Happy Horse Nutrition

Did you know the microbes living in your horse’s hindgut may be influencing how well they perform?In this episode, Dr Nerida explores research linking hindgut microbiome diversity, fibre fermentation and performance in horses. We look at studies in Thoroughbreds and trotters showing that higher microbial diversity and greater fibre-fermenting capacity are associated with better racing performance, while greater starch fermentation is linked with poorer performance.You’ll also learn practical ways to support a healthier, more diverse microbiome through forage, fibre diversity and smarter grain feeding.Whether you own a racehorse, performance horse or simply want to support better gut health, this episode may leave you in a state of mind-bogglement… which will make perfect sense once you listen. 😂💛Research mentioned in this episodeLeng et al. (2024)Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racingScientific Reports, 14:17124https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6Park et al. (2024)Comparison of the fecal microbiota with high- and low performance race horsesJournal of Animal Science and Technology, 66(2):425–437https://doi.org/10.5187/jast.2023.e45Vasseur et al. (2024)Fibrolytic efficiency of the large intestine microbiota may benefit running speed in French trotters: A pilot studyPhysiological Reports, 12(21)https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70110Hansen et al. (2015)High nutrient availability reduces the diversity and stability of the equine caecal microbiotaMicrobial Ecology in Health and Disease, 26:27216https://doi.org/10.3402/mehd.v26.27216Grimm et al. (2020)Dietary composition and yeast/microalgae combination supplementation modulate the microbial ecosystem in the caecum, colon and faeces of horsesBritish Journal of Nutrition, 123(4):372–382https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114519002824

Managing a laminitis-prone horse through spring can feel like a full-time job! Especially when pasture non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels can change dramatically with the weather.In this episode, Dr Nerida and Orla talk through the practical realities of managing horses with laminitis and insulin dysregulation, including why frosty nights and sunny days can make spring pasture particularly risky, when grass is likely to be safest to graze, and how grazing muzzles, strip grazing and low-NSC hay can help.They also discuss clover, forage testing, nitrate risk, exercise and insulin sensitivity, and the challenge of keeping horses eating enough fibre while still controlling calorie and sugar intake.A useful follow-up to our conversation with Dr Luke Wells-Smith, for anyone navigating laminitis and spring pasture with a metabolic horse or pony.🤖 If you have questions about laminitis, or any other feeding and nutrition related question, give Dr Nerida AI a go: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai 💛 And to really look in detail at your horse’s diet, download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

In this episode, Dr Nerida is joined by Dr Luke Wells-Smith, dual qualified  equine veterinarian and farrier, for a unique perspective on laminitis.Dr Luke unpacks what’s happening inside the hoof during laminitis, the early warning signs horse owners can watch for, insulin dysregulation, digital pulses and hoof growth rings. Nerida and Luke also get into nutrition, misleading “grain-free” feed labels, beet pulp, the microbiome, and why identifying and controlling the underlying cause of laminitis is so critical.A fun and practical conversation for anyone wanting to better understand laminitis and protect their horse’s hooves.You can find Dr Luke Wells-Smith at the Motion Equine Centre:https://www.motion-equine.com.au/Telehealth consultations with Dr Luke Wells-Smith:https://motion-equine.com.au/telehealth

What are the best ingredients for helping a horse gain weight safely?In this episode, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida explains why lucerne (alfalfa), full-fat soybean, lupins, sugar beet pulp and copra meal are five of her favourite horse weight-gain ingredients. Discover how each ingredient supplies energy, fermentable fibre or quality protein, and how the right combination can help horses build body condition and muscle without simply relying on more grain.You’ll also learn why hindgut health matters, when high-protein feeds can become problematic, how to use these ingredients safely and why every weight-gain diet still needs to be properly balanced.Soycheck test kit for checking whether soybean products contain active trypsin inhibitor: https://cbsbioplatforms.com/Store

Join Dr Nerida and Orla as they discuss how exercise can improve insulin sensitivity. Plus they talk feeding for muscle development, and how whey protein, soybean and leucine play a role.They also dive into digestive enzymes, why they are being added to more feeds, and how enzymes may help some horses digest starch more efficiently when grain-based feeds are used. This leads into a bigger discussion about diet analysis, nutrient deficiencies, toxicities, misleading “grain-free” labels, and why horse owners need a way to check whether a diet is genuinely safe and balanced.The episode finishes with musings on raw grain, stomach pH, hindgut pH, gastroscopy, omeprazole, acid rebound, and has a few classic Orla and Nerida side tracks along the way.📲 To check your horse’s diet and KNOW you are feeding right, download the MyHappy.Horse app ⁠https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324⁠💛 We’d love if you would leave us a rating, follow the show and share this episode with a friend, it truly helps us get this information in front of more horse owners.🩺 And if you’d like to get in touch with Orla, [email protected]

