There are 7 item(s) tagged with the keyword "equine".
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Millions of years ago, horses digestive systems evolved to continuously consume large amounts of fibrous forage while they moved from place to place at a steady pace. But in an era when few horse owners can mimic this natural diet and supporting behavior, and many horses require extra nutrients for their training regimen or aging bodies, the use of specialized fractions of whole grains is essential for owners who look to provide balanced diets that will maintain their horse’s health and productivity. As I heard at a recent conference, technology, functionality and transparency are key elements to consider when including these ingredients in equine diets.
Science is always evolving, and the science of equine nutrition is no exception. Thanks to research and developments in equine nutrition, we know that many byproducts contain nutrient levels or attributes that make them better feed ingredients for horses than the initial grain or primary end-product of the processing. The list of byproducts that provide advantages in horse diets is long – and some you may even be surprised to see on the list – but an important one is wheat middlings (or midds).
Earlier this fall, on a whim, I signed my daughter and I up for riding lessons, something neither of us have done before. My lovely colleague equestrians regularly tout its benefits for young girls, and I thought it could be a great opportunity to spend more quality time with her, while learning more about horse care and feeding, something that could help me in my job (win-win!). Given this newfound interest, I recently joined the association’s equine committee to learn about why byproducts are used in equine feed.
Anyone with a lazy cat or dog will know what I’m talking about. You come home from work, tired after a long day, and your pet has been snoozing all day. “What a rough life,” you might say. Or, “Where’s the rent? Get a job!” All in good humor, of course. In fairness, a lot of animals have jobs and serve important purposes (although, they still may not cover the rent or treats).
If I had to guess, I would say that most people have heard about this year’s astounding Kentucky Derby win. Supposing that you haven’t heard, I can summarize it for you: Rich Strike, who entered the derby due to a late scratch with 80-1 odds, blew past the rest of the pack to secure an almost unforeseeable win in May. While this is the most recent derby underdog win, this is only one of many in the horse race’s history. Although I am certainly not old enough to have seen all these runs in person, here are my top three Kentucky Derby underdog wins.
In some parts of the country, the air is starting to turn crisp and has taken on a decidedly fall-like feel – not weather we normally associate with the Kentucky Derby. But in 2020, we have learned to accept the good things that come our way, no matter how strange the timing. For the trainers and owners of horses heading to the post at Churchill Downs this Saturday, Sept. 5, many things have changed over the last five months, but the training regimens and diets provided to the horses preparing for the Run for the Roses still include the carefully crafted routines and ingredients essential to the development of equine superstars.
Many people think they know all there is to know about unicorns. They’re magical, they have horns on their heads and they make rainbows. But did you know that just like any other animal or equine species, unicorns have specific needs for nutrition?
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