Key Health Essentials for Horses

Ensuring the health and vitality of their stallions is a top priority for breeders, covering aspects from physical fitness and nutrition to overall well-being and mental stability, particularly as the hectic breeding season approaches.

John Burness, who manages Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge, Ontario, shared insights into the daily regimen for his six stallions: Where’s The Ring, Passion for Action, Ami’s Holiday, Frac Daddy, Avie’s Flatter, and Perfect Timber. 

“At this moment, they are mainly in turnout,” Burness explained. “Our goal is to help them gain weight and prepare them for the upcoming breeding season. We start conditioning them in the fall by regularly turning them out. During the breeding season, they tend to lose weight due to their busy schedules, so we focus on getting them into optimal shape.” With over four decades in the industry, Burness understands the critical need to maintain his stallions in excellent form before they embark on their demanding breeding duties in the late winter, spring, and early summer.

Personal Approach

Stallions have individual needs, and what works for one might not suit another. Dermot Carty, who has over forty years in the industry, compared their care to humans, noting that no single program fits all and highlighting the need to adapt to each stallion's specific requirements. Since 2008, Carty has been the director of sales at Adena Springs, Frank Stronach’s farm in Aurora, Ontario, where he stressed the importance of customising each stallion’s exercise and diet regimen. He pointed out that the turnout schedules are varied, with some stallions needing more time outside than others. Carty mentioned that Point of Entry, one of their stallions, dislikes being indoors. To accommodate him, they use blankets and provide a run-in shed to protect him from the northern winds, allowing him to stay outside without feeling confined due to his large size. Carty explained that when Point of Entry is outdoors, he remains calm and is better prepared for breeding, understanding the process when he is relaxed.

In addition to Point of Entry, Adena Springs is also home to Silent Name, Signature Red, American Guru, and Shaman Ghost.

In Ontario, the breeding season traditionally starts on February 14th and continues into the summer, with the 'off-season' running from mid-June to early February. At Adena Springs, stallions are given increased turnout time during the off-season. Carty described how, after the breeding season ends, the stallions are gradually allowed to spend more time outside, starting with two hours and extending to five hours. He noted that turning them out in the evening around 4 p.m. and bringing them back indoors by 5 a.m. is beneficial for their mental state, as the quieter environment allows them to explore their surroundings more peacefully.

When they prepare for the upcoming breeding season, their routines are adjusted accordingly.

Carty outlined that as the breeding season approaches, the stallions are brought indoors and exposed to artificial lighting designed to simulate springtime, which helps boost their libido and fertility. He also mentioned that they are exploring light therapy from Equilume, which provides stable lights that closely resemble natural daylight.

Adena’s cutting-edge facility is meticulously crafted to enhance the health and comfort of each horse on the property. The environment is described as very open and well-ventilated. They employ an advanced air purification system that refreshes the air every four minutes. The facility is filled with windows designed to give the animals clear views of the outside, and some areas feature ceilings as high as 20 feet. The stall doors are constructed with bars on top and mesh at the bottom to promote airflow, helping to mitigate feelings of confinement.

The harsh winter conditions can limit the horses' paddock turnout, making them dependent on the whims of Mother Nature. At Adena, stallions are also exercised on an equiciser, a walking machine, during both the off-season and the breeding season. It was noted that when the stallions are not scheduled for breeding sessions in the morning, they can use the equiciser. Conversely, if they have breeding duties in the morning, the staff tries to allow them some time around midday to spend 15 to 20 minutes on the machine, which significantly improves their well-being.

Additionally, there is a round pen located at the centre of Adena’s equiciser where stallions can be exercised as needed.

Exercises in a Program

At some breeding facilities, like the Shinzunai Stallion Station in Japan, stallions such as Creator and Makfi receive ridden exercise as part of their regimen. However, at Adena Springs, riding is not included in the stallion program. Dermot Carty provided insights into this decision, noting the differences in their operations.