Preventing squamous gastric ulcers takes more than just feeding enough forage. In this episode, Dr Nerida explains four additional nutrition strategies: feeding a balanced diet, controlling grain and starch intake, supplying high-quality protein, and using lucerne or alfalfa strategically. Plus she covers why grain is not automatically the problem, how key nutrients support stomach repair, and why lucerne is so valuable for gut health. Here are some of the papers referenced:Effects of feeding alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay on the gastric mucosa in adult Warmblood horses https://pferdeheilkunde.de/files/20200105.pdf  Evaluation of diet as a cause of gastric ulcers in horses https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10895901/Risk factors associated with equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19927579/📲 For help assessing your horse’s diet and making sure you are feeding a balanced diet to prevent gastric ulcers, download the MyHappy.Horse App https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 If you found this episode helpful we'd be so grateful if you would follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and  share it with a horse owning friend who is struggling with gastric ulcers.🌟 And please leave us a rating and review, it helps us help more horse owners to find practical, science-based nutrition advice.

Gastric ulcers are incredibly common in horses, but before changing feeds or reaching for an ulcer supplement, there are three far more important foundations to get right.In this episode, Dr Nerida explains why forage is central to preventing equine squamous gastric ulcers and reveals the three practical steps every horse owner should prioritise: feeding enough forage, minimising the time horses spend without something to chew, and feeding hay before, and ideally after, exercise.You’ll also learn why simply providing hay does not necessarily mean your horse is eating enough, how herd dynamics and restrictive hay nets can reduce forage intake without you actually noticing, and why weighing your horse’s hay may be one of the most useful things you can do for their gastric health.Here is the link to free full text research study mentioned in the podcast: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3512 📲 For help assessing your horse’s diet and making sure you are feeding enough forage to prevent gastric ulcers, download the MyHappy.Horse App https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 If you found this episode helpful, please follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and  share it with a horse owning friend who is struggling with gastric ulcers.🌟 And we'd love you to leave us a rating and review, it helps us help more horse owners to find practical, science-based nutrition advice.

Orla is back on the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, and this time she and Dr Nerida are answering listener questions, sharing stories from the behind the gastroscope, and chat themselves down a number of rabbit holes.In this (very 😂) relaxed Q&A episode, Nerida and Orla talk about sand, gravel and soil in the gut, when psyllium may be useful, and why forage and fibre are so important for helping horses move dirt through the digestive tract. They also discuss the tricky balance between using haynets to slow intake, while still keeping horses comfortable, chewing and ulcer-free.They answer a listener question about lucerne/alfalfa and whether it is actually too high in sugar for metabolic horses (spoiler alert, it's not but there are so many misconceptions!). Nerida explains why lucerne can be a useful low-NSC forage, and how it can help add protein, calcium and fibre diversity to the diet.The conversation also wanders into fasting horses for gastroscopy, soaking hay, muscle cramping, potassium, PSSM and HYPP, because one good horse nutrition question always seems to lead to five more 🙈😄.This is a fun episode with some useful info and interesting stories 💖💛 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and share it with a horse-loving friend 🙏🏼📲 For help assessing your horse’s diet, download the MyHappy.Horse app ⁠https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324⁠.🩺 And if you’d like to get in touch with Orla, [email protected]

What really happens inside an off-the-track’s gut when you take away the racing diet and start to rebuild the horse from the hindgut up?In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida is joined again by Dr Belinda to talk all about Allay, Nerida’s daughter's beautiful off-the-track Thoroughbred mare, and what happened inside her gut as she transitioned from racehorse life into life after racing.Allay’s story gives us a rare look at the hindgut microbiome in real life. Over her first 12 months with Nerida, her diet, behaviour, condition and microbiome were tracked, showing what can happen when an off-the-track horse is given time, fibre, forage diversity and the right nutritional support.Nerida and Belinda unpack how Allay’s microbiome changed over time, why fibre comes first when rebuilding the hindgut, how forage diversity helps support microbial diversity, and why microbiome recovery does not always happen in a perfectly straight line.They also talk about behaviour, manure, ryegrass curveballs, microbial resilience, and why feeding the microbes in the hindgut is such an important part of supporting the whole horse.If you own an off-the-track, work with them, or simply want to better understand how the gut can influence condition, health, behaviour and long-term resilience 🐎 To watch Allay's full story, see Allay: The First 12 Months  📲 For help assessing your horse’s diet and building a balanced feeding plan, download the MyHappy.Horse App and let it help you feed with more confidence https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 If you find this episode helpful, please follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and  share it with a horse owning friend who is struggling with feeding their OTT.🌟 And we'd love you to leave us a rating and review so more horse owners can find practical, science-based nutrition advice.

