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Kentucky Equine Research’s Nutrition and Health Quarterly • Volume 5, Issue 4EQUINEWS®TMWorld-Class Smiles–KER Feeds World EquestrianGames ChampionsFly Boys–Shuttle StallionsCross the EquatorNew Program TracksEquine Growth

Researchseparates theinnovator from®the imitator.1.800.772.1988, www.ker.com

EQUINEWS®VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4Photo supplied by CoolmoreCONTENTS2Kentucky Equine Research CongratulatesTeam Member ChampionsBY MARK LLEWELLYN AND ROBIN STANBACK5Kentucky Equine Research Welcomes Larry LawrenceBY ROBIN STANBACK6Double Duty:Dual-Hemisphere Breeding Makes Stallions theBoys of Perpetual SpringBY ROBIN STANBACK10On the Wings of Progress:Advances Transform Equine Air TravelBY ROBIN STANBACK13Principles of Sound GrowthBY LARRY LAWRENCE, PHD AND PETER HUNTINGTON, BVSC15New Program Provides Road Map for Tracking GrowthBY MARK LLEWELLYN19Equinews Q & AEQUINEWS TMEQUINEWS© is the official quarterly journal ofKentucky Equine Research, 3910 Delaney Ferry Road, Versailles, Kentucky40383, USA. Telephone 859-873-1988. Fax 859-873-1163.Kentucky Equine Research StaffPresidentVice President and Director of BusinessVice President of Sales and MarketingKPP General ManagerNutritionistsAdministrative AssistantBusiness ManagerCoordinator Sales and MarketingFormulation and Quality AssuranceMarketing AssistantMarketing & Web SpecialistMarketing SpecialistResearch Farm ManagerAssistant Research Farm ManagerResearch AssociateSales RepresentativeSpecial Events CoordinatorTechnical ClerkTechnical Division CoordinatorVisiting InternsJoe D. Pagan, Ph.D.Karen PaganDarrell WardMike WarrenKathleen Crandell, Ph.D.Larry Lawrence, Ph.D.Becky YoungMary BenedictLaura M. MintonMike Lennox, PAg.Linda TateSusan HammondsMeagan EarlyDelia NashAilsa WalkerAlice FitzgeraldDavid OsborneLisa TalipSheppy Kerr-JudeEileen PhetheanVicky AbbishawMelissa FellowsKentucky Equine Research Australasia StaffKentucky Equine Research Australasia112B Martin St., Brighton 3186, Victoria, AustraliaTelephone 03 9530 6334, Fax 03 9530 6339Equinews Editorial StaffEditorTechnical EditorCopy EditorInternet DirectorArt DirectorRobin StanbackMark LlewellynCatherine BishopDennis ChristensonSheri WoodEQUINEWS features on its front covera photograph by Mark Llewellyn.U.S. subscription price is $12 per year.Director of NutritionManager Global LogisticsNutrition Advisor & Stud SpecialistNutrition Advisor & Area ManagerVIC, SA & TASSenior AccountantBusiness, Marketing & EquivitAccount ManagerTechnical Advisor & Research CoordinatorEquine Nutrition Advisor &Marketing AssistantAccounts, Export, Administration& PurchasingDr. Peter HuntingtonJeremy EdwardsGraham JenkinsonMegan LuckhurstRoss GrahamEmma RobertsSonja GardnerCilla KuiperJoanne Read©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 1

Kentucky Equine Research CongratulatesTeam Member ChampionsBY MARK LLEWELLYN AND ROBIN STANBACKThe proof of the pudding was on the podium atthe 2002 World Equestrian Games as KentuckyEquine Research continued its custom of supplyingfeed to the world’s most elite sport horses. Severalequine athletes fed Kentucky Equine Researchformulatedfeeds gave medal-winning performancesat the quadrennial event.Held in mid-September in Jerez, Spain, the WorldEquestrian Games featured the seven disciplinessanctioned by the Fédération Equestre Internationale(FEI): three-day eventing, show jumping, dressage,endurance, driving, vaulting, and for the first time,reining. The competition brought together over 1000horses and horsemen from more than 50 countries.Aside from the Olympics, the World Equestrian Gamesis the most significant equestrian event in the world.Several global-minded Team Members lent a handin providing feeds for horses prior to and duringthe event. Pennfield Feeds contributed immenselyto the success of the winning three-day eventingteam from the United States. The victory in Jerezrepresented the first time in nearly 20 years thatSeveral global-mindedTeam Members lent ahand in providing feedsfor horses prior to andduring the event.Phillip Dutton finishedfirst, second, andthird at the BromontThree-Day Event.Photo by Shawn Hamiltonan eventing squad from the United States has wona gold medal in Olympic or world championshipcompetition. Members of the triumphant teamincluded David O’Connor on Giltedge, John Williamson Carrick, Kim Vinoski on Winsome Adante, andAmy Tryon on Poggio II. O’Connor, Williams, andVinoski feed Pennfield products on a daily basis. Allof the team horses were given KER-formulatedfeeds during their training stint in England prior tothe World Equestrian Games as well as throughoutthe competition.Individual awards were bestowed to eventersbased on performances in the team competition. Inaddition to the four team riders, countries werepermitted to enter two other riders in the event. Inthe individual medal race, five of the top tenfinishers were affiliated with Kentucky EquineResearch. Williams, Vinoski, and O’Connor rackedup fourth-, sixth-, and tenth-place finishes,respectively. In addition to the Americancontingent, two Australians who regularly feed KERproducts placed in the top ten. Phillip Dutton, whotrains year-round in the United States, placed fifthindividually on House Doctor, and Olivia Bunnscored a seventh-place finish on GV Top Of TheLine. Dutton, a two-time Olympic gold medalist,has fed Pennfield products for numerous years, andBunn feeds her mounts a selection of Equivit2 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Fuelling ChampionsAcross the Globe"Photos supplied by David Hayes"112B Martin Street, Brighton VIC 3186Phone (03) 9530 6334 Fax (03) 9530 6339www.ker.comP.O. Box 525, Somerton Victoria 30621800 133 868 • www.ridleyhorse.com.auKentucky Equine Researchproudly congratulates TeamMember Ridley AgriProductsfor being the feed supplier of“All Thrills Too,” winner of theHong Kong International Sprint.

