Thank you for your interest in materials from the 2023 UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series: Basics of Equine Nutrition. Our 2023 series was designed to provide foundational knowledge of equine nutrition and feeding to horse owners with topics of: digestive anatomy, essential nutrients, pasture nutrition, forage and hay alternatives, feeds and supplements, and reading feed tags.
Getting Started:
Check out the Basics of Equine Nutrition Workbook to help guide your study!
This workbook contains links to each presentation, supplemental materials and tools, and written information about core concepts contained in each lecture. The appendix includes hands-on worksheets for you to use to review the course materials, check your knowledge, and begin the process of assessing your horse’s diet. If you need further assistance, contact a member of the Elevated Equine team at uge3181@uga.edu.
Like our workbook? Let us know by filling out this 2-3 minute survey! https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5orCjgnWPDLBn1k
Week #1: Digestive Anatomy and Physiology by Meg Brew
Our first session focused on walking through each part of the equine digestive tract and discussing how equine digestive anatomy influences the way we feed horses.
Recording: Digestive Anatomy and Physiology by Meg Brew
Powerpoint Slides: Digestive Anatomy Slides
Additional Materials:
“The Digestive Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse” Publication by Iowa State Extension
“Basic Equine Nutrition Part II: Equine Digestive Anatomy and Physiology” by University of Maryland Extension
Week #2: Essential Nutrients by Dr. Kylee Duberstein
Our second lesson discussed each of the 6 essential nutrients, the role they play in the equine diet, and some considerations for feeding based on nutrient requirements.
Recording: Essential Nutrients with Dr. Duberstein
Additional Materials:
“Body Condition Scoring | Equine Exchange Lunch & Learn” Presentation discussing what the BCS system is, why it’s important, and what to look for when scoring your horses. Part of the Equine Exchange monthly Lunch and Learn hosted by Robyn Stewart, M.S.
“Body Condition Score | The Leading Rein Newsletter” featuring Body Condition Scoring article on pages 3-5, from University of Georgia Extension
Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Ed. this textbook contains all of the recognized, standard nutrient requirements for horses and is used to formulate diets and balance rations for horses. This book also houses the NRC Calculator which can be used for basic balancing of equine diets.
“Evaluating Rations for Horses” from Oklahoma State University Extension; specifically the “Routine Mathematical Conversions” section can be used to learn more about calculating things like dry matter and protein. If you need help evaluating a ration, please feel free to contact us directly for assistance.
Week #3: Pasture Nutrition by Brooklyne Wassel, M.S.
As we’ve discussed, the basis of any equine diet should be high-quality forage (pasture, hay, and forage alternatives). In week three, we discussed how to properly manage your pasture pasture to maximize the quality and quantity of forages it produces.
Recording: Pasture Nutrition by Brooklyne Wassel, M.S.
Powerpoint Slides: Pasture Nutrition Slides
Additional Materials:
The UGA Forages website provides a great all-around resource with information about grass species and varieties, management, and publications. https://georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu/
Recordings from the 2022 Grazing Management for Livestock Program can be found here:
Session #1: Soil Health and Fertility (https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_4yerruxd)
Session #2: Grazing Management for Livestock (https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_6fklp8kh)
Session #3: Weed and Pest Management (https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_xm17knpg)
Donkeys are Different – presentation by Cornell University discussing differences between donkeys and other equids and how management should reflect those differences.
Soil and Fertilizer Management publication by UGA Extension (https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1346&title=soil-and-fertilizer-management-considerations-for-forage-systems-in-georgia) discusses the use of soil testing and nutrient content of soil. If you need hands-on assistance with your soil test results, please contact your local extension agent or one of our presenters.
Understanding and Improving Forage Quality by UGA Extension (https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1425) walks through the use of forage testing and reading a forage report. This is more useful for hay and dried forage than it is for pasture, as the nutrient content of pasture is much more variable than hay.
The Missouri Weed ID guide (https://weedid.missouri.edu/weedKey.cfm) can be useful in identifying weeds that may be growing in your pasture. Be sure to triple check and ask for assistance with weed ID, as accurate ID is critical for control.
The GA Pest Management Handbook can be found here: https://ipm.uga.edu/georgia-pest-management-handbook/ and recommendations for licensed applicators in pasture and forage can be found here: https://ipm.uga.edu/files/2022/10/Perennial-Grass.pdf
Additional publications regarding forage species, varieties, and care can be found at the UGA Publications website. (https://extension.uga.edu/publications.html)
Week #4: Nutrition of Hay and Forage Alternatives by Lara Worden, M.S.
