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Kentucky Equine Research’s Nutrition and Health Quarterly • Volume 7, Issue 1
EQUINEWS
®
Zebras! Climbing
Around in the Horse’s
Family Tree
Round Bales–
A Square Meal?
Electrolytes–Don’t
Electrolytex–Don’t
Sweat the Small Stuff
TM

Capstone Horse Feeds
PO Box 101
Hillcrest 3650
South Africa
Ph 27 (31) 767 1093
Fax 27 (31) 767 1094
www.capstonehorsefeed.com
enquiry@capstonehorsefeed.com
Al Hamid Group
PO Box 46468
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Ph 971 2 508 2248
Fax 971 2 558 2293
www.alhamidgroup.com
Milne Agrigroup PL
103-105 Welshpool Rd.
Welshpool, WA 6106
Australia
Free Phone 1800 199 574
Fax 08 9351 0705
www.milne.com.au
pegasus@milne.com.au
Hamlool Trading Est
PO Box 8348
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Ph 971 4339 1117
Fax 971 4339 1118
hmlool@emirates.net.ae
Ridley Agriproducts PL
70-80 Bald Hill Rd
Pakenham VIC 3810
Australia
Sales 1300 666 657
Technical 1800 133 868
www.ridleyhorse.com.au
Nutrition Hotline: 1800 772 198
Website: www.ker.com
Email: equivit@ker.com
NRM NZ
100 Carlton Gore Rd.
Newmarket, Auckland
New Zealand
Free Phone: 0800-800-380
Free Fax: 0800-699-799
www.riding-room.co.nz
gretel.webber@nrm.co.nz
Mano Equestrian Services
(Pte) Ltd
Block 20 Woodlands Link
#06-32 Woodlands East
Industrial Estate 738733 Singapore
Ph 65 6756-8286
Fax 65 6756-8289
cmano@mbox3.singnet.com.sg
Research separates the innovator from the imitator. ®
KER 245

EQUINEWS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1
CONTENTS
2
Kentucky Equine Research Feeds
the Champions
4
Spotlight on Protein
6
Round Bales: A Square Meal?
11
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
13
Spotlight on Olivia Bunn
15
Climbing Around in the Horse’s Family Tree
18
A Healthy Home Life
20
Equinews Q & A
Equinews Editorial Staff
Editor Mark Llewellyn
Contributing Writers Catherine Bishop
Joe D. Pagan, Ph.D.
Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D.
Larry Lawrence, Ph.D.
Peter Huntington, BVSc
Cilla Kuiper
Sonja Vandermark (nee Gardner)
Art Director Sheri Wood
Equinews is the award-winning publication of Kentucky Equine
Research. Its intent is to present informative and entertaining
articles that advance the primary goal of Kentucky Equine
Research and its worldwide affiliates—to ensure superior
nutrition for all horses and ponies.
Equinews features on its front cover a photograph
by Charles Bishop.
U.S. subscription price is $12 per year.
®
Mark Llewellyn
EQUINEWS
Kentucky Equine Research, 3910 Delaney Ferry Road, Versailles, Kentucky
40383, USA. Telephone 859-873-1988. Fax 859-873-1163.
Kentucky Equine Research Staff
President Joe D. Pagan, Ph.D.
Vice President and Director of Business Karen Pagan
Vice President of Sales and Marketing Darrell Ward
Nutritionists Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D.
Larry Lawrence, Ph.D.
Accountant Mary Benedict
Executive Assistant Becky Young
Formulation and Quality Assurance Mike Lennox, PAg.
IT Specialist Brian Lauer
Marketing & Web Specialist Susan Hammonds
Marketing Specialist Meagan Early
Marketing Assistant Linda Tate
Research Farm Manager Delia Nash
Sales Specialist Mike Warren
Technical Support Specialist Theresa Weddington
Technical Division Coordinator Eileen Phethean
Kentucky Performance Products Manager Jason Groth
Visiting Interns Lisa Benson
Louise Tuininga
Kentucky Equine Research Australasia Staff
Kentucky Equine Research Australasia
112B Martin St., Brighton 3186, Victoria, Australia
Telephone 03 9530 6334, Fax 03 9530 6339
Nutrition Advice Hotline 1800 772 198
www.ker.com, equivit@ker.com
Director of Nutrition Peter Huntington, BVSc
Nutrition Advisors Graham Jenkinson
Cilla Kuiper
Kerrie Leech
Megan Luckhurst
Nutrition & Technical Advisor Sonja Vandermark
(nee Gardner)
Marketing Specialist Emma Roberts
Marketing Assistant Kim Oldfield
Administration Assistant Rebecca Drysdale
Chief Financial Officer Ross Graham
Business Administration Joanne Read
Kentucky Equine Research International Staff
Kentucky Equine Research International
P.O. Box 808, Versailles, KY 40383 USA
Telephone 859-873-3390, Fax 859-873-3781
General Manager Florencia Arrambide
Office Manager Jill Hutchinson
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 1
KER 351

