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

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 8: Equine Cushing’s Disease (PPID) in Horses: Signs, Testing, and Management Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode internal medicine specialist Laura Javsicas, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rhinebeck Equine, in New York, joins us to discuss pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or more commonly “equine Cushing’s disease”). This syndrome results from an enlargement of the middle lobe of the pituitary gland, which leads to elevated levels of cortisol and other hormones. An abnormally shaggy coat is a telltale sign. Horses with PPID are also at a higher risk for laminitis. PPID is mostly identified in horses during their teen years and beyond, although onset can be earlier than we horse owners might recognize. Most researchers believe up to 30% of horses will develop the disease.

Listen as we cover:

What is an equine internal medicine specialist?
What is PPID?
Clinical signs and how to catch PPID early.
How veterinarians test for the disease.
Treatment options.
Management strategies.
And how an equine nutritionist can help.

Thanks for riding along with us!

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 7: Simplifying Horse Supplements Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

Join us for a walk down the supplement aisle as we discuss what horses might—and might not—need added to their diets.
It seems like there's a supplement for just about anything your horse might need. In this episode, we cover:

The difference between food supplements and health supplements;
The types of supplements you might find (hoof, digestive, calming, joint, coat, calories, etc.); and
Why you might, or might not, need to add supplements to your horse's ration.

Plus, Clair gives Michelle advice about transitioning her horses to a new load of hay.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 6: Electrolytes, Hydration, and Why Your Horse Probably Needs More Salt Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

It's hot outside! As the U.S. faces extreme heat advisories across the country, ensuring your horses stay hydrated is critical to support their natural evaporative cooling systems (that's sweating). In addition to water consumption, electrolytes are an important part of the cooling equation. But knowing if your horse is getting enough, or selecting the right kind to feed, is often confusing.
In this episode, Dr. Clair Thunes explains how electrolytes work and why and when horses need them (and it's not just during hot weather and summer exercise!). Michelle shares how Clair's advice changed how she incorporated salt into her horses’ diets.
Plus! Michelle Asks Clair for Free Advice
Feed prices keep going up, and Michelle's looking to save some money. Can whole flaxseeds replace stabilized ground flax in her horses' diets? Clair weighs in.
About Us
Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist, busy Pony Club mom, and a dressage and eventing enthusiast. She also owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, an independent consulting company based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works with owners and veterinarians to create diets for individual horses, ranging from retired pasture pets to Olympic athletes. Her services also include formulating feeds and supplements for companies, and there's a good chance you've scooped something she helped develop into your horse's bucket. Clair taught equine nutrition and physiology as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, is a highly sought after speaker.
Michelle Anderson is a lifelong horseperson who spent more than two decades writing for and editing equine magazines and websites. In 2022, she started Cadence Marketing + Media, in Bend, Oregon, to support equine-related brands and delivery quality educational content to horse owners. Her clients include equine veterinary hospitals, trainers, boarding stables, and businesses offering professional services for the industry. Her own herd lives at home and includes an aspiring FEI dressage mare, a fiery Arabian-cross trail horse, and a retired Quarter Horse gelding Michelle bred, raised, and (her husband points out) has been feeding for the past 20-plus years. Michelle's goal is to educate owners so they can best care for the horses they love.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 5: Bagged Feed Basics Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Have you stood in your feed store staring at shelves of bagged horse feed and felt overwhelmed by the options?
You are not alone!
In this episode we cover:

The differences between ration balancers, concentrates (aka performance or "life stage" feeds," complete feeds, and bagged whole grains.
How to properly weigh and measure feed.
The reasons you should read the manufacturer's feeding instructions and plan your horse's diet accordingly.
Why not all senior feeds are the same.
Considerations for metabolic horses.
And more!

