10/16/2026
āAH SOYBEAN MEAL!ā Understanding the difference.
Over the past few years, soybeans have faced significant criticism, and justifiably so. They rank among the most heavily treated crops in the United States, with nearly 98% of soybean fields directly exposed to pesticides and herbicides. Additionally, conventional processing of soybeans involves the use of biodiesel fuel extracts such as hexane.
The movement toward soy-free horse feed has been motivated by various factors, including concerns about allergic reactions, the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the presence of trypsin inhibitors that can hinder protein absorption in the body.
Soybeans provide valuable nutrition for horses, including lysine, threonine, and methionine, amino acids necessary for a complete amino acid profile. Much of the concern about soy comes from confusion between soy itself and how conventional soy is grown and processed.
Dr. Mark DePaolo, DVM, has stated that every horse he tests through his hair-analysis program that eats soybeans test's positive for glyphosate. While this is a clinical observation, not controlled research proving causation, it raises questions about agricultural chemical exposure. University of Minnesota also found EDCs in horse plasma and associations between EDC exposure and metabolic measures associated with EMS.
At StableFeed, we use non-GMO, certified organic soybean meal in our Fundamentals feed to provide nutritional benefits to the horse while minimizing exposure to agricultural chemicals and unwanted residues. When it comes to nutrition, details matter.
Sourcing clean is more difficult and costly, but we are committed to using only the highest quality ingredients in the products we offer your horse.