Supplements and Equi-Jewel, a high-fat stabilized rice bran,to boost energy levels.Pennfield Feeds also supplied feed to Tucker Johnson, thehighest-scoring American in the four-in-hand drivingcompetition. Johnson placed fourth in individualcompetition and was a member of the silver medal-winningteam from the United States. This year marks the first timethat an American team has earned a medal in a four-inhandworld championship competition.Bluegrass Horse Feeds of Ireland provided feeds forDermott Lennon and Liscalgot, the individual gold medalwinners in the show jumping competition. Lennon is thefirst Irish competitor to be crowned world champion, andone of only three Irishmen to ever advance to the finalround of competition.All team horses were givenKER-formulated feeds inEngland prior to the WorldEquestrian Games…Brooks Feed Store of Ontario, Canada was also pivotal insupplying feeds for the Canadian three-day eventing squad.Flint River Mills of Bainbridge, Georgia provided feed forImtiaz Anees, an eventing rider from India who completedthe challenging course at Jerez.Having the feeds on hand at Jerez for so many horses wasa complex logistical endeavor for Kentucky Equine Researchand its network of Team Members. However, such atremendous undertaking is hardly alien to Kentucky EquineResearch. The company supplied feeds for the horses thatcompeted in the 1996 Olympic Games contested in Atlantaand the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia. Inaddition to furnishing concentrates, Kentucky EquineResearch played a key role in procuring hay for many of thehorses competing at the World Equestrian Games. Equineathletes from the United States, Australia, Canada, India,New Zealand, Germany, and Colombia were fed hay selectedby Joe Pagan, founder and president of Kentucky EquineResearch, and representatives from The Hay Exchange. KERprovided its range of nutritional supplements to competitorswishing to use them during the event.The success of horses fed KER-formulated feedsat the World Equestrian Games underscores the importanceof innovative research, cutting-edge feed formulations,and shipping expertise that characterize KentuckyEquine Research.In this issue of Equinews two giants in the Thoroughbredbreeding industry, Arrowfield Stud and Coolmore, arefeatured in the article on dual-hemisphere breeding (page6). Both farms trust KER-formulated feeds and products toprovide exceptional nutrition to their priceless charges.Team Member Ridley AgriProducts works closely with otherTeam Members in the United States, Ireland, and GreatBritain to assure that the horses travelling betweenhemispheres have the best possible nutritional transition.In Great Britain, KER Team Member Saracen Horse Feedshas become a leader in feeding the country’s top endurancehorses. Saracen launched a specially formulated feed,Enduro 100, last autumn and sponsored the 165K LindumEnduro 100. The top two finishers, Yamavar, ridden by ZaraMoon, and Gedenski, ridden by Merial Moon, were fueled byEnduro 100. In addition to the win, Yamavar captured thebest condition title in that race. Enduro 100 was also thefeed of choice for Rebecca Broughton who rode Rawnq to asecond-place finish in the FEI 65K and for third-place andbest condition winner Crusader’s Angel ridden by AnnSanders.On the racing front, Team Member Farmers Feed Mill,manufacturer of Hallway Feeds, fueled an incredible winningperformance by Chip Chip Hooray in the $1 millionHambletonian, the most prestigious race for Standardbredtrotters. Trained by Chuck Sylvester, who has nowconditioned four Hambletonian winners, Chip Chip Hooraywas fed Race 13.David Hayes has savoured the thrill of success in big racesall over the world, including Australia, Japan and HongKong. He has won multiple trainer’s championships inAustralia and Hong Kong, but the victory of All Thrills Too inthe $2.25 million Hong Kong International Sprint (Group 1)was the highlight of his career in that country. The LindsayPark "boss" made up for a placing in the race last year withthe same horse by decisively winning the rich race over 1000metres. All Thrills Too's sire, St Covet, was also trained byDavid Hayes at the Lindsay Park Racing Stable, prior to hismove to Hong Kong in 1996.The Hayes family and Lindsay Park Stud have soughtnutritional advice and products from KER since itcommenced operating in Australia in 1993. The feedprograms are set up so that similar feeds are used at thethree stables in Australia and the stable in Hong Kong. Thismeans horses can move between stables without any of theproblems that can be caused by a change in feed program.In Hong Kong, horses in the Hayes stable are fedStablemaster Furlong, a sweet feed for racehorses made byRidley AgriProducts, and a number of KER Equivitsupplements including Restore, Bio-Bloom, Neigh Lox andHemabuild. The Lindsay Park Racing Stable success is notjust confined to Hong Kong. In December, Tony McEvoytrained an Australian record 42 winners which made theChristmas season very festive indeed.4 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Kentucky Equine Research Welcomes Larry LawrenceBY ROBIN STANBACKDr. Larry Lawrence has recently joined the staff ofKentucky Equine Research (KER). The Georgianative did his undergraduate work and received amaster’s in animal science from his home stateuniversity and then studied under Dr. Ed Ott at theUniversity of Florida to attain his doctorate inequine nutrition. His studies focused on mineralmetabolism and bone physiology in growing horses.Dr. Lawrence spent five years as a facultymember at the University of Washington beforeaccepting a position at Virginia PolytechnicInstitute (VPI) and State University in 1991. Inhis position as an associate professor of animalscience and the extension horse specialist there,Dr. Lawrence worked with young horsemen on aregular basis. He said, “I think my greatestcontribution was the work I did with youngpeople. Extension specialists have theopportunity to share information and educatepeople. VPI encouraged me to do that and it wasa very satisfying experience.”As much as he enjoyed the opportunitiesavailable at VPI, the appeal of more researchorientedprojects was the lure that brought Dr.Lawrence to KER. He said, “Research was a majorfocus of my life for a long time. I enjoyed thechallenges it presented and I found that I missedthat. I was well aware of KER’s many projects andthe company’s focus on sharing the informationit uncovers. Working for KER will allow me tocombine my love of research with my interest ineducating horse owners.”Like many KER employees, Dr. Lawrence bringsmore to his position than his education andwork experience; he is also a dedicatedhorseman. For many years he was an avid foxhunting enthusiast riding his field hunter, Beau,a draft cross that Dr. Lawrence describes as being“a well-behaved, wonderful animal.” Along withthis horse, he brought a two-year-old QuarterHorse to Kentucky. “I’m not certain what myQuarter Horse wants to be when he grows up. Hehas grown rather quickly and has the potentialto be a real athlete. There is no hurry. I cancertainly wait to see where his talents will lie.”Dr. Lawrence’s new position with KER may keephim too busy to enjoy equine sports for a while.He has accepted the responsibilities of leading theKER technical staff and providing support for thecompany’s Team Members throughout the world.He participated as a speaker and coordinator atthe most recent KER conference in September and“Working for KER will allow me to combine my love ofresearch with my interest in educating horse owners.”was tapped the following week to providehis organizational skills for the InternationalConference on Equine Exercise Physiology, whichwas held for the first time in Kentucky.KER President Dr. Joe Pagan said, “We are veryhappy to have Dr. Lawrence on staff and feelthat his contributions will be invaluable.”Photo by Robin StanbackDr. Lawrence addresses a crowd at KER’s recent Equine Nutrition Conference.Photo by Robin Stanback©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 5

6 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.comPhoto supplied by Coolmore

