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Learn MoreIntroduction to Equine Nutrition - Part 3
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164 students
What you'll learn
- Apply understanding of equine digestive anatomy and psychological needs to feed and manage horses appropriately
- Gain a foundational understanding of balancing equine diets for performance horses, weight gain or loss, and growing horses
- Apply feeding principles to help prevent ulcers, colic and laminitis in horses
- Create a feeding program for your horse based on the nutrition principles discussed
Explore related topics
Course content
2 sections • 16 lectures • 1h 58m total length
- Introduction to Feeding Management Case Studies0:38
Welcome to the fourth module of the Introduction to Equine Nutrition course with Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD.
In this module, we will explore common feeding scenarios as examples of optimizing your horse’s diet to meet their individual needs. This module will cover feeding for weight loss, feeding for weight gain, feeding the performance horse and feeding the growing horse.
At the end of this module, you will continue to apply your knowledge by evaluating your horse’s diet in the Capstone Activity. Let’s get started!
- Feeding the Overweight Horse (Part 1)9:30
This is the first video in a two-part lesson on feeding for weight loss. This lesson covers how to determine if a horse is overweight and introduces strategies for weight loss.
Dr. Chris Mortensen emphasizes the importance of objectively assessing body condition using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System and keeping track of your horse’s weight. He highlights the health risks associated with obesity in horses, such as arthritis, heat stress, and infertility. He also discusses factors that can lead to equine obesity, including consuming high-energy feed, reduced activity, and genetic predispositions to weight gain.
Dr. Mortensen outlines the importance of achieving a negative energy balance by managing calorie intake through diet adjustments and increasing exercise. Practical tips include reducing high-calorie feed and treats, using grazing muzzles, and providing opportunities for social contact and movement. The goal is to support the horse’s weight loss journey safely and effectively.
- Feeding the Overweight Horse (Part 2)9:43
This is Part Two of a two-part lesson on feeding horses for weight loss. This lesson provides strategies for facilitating weight loss in overweight horses through dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes.
Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD emphasizes the importance of forage in the horse’s diet and how altering forage types, such as switching from a nutrient-dense alfalfa grass blend to a mature grass hay, can reduce caloric intake.
This lesson also covers options for reducing caloric intake from forages including rationing the hay, using hay nets to prolong feeding time, and soaking hay to decrease sugar content.
Dr. Mortensen provides example diets for supporting weight loss with or without a change in forage while ensuring the diet is well-balanced.
- Feeding the Underweight Horse12:10
This lesson covers how to determine if a horse needs to gain weight and provides strategies for supporting weight gain in different management environments.
Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD recommends using tools such as a weight tape and the Henneke body condition scoring system to assess a horse’s current state. He discusses reasons why a horse might be underweight, including health issues, genetics, and environmental factors.
Dr. Mortensen then provides guidance on making adjustments to the diet, particularly through forage and supplementary calorie sources. He also stresses the importance of gradual dietary changes, regularly monitoring body weight and condition, and consulting with an equine nutritionist and veterinarian.
- Feeding the Performance Horse (Part 1)8:13
This is Part One of a two-part lesson on feeding the performance horse. This lesson focuses on identifying your horse’s level of exercise and understanding how that impacts their nutritional requirements.
Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses why it is important to maintain a performance horse at an ideal body condition. He explains the different levels of exercise (light, moderate, heavy, and very heavy) as outlined by the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses. This is used to estimate the horse’s calorie and protein needs.
Dr. Mortensen explains that the goal of feeding a performance horse is to create a forage-based diet supplemented as necessary to meet energy, vitamin, mineral, and hydration needs. Part Two will further address optimizing diets for performance horses to meet their needs.
- Feeding the Performance Horse (Part 2)5:03
This is Part Two of a two-part lesson on feeding performance horses. Examples of horses in moderate work and very heavy work are used to provide suggestions for increasing calorie supply if the horse is under-conditioned.
Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD begins the discussion with a scenario involving a horse under moderate work, suggesting the addition of beet pulp and/or oil if more calories are needed and a vitamin and mineral supplement to balance the diet. He provides additional suggestions for horses in very heavy work.
Dr. Mortensen emphasizes individualizing diets by working with an equine nutritionist and maintaining open communication with a veterinarian for optimal health and performance of the horses.
- Feeding the Growing Horse (Part 1)9:42
This is the first of a two-part lesson on feeding growing horses. This video outlines the essential stages of a horse’s development from birth until five years of age, with a special emphasis on the pre-weaning and weanling phases.
Dr. Chris Mortensen highlights the importance of proper nutrition during critical periods in the first year of life to support optimal growth. He covers the necessity of colostrum for newborn foals, transitioning to solid foods, and the role of a balanced diet in preventing developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs).
Dr. Mortensen describes typical growth patterns, the impact of season on growth, and the importance of monitoring weight gain to avoid both under and overfeeding. He gives practical advice that includes working closely with veterinarians and equine nutritionists to set up vaccination schedules, treat any health issues promptly, and develop a tailored feeding program to support optimal growth.