Kentucky Equine Research Feeds the Champions
HARNESS RACING. Brooks Feed Store in Port Perry,
Ontario fueled the big winners during the fall months. In
the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, Allamerican Theory
picked up his seventh victory in 13 starts. The colt is fed
Brooks Supreme. Finishing first in the Hambletonian was
Amigo Hall, a 27-to-1 long shot powered by Pacemaker X
(formerly Brooks Extruded). Rotation won the Nat Ray in
August, the Maple Leaf Trot in September and the
American National in October, setting a track record and
pushing his lifetime earnings to more than $1.1 million.
Rotation trains and races on Rich’s Sweet Feed from the
Brooks feed line.
EVENTING. Riders sponsored by KER and Team
Members collected top honours in events all around the
globe. Jet-setting Australian event rider Olivia Bunn won
the Auckland (NZ) CCI*** Three-Day Event, held 4-7
December 2003, riding GV Danzar. Olivia is based in
Southern NSW, and competes a string of talented horses
such as GV Top of the Line and Sterling Sioux. Olivia regularly
travels overseas to represent Australia including
competing at the last two World Equestrian Games. She
was an alternate for the Australian team at the Sydney
Olympics. Olivia uses a number of KER supplements and
feeds StableMaster Phar-Lap made by Ridley AgriProducts.
US-based Australian Phillip Dutton has seen a busy
season and rode Dusky Moon to a win in the Advanced
Division 2 at Over the Walls Horse Trials in Massachusetts,
USA. Karen O’Connor claimed victory with Grand Slam in
the Advanced Division 3. At the Plantation Field Horse
Trials in Pennsylvania, USA, Phillip Dutton rode eight
horses and claimed two wins, a third and a fourth in the
Advanced divisions. Finally, Karen O’Connor earned the
individual silver medal on Joker’s Wild at the Pan
American Eventing Championship.
TENNESSEE WALKING HORSES. At the Walking Horse
National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Dr.
Charlene Cook rode her mare She’s Legal Tender to wins in
the Amateur Owned and Trained English Trail Pleasure
class and the Amateur English Trail Pleasure World Grand
Championship. Dr. Cook feeds Wrangler Horse Pellets
and Equi-Jewel from Flint River Mills.
ENDURANCE. Meg Wade of Castlebar Endurance
Arabians recently won the 2003 South Australian
Championships, finishing almost an hour in front of the
rest of the field. Meg and the Castlebar team also
snagged the top three places at a ride held in Griffith
NSW, and completed 2003 in great form by winning the
Upper Murray Challenge, a 120-km ride, held 13
December in Burrowye, Victoria. Meg has a long list of
accolades, including winning the Tom Quilty Gold Cup
three times, a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Jerez World
Equestrian Games and a second-place finish in the World
Endurance Rankings for 2001 and 2002.
DRESSAGE. Queensland-based dressage rider Ricky
Macmillan and her horse Crisp competed at the
Australian National Dressage Championships, which was
held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in
October 2003. Ricky and Crisp won the Freestyle and
placed second in the Grand Prix.
In November, the pair also competed in the CDI-W
Dressage Masters competition held in Melbourne and won
both the Grand Prix and Freestyle. While in Melbourne,
Ricky and Crisp competed at the prestigious Dressage and
Jumping with the Stars event held 13-14 December at the
Werribee Park Equestrian Centre. Here, they won both
the Grand Prix and Kur.
Due to their solid performances, Ricky and Crisp have
also qualified to ride in the World Cup Final to be held in
Dusseldorf in 2004.
Ricky is co-sponsored by KER and Team Member Ridley
AgriProducts and represented Australia at the 1998 and
2002 World Equestrian Games and 2000 Olympics.
THOROUGHBRED RACING. One after the other, races
in the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships
at Santa Anita were testaments to Hallway Feeds.
Trainer Richard Mandella saddled winners in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic, Turf and Juvenile Fillies contests.
Mandella also watched his horses finish one-two in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. All Mandella’s horses train and
race on Hallway Feeds products. Hallway also supplies
feed to trainer Bob Baffert, whose horses placed second
in the Classic and third in the Juvenile Fillies. Still
another Breeders’ Cup honor was claimed by a Hallwayfed
horse when Touch of the Blues placed in the Mile for
trainer Neil Drysdale. Seven other Hallway-fed horses
placed either fourth or fifth throughout the day of racing
by the world’s elite equines.
Congratulations to all these horses, owners, trainers,
riders, drivers, and support teams. Winning
requires a group effort, and KER is proud of its Team
Members who contribute to these successes.
2 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Fuelling Champions
Across the Globe
Kentucky Equine
Research proudly
congratulates Brooks
Performance Horse Feeds
for supplying the feed
to Amigo Hall, winner
of the $1 million
Hambletonian, and
Allamerican Theory,
winner of the $1 million
Meadowlands Pace.
1580 Hwy 7A RR4
Port Perry, Ontario L9L-1B5
Phone 905-985-7992
Fax 905-985-8297
Allamerican Theory (left) and Amigo
Hall (below) are fed feeds formulated
by Kentucky Equine Research and
manufactured by Brooks Performance
Horse Feeds.
A U S T R A L A S I A
112B Martin Street, Brighton VIC 3186
Ph 03 9530 6444, Fax 03 9530 6339
www.ker.com

SPOTLIGHT ON PROTEIN
A fear of excessive protein in horse diets has crept into
the conscience of horsemen over the years. Two decades
ago protein was considered the most important component
of feed, but now it seems to be dreaded. Part of this doubt
stems from the flock of problems assumed to be caused by
protein. The resulting “protein phobia” has sprung from a
misunderstanding of the true working of protein in the
horse’s body.
Knowledge of this vital nutrient by horsemen will alleviate
unfounded fears and will allow for educated selection
of appropriate protein feedstuffs in the diets of horses.
Protein- What’s It Good For?
The word protein is derived from the Greek word meaning
“of prime importance.” Once water and fat are removed
from the body, 80% of what is left is protein. For a 500-kg
horse, that equates to about 110 kilos of protein.
Proteins are complex molecules made up of small building
blocks called amino acids. An amino acid is composed of an
amino group that contains nitrogen, an organic acid group,
and a side chain. The structure of the side chain determines
the unique properties of an amino acid. Twenty-two amino
acids have been identified. In various combinations, these
amino acids form thousands of proteins.
Proteins in horse feeds are broken down by the gastrointestinal
tract into individual amino acids for absorption
into the bloodstream. Once they arrive at their target
organs, amino acids reassemble and become important
components of body processes both large and small.
Not Intended as an Energy Source
The protein percentage on the feed tag is not an indication
of the amount of energy (or calories) in the feed. The
primary reason for inclusion of protein in a feed is for tissue
generation or renewal, not as a source of calories.
It is, however, important to match the percentage of
protein in the feed to the requirements of the horse. A
14% concentrate would be more suitable for a growing
horse or a pregnant mare than a mature horse performing
little to no work. Feeds formulated for pregnant mares or
growing horses contain more protein than other feeds
because these horses must not only replace everyday protein
losses but must have enough of the nutrient available
for developing tissues.
Protein can be used as a source of calories, but the
body’s mechanism for converting protein to usable energy
is inefficient and can produce excessive internal heat. If a
diet is overabundant in protein, the horse will convert it to
glycogen or fat.
Excessive protein in the diet is in no way harmful to the
4 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1
horse when it’s in the body. When nitrogen, in the form of
urea, is excreted into the environment by way of urine it
may cause a problem. Urea interacts with common stallfloor
microorganisms and becomes ammonia. Long-term
exposure to ammonia due to inadequate stable management
or poor ventilation can permanently damage the
lung tissue of horses, particularly young ones.
Excess dietary protein has been criticized for causing
health problems in horses including developmental orthopedic
disease (DOD) and tying up. In both cases research has
shown no direct link of excessive protein to these disorders.
Not Enough Protein?
Horses maintain a tremendous reserve of protein in the
form of muscle. When insufficient protein is consumed,
the body will mobilize amino acids from muscle and use
them to keep body processes running smoothly.

