Equine Guelph, University of Guelph, has opened registrations for “Advanced Equine Health through Nutrition”, a 12-week online course designed to increase nutritional awareness by incorporating advances in research and evolving horse management practices.
“This course in particular takes the basic nutritional recommendations and teaches students how to apply them, particularly when feeds may be causing problems in the horse,” says course instructor Dr. Kathleen Crandell, an Equine Nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research in Versailles, Kentucky.
“Anyone who owns or feeds a horse would benefit from a good understanding of what is the best way to feed and why you should feed it.” Crandell, who has a master’s degree in equine nutrition and exercise physiology and a PhD in equine nutrition and reproduction from Virginia Tech in Middleburg, Virginia, has been working in the horse nutrition industry as a consultant for over 15 years.
She feels proper nutrition can make a difference between a healthy, content horse and “one that is just getting by.” “While balanced nutrition is a focus of this course, we take it to the next level by exploring how nutrition can be applied to improve or maintain the health of the horse,” says Crandell.
“Specific health issues that will be covered include laminitis, insulin resistance and Equine Metabolic Disease, nutritional solutions for genetically linked rhabdomyolysis [the rapid destruction of skeletal muscle], gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric and colonic ulcers, hindgut acidosis and colic, and nutritional therapy for orthopedic bone disease in growing horses.”
Offered online starting January 2013 through the University of Guelph as part of its Equine Welfare Certificate, “Advanced Equine Health through Nutrition” will be of benefit to not only horse owners or caretakers, but to vet technicians and veterinarians as well. This nutrition course will explore new findings as they relate to functional foods for health by examining current research and evidence-based practice.
Other courses offered in Equine Guelph’s winter 2013 lineup include Equine Functional Anatomy, Equine Behaviour, Management of the Equine Environment, The Equine Industry, and Marketing and Communications in the Equine Industry.
Registration is now open, with early bird registration ending December 7, 2012. Courses run from January 7 to March 31, 2013. For more information, please contact the Centre for Open Learning and Educational Support at info@coles.uoguelph.ca, call 519-767-5000 or visit www.equinewelfarecertificate.ca.