Double DutyDual-Hemisphere Breeding Makes Stallions the Boys of Perpetual SpringBY ROBIN STANBACKWhile the Thoroughbred industry is frequentlyseen as one steeped in tradition, the giants ofthe business have often proven to beinnovative. When tradition and innovationmeet, the results can lead to advances that canrevolutionize an industry. Perhaps the best example ofthis combination can be seen in breeding sheds aroundthe world.Many other breeds have sanctioned the use of artificialinsemination and embryo transplant, but Thoroughbredsmust be conceived by live cover to be registered and raced.For years, the logistics of getting mares to stallionsrestricted the number of horses that could be bred, butthose limitations have been breached by a vanguard of theindustry’s elite who have used combinations of new ideasand technologies to increase the volume of mares thatcould visit their stallions.To everything there is a season, and breeding horses hastraditionally been a springtime event. From the early 1900son to today, veterinary practitioners have worked tounderstand every aspect of the process and capitalize onthe few months when mares’ and stallions’ biological clocksare at peak performance. Recent advances in veterinaryknowledge, including ultrasound examinations, hormonalassays, and new methods of evaluating sperm, allow formore effective methods of monitoring mares and stallionsresulting in higher conception rates.In the early 1980s the breeding soundness standard wasdeveloped by the American College of Theriogenologistsand was based upon stallions covering an average of 40mares by live cover and 120 by artificial insemination. Thisstandard, which is still in place today, is outdatedaccording to Dr. John Steiner, with the Lexington,Kentucky veterinary clinic Hagyard-Davidson-McGee andAssociates. He stated, “Today’s Thoroughbred stallions cancover over 200 mares in one breeding season. Commonthinking years ago was that a stallion’s fertility woulddecrease if he were bred too many times. Research hasshown that not to be the case. Interestingly, we havefound that, as the number of mares booked to a stallionincreases, so does the rate of pregnancies per cycle. Thestallions that get these larger books are typically the morevaluable stallions. The mares bred to these horses tend tocome from places where mare management is more intense.The result of this increased level of care is that more maresget in foal on one breeding.”The increase in breeding shed efficiency led to largerbookings for stallions. Calumet Farm was one of the first inthe United States to capitalize on this with the prepotentAlydar. In 1988 Alydar covered 97 mares. While the numberof mares was exceptional at that time, so too were thedates on which he covered them. That year Alydar bred hislast mare on November 6. She was one of a number ofmares shipped from South America to be bred to the horseand then returned home to deliver.Alydar was far from the only horse covering mares fromthe Southern Hemisphere. Other stallions both in the UnitedStates and Europe were also being introduced to mares fromsouth of the equator. As it became obvious that the largernumber of bookings was not compromising the health of thestallions, some owners and farm managers began to exploreFlying Spur on his way to the paddock.Photo supplied by News Limited©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 7

feeds that are as similar as possible to lessen the changesof gastric upsets.”Here again, the quirks of the individual horse play animportant role. Mr. O’Brien laughed, “Danehill could look atan oat and gain a pound. Still, it was important to devise aprogram that would assure that all of his nutritional needswere being met. Other horses might need far more feed tomaintain their weight, but there again, the balance mustbe made.”Exercise and light are also vital in helping the horsesadjust to a different season than that which their bodieswere expecting. In keeping with the goal to maintain thehorses’ routines, both farms have designed exerciseprograms for each individual. Mr. O’Brien said, “What wehave found is that our horses, particularly the Irish ones,do well with exercise. It helps to keep them healthy and togive them a mental break. Really, these horses seem tothrive in Australia, and they do enjoy having the sun ontheir backs.”Sunlight and artificial lights are used to help the horsesadjust to the change in hemispheres. Dr. Wylie explained,“Naturally, a horse would not experience two springs in oneyear. We use light to help the horses make the adjustment,and have found that the horses do well with between 16and 18 hours of sunlight. We box (stable) our stallionsevery evening. This allows us to supplement the sunlightwith artificial light.”The problems that equine experts thought would arisefrom “overworking” stallions have not surfaced. WhenAlydar’s book grew to twice the accepted levels in the mid-1980s, some horsemen expressed the concern that theanimal would lose interest in his job and quit performing.Dr. Steiner, along with Dr. W.R. “Twink” Allen, head of theEquine Fertility Unit In Newmarket, England, studiedshuttle stallions for two years, collecting semen and bloodto measure hormone levels. They discovered that thenatural bell curve that is seen in most stallions’ hormonalassays during a breeding season was duplicated for thehorses that traveled across the equator. Fertility was notaffected. “Indeed,” explained Dr. Steiner, “we found theonly limiting factor for the horses to be libido.”Dr. Wylie has found the same to be true. He stated,“Most shuttle stallions experience a slight decrease infertility in mid-October for about eight to ten days. Thisflat spot seems especially marked in stallions that havebeen shuttled for three or four years consecutively. We tryto give them a bit of break and then they come right back.It has not been a problem for us.”Indeed, if there were fertility or libido problems thenumbers of horses bred would reflect them. Some of thesuperstar stallions of the recent past have settledimpressive numbers of mares quite successfully. ThunderGulch bred a total of 371 mares in 2001, 216 in the UnitedStates and 155 in Australia. Fuji Kiseki bred 225 mares inPhoto by Peter HuntingtonDanehill, cast in bronze, at Coolmore’s Southern Hemisphere location.Japan and 83 in Australia for a total of 308.Considering the volume of mares bred, the financialaspect of transporting these stallions is considerable. Dualhemispherebreeding can double the income produced byone of these valuable animals whose stallion service feesoften run in five—and occasionally six—digit figures.While the business of breeding horses is a multimilliondollar endeavor, the people who own, operate, and care forthese animals are first and foremost horsemen. Neither Mr.O’Brien nor Dr. Wylie would initially admit having afavorite, but each eventually talked glowingly about atleast one.“As a professional, I appreciate each individual and itwould be difficult to choose any one over another,” Dr.Wylie began, “but I do rather like Fuji Kiseki. He’s just alovely animal. He has a unique personality. Oh, they all do.”Mr. O’Brien laughed when asked about any favorites hemight have among his charges. “They are all special. But,I’d have to say I’m awfully impressed by Fusiachi Pegasus.He handled the shuttling last year with aplomb, and hisfirst foals are the best I have ever seen.”The experience and knowledge gained by the farmsfrom years of shuttling stallions have been shared withthe entire Thoroughbred industry. From this hascome better transportation conditions, an expandedknowledge of equine reproduction, and a broader base ofequine bloodlines for breeders to access. Dual-hemispherebreeding may well be a prime example of industry growthat its best.©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 9