About Us
Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist, busy Pony Club mom, and a dressage and eventing enthusiast. She also owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, an independent consulting company based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works with owners and veterinarians to create diets for individual horses, ranging from retired pasture pets to Olympic athletes. Her services also include formulating feeds and supplements for companies, and there's a good chance you've scooped something she helped develop into your horse's bucket. Clair taught equine nutrition and physiology as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, is a highly sought after speaker.
Michelle Anderson is a lifelong horsewoman who spent two decades writing for and editing equine magazines and websites. In 2022, she started Cadence Marketing + Media, in Bend, Oregon, to support equine-related brands and delivery quality educational content to horse owners. Her clients include equine veterinary hospitals, trainers, boarding stables, and businesses offering professional services for the industry. Her own herd lives at home and includes an aspiring FEI dressage mare, a fiery Arabian-cross trail horse, and a retired Quarter Horse gelding Michelle bred, raised, and (her husband points out) has been feeding for the past 20-plus years. Michelle's goal is to educate owners so they can best care for the horses they love.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 4: Hay Now! Why Forage is the Foundation of the Equine Diet Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Hay, equine nutrition gets complicated quicky! So, to keep things simple, we're taking a step back and covering the basics. In this episode, we discuss why forage is the most important part of a horse's diet.
Forage comes in several forms. Most commonly, horses consume forage as baled hay or grass pastures. But beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, hay cubes, and even some complete bagged feeds count as forage.
Join our conversation to:

Find out how much forage a horse should eat each day;
Learn how many times a day horses should get hay servings;
Get tips for feeding horses who can no longer chew hay;
And more!

About Us
Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist, busy Pony Club mom, and a dressage and eventing enthusiast. She also owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, an independent consulting company based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works with owners and veterinarians to create diets for individual horses, ranging from retired pasture pets to Olympic athletes. Her services also include formulating feeds and supplements for companies, and there's a good chance you've scooped something she helped develop into your horse's bucket. Clair taught equine nutrition and physiology as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, is a highly sought after speaker.
Michelle Anderson is a lifelong horseperson who spent two decades writing for and editing equine magazines and websites. In 2022, she started Cadence Marketing + Media, in Bend, Oregon, to support equine-related brands and delivery quality educational content to horse owners. Her clients include equine veterinary hospitals, trainers, boarding stables, and businesses offering professional services for the industry. Her own herd lives at home and includes an aspiring FEI dressage mare, a fiery Arabian-cross trail horse, and a retired Quarter Horse gelding Michelle bred, raised, and (her husband points out) has been feeding for the past 20-plus years. Michelle's goal is to educate owners so they can best care for the horses they love.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 3: Feeding Off-Track Thoroughbreds May 05, 2023

Show notes

It's Kentucky Derby time and the beginning of Triple Crown season, a five-week stretch when horse-related searches online surge and the general public's interest in horses peaks. In honor of the horses, we took this episode as an opportunity to talk about feeding Thoroughbreds as they transition from life on the track to their second careers and beyond.
You'll learn about:

How racehorses are fed and how that might differ from other horses.
Why horses newly off the track still need a lot more calories than you might imagine.
Why people in general consider Thoroughbreds "hard keepers" when it comes to feeding them.
Getting off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB) to eat forage-first diets.
And the role gut health plays in the OTTB diet.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 2: Vitamin E for Horses: Why Your Horse Might Need More Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Vitamin E has become one of the most talked-about nutrients in horse nutrition and for good reason. This powerful antioxidant plays a key role in muscle health, immune function, and the nervous system. While fresh grass is a natural source, many horses don’t get enough year-round, especially those without consistent pasture access.

In this episode, Clair and Michelle break down everything you need to know about Vitamin E for horses, including:

The different forms of Vitamin E and which are most bioavailable
Signs your horse might be deficient
Diseases and conditions linked to low Vitamin E
Testing and supplementation strategies that work

If you’ve ever wondered whether your horse could benefit from extra Vitamin E, this episode is for you.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

Ep. 1: Hot or Not? The Truth About Feeding Horses Alfalfa Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Alfalfa is one of the most debated feeds in the horse world. Some swear by it for weight gain and performance, while others worry it’s “too hot” or risky for certain horses. So what’s the truth about feeding alfalfa to horses?

In this first episode of Scoop and Scale, we break down everything you need to know about alfalfa in the equine diet, including:

The nutritional benefits of alfalfa for horses
Which horses thrive on it (and which may not)
Common myths and misconceptions about alfalfa
How to safely introduce and balance alfalfa in a feeding program

Whether you’re caring for a senior horse, a hard keeper, or a performance athlete, this episode will help you decide if alfalfa is the right choice for your horse’s nutrition.

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

Thanks for riding along with us!

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