How much does broodmare nutrition really matter?In this episode, Dr Nerida is joined again by Jess, an equine science student from Charles Sturt University, for a practical Q&A on feeding pregnant (and lactating) broodmares.They unpack the idea of “feeding for two”, and why pregnant mares do not need large amounts of extra energy and protein from day one, but absolutely do need a balanced diet from the very beginning.Nerida explains how nutrients such as copper, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, protein and lysine can influence foal development, joint health, milk production and mare condition. The discussion also explores lactation, foal growth rates, the importance of the mare’s microbiome, and why nutrition during pregnancy may have long-term effects on the foal’s health and future performance.A must-listen episode for breeders, stud staff and horse owners wanting to give mares and foals the best possible start.📲 Download MyHappy.Horse to help you keep broodmare diets balanced: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🦠 And if you want to look into your broodmare’s microbiome, get in touch with EquiGI - https://www.equigi.com

Is your horse an “air fern” who seems to gain weight just by looking at grass?In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida walks you through how to feed overweight horses and good doers for safe, sustainable weight loss, without leaving them hungry, stressed, nutritionally deficient or at higher risk of problems like gastric ulcers.Weight loss for good doers is not as simple as “feed less”. In fact, restricting forage too harshly will create serious gut health, welfare and behaviour problems. Instead, Nerida explains how to reduce calorie intake while still keeping your horse chewing, happy and with all of their nutrient requirements met.You’ll learn the five key steps to feeding horses for weight loss, including remove high-energy feeds, manage access to pasture and high quality hay, use low-calorie forages like mature grass hay and straw, balance vitamins and minerals correctly, and how exercise and winter can make such a difference.This episode also covers practical tools for managing laminitis-prone , insulin-dysregulated , cresty-necked and easy keeper horses, including use of forage testing, slow feeders, track systems, controlled grazing and the importance of measuring body condition, body weight and cresty neck score over time.If you have agood doer or an overweight horse that needs to lose weight safely, this episode will help you understand how to create a weight loss diet that protects gut health, supports the hindgut microbiome and keeps your horse (and you!) as happy as possible. 📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app to check your horse’s calorie intake and make sure your weight loss diet is properly balanced https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 ⁠  💖 If you found this episode helpful, please follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and  share it with a horse owning friend who is struggling with getting their air fern to lose some weight!. 🌾 And here is Sammy Julliand’s work on hay assessment using the human senses https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731118003725

Is your horse underweight, a classic hard keeper, or one of those horses who seems to need a ridiculous amount of feed just to hold condition? In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida takes a practical, gut-first look at feeding horses for safe, effective and sustainable weight gain.Because weight gain is not simply a matter of “just feed more”. Yes, a horse needs to eat more energy than they use in order to gain weight, but they also need to be able to digest and use that energy. And that is where so many weight gain diets go wrong. If the cause of weight loss has not been identified, the hindgut is struggling, the diet is unbalanced, or the horse is being pushed too hard with high-starch feeds, owners can end up feeding more and more, while the horse still fails to thrive.In this episode, Nerida walks through the five key steps to feeding for weight gain, starting with identifying why the horse is underweight in the first place. From there, she explains why the hindgut must become a fibre-fermenting powerhouse, why forage variety and fibre diversity matter, how to balance the diet properly, why high-quality protein is essential for building muscle and topline, and how to add high-energy ingredients like super fibres, oils and well-cooked grains safely.Nerida also talks about something every owner needs to understand before starting a weight gain diet: higher-energy diets can affect behaviour. The aim is not to create a fire-breathing dragon under saddle. The aim is to build a healthier horse who can gain condition, support muscle development, maintain better gut health and eventually hold weight without relying on huge amounts of supplementary feed forever. 📲 For help assessing your horse’s diet and building a balanced feeding plan, download the MyHappy.Horse app and let it help you feed with more confidence. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 If you find this episode helpful, please follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast and  share it with a horse owning friend who is struggling with weight gain.🌟And we'd love you to leave us a review so more horse owners can find practical, science-based nutrition advice.

