K&M Stables LLC

12/29/2024

12/20/2024

We have a new friend at the barn!

We enjoy customers like this, Morgan and Mandy came over to try some horses and found everything they were looking for, despite the mud and the rain we had a good time! Thank you guys so much!

12/11/2024

Boomer & Harlow with their leasers at the last two Wild Heart Shows 😁

These girls did so good with their horses!

Thank you to the lovely photographers
Kelly Jean Photography LLC
Kate Moynihan Photography

12/01/2024

We provide extra hay on nights below freezing and provide electrolyte mashes with Purina Outlast on nights below 20°

This time of year we provide hay free choice to keep weights up and warm ponies!

Cold weather tips for your ponies! 🥶

11/27/2024

Not just a grain of salt – why is it so important to add salt to your horse’s diet?

By now, I am sure many of you are aware that it is important to provide adequate salt to your horse or herd. But why is this specific nutrient so vital to their health? First, I want to cover the physiological role of salt and what it does in the body, and then we will discuss the best ways to add it to the diet!

When I was teaching Anatomy and Physiology to pre-vet students, we talked a lot about ions in the body including sodium, chloride, calcium, and potassium. These ions are present in bodily fluids and need to be available in appropriate amounts to maintain proper neuronal signaling, muscle contractions, transport, and digestion, among other important physiological processes. Additionally, these ions play a critical role in the fluid balance of the body specifically related to thirst, sweat, and urination. Considering salt is 40% sodium and 60% chloride, it provides two of these important ions that allow these functions to take place.

One of the most helpful ways I have found to explain the physiological role of salt is with the saying, “Water follows salt.” Let's simplify the physiological process that accompany this relationship:

💧 Increased salt consumption in the diet increases the thirst response and thus we drink more water and can become more hydrated.

💧 When we sweat, we not only lose water but other electrolytes, with sodium and chloride being the main culprits that contribute to the composition of sweat. This is because sodium is needed to facilitate the loss of water when we sweat and thus needs to be replenished in addition to water during exercise.

💧 Decreased salt intake encourages our bodies to retain the salt we already have. To do this, our kidneys decrease salt in the urine which subsequently decreases the amount of the water in the urine. This is because our body needs to tightly regulate the balance between ions (such as sodium) and the bodily fluids they reside in for many physiological processes to occur The result is a much more concentrated urine which is why you may hear yellow urine (which is more concentrated) is a sign of dehydration while a more clear urine suggests we are more hydrated.

So how is this connected to supplying salt in the diet? Unfortunately, salt will not be found in adequate amounts in most forages or horse feeds. While many commercially manufactured feeds provide adequate vitamins and minerals for horses when fed at the appropriate feeding rate, the exception here is sodium. This decision is intentional as sodium in a feed has been shown to reduce palatability. As a result, we as horse owners must add salt to the diet to ensure our horses meet their requirements.

This is an important feeding habit because when salt is consumed, the water will follow due to an increased thirst response. A hydrated state is critical in maintaining gut motility, which is the movement of feedstuff throughout the GI tract. Gut motility is very important to prevent digestive upset including conditions such as colic. Additionally, salt, water, and other electrolytes, are lost in the sweat of a hot or exercising animal. Providing salt in their diet encourages them to drink and replenish water and electrolytes lost during this process.

So how can we provide adequate salt to the horse? When I am in the field, I most frequently see salt blocks placed in the living areas of the horse. Unfortunately, these blocks were designed for other livestock and horses’ tongues are typically not rough enough to consume adequate amounts of salt from a block on a daily basis. While I still provide these blocks for my horses to allow voluntary intake, I also choose to top dress salt on their daily feed at a rate of 2 tablespoons (~30 grams) per 1,000-lb horse per day. This is often enough to meet sodium requirements of an average horse that is not in intense work.

What about the other forms of salt? I choose to feed my horses a loose iodized salt and you can often get a big bag of livestock salt at your local feed store! I choose iodized salt as iodine is an important nutrient that is not included on common forage analyses and can often be deficient in the diet (for humans as well which is why it was added to salt in the first place). The amount of iodine present in the salt is not enough to cause a toxicity but can help ensure your horse has adequate amounts of the nutrient.

