
With an MSc in Equine Science from the University of Edinburgh, Rebecca Watson is also a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London who joined the Foran Equine and Connolly’s RED MILLS exports nutrition team in 2016.
Rebecca has worked in the US, UK, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia, with experience spanning stud, sport horse and racing medicine, nutrition and surgery. She enjoys riding for a local trainer on most mornings outside of work and can be found racing at Leopardstown, Punchestown, The Curragh or Naas.
I love horses and I love to travel. My job at RED MILLS and Foran Equine allows me to embrace both passions. I’ve been all over the world meeting top-class owners, trainers and horses, mixing with people who are as passionate about the equine industry as I am. What’s not to like?!
Colostrum or “first milk” is the thick, yellow secretion from the mammary gland.
It is that time of year again, the summer is coming to an end and the yearling sales are fast approaching.
On the day of an event, you want to see the culmination of all the training and preparation come to fruition at the perfect moment.
Perhaps one of the most important periods for sustained performance is during recovery from exertion.
Achieving top performance is all about balance. Every decision has its pros and cons, and it’s only when you find the sweet spot between them that you fly.
Muscle is the foundation of performance, powering all the competitive activity that we ask of equine athletes.
For years scientists have attempted to discover the causes of tying up in horses. One of the leading researchers in this field is Dr S Valberg.
The breeding stallion works hard throughout his reproductive life, starting early – some before they are even 3 years old – and, if successful, continuing well into his later years.
It is important to keep on top of shifting nutritional requirements as foals grow, develop, and become less reliant on their mother’s milk. The young equine gut also has to quickly adapt to utilising a solid diet and, being hind-gut fermenters, an increasing reliance on bacterial gut populations.
The key to successful breeding starts long before mating and it has been shown that nutrition plays a big role in the reproductive health of a broodmare. From broader aspects such as body condition, all the way down to specific macro and micronutrients, fertility is influenced by what is fed
Copper plays an essential role in the equine diet, particularly in youngstock.
Supplements can be a controversial topic on a racing yard, some trainers use copious amounts of products, while others use none.
We’ve had lots of great feedback on our Pre-Fuel and ReFuel syringes, as well as some questions on how and when to use them.
When we think of copper we often think of industrial things like wires and pipes; we don’t really think about our horse’s diet.
The summer season is now getting into full swing whatever equestrian sport it is that you indulge in!
Hydrolysed protein contains pre-digested proteins, so they’re easier for the horse to absorb and use.
So, what makes for a healthy joint in a horse? You’d be hard pushed to find a horse owner that at one time or another hasn’t wondered how best to look after their horse’s joints.
The broodmare can provide all the foal’s nutritional requirements for growth, development and immune protection up to three months of life. Getting everything right for the mare and foal can be challenging
As a horse owner we are almost pre-conditioned to know that feeding an oil to our horses is a good idea, but when we delve into the reasons why, most come up short beyond the fact it is good for their coat.
When chosing a joint supplement, knowing your horse, researching and comparing supplement content and claims will serve horse owners well in making the best choice.
A recent article in a popular equestrian publication listed in excess of 20 different equine calmers available for horse owners to choose from.
We hear lots about vitamins and minerals when it comes to feeding our horses these days, they are an essential inclusion in any equine diet, but all the information out there can be a bit puzzling.
Sore shins, also referred to as bucked shins in some countries, is a condition which commonly occurs in horses in their two year old year of training.
Nutrition plays a very important role in hoof quality. Promoting hoof wall growth, integrity of the hoof tissues and maintaining structural integrity of the foot come from a well-balanced diet that meets the horse’s requirements for all nutrients. The horse’s feet are a sensitive indicator of overall nutrition.
Horses lose ‘salts’ in their sweat. These salts, or as we should refer to them ‘electrolytes’, are essential minerals that function throughout the body in many physiological processes and, in particular, they enable muscle function.
Preparation is key to success when it comes to the foaling season, whether you have 1 mare to foal or 50, there are some basic elements that should be included in your foaling kit.
Crib biting and chewing are undesirable behaviours which affect the horses health as it causes damage to teeth and increases risk of colic.
Vices in horses are a regular occurrence as part of stable life. Understanding and managing them is vital for both a horse’s well-being as well as sale value.
All the information on horse supplements can be a little overwhelming, if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. With a better understanding of the obligatory and voluntary text on supplements you can ensure all your horses nutritional needs are looked after.
There are many different products on the market, some seem quite similar. I was recently asked about the difference between ground stabilized flax seed versus flaxseed oil.