Do calming supplements for horses actually work? Or are we sometimes asking them to do a job they were never going to be able to do?In this episode, Dr Nerida takes a practical, science-based look at horse behaviour, diet and calming supplements. Before diving into ingredients like magnesium, vitamin B1 and tryptophan, Nerida starts with the bigger question every horse owner should ask first:Why is my horse behaving this way?Spookiness, tension, anxiety, reactivity, unpredictability and “too much energy” can all be signs that something deeper is going on. Too much concentrated feed, grain-based diets, raw or poorly digested grain, not enough forage, hindgut dysbiosis, gastric pain, riding on an empty stomach, mycotoxins, pain, lack of movement, lack of socialisation and unbalanced diets can all influence behaviour.Nerida also explains why forage is one of the most powerful “calmers” we have for horses, why the hindgut and brain are so closely connected, and why behaviour should always be treated as information.Then she looks at the evidence behind common calming supplement ingredients. Magnesium may help in specific situations, especially where magnesium intake or metabolism is compromised. Vitamin B1 may have a role, particularly when hindgut health is poor. But tryptophan? The research in horses does not support it as an effective calmer.If you have ever reached for a calming supplement hoping it would fix a spooky, anxious or explosive horse, this episode will help you step back, look at the whole horse, and understand what may really be driving the behaviour.Because calm does not start in the supplement aisle. 💛 Download the MyHappy.Horse app to check whether your horse’s diet is supporting calm, healthy behaviour. https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🎧 Follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast for more practical, science-based feeding advice

What do you feed a horse that can’t chew properly?In this episode, Dr Nerida McGilchrist is joined by Jess, an equine science student from Charles Sturt University, for a practical Q&A on dental issues in horses and how they affect nutrition.Using Jess’s own horse as a real-life example, they explore how to feed horses with unusual or compromised teeth, why forage still matters, when soaked hay may help, and how to balance dental comfort with laminitis risk.Nerida also explains why old horses with worn teeth are so often underfed, how to think about chaff, hay cubes, beet pulp, copra and other fibre sources, and why a balanced diet is still essential when forage intake becomes complicated.A useful episode for anyone feeding an older horse, a horse with missing or worn teeth, or a horse that needs a more creative nutrition plan.📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🧮 Monitor closely for laminitis with Lami-tag, as early detection is critical - https://www.lami-tag.com🐎 Queensland Off The Track’s Feeding the senior OTT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxXOm7_7biM🌾 Here is the key paper behind the discussion about oaten/cereal hay, water-soluble carbohydrates and equine peripheral dental caries. This study surveyed 500 Western Australian horses and found peripheral caries in 58.8% of surveyed horses, with oaten hay identified as a dietary risk factor. Jackson, K., Kelty, E. & Tennant, M. 2018. Equine peripheral dental caries: An epidemiological survey assessing prevalence and possible risk factors in Western Australian horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 50(1), 79–84.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28707363/

What happens when a thoroughbred breeding farm reduces grain, increases forage diversity, and prepares yearlings with gut health in mind?In this episode, Dr Nerida is joined by Zac Harris, a thoroughbred breeding farm manager preparing yearlings for sale, to talk about a very different approach to traditional yearling prep.For years, many sales yearlings have been fed high-grain diets, often with limited forage diversity, in an effort to maximise growth, muscle and sale-ring presentation. But what if there is a better way?Zac shares what happened when he changed the feeding program, focused more on forage and fibre, and paid closer attention to the horses’ appetite, manure, behaviour and overall wellbeing.This is a hands-on conversation for anyone feeding young horses, preparing yearlings for sale, managing thoroughbreds, or simply wanting to better understand the link between diet, gut health and behaviour. 🌟 If this conversation made you think differently about feeding young horses, we’d love you to follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast 🙏🏼 Please share this episode with someone who works with yearlings, thoroughbreds, or any horses that could benefit from a happier, healthier gut. 💛 And for more information about what we do here at MyHappy.Horse, go to https://www.myhappy.horse/

Winter can be one of the biggest challenges when feeding horses. So in this episode, Dr Nerida talks all things winter feeding. You’ll learn why preparation matters, that forage is your horse’s internal heater and why body condition scoring with your hands is so important during the colder months.Nerida also covers winter weight loss, feeding good doers, choosing forage quality, fibre diversity for hindgut health, water and salt intake, balanced diets, vitamin and mineral support, protein quality, and why laminitis-prone horses still need careful management in winter.Whether your horse is an older horse, an off-the-track Thoroughbred, a hard keeper, a broodmare, a growing horse, a good doer, or a horse prone to laminitis, this episode will help you stay one step ahead before winter feeding problems show up.📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse app to check whether your horse’s diet is meeting their energy, protein, lysine, vitamin and mineral needs this winter:https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324💖 If this episode helps you, we’d love you to follow the podcast and share it with a horse-loving friend that has a horse who struggles through winter. 

