A Quarter horse cutting cattle on a ranch. A Thoroughbred horse thundering down the track. A Dutch Warmblood clearing a jump. What do all of these horses have in common? They need to eat! Another commonality is that these horses will be ingesting hay on a daily basis. But merely looking at hay isn’t enough to determine what’s in it. That’s where Equi-Analytical comes in to support all types of horses.
From the hay to the pasture, and everything in between, Equi-Analytical can analyze samples to prove exactly what’s in things being fed to a horse. This is very important for the overall health and longevity of a horse. Keep reading for ways that testing can benefit your horse.
Hay Testing
Testing and not guessing are important when it comes to hay. While something might look good, you can’t tell sugar levels or other nutrient levels in it. For metabolic horses, hay that is too high in sugar can cause even bigger problems. Performance horses also need the right balance of nutrients in their feed, especially as they are relying on nutrients to keep up with daily work.
For businesses that sell hay, having a report of the actual nutrient levels in it is gold. That way, potential buyers have the full picture of what they are purchasing for feed. If hay is entered in a competition, this report can help with winning it. Needless to say, a report is a handy thing to have as a hay broker.
Pasture Testing
When they’re not in their stall or working, horses are often out on pasture grazing. This is an area where testing should also be conducted. Grass nutrients change over the year and can differ even from morning to evening. Testing the grass will show a big part of a horse’s diet, which can be overlooked when assessing health problems.
A pasture test will also reveal if the grass needs extra fertilizer added to it. Healthy plant life requires the right nutrients, just like horses. An analysis of grass can show possible problems with it or if it’s even the right variety for your horse to be grazing.
Pet Treat Testing
Treats are a good way to reward a horse for a job well done. While most treats come with a nutrient guideline on them, there’s no harm in sending in samples for testing. That way, Equi-Analytical can test it to confirm the nutrients present to give you peace of mind.
Some horses require a companion animal, which could be a dog. Or more likely, the stable has a dog as their unofficial mascot. Either way, treats are a basic in their diet. In order to sell pet treats in the United States, it is a requirement to have the guaranteed analysis of the treat on its packaging. This is another service that Equi-Analytical offers to people, analysis of pet treats, which ranges from simple dog treats to gender reveal puppy treat cakes. Knowing the nutrients in treats is also important to keep pets healthy for a long life.
A proper test of anything a horse is eating can help ensure they have a well-balanced diet. Especially for horses on the move or even just enjoying retirement, what they ingest on a daily basis impacts their overall health. Equi-Analytical is here to help horses through testing services. For more information, visit equi-analytical.com.