n the Wings of Progress:OAdvancesTransformEquineAir TravelBY ROBIN STANBACKPadded containersthat can hold up tothree horses inindividual stalls arefirst loaded, andthen carefullylifted onto theplane. Once inside,they are rolled intoplace and securedfor the duration ofthe flight.Recent medical and technological advances have revolutionized equine airtransport from an occasionally dangerous and often lengthy process into a moderndaymagic carpet ride. This transformation has had a profound impact on manyfacets of the horse world, but perhaps none so much as that on the Thoroughbredindustry, which has seen an increase in truly international competitions as well asthe movement of valuable breeding animals from one hemisphere to another.Larger airplanes capable of flying longer distances in less time, safer travelingcompartments, and more effective tranquilizers have all played a part in themetamorphosis of a relatively young industry. The information gleaned from recentresearch on traveling conditions for horses has also led to changes that haveprovided safer handling methods to help horses arrive at their destinations in ahealthier condition.Quentin Wallace, the founder and chairman of International Racehorse Transport(IRT), pioneered the practice of flying horses into Australia in the early 1970s. Hisbusiness has grown exponentially to the point that, today, IRT is known for itsability to regularly move horses around the globe. The company was tapped by theSydney Olympic Organizing Committee to coordinate the transportation of all theequine athletes to the Summer Games in 2000. This job represented the largestpeacetime movement of horses into and out of Australia. IRT has been a boon tobreeding operations aroundthe world and anticipatesmoving over 80 stallions toAustralia and New Zealand thisyear for the SouthernHemisphere breeding season.Mr. Wallace has definitelyseen the impact the changesand innovations have hadupon his business. Heexplained, “When IRT firstbegan shipping horses, ownerswould have to wait for a fullload to be able to ship theiranimals. Today, we haveregularly scheduled flightsthat can hold up to 87 horsesin one plane. Also, the earlierflights took considerablylonger than they do today. Theplanes were smaller and had tostop for refueling. In the past,horses could be on the planefor 50 hours or longer. Today,Photos supplied by IRT10 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Many stressed horses develop ulcers.Neigh-Loxis recommendedfor all thestressful timesin your horse’s life.Yours shouldn’t be one of them.For more information call 1-800-772-1988.

Boeing 747 planes cut travel time. It is possible for a horsebeing transported from Europe to Australia to spend nomore than 36 hours in total travel time from stable tostable. This in itself is considerably better for the animals.”While some companies still have planes that utilizeramps and portable stalls, most have made use of containercompartments to safeguard the horses during the flightand to make loading and unloading the plane significantlyeasier. The containers are made of three padded stalls with28-inch stall fronts. Horses can be cross-tied, but Mr.Wallace stated, “Most of the time the horses are tied onone side so that they can move a little bit easier to get totheir hay nets. It is also possible for their handlers to dropa bar on the stall front that allows the horses to put theirheads down from time to time. Research has shown that ifOne way IRT protectsits passengers is to haveevery horse travel withexperienced handlers andveterinarians.horses can do this they can clear out their sinuses betterand perhaps lessen the chance of developing an upperrespiratory problem.”Safety issues have become an even greater concern forevery airborne passenger since the tragedy of September11, 2001, and horses are no exception. At one timeinsurance policies that covered the life and usefulness ofan animal automatically applied to horses in transit. Manypolicies now have an extra charge for horses that are flownto their destinations. Mr. Wallace feels that liabilityconcerns have also added to the expense of insuring anequine passenger.One way IRT protects its passengers is to have everyhorse travel with experienced handlers and veterinarians.One recent flight transported a trio of Kentucky Derbywinners—Thunder Gulch, Real Quiet, and FusaichiPegasus—from their homes in the United States tobreeding shed duties in Australia. As might be expectedwith such precious cargo, extra precautions were taken.Among them were veterinarians Des Leadon of Ireland, oneof the world’s leading researchers on equine travel stress,and Fairfield Bain, a partner in the Lexington, Kentuckybasedveterinary firm Hagyard-Davidson-McGee. Mr.Wallace explained, “Most of the breeding operations thattransport horses from the Northern to the SouthernHemisphere have a good idea of which horses will have theright temperament to make the trip and to do the jobrequired of them. Danehill, one of the most successfuldual-hemisphere breeding stallions, is a good example.That horse made the shuttle trip every year from 1990until this year, when he was given a break from theschedule, and has always been an exemplary passenger. Heis very, very quiet. Still, we work diligently to be preparedto meet any problems the horses might have. As a result,IRT has never failed to deliver or return a horse that hasbeen placed in its care.”Mr. Wallace said that the vast majority of horses he hastransported have not needed chemical persuasion to travelquietly, but “sometimes a horse will become upset. Forthese horses, the proper tranquilizer given at theappropriate time can make all the difference.” Dr. Bainagreed, saying, “We occasionally need to sedate stallionswith Dormosedan (detomidine), usually only when theyget anxious during the long loading process. Onceairborne, they rarely have much of a problem. The highestrisk for injury is on landing where they may get caughtoff balance, but injuries have fortunately been minorand rare.”Human and equine passengers share a common problemon long flights. Dr. Bain explained, “Horses have hay netsand are watered as frequently as possible to avoid severedehydration. Minor dehydration occurs as it does in humanpassengers (you may have experienced the flightattendants filling your water glass often on long trips) butdoes not seem to cause any clinical problem. In general,most of these stallions are seasoned travelers and makethe trip better than the humans do.”Peter O’Brien, the farm manager for Coolmore Australia,is responsible for the health and welfare of some of theworld’s most valuable equine frequent fliers such asDanehill, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Giant’s Causeway whenthey are in residence at the farm in Australia. Mr. O’Brienagreed that a good temperament is essential for a stallionto be a successful candidate for their breeding program,but he added, “The key to the success we have had withour dual-hemisphere stallions is IRT. Its expertise,attention to detail, and excellent staff allows us to moveour horses with confidence.”The lion’s share of attention seems to fall upon thestallions that shuttle between hemispheres, but they arenot the only horses that make the journey. Often it is themares that visit the stallion’s home breeding shed. Mr.Wallace indicated that the mares are handled in much thesame fashion as their male counterparts. He said, “Themain goal is to keep the horses safe and to get them totheir destinations as quickly as possible.” Today’s largerand faster airplanes, experienced ground and flight crews,and the careful attention to detail paid by everyoneassociated with the horses have opened the doors to globalopportunities for horsemen.12 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Principles of Sound GrowthBY LARRY LAWRENCE, PHD AND PETER HUNTINGTON, BVSCFew animals are as precocious as the horse. Within 20 minutes ofbirth a foal may stand, and within hours can be ready to run at speedsno human athlete will ever achieve. At this early stage of life, evenwith this exceptionally early development, horses have only 17% oftheir mature bone mineral content, but they also have only 10% oftheir ultimate body weight. The relationships between growth,nutrition, bone strength and development, body weight, and theforces applied to bone are all orchestrated in a careful balance whenoptimal growth is achieved.The selection and breeding of horses for desirable traits have beenpractised for over 2000 years. However, most of what we have learnedabout the growth of horses has been recorded in the past 20-30 years.In 1979 Dr. Harold Hintz reported Windfields Farm’s growth data for1,992 foals from birth to 22 months of age. The records illustrate howquickly foals grow. Thoroughbreds and other light horse breeds willreach 84% of their mature height at six months of age. Assuming amature Thoroughbred will be 16 hands, the six-month-old weanlingwill be approximately 13.2 hands. At 12 months that horse will havereached 94% of its adult height or around 15 hands, and at 22 monthsit has almost finished growing in height, reaching 97% of its fullheight at approximately 15.2 hands. Mature weight is reached at aslower rate; during the first six months of life the foal will gain 46% ofits mature weight. Assuming a mature weight of 500 kg, the sixmonth-oldwill weigh approximately 230 kg. At 12 months it will havereached 65% of its mature weight (325 kg), and at 22 months itshould be 90% of its adult weight (450 kg). Average daily gainsdescribed by Hintz are the same as those recommended by theNational Research Council (NRC) for moderate growth (Table 1). TheNRC reports that six-month-old weanlings with a projected adultweight of 500 kg gained 0.65 kg per day. Twelve-month-old yearlingsgained 0.5 kg per day, and 18-month-old long yearlings gained 0.35kg per day.Radiographic studies on the acquisition of bone mineral in horsesfrom one day of age to 27 years have shown that maximum bonemineral content (BMC) is not achieved until the horse is six years old.If the rate of mineralization of thecannon bone and age are compared, a Projected Growth Parameters for a Young Horsepattern emerges that is more similar tothat of weight gain than height. At six Age Height % Mature Height* Weight % Mature Weight*months of age horses have attained68.5% of the mineral content of an 6 months 13.2 h84%230 kg46%adult horse, and by one year of agethey have reached 76% of maximal 12 months 15.0 h94%325 kg65%BMC. Bone is a much more dynamictissue than it appears to be upon 22 months 15.2 h97%450 kg90%casual observation; However, completebone mineralization lags behind*Estimates based on 16-hand, 500-kg mature horse.growth in height and weight.Photos by Mark Llewellyn©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 13

