The focus of our equine nutrition research is upon glucose/insulin metabolism and growth in horses. Rations with high levels of grain are frequently fed to horses. However, high-grain (high carbohydrate) rations predispose horses to developmental orthopedic disease and, in older horses, laminitis. This may be due, in part, to metabolic alterations caused by high carbohydrate rations. We are now investigating the metabolic alterations associated with high versus low carbohydrate rations, comparing a high fiber total mixed ration cube versus traditional grain/hay diets in young horses. The carbohydrate content of pasture grasses is also of major concern to owners of horses prone to laminitis and, in conjunction with the Turf Grass institute, we have an on-going project that is focused on factors affecting the carbohydrate and mineral content forages. A third area of endeavor is in the efficacy of vitamin supplementation in the alleviation of immunosuppression in young horses subjected to prolonged transportation stress. In all of these endeavors we are collaborating with Dr. Istvan Pelczer from Princeton University to employ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) based metabonomic analyses of saliva and blood to better characterize metabolic changes.

Plot of PCA1/PCA3 of the protein/aliphatic region (0.8-3 ppm)
of saliva samples taken from one colt daily after arrival.

Selected Recent Publications

Refereed Research Journal Articles

Ralston SL, Foster DL, Divers T, Hintz HF. Effect of dental correction on feed digestibility in horses. Eq. Vet J. 33(4): 390-393, 2001.

Books and Book Chapters

Ralston, SL, Hintz, HF. (Eds). Recent Advances in Equine Nutrition. International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), Ithaca, NY. 2001.

Ralston SL. Nutrition: horses. In: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 9th th edition, Aeillo S. (ed), Published by Merck & Co, Whitehouse Station, NJ, pp. 1872-1888, 2005.

Ralston, SL. Hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance. In: Equine Internal Medicine, 2 nd Edition. Reed, S, Bayly W, Sellon D. (eds), Elsevier, St. pp.1599-1603, 2004.

Ralston, SL. Insulin and Glucose Regulation. IN: Veterinary Clinics of North America Equine Practice:Endocrinology, Messer NT, Johnson PJ (eds). Vet Clin Equine 18:295-304, 2002.

Ralston, SL. Nutritional support after alimentary tract surgery. In: Manual of Equine Gastroenterology, Mair T, Divers T, Ducharme N (eds), WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 2002, pp 196-198.

Ralston, SL. Care for the Older Horse: Diet and Health.  In: Recent Advances in Equine Nutrition, Ralston S.L., Hintz, H.F. (eds.). Ithaca: International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), 2001, A1503.1001,

Scientific Journal Articles: Invited Reviews

Ralston SL. When is a horse geriatric? Veterinary Learning Systems, Standards of Care. 2003.

Ralston SL. Diet and health of the older horse. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. 23:168, 2003.

Ralston, SL, Malinowski K, Christensen R, Breuer L. Digestion in aged horses-revisited. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. 21 (7): 310-311, 2001.