As horse owners, we always strive to do what's best for our horses. They are our soulmates and a lifelong passion! Brought to you by Tribute® Superior Equine Nutrition, The Equine Connection Podcast is where health, nutrition and love for the horse come together. We share helpful advice, tips and tricks to help all horse owners better care for their four-legged partners.
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In this episode we discuss nutrition for miniature horses. We delve into a case study from a breeder concerned about ensuring the right balance of nutrients and calories for her herd, including broodmares, stallions, weanlings, and yearlings. we also emphasize the importance of scaled-down nutrient requirements for minis, the challenges of preventi…
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In this episode we discuss the vital role of nutrition for performance horses, particularly during the peak show season. Dr. Rambo elaborates on why good nutrition is essential, how feeding programs should be structured for different types of performance horses, and the importance of forage. The episode also covers specific nutritional strategies f…
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In this episode the focus is on the importance of accurately measuring horse feed. The hosts discuss common issues with measuring feed by volume, such as variations in weight between different types of feed, and emphasize the importance of weighing feed to ensure horses receive the appropriate nutrients. They also provide practical tips and explain…
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In this episode we discuss the emerging topic of postbiotics and their benefits for horse gut health. They provide a refresher on prebiotics and probiotics, explaining their roles in supporting the digestive health of horses. The conversation delves into what postbiotics are, their potential advantages, and the current state of research on their ef…
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In this episode we address common questions about salt in horses' diets. Dr. Rambo discusses the different types of salt available, such as Himalayan salt, table salt, and sea salt, and emphasize that plain white salt is the most economical and effective option. Additionally, we explore whether to offer salt in block or loose form, how much to add …
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In this episode, we discuss the impact of nutrition on horses with sensitive skin, particularly during the summer months. Dr. Rambo shares her personal experience with her horses and provides insight into essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats that contribute to healthy skin and coat. We delve into the role of the immune system, the impor…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse: Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
21:17
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo and equine specialist Heather share a real-life case study involving a horse diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). The discussion covers practical steps for dietary changes, including managing forage and grain intake, using grazing muzzles, and the importance of testing hay for sugar content. Listeners ar…
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How Does Stress Impact Nutritional Needs?
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12:47
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo discuss the impact of stress on the nutritional needs of horses. The conversation delves into various stress factors such as competition, travel, pregnancy, and weather, and how they affect horses' physiological state. Dr. Rambo explains the importance of maintaining a good nutritional baseline, with a focus on for…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse: Travel & Fitness
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo, and equine specialist Heather discuss preparing horses for trips and activities, emphasizing nutrition and fitness. They use Heather's 13-year-old quarter horse Boone as a case study, covering topics such as long-term fitness programs, diet adjustments, managing stress during travel, gut health, hydration, and pac…
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In this episode, we discuss the common issue of overweight horses and how to manage their nutrition. The episode covers strategies for feeding horses that are overfed, the importance of finding a balance in their diet, and the role of ration balancers in providing essential nutrients without adding unnecessary calories. Dr. Rambo also provides prac…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse: Seasonal Diet Changes
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo and equine specialist Heather discuss common equine nutrition issues related to seasonal changes, particularly focusing on the transition from hay to spring/summer pasture. They address a case of a four-year-old gelding who gained weight with increased pasture time and the recommendation to switch from a complete h…
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Why Fecal Egg Counts for Horses are Important
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Dr. Nicole Rambo dives into the importance of fecal egg counts for managing parasite burdens in horses. She discusses how fecal egg counts can inform targeted deworming strategies, reducing the risk of resistance to anthelmintics and promoting overall herd health. The conversation covers the timing of fecal egg counts relative to deworming, the imp…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse: Mallenders & Sallenders
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10:23
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In this episode Dr. Nicole Rambo and equine specialist Heather, address a listener's concern about Mallenders in feathered horse breeds, such as the Gypsy Vanner. They debunk myths around dietary needs specific to draft horses, clarifying that nutritional requirements are more influenced by a horse's life stage and activity level rather than breed.…
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Do's and Don't of Soaking Horse Feed & Hay
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17:11
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This episode discusses the importance and methodologies of soaking feed for horses. The conversation highlights several reasons why owners might soak feed, including preventing choke, aiding horses with poor or missing teeth, and managing metabolic issues through reducing sugar intake in hay. Dr. Nicole Rambo provides detailed advice on how to prop…
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Constant Comfort® Gut Health Paste for Horses
14:34
14:34
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo, alongside equine specialists Sarah and Heather, introduce a new product from Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition called Constant Comfort® Paste, an extension of their Constant Comfort® gut health supplement line. The Constant Comfort® line supports horse gut health, a top concern among horse owners. The paste is des…
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Importance of Calcium/Phosphorus Ratios in Horses
16:17
16:17
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In this episode, the team discusses the critical role of calcium and phosphorus balance in the diets of young, growing horses, as well as pregnant mares. Highlighting the importance of maintaining a calcium to phosphorus ratio between 1:1 and 2:1, Dr. Rambo explains how this balance impacts bone development and the prevention of skeletal deformitie…