We talk a lot about protein in horse nutrition, especially for topline, growth, milk production and gut health, but the number on the feed bag is only the starting point.Two feeds can both say 16% protein on the bag, but they may not support your horse’s body in the same way.In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida explains protein quality in horses and why the crude protein percentage on a feed bag only tells part of the story.You’ll learn how amino acids work, why essential amino acids matter, and why lysine, methionine, threonine and the branched-chain amino acids are so important for muscle, topline, bone development, milk production, tissue repair and gut health.Nerida also explains why protein source matters, using examples like soybean meal, whey protein, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal and forage quality, and shows how two feeds with similar crude protein levels can provide very different amino acid value to your horse.Whether you have a growing horse, broodmare, performance horse, off-the-track Thoroughbred, senior horse, or a horse needing more topline or gut support, this episode will help you ask a better question: not just “how much protein is in this feed?”, but “is this protein good enough for the job I’m asking my horse’s body to do?” 📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app to check your horse’s crude protein and lysine intake and build better, more balanced diets with confidence https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🐎 Queensland Off The Track Nutrition Hub is here https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/animal-welfare/off-the-track/nutrition-education-hub 💖 And you can find the story of Allay's first 12 months here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KttwjBii2HY⁉️ If you'd like help with interpreting your feed label's list of ingredients, email it to us, [email protected] or ask Dr Nerida AI https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai 💛 Follow the Happy Horse Nutrition podcast for more practical, science-based horse nutrition, and we’d love you to share this episode with a horse-loving friend who wants to feed their horse with more clarity and confidence.

If you are spending money on joint supplements for your horse, or wondering whether that corticosteroid injection is really helping, this episode is essential listening.Dr. Nerida is joined by Renee Harbowy and Dr. Brian Nielsen from Michigan State University, two of the leading researchers in equine joint and bone health, for an honest, science-based conversation about what actually keeps horses sound for life.Renee shares the findings from her recently published research study examining whether glucosamine and chondroitin supplements improve lameness in horses with osteoarthritis, and what the results mean for every horse owner standing in front of a wall of joint supplements at the feed store.From there, the conversation covers equine joint health from the ground up.In this episode you’ll learn:What osteoarthritis actually does to joint tissue and why understanding this changes how you manage itWhy movement is non-negotiable for cartilage health, and what happens to joints when horses are stalledThe research on pastured versus stalled horses and what it means for how you manage your horse day to dayWhy nutrition from conception onwards is the foundation of lifetime joint soundnessThe trace minerals most commonly deficient in horse diets and why deficiencies during development cause problems that show up years laterDr Brian’s research on bone strength and the surprisingly small amount of exercise needed to maintain itThe five things Renee considers most important for long-term joint healthThe truth about corticosteroid injections; what they actually do, and the risk of masking pain in performance horsesEarly warning signs that your horse’s joints may be struggling before obvious lameness appearsPractical, actionable strategies for joint health regardless of your horse’s age, breed, or living situationWhether you have a young horse you are bringing up right, a performance horse in hard work, or an older horse starting to show their age, this conversation will change how you think about joint health and what you can actually do to help your horses have a long, sound, happy life!🧪 Renee's full research paper can be found here (and it is well worth the read, beautifully written and a brilliant piece of science!): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13113781/ 🌟 If this episode helps you look at joint health a little differently, please follow the podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next.💛 And we'd love you to share it with a horse friend, especially someone with a young horse, an older horse, or a horse already struggling with joint issues. These are the conversations that can genuinely change how we manage horses for the better.📲 And if you want help getting the nutrition side right, download the MyHappy.Horse app. It’s like having a practical, science-based equine nutritionist in your pocket, helping you feed with more confidence and less second-guessing.⁠https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324⁠

