Content Expert: Dr. Christine Skelly
The Horse Nutrition course is based on the knowledge of equine experts at Michigan State University. You will discover a wealth of resources for learning about the many factors that contribute to the proper diet of a horse. Knowledge of horse nutrition and feeding management practices is necessary for all horse owners. A proper diet can lead to a healthier and better performing horse. For questions regarding this course contact Dr. Skelly at skellych@msu.edu.
Course Overview
You’ll learn about many aspects of horse nutrition, including anatomy, horse behavior, nutrients, nutritional requirements, feedstuffs, evaluating and balancing a ration, diseases affecting nutrition, and feeding management.
More specifically, you will learn about:
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The digestive anatomy of a horse and how it functions
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Ingestive behaviors of a horse, including grazing, feed intake and herd interactions
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How the major nutrients are digested, absorbed and used by equine
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Evaluating the nutritional status of your horse
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Nutritional requirements for broodmares, growing horses, equine athletes and geriatric horses
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Feedstuffs, including forage, grains and supplements
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How to develop and evaluate a feed ration
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How diseases can affect the nutritional requirements of a horse
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Feeding management strategies
Each unit consists of an overview, informative topics including pictures and short video clips, plus optional activities. It is estimated to take 10 to 12 hours to complete the course.
Upon completion of the course, participants receive a downloadable certificate of completion. This course is not eligible for university credit.
A recommended supplemental learning product is the book, Nutrient Requirements of Horses.
Course Format
Self-paced
Price
$75.00
Registration Instructions
To register for this course you will need to create an account, sign in with your email/password, and complete the registration process. To watch a video tutorial, demonstrating an overview of the registration process, click on the following link: Online Course Registration Video Tutorial. Step-by-step instructions are below.
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Create your MSU Guest Account/Community ID and Password: Create Your Account. For detailed, step-by-step instructions visit the following page: Account Creation Instructions.
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Login to the registration system with your Community ID and Password: Horse Nutrition.
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Follow the instructions to register for the course. Upon registration, you will receive a receipt and instructions for accessing the course.
Technical Assistance
For technical support, please contact the Michigan State University IT Service Desk Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Eastern Time), on all days the University is open.
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Local: (517) 432-6200
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Toll Free: (844) 678-6200
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my username/NETID?
Your username (or NET ID) is the email address you used to create your account during registration (you use the same email address/password for registering and for taking the course).
What URL do I go to for logging into the course?
Go to: https://d2l.msu.edu/. You will see the Michigan State University at the top of the page. Login with the email address and password you set during the registration process.
I received a “not authenticated” response when trying to login – what do I do?
A “not authenticated” message is typically an issue with a password not being entered correctly.
I forgot my password – where can I reset it?
If you need to reset your password at any time go to https://auth.msu.edu/. Enter your email address and click the next button. Select the Forgot Password link and follow the instructions.
Course Overview Video