He concludes with an introduction to using a weight tape for monitoring growth and hints at future advice on achieving smooth growth patterns in young horses.
- Feeding the Growing Horse (Part 2)12:41
This is Part Two of a two-part lesson on feeding growing horses. This lesson provides detailed guidance on the nutritional management of young growing horses, focusing on pre-weaning and weanling phases.
Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses options for introducing feed to foals, including creep feeding or using commercial mare-and-foal feeds. He provides strategies for monitoring the foal’s growth, ensuring balanced vitamin and mineral intake, and easing the transition through weaning.
Dr. Mortensen suggests tailored diets to meet nutritional needs at different growth stages while avoiding rapid growth that can lead to developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs). He also provides recommendations for adjusting diets based on body condition scores and growth charts, emphasizing the involvement of an equine nutritionist for creating optimal diet plans.
- Activity: Assessing Individual Needs3:42
In this Capstone Activity, you will explore how your horse’s needs change as they exercise more or less and consider how you might adjust their diet.
Use Mad Barn’s free Horse Nutrition Calculator to input your horse’s diet and assess whether their requirements are being met.
Instructions:
Input your horse’s body weight, date of birth and exercise level. You can enter their body weight in either metric (kg) or imperial (lb) units by clicking the blue toggle.
Input the number of hours they have access to pasture per day, their daily hay intake and your location.
Input additional components of your horse’s feeding program by selecting feeds from the dropdown menu and entering the daily feeding rate.
Alter your horse’s exercise level by selecting “light”, “moderate”, “heavy” or “very heavy” from the drop-down menu.
Assess your horse’s diet:
Please use the table generated by Mad Barn’s Horse Nutrition Calculator to answer the following questions:
When your horse switches from maintenance to moderate exercise which nutrient requirements change?
Is the diet you were feeding to your horse at maintenance sufficient to meet your horse’s needs when they are in moderate work? What signs might you see that indicate you may need to adjust the diet?
How would you adjust the diet to meet their needs and maintain their body condition when they are in moderate work?
- Feeding Management Case Studies
- Introduction to How Nutrition Impacts Health0:45
Welcome to Module 5 of the Introduction to Equine Nutrition course with Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD.
In this module, we will explore common health conditions that are impacted by nutrition and management. This module will cover laminitis, gastric ulcers, and colic with discussion on common causes, as well as feeding and management strategies to support your horse’s health and well-being.
At the end of this module, you will continue to apply your knowledge by evaluating your horse’s diet in the Capstone Activity. Let’s get started!
- Laminitis (Part 1)7:25
This is the first video in a two-part lesson on laminitis in horses. Part One introduces laminitis, a painful condition affecting many horses.
Dr. Chris Mortensen explains the anatomy of a healthy versus laminitic hoof, showing how weakened and elongated laminae can lead to pain. The main types of laminitis are described including endocrinopathic, systemic inflammatory response, and supporting limb laminitis.
He covers how high insulin levels in horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) can contribute to laminitis.
He highlights the signs of laminitis and the importance of early veterinary consultation, setting the stage for a follow-up discussion on managing and preventing laminitis in susceptible horses.
- Laminitis (Part 2)11:42
This is Part Two of a two-part lesson on laminitis in horses, focusing on managing acute laminitis.
Dr. Chris Mortensen emphasizes feeding a diet that is low in sugar and starch to help reduce the insulin response to a meal. This includes eliminating treats, reducing grains and pasture access and knowing the starch and sugar content in your hay.
Additionally, Dr. Mortensen discusses supplementing diets with essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to support hoof health. He highlights the importance of proper farrier care during recovery.
Finally, he presents strategies for preventing laminitis recurrence, including feeding low-carbohydrate diets, regular hoof care, and addressing metabolic disease.
- Gastric Ulcers (Part 1)7:58
This lesson provides an in-depth exploration of gastric ulcers in horses, with a particular focus on the squamous region of the stomach. Dr. Chris Mortensen begins by revisiting the anatomy of the horse’s digestive system, explaining the distinctions between the squamous and glandular regions of the stomach.
He emphasizes that performance horses, such as Thoroughbreds, are particularly susceptible to squamous ulcers due to factors like stress, grain-based diets, intensive exercise, and their overall lifestyle.
Dr. Mortensen identifies the symptoms of gastric ulcers and underscores the importance of consulting with your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. He explains the causes of squamous ulcers, primarily linked to acid exposure, and offers recommendations for reducing ulcer risks. Prevention strategies include reducing grain-based feeds, providing free-choice hay, ensuring consistent water access, and reducing stress.
The upcoming video lesson will explore glandular ulcers and nutritional recommendations for maintaining optimal gastric health in horses.
- Gastric Ulcers (Part 2)9:44
This lesson examines glandular gastric ulcers in horses, a condition less prevalent than squamous ulcers. The glandular region of the equine stomach possesses protective mechanisms against ulceration, which can be compromised under certain conditions.
