Equine Research & Extension

Dates for upcoming equine-related seminars or short courses will be posted on our web site - please check back regularly for new information or contact the equine faculty about upcoming equine extension events.

Current KSU Equine Research Program:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Equine Physiology
Fat supplementation of horse diets is very common within the industry. Almost all commercially-prepared concentrates now contain added fat. traditionally, this fat has been provided from a vegetable source that is generally high in essential omega-6 fatty acids and low in essential omega-3 fatty acids. Most horse diets in general are very low in these important omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in high concentrations in marine-based products like fish oil. Recent research with humans and other species has begun to define the role of omega-3 fatty acids in health, immunity and neurological development. Consumers are now starting to see a number of products on the market for both humans and animals that are labelled as being "high" in omega-3 fatty acids. The potential role of omega-3 fatty acids in horse health and nutrition is still a relatively new area of research. At Kansas State in the Department of Animal Sciences, we are currently focusing our attention on the effect of dietary supplementation with marine-based omega-3 fatty acids on equine reproduction and foal growth. The goal of this research is to more accurately determine the effects of feeding diets high in omega-3 fatty acids to mares and foals, as well as the young, growing horse, and to make subsequent recommendations to horse owners in terms of incorporating these essential fatty acids into the diets of their horses.

Fescue and Its Effects on the Equine Hoof
Tall fescue grass is routinely fed to horses. While most horse owners know about the toxicity effects of fescue in pregnant mares, they often do not hesitate to put their riding horses on fescue pasture. In cattle, fescue consumption has been related to a condition known as “fescue foot.” We have a project underway that is designed to look at the effect fescue consumption may have on circulation through the equine hoof. Fescue consumption has been linked to vasoconstriction, and with the issues reported in cattle, it seems likely that fescue consumption might also alter blood flow to the horse’s hoof. If this is the case, there could be implications for those horses predisposed to navicular syndrome, laminitis, or other lameness conditions related to the health of the hoof itself.

The Glycemic Effect of Various Feeds in the Equine
Like humans, many horses in the U.S. are suffering from obesity and all of its related health issues. There are several conditions in which the horse is best maintained on a diet that does not elicit a large insulin response. Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy are two examples. As a result, there is a need to characterize the glycemic and insulinemic response of the equine to various dietary components. We have begun to do this by looking specifically at various feedstuffs containing molasses but that are consumed in very different ways. We are comparing feeds like sweet feed that are consumed entirely in meals to feeds like hardened blocks containing molasses that are consumed in small quantities throughout the day.

A Probiotic Approach to Preventing Laminitis
Laminitis, or founder, is a devastating condition in the horse. The best veterinary care in the world often cannot save horses from this condition: Barbaro and Secretariat both succumbed to laminitis. Laminitis is unique in that most obvious symptoms are detected in the hoof, but the problem originates in the horse’s digestive system. Generally the process begins when there is a starch overload in the horse’s hindgut and the microbial population present produces large quantities of lactic acid in response to the starch. The resulting acidosis appears to set off a chain reaction that ends with severe disruption to the hoof. We are working to develop a probiotic approach that would prevent lactic acid build-up in the horse’s cecum. In doing this, we hope to develop a preventative measure that would be effective in stopping the laminitis cascade before it even begins.

Equine in Kansas

Horses are an important part of the agriculture industry in Kansas. According to a 1996 survey published by the Kansas Horse Council and the K-State Cooperative Extension Service, there were over 103,000 horses on 28,000 Equine “operations” in the state of Kansas, and over 944,000 acres in the state were used for horses. At the youth level, there is a great deal of interest in equine activities. Several thousand Kansas students are involved in 4-H horse projects every year. Several large equine events are held annually in the state, attracting people from all over the region.

The Kansas State University Equine Program has a strong commitment to student instruction, research, outreach and public service. A comprehensive science-based equine curriculum provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills required to be a productive member of the equine industry. Many of the equine courses put a strong emphasis on hands-on experience, which is crucial in teaching the skills needed in today’s work place, and also gives students a real-world application for the information they learn in the classroom. This coursework is supported by a number of extracurricular opportunities, including several equine-focused clubs and teams. The K-State Equine Judging Team and NCAA Women's Equestrian Team compete annually at both the regional and national level, earning numerous championships. (K-State's 2007 AQHA World Champion Judging Team swept all categories and we followed that up with the 2008 AQHA Reserve World Champion Team. Pictured below: in 2010, K-State repeated again as the AQHA World Champion Judging Team, sweeping Halter, Performance and Reasons.) The graduate equine program emphasizes applied research in the areas of equine reproduction and nutrition, and increases the opportunities available at K-State for post-graduate education. Through K-State Research and Extension, current information on a variety of equine-related topics is provided to the general public in the form of shortcourses, seminars and clinics. A variety of youth horse programs also currently exist, providing the students of tomorrow with a strong foundation on which to build their academic future.