May 2026 Issue

May 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 27 Equine Healthcare, Nutrition, Therapy Special Advertising Section Stop wasting money on too many supplements or hay for your horse. Send a sample of anything that you feed your horse to Equi-Analytical to see the actual nutrient levels in it. Use that information to formulate a better diet for your horse! Build a Better Diet Phone: 607-375-9962 | Email: service@equi-analytical.com In the pursuit of equine health and performance, the barn environment plays amore critical role than many realize. Air quality, cleanliness, and comfort all begin at ground level—making bedding a key factor in a horse’s overall well-being. In East Earl, Pennsylvania, Barnyard Products is offering an alternative designedwith bothhorsehealthandenvironmentalresponsibilityinmind.Theirbeddingismadefrom recycledcorrugatedcardboard,repurposedintosoft,half-inchsquaresthatcreateaclean, consistent stall surface. One of the most significant advantages is the complete absence of dust. Traditional wood-based beddings can introduce airborne particles that irritate the respiratory system—particularly in horses prone to allergies or sensitivity. A dust-free option helps supportclearerairways,makingitespeciallyvaluableinenclosedbarnsorduringseasons when ventilation is limited. Absorbency also plays a role in overall stall health. Effective moisture control helps reduce ammonia buildup, contributing to better air quality and a more comfortable environment for the horse. The result is a stall that not only looks cleaner, but actively supports respiratory and skinhealth. From a management perspective, the bedding is designed to be easy to muck and maintain, reducing labor while maintaining consistency in daily care. It is available in both standard and premium grades, giving barn managers flexibility based on their programandhorses’needs.Packagedinreusablezipperbags,theproductalsominimizes waste, aligningwith a growing focus on sustainable, responsible barn practices. As awareness grows around the connection between environment and performance, bedding is no longer just a base layer—it’s part of a horse’s overall wellness program. For more information phone BarnyardProducts at (717) 314-1238. Health Starts in the Stall: ACleaner Approach to Equine Bedding By Cassy Streeter, M.S., NIR Services Manager Well into spring and with summer upon us, it’s a great time to evaluate your horse’s grazing diet -- Equi-Analytical can help. Equi-Analytical, based in Ithaca, New York, is a feed and forage testing laboratory that can provide you with a complete nutritional analysis of your hay, pasture, feed, and even treats! Horse owners can collect samples and send them directly to Equi-Analytical for analysis. We will test your sample and then return a report to you with information on the protein, fiber, fat, sugar, starch, and mineral content of your feed or forage sample. Now that the grass is growing, many horse owners are transitioning their horses to a pasture-based diet. Pasture testing may not be as common as hay testing, but it’s no less important to a horse’s diet. Unlike dry hay, pastures grow throughout the season and their nutrient content can change drastically with different growing conditions. We recommend sampling your pastures throughout the season and sampling from each pasture that is being grazed. Your local extension office may be able to help determine the frequency and number of samples to take at your barn. Two key components to pasture sampling are to only collect what your horse is eating and sample at grazing height. For full sampling instructions, refer to the Equi-Analytical website. The next question is: what to do with the results? There are several options for evaluating your analysis, including working with a vet, an equine nutritionist, or a feed company representative to help you figure out how to supplement your horse’s diet appropriately. You may also go to our website to compare your pasture analysis to our Feed Composition Library. Visit the Equi-Analytical website also for full instructions for sampling hay, pasture and feed, www.equie-analytical.com. Pasture Testing for Optimal Nutrient Management