Clarity Equine Nutrition

05/11/2026

If you’re in any equine nutrition groups, you’ve probably seen the confusion around ration balancers…

Are they grain?
Are they supplements?
Are they too high in protein?
Does your horse actually need one?

In our newest Scoop & Scale episode, we break down what ration balancers really are, where they fit in a feeding program, and the most common misconceptions we see horse owners struggle with.
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🎙️New Episode Available NOW

𝐄𝐩. 𝟕𝟓: 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐭

Ration balancers are one of the most commonly recommended feeds in the horse world but what are they really doing, and does your horse actually need one?

If your horse is living on pasture or hay looking good and maintaining weight, it’s easy to assume their diet is “complete”. In reality, many diets fall short in key nutrients that support long-term health, topline, and performance. The effects of these deficiencies may not show up for a long time.

In this episode, we break down what ration balancers are, how they work, where they fit into your horse’s feeding program, and some of the most common misconceptions we see.

We discuss:
-What a ration balancer is and how it differs from other feeds and supplements
-Why forage-only diets are often missing key nutrients
-The role of protein, minerals, and vitamins in balancing the diet
-Ration balancer vs. ration-balancing supplements: what’s the difference
-When you may need to add a ration balancer to other feeds that you are feeding
-And so much more

Whether you’re feeding a performance horse, an easy keeper, or anything in between, this episode will help you better understand how to support your horse’s nutrition without adding unnecessary calories.

Listen here 👉 https://scoopandscale.com/ep-75-ration-balancers-explained-the-key-to-filling-nutrient-gaps-in-your-horses-diet/

05/08/2026

There is a lot of talk about overweight horses having an increased risk of developing equine metabolic syndrome or struggling more with soundness as they age. But there is far less talk about the risk of overweight horses dying from strangulating lipomas. Fat develops around internal organs in part to protect them from trauma such as during a fall or kick. Sometimes that fat can turn deadly. These colics are sudden, severe and often fatal. Just one more reason to keep a close eye on your horses this spring and not let them get too fat!

Strangulating lipomas in older horses

Strangulating lipomas in horses are benign, fatty tumors that develop in the abdominal cavity, primarily in older horses, that grow on a long stalk (pedicle) and wrap around the intestine. These tumors cause severe colic by cutting off blood supply and interrupting digestion, often requiring emergency surgical intervention to remove the tumor and damaged intestine.

What are Strangulating Lipomas? A benign tumor (lipoma) of fat tissue that develops within the mesentery (tissue connecting the intestines).

Over time, the fat mass develops a long, cord-like stalk (pedunculated). This stalk can wrap around the small intestine (in 90% of cases) or small colon, acting like a noose. The constriction tightens, obstructing intestinal flow and cutting off blood supply, leading to rapid tissue death and severe abdominal pain (strangulation).

Primarily affects older horses, typically over 15 years, as it takes time for the tumors to grow and develop a long stalk. I also see calcified and pedunculated lipomas in the omentum. This is an extremely common way for older horses to go in agonising pain. This horse was a scheduled euthanised because he was stiff and lame, statically he looked the picture of health at 28 yet inside these time bombs wait.

For videos on this problem head to patreon.

05/01/2026

I am not sure that I have ever called out a product publicly on social media before but after a client consult today, I feel compelled to do so. Not because you would be wasting your money if you fed it (there are lots of those), but because it could have serious health consequences for some horses.

A client with a PPID horse has been feeding Havens Natural Balance as her balancer. On investigation of this product, it sounded promising as it claims that it “helps horses who are prone to laminitis, summer itch and insulin resistance.” This is due to the fact that it has “No added sugars and is completely free of molasses.” However, on closer investigation of the nutrient guarantees and ingredients, I was shocked to find the starch listed as 36.7% giving this feed a whopping NSC of 39.5%. This feed is entirely inappropriate and could in fact be considered dangerous to feed to a horse with insulin resistance especially one with a history of laminitis.

Let me be clear, no metabolic horse should be fed this feed and Haven’s should be ashamed of positioning this feed as being a safe option for such horses.

04/28/2026

Raising a young horse can be both rewarding and humbling. There’s a lot of information out there on how to feed for growth, and not all of it points in the same direction. Conversations like this are a good reminder that there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all approach. Join us on this episode of Scoop and Scale as we discuss feeding young horses.
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From birth through weaning and into early training, feeding young horses correctly is critical—but often misunderstood. Nutrition during this stage directly impacts growth, joint health, metabolism, and long-term success.

04/14/2026

Our understanding of the broodmare’s role in equine nutrition has evolved significantly in recent years.

For a long time, we’ve thought about feeding the mare as simply supplying nutrients to the foal. But the science is showing us it’s much more than that. What happens during pregnancy doesn’t just support growth in the moment, it can influence how that foal develops, functions, and performs for years to come.

