Heath & Nutrition 2019

SUPPLEMENT TO

2019

EquineJournal

Health&Nutrition Guide The Benefits of Acupuncture

Addressing Allergies FROM HEAVES TO HIVES

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2019

Fifth Annual

HEALTH & NUTRITION GUIDE

Incorporating

COMMON CONFUSION Have you ever looked at your horse, knew something was up, but couldn’t put your finger on it? Whether it be hives, stiff muscles, or what seems like seasonal coughing—it's never fun to see our horses not at their best. Trying to crack horse medical mysteries is something we all attempt to do and sometimes need an extra set of eyes to take a look at the situation. In the 2019 Health and Nutrition Guide, we look at a few common horse health and nutrition qualms.

As humans, when we feel a bit under the weather, we often wonder if it is allergies or a cold. With horses being able to catch illness just like humans, it can be equally difficult to detect if your horse is sick or suffering from allergies. We had Pam Mansfield take a closer look at some common equine allergies with ways to differentiate the difference between illness and allergies on page 10.

With horses' respiratory and gut health being affected by their hay, having safe hay is of the utmost importance. From starting with a new grower to knowing a good deal, it can be tricky to get your horse hay that is good quality at a decent price. Christine Hamilton speaks with hay farmer Gary Kegley and buyers Jessica and Kyle Scott on the questions you should ask during your next hay-shopping trip.

Find your liniment just isn’t doing it for your horse’s sore muscles?

Kathleen Labonville checks in with experts on how acupuncture can be an alternative solution to your equine’s tender muscles and help him feel at his best.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/GENERAL MANAGER

Elisabeth Prouty-Gilbride ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kelley Roche ART DIRECTOR

Candice D. Madrid SENIOR ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT

Karen Desroches, 603-525-3601 ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT

Laurel Foster SENIOR DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Sonny Williams

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Karen Fralick Sherry R. Brown

PUBLICATION SERVICE MANAGER

Cher Wheeler

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Emily Trupiano

Contents: 6 Points of Interest 10 Identifying Allergies

Learn about different equine allergies.

By Pamela Mansfield

16 The Benefits of Acupuncture

Soothe out sore muscles with this alternative therapy.

By Kathleen Labonville

22 Delivering the Goods

Inside tips for hay purchasing from a producer and a buyer.

By Christine Hamilton

Equine Journal 175 Main St. | P.O. Box 386, Oxford, MA 01540 phone: 508-987-5886 subscription questions: 1-800-414-9101 affiliate subscription questions: 1-800-742-9171 international callers: 1-386-246-0102 equinejournal@emailcustomerservice.com www.equinejournal.com A Publication of MCC Magazines, LLC A Division of Morris Communications Company, LLC 643 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 PRESIDENT Donna Kessler REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Patty Tiberg DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Scott Ferguson DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING Donald Horton

Morris Communications Company, LLC CHAIRMAN

William S. Morris III Will S. Morris IV

PRESIDENT & CEO

© 2019 by MCC Magazines, LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

The information provided herein is intended for general reference only. Always be sure to contact your veterinarian when a question arises regarding your horse’s health.

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Health & Nutrition Guide 2019

points of interest Featured Photo

Donner looked healthy as a horse (pun intended) at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games eventing horse inspection with Lynn Symansky.

PHOTO: TERISÉ COLE

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bits & pieces POINTS OF INTEREST

MEDIA REVIEW

ROTAVIRUS RULES The American Association of Equine Practitioners published comprehensive guidelines for the identification, management, and prevention of rotavirus, a leading cause of diarrhea in foals up to six months of age. The guidelines document conveniently summarizes the disease’s clinical signs, risk factors, diagnostic methods, control measures, biosecurity issues, and other management protocols.

“Rotavirus is one of the most common pathogens in major breeding areas worldwide,” said Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, DACVPM, equine extension veterinarian and professor at the University of Kentucky. “Early recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and biosecurity…are key to minimizing disease impacts to breeding farms.”

POLL

Allergy Alert WE ASKED: HAS YOUR HORSE EVER HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO SOMETHING?

22% 78%

78%: Yes. 22%: No.

PHOTO: TERISÉ COLE

Want to be included in our polls? Visit us on Facebook by scanning the QR Code with your smartphone.