In some areas of the world, particularly third-world
countries such as those in Asia and Africa, protein malnutrition
among horses is a common occurrence. Farmers in
these nations can rarely afford to buy feed for their horses,
so the horses become dependent on scant, poor-quality
forage. Protein-deficient horses are not only skinny but
lack muscle tissue and definition.
In Australia, protein deficiency is seen most frequently
in cases of neglect, particularly in young and old horses
that are left to fend for themselves. Minor protein deficiency
can be subtle and expressed as merely a lack of
muscle development comparable to the amount of work
the horse is getting or even a lack of energy and willingness
to work. Subtle deficiencies such as this usually
surface in easy keepers that are receiving little more than
inferior hay.
Protein Content of the Diet
Many horse owners rely too heavily upon the protein
content of the concentrate without taking into consideration
the protein content of the forage the horse is eating.
On average, the majority of a horse’s protein requirement
is being met by the forage portion of the diet. The amount
in the concentrate may not be adding any more than 10 or
20% to fulfilling this requirement.
Pasture grasses
Horsemen are often surprised to learn that spring grass
can have a protein content as high as 26% on a dry matter
basis. Intakes of pasture are often over 9 kilos a day on a
dry matter basis, which would indicate that horses may be
receiving as much as 2.2 kilos of protein per day from pasture
alone. When this is considered, the slight difference
found between a 10% and a 12% protein feed seems
insignificant.
The protein content of pasture grasses fluctuates
according to plant type and season. Grass tested for protein
content in the dead of winter when very little green
is left can still contain as much as 12% protein on a dry
matter basis.
The area of the country may also influence protein content
of fresh grass. Grasses that grow well in summer
climates tend to be lower in protein in the early stages of
growth, ranging from 8% to 14%.
As high as the protein may be in pasture grasses, it is
rarely blamed for making a horse excitable. This is not to
say, however, that horses do not become high-strung on
pasture alone. These times usually coincide when sugar
content is elevated in grasses. The consensus among
researchers is that the sugar is making the horse reactive,
not the protein.
Hays
The protein content of hays varies widely, from 4% to
22%, and depends largely on type and stage of maturity
when harvested. Legume hays such as lucerne and clover
will be higher in protein than the majority of grass hays.
Stage of maturity is an important factor in considering
protein content of hay. This is particularly true of grass
hays. A mature ryegrass hay (seed heads visible) may have
5% protein, but a young, leafy rye may have up to 12%
protein.
Mixed hays also have variable amounts of protein based
on plant proportion. If the mix contains significant
lucerne, for example, protein content will be higher.
Commercial feeds
The amount of protein in commercial feeds is listed on
the feed tag as a percentage, not as an absolute amount.
The amount of protein a horse will receive from a feed is
dependent on the quantity fed. For instance, if 2.5 kilos of
a 10% protein feed is fed, the horse is consuming 250
grams of protein (2.5 kilos X 10% = 0.250 kilos). If the
horse is fed 4.5 kilos of this feed, the horse is consuming
450 grams of protein (4.5 kilos x 10% = 0.450 kilos).
There is little difference in a 10% or 12% feed if a horse
is consuming the minimal recommended amount. A horse
that receives 2 kilos of a 10% feed will be ingesting 200
grams of protein. The same amount of a 12% feed affords
the horse 240 grams of protein.
Concentrate feeds are much higher in protein. If the
percentage of protein in these feeds were low, requirements
would not be met. For instance, a horse that eats
1 kilo of a 25% protein supplement pellet will receive 250
grams of protein. This is significantly less than the
amount of protein a horse may get from his hay (8 kg of
mixed grass hay with 8% protein supplies 640 g of protein,
and 8 kg of a prime lucerne hay at 19% protein
supplies 1520 g of protein), but it does help meet the
requirements of the horse. The protein in the concentrate
feed may include important amino acids not found in
the hay, making it a suitable complementary feed.
Concentrate feeds supply more protein kilo for kilo than a
10% protein full feed.
Concentrate feeds are usually more expensive because
of the high concentration of protein. Protein is, after all,
one of the most expensive nutrients in any feedstuff.
Conclusion
There is no need to fear protein in horse feeds. Horses
must consume protein in order to replace that which is
used in normal body processes. When choosing a feed,
remember that protein content on feed tags is listed as a
percentage, and amount of feed consumed will ultimately
determine how much protein is fed.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 5

ROUND BALES:
A Square Meal?
All horsemen can agree that their steeds require forage as part of a
well-balanced diet. When discussions turn to how best to supply that
forage, agreement often fades. One debate lingers in the horse com-
munity: Is round-baled hay a safe, nutritious forage for horses? The
crux of the debate, however, may have less to do with practice than
principle: if the key principles of harvesting and storing hay are
observed, round bales can deliver high-quality nutrition to horses.

To maximize the nutritional content of round-baled hay,
it should be mowed when plants are still immature, just
prior to developing a head (in grasses such as rye, fescue,
or phalaris) or blossom (in legumes such as lucerne or
clover). Young plants pack the greatest nutritional punch
because of their nutrient-rich leaves, low lignin content
and soft, lithe stems.
As forages grow into and beyond the bloom stages, their
nutrient density wanes. Stems become coarse and stiff,
which boosts the fibrous fraction of the hay, and leaves are
less likely to remain anchored to the plant. Leaf loss is
most notable in overmature legume hays. The following
table compares the nutrient content of American timothy
hay in the early and late bloom stages. A precipitous
decline in digestible energy and crude protein is evident.
STAGE OF MATURITY
EARLY BOOT LATE BOOT
Digestible Energy (Mcal/kg) 1.83 1.59
Crude Protein (%) 10.0 7.0
Acid Detergent Fiber (%) 31 37
Neutral Detergent Fiber (%) 55 70
In the production of round-baled hay, grasses seem to
fare better than legumes, as they form a close-knit thatch,
or outer covering, that protects the inside of the bale from
moisture. Legumes, which may be especially stemmy if
baled past their prime, form a
looser, more penetrable thatch
that leaves the core of the bale
susceptible to moisture.
All hay should be baled when
moisture content is 15% or less.
Sweating, the heating of baled
hay due to plant respiration and
microbial activity following baling,
cannot occur if hay is baled
below 15% moisture. In all likelihood,
however, hay will be baled
when moisture content is
between 15% and 18%. At this
level enough heat is generated to
cause a slight drop in digestibility.
From a visual standpoint,
heating may cause hay to lose
much of its colour, though no significant
effect on quality occurs.
Hay that is baled at greater
than 20% moisture will undergo
profound nutrient losses and extensive loss of colour, often
darkening to a deep brown or black. Spoilage brought
about by heating and microorganism proliferation can be
extensive. Microbial growth is the primary cause of dustiness
in hay that is baled too wet. What appears to be dust
is actually fungal spores, which can give rise to digestive
and respiratory disorders in horses.
A safety concern also exists when plants are fraught
with moisture at the time of baling. Temperatures within
high-moisture bales can easily soar past 60° C, and spontaneous
combustion is likely if core temperatures exceed
76° C. Self-ignition can be disastrous, particularly if the
hay is stored in a wooden structure.
Storing Round-baled Hay
Second only to meticulous harvesting, storage is a critical
consideration if round-baled hay is to be fed to horses.
Storing well-preserved hay in a shed or barn eliminates
virtually all losses associated with exposure to elements,
also known as weathering. A simple pole shed is all that is
needed to protect hay from weather-related spoilage.
Dimensions of the shed will vary depending on how much
hay is stored, though ceilings should be two feet higher
than the tallest stack to allow for air circulation and for
ease of bale handling.
Less expensive ways of storing round-baled hay are
available. Storing hay outdoors and uncovered is a low-cost
option. Losses caused by weathering, however, can be
When round bales are placed directly on the ground, horses and
ponies will often peel off the weathered hay and eat the more
palatable hay in the center.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 7

