RiteBalance

05/26/2026

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about supplementing magnesium in horses for everything from behavior and muscle tension to hoof concerns and metabolic issues. Along with that comes a common question:

“Magnesium oxide or magnesium glycinate?”

Here’s the short version: the answer is not as simple as “glycinate is more bioavailable.”

First: Magnesium oxide (MgO) is not “non-bioavailable”

A common claim online is that magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed or essentially unusable. That is not accurate. Research in horses suggests MgO has respectable absorption, often estimated around 50–70% depending on conditions.

What matters most: elemental magnesium

Bioavailability matters—but so does how much magnesium you’re actually feeding.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) = ~56% elemental magnesium
Magnesium glycinate = ~20% elemental magnesium

For example, feeding 20 grams of each:

MgO

11.2 g elemental magnesium
~5.6 g absorbed (assuming 50% absorption)

Magnesium glycinate

4 g elemental magnesium
~3.2 g absorbed (assuming 80% absorption)

So even with higher absorption, glycinate may still deliver less total magnesium because it starts with much less elemental magnesium.

The takeaway

This does not mean glycinate is “bad” or never useful. But the blanket statement that it is automatically better oversimplifies the conversation.

Before supplementing magnesium, ask:
👉 Why are you supplementing it?
👉 How much elemental magnesium are you feeding?
👉 What problem are you trying to solve?

If the goal is simply increasing magnesium intake, magnesium oxide remains a practical, well-studied, and cost-effective option for many horses.

Sometimes the better question is not which form sounds better—but how much usable magnesium the horse is actually receiving.

05/04/2026

ften discuss equine feed-through joint supplements with clients.

For a little perspective, here’s research on a widely used and very popular oral joint supplement showing no meaningful improvements in gait, inflammation, or cartilage biomarkers in horses compared to a placebo.

It’s also worth noting that, more broadly, research in horses has been inconsistent at best, with common ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin showing limited bioavailability and little reliable evidence of efficacy at typical feeding rates.

Here’s the link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Z9iSX5mPM/

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬? 🦴🐴

Equine osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting horses (Baccarin et al., 2022). So naturally, we’re always looking for ways to manage it, especially in our equine athletes and aging horses who experience higher joint strain.

One of the most common questions I get during consults is about oral joint supplements. They’re appealing for good reason: non-invasive, easy to feed, and widely available. But they’re also expensive and the science behind them has been mixed.

In fact, one study found 48% of horse owners felt there wasn’t enough research to support joint supplement efficacy, yet 90% were still willing to use them for prevention or treatment (Swirsley et al., 2017). That gap likely comes from the mindset “They might not help, but they won’t hurt.”

And that’s understandable when you’re dealing with a condition as common and impactful as osteoarthritis, doing something feels better than doing nothing.

But here’s the good news 👇
Researchers at Michigan State University have been working to give us clearer answers, and a newly published study is helping move the conversation forward (Harbowy et al., 2026). Article linked in comments!

➡️ Let’s break down what this new research actually tells us…

🔬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬!)
Researchers at Michigan State University evaluated 40 horses with chronic lameness (AAEP 2–4) associated with osteoarthritis.

Horses were carefully balanced by age, body condition, weight, and anticipated workload, then assigned to:
• A joint supplement group (Cosequin ASU)
• A control group (placebo; all-purpose flour)

To strengthen the study, each of these groups were further divided into two sub-groups and assigned different colors and scented additives to keep the treatments blinded and also create the perception there were four treatments to rule out any bias.

This is a strong experimental design addressing common issues seen in supplement research such as small sample sizes, lack of controls, and bias. This is important because the quality of the design determines how well we can interpret and ultimately trust the results.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬
Horses were evaluated every other week over 6 weeks and numerous variables were considered at each timepoint:

Lameness Grade: Treatment did not impact lameness grade (P>0.05) but all horses showed improvements between day 0 and 28 (P=0.045).

Forelimb Vector Sum: Horses on the oral joint supplement had greater forelimb asymmetry than those in the control group (P=0.042).