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by Jec Aristotle Ballou, 184 pages, hardcover, Trafalgar Square Books; 2018, $26.95 Jec Aristotle Ballou is back at it again with another informative, picture-filled book with the primary focus of optimizing horse movement. With a similar template to her previous works, Ballou provides exercises and diagrams to help resolve postural problems, improve movement patterns, and prevent injuries in your horse. With the intent to be applicable to all disciplines, the book promotes riders to gain a new awareness of their horse’s body.

From everyday tips to breakdowns of elaborate exercises with bars, Ballou sets you up with tactics to try in the saddle and on the ground for peak performances.

BOTTOM LINE: Ensure your horse is moving properly and balanced with Jec Artisotle Ballou’s latest book of illustrated exercises.

2019 Health & Nutrition Guide

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bits & pieces POINTS OF INTEREST

Sleep Study A recent study in Munich, Germany, researched sleep deprivation in horses by examining horses with a history of falling into REM sleep while standing, which causes them to collapse, and healthy horses.

Among other things, the study found that the main causes of the lack of recumbent sleep were issues with the horse’s management or pain from a physical problem, over 90% of the horses studied showed injuries after collapsing, and horses who did lie down to sleep showed significantly fewer collapses.

NOW YOU KNOW

3.5

The average total sleep time of a horse that is stalled at night is three and a half hours per night.

85

Of that three and a half hours, 30 minutes of it, or 15%, is usually REM sleep while lying down.

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The remaining 85% of the time is spent standing up in light or deep sleep.

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Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.

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Identifying

ALLERGIES

Understanding and Analyzing Equine Allergen Symptoms

By Pamela Mansfield

O

HIVES AND REACTIONS TO INSECTS In spring and summer, insect bites are often a cause of hives, and some horses suffer more than others. “The most common calls we get are for hives, which can look pretty spectacular in horses—like a geographic relief map—and they can happen very quickly,” Dr. Orcutt says. “While they look like they should be extremely uncomfortable, they usually don’t seem to bother the horse as much as we think.”

When certain kinds of insects bite, the proteins in their saliva can cause a reaction and the result is hives or bumpy, crusty, or oozing spots on the skin. Tiny “No-see-ums” or chiggers are often the culprits.

Chiggers can be especially bad for Friesians or draft horse breeds that have “feathers” or long hair growing from their pasterns. “Shaving the pasterns helps but many people don’t want to shave off the feathers in these breeds. In short hair, though, there’s no place for them to gain a foothold,” shares Dr. Orcutt. The mites inject an enzyme into the skin, then suck up the dissolved tissue. The enzyme causes the itch, and the bug bite causes the scabby rash.

Treatment can range from simple topical creams to injections of corticosteroids, such as Dexamethasone, commonly known as Azium. “These kinds of allergies are often treated effectively, but they come back.

Then you worry about the potential side effects of chronic treatment, which are laminitis and the reduction in general immune response,” Dr. Orcutt warns. Sometimes you just have to take that risk, if the allergic

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PHOTO: AK DRAGOO PHOTOGRAPHY

f all the ailments that horses can have, allergies may be the most frustrating because they can also be the most puzzling. Horses with allergies can have dramatic reactions that manifest themselves as hives—huge, raised bumps on the body, or as respiratory issues—a cough or runny nose. Just as with human allergies, pinpointing the cause is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“If you’re lucky enough, you’ll figure out what the horse is allergic to without any kind of blood or skin testing,” says Dr. Robert Orcutt of SRH Veterinary Services in Ipswich, MA. While tests can be done at some expense, they are often inconclusive. “By and large you’ll end up treating the symptoms without being positive of the cause,” he says.

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reaction is bad and slow to be resolved.

Corticosteroids may have to be administered over a period of time, with an initially high dose. The drug mimics hormones that are normally produced by the adrenal gland, and must be gradually tapered off so that the adrenal gland takes over production again as it is supposed to, he says. Long-term use can cause the adrenal gland to stop producing them naturally. “The result can be adrenal insufficiency problems (Addison’s Disease) which is the opposite of Cushing’s Disease,” states Dr. Orcutt.