There is no time in horse nutrition where you need both art AND science more than when you are feeding a weanling.These funny, curious, chaotic little creatures are walking a tightrope every single day... growing fast enough to reach their genetic potential, but not so fast that they end up with bone or joint disease. Get it wrong, and you are looking at OCD, contracted tendons, physitis, stunted growth, and a horse that never becomes what it was born to be. Get it right, and you lay the foundation for a lifetime of health and soundness.In this episode, professional equine nutritionist Dr. Nerida draws on 25 years of experience and thousands of weanlings from Australian thoroughbred studs to Japan’s biggest breeding farms, to walk you through exactly what your weanling needs and why.You’ll learn:How to manage weanling growth rate and body condition score to reduce developmental orthopaedic disease riskWhy energy intake is one of the most important factors in weanling joint healthHow pasture quality, climate, and compensatory growth affect your weanling’s diet... and how to stay two steps aheadWhy protein quality (not just quantity) is critical for muscle and bone development in young horsesThe fine details about calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals and why almost every pasture Nerida has tested falls shortThree practical feeding strategies for weanlings depending on your situation; andWhy a balanced diet... NOT a restricted one... gives your weanling the best shot at lifetime soundnessWhether you have one very special homebred foal or paddocks full of youngsters, this episode gives you the knowledge and the confidence to feed your weanlings well.📱 If you’d like help balancing your  weanlings' diet, download the MyHappy.Horse app on the Apple App Store and start building a diet you can feel confident about. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 And if this episode helped you, please share it with a horsey friend (especially the one currently with a pregnant mare 😅)

In this replay episode, we are bringing back Dr Nerida’s chat with Professor Brian Nielsen on bone health in horses, because the ideas in this conversation have huge implications for soundness, durability, performance and long-term welfare.If you have ever been told that long, slow work builds strong bone, or that the safest path is always to wait until horses are skeletally mature before exposing them to speed, this episode may really make you stop and think.Dr Brian explains how bone actually adapts to exercise, why turnout and even very small amounts of high-speed work matter so much, how confinement can reduce bone mass, and why this is such an important issue for young horses in particular. It is a fascinating conversation that challenges some deeply held beliefs in horse management and racing, while also being incredibly practical.This was one of the standout episodes from the early days of the podcast, and now that many more of you are listening, it feels like the right time to bring it back.If you care about raising, training or managing horses for long-term soundness, this episode is well worth your time 🌟 🧪Find the full scientific review here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/789 💛 If you’re looking for more practical help with nutrition and managing your horse, have a look at MyHappy.Horse, our app designed to help horse owners make more confident feeding decisions. https://www.myhappy.horse

Is canola oil really as bad as people say… or has it simply been one of the most unfairly demonised ingredients in horse nutrition?In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida is joined by Orla for a fascinating and surprisingly fun deep dive into the real story behind canola oil. They unpack where the wild claims came from, including the viral email that helped fuel decades of fear, and separate old rapeseed oil facts from modern canola oil fiction.Dr Nerida and Orla talk about erucic acid, GMO confusion, the strange myths linking canola to everything from blindness to mad cow disease, and why scary misinformation can stick so powerfully in people’s minds. They also bring it back to what really matters for horse owners: where canola oil fits in equine diets, how its omega-3 and omega-6 profile compares with other oils, and why it can actually be a very useful and appropriate choice in the right situation.If you have ever wondered whether canola oil is truly harmful, or whether this is another nutrition myth that has taken on a life of its own, this episode is for you.Here is the full, crazy backstory canola oil email in case you’d like to read it: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/canola-oil/If you are tired of guessing and would love a clearer picture of your own horse’s diet, come and see what we do at MyHappy.Horse. Download the app and start feeding with more confidence and a whole lot less worry.Download MyHappy.Horse (7-day free trial available):  https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

Orla is back in the Q&A seat… and she’s come armed 😅 In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Orla has curated a stack of listener questions (and kept Dr Nerida completely in the dark), so it’s a fast-paced, practical chat that bounces from industry ethics to real-life feeding decisions you’ll recognise instantly.We start with a big one: what actually makes someone a “nutritionist” in the horse world, and why that label can be meaningful… or totally meaningless. Nerida unpacks the difference between qualifications, experience, and the uncomfortable reality of “armchair experts” giving confident advice that can cost horses their health.From there, the conversation gets wonderfully hearty:Raw/cracked grains (especially corn): why this can be a hindgut wrecking ball when fed inappropriately, and what “gold standard” feeding looks like when welfare and performance matter.Hair analysis: when it might be useful (think toxins/heavy metals), why it often isn’t reliable for everyday nutrition decisions, and why diet analysis beats guessing, every time.Metabolic ponies + ulcers: why so many EMS “good doers” end up with serious gastric ulcers, and the management patterns that quietly set them up to fail (hello, long hours without forage).Orphan foals: Nerida shares a practical, “doable in the real world” approach to feeding orphan foals, including a simple milk-mixing recipe and how frequency of feeds can make or break a foal’s gut. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, marketing masquerading as science, or you just want a clearer path to feeding with confidence—this one’s for you. 🐴💛Here is the link to the 'How to feed an orphan foal' article from Dr Nerida: https://www.myhappy.horse/blog-posts/rearing-the-orphan-foal  Want to analyse your horse’s diet properly (without the stress)? Download MyHappy.Horse here: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324And if you enjoyed the Q&A chaos with Orla 🤪🧡, we'd be so grateful if you'd leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify, it helps other horse owners find the show 🙏🏼 

