Top Bar Equine Services

Electrolytes are one of the most common supplements I see in feed rooms, and one of the most misunderstood.

Before reaching for an electrolyte supplement, it’s important to ask whether your horse’s basic sodium needs are being met first.

Many horses consume less salt than owners think, and forage alone doesn’t provide enough sodium to meet requirements.

That doesn’t mean every horse needs electrolytes every day. It means every horse should have a hydration plan that matches their workload, environment, and individual needs.

Start with the basics and build from there.

How do you feed salt to your horse?

Your eyes are lying to you.

We’ve become so accustomed to seeing overweight horses that many people no longer recognize what a healthy body condition looks like.

In fact, horses at an appropriate body condition score are often labeled as “too skinny,” while overweight horses are praised as being “fat and happy,” “well-fed,” or “looking great.”

The problem? Excess body fat isn’t just a cosmetic issue. It can negatively impact performance, place additional stress on joints and soft tissues, increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction, and contribute to conditions like laminitis.

Seeing your horse every day can make gradual changes difficult to notice. That’s why objective measurements matter.

Three of the simplest and most valuable tools horse owners can use are:

• Weight tape measurements
• Body Condition Scoring (BCS)
• Progress photos

Weight is only one piece of the puzzle. Two horses can weigh the exact same amount but have completely different body condition scores, muscle development, and fat distribution. Using all three tools together provides a much clearer picture of your horse’s overall condition and allows you to track changes over time.

Make it part of your monthly routine. Take a weight tape measurement, assign a body condition score, and snap a few photos from the same angles.

Because when it comes to your horse’s health, guessing isn’t a strategy.

You don’t know what you don’t know. And that is where Top Bar Equine Services will come in - and save the day.

Top Bar Equine is so professional, caring and passionate about taking your horse as a whole body system that works together from the inside out to optimize health and condition.

This program taught me so much about the what, why, how of the horses nutrition and then when I was stumped or had questions - Top Bar painted things less in black and white and more in colour.

I trust and respect Top Bar Equine Services for all of my horse’s nutritional requirements. While hard at work in the summer, to the less competitive winter months.
And to tie it all together - the woman behind Top Bar is such a positive force in this side of the industry - that she makes it fun and exciting to learn more about equine nutrition.

11/10 would HIGHLY recommend Cass at Top Bar Equine!

- Dakota Conley

Thank you for trusting me with your barrel horse! ♥️

Do you know how much nutrition influences hoof quality?

This season of life has pushed me to turn something I’ve always cared deeply about into something bigger. Through continuing education, countless hours spent learning, and hands-on experience with horses in all stages of work and condition, my passion for equine nutrition has grown tremendously.

As a performance horse owner myself, I know how much goes into keeping these horses feeling and performing their best. The conditioning, recovery, stress, gut health, soundness. It all matters, and nutrition plays such a huge role in every part of it.

The more I learn, the more I love being able to help people better support their horses from the inside out. Watching horses improve through proper nutrition is something I’ll never get tired of.

Top Bar Equine Services was built from a real passion for the performance horse, and I’m incredibly grateful this is where life has taken me. 🤍

60 days into a 90 day program for Bleu. 👏🏼

He started with a body condition score of 8, and our goal is to slowly and safely bring him closer to a healthier BCS of 6.

Weight loss in horses should never be rushed. Rapid weight loss can create more problems than it solves, which is why this program focused on gradual changes that were sustainable for both the horse and owner.

We adjusted his hay intake to better match his body size and condition score, balanced his overall diet to ensure his nutrient requirements were still being met during weight loss, and built a program that worked specifically for him.

A reminder that weight loss can be an incredibly slow journey, and celebrating the small wins along the way is what keeps us moving toward the bigger picture.

60 days later, we’re already seeing big changes in his overall shape and condition. I’m looking forward to seeing where we are in the next 30 days.

Forage based diets are standard. Every horse should have forage as the foundation of their program. However, “forage first” and “forage only” are not the same thing.

Hay alone often cannot fully meet a horse’s daily nutrient requirements, especially for horses in work, growing horses, seniors, or broodmares. A properly balanced program starts with quality forage, then fills in the gaps based on the individual horse’s needs.

Three different horses. Three different needs.
The best nutrition program isn’t the trendiest one, it’s the one built for the horse in front of you. 🤍