Kentucky Equine Research

06/10/2026

Does your horse have equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)?

Nutritional management plays an important role in supporting horses with EMS. Two primary goals include managing body weight and reducing nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) intake to help minimize the insulin response to meals.

Strategies may include selecting low-NSC hay, limiting pasture intake, accurately managing forage amounts, and balancing the diet with appropriate vitamin and mineral support.

Careful dietary management can help support overall health while reducing nutritional risk factors associated with EMS and laminitis.

Learn more about nutritional considerations for horses with EMS: https://ker.com/equinews/four-research-based-tips-feeding-horses-ems/

For our customers in the U.S., Anderson Hay, the official research forage partner of Kentucky Equine Research, tests and documents every stack of hay it produces and is able to help customers find hay that fits their horse’s needs more precisely. Visit andersonhay.com to check availability in your area.

Two main goals of feeding horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) are weight management and lowering the amount of nonstructural carbohydrates—easily digestible sugars—to minimize the body’s insulin response to meals.

06/07/2026

“As a rider and judge, I know that excellence doesn't just happen in the arena, it’s built over years of consistent, high-quality care. That is why we rely on Perform.”

“Whether it’s our broodmares and young horses developing at home or our elite athletes facing the rigors of international long-distance travel, we need a program that scales with the demand. I trust Kentucky Equine Research to provide the precise, evidence-based nutrition my horses need to thrive at every stage.”

“When the stakes are high and the journey is long, I don’t leave our nutritional support to chance.”

06/05/2026

Is your horse’s diet missing the mark? On a forage-only diet, many horses lack the essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.

Micro-Max™ is a low-intake, highly concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement designed to fill those nutritional gaps without adding unnecessary calories. Whether you have an easy keeper, a horse on a restricted diet, or one simply needing a nutritional boost, Micro-Max provides the support they need.

Why Choose Micro-Max
-Includes minerals that have been chelated or proteinated, which increases their digestibility and allows horses to
derive maximum benefit from them
-Fulfills the vitamin and mineral requirements of horses and ponies on all-forage diets or that consume less than the
recommended daily amount of fortified feeds
-Features yeast culture to enhance digestion of fiber and other nutrients
-Contains natural-source vitamin E
-Palatable pelleted formula

📍 Availability:
U.S.A.: Look for Micro-Max - Vitamins and minerals for the forage-only diet.
Australia: Look for Gold Pellet - Vitamins and minerals for optimal health and coat condition.

06/02/2026

How do you know whether your horse needs a fortified feed, ration balancer, or vitamin and mineral supplement?

The answer depends on the individual horse, including age, activity level, body condition, forage quality, and overall nutritional needs. While forage should remain the foundation of the diet, many horses require additional nutritional support to properly balance energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Fortified feeds help provide calories for horses with greater energy demands, while ration balancers and vitamin and mineral supplements can help fill nutritional gaps without unnecessary calories.

Understanding the role of each option can help support overall health, condition, and performance.

Learn more about selecting the right nutritional approach for your horse: https://ker.com/equinews/fortified-feed-ration-balancer-or-vitamin-and-mineral-supplement-for-horses-which-do-i-choose/

When it comes to balanced nutrition for horses, there is more than one way to achieve proper energy, protein, vitamin, and mineral intake. First and foremost, it is important to consider the horse’s individual needs, including age, activity level, health status, body condition, and the availabilit...

06/01/2026

Meeting your horse's daily vitamin and mineral requirements is essential for energy, immunity, and overall vitality. Check out our selected regional favorites designed to fill the nutritional gaps in your horse's diet:

For our Australian horse owners:
Fuel performance and fill the gaps with our gold-standard balancers:
-Gold Pellet: The ultimate high-potency vitamin and mineral supplement for all horses.
-Nutrequin Se: Everyday support providing essential nutrients, including vitamin E and selenium.
-Perform: Specifically formulated to meet the demands of athletic horses.

