Kentucky Equine Research

08/24/2026

Don't miss out on this month's regional specials designed to optimize your horse's health and performance!

For our Northern Hemisphere customers:

Support muscle health
-Nano® E features advanced nanotechnology to create a rapidly available and absorbed source of vitamin E that enables administration to be timed to provide peak antioxidant protection to performance horses.
-Nano-Q10™ contains a highly bioavailable form of coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant to protect against exercise-induced muscle damage.
-MFM Pellet™ improves muscle health and clinical signs of myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) by providing key amino acids and antioxidants.

For our Southern Hemisphere customers:

Support total digestive tract health
-EquiShure® promotes hindgut balance during times of stress, high grain intake, or seasonal diet changes and features a patented delivery system to influence the hindgut, an area of the digestive tract most supplements never effectively reach.
-Neigh-Lox® contains coating agents designed to protect the sensitive lining of the stomach and maintain normal digestive function in horses at risk of stomach damage.

Save 15% on these products all month long!

08/22/2026

Keep your horse's hindgut healthy and stable with EquiShure. This research-proven, time-released buffer helps maintain an optimal pH balance, even when faced with grain-rich diets or lush pastures.

Why Choose EquiShure
-Stable Hindgut pH: Uses unique time-released buffering to prevent acidic shifts in the hindgut.
-Reduce Risks: Helps protect against subclinical acidosis, which can increase the risk of colic and laminitis.
-Targeted Release: The encapsulated formula ensures the buffer reaches the hindgut, where it's needed most.
-Broad Support: Recommended for horses on high-grain diets, lush pastures, or those experiencing the stress of training and travel.

Visit ker.com to learn more about the science behind our targeted nutrition products.

08/19/2026

What role does bicarbonate play in the development of right dorsal colitis in horses?

Recent research suggests that secretion of bicarbonate in the right dorsal colon could protect mucosa from injury caused by intense microbial production of short-chain fatty acids. Researchers also found that the right dorsal colon typically has more bicarbonate secretion than the right ventral colon.

The study showed that phenylbutazone significantly reduced bicarbonate secretion in the right dorsal colon, leaving the tissues vulnerable to damage.

Because normal bicarbonate is inactivated in the stomach and small intestine, a protected form of sodium bicarbonate is needed to deliver bicarbonate to the hindgut

Learn more about right dorsal colitis and how EquiShure may support horses receiving NSAIDs.: https://ker.com/equinews/right-dorsal-colitis-in-horses-role-of-bicarbonate-in-etiology/

Right dorsal colitis is an ulcerative disease of the large intestine often brought about by excessive use or prolonged administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While phenylbutazone, commonly called bute, is most often associated with right dorsal colitis, other drugs can caus...

08/17/2026

With the dog days of summer fast approaching, many horse owners wonder about the best way to keep their horses comfortable. Joe Pagan, Ph.D., founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research, has thought long and hard about heat stress in horses, especially in high-performance athletes.

At the 28th Equine Health and Nutrition Conference, hosted by Kentucky Equine Research in Ocala, Florida, Pagan gave a talk titled “Beat the Heat: Nutrition and Stress.” In the proceedings from the conference, he answered several questions about this topic, including:

-Can you lay the groundwork for understanding heat stress in horses?
-How does a horse cool itself?
-Why are horses such good sweaters?
-How do you determine how much sweat and electrolytes are lost?
-How do you replace lost electrolytes?
-What are the most effective ways to cool a horse?

But he described much more! He also talked extensively about measuring muscle temperature in horses and why this new area of research could underpin novel nutritional recommendations.

The proceedings is free to read here. Flip to page 25 to get started!

08/15/2026

Can coenzyme Q10 benefit an senior horse?

As horses age, systemic low-grade inflammation, known as inflammaging, can increase oxidative stress and cellular damage while decreasing the immune response.

This nutrition advisor Q&A explains how Nano-Q10 supports the body's ability to generate and recycle antioxidants while also supporting cellular energy production. When combined with EO-3, these supplements provide complementary nutritional support for healthy aging.

Explore this nutrition advisor Q&A to learn more about supporting aging horses at the cellular level: https://ker.com/equinews/answer/coenzyme-q10-for-senior-horses-thwart-inflammaging/

08/12/2026

What makes myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) different from PSSM?

Research has shown that many horses once diagnosed with PSSM2 did not have abnormal glycogen concentrations. Instead, researchers identified abnormal clumps of desmin, a protein responsible for maintaining the orderly alignment of muscle fibers. Because desmin can be readily damaged by oxidative stress, nutritional management focuses on supporting muscle repair while providing antioxidant support.

Explore the research behind MFM and the nutritional strategies used to support affected horses: https://ker.com/equinews/myofibrillar-myopathy-in-horses-history-feeding-and-management/

Researchers identified myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) in horses several years ago. Prior to the discovery and description of MFM, veterinarians diagnosed horses exhibiting signs of MFM with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) or other medical conditions. To understand MFM and the management of the c...

08/10/2026

Seasonal challenges look different around the world. Whether your horse is working hard or transitioning into spring, targeted nutrition can help support health and performance.

Take a look at this month's regional specials designed to optimize your horse's health and performance.

For our Northern Hemisphere customers:

Support muscle health
-Nano® E features advanced nanotechnology to create a rapidly available and absorbed source of vitamin E that enables administration to be timed to provide peak antioxidant protection to performance horses.
-Nano-Q10™ contains a highly bioavailable form of coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant to protect against exercise-induced muscle damage.
-MFM Pellet™ improves muscle health and clinical signs of myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) by providing key amino acids and antioxidants.

For our Southern Hemisphere customers:

Support total digestive tract health
-EquiShure® promotes hindgut balance during times of stress, high grain intake, or seasonal diet changes and features a patented delivery system to influence the hindgut, an area of the digestive tract most supplements never effectively reach.
-Neigh-Lox® contains coating agents designed to protect the sensitive lining of the stomach and maintain normal digestive function in horses at risk of stomach damage.

Save 15% on these products all month long!

08/08/2026

Looking to provide specialized support for your horse's muscle recovery and repair?

MFM Pellet was developed in conjunction with Dr. Stephanie Valberg to provide specialized support for muscle recovery and repair in horses with confirmed or suspected myofibrillar myopathy.

MFM Pellet contains several important amino acids, including cysteine, a key component in many antioxidants. Also included in MFM Pellet are the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine, all three of which are essential amino acids that must be obtained from the diet.

Researchers continue to delve into the intricacies of this myopathy, including how best to nourish affected horses. Rations for horses diagnosed with MFM should focus on providing high-quality protein and specific amino acids.

For additional resources visit: https://ker.com/nmdl/resources/