Height or long bone growth is thedevelopmental priority for younghorses. Energy, protein, minerals, andvitamins are first directed tomaintenance requirements, and anyadditional nutrients are used forskeletal growth, specifically longbones (limbs for locomotion) and flatbones (skull, ribs, etc. for protection).Additional nutrients above those Diaphysisneeded for optimal bone developmentare used to fuel more rapid growth,first developing muscle and thenproducing a heavier and more welldevelopedyoung horse. Optimalgrowth rates may vary somewhat Metaphysisbetween breeds, but all young horseshave several critical considerations forbone growth and development.EpiphysisExtremely rapid growth caused byoverfeeding (particularly energy) hasbeen implicated in developmentalorthopaedic disorders (DOD) andunsoundness. Periods of slow ordecreased growth followed by rapid growth areparticularly dangerous. Imbalanced levels of calcium,phosphorus and trace minerals have been linked to DOD.Forced exercise or prolonged confinement in a stable alsoseems to cause bone development problems.Optimal bone development is greatly influenced bynutrition. During the first two months of life, the mare’smilk contains enough energy, protein and other essentialnutrients to meet the needs for growth. Work in AustraliaManaging GrowthThe Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation ofAustralia recently published a list of suggestions for minimisingthe risk of DOD in young growing horses.1. Promote a moderate, steady growth rate.2. Diets should contain adequate, but never excess,energy.3. Calcium and phosphorus ratios should bemaintained between 3:1 and 1:1.4. Maintain adequate intakes of minerals, includingcalcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese,magnesium, selenium, etc.5. Provide an opportunity for sufficient exercise.6. Avoid breeding mares and stallions that haveproduced a number of foals with DOD.Articular Cartilagehas shown that a horse maturing to 500 kgrequires approximately 9 kg of milk for eachkg of gain at seven days of age, 13 kg atone month of age, and 15 kg at twomonths-of-age.Thoroughbred foals mayconsume up to 20 kg of milk per day. Thesix-month-old foal requires around 15 kg ofmilk per kg of gain, so they should begaining just over one kg per day. Beyondtwo months of age, there is a decreasein milk production and additional nutrientsmust be supplied by pasture or feeduntil weaning.Bone development begins before birthand continues beyond 18 months of age.The period between three and nine monthsPhysis of age appears to be the most precarious forthe foal in terms of DOD. During this timeserious conditions can develop that mightrestrict the athletic potential of a horse. Itis important to monitor growth rates andevaluate the foal’s skeletal development.(See sidebar titled DevelopmentalOrthopaedic Disorders in Growing Horses.)Steady, moderate growth along a typical growth curveappears to provide the best method of reducingdevelopmental problems. Kentucky Equine Research hasbeen weighing and measuring foals, weanlings, andyearlings monthly in central Kentucky for over 10 years.Those records, combined with numbers from universitiesand Windfields Farm in Canada, have resulted in atremendous vault of comparative growth data. This datahas been formulated into Gro-Trac‚ software designed totrack growth and make comparisons with databasescontaining thousands of foals. In addition, the programcreates an organised system for recording issues that aparticular foal might be experiencing, and also savesdigital images of the foal as a reference tool.Foals begin to nibble grass soon after birth, but theydo not develop a functional hindgut that will allow themto extract significant nutrients from forages for months.In contrast, their efficiency of grain utilisation is high atthree weeks of age.Researchers in Australia, New Zealand, and the UnitedStates have recently focused on the contribution ofpastures to the nutrition of growing horses. Variability inpastures is considerable across regions and seasons ofthe year. When pastures were analysed across seasons,researchers at Virginia Tech found that the amount ofhydrolysable and rapidly fermentable carbohydratescould be as much as five times higher during the springand autumn as opposed to winter and summer for coolseason forages. While many professional horsemen14 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