Meanwhile, figuring out what’s causing the reaction and a potential resolution is a “process of elimination. Sometimes you figure it out sometimes you don’t.” Dr. Orcutt advises to keep changing the things that may be the cause of the flare up until you find what works. Keep in mind, results won’t happen overnight because it takes time for the horse’s system to readjust. “Symptoms may last a long time even after the cause is removed.”

ALLERGIES THAT CAUSE RESPIRATORY AILMENTS Pollen in the air, dust in the barn, mold, and even some plants can trigger an allergic response. Moldy hay or a moist, wet environment are especially problematic. In such an environment, horses develop hypersensitivity and the immune system reacts, producing mucous and constriction of the airways, according to Dr. Orcutt.

What used to be referred to as heaves in horses, then later in some cases as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is more and more frequently described now as equine asthma, a term that is becoming generally accepted, shares Dr. Orcutt. “Acute difficulty in breathing, a chronic cough, and a great deal of irritation in the airway are symptoms. It’s a vicious cycle of inflammatory response,” he states. Milder cases may present as runny eyes or head shaking.

For many, the old term “heaves” is enough to create a sense of panic, but this shouldn’t be the case. “There’s hope—it doesn’t have to be terminal. It can be at least managed,” Dr. Orcutt says. He recalls seeing a terrible case of heaves when he was a veterinary student. “It was said that the horse’s lungs were permanently damaged and it would never get better. The next morning, the horse was almost totally recovered. All of that was taught and believed 40-50 years ago. They don’t teach that anymore, that it’s irreversible or fatal. In almost all cases it’s not true, though some cases are more difficult to manage.”

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Corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation, are the most effective means of reducing the symptoms of a constricted airway.

“Antihistamines and bronchodilators are a good route to take to expand the airway.

Even human drugs like Proventil or Albuterol (administered via inhaler) can be used in horses,” shares Dr. Orcutt. “There are also different delivery systems to use that are made for horses, such as a mask or a device to cover up one nostril while you spray the medication into the other.”

ELIMINATE THE SOURCE Eliminating exposure to environmental triggers is not always easy. “With inhaled allergens, 12

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One horse owner who has been relentlessly trying to solve both respiratory and skin reactions is Caroline Matterson, a volunteer for New England Equine Rescue. When she adopted Clint, a Standardbred racehorse who had been treated for what was thought to be pneumonia, she was concerned when he continued to have respiratory issues. Foam came out of his nostrils after a ride, and he coughed when he was in the barn.

A vet determined that he had COPD and should have constant turnout and his hay needed to be soaked. Even then, just bringing him into the stall to feed made the cough start again. She looked for alternatives after he had another bad reaction, this time to a round bale of hay provided to horses outdoors where Clint was boarded.

After some research and some do-it-yourself ingenuity, she invested in a professional hay steamer with an insulated chest that holds a full bale. The steaming removes dust, mites, mold, and bacteria from the hay. “And that made all the difference for him,” Caroline says. “It doesn’t make bad hay good,” she cautions, but it does make good hay cleaner and easier for horses with allergies to eat.

As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Clint began to break out in hives from head to toe one particularly dry summer. Treating him with injections of Dexamethasone helped, but long-term use can cause laminitis. So when autumn weather came and the hives were assumed to be seasonal, it was time to stop the regimen. Much to Caroline’s dismay, the hives returned a couple of months later at Thanksgiving, so she asked an acupuncturist/herbalist veterinarian to look at him, where allergy testing was suggested.

The next step was allergy shots, but administering regular injections “Was taking my absolutely good-about-everything horse and making him crabby,” Caroline shares. It was suggested that he might be reacting to the Vitamin C present in the joint and respiratory supplements he was taking, so the vet recommended a gastric guard paste to protect his stomach lining from the irritation of the Vitamin C, she says. “Within three days, the hives were gone.” Caroline has two adopted horses and a pony and now keeps them at her Haverhill, MA, home, where she continues to do all she can to manage Clint’s allergies.

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PHOTOS: DUSTY PERIN PHOTOGRAPHY

FOOD ALLERGIES Though it slightly differs in humans, horses can have an allergic reaction to the food they eat. “Grain does not usually provoke the acute rapid-acting allergic reactions like those that can occur in skin or airway exposure,” Dr. Orcutt says, explaining that, “The potential proteinaceous allergens in grain must be processed by the GI system and absorbed into the bloodstream before they are presented to the immune system. Allergic symptoms occur if the immune system reacts in an aggressively inappropriate inflammatory manner to one of these substances. Most of these reactions are manifested by itchiness, crusting, dermatitis.”

