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

Cracks, chips, weak hoof walls, and soft soles are common concerns for horse owners. But do hoof supplements actually work, and does nutrition really improve hoof quality?
In this episode, we break down the biology of hoof growth and explain why strong feet start with a balanced diet, not just another supplement. We cover how hooves grow, the key nutrients involved in building durable hoof horn, and how to determine whether your horse actually needs additional support.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What the hoof wall and sole are made of and why keratin matters
How nutrition impacts hoof growth and long-term hoof strength
The role of biotin, amino acids, zinc, and copper in hoof quality
Why balancing the whole diet is more effective than stacking supplements
Realistic timelines for improving hoof health
Strong hooves are not built with quick fixes or magic ingredients. They are the result of consistent management, balanced nutrition, and patience. Understanding the science behind hoof growth will help you make smarter decisions and support long-term soundness. 
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding along with us!

In this episode we discuss a challenge many horse owners face: fat or overweight horses. From disciplines where a “round” horse is seen as ideal to the health risks of carrying extra weight, we cover why managing body condition matters.
Our guest, Madeline Boast, MSc, PAS, equine nutritionist and founder of Balanced Bay Nutrition, shares her research on safe weight loss programs for horses and explains how diet, exercise, and metabolic health work together to support long-term wellbeing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why overweight horses are so common, especially easy keepers
How to check body condition and spot risky fat deposits
Safe ways to help horses lose weight with diet and exercise
How fat affects inflammation, laminitis, and metabolic health
Tips for forage management, slow feeders, and practical weight control
To learn more about Madeline and Balanced Bay Nutrition you can visit her website here https://balancedbaynutrition.com/ 
Here is an episode to Ep. 38: Body Weight, Condition Scoring and Equine Nutrition https://scoopandscale.com/ep-38-body-weight-condition-scoring-and-equine-nutrition/  
 
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding along with us!

Alfalfa is one of the most debated feeds in equine nutrition, and few forages generate as many myths. In this episode, we take a science-based look at alfalfa for horses and break down where common beliefs come from and whether they are actually supported by research. We discuss protein, calcium, behavior, ulcers, and health concerns so horse owners can make informed feeding decisions based on the individual horse, not barn lore.
In this episode, we cover:
Does alfalfa make horses hot or more reactive
Protein, kidney health, and joint development myths
Calcium levels
Why alfalfa is often recommended for ulcer-prone and performance horses
Differences between long-stem alfalfa, pellets, cubes, and chopped forage
This episode is designed to help horse owners evaluate alfalfa for horses using evidence-based nutrition rather than opinion.

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding along with us!

Herbal supplements are everywhere in the equine world, from gastric support and joint formulas to respiratory and calming products. But how much do we really know about herbal supplements for horses, and how well do these products actually work? In this episode, we take a look at commonly used herbs and plant compounds, separating tradition and marketing from research and real-world application.

In this episode, we cover:
-Popular herbal ingredients in equine GI, joint, respiratory, and calming supplements
-What the research says (and doesn’t say) about herbs like slippery elm, turmeric, spirulina, and valerian
-Why many horse supplements may be under-dosed and ineffective
-Competition safety and commonly prohibited plant-based ingredients
-How to think critically about “natural” products for horse health

If you’ve ever questioned whether herbal supplements actually do what they claim, this episode will help you separate marketing from meaningful information. 
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding along with us!

Do horse joint supplements actually work or are they just expensive hope in a bucket? In this episode, we take a science-based look at equine joint supplements and the ingredients most commonly used to support joint health.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-Why joint supplements are so widely used across disciplines
-How cartilage, synovial fluid and healthy joints function in the horse and what happens when things go wrong
-The difference between preventative joint support and inflammation management
-What the research says about glucosamine, chondroitin, HA, MSM, ASU, resveratrol, green-lipped mussel, collagen, and silica
-Why a balanced base diet matters before adding a joint supplement
-What supplement labels can and legally cannot claim
-How to spot red flags in joint supplement marketing
Whether you’re caring for an arthritic senior horse or a high-performing athlete and trying to decide if a supplement is worth the investment, this episode will help you make informed, evidence-based choices for your horse’s joint health. 
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at [email protected]
Thanks for riding along with us!