significant. In dry areas, these losses may be minimal, but
in areas that experience more than 600 millimetres of rain
per year nutrient values of the hay will plummet and
wastage will skyrocket. In high rainfall districts (1000 to
1500 millimetres annually), it is not uncommon to find
the outer ten to twenty centimetres, approximately one
quarter to one half of a one and a half metre diameter
bale, ruined. The percentage of hay affected by weathering
depends on bale size. The table below illustrates the relationship
between bale size and degree of weathering.
Depth of Weathered Layer (cm)
BALE DIMENSIONS 5 10 15 20
Diameter Width Percentage of Bale Volume Weathered
1.2 m 1.2 m 16 31 44 56
1.5 m 1.2 m 13 25 36 46
1.8 m 1.5 m 11 21 31 40
Reprinted from “Round Bale Hay Storage in Kentucky” by M. Collins, D. Ditsch,
J.C. Henning, L.W. Turner, S. Isaacs, and G.D. Lacefield. University of Kentucky
Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet AGR-171.
If outdoor storage is unavoidable, there are steps that
can be taken to prevent weathering losses. Stacking hay
directly on the ground will cause wicking of moisture at
the base of the bale and will heighten wastage. To curtail
this, hay can be stacked on wooden pallets, railway sleepers,
or old tires. Another way to reduce base deterioration
is to stack bales on ten to twenty centimetres of crushed
rock. Stones that are 5 centimetres or larger will work
best. A rock foundation allows rain to drain quickly away
from the hay. One other significant advantage of a stone
surface is ease of operating bale-moving machinery. While
the initial investment may be somewhat expensive, a dedicated
area for round-bale storage will last for several years.
Though it may seem like a logical location, round bales
should not be situated under trees as their canopies will
block wind and sunlight, two factors that
speed drying following precipitation. In hilly
country, bales should be stacked on ridges
rather than in valleys as this will maximize
exposure to wind. In addition, water is more
likely to pool in valleys, increasing the likelihood
that bales will sit in moist areas for
longer periods. One disadvantage of stacking
hay on hilltops is uncertain accessibility during
wet or muddy conditions.
Method of stacking is also an important
consideration. Round bales should be
stacked so there is approximately 45 cen-
timetres between them. Not only does this space allow for
increased airflow, but it keeps rainwater from being
trapped among bales. When several bales of hay must be
stored, a north-south orientation with bales positioned
end to end is ideal. By doing this, the sides of the bales
receive an equal amount of sunlight, which encourages
more uniform drying.
Hay may also be draped with heavy, reusable tarps. If
tarps are used, stack the hay in a pyramid formation so a
peak is created; this arrangement allows water to run off
immediately. Tarps should be constructed of canvas or
other durable material and must be securely fastened to
the ground. Plastic tarps should be avoided as water can
condense on the underside, which may contribute to
spoilage. The use of plastic tarps, however, is preferable to
not covering bales at all.
If the haymaker is using a late-model baler, plastic wrap
can be applied to round bales at the time of baling to help
preserve the hay. Different types of plastic can be used.
Specialized plastics, such as those with ultraviolet
inhibitors, can be costly. A less expensive alternative is
net wrap, a porous covering that shields bales from water
but allows greater airflow than plastic.
In a trial conducted by researchers at the University of
Georgia, USA, several round bales of Bermuda grass and
fescue hay were stored in one of three ways: uncovered
outside, covered with a waterproof tarp, and in a pole
shed. All of the hay was baled on the same day in early
summer. Moisture content was measured at the beginning
and end of storage, and degree of spoilage was determined
at the conclusion of the trial. All final measurements were
taken in early February, after approximately seven months
of storage.
The moisture content of the hay at the onset of the trial
was 7% and 12% for Bermuda grass and fescue, respectively.
The following table indicates the moisture content of
the bales following storage and the depth of spoilage.
From this trial, it is obvious that shed storage affords
the greatest preservation of forage, though protecting hay
with a waterproof tarp significantly decreases spoilage
Percent Moisture Total
Grass Treatment Initial End of Trial Spoilage
Bermuda Uncovered 7% 15% 31%
Tarp 7% 10% 8%
Barn 7% 8% 0%
Fescue Uncovered 12% 22% 28%
Tarp 12% 12% 12%
Barn 12% 9% 0%
8 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

losses. Savings from reduced spoilage of hay bales can,
over time, recoup the cost of heavy-duty tarps or a simple
pole shed.
For Horses?
Round-baled hay offers several advantages to horsemen.
At the top of this list is cost. On a weight-for-weight basis,
round bales are often less expensive than square bales
because manufacture of round bales is less labour-intensive
for hay producers.
For large bands or several small groups of horses, round
bales offer the distinct benefit of convenience.
Manoeuvering round bales with machinery once or twice
weekly (or however often is necessary) is easier than throwing
individual portions over fences several times daily.
If enough horses dine on the hay, a round bale may not
last long enough in a group-feeding situation to worry
about wastage. Four horses can usually consume a round
bale before significant wastage occurs. If, however, the
bale will keep fewer horses satisfied for a longer period, it
is best to offer the hay in a covered area such as a run-in
shed. If more than six horses are pastured together, at
least two bales should be placed in the field in separate
locations to prevent a dominant horse from monopolizing
the meal.
Round-bale feeders specifically designed for horses are
available. One distinct advantage of these feeders is a
reduction in wastage when compared to offering freestanding
bales. Horses will often soil unwanted hay and
have been known to bed down on generous expanses of
hay if it is not contained in a feeder.
Feeders intended for cattle should be avoided. Most
horses are tall enough to reach over the top of these feeders,
misshaping the bars of the feeder in the process. As
the hay is eaten, the bale often collapses, and horses may
have to put their heads between narrowly spaced bars.
Such tight places can lead to head and neck injuries if
horses are startled when feeding.
Horsemen should be aware of one decided disadvantage
to feeding round-baled hay. Round bales stored outdoors
are more likely to develop mold than those protected by a
barn or otherwise covered. If horses eat moldy hay, there is
a chance that colic may ensue. Low levels of mold may also
increase the possibility of respiratory disease. Therefore, it’s
imperative that only high-quality hay be offered to horses.
Any hay that appears moldy should be discarded.
Meeting the Nutrient Quota
As with other horses on all-forage diets, those that consume
only round-baled hay, regardless of its quality,
should be fed a vitamin and mineral supplement. Even the
finest hay loses much of its vitamin content between cutting
and feeding. A well-balanced vitamin and mineral
supplement, such as Equivit All-Phase (Kentucky Equine
Research, 1800-772-198) will compensate for such imbalances
in key nutrients.
When round-baled hay is used, horse owners forfeit the
ability to closely monitor intake. This may result in easy
keepers becoming obese.
Round-baled hay can be a safe forage for horses.
Selection criteria for round-baled hay differs little from
that of traditional, square-baled hay. Aromatic hay that is
free of weeds, dust, and foreign objects is always the right
choice. If large quantities of round-baled hay are purchased,
proper storage is imperative to reduce the amount
of forage affected by weathering.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 9
Mark Llewellyn
Round-bale feeders
designed specifically for
horses prevent forage
from becoming soiled
and unappetising.