New Program Provides Road Map for Tracking GrowthBY MARK LLEWELLYNAconscientious breeder has done everything in his power toproduce healthy young horses. He has enlisted theservices of a top-notch nutritionist to evaluate his feedingprogram and a team of veterinarians to ensure the horsesare maintained on an aggressive vaccination anddeworming schedule. Every management decision is made to encouragesound growth. But can he determine how the growth of his young horsesstacks up against that of other weanlings and yearlings? Sure, he caneyeball other breeders’ horses, but in an industry that is depending moreon technology and less on old-school methodologies, there is now a toolavailable to help secure slow, steady growth—an integral factor inreducing skeletal problems inyoung horses.Gro-Trac is an equine growthtracking program that allowsbreeders to contrast the growthrates of their stock with those ofother young horses. Joe Pagan,president of Kentucky EquineResearch, laid the foundation forGro-Trac more than a decade agowhen he and Steve Caddel ofFarmers Feed Mill beganmeasuring young horsesthroughout central Kentucky.The information Pagan andCaddel amassed over the yearswas compiled into a vastdatabase and represents the coreof the software.The database is arranged inreference groups and includes theweights, heights, and average dailygains of thousands of foals, weanlings, and yearlings. By using Gro-Trac,horsemen can compare the growth of their young horses with thegrowth patterns of thousands of horses in a particular reference group.Suppose, for example, a Thoroughbred breeder would like to know howhis weanling fillies born in January are faring in comparison to otherweanlings of similar age. He would select the reference group labeled“Fillies, Thoroughbreds, Born in January, Located in KY.”Within seconds of inputting height and weight data, these statisticsare displayed graphically for prompt visual assessment of growth. Linegraphs show the growth curve for the young horse as well as thereference group of choice, and bar charts depict average daily gaincomparisons. Once growth curves are studied, an appropriatemanagement decision can be made regarding the way the youngster willbe fed in the future. For instance, if a precocious individual is growingby leaps and bounds when compared to its peers in the reference group,the breeder may choose to slow growth by decreasing the amount ofenergy in the diet.In addition to growth data, photographs can be imported into theprogram to show physical changes that occur between weighings.Management notes can also be added at any time. Such comments maybe necessary to explain a slowdown in growth such as following weaningor during an illness. Symbols signifying the presence of a photograph orcomment will appear on the graphs. These features create an ongoinghistory of each foal. Easy-to-read, customized reports can then beprinted from the program.Farm managers agree that Gro-Trac is an objective managementinstrument. “We can spot red-flagbabies quickly. It is easy to misssubtle changes when you seethese young horses every day, butGro-Trac catches them. In othercases, the program validatesthoughts we have had about ahorse. We can use thisinformation if something shouldhappen down the road,” said NickLotz, owner and manager ofBriarbrooke Farm, a Thoroughbrednursery in Paris, Kentucky.Gro-Trac has proven to be anirreplaceable tool for commercialboarding operations with out-oftownclients. About three-quartersof Lotz’s clients, for instance, donot regularly visit the farm. Gro-Trac allows Lotz to send theseclients detailed accounts of their horses that may include growth curves,photographs, and even pertinent comments from the individuals whohandle the horses daily.The program is equally useful to the caretakers of horses on privatelyowned farms. The crop of yearlings residing at Henryk de Kwiatkowski’sCalumet Farm are the first horses on the farm to be followed by Gro-Tracfrom birth. Tony Cissell, the general manager of Calumet Farm, uses Gro-Trac to assess growth and to head off problems. “Having this program islike having Doppler radar. I haven’t had any storms yet, but I’m ready tocatch them quickly if something should happen.”No other management tool monitors growth as completely as Gro-Trac. The creation of Gro-Trac represents the melding of old-fashionedhorse sense and modern technology, and use of this software fine-tunesthe management of young horses as never before. ■©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 15

DevelopmentalOrthopedicDisorders inGrowing HorsesPhoto by Mark LlewellynBY LARRY LAWRENCE, PH.D.AND EILEEN PHETHEANDevelopmental orthopedic diseaserefers to several growthabnormalities that affect younghorses. The most prevalent formsof developmental orthopedic diseaseare defined here:• Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) resultswhen a cartilage flap or a free-floatingpiece of cartilage invades a joint. Commonsites for OCD lesions are the stifle andhock.• Subchondral cysts are osteochondroticlesions that result from the infolding ofthickened joint cartilage. Subchondralbone cysts appear in areas of highcompression and occur most frequently inthe femur and less usually in the forearm,gaskin, knee, hock, and cannon bones.• Cervical vertebral malformation (wobblersyndrome) is thought to be caused byosteochondrosis and includes malarticulationsand degenerative changes ofintervertebral joints. Developmentalchanges can lead to narrowing of thevertebral column and compression of thespinal cord.• Physitis occurs when osteochondroticlesions in growth plates lead toenlargement of the epiphysis above theknee, hock, and fetlock. The affected boneswould therefore be the forearm, gaskin,and cannon bone, respectively.• Angular limb deformities are deviations inlimb alignment in relation to the midlineof the limb. The deformities are consideredvalgus (rotation away from the midline) orvarus (deviation toward the midline).Valgus deformities of the carpus are themost prevalent angular limb deformityamong young horses.• Cuboidal bone malformation results fromthe collapse or injury of carpal and tarsalbones, and can occur in premature foalsthat have delayed ossification. Cuboidalbone malformation typically leads to severeangular deformities.• Acquired forelimb contracture is the resultof joint pain caused by physitis, OCD,septic wounds, or hoof infections. Any painwithin the limb can initiate flexionwithdrawalreflex, which culminates inflexor muscle contraction and an alteredposition of the joint.recognize the importance of pastures to growth anddevelopment, pasture care is not often given theattention it requires.Pastures basically fall into the categories of coolseason or warm season, and grass or legume. Whatspecies are found in a particular area is dependent onthe annual rainfall and seasonal variations intemperature. For example, a common pasture for atemperate climate might include ryegrass, phalaris,fescue and clover. Pastures subjected to adequatefertilisation and rainfall during early spring and fall mayproduce forage that can support gains in weanlings of upto one kg per day, although vitamin and mineralsupplementation would be necessary. Studies at VirginiaTech have confirmed that even under the bestconditions pasture will fall short of some key mineraland vitamin requirements, and may vary depending onthe location of the farm. However, these same pasturesduring typically hot and dry summer weather will notprovide enough nutrients to support maintenance needs.To avoid the deleterious effects of these drastic swings inavailable nutrients, producers supply nutrition throughcarefully fortified rations.Pasture is one variable of feeding young horses that isconstantly changing, and must be accounted for tocontrol growth. Changes in weather patterns, forexample, may cause a flush of pasture growth andsubsequent weight gain, or a drought may leavepastures barren and unable to fulfill nutritionalrequirements for growth. The effects of undernutritionfollowed by overnutrition were illustrated by researchersWhile many professionalhorsemen recognise theimportance of pastures togrowth and development,pasture care is not given theattention it deserves.at Cornell University. Dr. Hintz fed one groupof Standardbred weanlings free-choice feed for eightmonths, and a second group was given restrictedfeed for four months and then free-choice feed forfour months.Two-thirds of the foals in the restricted-feed groupdeveloped contracted tendons within one to four monthsof being switched to free-access feed.16 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Several studies of young horses on pasturedemonstrate the effects of undernutrition followed byovernutrition. In one project, six-month-old Danishwarmblood colts were fed to gain either 0.8 or 0.44 kgper day until they were 12 months old. Then, all foalswere put in the same pasture to graze. During the firstsix months of grazing, the colts fed for slow growthrebounded by gaining 140 kg and colts fed for fastgrowth gained an average of only 75 kg. This divergencein growth rates describes the compensatory growthexpected to increase the incidence of DOD. The authorsalso noted that the horses fed for higher gains weresignificantly heavier and taller with greater cannon bonecircumference, even after compensatory growth. Theresearchers continued the project for two more years.While all the horses were essentially the same height asthree-year-olds, the horses fed for more consistent andsteady gains were reported to be more vigorous andaggressive.In a study at the University of Queensland VeterinaryScience School, 15 Australian Stock Horse weanlingswere divided into three groups. One group was fed anutritionally complete pellet diet, a second group wasrotationally grazed through three paddocks every threeweeks, and the third group grazed the same paddockthroughout the 60-week study. The mean body weightgains of the completely hand-fed group, the rotationallygrazed group, and the group that remained on the samepasture were 0.5, 0.37 and 0.33 kg per day, respectively.At the end of the experiment, the horses in the handfedgroup were significantly heavier and had higherbody condition scores (system of evaluating the level offatness of horses) than the horses in the other twogroups. The authors indicate height and muscle masswere similar; however, the hand-fed group had morecompact (harder or denser) bone between six and 12months of age. The chemical analysis of the pasturesrevealed that some had mean crude proteinconcentrations below those recommended for growinghorses, and a high proportion of the pastures weredeficient in calcium, copper, and zinc. The pastures withlow calcium concentrations also had inverted calcium-tophosphorusratios (below 1:1). Diets containing aninverted calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and low zinc andcopper concentrations are associated with thedevelopment of DOD.Exercise and Bone Remodeling andDevelopmentWhile these studies illustrate that there are potentialproblems with pastures, with careful management theadvantages of exercise greatly outweigh thedisadvantages. Bone responds to exercise. For example,bone will not grow and remodel when subjected to acertain level of inactivity. C.A. Porr and co-workers inVirginia placed 12 conditioned Arabians in stalls for 12weeks. During the study, they were placed on amechanical walker for two 30-minute exercise sessionsper day and then returned to their stalls. Bone mineralcontent decreased 0.45% per week over the 12-weekstudy. The authors stated that confinement may weakenbones, increasing the risk of skeletal injuries whentraining or free exercise is resumed. At the opposite endof the spectrum, researchers at Texas A&M and MichiganState University have repeatedly shown that standardtraining practices result in a bone remodeling processthat, if not monitored, can result in the weakening ofbone and the development of bucked shins over a periodof 60 days in long yearlings and two-year-olds.Anecdotal evidence suggests young halter horses fed forrapid growth and overexercised may also develop skeletalinjuries.Controlling Growth by PastureSupplementationConcentrate or grain supplementation should bedesigned to provide nutrients that are not found inadequate amounts in the forage. Several of the keynutrients of concern have already been mentioned.Optimal concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, copper,zinc, manganese, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin Dprotein, and energy ensure proper growth.Protein plays a vital role in development. Diets low inprotein, or with low protein-to-energy ratios, haveresulted in failure to reach potential mature heights andreduction in bone mineral content, including smallercortical area of the cannon bone. Commercial feeds arefortified with enough protein to meet the needs ofspecific phases of growth. For example, weanlingsrequire higher concentrations of protein than yearlings.Oversupplementation with protein has not been provento cause bone growth problems. However, there is anoptimal ratio of protein or lysine to energy that appearsto enhance proper growth.The combination of rich pastures andoversupplementation with grain/concentrates may beone of the most common causes of DOD. Numerousstudies have shown that when energy levels of 120 to130% of the NRC recommendations are fed, the incidenceof DOD is increased. These effects may be reduced byallowing plenty of exercise, showing again the vitalcontribution of exercise in young horses.©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 17

