Feed Your Horse Like a Horse: Optimize Your Horse's Nutrition for a Lifetime of Vibrant Health

by Juliet M. Getty

Feeding is the foundation of every horse's health, and every owner cares about it, but answers can be hard to find. Based on solid science and the author's long experience, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse illuminates the secrets of equine nutrition and points the way toward lifelong vitality for your horse. Part I explains the physiology of the horse's digestion and nutrient use; Part II offers recommendations for specific conditions such as insulin resistance and laminitis, as well as discussion about feeding through the life stages, from foals to athletes to aged horses. Whether you are a novice horse owner or a seasoned professional, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse will be your most valuable resource on equine nutrition.

You'll begin in Section 1 with an up-to-date overview of nutrition and horse physiology that is designed for everyone, from the novice to the lifelong horseman. Section 2 will empower you to make the right feeding decisions that support your horse's innate needs, regardless of his condition or activity type. As a reference book, you have the freedom to choose which sections to read. Topics
* Choosing the right hay or concentrates
* Helping easy and hard keepers
* How vitamins and minerals work
* Recognizing and eliminating stress
* Importance of salt and other electrolytes
* Treating insulin resistance
* Reducing the risk of laminitis
* Recovery for the rescued horse
* Nutrient fundamentals
* Dealing with genetic disorders
* Managing allergies
* Alleviating arthritis
* Diagnosing equine Cushing's disease
* Preventing ulcers and colic
* Feeding treats safely
* Pregnancy and lactation
* Feeding the orphaned foal
* Optimizing growth
* Optimizing athletic work and performance
* Changing needs as horses age
* Considerations for donkeys and mules

Genres: Horses

484 pages, Hardcover

First published December 11, 2009

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly informative book on horse nutrition, what you should feed and in what amounts. Gives you the power to really affect the life of your horses and make it better for both you and them. Invaluable book that I definitely feel should be on every single horse owner's bookshelf, and in well-read condition. I keep referring back to this book every time I find myself with a question about what I should do with my horses regarding their nutrition, and what is in the feed that I give them.

Since Dr. Getty does not work for any of the feed companies, and does her own independent research and analysis, the information that she presents is not biased towards a particular company. She does not recommend a particular feed in the book, but if you go to her website you can see she has a free shipping supplement store of her own that she does sell supplements that she recommends. I found this information really invaluable in the regard that she explains in the book what to look for in a feed, and then lo and behold, the supplements on her website show that she does put her money where her mouth is.

I'm so thankful that I found this book, and I am looking forward to many years of a happy, healthy relationship with my horses!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly informative, well-researched, clear. I highly recommend this book for EVERY horse owner. It's one to refer to over and over. Your horse's health depends on it.