Breeding Growing
Spelling & Retirement
How can one feed be suitable for all phases of your horse's life? ALL-PHASE is a unique, concentrated supplement pellet that supplies nutrients required for all life stages. Combined
with forage and straight grains, if necessary, ALL-PHASE is fed at different rates to provide a perfectly balanced diet, no matter if your horse is a broodmare eating for two,
a growing yearling, a spelling horse living in leisure, a performance horse in work or a retired horse enjoying top-quality care. ALL-PHASE's low-feeding rate of 500 g to 1 kg per day
allows you to control energy intake without compromising nutrient balance, and its versatility makes it easy to manage a number of horses at varying life stages.
Make a small change, see a big difference.
Free Feeding Nutrition Advice
&
Performance
1800 772 198
equivit@ker.com
w w w . k e r . c o m
Research separates the innovator from the imitator ®
Belinda Renz - Belcam International
Julie Wilson
KER 347

Summertime means hot horses. Working horses in heat and humidity can induce profuse
sweating relatively quickly. Australia’s unforgiving summer climate can lead to extraordinary
sweat losses in all classes of horses, which corresponds to large losses of both water and
electrolytes. Replacing electrolytes is easy as pie, yet many horse owners get confused
about how and when to supplement and which electrolyte product will suit their purpose.
Performance horses
require electrolyte
supplementation for
optimal performance.
Mark Llewellyn
Why supplement electrolytes?
Horse sweat is much more concentrated with electrolytes
(sodium 28%, chloride 52%, potassium 15.3% and
magnesium 1%) than human sweat. When humans sweat,
they predominantly lose water, with just a small amount
of these salts. Losing large volumes of water causes the
electrolyte concentration in the blood to rise slightly. This
increased concentration of electrolytes triggers a thirst
response—the unconscious motivation to drink.
Heavy-sweating horses lose both water and large volumes
of electrolytes. Though the blood is thickened
because of water loss, electrolyte concentration remains
constant due to the corresponding depletion of electrolytes.
Because there is no rise in blood electrolyte
levels, no thirst response is set into motion. The horse
does not receive a physiological signal to drink even when
severe dehydration may be developing. By administering
balanced electrolytes to the horse after heavy sweating,
salt levels become elevated in the blood, thus activating
the thirst response and restoring the body’s hydration levels
and blood-salt parameters.
Which horses need electrolytes?
All horses that work hard enough to sweat require electrolytes
if they are to recover quickly and rehydrate
completely before the next work effort. In addition to
work, travel and stress can also induce heavy sweating,
and electrolytes should be administered to counter the
effects of this sweat loss. A horse travelling a few hours to
a competition on a hot day may lose up to 25 litres of
sweat before it even arrives at the event, and if these
losses are not replaced expediently, the horse may start
the competition in a state of dehydration.
Without electrolytes, most horses working at light to
moderate levels once or twice per week will recover eventually
provided they have free-choice access to salt and
fresh water. At higher levels of work (daily riding at moderate
or intense levels), however, electrolyte losses can
occur more quickly, leading to a variety of problems
including muscle cramps, tying up, ill thrift and general
lethargy.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 11

When do horses need electrolytes?
The best time to give electrolytes is after hard work or
any activity that makes the horse sweat. In an effort to
ward off electrolyte depletion and dehydration, preloading
electrolytes is a popular practice for performance
horses. In reality, this practice has less value than supplementing
after exercise. Electrolytes are not stored in the
body and any electrolytes not needed at the time of
administration are rapidly excreted in the urine.
Discarding of these electrolytes removes water from the
body, as the salts must be sufficiently diluted before
being expelled. Therefore, oversupplementing electrolytes
prior to a ride can actually dehydrate a horse further,
especially if there is insufficient access to drinking water
or if a horse refuses to drink readily.
For instance, in endurance competitions, where dehydration
is a major cause of disqualification, extreme
caution must be used with electrolyte replacers if the
horse has not been drinking freely. Oversupplementing
horses with marginal fluid intake can leach precious water
from the hindgut and lead to colic and other dehydrationrelated
problems.
How much of an electrolyte product should
be supplemented?
Some horses sweat more than others, so it’s important
to monitor sweat losses in order to work out how much of
an electrolyte product will be needed. Fat horses will
sweat more than thin ones, and unfit horses more than fit
ones. Nervous or excitable horses tend to sweat more than
their steady and calm counterparts and, of course, all
horses will sweat more when the weather is hot and
humid. Be aware that on hot, windy days when the heat is
dry, underestimation of sweat losses may occur due to
rapid evaporation of sweat from the skin. Just because a
horse finishes a ride dry, doesn’t mean he hasn’t suffered
substantial electrolyte losses.
A good way to monitor sweat losses, though impossible
for most riders, is to weigh the horse before and after riding
or travel. Each kilo of body weight lost is equal to one
litre of sweat (minus any faecal or
urine losses). As a more practical
alternative, you can estimate sweat
losses as light, moderate or heavy Electrolyte
and judge requirements based on
the following analysis of losses (see Sodium (Na+)
Table 1).
Chloride (Cl-)
Of course, some of these daily
requirements will be met by feed. Potassium (K+)
Potassium and magnesium requirements
are generally met on a Magnesium (Mg++)
day-to-day basis when sufficient
hay, pasture or chaff is being fed.
Therefore, the main requirement is for sodium and chloride
(salt is composed of 39% sodium and 61% chloride).
Normal table or rock salt is usually all the average horse
performing light or moderate work will need. A daily
intake of around 50 g per day for a 500-kg horse will meet
requirements in average weather when enough quality
roughage is available.
When horses are working and sweating harder or
roughage levels are relatively low (e.g., if hay is cut down
prior to competition, if a long journey precludes the horse
from being able to eat enough hay, or if the roughage is
low quality), then the full complement of electrolytes will
be required.
In extreme heat and humidity, daily salt requirements
may be as high as 80-100 g per day for working horses to
maintain the balance, and after a workout or long journey,
electrolytes may need to be given in addition to this salt to
make up for sweat losses.
Figuring exact electrolyte requirements to the gram can
be a little daunting, but as long as the level of supplementation
and the amount of salt in the diet is known, a basic
guideline of how much of a given electrolyte to feed is simple.
The rules of feeding electrolytes are as follows:
1. Feed adequate salt on a daily basis to match climate and
average work and sweating levels. Ranges vary from 20 g
for the maintenance horse in cool conditions to 120 g
for the hardworking horse in extreme heat and humidity.
Remember to take out the amount of salt included in
any premixed feeds (e.g., 2 kg of feed containing 1%
salt would provide 20 g salt).
2. Judge sweating level after each workout or at rest stops
in a long journey and score the amount of sweat as
light, moderate or heavy.
3. Choose an electrolyte with a label that clearly states
how much of each electrolyte is contained and work out
a level of supplementation for each level of sweating
based on sodium requirements. Sodium is the most
important electrolyte.
Sweat Losses (litres/day)
12 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com
Rest
10
34
25
10
5 litres sweat
25
65
34
11
10 litres sweat
Table 1. Total daily electrolyte requirements (grams/day) for a 500-kg horse.
43
94
43
12
25 litres sweat
93
184
70
15