Pelvic Height: Treatment did not impact minimum or maximum pelvic height.

Stride Length: The stride length at the walk and trot did not differ between treatments.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏?
Overall, the oral joint supplement did not contribute to any positive changes in horses with osteoarthritis. These findings are not surprising and do align with previous research. While in vitro (cell culture) studies showed promise, studies completed in vivo (in the horse) had unclear clinical implications.

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓?
Joint supplements are a huge supplement category and historically have contributed to 34% of supplement sales (Oke et al., 2010). This is likely because equine osteoarthritis is the leading cause of lameness in horses (McIlwraith et al. 2012). This degenerative joint disease has been shown to affect an estimated 50% of horses over the age of 15 and up to 90% of horses 30 years and older (van Weeren et al., 2016).

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬
Overall, the evidence suggests that joint supplements may not be a worthwhile investment. Instead, focus on:

🥗 Balancing the diet to ensure nutrient requirements are met and the horse maintains a healthy weight.

🏡 Ensuring housing emphasizes adequate turnout time instead of prolonged stall confinement

🐎 Building exercise programs that include warm-up and cool down-periods and focus on consistent low impact movement, strengthening exercises, cross training, and proper conditioning

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞: While feeding a joint supplement may be easy, a well-rounded and holistic management approach is more likely to support your horse’s joint health in the long run.

* I’ll add that, yes, this study evaluated a single supplement. However, many joint supplements on the market contain similar ingredients, often at even lower inclusion rates. While I’ll continue digging into the literature, there currently isn’t strong, consistent evidence identifying a specific ingredient or combination that reliably improves osteoarthritis outcomes in horses. And realistically, if a clearly effective option existed, it would be widely recognized and supported by the research at this point.

But now I am curious - Do you currently feed a joint supplement and will this impact your decision to use one in the future?

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

Baccarin, RYA, Seidel SRT, Michelacci YM, Tokawa PKA, Oliveira TM. Osteoarthritis: A common disease that should be avoided in the athletic horse’s life. Anim. Front. 2022;12:25–36.

Swirsley N, Spooner HS, Hoffman RM. Supplement use and perceptions: a study of US horse owners. Journal of equine veterinary science. 2017 Dec 1;59:34-39.

Harbowy RM, Robison CI, Tillman I, Manfredi JM, Nielsen BD. Efficacy of an oral chondroprotective joint supplement on stride length and gait symmetry in aged geldings with chronic lameness. Animals. 2026;6(8):1230.

Oke S, McIlwraith CW. Review of the economic impact of osteoarthritis and oral joint supplement use in horses. AAEP Proc. 2010;56:12-16.

McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. The horse as a model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Bone Joint Res. 2012;1(11):297–309.

van Weeren PR, Back W. Musculoskeletal disease in aged horses and its management. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2016;32:229-247.

04/29/2026

For acid buffering and squamous ulcer support, long-stem alfalfa hay wins—hands down. It delivers calcium and the fiber horses are built to chew.

For pre-ride rewards, pellets work, but hay works better: more chewing, more saliva, more buffering. Plus, it buys you a few extra minutes to groom and enjoy your horse (remember—that’s the point).

And it doesn’t have to be alfalfa. Any palatable long-stem hay beats pellets here—more chew time, better buffering, and an actual fiber mat… not alfalfa soup.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PX8jMmNt/

Alfalfa: Is hay or a pellet product better before riding? Click the link in the comments to find out. 👇

04/27/2026

We don’t work with many broodmares, and honestly, it’s not because they don’t need the attention—it’s because they often get treated like decorative pasture ornaments until the last trimester rolls around. Which… is less than ideal.

If you’ve got a broodmare, her nutrition matters well before conception. You’re not just feeding a pregnancy—you’re setting the stage for fertility, fetal development, and the long-term health of that future foal. Waiting until the final stretch is a bit like cramming for an exam you were supposed to study for all semester. The results tend to show.

