Mad Barn

Mad Barn Every horse deserves a balanced diet. On the exterior, we may look like a lot of other supplement companies, but let us assure you, we are not.

Like Mad Barn for science-backed nutrition, expert support, and free tools and education to help your horse feel and perform their best. Our primary purpose is not to convince you to buy products, it’s to advance the practice of equine nutrition by:

- Funding research to better understand how nutrition impacts the health of your horse.

- Developing technology and feeding solutions to make it eas

ier to feed your horse what he or she needs.

- Providing education and support to horse owners and the broader equine community. Nutrition is the cornerstone to equine health, well-being and optimal performance. Our nutritionists are always available to answer your questions or help you formulate a balanced feeding program for free. We fund all of our activities through product sales. So if you feed your horse Mad Barn, thank you for helping us achieve our mission.

🐴🚛 How old were you when you learned to hook up a horse trailer?Was it something you learned before you could even drive...
09/06/2026

🐴🚛 How old were you when you learned to hook up a horse trailer?

Was it something you learned before you could even drive, or did you make it well into adulthood before someone finally handed you the hitch and said, “Your turn”? 😂

Bonus points if you also learned the classic tradition of backing up, getting out to check, moving two inches, getting out again… and repeating until everything finally lined up. 😅

👇 Drop your age in the comments! And who taught you?

🧠 Did You Know?Horses with pink skin and white markings are more vulnerable to sunburn and UV damage.☀️ Know which horse...
09/06/2026

🧠 Did You Know?
Horses with pink skin and white markings are more vulnerable to sunburn and UV damage.

☀️ Know which horses are at risk. Horses with pink skin, white facial markings, light-colored coats, or areas with little hair coverage have less natural protection from UV radiation. The muzzle, eyelids, ears, scars, and other sparsely haired areas are particularly vulnerable.

🕙 Limit exposure during peak UV hours. UV exposure is highest between 10 AM and 4 PM, so consider adjusting turnout to the early morning or late evening. Providing access to trees, run-in shelters, or other sources of shade also gives horses a way to escape direct sunlight.

🧴 Add protection where needed. Equine-formulated sunscreen can be applied to vulnerable areas such as pink muzzles, ear tips, and hairless patches. UV-blocking fly masks, nose guards, and lightweight fly sheets can provide additional protection for horses prone to sunburn or skin damage.

🔗 Do Horses Need Sunscreen? Complete Guide to UV Protection for At-Risk Equines:
🇨🇦 CA: https://madbarn.ca/sunscreen-for-horses/
🇺🇸 US: https://madbarn.com/sunscreen-for-horses/

🐴 Breed of the Week: North Swedish Horse🇸🇪 Developed in northern Sweden, the North Swedish Horse is a compact cold-blood...
09/05/2026

🐴 Breed of the Week: North Swedish Horse

🇸🇪 Developed in northern Sweden, the North Swedish Horse is a compact cold-blooded breed shaped by generations of forestry, farming, and transport work. Bred to handle rugged terrain and harsh climates, these horses are known for their strength, endurance, reliability, and steady temperament.

✨ North Swedish Horse Highlights:
• Typically stand between 15 and 16 hh
• Compact and muscular, with a deep chest, strong neck, powerful hindquarters, and substantial bone
• Known for a calm, willing, hardworking, and reliable temperament
• Traditionally used for forestry, farming, and transport
• Today, they are used for driving, carriage work, recreational riding, heritage demonstrations, and light draft work

🌾 North Swedish Horses are generally easy keepers and can meet their energy and protein needs on a forage-based diet. Because their efficient metabolism can make them prone to excess weight gain, maintaining appropriate body condition and avoiding unnecessary calories are important considerations.

🌲 Hardy, versatile, and dependable, the North Swedish Horse has evolved from a traditional Scandinavian working horse into an adaptable partner for both work and recreation. Their compact strength and willing nature continue to reflect the qualities that made them valuable working horses for generations.

🐎 Have you ever owned or worked with a North Swedish Horse? We'd love to hear about your experience! 👇

📚 Want to learn more about the North Swedish Horse?
🇨🇦 CA: https://madbarn.ca/north-swedish-horse-breed-profile/
🇺🇸 US: https://madbarn.com/north-swedish-horse-breed-profile/

09/05/2026

💡 Tip of the Day: Reduce standing water to help control mosquito populations.

🦟 Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance, they can transmit serious diseases like West Nile virus and equine encephalitis, both of which affect a horse's nervous system. Because there are no specific treatments for these viral diseases, prevention is one of the most effective ways to protect your horse.

💧 Walk your property regularly to eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed. Refresh water troughs frequently, improve drainage around barns and paddocks, and address muddy areas that can collect stagnant water. Pair these management practices with fly sheets, fly masks, and turnout adjustments during peak mosquito activity for added protection.

🐴 An effective pest control program combines multiple strategies. Keeping your horse up to date on recommended vaccinations while managing the environment around your barn can help reduce the risk of insect-borne diseases and keep your horse more comfortable throughout fly season.

📚 To learn more about insect stings and spider bites in horses, follow the link below:
🇨🇦 CA: https://madbarn.ca/insect-stings-and-spider-bites-in-horses/
🇺🇸 US: https://madbarn.com/insect-stings-and-spider-bites-in-horses/

09/04/2026

🐴 Have a horse with a long, flowing mane? A running braid is a simple and polished way to keep it neat without having to pull or cut the mane.

Jessica demonstrates how to create a running braid on Milky, from preparing the mane and maintaining the right tension to finishing and securing the braid.