Photo: Roz Neave
Spotlight on Olivia Bunn
Twenty-four-year-old eventing rider Olivia Bunn has been a KER ambassador and a
member of Team Equivit for the past three years. She regularly travels to compete
internationally and rode at the last two World Equestrian Games. She was first
reserve for the Australian team at the Sydney Olympics, and is currently vying for
selection for the Athens Olympics.
My day usually consists of working my five three-day event horses from
6:30 a.m. to about 11 a.m. As a three-day event approaches and the
horses become fitter, it takes a little longer to ride them.
Once I am done riding, I work on the family vineyard and don’t finish until
late into the evening during harvest time. The vineyard is approximately 20 km
from our farm, which is 60 km north of Wagga Wagga in NSW. At the vineyard, I
am involved in monitoring and predicting crop yields three afternoons a week.
The other two weekday afternoons are spent doing odd jobs on the farm.
I am also involved in the development of our Merino sheep stud, which I really enjoy. I help select sire rams that
cover the entire flock through artificial insemination, embryo transfer and yard-joining techniques. I play touch footy
in Wagga on Wednesday nights, and on the weekends when I am not competing, I enjoy watching sport. I am a bit of a
sports fan! I also love reading a good book.
Whilst competing at one-day or three-day events, my horses must endure a huge amount of physical exertion and it
is vital that they recover as quickly as possible. I use Restore to help them bounce back from an exhausting cross-country
day. I find it encourages them to drink, which decreases the risk of them tying up, and makes them feel great the
next day. I also feed Restore when they have had a hard session such as a galloping day and after they have travelled.
By using this method to come up with a ballpark figure,
electrolyte needs can be easily assessed based on the feeding
programme and weather conditions.
How should electrolytes be fed?
Electrolytes do not typically taste pleasant, so horses will
not often eat them by choice. Small amounts of electrolytes
can be mixed with feed and molasses water. With large
amounts, though, it’s best to mix the electrolytes into a
paste with water, applesauce or yogurt and give them orally,
just as you would a dewormer. If the horse has sweated
Light sweating Moderate sweating Heavy sweating
Cool climate Warm and muggy climate Hot and humid climate
Sodium requirement 25 g 43 g 93 g
Sodium fed in daily salt (39% sodium) 11.7 g 19.5 g 46.8 g
(30 g salt) (50 g salt) (120 g salt)
Sodium shortfall 13.3 g 23.5 g 46.2 g
(25-11.7) (43-19.5) (93-46.8)
Electrolytes required based on 49.2 87.0 171.1
formulation containing 27% sodium (13.3/27)*100 (23.5/27)*100 (46.2/27)*100
Actual amount of electrolyte 1.5 scoops 3 scoops 5.5 scoops
based on a 30-g scoop
Table 2. Calculating electrolyte requirements based on sodium, average work level and ambient conditions.
excessively and more than 60 g of a concentrated powdered
electrolyte is needed, it may be best to give half immediately
after the ride and half a couple of hours later.
Giving electrolytes in the drinking water is not generally
recommended unless a horse is familiar with the mixture.
Often the horse will not drink the whole amount and will
miss out on the important electrolytes.
When feeding liquid electrolytes, it’s important that the
sodium content be calculated correctly, as often these supplements
need to be given in fairly large volumes to satisfy
sodium requirements.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 13

Many stressed horses develop ulcers.
Neigh-Lox
is recommended
for all the
stressful times
in your horse’s life.
Yours shouldn’t be one of them.
For more information call 1-800-772-1988.

Zeke and Rufus are pasturemates.
They nibble the same
grass, drink the same water,
and flop down under the
same trees for a roll in the
dust and a shady afternoon nap. In the
evening they get called into adjacent
stalls where they munch identical feed
and then nose through generous helpings
of sweet green hay.
Although they live parallel lives, Zeke
the plains zebra and Rufus the southern
white rhinoceros will never be close
friends. It seems that Zeke can’t resist
sneaking up on Rufus, darting in for a
quick nip or kick, and then racing away
a split second before the much larger
rhinoceros can react. Is it aggression or
just youthful mischief?
Gary Ochsenbein, superintendent of
the Virginia State Zoo at Norfolk, USA,
won’t hazard a guess as to Zeke’s motivation.
These animals share the same
habitat in nature, Gary explained, and
when the recently constructed eightacre
African exhibit opened last year,
the decision was made to let the zoo’s
two zebras and three rhinos live together.
So far, the arrangement seems to be
working well, in spite of a few turf-war
encounters.
Other zoos that exhibit zebras and
rhinos together have reported the same
type of interaction, according to Denise
Luckey, who takes care of the striped
equines on a daily basis. She has
noticed that some zebra behaviour is
quite similar to that of domestic horses.
“Their ears pin in aggression and go forward
with interest,” she said. “They will
‘blow’ at things they are unsure or afraid
of, just like horses. When they are nervous,
they swish their tails-the more the
tail goes, the more nervous they are.”
The zebra stallion and mare at
Norfolk are turned out all day, and have
learned to come in when they hear a
keeper shaking a can of pebbles. April,
the mare, is always eager for dinner and
goes right into her stall. She will come
when called by name, and has also
responded well to target training. “April
Catherine Bishop
Climbing Around
in the Horse’s
Family Tree

Catherine Bishop
Zebras at the Virginia Zoo eat
grass, free-choice timothy hay, and
lucerne-based supplement pellets.
is much braver and more curious about things than Zeke,”
Denise commented. “She can be downright nosy, chewing
on the hose and checking out the tools and the garbage
can. She is afraid of tools in my hand, but anything sitting
by itself is fair game.” April is also easier to handle than
Zeke, Denise said. “She will let me walk around her and
touch both sides of her body, but we are still working on
touching her legs.”
The zebra stallion is not as approachable. “While Zeke
won’t let you touch him, he has never shown any signs of
aggression,” Denise said. “He will flee if you get too close,
but he has never attempted to bite or kick a keeper. It
might be different if he were cornered, but given space to
move past you, he has been fine.” She has worked with
zebras that were dangerously aggressive, and speculated
that three-year-old Zeke’s temperament might change as
he matures.
Zebras have the same strong survival instincts as other
wild animals, and their actions reflect the fact that safety
depends on careful attention to anything that looks,
smells, or sounds different. Denise reported that both
zebras are always on guard, but to different degrees. “April
is still very skittish and is afraid of anything I might carry
into the stall. It took a long time to go from having her
target on the outside of the stall to coming to the target
with me in the stall, even though without the target she
would come to me and let me touch her. I tried for quite a
while to get Zeke to respond to the target, but he is just
too fearful.”
Zeke is quite cautious, Denise said, giving an example to
illustrate her point. “Once I left a puzzle feeder made out
of a bleach bottle sitting right on top of his hay, so he had
to deal with it. The next morning every bit of the hay was
gone, but the bottle still sat upright, full of food, in the
same spot. He must have pulled the hay out from under it
piece by piece to avoid touching it.”
The zebras and rhinoceroses have similar diets, although
amounts are adjusted to fit their different weights. Zoo
curator Louise Hill said that the animals are given a
lucerne-based pelleted concentrate twice a day. Freechoice
timothy grass hay is available in the daytime
exhibit area and also when the animals are stalled at
night. In addition, brush and tree branches are offered to
many of the zoo’s charges, including the elephants, to provide
variety in their diets. Louise explained, “We cut some
of the browse here on the zoo grounds, and also ask the
public to bring their tree trimmings. We screen everything
to make sure there is nothing toxic, and then we let the
animals choose what they want to eat. Some of them
spend a lot of time going through the vegetation, selecting
just what appeals to them, while other individuals
aren’t as interested.” She also said fruits and vegetables
such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples are offered
once a week.
Charlene Wright shares the responsibility of caring for
the zebras and rhinos. All the zoo animals are vaccinated
against rabies, she said, and the zebras are also protected
against diseases such as equine encephalomyelitis and West
Nile virus. The vaccinations are administered by dart gun.
Moving around their habitat has kept the zebras’ hooves
evenly worn down, so they have not required the regular
trimmings that must be scheduled for horses. Although colic
and enteroliths (intestinal stones) have been reported in
some captive zebras, the Virginia Zoo has never encountered
problems with these conditions. “We’re fortunate that
our animals have stayed very healthy,” she said.
When needed, medical care is provided by zoo veterinarian
John Sangenario. Even routine treatment presents a
significant challenge when the subject weighs several
times as much as a horse and stands more than five feet
high at the shoulder. Charlene explained that no one knew
how Jessie, the female rhinoceros, would react to having a
16 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com
Catherine Bishop