This podcast from Scoop & Scale Podcast is absolutely worth a listen. It does a great job of unpacking how broodmare nutrition really works and why it matters more than most people think. Fair warning: you may not look at mare (or foal) feeding/rearing programs the same way again.

https://scoopandscale.com/ep-73-broodmare-nutrition-why-your-foals-health-starts-before-birth/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRXAkpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelikYQvNmHJeVPaPezQ5ZgfJWLMgOQKCyyQgDBZscFaflFzVbBazQyxluh_Q_aem_L3U6ulkpJn7rTt63s2SfNg

04/13/2026

Random Horse Person Question:
“Which vitamin E supplement should I use — Bulk Supplements Vitamin E Powder or liquid Emcelle Tocopherol?”

Short answer: it depends.

Longer answer: it depends on whether you’ve actually tested your horse or you’re just guessing, which is less than ideal.

Let’s break this down:
________________________________________
If your horse has been tested and…
If blood levels are normal and you’re just maintaining:
👉 The Bulk Supplements Vitamin E Powder is generally fine.

It’s cost-effective, straightforward, and perfectly adequate for maintenance when deficiency is not in the picture.
________________________________________
If your horse IS low in vitamin E

Now we’re in a different lane — this is where form matters.

If testing shows deficiency, you want a form that actually moves the needle in blood levels efficiently:
👉 Liquid natural vitamin E options such as:
• Nano-E
• Elevate WS
• Emcelle Tocopherol

These are designed for better bioavailability and faster correction of low levels.
________________________________________
And since someone always asks:

Yes — of the liquid options, Emcelle Tocopherol is often the better value based on a price per 1,000 IU.

________________________________________
Bottom line:
• No deficiency? Powder is fine.
• Confirmed deficiency? Go liquid and fix it properly.
• Guessing without testing? NOT a good supplement strategy.

04/06/2026

Is your horse getting enough vitamin E?

Vitamin E is one of those not-so-forgiving nutrients—especially for horses without consistent pasture access.

🌿 Why it matters
Vitamin E is essential for muscle and nerve health. Fresh pasture is the best source, but levels drop rapidly in hay—so horses on dry lot or limited grazing are at higher risk of deficiency.

⚖️ Not one-size-fits-all
Even if your feed should meet requirements on paper, horses vary widely in how they absorb and utilize vitamin E. The only way to truly know? Blood testing.

⚠️ Deficiency concerns
Low vitamin E has been linked to serious neuromuscular conditions like eNAD, EDM, VEM, and EMND—often showing up as weakness, poor performance, incoordination, or muscle loss.

🧪 Test, don’t guess
While it’s tempting to just supplement and hope for the best, more isn’t always better (or safe). A targeted approach—working with your vet and nutritionist—helps dial in what your individual horse actually needs.

Infographic from Equine PhD

🎧 Want to learn more?
The Scoop & Scale Podcast has an excellent deep dive on vitamin E that’s well worth a listen.

https://scoopandscale.com/

Stay tuned… because blindly supplementing vitamin E deserves its own conversation 👀

03/30/2026

🌱 Spring Pasture Isn’t Simple—Especially for Metabolic Horses 🐴

Many horse owners look for a “safe” time of day or type of grass for sugar-sensitive horses—but it’s not that simple.

A great breakdown from Equine PhD (Dr. DeBoer) from 2025 highlights just how variable pasture can be—and why grazing management requires more than following a chart.

Why NSCs Vary?

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) fluctuate constantly—even within the same pasture in a single day.

Time of Day:
Lower near sunrise, higher later in the evening—but not reliably “safe”

Sunlight & Weather:
More sun = more sugar production; clouds may reduce NSCs, but unpredictably

Growth Rate:
Actively growing grass uses sugars → often lower NSCs
Stressed grass (overgrazed, drought) → can accumulate sugars

Maturity:
Taller grass may have lower % NSC, but bigger bites = higher total intake

Season:
Spring = highest risk
Fall frost can also spike NSCs

Forage Type:
Cool-season grasses store more sugars than warm-season grasses or legumes

🐴 The Biggest Variable: Your Horse
Age, BCS, metabolism (EMS/IR/PPID), breed, diet, and exercise all impact tolerance

➡️ There is no one-size-fits-all rule

What Should You Do?