“It’s all about trust”NUTRITION SOLUTIONS FOR BREEDING HORSESALL-PHASEFree Diet AnalysisNutrition Advice1800 772 198 www.ker.comequivit@ker.com

Equinews Q & AQI have been boarding my horse at a barn where he is keptin a small paddock. I am preparing to move him to anotherfarm where he will be turned out on a well-establishedpasture with high-quality forage. How can I introduce myhorse to the pasture without causing colic or founder?ALush pasture can contain 30% or more digestible energy.When excessive amounts of highly digestible andfermentable sources of energy reach the hindgut, they candisrupt the normal balance of microbes that break downthe fibrous portion of the diet. This disruption can lead togaseous colic or, in the most serious instances, laminitis.A few simple steps should be taken before a horse isallowed to graze unrestricted on a new pasture. First,assess the condition of the horse. A horse that has fatbuilt up along the crest of the neck, over the withers andback, and around the tailhead is likely overweight. Such ahorse may be predisposed to laminitis when given all-outaccess to abundant pasture. Ideally, a horse should bemaintained in a leaner, more moderate condition. One wayto determine condition is to feel along the barrel of thehorse for its ribs. If the ribs cannot be seen but can befelt, a horse is considered to be in moderate condition. If,however, it is impossible to feel ribs, the horse is probablyoverweight. Obesity can cause numerous health problems,so maintaining moderate body condition is advisable.How much pasture your horse requires is not onlydetermined by his body condition but also by hismetabolic rate. Is he an easy keeper or hard keeper? Thatis, does he seem to gain weight easily, or does he have adifficult time maintaining weight? His metabolic rateaffects his energy requirements. Horses with low energyrequirements (easy keepers) may require less time onpasture than horses with higher energy demands (hardkeepers). Body condition will play an important role inhow the horse is managed on pasture.Second, the pasture should be evaluated. Horses preferto eat young plants, and fresh growth provides moreenergy than older stands of forage. Pastures that areovergrazed or contain tall, seeded-out grasses providelittle energy to the horse. Variations in pasture qualitymay occur from season to season and even within a seasondepending on rainfall and other climatic conditions.Once you have determined the condition of the horseand pasture, you can develop a turnout schedule. Inaddition to the pasture, you should have a stall or drylotavailable to keep the horse in during periods of pasturerestriction. Throughout the acclimation period otherenergy-rich feedstuffs such as grain or alfalfa hay shouldbe offered sparingly, if at all. If your horse is in moderatebody condition, begin turning out your horse for shortperiods of time (one or two hours) following a large haymeal. A horse may, for example, be allowed two or threeperiods of restricted turnout daily. Gradually increase theamount of time you allow the horse on pasture by hour ortwo-hour increments. In addition to a regimented turnoutschedule, a grazing muzzle can be used to limit theamount of grass ingested. An overweight horse may haveto wear a muzzle at all times when he is on pasture. Theadaptation period may last 10 to 14 days, and the horseshould be observed closely during this time for signs ofcolic and laminitis.Photo by Mark LlewellynHorses unaccustomed to fresh grass may experiencemoderately loose stool due to the gastrointestinal tract’sunfamiliarity with the high moisture content of freshforage. This is not cause for concern. Once the digestivetract becomes fully adapted to the new diet, this sideeffect will diminish.After acclimation to the new pasture is complete,continue to observe the horse for weight gain or loss. Ifyou have a question regarding the nutritionalmanagement of your horse, ask a veterinarian or equinenutritionist. The advice of knowledgeable professionals canhelp you avoid potential problems with your horse.©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 19