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How the Heck Do I Feed this Horse: Elevated Liver Enzymes
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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Rambo and equine specialists Heather and Sarah discuss a concern regarding equine liver health. They explore a case involving a nine-year-old racehorse with elevated liver enzymes and whether a diet change is necessary. The discussion covers potential causes of liver issues in horses, including viruses, parasites, unknow…
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In this episode, the discussion centers around 'emotional horse feeds' - horse feed ingredients that may cause horses to become hot, hyper, or excitable. Dr. Rambo explains how changes in diet, especially those involving sugar and starch, can significantly affect a horse's behavior. Exploring the reasons behind this, this podcast covers how diets h…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse Series: Orphan Foals
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In this episode, we discuss the critical aspects of caring for orphan foals. The focus is on the immediate nutritional needs following the loss of their mother, emphasizing the importance of colostrum in the first 12 to 24 hours of life, options for milk replacers, and strategies for managing feeding and socialization as they grow. The experts also…
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This week, we feature a discussion between co-host Kim Brown and equine nutritionist Dr. Nicole Rambo on forage-based diets for horses. They explore what constitutes a forage-based diet, emphasizing that while forage should be the bulk of a horse's diet, it does not mean excluding other nutritional sources. Dr. Rambo addresses common misconceptions…
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Introducing Synergize™, A Premium Horse Feed
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In this episode of the Equine Connection podcast, Dr. Nicole Rambo and her team introduce a new horse feed from Tribute Equine Nutrition, Synergize™. This high-fat, low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) blend is designed to increase the fat and fiber content in a horse's diet, while keeping low NSC levels. They contrast Synergize™ with Kalm Ultra®,…
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In this episode of The Equine Connection Podcast, co-hosts Kim Brown and Dr. Nicole Rambo, an equine nutritionist, delve into the world of equine supplement blocks, focusing on salt, mineral, and supplement blocks available in feed stores. They discuss the importance of free-choice salt for horses and explain the differences between various colored…
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Bonus Episode: What to Feed After Hygain Exits USA Market
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In this bonus Equine Connection Podcast episode, hosted by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition, the hosts discuss the recent departure of Hygain from the U.S. market. They delve into how this affects horse owners seeking alternative feeds and offer detailed recommendations and comparisons for substituting Hygain's popular products. The discussion inc…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse Series: Ulcers & Sweet Feed
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In this week's podcast, an owner called and was worried about her 8-year-old Quarter Horse. The horse was receiving ample amounts of sweet feed, suffered from ulcers, and was a bit too energetic (spicy). Dr. Rambo and the equine experts from Tribute discuss this case, what they advised the owner, and update on how the horse is doing today. A topic …
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In this episode, cohosts Kim Brown and Dr. Nicole Rambo discuss ways to manage and prevent gastric ulcers in horses. They discuss the difference between drugs and supplements, where the latter is meant for prevention and ongoing support, while drugs address the disease. Dr. Rambo introduces common medications prescribed for ulcers and explains thei…
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How the Heck Do I Feed This Horse Series: My Yearling Stopped Eating
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12:07
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In this week's podcast, we tackle a case study. An owner called and was worried that her yearling, Mikey. Mikey suddenly stopped eating his horse feed. The Tribute team takes you through the scenario and discussion with the horse's owner. Eventually, the cause is identified and resolved. Mikey is back to eating his feed and is healthy and happy. A …
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Understanding and Managing Equine Gastric Ulcers
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26:08
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In this episode of the Equine Connection podcast, hosts Kim Brown and Dr. Nicole Rambo delve into the topic of equine health, specifically focusing on equine gastric ulcers. They discuss the different types of gastric ulcers that affect horses, how to identify signs of ulcers, and the various risk factors. The conversation covers early research foc…
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Importance of Pre and Probiotics to Horses
19:46
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The introduction of pre- and probiotics to equine diets has provided multiple benefits to horses from all around the world. In this week's podcast, we focus on what exactly prebiotics are and how they work. Then we discuss probiotics, what they are and how they also work. The bottom line is, synergistically working together, pre- and probiotics hel…
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How Nutrition Can Impact a Horse's Hooves
21:34
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It has always been said, "No Hoof, No Horse." We, as owners, are always caring for and concerned with our horse's hooves. While there are many factors that influence hoof health, nutrition plays a vital role. This week, we discuss this more in detail. First, we briefly touch on how hooves grow and what can impact their growth. We then discuss vital…
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The term "hard" keeper is used quite frequently by horse owners. Thus, in this week's podcast, we focus solely on the hard keeper and what that means as a horse owner. Hard keepers are horses that have difficulty in maintaining weight (body condition). We discuss some of the signs and how to identify if your horse is a hard keeper. We also chat abo…
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Horse owners may be alarmed when witnessing a horse start to eat either its own manure, or even manure from another horse. Typically, this is seen in foals and other young horses, and we talk about why they may exhibit this behavior. There is even some evidence that manure eating is beneficial to young horses, and we briefly touch upon that. Then, …
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Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) is a genetic disease affecting many breeds of horses. There are two identified types of PSSM: PSSM Type 1 and PSSM Type 2. In this week's podcast, we focus in on PSSM Type 1. During the podcast, we discuss what PSSM is and how Type 1 is identifiable in horses. We address which horses are at risk of this geneti…