✔️ Monitor body condition regularly
✔️ Manage pasture, don’t rely on it
✔️ Use tools like muzzles, dry lots, controlled turnout
✔️ Test hay/pasture when possible
✔️ Stay flexible—conditions change daily

⚖️ Bottom Line

There’s no universally “safe” grazing time. NSCs are dynamic and unpredictable.

Some horses do best avoiding pasture altogether. Others can handle limited grazing with careful management.

👉 Success comes from understanding the system—and the horse in front of you.

Healthy horses without metabolic concerns can typically graze safely with good management.

📚 Credit & Inspiration: Equine PhD (Dr. DeBoer)

03/23/2026

Spring is springing… and so is that pasture 🌱

It’s exciting to finally see green grass again after winter—but before we throw the gates open and let horses live their best lush-grass lives, let’s talk about what’s actually happening inside the horse.

Here’s the deal:
Spring pasture is naturally higher in NSCs ( starches & sugars) and protein. That nutrient spike is great… in moderation. But when introduced too quickly, it can overwhelm the digestive system and lead to issues like gas, loose manure, colic risk, or even laminitis in sensitive horses.

Why does this happen?
A horse’s digestive system is incredibly adaptable—but not instantly. The enzymes in the foregut and the microbes in the hindgut are constantly adjusting to whatever diet they’re regularly “seeing.” When that diet suddenly shifts (hello, lush pasture buffet), those systems need time to catch up.

If the transition is too fast:

Hindgut microbes can ferment rapidly → excess gas + pH changes

Microbial populations can shift in the wrong direction

Undigested starches & sugars may “spill over” into the hindgut

In severe cases, this can increase laminitis risk—especially in easy keepers or metabolically sensitive horses

So what’s the best approach?
🚦 Go slow. Seriously!

A gradual introduction allows the digestive system to adapt safely. A simple schedule (adapted from Legacy Equine Nutrition) might look like:

Day 1: 15 minutes

Day 2: 30 minutes

Day 3: 1 hour

Day 4: 1.5 hours

Day 5: 2 hours

Day 6: 2.5 hours

Day 7: 3 hours

Days 8–12: ~4 hours

Day 13+: Full turnout

We know—not every farm setup makes this easy. If space or management limits you:

Use a grazing muzzle to reduce intake

Rotate through dry lots, arenas, or stalls to control exposure time

Keep hay available before turnout so horses aren’t diving into pasture on an empty stomach

Your turn 👇
How do you transition your horses onto spring pasture?
Do you go by the clock, use muzzles, or just hope for the best and cross your fingers? 😅

02/24/2026

Is 14% Crude Protein “Low” for a Performance Horse?

We often hear concerns about performance horses not getting enough protein when fed a commercially fortified feed with 14% crude protein. Before drawing conclusions, it’s important to step back and evaluate the entire diet—not just the number on the feed tag.

Here’s a simple example:

Scenario

1,100 lb horse

Consuming 2% of body weight in grass hay (≈22 lb/day)

Hay testing at 10% crude protein

4 lb/day of a 14% crude protein fortified feed (minimum recommended rate)

Moderate workload

Estimated minimum protein requirement: ~770 grams/day

Protein Intake Breakdown

From hay: ~999 grams

From fortified feed: ~255 grams

Total daily protein intake: ~1,254 grams

Requirement: ~770 grams
Intake: ~1,254 grams

In this example, the horse is consuming substantially more protein than the estimated minimum requirement.

Key Takeaways

✔ Crude protein percentage on a feed tag does not tell the whole story.
✔ Forage typically provides the majority of a horse’s daily protein.
✔ Total daily intake matters more than the percentage on a single feed.
✔ Feeding fortified feeds at their recommended rates is essential to meeting overall nutrient needs.

When evaluating muscle maintenance or performance concerns, always assess the complete diet—including forage analysis, feeding rates, and overall energy intake. Horses don’t eat feed tags—they eat total diets.

If you’d like help evaluating your horse’s ration, we’re happy to help you look at the full picture.