Introduction to Equine Nutrition & Supplementation

Apr 19, 2019 | On the Road

Recently I had the pleasure of attending an Equine Nutrition seminar presented by Lead Equine Nutrition (Leanne Godwin) and Prime Equine (Adelle Stewart) at the Prime Equine facility near Saskatoon. I wanted to learn more about the nutritional needs of horses and see if there are any changes I should be making for my little herd. I also wanted to learn about various supplements and how they might benefit my senior mare who has PPID (Cushing’s Disease) and one of my geldings whom I suspect has stomach ulcers.

It was a sunny and warm spring evening, and I along with 13 other participants settled into the barn alleyway where we were greeted by a very friendly mini-donkey named Patròn. Leanne and Adelle had lots of hot coffee on hand, as well as quite a large spread of baking and treats for us to enjoy!

Prime Equine LogoLead Equine logo

Our first topic for discussion was omegas. We compared the anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory ratios of different sources of omegas, and learned that they have been proven to promote wellness, healing and relief from all sorts of conditions (including RAO/heaves, injury, allergies and more). Adelle had already calculated the costs per day for each source and recommended dosages, and printed all of this information out for us to take home.
Next we looked at the various products on the market for respiratory health, ulcers, hoof health and joint health. Using nutrition labels and ingredients lists, we discussed the pros/cons for each one and compared their costs. We also learned which ingredients are best for different diets, depending on the age, overall health, and exercise level of different horses.

Thank you Leanne and Adelle for hosting this very informative seminar for us. I feel that the nutritional needs of the equine is something that many of us never consider, or perhaps at least not until we have a horse who acquires a health condition or injury. Personally, I’m happy to learn that nature nearly always offers a solution for our horses, and that we don’t have to turn to medicines and chemicals in most cases. Another takeaway for me is that when we educate ourselves about prevention, we can offer our furry friends the best life possible while they are in our care. Indeed, it’s our responsibility to take the initiative and devote time to continuous learning!

Leanne and Adelle plan to host another “Introductory” session this summer, as well as an “Advanced” session (which I hope to attend!). They also host First Aid courses for adults and children, Emergency seminars, as well as Equine Assisted Learning courses. Visit Adelle’s website PrimeEquine.ca for more information and registration.