Equine Research

CRF’s equine research is built around our strong relationships with multiple universities.  This allows us to utilize specific experts within their within their field, unique herds, and the ideal research facilities.  The result is an innovative and effective equine research program that has led to a long list of accomplishments; of which our recent additions include:

• Novel dietary feed ingredients for reduction of equine gastric ulcer syndrome in performance horses (GastroTech®)
  • Horses on GastroTech® had…
    • Less severe gastric ulcers
    • Reduced ulcer scores in 2- & 3-year-old horses
    • Reduced severity of gastric ulcers in horses with the most severe lesions
    • Reduced number of gastric ulcers in horses with less severe lesions
• Effects of concentrate starch levels on the glucose & insulin responses in horses
  • Multiple CRF studies investigating the effects of concentrate NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrate) consumption
    • Individuals respond differently to NSC levels
    • Circulating insulin levels increased as NSC intake increased
    • Horses with metabolic conditions differed in their glucose & insulin responses compared to “normal” horses
• Efficacy of post-exercise supplementation on early muscle glycogen resynthesis and protein synthesis in horses
  • Supplementation can improve post-exercise muscle recovery by improving protein synthesis and insulin signaling, as well as quickly returning lactate levels to baseline levels
• Evaluated the effect of direct-fed microbials and prebiotics on nutrient digestibility.
  • Direct-fed microbial and prebiotic products differ in dry matter and NDF digestibility after a 48-hour digestion
  • Substrates differ (soybean hulls > grass hay) in their response to direct-fed microbial and prebiotic products.
• Determined the effect of DHA on inflammatory markers in exercised horse
  • The lactate threshold test is a good inflammatory model
  • DHA supplementation increased plasma levels in a dose-dependent manner
  • Lower levels of DHA appeared to down-regulate some inflammatory cytokines.
  • Higher doses of DHA did not result in lower inflammatory effects
• Evaluation of high starch and low starch concentrates on performance and behavior in exercising horses
  • Glucose & insulin response tended to be lower for low starch pellet
  • Textured high starch and pelleted high starch concentrates resulted in higher post-exercise heart rates
  • Lower starch feeds can reduce glycemic and insulin responses
  • Horses recovered from exercise more quickly when fed the pelleted low starch concentrate

CRF’s research emphasis is presently focusing on those challenges that face the horse industry – from the pleasure horse owner to the horse racing community. Some of our current equine areas of interest include:

• Post Exercise Recovery…
  • This research area is targeted at the high Performance and Pleasure horses.
• Post-Feeding Glycemic and Insulinemic Modulation…
  • Research on this topic is targeting Pleasure, Seniors, Breeding Mares & Stallions, and Growing horses.
• Inflammation…
  • Focus on Performance, Pleasure, and Seniors.