Zebras and Rhinos and Tapirs—Oh My!
Zebras and rhinoceroses share more than just space in a zoo exhibit. Along with other equine species and several
types of tapirs, they make up the taxonomic order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). All perissodactyls are
herbivores (plant eaters), and as such they have digestive systems that are very similar to that of the domestic
horse, but are distinctly different from those of ruminant (cud-chewing) herbivores such as cattle. Whether they
favour grasses (grazers) or prefer to eat brush, leaves, and twigs
(browsers), all perissodactyls derive nourishment from fibrous
plants.
There are only three families of perissodactyls on earth today,
comprising about 17 species. Domestic horses and Przewalski’s
horses share the equine group with wild asses and several types
of zebras. Three species of rhinoceroses and four of tapirs round
out the classification.
Among these animals, tapirs are probably the least familiar to
most people. The Baird’s tapir is found in Central America where
it lives in isolated pockets of dense jungle. Dining on fruit, seeds,
and foliage, this agile but shy animal stands three to four feet
high at the shoulder and may grow to over six feet long. The barrel-shaped
body is supported on short, stocky legs, and the head
has an elongated, flexible upper lip. Young animals have reddish
hair spotted and striped with white, while adults have dark
bristly hair with paler cheeks, throat, and ear tips. Baird’s tapirs usually feed at night near forest borders, retreating
to streams or pools if disturbed. Their endangered status results from a low reproductive rate as well as
habitat pressure from hunting and other human activities.
sore foot examined. Initial approaches went well, however, and the rhino allowed her foot to be x-rayed and then to be
soaked in an Epsom salts solution. Because rhinos don’t naturally raise their feet very high, it took some ingenuity to
accomplish these seemingly simple tasks.
Zoos across the country, and indeed around the world, have developed a strong network to share information, cooperate
in conservation efforts, and brainstorm about every aspect of animal care. For instance, when they needed some input
on Jessie’s x-rays, the Norfolk zookeepers sent the
Rhinoceroses and zebras live
together in nature, require similar
diets, and share the characteristic
of having odd-numbered toes.
images to a vet at The Wilds, an Ohio conservation
centre that collaborates with the International
Rhino Foundation. The Virginia Zoo also participates
in Species Survival Plans (SSPs) for many of its animals.
Each SSP is a comprehensive outline that
allows a number of zoos and aquariums to work
together on breeding plans that would not be possible
for each independent facility.
The Virginia Zoo owns two critically endangered
Baird’s tapirs, but does not exhibit them because the
animals are on long-term loan for one such breeding
effort. Pressure from development has led to shrinking
natural habitats for many wild animals, and all
but a few varieties of zebra, tapir, and rhinoceros are
presently on international lists of threatened or
endangered species. In addition to keeping their animals
healthy and contented today, zoos play a
critical role in preserving biologic diversity for
tomorrow’s visitors.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 17

A Healthy
Home Life
Horses are stabled for a variety of reasons.
Injured or sick horses are often confined while
they mend or recuperate. Quarantine regulations,
either to prevent the spread of disease or
as part of importation and exportation requirements,
sometimes dictate that horses be housed for long
stretches. In recent years, the dwindling number of
acres dedicated to horse production have drastically
altered traditional, free-roaming management systems
such that horses are spending more time in stalls than
ever before.
Show horses spend much of their lives in the calm
and usually comfortable surroundings of spacious
stalls. While such a management system reduces the
risks of blemishes that are almost inescapable in
turnout situations and ensures a rich, flawless coat
necessary for the show ring, continual stalling has its
downsides. One possible disadvantage, even danger, is
exposure to aerial ammonia.
18 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com
Jeff Rogers

The short-term athletic ability and long-term welfare of
horses are largely dependent on respiratory health and
well-being. Although high levels of ammonia may not
directly cause respiratory disease, sustained exposure to
the irritant may weaken the defense mechanisms of the
lungs, giving pathogens such as bacteria and viruses the
opportunity to take hold and flourish.
From Feedstuffs to Stall Floor
The chief waste product of protein digestion is urea,
the majority of which is excreted from the horse in urine.
The concentration of urea in urine is largely relative to
the amount of protein being consumed by the horse. As
more protein is digested, levels of urea voided in the urine
escalate. Evacuation of urea from the body is imperative.
Any condition that impairs this elimination can lead to
uremia, a potentially fatal buildup of urea and other
nitrogen wastes in the blood.
Once released by the horse in its urine, urea is employed
by certain bacteria as a source of energy. A product of this
secondhand usage by bacteria is ammonia, which yields the
familiar pungent smell. Tightly closed, heated barns, like
those that house show horses, or poorly ventilated stables
are frequently rife with ammonia fumes.
Because ammonia lingers near the stall floor, specific
attention must be given to stalls inhabited by foals, weanlings
and yearlings. Young horses spend much of their
time lying down and therefore could be subjected to more
concentrated levels of ammonia. In one research study,
ammonia levels as high as 400 ppm (parts per million)
were measured in foaling stalls. Levels of more than 10
ppm may be detrimental to horses.
A positive relationship also exists between protein
ingestion and water intake. Increased levels of protein in
the diet trigger a thirst response, and horses will drink
significantly more water when overfed protein than when
offered appropriate levels of the nutrient. One undeniable
effect of increased water intake is a rise in urine output.
Superfluous protein is usually afforded by the feeding
of legume hays, namely lucerne. Legume hays contain significantly
more protein than grass hays of similar quality.
Lucerne hay generally has 11-20% protein, while grass
hays usually contain 6-10%. Though lucerne is appropriate
for some classes of horses, particularly those with
above average energy requirements, most adult horses fare
well on grass hay or lucerne/grass mixed hay. In some
areas of Australia, lucerne hay is more plentiful and less
expensive than grass hay, and therefore used more extensively
in horse operations. In these instances, horsemen
should be mindful of the protein content in the concentrate.
As more lucerne is fed, a concentrate with less
protein can be provided.
Aside from the obvious stable-keeping aggravations of
feeding surplus protein, overfeeding protein is costly, as
protein-rich feedstuffs are typically more expensive than
nonproteinaceous ingredients. A ration evaluation by an
equine nutritionist can determine whether or not a ration
is supplying superabundant protein. By correcting dietary
protein excesses, urea concentration in the urine will be
kept to a minimum and aerial ammonia will decrease.
Keeping Ammonia at Bay
Stall maintenance becomes a paramount concern when
horses are stall-bound. Removal of all waste and soiled
bedding is an obvious must-do. Bedding type does not
seem to affect ammonia levels. A study conducted at the
University of Illinois found no appreciable differences in
levels when four bedding materials-straw, sawdust, sand,
and shredded newspaper-were used. While bedding type
proved to have little to do with ammonia levels, bedding
depth may. If the bedding is deep enough that the urine
soaks through to the floor without appreciable accumulation
on the surface, ammonia odor will be diminished. If a
scant amount of bedding is used, obvious wet spots or, in
worst-case scenarios, pools of urine are likely and aerial
ammonia will be profound.
The use of certain substances such as zeolite (sold as
Sweet PDZ in the USA), hydrated lime, or sodium bisulfate
reduces the level of ammonia in stalls by absorbing moisture
from the stall floor and neutralizing foul odors. A
research study performed at the University of Kentucky in
the United States found that Sweet PDZ was effective in
lowering ammonia levels at the stall floor. One aspect of
this trial involved the use of endoscopic evaluation to
determine the well-being of respiratory tissues. Seventyfive
percent of the horses housed in stalls not treated
with the ammonia-absorbing compound showed pharyngeal
inflammation on endoscopic examination, compared
to only 25% of those housed in treated stalls.
In addition to astute stable-keeping, atmospheric
ammonia levels can be diluted by appropriate ventilation.
Properly situated and adequately sized wall and roof vents
are necessary to make full use of natural ventilation
forces. In barns that are particularly long or wide, powerful,
industrial-strength fans may aid ventilation efforts.
Curtailing ammonia buildup in stables is achieved by
offering well-balanced rations that contain enough protein
for optimal growth or performance without surplus,
by cleaning stalls fastidiously, and by ensuring well-ventilated
housing for stalled horses. Reducing aerial ammonia
will promote long-term respiratory health and provide yet
another step in ensuring that equine athletes lead long,
productive careers.
©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 7, Issue 1 19

