Owners of horses with allergies are often encouraged to steam their hay. Steaming hay binds dust and fungal spores, making them less likely to be inhaled; it also kills potentially harmful microorganisms.
Recent research from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) has shown that steaming hay may affect the digestibility of protein in the hay. The steam causes a chemical reaction that damages the proteins and makes them harder to digest in the small intestine – and they cannot be digested in the large intestine.
This can lead to a nutrient deficiency that can cause a plethora of issues, including the impairment of growth or muscle development. Proteins are made up of amino acids; not enough of them can be an issue for young horses, which need amino acids to grow, and lactating mares, which need amino acids to produce milk.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Annette Zeyer examined samples of multiple types of hay gathered in central Germany. The steamed hay samples had increased rates of proteins that had been damaged. According to the study, steaming hay reduced the amount of protein that can be absorbed by the small intestine by nearly 50 percent; lysine in particular was affected, with less than 50 percent available for absorption after steaming.
It can be difficult to identify horses lacking proper amino acid amounts; the symptoms are vague. They may have impaired muscle development, or a dull and shaggy coat. “Hunger hair” is also often seen, where individual hairs in the horse's coat are long.
The scientists suggest that owners of horses being fed steamed hay ensure that their diets are balanced. Supplementation with a protein-rich compounded feed or yeast and soybean meal may be necessary.
Read more at Equine Science Update.
The post Steamed Hay May Lead To Diet Deficiencies appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Simon Bray has pledged to match all donations up to $500 made to the TAA on Dec. 28, 2022.
Bray's devotion to Thoroughbred racing led him to successfully pursue the winner's circle as a racehorse trainer for nearly two decades before pivoting to become an on-air analyst for TVG, now FanDuel Racing, in 2004. As one of racing's public figures, Bray uses his platform to help support and educate racing fans on the importance of aftercare and has served on the TAA Board of Directors since 2019. Now, Bray invites racing fans and stakeholders to join him in donating to the TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign on Dec. 28.
“The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the only organization to accredit and distribute funds to over 81 aftercare programs across the U.S.,” said Bray. “The TAA accreditation is the gold standard for making sure retired racehorses have the care and life after the racetrack they so deserve. I am happy to help in a very small way to make sure that this important work continues. Please join me in donating.”
“Simon is a longtime supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and he continues to support our mission both on and off the air,” said TAA Funding and Events Manager, Emily Dresen. “Together we can spread awareness and double donations with Simon's generous match.”
TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign commenced November 29th and is scheduled to conclude New Year's Eve. Those wishing to support the TAA, its 81 accredited organizations, and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA's website or text DONATE to 56651. During the Holiday Giving Campaign, TAA is also offering donors the benefit of sending digital holiday cards to colleagues, friends, and loved ones.
Throughout the end of the year, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will continue to host special one-day only donation matches with some of horse racing's biggest names. For more chances to double your donation, watch the TAA's social media, website, and industry advertisements for the next Holiday Giving match day announcement.
To learn more and donate to the TAA's Holiday Giving campaign, visit: ThoroughbredAftercare.org/HolidayCampaign.
About the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Based in Lexington, KY, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $28.1 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations comprised of approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.
The post Simon Bray Pledges $500 One-Day Match Donation To TAA Holiday Giving Campaign appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Speed Boat Beach will look to add a third stakes win on grass for trainer Bob Baffert when he takes on seven rivals in Friday's $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Speed Boat Beach, winner of the five-furlong Speakeasy on the Santa Anita turf course in October, added another stakes triumph on Dec. 4 when edging Game Time by a half-length in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille going a mile on grass at Del Mar. Sandwiched between those two wins was a ninth-place effort in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 4.
Speed Boat Beach will have a new rider on Friday as Ramon Vazquez takes over for Flavien Prat, who opts to ride eastern shipper Nagirroc for trainer Graham Motion. By Bayern, Speed Boat Beach was a $200,000 auction purchase earlier this year for owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Nagirroc comes west following a solid third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 4. He earned entry into the Breeders' Cup one start prior when winning the G3 Futurity on grass going six furlongs at Aqueduct. The son of Lea, who is owned by Little Red Feather and Madaket Racing, had one work at Santa Anita following his arrival.
In the DeMille, Game Time dueled with Speed Boat Beach throughout and came up just short in a game effort under Umberto Rispoli. Trained by John Sadler and owned by Hronis Racing, the Not This Time colt broke his maiden one start earlier at Santa Anita when going a mile on grass on Oct. 10.
Game Time will also have a new jockey this time. John Velazquez will replace Rispoli, who is named to ride Classical Cat for trainer Phil D'Amato.
As for Michael House's Classical Cat, he is exiting a sharp allowance win when going a mile on grass for the first time on Oct. 23 at Santa Anita. Prior to that effort, the Mendelssohn colt won his debut sprinting on dirt at Del Mar in August and came back to finish seventh in the G1 Del Mar Futurity.
The Eddie Logan is named in honor of Santa Anita's original shoeshine attendant, who operated his shoeshine stand at The Great Race Place from its opening in 1934 until shortly before his death at the age of 98 on Jan. 31, 2009. Logan, who often referred to himself as a “Footman,” was one of the most popular employees to ever work at Santa Anita.
THE EDDIE LOGAN WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 3 of 9 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT
First post time for a nine-race card on Friday is at 12 noon, with admission gates opening at 10 a.m.
The post Speed Boat Beach Leads Seven Rivals In Friday’s Eddie Logan Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