In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida is joined by Joanna Lepiarczyk from Horses Explained for a fascinating and deeply important conversation about horse mental health, equine behaviour, and the role that nutrition and feeding systems play in shaping a horse’s emotional wellbeing.We explore why behaviour is so often a form of communication, why a quiet compliant horse is not always a happy horse, and how chronic stress can affect a horse far more profoundly than many owners realise. Joanna shares her perspective on horse depression, the emotional cost of restricted forage and limited choice, and why the foundations of a good horse life are surprisingly simple: forage, freedom, and friends.We also talk about the importance of constant access to something to chew, forage variety, movement, predictability, agency, and why these are not “nice extras” but core building blocks for a horse’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.This is a thoughtful, compassionate, and at times confronting conversation that will encourage you to look beyond behaviour and think more deeply about how your horse is actually experiencing daily life.If you care about horse welfare, equine mental and emotional health, feeding management, and giving horses the conditions they need to truly thrive, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 🐴 🌟 Joanna Lepiarczyk is an equine behaviour expert, classical riding coach, and the author of Understanding Horse Depression, with a focus on equine mental health, horse personality, and helping riders understand horses more deeply.  🧡 You can connect with Joanna at https://www.horsesexplained.com and follow Joanna’s work @horsesexplained Joanna’s favourite book is ‘Training Showjumpers’ by Anthony Paalman 📲 To find out more about what we do here at MyHappy.Horse you can go to https://www.myhappy.horse or download the app (7-day free trial availabile): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

Grains are one of those ingredients that get demonised in the horse world… or are fed completely on autopilot. And neither is an ideal situation.In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida digs deep into her PhD research and explains why grain itself isn’t bad — it’s more like a power tool. Used well, in the right horse, grains are incredibly useful. Used carelessly (wrong type, wrong form, wrong amount), and grains can rapidly destroy hindgut health… and in severe cases, even cause death.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why the real issue is starch, and why starch must be digested in the small intestine (and not dumped into the hindgut)How uncooked/poorly processed grains can drive hindgut acidosis, microbial dysbiosis, leaky gut, inflammation, behaviour changes, colic and laminitis riskWhy cracking, grinding, and soaking don’t solve the core problem What “cooked grain” actually means and why extrusion tends to win on digestibilityWhere oats fit and why uncooked corn/maize is a hard no!Which horses should avoid grain altogether (including insulin dysregulation/PPID/EMS, PSSM/tying up) vs when grain is genuinely helpful (including thoroughbred racehorses, high-performance athletes)Grans are incredibly useful ingredients IF you know how to safely feed them. This episode helps you understand why grains are often unsafe AND how to make them safe to feed in appropriate situations.📲 Want to see how your current feeding program stacks up for gut health? Pop your horse’s diet into MyHappy.Horse and check the gut health score (7-day free trial availabile): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🌾 If this helped, share it with a horsey friend who’s feeding grain “because that’s what we’ve always done” — and hit follow so you don’t miss the next episode. 🐴💛 

Track systems (perimeter grazing systems) can look deceptively simple… but when they’re designed well, they deliver things horses are wired for: friends, freedom, and forage… with extra movement built in. In this episode, Dr Nerida is joined by the wonderful Dr Katherine Goldberg (DVM, LCSW), a veterinarian and clinical social worker,  to unpack what “species-appropriate husbandry” actually means in the real world, and why track systems aren’t just a “weight loss tool” for good doers, but a way we can help horses to live in a way that truly honours their needs. Dr Nerida and Dr Katherine talk about the concept of horses being behaviourally starving even when obese, the two welfare rules Katherine won’t budge on, and how meeting these basic needs changes behaviour, safety, gut health, and the horse–human relationship.You’ll also get practical, immediately usable setup guidance on track width, why varying widths can create natural movement patterns, and how separating resources (water, hay, shelter) encourages that nomadic, forage-and-walk lifestyle horses evolved for. Dr Katherine is the most beautiful human, driven by the desire to help us all create better, happier, more species-appropriate lives for our equine friends in which our horse-human relationships and horse goals, whatever they may be, can flourish! If you’d like to get in contact with Dr Katherine, you can find her at [email protected] And if you would like more information on what we do here at MyHappy.Horse you can find us over at https://www.myhappy.horse Thanks so much for being here 💖💛

