset high iron & potassium
✅ Always add salt daily to meet sodium needs

🌞 Nutrients Lost for the EMS /IR Horse Without Pasture
🐟 Omega‑3s – hay is very low, but they’re vital for anti‑inflammatory support
🌞 Fat‑soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) – abundant in grass, but lost in hay
💪 Amino acids (lysine & methionine) – key for hooves, muscle, and coat
🍊 Vitamin C – horses can make their own, but EMS horses off pasture (and under oxidative stress) may benefit from extra support. Fresh grass is a natural source; hay contains almost none.

🌱 Linseed: Oil vs Freshly Ground
Freshly ground linseed is usually the best choice — it delivers omega‑3s plus fibre and protein (including some lysine and methionine), and supports hindgut health.
Linseed oil is pure fat with zero starch or sugar, so it’s useful if your EMS horse’s diet needs to be ultra‑tight on NSC. But it lacks the fibre/protein benefits and oxidis es quickly, so freshness and storage matter.

👉 In WA, where hay protein quality is often poor, freshly ground linseed usually gives more “bang for your buck.” But if you’re managing a post‑laminitis flare or need to strip every gram of starch/sugar, linseed oil can be a safe short‑term tool.

🐴 Why It All Matters
Removing pasture sugars protects your EMS horse today.
⚖️ Balancing the excesses in WA hay — iron, manganese, potassium, and calcium — while replacing the shortfalls in phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium, and iodine protects them tomorrow.
🏃‍♂️ And exercise? That’s the glue that holds it all together — improving insulin sensitivity, circulation, and hoof health.

✨ Laminitis prevention is never just one step — it’s the "whole" picture:
🌱 Less sugar
⚖️ Balanced minerals
💪 Daily movement (if possible)

That’s how you keep your EMS/IR horse not just laminitis‑free, but truly healthy.

🔖 Save this post for later — and share it with a friend who’s managing an EMS horse this spring.

📚 Further Reading for the Science‑Minded

Askins, M. et al. (2025). Forage NSC increases affect insulin responses in ID and non‑ID horses. GEES Symposium.
Brown, K. S. (2025). Highlights from the 2025 Global Equine Endocrinology Symposium.
Loving, N. S., DVM. (2025). How to Feed Horses Prone to Endocrinopathic Laminitis.

03/10/2025

💬 “I know I often go on about capew**d 🙄 … but a recent client’s senior horse really got me thinking.”

👉 This older horse has started coughing and struggling with exercise intolerance again — almost exactly the same time as last year.
👉 It made me wonder: could capew**d, now flowering and filling paddocks, be making things worse?

Most people think the risk is just about sugars (capew**d can hit over 30% WSC!) and laminitis.
👉 But that’s only half the story…

🌅 Morning risk – nitrates/nitrites
👉 Capew**d and flatw**d accumulate nitrates overnight.
👉 In the hindgut, these convert to nitrites, which oxidise haemoglobin into methemoglobin — a form that can’t carry oxygen.
👉 Result: 🩸 less oxygen in the blood, 😮‍💨 breathing struggles, 💔 poor circulation, 🐴 biome stress.

☀️ Afternoon risk – sugars (WSC)
👉 Photosynthesis drives sugars up later in the day.
👉 Result: 📈 insulin spikes, 🐎 laminitis trigger.

🌼 Capew**d = triple hit
1️⃣ Nitrite burden in the morning (oxygen transport + biome disruption)
2️⃣ Sugar burden in the afternoon (insulin & laminitis risk)
3️⃣ Pollen allergen when flowering (airway inflammation, asthma flares)

💪 Muscle & Nerve Stress (Stringhalt link)
👉 Capew**d & Flatw**d are linked to Australian Stringhalt.
👉 WA pastures are often low in magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) — both vital for nerve conduction and muscle relaxation.
👉 Low Mg/Na + nitrite stress = twitchiness, abnormal gait, poor stamina, and stringhalt‑like signs.
👉 Add this to asthma and circulation issues → seniors especially struggle with exercise intolerance and recovery.

⚡ The bigger picture:
👉 Capew**d and flatw**d don’t just stress the lungs and hooves — they also stress the muscles and nerves.
👉 Seniors, with decades of exposure and reduced gut resilience, are hit hardest.

✨ Take‑home: With capew**d, it’s not just about sugars.
👉 Nitrates and nitrites from w**ds like capew**d and flatw**d can affect your horse’s blood oxygen, circulation, muscles, and gut biome — especially in seniors or horses with asthma and laminitis risk.

📚 References

Asmala, T. et al. (2019). Nitrate and nitrite in forage crops and risk of toxicity in herbivores. Grass Forage Sci, 74(4):511–523.

Arai, N. et al. (2011). Methemoglobinemia due to nitrite ingestion in horses. J Vet Med Sci, 73(10):1389–1391.

NRC (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Horses. National Academies Press.

Couëtil, L.L. et al. (2020). Equine Asthma: Current understanding and future directions. Front Vet Sci, 7:450.

Grace, N.D. et al. (2010). Mineral composition of pastures and implications for grazing animals. NZ Vet J, 58(3):118–123.

Waldridge, B. (2010). Nitrate and Nitrite Toxicity in Horses. Kentucky Equine Research.

Robertson, S.A. & Muir, W.W. (2013). Equine Anaesthesia. Saunders.

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