The Itchies Are Coming!... Whoa - it's not even Winter yet!  Â Now's the time to start planning your strategy to help your horse avoid the misery of the summer itches! Â Read more... |
The Itchies Are Coming!... Whoa - it's not even Winter yet!
The Itchies Are Coming!... Whoa - it's not Winter yet!
It's not too soon to be thinking ahead about how to put a stop to the Summer Itchies!  Â Now's the time to start planning your strategy to help your horse avoid the misery of the summer itches! Â Read more... |
Salt is for Winter, Too!
   Even though we don't see signs of salt loss during the colder weather, salt remains an important part of the diet year round. Read more... |
NO Laminitis! 2015 a Resounding Success
 Â If you missed the 2015 NO Laminitis! conference, watch ECIR Horse for recordings and proceedings from the conference. Â |
NO Laminitis! 2013 Conference - It's a Wrap!
Awesome conference, lots of new information.  Some of the best part for me was watching the wonderful expressions as people  saw and heard the latest thinking and research.
From Forageplus News: The Primary focus of the No Laminitis Conference is to prevent laminitis through disseminating information that can help metabolic and endocrinopathic horses.  ECIR is committed to providing high-quality information, with scientific backing and real-life experience.For a great summary of facts, signs and symptoms and diagnosing Insulin Resistance (IR) and Cushing's disease (PPID) see Sarah's latest news update. Did I hear hints of a NO Laminitis! UK conference happening next year? Many thanks to all the organizers, volunteers and helpers at the conference, and especially to those who kept the home fires burning at the ECIR online group to make sure no new members needing help were left behind over the weekend. The conference attendees were wonderful - it's these folks who will be carrying on the grass roots and "boots on the ground" traditions begun on ECIR by founder Robin Siskel and Elenor Kellon, VMD, supported by science-verified information. More photos on the ECIR Facebook page plus watch for information on when and where the conference proceedings will be available.  And keep an eye on NO Laminitis! for information on the next conference. Warm regards, Patti in Vail, AZ where I'm almost caught up on lost sleep : ) Links Read on my blog  NO Laminitis! 2013 Conference - It's a Wrap! Forageplus - Intelligent Nutrition  http://forageplus.co.uk ECIR Group on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ECIRGroup NO Laminitis! conference site  http://www.nolaminitis.org Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance online group - ECIR      http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EquineCushings/info |
Iodine - Too Much or Not Enough?
Let's look at some of the facts about iodine.  In the latest issue of a well known equine publication, an article on thyroid dysfunction suggests that "...most equine diets of hay and pasture grass (other than in the Pacific Northwest) contain far more than the daily required level of iodine...", and, in a sidebar, cautions that  Go to my latest blog entry - Iodine - Too Much or Not Enough? - to see the full picture. |
NO Laminitis! 2013 Conference
 Â |
Tracking Clinical Signs
 |
Thyroid Misconceptions in Horses
 How do you know if your horse is getting enough iodine and selenium - minerals essential to thyroid function and the health of your horse? First, read Dr. Kellon's article on Thyroid Misconceptions in Horses, then look at your feed and supplement program to determine if your horses get enough (or too much!) of these important nutrients. |
Get Ahead of the Allergy Season!
Check out Allergic Skin Reactions - a nutritional approach  There may be some help in the feed bucket with some common sense basics that have tried and true track records - thanks to the teachings of Equine Nutritionist Eleanor Kellon, VMD.  MORE... |
Yummy Yummy - but good for your horse's tummy?
Yummy Yummy - but good for your horse's tummy? ÂI often see articles and posts on various horse groups encouraging the feeding of fresh fruits and veggies to your horse. Many think this provides an oft times missing link to "live" foods that many hay fed horses miss out on. But is this really a good practice?I scoured the internet - well, I went through the first 3 or 4 pages of related search arguments about safety of fruits, veggies and greens for our horses - and came up with a lot of comments, lists and opinions but not one which was documented and referenced.  Shotgun Equine Nutrition to the rescue! My compadre Claire recently took the time to review and find source material to come up with a list: Fruits and Veggies for your Horse: What's safe and what's not... This downloadable pdf can be printed and stored in your feed room or kitchen - or wherever you might prepare fresh snacks for your horses. While a few of the veggies listed in the "Avoid" group are considered "safe" in small amounts by some fresh veggie advocates, knowing that experts in toxicology consider them potentially poisonous for horses would have me leery of even considering them.  But the list of yummy things your horse can enjoy is long enough that the "avoids" certainly won't be missed. Best regards, Patti in Vail AZ where Dreamer thinks she heard someone say "Strawberries for dessert? Yum!" Links: http://www.shotgunranch.me/Fruits-vegetables-safe-unsafe.pdf Shotgun Equine Nutrition http://www.shotgunranch.me/ Desert Equine Balance / |