This style is especially popular for Iberian horses and can be a great option for dressage, working equitation, or anytime you want to keep a long mane tidy. You can even weave in ribbon or small decorations for an extra touch.

Like any braiding technique, getting smooth, even sections takes a little practice, but at its core, it’s simply a three-strand braid.

🏇 Guide to Conditioning Horses: Exercises & Plans for Optimal Performance💪 Conditioning should gradually increase a hors...
09/04/2026

🏇 Guide to Conditioning Horses: Exercises & Plans for Optimal Performance

💪 Conditioning should gradually increase a horse’s workload to build cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and resilience. Increasing intensity, duration, and workload incrementally gives the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems time to adapt.

❤️ Monitoring heart rate, respiratory rate, hydration, soundness, and post-exercise recovery can help track fitness and identify signs of overexertion. Adequate recovery between sessions is also essential for muscles to repair and adapt.

🌿 A well-rounded conditioning program can combine long, slow distance work, intervals, hills, transitions, varied terrain, and discipline-specific exercises. The best plan is tailored to the individual horse’s fitness level, age, workload, and goals.

🔗 Learn more about conditioning your horse:
🇺🇸 https://madbarn.com/conditioning-horses/
🇨🇦 https://madbarn.ca/conditioning-horses/

🐴 Sometimes the biggest changes start from the inside out.🌿 “I’ve had my Mini Horse on Mad Barn’s Omega 3 oil, for itchi...
09/03/2026

🐴 Sometimes the biggest changes start from the inside out.

🌿 “I’ve had my Mini Horse on Mad Barn’s Omega 3 oil, for itchiness, and probiotic powder for two years and it’s the best. Mini Cooper was always scratching and biting at himself and I wanted to treat him from the inside out. I am over the moon happy with the results. He’s a healthy, happy little Mini. I cannot recommend Mad Barn enough.”

✨ W-3 Oil combines essential fatty acids with microalgae-derived DHA and natural vitamin E to support skin and coat quality, normal inflammatory balance, and immune health.

🌱 Optimum Probiotic is a pure 5-strain blend of probiotics formulated to balance the horse’s gut microflora and boost the immune system.

💙 We love hearing that Mini Cooper is happy and thriving. Thank you for trusting Mad Barn to be part of his nutrition program!

📚 Learn more about Mini Cooper’s supplements:
🐴 W-3 Oil: https://madbarn.com/product/w-3-oil/
🌿 Optimum Probiotic: https://madbarn.com/product/optimum-probiotic/

09/03/2026

Is your horse getting everything they need from their diet? 🐴

Poor hoof health, a dull or faded coat, muscle loss, reduced stamina, and declining performance may signal a nutrient imbalance, but they can also point to broader health or management concerns.

The best way to know is to evaluate the complete diet, including forage, grain, and supplements. A Mad Barn nutritionist can help ensure your horse receives the right nutrients in properly balanced ratios.

Submit your horse’s diet for a free nutrition consultation with Mad Barn.

🩺 The Vet’s Scoop 🐴✨📣 This week’s highlight: Threonine“Threonine is considered the third limiting amino acid in equine d...
09/03/2026

🩺 The Vet’s Scoop 🐴✨

📣 This week’s highlight: Threonine

“Threonine is considered the third limiting amino acid in equine diets and must be supplied through the diet, especially for pregnant and growing animals. Its functions include supporting the formation of collagen, maintaining the protective mucus barrier in the intestines, regulating fat metabolism and supporting cell growth.”

— Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, Veterinary Nutritionist

As an essential amino acid, threonine cannot be produced by the horse and must come from the diet. This is why protein quality and amino acid balance are just as important as the total amount of protein a horse consumes. Threonine contributes to collagen formation and connective tissue health, helps maintain the protective mucus barrier of the digestive tract, and supports normal fat metabolism and cell growth. These functions make adequate threonine particularly important during periods of increased protein demand, including growth, pregnancy, and lactation.

🐴 When it comes to an overweight horse, simply feeding less isn’t always the answer.Weight loss requires a careful balan...
09/02/2026

🐴 When it comes to an overweight horse, simply feeding less isn’t always the answer.

Weight loss requires a careful balance: reducing calorie intake enough to promote fat loss while still providing sufficient forage and essential nutrients to support digestive health, metabolism, muscle, hooves, and overall well-being.

In fact, restricting forage too aggressively can create new problems. Overweight horses should generally receive at least 1.5% of their body weight in forage per day, unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian. Choosing a mature, lower-calorie grass hay and weighing it accurately can help reduce energy intake without unnecessarily limiting forage.

🧪 This is where a hay analysis becomes especially valuable. Two hays that look nearly identical can provide very different amounts of digestible energy, sugar, protein, and minerals. Testing your forage allows you to choose an appropriate hay, determine how much to feed, and identify nutritional gaps that still need to be filled.

Remember that calorie restriction should not mean nutrient restriction. Horses on weight-loss diets still need adequate vitamins, minerals, protein, and salt. A concentrated, ultra-low-calorie vitamin and mineral supplement such as Omneity® can help balance a forage-based diet without adding significant calories.

📏 Healthy weight loss should also be gradual. A reasonable target for many overweight horses is approximately 0.5–1% of body weight per week. Track progress with regular body condition scoring, weight measurements, and photos rather than relying on appearance alone.

👉 Swipe through for 5 steps to support healthy weight loss, and if you’re not sure where to start, submit your horse’s diet for a free evaluation from one of our qualified equine nutritionists. 💙

🔗 Learn more:
https://madbarn.com/how-to-feed-an-overweight-horse/

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1465 Strasburg Road
Kitchener, ON
N2R1H2

Telephone

1-833-623-2276

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