Equine nutrition course – learn effective feed & nutrition.

If you love horses and want to improve your knowledge of horse nutrition then this 100 hour course is for you!  This equine nutrition course serves as a practical survey and review of the principles of nutrition and feeding management for horses. Topics covered in the course include a study of the horse’s digestive anatomy and physiology, review of the basic nutrients, different factors affecting the nutritional requirements of horses, body condition scoring, types of feeds for horses, feed evaluation and selection criteria, utilization of pasture feed, general feeding program management, and diseases related to diet and feed.

This course is suitable for:

• any one who works with or owns horses and wants to improve their knowledge of equine nutrition for horse health and performance.
• for horses at pasture or stabled.

This course can be taken as a stand alone horse nutrition course or to build upon the foundations established through completion of Horse Care I and Horse Care II.

Couse Outline

There are 6 lessons in this course:

1. Review of Digestive Anatomy and Physiology

• • Importance of Research in Equine Nutrition
  • General Characteristics of the Horse’s Digestive System
  • Review of the Horse’s Digestive Tract
  • Review of Nutrient Digestion Sites
  • Factors Affecting Digestion and Digestibility

2. Review of the Basic Nutrients

• • Definition of Nutrition
  • Challenges in Meeting Nutrient Requirements
  • Review of Basic Nutrients (Water, Energy, Protein, Vitamins, Minerals)

3 Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of the Horse

• • Challenges to Providing Good Nutrition to Horses
  • Stage of Life Factors (Maintenance Horses, Performance Horses, Breeding Horses, Growing Horses, Older Horses)
  • Environmental Factors
  • Body Condition Scoring

4. Feed Factors Affecting Feed Value

• • Basic Feed Selection Criteria
  • Determining the Value of Feed
  • Types of Feed for Horses
  • Roughages
  • Concentrates
  • Mixed Feeds
  • Additives

5. Feeding Program Management for Horses

• • Considerations for Feeding Horses
  • Feeding Management Basics
  • General Feeding Programs
  • Feeding Horses with Special Circumstances
  • Evaluating Commercial Feeds
  • Feeding Systems
  • Utilizing Pasture Feed

6. Disease Related to Diet and Feed

• • Understanding Malnutrition
  • Diagnosing a Feed-Induced Disease
  • Managing Over-nourished and Undernourished Horses
  • Feed-Induced Diseases
  • Poisonous Plants and Feed Toxins