Carty explained that when Mrs. Abercrombie was managing Pin Oak Stud, her horses were ridden in the afternoons, but she had only two stallions. In contrast, Adena Springs manages a larger number of high-value stallions, including Point of Entry, Silent Name, Shaman Ghost, Signature Red, and American Guru. He highlighted the substantial investment in these horses, which amounts to approximately $27 million. Carty emphasised that given the high stakes, Adena prefers to adhere to their established routine of turnout and to use the equiciser to maintain safety and minimise risks.

While riding stallions during their stud careers can be perilous, it's not entirely unprecedented. For instance, Candice Rainey, the owner of Sir Dudley Digges, is currently retraining him for a secondary career in the show ring while he continues his breeding duties. Rainey mentioned that she has reintroduced Sir Dudley Digges to the hunter-jumper discipline and is progressing gradually to ensure he remains stress-free. She acknowledged that balancing breeding responsibilities can be stressful for stallions and stated that Sir Dudley Digges is still learning to navigate courses safely and effectively. Rainey aims to have him ready for competition by 2024.

Sir Dudley Digges, the winner of the 2016 Queen’s Plate and the 2018 Barbados Gold Cup, is now standing at Signature Equestrian, Candice Rainey’s farm in Stayner, Ontario. The nine-year-old stallion, sired by Gio Ponti, has already been bred to a few of Rainey’s personal mares, with foals expected in the spring.

Although retraining a currently active stallion for a new career is uncommon, Rainey has been thoroughly impressed with Dudley’s progress. She noted that he is exceptionally intelligent and during their training sessions in the ring, where they focus on groundwork, he displays remarkable obedience. Rainey observed that when he is turned loose, Dudley follows her closely, behaving in a manner that belies his status as a stallion.

Different Therapies

Michaela Kemp, who directs operations at Ballycroy Bloodstock in Loretto, Ontario, emphasises the diverse exercise options available for stallions at their breeding facility, including hydrotherapy.

Kemp mentioned that while some stallions enjoy turnout more than others, it remains a crucial component of their daily exercise and routine. For alternative exercise, they incorporate the use of an aqua treadmill, providing a unique form of physical activity.

For the 2023 breeding season, Ballycroy Bloodstock is hosting Grade 1 winners Collusion Illusion and Tamarkuz, both newcomers to Ontario, at their newly established facility. According to Michaela's father, Steve Kemp, the stallions at Ballycroy benefit from evening turnout. He explained that the stallions are provided with large individual paddocks for year-round turnout. During the summer, due to the high temperatures, the stallions turn off at night when the weather is cooler and the flies are less bothersome. To further protect them, they are outfitted with flysheets, making the nighttime turnout more comfortable.

Nutrition of Winners

The diet of a stallion plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health.

Michaela Kemp detailed that their stallions are provided with a base feed consisting of a highly palatable performance horse feed, which is rich in fibre and protein. Additionally, they are given a low-sugar, low-calorie pellet enriched with proteins, minerals, and vitamins. This dietary approach ensures that the stallions receive all the essential nutrients without gaining unnecessary weight. For Collusion Illusion, who came off the track, a high-caloric pellet was also introduced to help him gain weight and build muscle mass. To prepare the stallions for their open house in October and to have them in optimal condition for the breeding season, their diets were supplemented with fatty acid oil and an amino trace supplement. Kemp observed significant benefits from these enhancements, noting that it maximiыed the nutritional value of their feed.

Similar to exercise, dietary needs vary for each stallion, and a uniform approach is not effective. Steve Kemp points out that each horse should be assessed individually to determine their specific dietary requirements to achieve a healthy appearance. Indicators of good health include a shiny coat, bright eyes, and alert ears. He stressed the importance of a balanced diet rich in proteins, nutrients, and moisture to prevent colic. Kemp suggested that feeding smaller, more frequent meals is preferable to larger ones twice a day, as it is gentler on the horse's digestive system.

He also recommended feeding four times a day, stating that this regimen is ideal for maintaining regular gut movement, particularly for stallions and mares with foals.

At Colebrook Farms, John Burness mentioned that their stallions are fed three times daily—morning, noon, and afternoon—to ensure they receive consistent nutrition throughout the day.