Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 27: Behind the Scenes at the Summer Games with Dr. Joe Pagan -Part 2 Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

In part 2 of our 2 part series Behind the Scenes at the Summer Games
Dr. Clair talks to Dr Joe Pagan owner and President of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). In addition to doing equine nutrition and exercise physiology related research work, KER have also sourced the feed for the last 7 Summer Games.
They discuss:
- how teams coordinate getting the feed their horses need to the games;
- how you find enough carrots and other behind the scenes Games related stories; - the ground breaking research KER has done over the past 30 years;
- what Dr Pagan wishes all horse owners would keep in mind when feeding their horses;
And so much more.
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 26: Behind the Scenes at the Summer Games with Max Corcoran - Part 1 Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Wonder what goes on behind-the-scenes and what it takes to get horses to major international competitions? In this episode Dr. Clair and Michelle are joined by Max Corcoran, a freelance groom, equestrian event organizer, and former longtime member of the O’Connor Event Team. Max shares what it’s like to manage horses on the U.S. Equestrian Team as they travel to international competitions.
You will learn about:

The role of an elite professional groom.
Essentials she always packs for the horses under her care.
The importance of nutrition for elite equine athletes and the challenges of shipping feed to other countries.
How horses are transported internationally.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork (we bet that isn’t what comes to mind when you think about grooms!).
The thing she always forgets (and her riders really need!).
And more!

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 25: Equine Nutrition Alphabet Soup and Horse Farts, Oh My! Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Equine feed labels and hay analysis results are full of abbreviations such as ADF, NDF, CP, NSC, and WSC and together they make up an alphabet soup. Ever wonder what they all mean and whether they are important to your horse? And what about gas? Has your horse ever passed gas while being ridden? In this episode Dr Clair and Michelle answer some, listener questions, topics including:

-How much hay to feed your retired pasture horse;
-What might be causing excessive flatulence;
-Is feeding a balancer alone enough for a horse working moderately hard;
-And so much more!

If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at info@scoopandscale.com

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 24: Flies: More Than Annoying Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

Fly management is a crucial aspect of horse barn management this time of year. Flies—here we're talking about stable flies, horse flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more—are a nuisance to horses and humans alike. They cause our horses discomfort, stress, and even the spread of diseases, such as Potomac horse fever, West Nile virus, pigeon fever, and vesicular stomatitis. And many horses exhibit signs of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), and allergic reaction to the saliva of biting flies that results in hives and severe itching. Effective fly management involves a combination of methods, including eliminating breeding sites, using insecticides and repellents, and providing alternative attractants for flies. It's a constant struggle!

In this episode Dr. Clair and Michelle talk about:

-Using fly traps and tape;
-Effective manure management;
-Nutrition strategies that might help horses cope;
-Applying insecticide and repellent sprays and ointments; and
-Water bucket and feed tub management to limit insect breeding grounds.

Join us as we discuss implementing a multifaceted approach to fly management!

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 23: Hot Horse, No Sweat: Obvious and Subtle Signs of Anhidrosis in Horses May 28, 2024

Show notes

Temperatures are starting to rise across the country! We start to think about ways of keeping our horses cool in the summer months. Switching turn out times to overnight hours, hanging fans and adding electrolytes are some of the common things that people do. Horses rely heavily on sweating to keep cool. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Samantha Brooks from the University of Florida where she heads up the Brooks Equine Genetics Lab. In this episode we talk about:

How horses cool themselves;
What is happening when their cooling systems don't work;
What is anhidrosis;
Is this a permanent condition;
Best practices to help keep horses sweating and cool;
The state of equine research funding in the US;

And so much more!

To learn more about Dr. Samantha Brooks and the Brooks Equine Genetic Lab http://www.ufequinegenetics.org/home.html

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 22: Dr. Clair Answers Listener Questions May 08, 2024

Show notes

As we start our second season of the podcast, Dr. Clair takes time to answer listener questions. In this episode Dr. Clair answers questions about:
-the difference between dry milled flax and flax oil;
-feeding instructions on feed bags;
-adjusting feed based on exercise;
-and more!
If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at info@scoopandscale.com
NRC Equine Nutrition Calculator - https://webassets.nationalacademies.org/nrh/

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 21: Understanding Insulin Resistance and Dysregulation in Horses Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

Do you have an easy keeper? Dr. Laura Javsicas, a board-certified internal medicine specialist with Rhinebeck Equine, in New York, joins Clair and Michelle to talk about insulin resistance and dysregulation in horses.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
Insulin’s relationship to equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or equine Cushing’s).
The link between insulin response and laminitis.
The clinical signs of insulin dysregulation and resistance in horses.
How veterinarians test for insulin dysregulation.
Treatment and management of horses with metabolic issues.
Do you have questions about IR or ID? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 20: Managing Horse Show and Travel Stress Through Nutrition Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Horse show season is here! And, while showing is mostly fun, the travel and work intensity competition requires can cause stress for horses and humans. We know stress impacts horses’ digestive health and immune systems, which can set them up for colic, gastric ulcers, and diarrhea. In this episode, Dr. Clair and Michelle discuss ways to prepare and manage your horse during travel to horse shows, clinics, trail rides, or wherever the summer leads you. In this episode we talk about:

Why travel is stressful for horses;
The importance of hydration and how to keep your horse drinking;
How stress affects horses’ gastrointestinal microbiomes;
The role of stomach buffers and preventive treatments in avoiding gastric ulcers;
How forage can help;

And more!

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 19: To Test or Not to Test....the Big Hay Question! Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

While forages can be assessed visually, the only way to accurately know the nutrient content of your forage is to have it tested by a lab. This is easier and cheaper to do than many people realize and is worth considering if you buy large quantities of forage at a time. In this episode we talk about hay analysis with Cassy Streeter, NIR Services Manager from Equi-Analytical. Equi-Analytical Laboratory Services specialize in the most modern techniques for determining the nutrient content of forage and feed for horse owners.

In this episode we discuss:
-the reasons to test your forage.
-how to test your forage.
-analysis results and so much more!

You can learn more about Equi-Analytical and the services they offer at
https://equi-analytical.com/
Cassy Streeter Bio:
Cassy Streeter grew up in Syracuse, New York and started working at a horse boarding facility as a teenager. After graduating from Cornell with a B.S. in Animal Science in 2006, she worked in various lab tech positions before returning to Cornell's Animal Science Department to complete her M.S. studying the genetics of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) in the Arabian horse. Cassy started as an Associate NIR Network Administrator at Dairy One in March 2011 and supervised daily NIR production activities. After moving into her role as NIR Services Manager in 2019, Cassy assumed oversight of the Dairy One NIR Affiliate Network which is currently comprised of more than 30 members in 16 different countries. She is a senior member of the internal QA team and manages several NIR projects, including implementation of on-farm NIR technology.
It is a poorly kept secret at Dairy One that Cassy is a "horse person". She is an avid horse racing fan and participates in carriage driving shows. She also stays active in the agricultural community by serving as the President of the Sigma Alpha Alumni Chapter of Cornell University. She is currently taking a break from horse ownership but is always on the lookout for her next retired Standardbred.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 18: Risks and Rewards of Spring Pasture Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

As the cold and snowy winter turns into a bright green spring, we all dream about turning our horses out on a picturesque landscape to graze, but should we? Is it safe? The fear of fat ponies, laminitis and other metabolic diseases haunt us. Dr. Clair and Michelle discuss the importance of being proactive and cautious when transitioning from winter to spring.
In this episode we discuss:
-sugar content
-pasture management
-grazing muzzles and so much more!
Do you have questions about feeding your new horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

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