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Karen Briggs

As an equine nutritionist, Karen Briggs researched, designed and marketed a line of premium quality feeds for performance, pleasure and breeding horses. She’s also offered nutritional and ration balancing information to horse owners throughout Ontario. Located in Puslinch, Ontario, the award-winning equine writer is also a Canadian Equestrian Federal certified-riding instructor and has managed several Canadian farms and riding schools.
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ARTICLES

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What to Plant for Perfect Horse Pastures

By Karen Briggs posted on May 17, 2010 | Posted in Nutrition
A good pasture includes a mix of forage plants, each with its own growing pattern and benefits. Which ones a client chooses may vary on local climate, soil type, soil condition, drainage, local incidence of plant diseases and pests, and how the pasture may be used.
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Nutrient Strategies

Feeding the Easy Keeper

Here’s how your hoof-care clients can feed these horses conservatively, without robbing them of essential nutrients
By Karen Briggs posted on December 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
Every farrier knows a few: those cresty-necked, peach-rumped pasture potatoes whose spines disappear into dimpled grooves along their backs, even though their owners swear they feed them nothing.
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Nutrient Strategies

Feeding the Geriatric Horse

Although horses 20 years and older have special nutritional needs, your clients can keep them healthy through their golden years by paying attention to their special needs
By Karen Briggs posted on November 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
The major concern among farriers working with geriatric horses is normally whether their arthritic joints have made it difficult for them to hold their feet up long and high enough to be trimmed. But while you're working under an equine senior citizen, it's difficult not to notice when they begin to get ribby.
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Horse
Nutrient Strategies

Dealing with Digestible Disorders

Your clients should recognize that several nutritional disorders are linked to hoof-care concerns
By Karen Briggs posted on September 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
Farriers don’t have to be told that horses are what they eat. They can describe the impact of good or poor nutrition every time they take a pair of nippers to a hoof.
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Cover
Nutrient Strategies

Hay is for Horses

It’s the basis of every equine diet, yet its nutritional content is often poorly understood
By Karen Briggs posted on July 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition

From their wide, flat molars, designed for grinding tough, gritty stems, to their gastrointestinal tracts, which process the nutrition bound in fibrous plants, horses are equipped to get the maximum benefit out of food sources that many other species of animals reject.


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Horse
Nutrient Strategies

Pasture Perfect

Pass these tips along to your hoof-care clients for maintaining healthy and productive pastures
By Karen Briggs posted on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
Horsemen, veterinarians and farriers alike have always been aware of the value of “Dr. Green.”
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Foul
Nutrient Strategies

Creep Feeding Makes Sense for Foals

Specialized grain ration increases growth and minimizes weaning stress.
By Karen Briggs posted on April 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
The studies have been done, the jury is in and the verdict is unanimous. If your footcare clients want their foals to achieve optimum growth, with the least risk of developmental orthopedic disorders like contracted tendons and physitis, they should "creep feed."
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cover
Nutrient Strategies

Fueling High Performance

What’s the best way for your hoof-care clients to supply a horse with the energy he needs to do the work asked of him?
By Karen Briggs posted on March 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
Farriers know that there are as many different types of sport horses out there as there are ways to shoe them. The demands that humans place on their animals vary dramatically, from the intense bursts of speed required of a barrel racer or polo pony, to the animated strut of a park-seat Morgan, to the sustained output of an endurance horse or a trail horse working in the Rockies.
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Mare
Nutrient Strategies

Feeding For Breeding

Here’s how your footcare clients can provide broodmares with the extra nutritional support needed when pregnant or nursing
By Karen Briggs posted on January 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrition
A broodmare who is brooding may appear relaxed and contented on the outside as her midsection expands. But inside, her growing foal is making ever-increasing demands on her body, which will only dramatically increase after she gives birth.
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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary

American Farriers Journal is excited and honored to celebrate its 50th anniversary of publishing the hands-on magazine for hoof-care professionals. Learn more about our special edition, which comes out in December 2024.

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Life Data Labs

Life Data Labs Inc

Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
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Kawell USA

Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
Smart Pak

SmartPak

From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.
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