While genetics certainly plays a role in equine hair and hoof quality, dietary improvements can go a long way to improve both.

Bare spots in a pasture are normal to a degree, but too many large bare areas could be a sign that your pasture may be in need of reseeding.

If you don’t do a hay analysis, the hay quality could be off and your horse’s diet could be lacking something very important.

Horses are generally good at detecting when water sources are not safe, but not always, so it is important to know some basics about water quality.

A balancer can have higher percentages of several nutrients, including protein, calcium, etc., but are intended to be fed in relatively small quantities.

If your horse has nutrient requirements that are higher than what is being met with hay alone – particularly energy, oats can be an excellent option.

Equine nutritionist, Shannon Pratt-Phillips, explains that soaking can leach nutrients from hay, but in other cases it may be helpful.

Equine nutritionist, Shannon Pratt-Phillips, Ph.D., offers advice on choosing healthy and convenient treats to use as food rewards.

The best way to get a sample, and hay analysis, is to get a hay core sample. This allows for the collection of hay from the inside of the hay bale.

Find out about how to boost the calories in your horse’s diet to help put on weight by adding oil to his feed, and the other benefits oil can have.