Grey Horse Equine Nutrition

03/13/2026

03/08/2026

There is a viral post floating around telling you how bad beet pulp is for your horse. It looks like a very convincing post but here is a rebuttal and the real scoop behind this beneficial product. You can’t always believe everything you see on Facebook. There are so many crazy posts out there on topics like iron in your horses diet and molasses is the devil. Let’s look to professionals that provide us the actually science and proof behind the statements to clear up all the confusion.

If you saw the viral post about beet pulp being dangerous for horses… you’re missing some important context.

There’s a viral post circulating right now claiming beet pulp is dangerous for horses and it’s spreading fast. Thousands of shares. Tons of comments. A lot of worried horse owners.

The problem?

Much of what’s being shared is misleading, taken out of context, or simply not supported by equine nutrition science.

Beet pulp isn’t some new trendy feed ingredient. It’s actually been used in horse diets for years.

But viral posts are powerful. And when fear spreads faster than facts, it leaves a lot of horse owners wondering what to believe.

So instead of jumping into internet arguments, we did what we always do we went back to the research.

In this episode we break down:
🐴 What beet pulp actually is
📚 What the science really says
❌ The biggest myths spreading online right now
✅ When beet pulp can be a great tool in a feeding program

No drama. No fear tactics. Just science-based information so you can make the best decision for your horse.

If you’ve seen the beet pulp post making the rounds lately, this episode will give you the context and facts that are missing from the conversation.

🎧 Listen here: https://scoopandscale.com/ep-62-rooted-in-science-feeding-beet-pulp-to-horses/

And if you believe horse owners deserve better information than viral fear posts, share this so more people can hear the science.

02/21/2026

This is one of my go-to products because it’s supported by research and delivers measurable, science-backed benefits for your horse.

02/20/2026

Hello equine community and happy Fri-YAY🎊🎉

We are continuing are topic of Foaling season!!

Some of your mares are looking ready to POP! Check out this helpful infographic for some tips on how to get your mare and future foal ready!!

Happy trails🐴🐎

02/19/2026

Yes, I’m reposting another of Lindsay’s posts! She covers the most relevant topics and always imparts important information😊

4 easy tips for feeding a forage-only diet successfully:

1. Forage and fiber should always be the foundation of any horse’s diet. Aim for about 1.5–2% of body weight per day. For a 1,000 lb horse at maintenance, that’s roughly 15–20 lbs daily.

2. Don’t skip the ration balancer.
Even great hay doesn’t cover everything. A quality ration balancer helps fill in the vitamin and mineral gaps.

3. Test your hay; it’s worth it.
You really don’t know what you’re feeding until you test it. A forage analysis tells you the calorie content, how the macro and micronutrients stack up, protein quality, how digestible that fiber actually is, and more. Equi-Analytical is my go-to lab for testing.

4. Use a hay net when needed.
Slow feeders can help slow down consumption and are especially helpful for easy keepers who need a little intake control.

02/19/2026

This is going to be great! Look at the line up of speakers.

🎉 The EquiSUMMIT 2026 agenda is live!
Join us FREE and virtual on March 11-12 for approachable, science backed sessions on equine nutrition and gut health — designed for everyone from horse owners to industry professionals.

Which topic are you most excited about? 👇

✅ Save your spot: https://attendequisummit.com

02/17/2026

Myth: If my horse is fat and shiny, pasture, hay, or cubes are enough.

Fact: Forage should be the foundation of every horse’s diet, but it doesn’t always provide complete nutrition on its own.

High-quality pasture or hay can come close to meeting the needs of a horse in true maintenance (not growing, breeding, or working). However, most forages are naturally low in certain trace minerals, particularly copper and zinc, and sometimes other nutrients depending on soil and region.

For horses that are being ridden, bred, or are still growing, nutrient demands increase. In those cases, forage alone often falls short in key areas such as amino acids, trace minerals, and certain vitamins.

A shiny coat and good body condition tell us macronutrient intake is likely adequate. But they don’t tell us whether the diet is properly balanced. Nutrient imbalances, especially in trace minerals and amino acids, may not show up immediately on the outside, yet they influence:
• Bone, tendon, and ligament integrity
• Hoof quality
• Immune function
• Exercise recovery
• Metabolic efficiency
• Electrolyte balance

Forage intake should typically be 1.5–2% of body weight per day (about 15–20 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse). From there, the goal isn’t necessarily to feed more — it’s to balance what’s missing based on the horse’s workload and the nutrient profile of the forage.

Testing forage (when applicable) and working with someone trained in nutrition allows you to make targeted adjustments rather than guessing.

Because looking good and being fully supported nutritionally aren’t always the same thing.

02/12/2026

I’m looking forward to this😊

02/07/2026

For my clients that are expecting 🐴🐴 this is a great list. I swear by the mare foaling predictor test strip kits from Valley Vet. They also carry a great foaling kit with handy reference charts.

Hello equine friends and happy weekend!!

Foaling season is coming🐴🐎

It is time to gather your supplies for a foaling kit!! Having a foaling kit (or two or three or as many as you need) will prepare you for an potential emergencies.

Check out this fun infographic on what you should include in your kits!!

Happy trails and may you all have a successful foaling season!!