Getting to the Root Cause—Clint’s Story

PHOTO: DUSTY PERIN PHOTOGRAPHY

CONTACT ALLERGIES When it comes to allergens that affect the horse via physical contact, we have a few avenues to look down. One element to consider is the tack you use. Lamb’s wool saddle pads or anything containing lanolin, manufactured products such as rubber or neoprene, even certain metals in tack can cause localized skin problems.

Then, of course, we must consider what is in the stall. While pine shavings are routinely used to bed stalls, resins in the pine may cause some horses to have an allergic reaction because of contact with the skin or through inhalation of the dust. But other kinds of wood can cause even more severe problems, or may be toxic and should never be used to bed stalls.

Shavings from furniture makers may not be suitable, as walnut shavings, for instance, are known to be toxic to horses. In some cases, alternatives to pine shavings such as pellets, shredded newspaper, and straw (mostly used for brood mares) can be considered.

If your horse is having an allergic reaction, it may come from your grooming tools.

Shampoos, sprays, and other grooming products contain many chemicals that could affect the horse’s allergic response. These are causeand-effect contact allergies and are mostly systematic. “If you stop using the products, the symptoms get better,” says Dr. Orcutt.

unless you can ship your horse away to another environment, you have to minimize exposure as best you can,” Dr. Orcutt states.

“Eliminate plant sources, change the hay, wet the hay…all the traditional management procedures.” Do all you can to eliminate dust and mold and provide a well-ventilated environment. It may mean more or less turnout, or turnout only when the pollen count is lower.

Horses can develop hives from allergens ingested, in the air, via contact, and insect bites.

WHAT’S NEW IN TESTING AND PREVENTION? When allergies become too much of a puzzle, skin tests can be conducted. This is where a miniscule amount of likely allergens are injected into the horse’s skin at a special site, producing a very localized reaction at a specific point that is cross-referenced. There are also blood tests to look for antibodies that indicate if the cause of the allergy is hay, grains, or insects. Neither of these tests are inexpensive, however. Research on equine allergies is ongoing, and one new treatment being developed is a vaccination for chronic dermatitis, Dr. Orcutt says. The vaccine is starting to show some success, and perhaps in the future there will be a way of preventing some chronic allergic reactions from happening at all.

PHOTOS: DUSTY PERIN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: DUSTY PERIN PHOTOGRAPHY

One way to identify allergies is skin tests, when a miniscule amount of likely allergens can be injected into a horse’s skin at a special site, producing a very localized reaction at a specific point that is cross-referenced.

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Benefits of Acupuncture

By Kathleen Labonville | Photographs by AK Dragoo Photography

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Equine acupuncture has evolved in the last few decades from a fledgling practice often thought to be “cutting edge” or even downright “weird” to a useful treatment for many horses, especially those with back or lameness issues. Acupuncture is, in its simplest terms, the use of very thin needles to unblock one’s “qi,” or energy, thus restoring balance and wellness to the body.

If you’ve ever seen acupuncture performed on your horse, you have likely witnessed a gradual calm and relaxation come over him. His head lowers, inch by inch, the ears flop out and the lower lip may drop. It looks like it’s really helping, but is it? Some horse owners attest that it does help. They have seen measurable differences in their horses after acupuncture; others say it did nothing for their horses. As with all things, the reality probably lies somewhere in the middle.

When used correctly and for the right reasons, acupuncture can be a life-changing treatment for your horse. But if done by someone who is not knowledgeable, or if not used as it is intended, it will likely have no effect. We spoke with two experts to find out more about the benefits of acupuncture, whether it helps, and how to find a good practitioner.

BENEFITS

Two experts help us dive deep into equine acupuncture and its benefits.

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Elizabeth Maloney, DVM, has been a veterinarian for 27 years and became licensed in equine acupuncture 22 years ago. Based at Equine Therapies in Franklin, MA, Dr. Maloney works with sport horses, racehorses, and pleasure horses. It’s safe to say, she has a multitude of modalities and experience at her disposal when it comes to keeping horses healthy and sound.