Kentucky Equine ResearchTeam Member DirectoryKentucky Equine Research,Inc.TEAM MEMBERAllfarm AGRuttimatt 130Pfeffingen, CH-4148Switzerland011-41-61-751-7501011-41-61-753-9620 FaxAllied Feeds, Inc.208 Hutcheson St.Cuero, TX 77954361-275-5711361-275-2475 Fax4542 Rigsby Ave.San Antonio, TX 78222210-648-0141210-648-2135 FaxBagdad Roller Mills, Inc.5740 Elmburg Rd.P.O. Box 7Bagdad, KY 40003502-747-8968502-747-8960 FaxBanks Mill1270 Banks Mill Rd.Aiken, SC 29803803-641-0007803-502-0600 FaxBartlett Milling Co.701 South Center, 28677P.O. Box 831Statesville, NC 28687800-438-6016704-873-8956 FaxBluegrass Horse FeedsStillogo MillsEglish DungannonCo Tyrone BT70 1LFN. Ireland0044 28 37 5482760044 28 37 548308 FaxBrandt’s Mill630 N. 9th StreetLebanon, PA 17046717-272-6781717-272-7009 FaxBrooks Feed StoreRR #41580 Hwy 7APort Perry, ON L9L 1B5Canada905-985-7992905-985-8297 FaxBrumfield Hay & Grain671 Bizzell Dr.Lexington, KY 40510859-255-0788859-254-5722 FaxBurkmann Feeds1111 Perryville RoadDanville, KY 40422859-236-0400859-236-7307 FaxCooperative Plus, Inc.638 S. Kane St.P.O. Box 220Burlington, WI 53105262-767-2019262-767-2026 FaxCulpeper FarmersCooperative15172 Brandy Rd.P.O. Box 2002Culpeper, VA 22701540-825-2200540-825-2210 FaxFarmers Feed Mill251 W. Loudon Ave.Lexington, KY 40508859-255-7602859-255-9815 FaxFeed Mill Express27920 Danville Ave.Castle Rock, MN 55010651-463-8041Feed-Rite17 Speers RoadWinnipeg, MB R2J 1M1Canada204-233-8418204-235-1260 FaxFitmin a.s.Helvikovice 90Zamberk 56401Czech Republic011-42-446-613-265011-42-446-613-267 FaxFlint River Mills1100 Dothan Rd.P.O. Box 280Bainbridge, GA 31718229-246-2232800-288-4376 FaxHi-Pro Farm SuppliesP.O. Box 886White Marl, Spanish TownSt. Catherine, Jamaica, W.I.876-984-7918876-986-5914 FaxLa Hacienda SA de CVHomero 1804 Piso IILos Morales,Polanco Mexico D.F. 1151052-55-5557-720052-55-5395-1537 FaxLakin Milling Co.4456 S. Dysart RoadAvondale, AZ 85323623-932-3970623-932-2798 FaxMilne Feeds Pl103-105 Welshpool Rd.Welshpool,Western Australia 6106011-61-8-9351-0700011-61-8-9351-0705 FaxNRM NZ100 Carlton Gore Rd.Newmarket, AucklandNew Zealand011-64-09-379-1869011-64-03-300-3185 FaxNutribec, Ltee2950 Rue Ontario EstMontreal,QUE H2K-1X3Canada514-527-9661514-527-9452 FaxOcala Breeders’Feed & Supply431 NW 27th Ave.Ocala, FL 34475352-629-8686352-629-7925 FaxOtter Co-OpP.O. Box 42003600-248th StreetAldergrove, BC V4W 2V1Canada604-856-2517604-856-3598 FaxPennfield Feeds711 Rohrerstown Rd.Lancaster, PA 17603800-995-0333717-295-8783 FaxPremier Feeds238 Melvin RoadWilmington, OH 45177800-888-8162937-584-4874 FaxProducer Feeds165 North Clay StreetLouisville, KY 40202800-295-2836502-568-2293 FaxRidley Agriproducts PL1924 Hume HighwayCampellfield, VIC 3061Australia011-61-03-9357-7797011-61-03-9357-7874 FaxSaracen Horse FeedsThe ForstalBeddow WayAylesfordKent ME2Ø 7BTUnited Kingdom44 (0) 1622 71848744 (0) 1622 790321 FaxTottenham Feed Services41 Mill StreetP.O. Box 159Tottenham, ONT L0G 1W0Canada905-936-4163905-936-2812 FaxWoodford Feed498 Lexington Rd.P.O. Box 116Versailles, KY 40383859-873-4811859-873-5430 Fax20 Equinews/Volume 5, Issue 4 ©Kentucky Equine Research (Australasia) Pty Ltd • 1800 772 198 • www.ker.com

Team up with theWINNERS!Kentucky Equine Research Australasiaoffers horsemen superior horse feedproducts and expert technical support.Aim for world-class performance by usinghorse feeds and supplements created bythe world leaders in equine nutrition.12These champion riders supplied theirhorses with the peak speed andendurance necessary to become leadingequine athletes by feeding Equivit feedsupplements and Kentucky EquineResearch Team Member feeds.Photo by Julie WilsonPhoto byJulie Wilson1. Dale Plumb - Champion show rider.2. Chris Chugg - Australian show jumpingchampion.3. Ricky MacMillan - Member of Australiandressage team at the 1998 and 2002 WorldEquestrian Games. Member of 2000 AustralianOlympic dressage team.4. Phillip Dutton - Member of the 2000 Olympicgold medal winning three-day event team.Represented Australia at the 2002 WorldEquestrian Games.5. David Hayes - Champion Thoroughbredtrainer in Australia and Hong Kong.6. Olivia Bunn - Represented Australia at the 2002World Equestrian Games in three-day eventing.4Photo byCharles Bishop35Photo byHugo M. CzernyPhoto Supplied byDavid HayesFor more information contact:6112B Martin StreetBrighton VIC 3186Free call: 1800 772 198Website: www.ker.comEmail: equivit@ker.comPhoto courtesy of Roz Neave11-182

Olympic gold medalist andinternational three-day eventsensation Phillip Dutton doesn’tdemand too much of his mounts, onlyWhat fuels the powerhouse performances of Dutton’s horses?Equi-Jewel. Full of energy, this fat-rich supplement is the perfectaddition to the ration of a horse requiring more calories andless fizz.Vitamin E and selenium, two proven antioxidants, keepmuscular and immune systems in fine fettle. Essential fattyacids in Equi-Jewel provide nourishment for remarkably healthyskin and a lustrous coat.Whatabout corn oil? No comparison.Equi-Jewel is more palatablethan corn oil. There’s lessmess with Equi-Jewel too,as itis an easy-to-measure pellet.Equi-Jewel is an energy-densesupplement suitable for anyequine athlete.Photo by Charles BishopFree Feeding&Nutrition AdviceResearch separates the innovator from the imitator. ®112B Martin StreetBrighton VIC 3186Free call: 1800 772 198Website: www.ker.comEmail: equivit@ker.comMarketed by:A U S T R A L A S I A11-197