2nd Chance Stables LLC

06/16/2026

🧂 Salt vs. Electrolytes: Understanding the Difference

Salt and electrolytes both play important roles in your horse’s hydration program, but they are not the same thing.

Most equine diets are deficient in sodium because forage, pasture, and many feeds do not provide enough of this essential mineral. Sodium is critical for maintaining hydration, supporting muscle and nerve function, and encouraging water intake.

Electrolyte supplements contain sodium along with other minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium. However, many electrolyte products do not provide enough sodium to meet your horse’s daily requirements, especially during hot weather or after significant sweat loss.

As a general rule:
✔️ Provide at least 1 oz of salt daily to meet your horse’s baseline sodium requirements.
✔️ Increase salt intake during hot weather and periods of increased sweating.
✔️ Add electrolytes in addition to daily salt after heavy exercise, competition, or any situation that results in significant sweat loss.

While forage-based diets typically provide adequate potassium, calcium, and magnesium, sodium remains one of the most common nutritional gaps in the equine diet.

Have questions about salt or electrolytes? Drop them in the comments below and our nutrition team will answer them.

06/16/2026

For the last several seasons we have been working hard at developing a quality feed program for our OTTBs that meets their unique needs and helps support them as they transition from being full time athletes to semi retired family horses.

It’s definitely taken some tweaking and improving as we learn more about how to support our individual horses needs and how to support Thoroughbreds as a whole.

Sharing some information for those interested along with reference material!

OTTB Nutrition Reference List

Evidence-Based Resources for Feeding Off-Track Thoroughbreds

Compiled by 2ndChanceStablesLLC

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Foundational Equine Nutrition Resources

National Research Council (NRC)

Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th Revised Edition
The gold-standard scientific reference used by equine nutritionists, veterinarians, and feed manufacturers.

National Academies Press – Nutrient Requirements of Horses⁠

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Kentucky Equine Research (KER)

One of the most respected independent equine nutrition research organizations in the world.

Topics:

* Weight gain
* Hard keepers
* Forage nutrition
* Performance horse feeding
* Gastric ulcers
* Vitamin E and antioxidants

Kentucky Equine Research Library⁠

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University of Florida Equine Extension

Research-based educational materials covering:

* Energy requirements
* Forage intake
* Body condition scoring
* Feed evaluation

University of Florida Equine Extension⁠

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University of Minnesota Extension

Excellent practical guidance on:

* Hay quality
* Feeding management
* Weight gain strategies
* Nutrient requirements

University of Minnesota Equine Extension⁠

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OTTB-Specific Nutrition Topics

Weight Gain and Hard Keepers

Kentucky Equine Research

Feeding the Hard Keeper

KER – Feeding the Hard Keeper⁠

Key takeaways:

* Prioritize forage intake.
* Add calories from fat before increasing starch.
* Monitor body condition score monthly.

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Forage Requirements

American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)

Putting Forage First

AAEP Horse Owner Education⁠

Key takeaways:

* Horses should consume 1.5–2.5% of body weight in forage daily.
* Free-choice forage supports gut health and ulcer prevention.
* OTTBs benefit from consistent access to hay.

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Body Condition Scoring

Kentucky Equine Research

Body Condition Scoring Guide

KER Body Condition Score Chart⁠

Recommended BCS:

* OTTBs in work: 4–6
* Most performance horses: 5–6

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Purina Animal Nutrition

Body Condition Scoring Your Horse

Purina Body Condition Scoring Guide⁠

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Gastric Ulcer Resources

OTTBs are particularly prone to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS).

AAEP

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

AAEP Ulcer Information⁠

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Kentucky Equine Research

Nutritional Management of Gastric Ulcers

KER Gastric Ulcer Resources⁠

Research supports:

* Free-choice forage
* Alfalfa inclusion
* Reduced fasting periods
* Smaller concentrate meals

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Vitamin E & Selenium

Performance horses and OTTBs often have increased antioxidant requirements.

