Kentucky Equine Research

Against the backdrop of the Kentucky Equine Research farm, Stephanie Church, editorial director of The Horse, sat down with Kentucky Equine Research founder and president Joe Pagan, Ph.D., to discuss the company's latest research on oxidative stress and heat stress.

Perfect Partners – We’re proud to celebrate our long-term nutrition partnership with Kentucky Equine Research.

As the WA KER Balance Partner, we work together with KER to bring top-quality feed and nutrition advice to WA horse owners.

As science advances, so does our understanding of equine health and performance, and we believe this continued research and development is key in creating and maintaining nutritionally superior feed solutions for all horses.

Which is why Pegasus and Milne Equine feeds have partnered with KER for over 20 years!

This partnership means every formula we make is backed by decades of research into how horses actually digest, absorb, and use nutrients. Not guesswork. Not marketing fluff. Real science, built for real performance and real health.

Here’s what that means for horse owners:
✅ Research-driven formulas
Every Pegasus feed is developed alongside the equine nutrition experts at KER

✅ Better digestive health
Formulations designed around how a horse's gut actually works, reducing colic and ulcer risk

✅ Performance you can measure
Balanced energy sources that support stamina without excess sugar and starch

✅ Tailored nutrition for every stage
From growing foals to senior horses to elite competitors

✅ Feed and nutrition expertise you can trust
Ingredient sourcing and nutrient levels grounded in published equine research

Learn more about our partnership by visiting our website here: https://www.pegasusfeed.com.au

How can antioxidants help support horses returning to work or beginning more intense training?

Reactive oxygen species produced during normal cellular metabolism can accumulate under certain conditions, resulting in oxidative stress. During exercise, these reactive compounds can damage muscle cell membranes through lipid peroxidation.

Research found that supplementing horses with vitamin E alone or in combination with coenzyme Q10 prevented lipid peroxidation in untrained horses introduced quickly to moderate exercise. Because recovery is an important part of conditioning, antioxidant support can play an important role in a performance horse's nutrition program.

Explore the research behind vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and exercise recovery: https://ker.com/equinews/vitamin-e-with-coenzyme-q10-combine-for-peak-antioxidant-effect/

Vitamin E with Coenzyme Q10: Combine for Peak Antioxidant Effect Vitamin E with Coenzyme Q10: Combine for Peak Antioxidant Effect
May 11, 2022 By Kentucky Equine Research Staff
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Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during normal cellular metabolism are typically controlled by antioxidants generated naturally within the b...

When horses sweat, they lose more than just water; essential electrolytes vanish too. Standard electrolyte supplements can flush right through their system, but Restore® SR changes the game with a scientifically engineered, slow-release formula.

By releasing sodium gradually into the gastrointestinal tract, Restore® SR allows for sustained, maximum absorption over time, keeping your horse hydrated and performing at their absolute peak.

Where to find it:
USA: Look for Restore® SR for slow-release electrolyte supplement.
Australia: Look for Restore® for targeted premium electrolyte support.

Discover the difference at ker.com

🚨Wildfire smoke doesn’t stop at fire zones!🚨

Drifting smoke and fine airborne particles can impact your horse’s respiratory health and performance.

From coughing and labored breathing to reduced athletic capacity, the effects of smoky conditions require proactive management, appropriate rest, and nutritional support, including vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids.

To our customers in the U.S. who are currently affected by wildfires, we’re thinking of you and your horses. We hope this information helps support your horse’s health and comfort during these challenging conditions.🩵

Here are some key signs and management strategies.

Check out the latest article from our research forage partners!

Not All Hay Is Created Equal: How to Compare Hay Beyond Price | Anderson Hay What Is That "Cheaper" Bale Really Costing You?We've all driven past a freshly baled field with a handwritten sign advertising hay for sale. Maybe it says grass hay, pasture hay, or meadow hay for $8 a bale. At first glance, that can look like a much better deal than the 90-pound bale sitting at you...

Could timing your horse's electrolytes make a difference?

Electrolytes are commonly offered after exercise to replace sweat losses, but research suggests that providing electrolytes before prolonged moderate-intensity exercise may help replenish electrolytes lost in sweat while minimizing changes in the body's acid-base balance.

Maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance is an important part of supporting exercising horses, especially during prolonged work.

Take a closer look at the research behind electrolyte preloading for exercising horses: https://ker.com/equinews/consider-preloading-electrolytes-to-exercising-horses/

Consider Preloading Electrolytes to Exercising Horses - Kentucky Equine Research Providing electrolytes prior to prolonged moderate-intensity work appears to fully replenish those lost in sweat.

Don’t miss the chance to save on seasonal essentials!

For our Southern Hemisphere customers:

Prepping for breeding season or supporting muscle recovery in your performance horse?
Nano-Q10™: Boosts cellular energy for mare/stallion fertility and provides powerful antioxidant protection.

For our Northern Hemisphere customers:

Is your horse working hard this summer?
Restore® SR and Race Recovery™: Support recovery and hydration

Click the link in our bio to shop now

Is your broodmare an easy keeper that needs to lose weight before breeding?

Managing body condition before pregnancy is important because both nutrition and body condition can influence reproductive efficiency.

For easy-keeping broodmares, the goal is to reduce excess calories while continuing to meet protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements. Research also supports the role of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and natural-source vitamin E in supporting fertility and foal immunity.

Explore this nutrition advisor Q&A for nutritional considerations when preparing an easy-keeping mare for breeding: https://ker.com/equinews/answer/qa-feeding-easy-keeper-broodmare/

Q&A: Feeding the Easy-Keeper Broodmare - Kentucky Equine Research

Can nutrition influence stallion semen quality?

Research suggests coenzyme Q10 plays an important role in s***m energy production, motility, and antioxidant protection. In one study, stallions supplemented with coenzyme Q10 showed improvements in semen quality, particularly those with suboptimal s***m motility.

Supporting reproductive performance begins with a balanced diet, and targeted nutritional supplementation may provide additional benefits for breeding stallions.

Explore the research behind coenzyme Q10 and stallion fertility: https://ker.com/equinews/stallion-nutrition-coenzyme-q10-improves-semen-quality/

Stallion Nutrition: Coenzyme Q10 Improves Semen Quality Stallions must be fed well to fuel s***matogenesis and to ensure breeding success. In addition to good-quality forage and well-fortified concentrates, researchers have identified certain nutritional supplements that improve semen. Researchers recently investigated the possible role of coenzyme Q10 o...