Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

Ration balancers are one of the most commonly recommended feeds in the horse world but what are they really doing, and does your horse actually need one?
If your horse is living on pasture or hay looking good and maintaining weight, it’s easy to assume their diet is “complete". In reality, many diets fall short in key nutrients that support long-term health, topline, and performance. The effects of these deficiencies may not show up for a long time. 
In this episode, we break down what ration balancers are, how they work, where they fit into your horse’s feeding program, and some of the most common misconceptions we see.
We discuss:
What a ration balancer is and how it differs from other feeds and supplements
Why forage-only diets are often missing key nutrients
The role of protein, minerals, and vitamins in balancing the diet
Ration balancer vs. ration-balancing supplements: what’s the difference
When you may need to add a ration balancer to other feeds that you are feeding
And so much more
Whether you’re feeding a performance horse, an easy keeper, or anything in between, this episode will help you better understand how to support your horse’s nutrition without adding unnecessary calories.
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]   
Thanks for riding along with us!

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 [email protected]   
Thanks for riding along with us!

Mare nutrition plays a far bigger role in foal development than most horse owners realize and the science is now showing that what happens during pregnancy can influence a foal for life. In this episode, we break down and explore how broodmare diet shapes foal growth, metabolism, and long-term soundness.
From epigenetics and fetal programming to practical feeding strategies for pregnant mares, this conversation connects cutting-edge research with real-world feeding decisions for horse owners, breeders, and equine professionals.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why broodmare nutrition is critical before conception and during pregnancy
How epigenetics and fetal programming influence foal development
The role of energy intake, body condition score, and metabolic health in mares
What research shows about overfeeding, restriction, and long-term foal outcomes
And so much more
Whether you’re breeding performance horses, managing a small broodmare herd, or simply want to better understand equine nutrition science, this episode will change how you think about feeding mares and raising foals. 
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]   
Thanks for riding along with us!

Spring means more riding and possibly more oxidative stress for your horse. After a winter on hay, many horses may be low in vitamin E, a key antioxidant for overall health.

In this episode, we cover:
-What vitamin E is and why it matters
-Why hay and limited pasture diets can lead to deficiency
-Signs of low vitamin E and related issues
-How to test and supplement correctly
-Choosing the right form, dosing, and so much more

Whether you have a performance horse, a pasture companion, or a horse recovering from illness, this episode will help you make informed decisions about equine nutrition, supplementation, and long-term health.
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]   
Thanks for riding along with us!

Equine asthma is one of the most common respiratory conditions affecting horses, yet many owners miss the early warning signs. In this episode  we speak with Dr. Laurent Couëtil, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, about equine asthma in horses, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Dr. Couëtil, director of the Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center at Purdue University, shares his expertise on equine respiratory health and why lung function is critical for performance horses.

In this episode we discuss:
-Early signs of equine asthma and what horse owners should watch for
-Why coughing during exercise isn’t normal
-How veterinarians diagnose respiratory disease, including BAL testing
-Treatment and management options, from environmental changes to medications
-New research, emerging therapies, and more

Whether your horse occasionally coughs or you simply want to better protect your horse’s respiratory health, this episode offers practical insights backed by veterinary research.
You can learn more about Dr. Couëtil and his research on the following website https://vet.purdue.edu/directory/person.php?id=12.  You can find his published researched HERE
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]   
Thanks for riding along with us!