Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition
Dr. Clair Thunes and Jill Jackson dish up the science and weigh the facts about equine nutrition, horse care, and industry topics.
Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition
Ep. 74: Foal Nutrition: Feeding for Healthy Growth from Birth to Adolescence
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Foal nutrition and young horse development set the foundation for a lifetime of health, soundness, and performance.
From birth through weaning and into early training, feeding young horses correctly is critical, but often misunderstood. Nutrition during this stage directly impacts growth, joint health, metabolism, and long-term success.
In this episode, we break down foal nutrition, weanling feeding strategies, and young horse development, including how the broodmare supports early growth through lactation, when to introduce feed, and how to avoid common mistakes that can impact soundness.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Foal nutrition from birth,
- The important roles of protein and calcium in early growth
- When to introduce feed to foals and how to choose the right growth feed for weanlings
- How nutrition and growth rate influence developmental orthopedic disease (OCD) and joint health
- Best practices for weaning, diet transitions, and maintaining steady, consistent growth
- And so much more
Whether you’re raising a foal, buying a weanling, or managing young performance horses, this episode will help you make more informed feeding decisions to support healthy growth, soundness, and long-term success.
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com
Thanks for riding along with us!