Michigan State University Extension

Vitamin E and Selenium in Horses

Michigan State University Equine Nutrition Resources⁠

Topics:

* Vitamin E supplementation
* Muscle function
* Deficiency signs
* Safe supplementation practices

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Forage Testing and Hay Analysis

Equi-Analytical Laboratories

The industry standard for forage testing.

Equi-Analytical Laboratories⁠

Testing allows owners to evaluate:

* Digestible energy
* Crude protein
* Calcium and phosphorus
* Trace minerals
* Sugar and starch content

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Recommended Books

Feed Your Horse Like a Horse

Dr. Juliet Getty

Juliet Getty Equine Nutrition Books⁠

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Equine Nutrition and Feeding

David Frape

Equine Nutrition and Feeding (Publisher Information)⁠

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Nutrient Requirements of Horses

National Research Council

National Academies Press NRC Horse Nutrition Text⁠

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Key Evidence-Based Principles for Feeding OTTBs

✅ Forage should form the foundation of the diet.

✅ Most OTTBs thrive with continuous access to forage.

✅ Weight gain is often more safely achieved through fat and digestible fiber than by increasing starch.

✅ Alfalfa can support topline development and gastric health.

✅ Body Condition Score should be monitored monthly.

✅ Vitamin E, selenium, copper, and zinc deserve special attention in forage-based diets.

✅ The horse’s condition, performance, and health are more important than any single feed or supplement claim.

Prepared for educational purposes by 2ndChanceStablesLLC 🐴

06/16/2026

We love our Nugget, but ponies are undeniably sassier! 😂🤣

06/06/2026

Quick update on the boys!

Prince is recovering from a bout of tick borne fever. 🥵 unfortunately he’s dropped a fair bit of weight from fighting off this nasty bug, at one point his fever was up to 104.3degrees 🥺 But he’s in way better spirits now, eating voraciously, and chilling with his buddy Mikko (not pictured) while he does the work of getting better.

Baby Jet is doing amazing! Off of stall rest and into his own good sized turnout pen. He is sound on all legs, no soreness from his injury, and loving his life. Black horses get HOT in the summer so this guy gets hosed off regularly and really enjoys bath time and all the attention.

06/06/2026

I truly love a good horse that is uncomplicated and takes care of its rider!

In a sport where ambition often pushes riders to seek bigger, more talented, and more challenging horses, the idea of being “under-mounted” can feel counterintuitive. But according to top hunter rider and trainer Geoff Teall, riding a horse that is easier than your skill level is one of the smartest ways to improve.

Understanding what that means and why it matters can change the way riders approach both training and horse selection.

Being under-mounted does not mean riding a poor-quality horse or one that lacks ability. As Teall explains, “Your horse should be too easy for you to handle.” This kind of match removes unnecessary complications and allows the rider to focus on developing their own skills.

When a rider is on a horse that is too difficult or unpredictable, much of their attention is spent managing the horse; instead of working on position, timing, and feel, they are focused on simply getting through the ride. “If you’re under-mounted, then you will be able to put any worries about your horse out of your mind,” he shares.

Without those distractions, riders can direct their energy toward improving their technique.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/06/04/why-being-under-mounted-sets-riders-up-for-success/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

06/03/2026

Simple 🩶

Here is a non-exhaustive list of things your horse does not know, and does not care about:

• What the score was

• What level they’re showing

• What you paid for them

• What your goals are

• What board costs

• What color your saddle pad is

• Whether this is a schooling show, a national show, or the Olympics

• Whether they’re supposed to be the next superstar

And now… some things they do know:

• Whether they feel safe

• Whether their equipment fits well

• Whether their basic needs (food, freedom, friends) are fulfilled

• Whether their work makes sense to them

• Whether their body feels good

• Whether they understand the conversation

• Whether they trust the person asking the questions

I think that’s worth remembering from time to time.

Because horses have a funny way of cutting through all the noise and reminding us what actually matters.