Dr. Chris Mortensen describes the primary factors contributing to the development of glandular ulcers, including stress, intense exercise, feeding practices, and bacterial infections. He explores strategies to mitigate these factors, such as moderating exercise regimens, increasing pasture access, minimizing grain intake, and feeding a balanced, forage-based diet.
Dr. Mortensen discusses the importance of feeding horses at least 1.5% of their body weight in forage dry matter per day. He also looks at the benefits of feeding alfalfa hay for ulcer protection, especially due to its calcium and protein content. Additionally, he explains which dietary supplements can support digestive health in horses at risk of ulcers.
- Colic7:42
Colic is a generalized term that describes abdominal pain in horses and is a leading cause of equine deaths worldwide.
In this lesson, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses how feeding and management can contribute to colic risk. Specifically, we discuss impaction colic where an obstruction in a horse’s digestive system, caused by feed, foreign materials, or sand, leads to severe health issues. We outline common signs of colic, ranging from mild behavior changes to increased heart rate, sweating and signs of distress.
Dr. Mortensen discusses the prognosis for affected horses, highlighting that while many cases can be managed without surgical intervention, some may necessitate multiple veterinary visits or even hospitalization.
Prevention strategies are emphasized, including carefully managing dietary changes, ensuring proper hydration, regular exercise, and monitoring for dental issues. We also provide detailed advice on gradually introducing feed changes over 15 days to reduce the risk of colic.
- Activity: Assessing your Horse’s Overall Diet2:20
In this capstone activity, you will utilize the information you have compiled about your horse and their diet throughout the course to conduct a final analysis. Watch this brief instructional video demonstrating how to complete this activity and then answer the following questions.
Instructions:
Based on what you have learned in this course, what final changes would you make to your horse’s diet to reduce their risk of laminitis, gastric ulcers, and colic?
Laminitis
Assess your horse’s feeding and management to identify risk factors that could contribute to laminitis.
Read this guide to the Top 17 Risk Factors for Laminitis in Horses and determine which risk factors apply to your horse
Evaluate the sugar and starch levels in the forage and feed your horse receives using the FeedBank
Review your horse’s grazing schedule and access to pasture, especially when transitioning to spring pasture grass
If risk factors are identified, what changes can you make to their feeding and management to reduce their risk of laminitis?
Gastric Ulcers
Identify potential causes of gastric ulcers in your horse’s current feeding and management practices.
Read this guide to 7 Common Causes of Gastric Ulcers in Horses to understand your horse’s risk profile
Assess the inclusion of forage in your horse’s diet and determine if there are periods when they do not have access to forage
Assess the frequency and timing of meals, availability of water and salt, and use of any medications
Consider stress-related factors such as transportation, training intensity, and social environment
If risk factors are identified, what changes can you make to their feeding and management to reduce their risk of gastric ulcers?
Colic
Examine your horse’s feeding and management to identify factors that may predispose them to colic.
Read this article on the 11 Most Common Causes of Colic to determine whether your horse is at risk
Review how much grain your horse gets in their diet as well as number of meals per day and feeding schedules
Assess your horse’s turnout schedule and amount of physical activity
Consider your horse’s water intake and access to salt
Have you recently made any dietary changes or are you planning any, such as transitioning from pasture to hay or introducing new feeds?
Consider your horse’s dental health, deworming routine, previous history of colic, use of medications or exposure to sandy environments
Write down steps that you can take to minimize the risk of colic and support gut health through dietary management.
In your final analysis, summarize the key changes you would implement in your horse’s feeding program based on the assessments above.
By completing this capstone activity, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize your horse’s diet to support their well-being, reducing the risks of common health conditions.
- How Nutrition Impacts Health
Requirements
- No experience is needed for this course, though a familiarity with horses may benefit the learner.
Description
Gain a deeper understanding of your horse’s nutrition needs. Designed for horse owners and professionals, this introductory course provides a foundation for feeding horses and balancing their diets.
Key Features
Expert-Led Lectures: Gain insights from renowned equine nutritionists and veterinarians, bringing real-world expertise and cutting-edge research to your learning experience.
Interactive Learning: Engage in interactive quizzes and practical assignments to consolidate your knowledge and apply what you've learned to your own horse(s).
Flexible Learning Path: With self-paced modules, you can progress through the course at your own speed, ensuring a thorough understanding of each topic.
Comprehensive Resources: Access a wide range of additional resources including video tutorials, case studies, podcast episodes and scientific articles to enhance your learning journey.
Personalized Support: Benefit from direct access to your instructor. You can reach out for answers to any questions you may have and for additional guidance.
This course is ideal for horse owners and equine industry participants who want to learn more about equine health and nutrition. Whether you want to take more control of feeding your horses or pursue a career in the equine industry, this course provides the basic knowledge and skills required to make informed decisions about equine diets.
Who this course is for:
- Horse owners and equine industry participants who want to learn more about equine health and nutrition.