About Jessica Hughes Expertise I can answer diet and nutrition questions regarding performance, breeding/raising young horses, showing, and pleasure riding needs. I can answer questions regarding riding and training problems or advice. I can answer questions regarding equine behavior problems. I can answer questions regarding show horses, how to groom the english or western horse for the horse show arena. I can answer any general question regarding horses.
Experience My expertise includes owning and running a successful show and boarding facility. I have done much research on the nutritional needs of all different types of horses and how their digestive system works and how to keep that healthy. I have shown and trained horses for cutting, western pleasure, halter, breed show all around, and currently hunter/jumpers on the hunter curcuit. I have also raised babies and bred my own mares for the last 5 years specializing in thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and welsh ponies. I also give lessons to all types of riders. I evented for 3 years.
Organizations I currently belong to Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association and American Quarter Horse Association.
Education/Credentials I apprenticed under Mark Poovey an accomplished cutting horse trainer for 4 years where I was assistant trainer and barn manager. I have ridden under and participated in many clinics under such people as George Morris and Daniel Geitner. I have also worked as a vet tech at a local veterinarian. I attended Isothermal Community College where I attained my business degree.
Awards and Honors I was #8 in the nation in 1994 with the American Paint Horse Association at the end of that year in the event of Working Hunter 18 & Under. I was also 4th at the AQHA World Show in 1994 in the event of Hunter Under Saddle Youth Team Tournament. I won many year end awards with the APHA during that year. I also won the Raleigh Cutting Horse Futuritiy in the youth division in 1994. I was leader of a local 4-H group for many years.
Past/Present Clients Hope Bleeker, Freda Jessen, Judy Scott, Sharon Scruggs, Elizabeth White, Jackie Gardinier, Laura Bailey, Kevin Hamby, Jane Juanaco,
Anne Schager, Diane Randolph
Expert: Jessica Hughes Date: 6/9/2008 Subject: my horse is not allowed protine
Question my horse is a 14 year old mare and has recently had a liver infection and the vet has recomented not to give her and protien in her feed. at the moment she is havin a sugatbeet diet but she cant stay on a sugarbeet all her life so can you help me think of a sutable diet for her many thanks simone
Answer Hi Simone, You need to provide energy and protein in a form that doesn't rely on liver metabolism, so as not to stress the liver any more than needed. Vitamins A,D,E, and K should be supplemented, these are usually released by the liver in to the bloodstream. A good source of vitamin B is Brewer's Yeast. You may also try an oral vit. B supplement (about 5 cc's per day) and ascorbic acid C. You can get most of these vit. supplements at your feed store. Short branched-chain amino acids (valine, isoleucine, and leucine) are easily utilized as a source of energy and protein. You should have high levels of soluble carbohydrates and low protein in the diet. The protein should have maximal amounts of short branched-chain amino acids. Grass hay, oat hay, sorghum (milo), and corn are suitable feeds. Avoid legume hay, (alfalfa and clover), soybeans, and oats. Feed small amounts often. Also use feeds high in starch to decrease the need for hepatic glucose synthesis. No fat and salt. Small amounts of molasses may be added to make feed more palatable, but only small amounts. Linseed meal has excellent branched-chain amino acids to aromic amino acid ratio and may be used as protein supplementation in small quantities. Soaked beet pulp may be a substitute for oat or grass hay if you can't get the latter two. Grazing pastures are fine. Check with your vet to see if your horse can have grain, if so the lowest amount of protein I know of in grain is 10%, so I would stick with that. If you can find lower then I would go with the lowest protein you could find. You will just need to read the labels on the grain bags to be sure of the amounts of carbs, fat, protein etc. Hope this has helped, good luck! Jessica
