Equitana 2022: Kentucky Equine Research Set to Give Presentations

Equitana 2022 will be held in Melbourne 10-13 November at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Last held in 2018, Equitana was postponed during COVID but is expected to be bigger and more action-packed than ever before.

While Kentucky Equine Research won’t have a booth at Equitana in 2022, we will be providing support for our partners and resellers. Moreover, Kentucky Equine Research will continue its tradition of providing speakers at Equitana and will include Peter Huntington, David Nash, and Rebecca Ham. A brief sketch of each speaker’s topic is listed below.

Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc., M.A.C.V.Sc.: Digestive Health is the Key to Good Health

Thursday, November 10, 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., Education Theatrette

Digestive health impacts many factors of horse’s health, including performance, behaviour, immunity, coat condition, and body weight. Understanding the difference between common gastrointestinal disorders such as gastric ulcers, inappetence, colic, hindgut ulcers, and acidosis is important to ensure optimal dietary management. We will explore the difference between certain gastrointestinal symptoms, conditions, feeding, and management strategies. With the explosion of gastric supplements on the market, we will examine the key ingredients and dig through the marketing claims to help horse owners make informed choices for their horses.

David Nash: Should My Horse Quit Sugar? Demystifying the Sugar and Carb Craze

Saturday, November 12, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Education Theatrette

An explosion of low-starch feeds and low-sugar forages have hit the market recently, and horse owners are bombarded with a “lower-is-better” message. We will demystify the starch/sugar message and provide examples of how much sugar is in common feedstuffs (e.g., comparing lucerne to grass hay, oats to barley, etc.). We will also outline the common physical and health issues that may require reduced-sugar diets, including obesity, insulin resistance, laminitis, fizzy behaviour, and muscle issues such as tying-up. We will provide some clarity on the “carbohydrate situation” so horse owners can avoid the hype and make an educated and research-supported decision for their horses.

Key points will include:

• Identifying the various “sugars” in horse diets,
• Sugar levels expected to see in various feed ingredients, and
• Feeding guidance for horses with sugar metabolism issues.

Rebecca Ham: Feeding the OTT Horse

Thursday, November 10, 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Saturday, November 12, 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Off The Track Boulevard Arena

How to best feed horses during the transition from racehorse to performance or pleasure horse can be tricky business, and it is one of the most common questions that we get asked. Addressing common considerations and solutions, Kentucky Equine Research, in conjunction with Racing Victoria, will provide advice for the growing off-the-track network.

Key points will include:

• How workload influences metabolic rate,
• Safe weight gain, including feed selection and the value of fibre,
• Which supplements are beneficial, including digestive, joint, and hoof products,
• Common questions and challenges, and
• Factors that influence longevity of a second career.