Another common option I get asked about is Himalayan salt. While there may be some great claims on the label, this product is still 98% salt (with a few extra minerals) and often much more expensive. So if your horse is bougie or you want to create a certain ‘vibe’ in their stall, go for it! But it is by no means better or necessary to use Himalayan salts when compared to your average salt product. This is similar to the colored mineral blocks at many feed stores, which are essentially just pretty salt blocks. While they are not harmful, they can be misleading as they will not supply adequate minerals to the horse, such as zinc and copper, and therefore cannot replace certain feeds in the diet.

But while we may have favorites, feeding horses is just as much of an art as it is a science, and the main goal is to ensure the horse is consuming adequate amounts of sodium. As Dr. Rachel Mottet says, “The best kind of salt is the one your horse will eat!” If that means you have to provide Himalayan salt, go for it! But as always, consult with your equine nutritionist or veterinarian if you have any questions about your specific situation.

Happy Holidays!
Dr. DeBoer

10/26/2024

It’s the little upgrades that make such a difference.

We now have 4 arena-side cup holders for riders! 😁

These fit most cups. This cup in particular doesn’t fit most cup holders 😉

10/21/2024

More Forage, Less Feed

Stop feeding your horse so much grain.

No, seriously. Stop.

The majority of horses need what Kathleen Beckham call “The 3Fs” - Freedom, Forage, and Friends.

The majority of horses could survive, and survive well on a forage rich diet of grass and hay and no grain. Forage consists of high fiber plants, such as grasses, legumes, and hays. Most feed, which is grain based, is higher in sugar and starch. Forage provides a steady, slow-release energy source that is more aligned with a horse’s digestion functions. Horses are made to forage, it’s the ideal thing to help with gastric issues, weight management, etc.

Providing a constant source of forage, whether that be grass and hay or slow feed hay nets, is the ideal approach for the majority of horses. Horses are evolutionary designed to forage 10-14 hours a day at minimum. 10-14 hours of access to grass or hay where they can consistently buffer the acid in the stomach, which in the long term can help prevent ulcers.
A horse produces 9-16 GALLONS of stomach acid a day regardless of a forage based diet or grain based diet. However, it’s scientifically proven that the constant intake of forage helps buffer this acid and allow for a proper pH.

While this method does not apply to all horses (yes, there are exceptions), in my experience a forage rich diet makes for a happier horse - mentally and physically.

A lot of horses DO NOT NEED grain. They don’t. It’s a human thing that we feel or think they need grain. I know folks who make themselves insane calculating every last nutritional value on a bag of feed, but scoff at buying decent quality hay.
Most horses should eat 2% of their body weight in hay a day. A 1,000lb horse would be 20lbs of hay a day. Yes, TWENTY POUNDS. On average I calculate the average horse (AVERAGE) needs half a bale of hay per day.

I do understand there are horses with metabolic issues that need little to no grass, slow feed hay nets, etc. As always, consult with your veterinarian first and foremost. I have a metabolic horse so I understand the struggles associated with those types of situations.

I also have known horses that eat wood and trees trying to get their source of fiber and forage. It’s heartbreaking.

So stop pumping pounds of senior grain into your young horse and then wondering why they’re explosive. You’re basically feeding them crack co***ne, and long term their stomach acid probably can’t handle the “feed dump” that happens 2-3x a day.

Find a good hay guy (I do know a guy…) who has a consistent source of good hay. If they have their hay tested that’s awesome as well. Chat with your vet about what might be a good fit for your horse’s dietary needs based on age, health, exercise levels, etc.

Put down the bags of grain, and pick up some bales of hay!

10/07/2024

Send a message to learn more

10/01/2024

October show!!!
Costume contest 11:00
Cash prizes awarded to top 3!
Horse and rider costume, if you enter you automatically get 5 points, winner of each division gets 10!
Tent or treat will be set up around the arena at the tents!!!!
Other fun will be announced as we go!

10/01/2024

Sage decided to explore the tack barn! She unexpectedly followed in behind me.

I had tied her to grab something and she stepped up on the porch, so we untied and explored!

09/23/2024

09/09/2024

09/03/2024

Bonnie and Sage are enjoying this nice cool day with a breeze napping in their stall 🥰