She explains, “One of the things I love most about acupuncture is that there are absolutely no side effects, no drug interactions, and no fear that we are doing something potentially harmful to the horse. The treatment is something that can be done very close to competition without concern for drug testing requirements. Most horses tolerate the treatment extremely well when it is introduced properly and gradually.

Once a horse has received their first treatment they are usually very receptive for future treatments as they recognize the endorphin release and the relaxation they experience," continues Dr. Maloney. "While there are many explanations for how acupuncture works, the theories are difficult to understand in light of my western education as a veterinarian. Having said that, I don’t need to know how electricity works when I turn on a light [to know that it works]. I can see the benefits of acupuncture through my own treatments, so I

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know it must be real.”

Rachel Roemer, DVM, founded Great Bay Equine in Portsmouth, NH, in 2016. She has nine years of veterinary experience and particularly likes to focus on sport horse medicine and lameness. Dr. Roemer explains, “In Chinese medicine terms, acupuncture helps balance the flow of qi, or life energy, throughout the body. It is abnormalities in the flow of qi that cause pain and illness.

In western medicine terms, acupuncture affects nerve activity and function, increases blood flow, and provides pain relief. So acupuncture can be used to treat a huge variety of ailments in horses from lameness and musculoskeletal issues to chronic medical conditions.

“In sport horses, the acupuncture point scan that we perform before starting a treatment can be really helpful in early detection of joint or muscle pain,” Dr. Roemer continues, “Certain acupuncture points will be more sensitive to pressure when horses have pain in a particular joint or area. I find this especially helpful in younger sport horses as they are being trained more intensely, in more experienced horses that are being asked to step up to a higher level of work and competition, and in horses that have had lameness issues in the past.

We then use that information to guide acupuncture treatments and to adjust their exercise program

appropriately.

“Acupuncture treatments can really help with tight, sore muscles, mild to moderate arthritis, and maintaining the immune system and energy level during the stresses of competition,” Dr. Roemer notes. “It's also a helpful, relatively non-invasive therapy when used in conjunction with other treatments for specific injuries (such as joint injections, PRP, IRAP, shockwave therapy, etc.) or conditions such as laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring). Horses on long-term medications (such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory medications) may be able to take a lower dose of medication or discontinue medications with acupuncture treatments.”

CASES IN POINT The proof of positive outcomes is in the results, and we asked these veterinarians to tell us about a time when acupuncture particularly helped one of their clients.

“I've had some really impressive results with very back sore horses that were struggling under saddle and [that] really benefited from acupuncture. Sometimes these horses required other additional treatments, but were maintained really well between treatments with acupuncture,” Dr. Roemer explains.

Dr. Maloney also described a time when acupunc-

In western medicine terms, acupuncture affects nerve activity and function, increases blood flow, and provides pain relief, according to Dr. Roemer.

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Finding a good acupuncturist is key to getting the best results.

ture was very effective. “I work on one dressage horse that has Cushing’s disease, therefore he can’t have any cortisone injections for his multiple arthritic joints. He has a lot of difficulty holding his right lead canter and bending right. Because he is so stiff, he often does not lie down at night and his hind legs will always stock up. The night after his first acupuncture treatment, he laid down and some of the fluid in his legs dissipated,” she recalls.

FINDING A GOOD ACUPUNCTURIST These cases demonstrate that equine acupuncture is a therapy that is life changing for some horses, but finding a good acupuncturist is critical to a successful outcome. Dr. Maloney has some words of wisdom about how to find a capable acupuncturist. “Word of mouth is my favorite way to find a trusted professional, but there are other resources to help locate an equine acupuncturist. I would recommend contacting The Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine or the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society to learn more about practitioners in your area,” she advises.

Dr. Roemer also has great advice on finding an experienced practitioner in equine acupuncture. She explains, “As acupuncture has become quite common in the equine industry, more and more veterinarians are certified in veterinary acupuncture or have a colleague who is certified. So you can start with asking your equine veterinarian whether someone in their practice can perform treatments or if they know someone in the area who can.

Look for someone who is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA), which indicates that they have gone through specific training and testing for veterinary acupuncture. Not everyone who is a CVA has extensive horse experience or is comfortable with treating horses, so ask about their experience or for references.”