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Horses are unique amongst many other large herbivores, like cattle, sheep, and even deer. Rather, horses and their cousins (donkeys, zebras and other equids), are part of a smaller group known as "hindgut" fermenters. This week, we discuss the horse's digestive tract. We start at the teeth and go all the way through, giving highlights to each struc…
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In days gone by, it was not uncommon to warm up some water and mix it with some bran to make a nice, warm mash for your horse. Many believed it helped warm their horses during a cold winter's night. Others believed a bran mash had a nice laxative effect and aided their horse's digestion. In this week's podcast, we highlight why feeding bran or maki…
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This week we focus on the broodmare and discuss why she requires special care and attention. Broodmares are especially interesting because they go through so many tremendous changes through gestation and then immediately following parturition. During gestation, broodmares require careful management as they provide critical nutrients to the foal. We…
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You may have heard the term "hay belly" used to describe a horse that looks obese, but isn't. Many do not quite know what hay belly really is. Thus, in this week's podcast we talk about hay belly and tell you exactly what this condition is and how to identify it. We then go on to describe which types of horses may be prone to experiencing hay belly…
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As a legume, alfalfa is a unique forage and is the primary choice for many horse owners. Because the foundation for any horse diet will always be forage, this week we focus on alfalfa and why or why not it would be a good choice for your horse. We start off discussing how alfalfa as a legume differs from many of our grass forages. We especially foc…
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As many in North America are experiencing cold weather, we go into some tips on how to assist your horse in their changing nutritional needs. We jump right in and start talking calories and why it's important to be aware of them in your horse's diet. This is especially true as the seasons change and the weather challenges a horse's ability to maint…
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While many horses are considered overweight and are considered easy keepers, often owners will have horses that are difficult to maintain weight and are considered hard keepers. We provide a brief review of the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System and also discuss the Tribute Wellness System. Together, they can be used to evaluate how well your ho…
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With winter coming, it would be worth your while to review your nutrition plan for your senior horses. Generally, a senior horse is one that is older than 15 years old. However, there are many factors that can influence what we could consider a "senior horse," which we discuss. We also talk about why winter can be a tougher time for older horses wh…
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Beet pulp is a common feedstuff fed to horses. It is often included in horse feeds and commonly supplemented by horse owners. However, it is when it is added to your horse's diet that there should be some caution. In this week's podcast, we explain why beet pulp is a good food source for horses. We talk about how it is a highly digestible fiber sou…
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Moving your horse to a new facility can be an exciting but challenging experience for both you and your horses. Whether it's a new boarding stable, a change of residence, or a temporary location for training or competition, transitioning to a new environment requires careful planning and consideration. In this week's podcast, we discuss some of the…
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We have often highlighted that it is important for every owner to formulate a feeding plan for their horses. In this week's podcast, we are joined with a Tribute Equine Specialist, Sarah Ranker, who talks with us about the importance of having a feeding plan for your horse. Sarah spends much of her time speaking to horse owners about what they are …
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Chromium is one of the latest "hot topics' in horse nutrition. Many companies are now promoting chromium to horse owners and this week we tackle this latest trend. We answer what exactly chromium is, how it is utilized by the horse, and how it can potentially be beneficial to your horse. However, caution is advised as certain types of horses can be…
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Dietary supplements can be beneficial to horses and are increasing in popularity. One such supplement, turmeric, has gained traction by equine nutritionists as one of these beneficial supplements. In this week's podcast, we discuss how turmeric can benefit horses and how it works. We look at what the research says and why it is now being added to h…
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One of the most popular breeds around the world has to be the Thoroughbred. These versatile horses compete in numerous disciplines and are beloved by many. From horse racing to eventing to pleasure riding, Thoroughbreds can do it all. Yet, due to their breeding, they do exhibit some breed characteristics that owners need to be aware of. Thus, in th…
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One of the questions equine nutritionists are often asked is, "What in the heck are wheat middlings?" Some think they are a budget ingredient just added as filler to horse feeds and do not offer much to the horse. Well in this week's podcast, we address this and tell you why wheat middlings are often included in many horse feeds. We also address wh…
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Helping Your Horse Through Seasonal Changes
18:00
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As we transition into the fall and eventually into winter, it can bring a lot of stress to your horses. How best to manage them and limit the amount of stress they experience is the topic of this week's podcast. One of the biggest concerns is, of course, colic. Thus, every owner should have a solid management plan in place to help their horses thro…
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Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease impacting many horses throughout North America. It is a disease that can affect any horse that ingests the microbe through opossum feces. While it can be rare in horses, those that do get infected can have serious problems leading to death. However, there are some excellent treatmen…
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Of all the horse breeds, gaited horses are often considered the most elegant. This is because gaited horse breeds are those that have been selectively bred to perform specialized movements called ambling gaits. These gaits are often considered smooth and easy to ride. Additionally, of the many breeds of gaited horses, some may have specialized nutr…
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