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About 30 years ago I pretty much based my horse nutrition on pasture, baled dry alfalfa and grass hays and alfalfa pellets or cubes...just didn't know much else. Sure, I knew there were a bunch of processed feeds and supplements available, just never really delved into those. It wasn't until I managed a large public barn with an average of 30 people boarding up to 60 horses with as many different feed programs, did I began understand that equine nutrition was a huge hole in my knowledge. Most of the horse owners were pretty much the same, only knowing about how they fed without really any understanding on the why and what their horses needed. On a quarterly basis, I brought in subject matter experts in horse diseases and vaccinations, equine nutrition, hoof care, saddle fitting and other topics, as much for myself as for continuing education of the horse owners boarding there.
Since then I have cast about to search and understand much more in depth on horse feeds, supplements and health care. I have routinely changed my horse's nutritional program over the years as I understod more about feeds and my horse's needs. Over 20 years ago I met a Veterinarian who I admired very much for her competency and constant search for more knowledge. Because of her hectic schedule as a Vet, Mother and Horse owner she would often listen to podcasts and DVD's while driving long miles from one farm call to another.....talk about leveraging your finite time. Recently she sent me a source of equine nutrition and health care educational podcasts that she thought I may like to listen to. So lately I have been listening to these podcasts while I did normal chores.
The podcast is called Scoop and Scale hosted by Clair Thunes, PhD, and Jill Jackson whose goal is to help improve horses' care and welfare through owner knowledge. They probably know that the more a listener knows, the more they want to learn. I think readers here would benefit listening to these podcasts which cover a range of topics from: understanding metabolic issues; hoof health; reading feed labels; pre, pro and postbiotics; parasites; pasture management; and much more. They have 60 podcasts on their website list. And they are free. It makes it really easy to listen to these episodes if you have a hands free headset. Nothing say's you can't listen them to from the comfort of an easy chair either. I hope some of you will find value in this source of equine knowledge.
https://scoopandscale.com/