In this episode of Scoop and Scale, we explore how mare nutrition shapes more than just birth weight… from metabolic health to long-term soundness. It’s a conversation that’s changing how I think about feeding broodmares and I think it will do the same for you.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15huceeE4YJ/

Mare nutrition plays a far bigger role in foal development than most horse owners realize and the science is now showing that what happens during pregnancy can influence a foal for life. In this episode, we break down and explore how broodmare diet shapes foal growth, metabolism, and long-term sound...

04/01/2026

There’s more to the vitamin E conversation than most people realize.

After hearing the latest research from Dr. Carrie Finno last week and seeing data like this, it’s clear why.

This is exactly why we recorded this episode.

Take a look at the stats below 👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CbGQmAr1W/

𝟑𝟓% 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝.

In a recent survey of 285 veterinarians presented at the 2025 AAEP convention, 52% reported administering injectable Vitamin E–selenium. Adverse reactions were reported by 31% of vets, with anaphylaxis being the most cited adverse effect (65%). Of these anaphylactic cases, 𝟑𝟓% 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥.

But here’s the part that deserves just as much attention:
Only 𝟑𝟏% 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟖% 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.

This isn’t about fear, it’s about informed decisions.

There are safer, oral alternatives for most situations, and not all forms of Vitamin E are equally effective. Yet injectable products are still widely used, often for convenience or the assumption of deficiency rather than confirmed need. The survey reported that over 50% of the time, vitamin E-Selenium injections are given for suspected deficiency not diagnosed deficiency.

This is exactly why testing matters. Why understanding form matters. And why “just in case” supplementation isn’t always harmless.

If you haven’t listened yet, our latest episode breaks down Vitamin E deficiency, testing, and how to supplement effectively.

A summary of the survey results may be found here https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/research/use-and-safety-of-injectable-vitamin-e-selenium-in-equine-practice/

03/30/2026

Last week at a nutrition conference, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Carrie Finno, a top researcher in Vitamin E, share the latest findings.

With spring here and horses heading back to work, Vitamin E is more important than ever for their health and performance.

Don’t guess, know what your horse needs. Listen to our latest episode to learn how to identify deficiency and supplement effectively.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AuKHBQzJ5/

Spring means more riding and possibly more oxidative stress for your horse. After a winter on hay, many horses may be low in vitamin E, a key antioxidant for overall health.In this episode, we cover:-What vitamin E is and why it matters-Why hay and limited pasture diets can lead to deficiency-Signs....

03/16/2026

📣 New Episode Available Now

Ep. 71: Equine Asthma: Commonly Missed Signs, Causes & Treatments

Horses with equine asthma burn a ton of energy just trying to breathe. Calories that should go toward condition, muscle, and performance are spent on… breathing. Maintaining weight can be an uphill battle, and this is just one of many nutrition challenges these horses face.

Dr. Laurent Couëtil from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital shares early signs, diagnosis tips, treatment options, and practical strategies to help your horse breathe easier and stay fit.

🎧 Listen now!

Mar 16, 2026 | Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Dr. Laurent L. Couëtil, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Equine Asthma, Equine Nutrition, Equine Respiratory Health, Podcast, Research

03/06/2026

EquiSUMMIT is next week! Register for this FREE virtual event, the lineup looks great!

Dr. Clair will be covering how to assess forage quality, reduce losses and integrate alternative and specialty forages.

🎟️ March 11-12 | REGISTER HERE
👉 https://tinyurl.com/equisummit2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cuo3fxTpX/

🎉 The EquiSUMMIT 2026 agenda is live!
Join us FREE and virtual on March 11-12 for approachable, science backed sessions on equine nutrition and gut health — designed for everyone from horse owners to industry professionals.

Which topic are you most excited about? 👇

✅ Save your spot: https://attendequisummit.com

03/02/2026

Hoof cracks, chips, weak walls… sound familiar? 👀

Strong hooves don’t come from magic supplements. They’re built with balanced nutrition, consistency, and a little patience.

In this episode, we break down what actually improves hoof quality, the key nutrients that matter, and why fixing the whole diet is more powerful than stacking products.

If better hooves are on your goal list this year, this one’s for you 👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AsBLuWbtT/

Cracks, chips, weak hoof walls, and soft soles are common concerns for horse owners. But do hoof supplements actually work, and does nutrition really improve hoof quality?

02/16/2026

In Episode 69: Managing Overweight Horses Through Diet, Forage, and Exercise, we dive into a topic that affects a large number of horses across disciplines, overweight and obese horses, and the very real health risks that come with excess body fat.

This is a conversation that can feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s an important one. From shifting perceptions of what “ideal” condition looks like, to the growing prevalence of metabolic disease, managing body condition is one of the most impactful things owners can do to support long-term health and soundness.

Thank you to Madeline Boast of Balanced Bay Nutrition for joining us and sharing both the science and practical strategies behind safe, sustainable weight management.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17rj378hrB/

In this episode we discuss a challenge many horse owners face: fat or overweight horses. From disciplines where a “round” horse is seen as ideal to the health risks of carrying extra weight, we cover why managing body condition matters.