Ration balancers are one of the most commonly recommended feeds in the horse world but what are they really doing, and does your horse actually need one?

If your horse is living on pasture or hay looking good and maintaining weight, it’s easy to assume their diet is “complete". In reality, many diets fall short in key nutrients that support long-term health, topline, and performance. The effects of these deficiencies may not show up for a long time.

In this episode, we break down what ration balancers are, how they work, where they fit into your horse’s feeding program, and some of the most common misconceptions we see.

We discuss:

• What a ration balancer is and how it differs from other feeds and supplements
• Why forage-only diets are often missing key nutrients
• The role of protein, minerals, and vitamins in balancing the diet
• Ration balancer vs. ration-balancing supplements: what’s the difference
• When you may need to add a ration balancer to other feeds that you are feeding
• And so much more

Whether you’re feeding a performance horse, an easy keeper, or anything in between, this episode will help you better understand how to support your horse’s nutrition without adding unnecessary calories.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

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Foal nutrition and young horse development set the foundation for a lifetime of health, soundness, and performance.

From birth through weaning and into early training, feeding young horses correctly is critical, but often misunderstood. Nutrition during this stage directly impacts growth, joint health, metabolism, and long-term success.

In this episode, we break down foal nutrition, weanling feeding strategies, and young horse development, including how the broodmare supports early growth through lactation, when to introduce feed, and how to avoid common mistakes that can impact soundness.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Foal nutrition from birth,
• The important roles of protein and calcium in early growth
• When to introduce feed to foals and how to choose the right growth feed for weanlings
• How nutrition and growth rate influence developmental orthopedic disease (OCD) and joint health
• Best practices for weaning, diet transitions, and maintaining steady, consistent growth
• And so much more

Whether you’re raising a foal, buying a weanling, or managing young performance horses, this episode will help you make more informed feeding decisions to support healthy growth, soundness, and long-term success.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Mare nutrition plays a far bigger role in foal development than most horse owners realize and the science is now showing that what happens during pregnancy can influence a foal for life. In this episode, we break down and explore how broodmare diet shapes foal growth, metabolism, and long-term soundness.

From epigenetics and fetal programming to practical feeding strategies for pregnant mares, this conversation connects cutting-edge research with real-world feeding decisions for horse owners, breeders, and equine professionals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why broodmare nutrition is critical before conception and during pregnancy
• How epigenetics and fetal programming influence foal development
• The role of energy intake, body condition score, and metabolic health in mares
• What research shows about overfeeding, restriction, and long-term foal outcomes
• And so much more

Whether you’re breeding performance horses, managing a small broodmare herd, or simply want to better understand equine nutrition science, this episode will change how you think about feeding mares and raising foals.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Spring means more riding and possibly more oxidative stress for your horse. After a winter on hay, many horses may be low in vitamin E, a key antioxidant for overall health.

In this episode, we cover:
-What vitamin E is and why it matters
-Why hay and limited pasture diets can lead to deficiency
-Signs of low vitamin E and related issues
-How to test and supplement correctly
-Choosing the right form, dosing, and so much more

Whether you have a performance horse, a pasture companion, or a horse recovering from illness, this episode will help you make informed decisions about equine nutrition, supplementation, and long-term health.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Equine asthma is one of the most common respiratory conditions affecting horses, yet many owners miss the early warning signs. In this episode we speak with Dr. Laurent Couëtil, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, about equine asthma in horses, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Dr. Couëtil, director of the Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center at Purdue University, shares his expertise on equine respiratory health and why lung function is critical for performance horses.

In this episode we discuss:
-Early signs of equine asthma and what horse owners should watch for
-Why coughing during exercise isn’t normal
-How veterinarians diagnose respiratory disease, including BAL testing
-Treatment and management options, from environmental changes to medications
-New research, emerging therapies, and more

Whether your horse occasionally coughs or you simply want to better protect your horse’s respiratory health, this episode offers practical insights backed by veterinary research.

You can learn more about Dr. Couëtil and his research on the following website https://vet.purdue.edu/directory/person.php?id=12. You can find his published researched HERE

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Cracks, chips, weak hoof walls, and soft soles are common concerns for horse owners. But do hoof supplements actually work, and does nutrition really improve hoof quality?

In this episode, we break down the biology of hoof growth and explain why strong feet start with a balanced diet, not just another supplement. We cover how hooves grow, the key nutrients involved in building durable hoof horn, and how to determine whether your horse actually needs additional support.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the hoof wall and sole are made of and why keratin matters
• How nutrition impacts hoof growth and long-term hoof strength
• The role of biotin, amino acids, zinc, and copper in hoof quality
• Why balancing the whole diet is more effective than stacking supplements
• Realistic timelines for improving hoof health

Strong hooves are not built with quick fixes or magic ingredients. They are the result of consistent management, balanced nutrition, and patience. Understanding the science behind hoof growth will help you make smarter decisions and support long-term soundness.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

In this episode we discuss a challenge many horse owners face: fat or overweight horses. From disciplines where a “round” horse is seen as ideal to the health risks of carrying extra weight, we cover why managing body condition matters.

Our guest, Madeline Boast, MSc, PAS, equine nutritionist and founder of Balanced Bay Nutrition, shares her research on safe weight loss programs for horses and explains how diet, exercise, and metabolic health work together to support long-term wellbeing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why overweight horses are so common, especially easy keepers
• How to check body condition and spot risky fat deposits
• Safe ways to help horses lose weight with diet and exercise
• How fat affects inflammation, laminitis, and metabolic health
• Tips for forage management, slow feeders, and practical weight control

To learn more about Madeline and Balanced Bay Nutrition you can visit her website here https://balancedbaynutrition.com/

Here is an episode to Ep. 38: Body Weight, Condition Scoring and Equine Nutrition https://scoopandscale.com/ep-38-body-weight-condition-scoring-and-equine-nutrition/

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

Alfalfa is one of the most debated feeds in equine nutrition, and few forages generate as many myths. In this episode, we take a science-based look at alfalfa for horses and break down where common beliefs come from and whether they are actually supported by research. We discuss protein, calcium, behavior, ulcers, and health concerns so horse owners can make informed feeding decisions based on the individual horse, not barn lore.

In this episode, we cover:

• Does alfalfa make horses hot or more reactive
• Protein, kidney health, and joint development myths
• Calcium levels
• Why alfalfa is often recommended for ulcer-prone and performance horses
• Differences between long-stem alfalfa, pellets, cubes, and chopped forage

This episode is designed to help horse owners evaluate alfalfa for horses using evidence-based nutrition rather than opinion.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!