When managing your horse’s health, keep in mind that acupuncture is one therapy to utilize along with a well-balanced veterinary and nutrition program. Acupuncture alone won’t solve all your horse’s aches and pains, but it could provide great relief when used responsibly in conjunction with a great management program.

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What’s the scoop on puffed grains?

If you could minimize the chance of gastro-intestinal upset in your horse, feed less grain, satisfy the picky eater and provide a more consistent energy source for your horse, would you?

By Nikki Alvin-Smith

Are Are puffed puffed grains grains all they all they are are ‘puffed ‘puffed up’ to up’ be? to be?

The The answer answer is a resounding is a resounding yes! yes!

Here’s Here’s why.why.

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Research Research comparing comparing different different processing processing methods methods of of cereal cereal grains grains reveals reveals that that the the type type of process of process starch starch receives receives in ingredients in ingredients suchsuch as wheat, as wheat, corncorn and and barley barley greatly greatly affects affects theirtheir digestibility. digestibility.

Of the Ofvarious the various processing processing Flaked barley, puffed barley, puffed corn, flaked corn methods methods on the onmarket, the market, puffed puffed grains grains resultresult in theinhighest the highest is able to digest this safe starch almost entirely The horse is able to digest this safe starch almost entirely levellevel of starch of starch digestibility digestibility for the for horse the horse based based on several on severalThe horse in itsinforegut.

This This means therethere is less risk of colic associits foregut. means is less risk of colic associfactors. factors. atedated with with hindgut fermentation of undigested starch.

As As hindgut fermentation of undigested starch. is properly digested, the horse may may be fed the feed is properly digested, the horse be less fed less During During the process the process of puffing of puffing a grain, a grain, all the all starch the starch molemole-the feed of grain, further reducing risksrisks associated with with quantity of grain, further reducing associated culescules are are fully fully gelled gelled making making the the starch starch safe safe with with a aquantity This This is especially important for high levellevel levellevel perforis especially important for high perfor88-95% 88-95% digestibility digestibility factor factor versus versus an average an average of 5-40% of 5-40% in incolic.colic. mance horses as they are often fed large quantities of of mance horses as they are often fed large quantities otherother processes. processes. graingrain to sustain theirtheir ability to perform at anatintense energy to sustain ability to perform an intense energy WhyWhy do we do call we call this this ‘safe’ ‘safe’ starch? starch?

The The gelatinization gelatinizationlevel.level. that occurs that occurs whenwhen grains grains are puffed are puffed breaks breaks downdown the interthe interof the for longer periods in theinhorse’s The presence ofgrain the grain for longer periods the horse’s molecular molecular bonds bonds of starch of starch molecules molecules in the in presence the presence of ofThe presence also also decreases the risk Additionally, the the foregut decreases the of riskulcers. of ulcers.

Additionally, waterwater and and heat heat to disband to disband the membrane the membrane and and compact compactforegut passage of the graingrain minimizes swings in in slower passage of puffed the puffed minimizes swings structure structure of the of the starch starch entirely, entirely, without without sacrificing sacrificing any anyslower sugar that that would otherwise occur immediately afterafter blood sugar would otherwise occur immediately nutritional nutritional quality quality of minerals of minerals and and vitamins. vitamins.

(See(See “Starch “Starchblood a meal, which is critical for insulin resistant horses. a meal, which is critical for insulin resistant horses.

Treatment Treatment Techniques” Techniques” on following on following page). page).

BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL

CONTROLLED ENERGY: Slow Blood Sugar Release A puffed graingrain is also lighter in density which allows greatA puffed is also lighter in density which allows great6.5

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Steam corn Broken corn

er volume to betofed added weight (visualize the the er volume be without fed without added weight (visualize volume difference between a pound of feathers vs a pound volume difference between a pound of feathers vs a pound of rocks).

This This provides moremore chewing satisfaction for the of rocks). provides chewing satisfaction for the horse and and consequently encourages moremore salivasaliva produchorse consequently encourages production. tion.

Saliva has has critical functions during the the digestive Saliva critical functions during digestive process and acts as a as natural antacid for the and and process and acts a natural antacid forstomach the stomach decreases the risk ulcers. decreases the of risk of ulcers.

