Lindsay Burer, MS - Equine Nutrition Consultant

Lindsay Burer, MS - Equine Nutrition Consultant Helping horses live healthy, happy lives. Equine nutrition consultant for Bluebonnet Feeds and Stride Animal Health
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If I find Gracie, the missing giraffe in the Texas Hill Country, I won’t say a word…But there will definitely be signs.
06/23/2026

If I find Gracie, the missing giraffe in the Texas Hill Country, I won’t say a word…

But there will definitely be signs.

MYTH: Coastal Bermuda Hay Causes Colic.FACT: Any hay that is low in digestibility can cause colic, regardless of hay spe...
06/23/2026

MYTH: Coastal Bermuda Hay Causes Colic.

FACT: Any hay that is low in digestibility can cause colic, regardless of hay species. Bermudagrass hay that has been harvested correctly is a perfectly safe feed for horses. Bermuda hay should be harvested every 21 days during peak growing season to ensure the grass has not become too mature. The more mature the grass is the higher the NDF content will be in the hay. NDF (neutral detergent fiber) is a measure of indigestible fiber. Correlations have been made between high NDF content in hay and increased chance of impaction colic due to the hay being less digestible.

Bottom line, it is not the type of hay, but rather the time of harvest that should be used to evaluate the quality and safety of feeding bermuda hay.

My horse has PSSM. What can I do to support him nutritionally and manage this condition?What is it?▪️Polysaccharide Stor...
06/22/2026

My horse has PSSM. What can I do to support him nutritionally and manage this condition?

What is it?
▪️Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) is a muscle disorder that affects how horses store and utilize sugars.

What are the types?
▪️PSSM1 is caused by a genetic mutation in the glycogen synthase 1 gene. Having the mutation does not guarantee clinical signs. For example, approximately 69% of Percherons carry the mutation, but only about 31% experience tying-up episodes.

(Consult your veterinarian for appropriate testing.)

▪️PSSM2 describes horses with abnormal sugar accumulation in muscle tissue but without the gene mutation.

What are the signs?
▪️Muscle stiffness
▪️Sweating
▪️Reluctance to move
▪️Shifting lameness
▪️Tight abdomen
▪️Muscle tremors
▪️Standing stretched out as if needing to urinate
▪️Dark, coffee-colored urine

How can we manage it?
▪️Consistent exercise. Daily movement is one of the most important management tools.
▪️Limit pasture intake. Remove from lush pasture or restrict access with scheduled grazing or a grazing muzzle.
▪️Test your hay. Ideally, combined starch and sugar (NSC) should be around 12% or less.
▪️Choose low-NSC feeds. Horses needing additional calories should obtain them primarily from fat rather than starch and sugar. If they do not require extra calories, extra fat is not necessary.
▪️Monitor Vitamin E. Work with your veterinarian to establish appropriate levels through bloodwork.
▪️Provide electrolytes daily.

Bluebonnet Recommendations
Feed or balancer (fed at recommended rates):
▪️Intensify Omega Force
▪️Low Starch Ultra
▪️Pro Balance Diet Balancer

Vitamin E
▪️Consider a liquid source for 30–60 days, followed by Immune E/C for long-term maintenance. Use bloodwork to monitor levels.

Hydrate & Recover
▪️ Because muscle health depends heavily on proper electrolyte status, many horses prone to muscle soreness or tying-up episodes benefit from daily supplementation.

Muscle Recharge
▪️If episodes persist despite the above management strategies, consider adding Muscle Recharge daily.

If you suspect PSSM, always contact your veterinarian first.

Feeding a forage-only diet? A diet balancer is still recommended, and here’s why.This chart shows the NRC’s (National Re...
06/19/2026

Feeding a forage-only diet? A diet balancer is still recommended, and here’s why.

This chart shows the NRC’s (National Research Council) minimum nutrient requirements for an 1,100 lb horse in moderate work consuming an average-quality alfalfa-only diet. It’s important to remember that minimum requirements are simply the levels needed to prevent deficiencies in most horses, not necessarily the levels that support optimal health and performance.

Even high-quality alfalfa can leave nutritional gaps while oversupplying other nutrients, such as protein. That’s why a well-formulated diet balancer can be such a valuable addition to a forage-based feeding program.

Want to learn more? Check out this excellent webinar on equine diet balancers:�https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-GjcyLct04&t=31s

My personal choice, and what I feed my own horses, is Bluebonnet Pro Balance. I like it because it’s pelleted for easy feeding, very low in NSC, doesn’t add unnecessary calories, includes organic trace minerals, and provides guaranteed digestive support along with other functional ingredients for health.

Side note: This example is based on an average-quality alfalfa sample, and nutrient levels can vary between hay crops. However, some essential nutrients simply aren’t present in forage at levels needed to meet a performance horse’s requirements, regardless of hay quality. This is consistent across different forage types as well.

Did you know?Hay baled with too much moisture (>25%) is at greater risk of catching fire due to microbial activity gener...
06/19/2026

Did you know?

Hay baled with too much moisture (>25%) is at greater risk of catching fire due to microbial activity generating significant amounts of heat. If hay reaches 150-175°F, it has the potential to burst into flames. If you ever feel heat between your hay bales, remove them from the others, spread them out (ideally up off the ground on pallets) and allow them to dry.

Feed your recipient mares just as you would the prized mare providing the embryo if she were carrying the foal. Why? Bec...
06/17/2026

Feed your recipient mares just as you would the prized mare providing the embryo if she were carrying the foal.

Why? Because what you feed the mare carrying the foal is what’s supplying the nutrition directly to the foal. If the mare has a poor nutritional status at time of transfer, and continues to receive inadequate nutrition throughout pregnancy, it can have negative impacts on the foal’s physical and mental development. It’s just like women taking prenatal vitamins before and during pregnancy.

Feeding a high quality, high protein diet or adding an amino acid muscle building supplement and NOT exercising your hor...
06/16/2026

Feeding a high quality, high protein diet or adding an amino acid muscle building supplement and NOT exercising your horse, is the same as a person drinking a daily protein shake, and not going to the gym!

You have to work muscle to build muscle.

PM to learn more about Bluebonnet Amino Edge- guaranteeing ALL TEN essential amino acids!

PSA: Those cute little “butt cheeks” making your horse’s tailhead disappear? That’s usually fat, not muscle.Regardless o...
06/15/2026

PSA: Those cute little “butt cheeks” making your horse’s tailhead disappear? That’s usually fat, not muscle.

Regardless of breed, a tail head that’s starting to sink can be an easy visual clue that your horse is carrying more body fat than ideal.

Take a quick look back there. It’s one of the easiest places to visually spot changes in body condition, and catching them early can help prevent excess weight from turning into bigger health problems down the road.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. 🫣
06/13/2026

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. 🫣

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