From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Simplifying Equine Nutrition for Your Horse's Health

Deep down, I think I always knew I had a passion for equine nutrition. I’d find myself reading the back of feed bags, thinking, “I hope I’m getting this right… but what if I’m not?” It was overwhelming sometimes. With so many opinions and advice from riders, vets, and professionals in the equine space, it felt impossible to know what was truly correct. How could all this conflicting advice coexist if they were all supposed to be right?

Fast forward 25 years, countless hours of research and study, years of horse ownership (and breaks in between), retraining thoroughbreds (before it was trendy!), pony club, and every aspect of the “horsey lifestyle” you can imagine. I finally uncovered the truth about nutrition:

Nutrition isn’t simple, but feeding programs can be. Once you know what you’re doing, feeding your horse becomes much easier to manage.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
Feeding = simple.
Understanding nutrient interactions and balances = extremely complex.

To add to the confusion, there’s an overwhelming amount of products marketed to horse owners, each claiming to be the best feed for this or that. In most cases, they’re not—or at least not as advertised. My biggest “superpower” has become cutting through the high-budget marketing hype and getting back to basics: understanding what horses actually need to thrive.

And don’t even get me started on supplements! I’ve spent thousands over the years on gut health powders, joint mobility blends, and hoof growth formulas. What I’ve learned? Without a properly balanced diet, these products won’t do a single thing. In fact, they can make imbalances worse and even cause harm in some cases!

So, what’s the solution? How do we navigate the opinions, the marketing spin, and the “this is what I’ve always fed” mindset?

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to study equine nutrition for years to make better choices for your horse. Start with the basics. I’ll be the first to admit I had no idea what my horse actually needed in terms of calories, protein, or the types of feed that provide them. I just followed the feed bag instructions—and if my horse needed weight, I’d add more. Simple, right? Oh, how wrong I was! 😅

Where to start? Empower yourself as a horse owner:
✅ Learn the importance of a forage-first diet.
✅ Understand how to read a feed label and spot ingredients that shouldn’t be there.
✅ Cut through the fluff and focus on what your horse really needs to thrive.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a brand-new horse owner, this knowledge will empower you to make better, more informed choices. And honestly? It’ll save you a ton of money. Half the supplements you’re feeding might not even be doing their job—or worse, and the problem they’re trying to solve could be fixed with a properly balanced diet.

To help you get started, I’ve created a downloadable PDF packed with basic feeding information. While it’s tailored to OTTB owners, the general advice applies to other breeds too. It’s not a magical fix for every equine health issue, nor does it replace veterinary care for serious concerns. But it will help you make smarter feeding decisions. Whether you think you might benefit from it or not, download the PDF!! What have you got to lose, seriously?

If you want to dive deeper and really analyse your horse’s nutrition, book a consultation with me. I can audit your current supplements and help you work out what you really need based on your goals. It’s one of the best investments you can make for your horse’s health—and it might save you money in the long run.

And remember, if your horse is unwell or injured, always consult your vet first.

Happy horsing! 🐴