We’ve established that high-quality forage should be the cornerstone of any equine diet. When pasture is not available, many horse owners turn to hay and forage alternatives. In week 4, we discuss types of hay, evaluating hay quality, and forage alternatives to consider adding to your horses diet.
Recording: Hay & Forage Alternatives by Lara Worden, M.S.
Powerpoint Slides: Hay and Forages Slides
Additional Materials:
The Equine Exchange is a monthly, 45 minute presentation on applied and timely equine management topics including things like horse care and nutrition, facility management, and more. Archived Equine Exchange sessions can be found here: https://kaltura.uga.edu/playlist/dedicated/1_15zs7654/ and registration for future sessions (including February 6th’s session on feeding thin horses) can be completed at https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwoStIU4WBgq9Nk.
Relevant recordings from the Equine Exchange for this session are:
Forage Supplements & Alternatives
Planning for Winter Forage Needs
The Hay Inventory and Purchasing Calculator for Horse Owners developed by Robyn Stewart, M.S. is a free, excel-based tool to assist you in determining how much hay is needed to sustain your horses throughout the wintertime. If you need assistance with using it, please email rlstew2@uga.edu.
The UGA Forages website provides a great all-around resource with information about grass species and varieties, management, and publications.
Understanding and Improving Forage Quality by UGA Extension walks through the use of forage testing and reading a forage report. This is more useful for hay and dried forage than it is for pasture, as the nutrient content of pasture is much more variable than hay.
The Missouri Weed ID guide can be useful in identifying weeds that may be growing in your pasture. Be sure to triple check and ask for assistance with weed ID, as accurate ID is critical for control.
Additional publications regarding forage species, varieties, and care can be found at the UGA Publications website. (https://extension.uga.edu/publications.html)
Week #5: Feeds & Supplements by Robyn Stewart, M.S.
Now that you have an understanding of equine digestive anatomy, essential nutrients, and the importance of feeding high-quality forage, we can discuss the role of feeds and supplements in helping to meet your horses nutrient requirements. Join us to dig into the feed industry and apply some of your new knowledge.
Recording: Feeds & Supplements by Robyn Stewart, M.S.
Powerpoint Slides: Feeds & Supplements Slides
Additional Materials:
The recorded presentation Equine Supplements – Myth or Fact was given in 2022 by Robyn Stewart for the Horse Owner’s Webinar Series. In the presentation, she digs into the supplement industry, how to select supplements for your horse, and how to find and evaluate research into equine products.
The Equine Exchange is a monthly, 45 minute presentation on applied and timely equine management topics including things like horse care and nutrition, facility management, and more. Archived Equine Exchange sessions can be found here: https://kaltura.uga.edu/playlist/dedicated/1_15zs7654/ and registration for future sessions can be completed at https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwoStIU4WBgq9Nk.
The NRC for Horses has a free, online ration balancing tool. It can be difficult to use for those who are not familiar with ration balancing, so use with caution. Note the differences in metrics (kg vs lbs/%/ppm, etc) if and when you play with this tool.
Mad Barn has a online Feed Database that may be able to help provide information on specific products for you. I also have a personal spreadsheet and am happy to help if I can- email rlstew2@uga.edu- just note, I will not make a feed recommendation without asking for a lot of information; so be aware of that!
Finally, the EquiAnalytical Common Feed Profiles database is a good place to find average hay/forage nutrition for the U.S. I can’t speak to how accurate this is, but it can be a good starting point for looking at your horses diet if you are unable to forage test.
Week #6: Interpreting Feed Tags by Ashley Best, M.S.
Feed tags can be a confusing topic for horse owners. Why are some things listed all the time, while other things are only listed by certain brands or products? Join us to learn more about what the feed tag does and does not tell you about a feed product, and how to use that information to make feeding decisions for your horse.
Recording: Feed Tags with Ashley Best, M.S.
Additional Materials:
The “Reading the Feed Tag” publication by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension dives deeply into the required nutrients (crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, calcium min/max, phosphorus min, min copper, zinc, selenium, and salt) listed on a feed tag and why these are required to be listed.
Since protein and lysine were a big topic of discussion, check out this “Protein and the Horse’s Diet” publication by Iowa State University Extension. This publication is fairly technical but discusses the role of protein, essential amino acids, and feeding horses to meet protein requirements.