02/06/2026

Horse Post of the Day: Soy… the Scapegoat of the Week

Random Horse Person:
"I heard soy causes inflammation. My horse has arthritis. Should I ditch his soy-based balancer??"

Me: eye twitching so hard I can hear it

Alright, let’s take a deep breath before we throw another perfectly good feed ingredient into the Bonfire of Internet Rumors.

The Soy Situation:
There is no solid evidence showing that soy causes inflammation in horses. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada!

This idea mostly wandered over from other species research, got lost, and decided to set up camp in Horse Facebook.

Meanwhile, back in reality…
Soybean Meal = Protein Gold Standard

Soybean meal is actually one of the highest quality protein sources we have for horses. It’s:
✔ Highly digestible
✔ Rich in essential amino acids
✔ Especially high in lysine (aka the MVP amino acid horses actually need)

That’s exactly why it shows up in ration balancers — because it helps fill real nutritional gaps, not imaginary social media ones.

Let’s Talk Amounts (Because Math > Myths):
A ration balancer is usually fed at ~1 lb per day.
Soy is only one ingredient in that pound. Even in a hypothetical universe where soy did cause inflammation (it hasn’t been shown to in horses), the amount fed in a balancer would be nutritionally tiny.

We’re talking about a supplement-level inclusion, not a tofu buffet.

What Actually Helps Arthritic Horses?

If a horse has arthritis, your bigger levers are:
• Maintaining healthy body weight
• Proper exercise and turnout
• Omega-3 fatty acids (like flax or fish oil)
• Veterinary-directed joint support

Not playing Ingredient Whack-A-Mole.

The Big Picture (Where Nutrition Actually Lives):
Hyper-focusing on a single ingredient while ignoring the total diet balance is like blaming one sprinkle on a cupcake for your entire life’s weight problems.

Balance > buzzwords
Evidence > internet panic
Math > memes

Soy isn’t the villain in your horse’s joint story. It’s just out here quietly doing its job while the rumor mill gallops laps.

01/31/2026

Skipping minerals may not cause immediate problems, but it often leads to them over time.
The effects tend to appear years later as declining hoof quality, weaker bone, digestive challenges, fertility issues, shorter careers, and long-term concerns that feel confusing but usually have a nutritional root.
Mineral deficiencies can't be corrected by adding more calories, increasing grain, or layering on supplements. Those approaches don't replace what's missing.
A balanced vitamin and mineral foundation supports the whole system and helps prevent many issues before they start.
When the foundation is in place, everything else works better.

01/25/2026

Interesting findings about soaking your horses feed. Research is showing if you soak your horses feed during mild weather it’s not going to increase your horses water consumption but it will help during times of extremely cold weather.

💧 𝐃𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬?

Soaking feed or utilizing mashes is a common practice intended to increase water intake in horses - but does it actually help?

I decided to take a dive into the research, as many horse owners soak feed in the winter, particularly during cold weather snaps, to encourage water intake. And while digging, I came across two studies you may find interesting!

🧪𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏 (𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥., 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)
The first study took place in Florida, where the average ambient temperature during the study was 55°F (13°C). This research evaluated horses consuming soaked pelleted feed, alfalfa cubes, or beet pulp in a 2:1 ratio of water to concentrate.

This study found that horses rapidly self-regulated voluntary water intake based on the amount of water provided in the meal. This means, when water was added to their feed, they voluntarily drank less so total water consumption remained the same.

This was shown as horses on dry feed had a voluntary water intake of 32.2 L while horses on soaked feed reduced voluntary water intake to 25.4 L to accommodate the ~6 L of water provided in the mash, for a total water intake of 31.5 L.

But that brings us to the second study 👇

❄️ 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐 (𝐑𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑)
This study evaluated seasonal differences in water intake during the fall (55°F; 12.8 °C) and winter (-4 to 33°F; -20 to 0.67°C) in Wisconsin. Horses were fed a pelleted concentrate at 0.5% body weight, with soaked feed provided at 2 L water/kg feed.

This study found that horses drank:
🍁 29.3 L/day in the fall
❄️ 24.7 L/day in the winter

This decrease supports previous findings that water intake drops by approximately 6–12% during the cold winter months.

However, this study also evaluated soaked vs dry feed.

While no difference in voluntary water intake was observed during the fall trial, horses in the winter consumed more water when eating a mash (26.9 L) compared to when consuming dry feed (22.4 L), a difference of about 1.2 gallons per day. The study found that horses consuming the mash drank equal to or more water than horses consuming the dry grain, in addition to the water they consumed in their feed.

✨𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞
Cold weather can reduce voluntary water intake in horses, but feeding a mash during winter can help combat that decline. In more mild weather, however, soaking feeds likely does not increase total water intake, as horses will self-regulate.

Will these studies make you more likely to soak you feeds - why or why not?

Stay warm out there!
Dr. DeBoer

Ferreira N, Binder D, Garbati IH, Lance JM, Warren LK. Effect of soaking feed on water intake and hydration in horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2025 May 1;148:105449.

Rucker NK, Hiney KM. Voluntary water intake in horses when fed a dry versus mash grain in two different seasons. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2013 May;33(5):355-6.