Q & A
Equinews
QA
My veterinarian insists that I feed my mares grain
through the last 60 days of pregnancy. The mares usually
maintain proper body condition on spring pasture alone.
Am I doing my mares a disservice by not feeding them
grain in late pregnancy?
The mares may not be getting the balance of nutrients
they need to support the growth of a fetus on a grass-only
diet. Though grass may sufficiently supply an idle gelding
with most of his nutritional requirements, the same cannot
be said for pregnant mares. The developing fetus increases
the nutrient needs of the mare. If the mare does not receive
the nutrients in her diet to provide for fetal development,
she will take them from her body reserves.
The mares are obviously consuming enough calories to
hold their body condition, but they may be suffering subtle
deficiencies of protein, vitamins, and minerals. If a commercial
concentrate is fed at levels below the recommended
feeding rate, the mares will not be consuming the micronutrients
they require. For instance, suppose the minimum
feeding rate of a particular feed is 2 kilos, which supplies 2
mg of selenium to meet the mares’ daily requirement. If only
1 kilo is fed, mares will only consume 0.5 mg of selenium, a
level far below the requirement. If the mares are fed the recommended
amount of grain, however, they will get too fat.
Feed manufacturers often produce low-intake feeds for
horses. These concentrates are designed to supply the protein,
vitamins and minerals necessary to balance the forage
without adding many additional calories. A balancer or supplement
pellet, fed at 1 /2 to 1 kilo per day, is one example. If
the mares are on the verge of becoming overweight, another
option would be a superconcentrated vitamin and mineral
supplement such as Equivit Gold Pellet from Kentucky Equine
Research (1800-772-198), which has an even smaller feeding
rate of 150 g per day.
Q
A
In researching alternative forage sources for horses, I
have found several references to barley hay. Is this forage
suitable for horses?
Barley hay can be used as a forage for horses. The average
analysis of barely hay shows a relatively low level of
energy and protein, and similar calcium and phosphorus
values as oaten hay.
Try to select barley hay that has been cut at the milky
dough stage, so the grain and the barley awns are not fully
developed. When feeding barley hay, be aware that
awns from the heads may catch in horses’ teeth or cause
ulcers in the horses’ mouths. Because of this, it is best to
feed immature barley hay, as the awns have not had the
chance to dry. Whilst oaten hay can be quite golden, barley
hay should be green. Oaten hay is considered more
palatable than barley hay and is probably the first choice
for this reason, but barley hay can be a useful hay when a
horse does not need the extra energy and protein in
lucerne, and a grass-type hay is needed.
The table below lists typical nutritional analyses of various
hays, but remember there is sometimes large variation
in quality and hence analysis of hays.
Q
A
Digestible Crude
Energy Protein Calcium Phosphorus
(MJ/kg) (%) (%) (%)
Lucerne Hay 9.5 18.7 1.3 0.2
Grass Hay 9.2 10.3 0.6 0.4
Barley Hay 8.4 8.8 0.2 0.3
Oaten Hay 8.0 9.5 0.3 0.3
Many of my traditionalist peers insist on feeding lucerne
to their young horses. I believe that growing horses can be
maintained on properly harvested, early maturity grass hay
as long as all essential nutrients, including calcium and
phosphorus, are present in a concentrate or a vitamin and
mineral supplement. Am I off base here or is tradition simply
refusing to die?
Lucerne is well rooted in feeding lore because it was
thought to be the only hay that had sufficient nutrients to
support rapid growth of young horses. To its credit, lucerne is
much higher in calories than low-quality grass hays and has
calcium to support bone development.
Grass hay of old was harvested for quantity, not quality,
and therefore was usually baled when it was tall and overmature.
Such hay is low in protein and digestible energy.
Education of hay farmers has led to the availability of highquality
grass hays in recent years. It is now possible to find
grass hays harvested before maturity.
A high-quality grass hay is better for a young growing
horse than pure, prime lucerne as the sole forage source.
Lucerne tends to be low in phosphorus and superabundant
in calcium and protein, almost to the point of excess in
some cases. This nutrient profile can contribute to developmental
bone disorders. Most grain concentrates are not
designed to complement the nutrient profile of lucerne,
which may result in a mineral imbalance.
The best advice is to choose a feed to complement the
forage being fed. If you are in doubt as to which feeds best
suit the forage on hand, consult an equine nutritionist at
Kentucky Equine Research for advice (1800-772-198).
20 Equinews/ Volume 7, Issue 1 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Morrie Mathews Equestrian Photography.
Working horses need electrolytes. Whether you're pleasure riding on the weekend, spending the day at a Pony Club
rally, competing at the local adult riding club, or vying for Olympic selection, your horse is working. And chances are
he's sweating, even on cool days. When your horse sweats, he loses valuable tissue salts called electrolytes and this
makes him tired, muscle sore, and less likely to drink. By adding salt and a reputable electrolyte supplement like
RESTORE to your horse's diet on moderate and heavy sweating days, you can foster rehydration and muscle recovery.
RESTORE replenishes the exact nutrients lost in sweat so the horse maintains a natural electrolyte balance.
Make a small change, see a big difference.
Free Feeding
&
Nutrition Advice
1800 772 198
Research separates the innovator from the imitator®
Tibor Slavik
equivit@ker.com
w w w . k e r . c o m
KER 345

Research separates the innovator from the imitator®
A coat with a mirror-like shine is a reflection of a
horse's inner well-being. Strong hooves are also a
hallmark of a horse's health, and fundamental to a
horse's success. Most horse owners demand a glowing
coat and strong hooves. Why not use a supplement
that delivers both? BIO-BLOOM can be fed as a
single concentrated 30-g dose to strengthen hooves, or
as a double dose for hoof and coat enhancement. BIO-
BLOOM contains biotin, zinc, lecithin and soybean meal,
which work together more effectively than biotin alone
to create resilient hooves and shiny coats. BIO-BLOOM creates
the perfect finishing touch.
Make a small change, see a big difference.
Free Feeding & Nutrition Advice
1800 772 198
equivit@ker.com
w w w . k e r . c o m
KER 346