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There are aare variety of incentives for owners considering There a variety of incentives for owners considering making the switch to a to puffed graingrain feedfeed including: mini-minimaking the switch a puffed including:

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4

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15

30

45

60

75

90

105

120

150

180

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240

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mizing mizing the risk the of riskcolic, of colic, founder founder and and laminitis, laminitis, the added the added benefits benefits of sustained of sustained energy energy and and less less quantity quantity of grain of grain being being fed to fedthe tohorse. the horse.

Cavalor® Cavalor® is the is only the only feedfeed company company in North in North America America that that usesuses this this patented patented technology technology and and has been has been the nutrition the nutrition partner partner for horses for horses ranging ranging fromfrom Olympic Olympic iconsicons to beloved to beloved backbackyard yard retirees retirees for many for many years. years.

When When you you put put your your trusttrust in Cavalor®, in Cavalor®, you you are trusting are trusting theirtheir yearsyears of research of research which which has has led to leddemonto demonstrated strated effectiveness effectiveness across across theirtheir complete complete lineslines of feed, of feed, supplements supplements and care and care products. products.

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GROUND STARCH GRANULE

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PUFFED STARCH GRANULE

UNSAFE STARCH! Whole starch granules. Large granules can damage the digestive tract (8-20% digestibility). Example: Unhealthy fried food diet.

SAFER STARCH. Partially processed starch granules. Many whole granules are still present (11%-28% digestible).

Example: Grilled food diet.

SAFE STARCH. Whole granules are still present (28%-41% digestible). Example: Boiled/ steamed food diet.

SAFEST STARCH! All granules are fully gelled, creating highly digestible and safe starch (87%-95% digestible).

Example: baked sweet potato.

Cavalor® is a global brand that can justifiably be called the world leader in equine nutrition for high-performance horses.

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No matter what kind of hay you are buying, there are some across-theboard tips to being a savvy hay buyer.

Delivering

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H EALTH “You can tell a lot about the hay you’re buying just by looking at the field.” Hay farmer Gary Kegley made the comment as he dusted off his jeans after loading a ton of two-strand bales of his coastal Bermuda grass hay into my truck. The comment begged an explanation. “In the winter, since I’m strictly growing hay to sell, I want to see a brown field, no green at all,” he says as just one example. “In early February, any early spring grasses coming up aren’t Bermuda.”

But in summer, when a field is in production, a tinge of brown indicates other things., such as a field going to seed. "When a field goes to seed, the top of the grass looks kind of brown,” he says. “You don’t want the field to go to seed, if it has a lot of seed head in it that means you are losing protein out of the grass because it’s going into the seed head.

“The grass is fine; it just won’t have as big a bang for the buck in protein per bale.” We’d been talking about how tricky it can be to find a steady source of good hay.

Gary started his own small farming operation after he and his wife, Becky, grew tired of hunting hay for their cutting horses. He’s now a conscientious farmer with roughly 60 acres producing three to four cuttings per year of quality horse hay in Parker County, TX. The Kegleys sell hay out of the field and from the barn; it doesn’t stay in either place long.

Of course, many horse owners don’t live near the fields that produce the hay they buy; instead, they buy from people like Kyle and Jessica Scott of Hayco of Colorado in Elbert County, CO. The Scotts buy approximately 50,000 bales annually from local growers, and sell and deliver it to regional clients, mainly horse boarding facilities. They deal mostly in two-strand grass and alfalfa bales, but they’ll hunt for what a client wants.

“I’ll meet some growers who’ll say of their hay, ‘Well, my animals eat it.’ And that’s great!” Kyle Scott says.

“But I’m in the retail business, and my customer has to want to pay for the hay. I want hay that sells itself, where people come over to the trailer and say how pretty it is. If I have to defend it, I’m not doing my job in finding good hay. I always tell growers, if you have to defend your hay, it’s not worth selling.” Both men have a lot to say about looking for and buying good hay.

Be a savvy hay buyer with these inside tips from a producer and a buyer in the field.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON

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Just one day of dew and sunshine bleached the edge of the stack on the left, although it’s from the same cutting as the stack on the right.

