RiteBalance

For acid buffering and squamous ulcer support, long-stem alfalfa hay wins—hands down. It delivers calcium and the fiber horses are built to chew.

For pre-ride rewards, pellets work, but hay works better: more chewing, more saliva, more buffering. Plus, it buys you a few extra minutes to groom and enjoy your horse (remember—that’s the point).

And it doesn’t have to be alfalfa. Any palatable long-stem hay beats pellets here—more chew time, better buffering, and an actual fiber mat… not alfalfa soup.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PX8jMmNt/

Alfalfa: Is hay or a pellet product better before riding? Click the link in the comments to find out. 👇

Is your horse getting enough vitamin E?

Vitamin E is one of those not-so-forgiving nutrients—especially for horses without consistent pasture access.

🌿 Why it matters
Vitamin E is essential for muscle and nerve health. Fresh pasture is the best source, but levels drop rapidly in hay—so horses on dry lot or limited grazing are at higher risk of deficiency.

⚖️ Not one-size-fits-all
Even if your feed should meet requirements on paper, horses vary widely in how they absorb and utilize vitamin E. The only way to truly know? Blood testing.

⚠️ Deficiency concerns
Low vitamin E has been linked to serious neuromuscular conditions like eNAD, EDM, VEM, and EMND—often showing up as weakness, poor performance, incoordination, or muscle loss.

🧪 Test, don’t guess
While it’s tempting to just supplement and hope for the best, more isn’t always better (or safe). A targeted approach—working with your vet and nutritionist—helps dial in what your individual horse actually needs.

Infographic from Equine PhD

🎧 Want to learn more?
The Scoop & Scale Podcast has an excellent deep dive on vitamin E that’s well worth a listen.

https://scoopandscale.com/

Stay tuned… because blindly supplementing vitamin E deserves its own conversation 👀

🌱 Spring Pasture Isn’t Simple—Especially for Metabolic Horses 🐴

Many horse owners look for a “safe” time of day or type of grass for sugar-sensitive horses—but it’s not that simple.

A great breakdown from Equine PhD (Dr. DeBoer) from 2025 highlights just how variable pasture can be—and why grazing management requires more than following a chart.

Why NSCs Vary?

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) fluctuate constantly—even within the same pasture in a single day.

Time of Day:
Lower near sunrise, higher later in the evening—but not reliably “safe”

Sunlight & Weather:
More sun = more sugar production; clouds may reduce NSCs, but unpredictably

Growth Rate:
Actively growing grass uses sugars → often lower NSCs
Stressed grass (overgrazed, drought) → can accumulate sugars

Maturity:
Taller grass may have lower % NSC, but bigger bites = higher total intake

Season:
Spring = highest risk
Fall frost can also spike NSCs

Forage Type:
Cool-season grasses store more sugars than warm-season grasses or legumes

🐴 The Biggest Variable: Your Horse
Age, BCS, metabolism (EMS/IR/PPID), breed, diet, and exercise all impact tolerance

➡️ There is no one-size-fits-all rule

What Should You Do?

✔️ Monitor body condition regularly
✔️ Manage pasture, don’t rely on it
✔️ Use tools like muzzles, dry lots, controlled turnout
✔️ Test hay/pasture when possible
✔️ Stay flexible—conditions change daily

⚖️ Bottom Line

There’s no universally “safe” grazing time. NSCs are dynamic and unpredictable.

Some horses do best avoiding pasture altogether. Others can handle limited grazing with careful management.

👉 Success comes from understanding the system—and the horse in front of you.

Healthy horses without metabolic concerns can typically graze safely with good management.

📚 Credit & Inspiration: Equine PhD (Dr. DeBoer)