For our U.S. horse owners:
Keep them in peak condition with these core essentials:
-Total Wellness: All-in-one pellet for antioxidant, joint, and hoof and coat support.
-Micro-Max: Low-intake, concentrated source of vitamins and minerals.
-Bio-Bloom PS: Two-pronged approach to hoof and coat health.

💰 June Savings
It’s time to stock up on the essentials! Save 15% on these selected products all month long.
👉 Use code BASICS26

Click the link in our bio to shop the collection for your region!

05/30/2026

Keep your horse moving comfortably with research-proven joint support. 🐎✨ Synovate HA® is a premium liquid formula designed to provide high-quality hyaluronic acid (HA) to support healthy joint function and mobility.

Whether you are managing a high-performance athlete or a senior companion, the right nutritional support is essential.

📍 Availability:
-Global 🇺🇸 🇦🇺: Synovate HA® is available for horse owners in both the U.S.A. and Australia.
-U.S.A. 🇺🇸: Also look for KER-Flex® for additional joint support.
-Australia 🇦🇺: Glucos-A-Flex® for long-term joint health and function.

Trust the science behind the movement.
🔗 Learn more about our joint health range at ker.com

05/27/2026

How much stress do your horse’s joints handle every day?

From jumping and bending to speed work and repetitive impact, performance horses place tremendous demands on their joints. Over time, this wear and tear can contribute to inflammation, stiffness, reduced mobility, and degenerative joint disease.

Oral joint supplements are commonly used to support joint health, cartilage maintenance, connective tissue integrity, and inflammation management. Ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, omega-3 fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, trace minerals, and antioxidants each play different roles in supporting joint function.

Learn more about joint health, key supplement ingredients, and why proactive joint care matters for performance and aging horses: https://ker.com/equinews/greasing-the-joints-part-1/

Unlike their wild counterparts, domestic horses are asked to jump, to bend and flex into difficult movements, to stop and spin on a five-cent piece, to trot for hours or gallop at top speed around a track. All of this puts unnatural stresses and forces on their joints, pressures they were never desi...

05/23/2026

Is glucosamine sulfate really “better” than glucosamine HCl?

Several forms of glucosamine are used in equine joint supplements, including glucosamine HCl and glucosamine sulfate. While some studies suggest differences in bioavailability, direct comparisons in horses remain limited.

Research continues to support the importance of providing appropriate levels of glucosamine, especially when combined with chondroitin sulfate, for joint and cartilage support.

Glucosamine HCl also offers advantages in purity, stability, and glucosamine concentration on an equal weight basis.

Click the link to learn more about glucosamine: https://ker.com/equinews/answer/form-glucosamine-equine-joint-supplements-2/

Most of the information I’ve found suggests glucosamine sulfate is “better" than glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl). Is this accurate?

05/19/2026

“I have a horse with metabolic issues that needs low-sugar hay. Should I feed teff or orchard grass? My vet recommended (insert hay here)...”

We receive some version of this question all the time. If you’ve asked something similar, you’re not alone. Managing a horse with insulin resistance, PPID, or a history of laminitis can feel overwhelming, especially when every recommendation seems different. But it does not have to be complicated. With the right information and consistent forage management, metabolic horses can absolutely thrive. That’s why we partnered with Kentucky Equine Research to create a clear, research supported guide explaining what truly matters, from understanding NSC levels to evaluating hay types and keeping feeding decisions consistent. If you manage a metabolic horse or simply want more clarity around low sugar hay, this article is worth a few minutes of your time.

Full article in the comments.

05/19/2026

From Novice to Advanced: Understanding Energy Demands for Event Horses

In simple terms, event horses are marathoners that are repeatedly asked to sprint. This hybrid demand creates a middle ground where both quick-access energy and sustained slow-release fuels are needed.

Kentucky Equine Research examines how monitoring heart rate, time, and distance can help guide individualized fueling strategies.

Targeted Nutrition © KER From Novice to Advanced: Understanding Energy Demands for Event Horses Brands Spotlight COTH Admin l May 11, 2026