1. Go for quality, not quantity.

Don’t listen so much to a grower who talks about how much hay per acre he or she puts up, Gary says. Hay quantity from a field doesn’t necessarily mean quality.

“For example, I like to cut coastal Bermuda when it’s up and the tops are just curving over,” he says. “It shimmers in the sun, and when the wind’s blowing it looks like waves going across the pond.

“But if I let it grow longer than that, it’ll go to seed and fall over on the ground. Coastal keeps growing and the stalks underneath will yellow. It makes your bales yellow. [And baling then] might result in more hay per acre, but the quality might not be as good.

When any grass hay goes to seed head, nutrition in the grass has left the stem and leaf.

“I want to cut when the grass is long enough to make a good bale in the baler; it will make enough hay so that it’s worth baling; and the hay will be good quality for the customers.” Scott adds that the biggest mistake he sees horse owners make is to buy hay for its price per bale without considering its weight and nutritional quality. If you end up with a 24

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better bale of hay nutritionally, in the long run paying a little more per bale is better money spent,” he says.

2. Look at a grower’s equipment.

“I like to see producers with new baling and cutting equipment,” Scott says. “Their tractors can be as old as dirt, but as balers get older they wear out and the bales aren’t as neat and consistent. The newer balers will typically make a more consistent bale. If you’re just buying a hundred bales here and there, it might not matter as much. But I sell 50,000 bales a year, so I want consistency.”

3. Find out how the hay’s been stored.

“When I’m buying hay, I look for it to have been stored in a barn,” Scott says. “You can sure store hay under a tarp, but you have to be extra careful of what you’re getting. When it’s under a tarp, stacked hay is not able to ‘breathe.’”

As baled hay cures, or dries, its moisture content equilibrates to the moisture in the environment around it. The bales will naturally take on and/or lose moisture, or breathe, getting slightly larger or

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H EALTH smaller. Even in a barn, growers don’t stack hay too tightly to allow air to circulate better for the hay to breathe.

4. Know your colors.

Do your research on the specific type of hay you are looking for, and know what “pretty” is in varieties from orchard grass to alfalfa. Green is a good indication of nutrient content, but a little bleaching doesn’t necessarily mean it’s poor hay or a bad bale, Gary says.

“Bleaching happens from a combination of the sun and dew. Out in the field, dew will settle on the top of the bale in the morning, and it’ll dry out. You’ll see some [bleaching] after just one day of sun, and if you go two or three days of that out in the field, the top of the hay will turn golden. It’s still good hay, but I want to get my hay in the barn. Buyers like green.”

Conversely, too much green can indicate too much moisture in the hay.“An overly heavy bale usually means it’s got a lot of moisture in it,” Gary says. “A very wet bale will get moldy, and the strings are going to sag.

“It’s easy to tell the difference between mold and dirt [when you open a bale],” he adds. “Mold is white and powdery. Dirt is just dusty. You can’t bale hay without getting dirt in it. When you rake hay, the tines of the rake pull in some dirt; that’s just part of it.”

do business.” It’s just like test-driving a car, Scott says. He likes to make a testing analysis available to anyone buying the hay from him.

“If a guy is standing behind his product, he should let you take a couple of bales and have the hay tested, and feed it just to make sure that everyone is going to be happy—if they flake nicely for the guy feeding and the horses clean it up.”

The Cooperative Extension Service has county agents nationwide that work closely with extension specialists at land-grant universities to make their research and expertise in agriculture, rangelands, weeds and insect control available to the public. Your local agent can help with a variety of hay-related questions in addition to either providing or helping you find a private lab for hay testing. Gary relies on his local extension agent for advice on identifying and controlling parasites and weeds, and testing soil quality.

6. Look for a seller who wants repeat customers.

5. Ask to have hay tested.

“People aren’t going to pay a lot more for one guy’s hay over another,” Gary says. “But what you can get is regular customers; that’s what I want. People know what they’re going to get when they come [to me]. They don’t have to worry about stickers or weeds; it’s going to be good hay.”

“I would ask to get a sample tested, especially if I were going to buy several tons,” Gary says. “That’s the best $10 to $15 you’ll spend. If a grower balks at that, I wouldn’t

This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of Western Horseman.

However, that slight bleaching on the edge doesn’t affect the overall quality of a good bale.

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