Free faecal water (also called free fecal liquid) is one of those horse problems that looks “not that bad” on paper… but how 'bad' is it? 🐴💦In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida unpacks potential reasons why FFW is suddenly being talked about everywhere, from first hearing it at a conference in Dijon (2016) to seeing it dominate conversations at AAEP Denver (2025). And yes… she asks the uncomfortable question: is this another disease of modern management impacting an ancient gut?You’ll learn:What FFW is Why it’s likely multifactorial (forage changes, fibre variety, grain load & digestibility, sand irritation, ulcers, nitrates…)The practical “low-hanging fruit” steps to try first, in a logical order to help resolve FFWWhy microbiome research can be misleading when it’s only measured at broad levels (and why species-level testing may be the next big breakthrough); andWhen to loop in your vet (sand assessment, ulcer scoping, more advanced options like faecal transplant)If you’re dealing with FFW, this is your calm, evidence-informed roadmap to helping your horse.As always, please follow the podcast so more horse owners can find this, and if it helped, share it with a friend (or your whole agistment chat 😉). 💛💖 Want to see how your current feeding program stacks up for gut health? Pop your horse’s diet into MyHappy.Horse and check the gut health score (7-day free trial availabile): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🦠 Want to know which species of microbes live in your FFW horse's gut, grab a test kit from Dr Belinda and EquiGI - https://www.equigi.com

What happens when your horses live on mostly straw for 10 days… and one of them decides to protest with full-blown diarrhoea? 😅 In this Q&A-style catch-up, Dr Nerida and Orla unpack a very relatable “whoops” moment and use it to teach one of the most overlooked fundamentals in horse gut health: fibre diversity.They break down why straw is a very different beast to hay (hello, lignin), why some horses cope while others fall apart, and why “just add a product” isn’t always the smartest first move. From there, the conversation goes behind the scenes of the feed industry, mixed-species feed mills, the very real risk of ionophore contamination, and how to ask the right questions of manufacturers. Then it gets nerdy (in the best way) with least-cost vs set recipes, why crude protein can be misleading, and the lysine + leucine muscle-building “bricklayer and bricks” analogy you’ll love.In this episode you’ll learn:Why restricting forage to one source can trigger loose manure/free faecal water in some horsesWhy gut “fixes in 3 hours” are usually not how physiology works (and when electrolytes can confuse the picture)How to read a feed label to spot vague “least-cost” ingredient wordingWhy protein quality matters (especially for young horses, broodmares, and performance horses) 🐴💛 Want help making sense of your horse’s diet? Download MyHappy.Horse on the Apple App Store (link below) and take the guesswork out of balancing protein, lysine, and the bigger nutrition picture. And if this episode made you go and check the back of a feed bag… we’d love you to leave us a quick rating and review. It helps other horse owners find science-based feeding help. 🧪❤️ Download MyHappy.Horse here: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

Feeding an Off The Track (OTT) in the first 12 months can be a worry inducing juggle… appetite, behaviour, ulcers and those classic “why won’t you hold weight?” situations. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida shares her practical approach to feeding OTTs in their first year off the track so they can settle, digest fibre properly, and become easier to keep long-term.Nerida explains why many OTTs arrive with gut health issues. Racing routines and high-energy feeds can increase gastric ulcer occurence and shift the hindgut microbiome away from the good fibre-fermenting microbes. And when the gut isn’t right, it often shows up as a fussy appetite, tricky behaviour, and slow weight gain in OTTs. The episode breaks the first year into two phases: months 1–6 focus on gut rehab with forage first, fibre diversity and balancing vitamins and minerals the focus; then months 6–12 shift to weight and muscle development, with one big caution… weight gain diets change behaviour, sometimes dramatically.Listen to discover how to feed your OTT in the first 12 months off the track for brilliant results… setting your OTT up for a lifetime of health, happiness, calm behaviour and brilliant performance.🌟 Follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast so you don’t miss the upcoming episode unpacking Allay’s microbiome data with Dr Belinda Chapman. 💖 If this helped, a quick rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other OTT owners find the show. 📱 Want to check your OTT’s diet is balanced while you adjust feed for behaviour and condition? Try MyHappy.Horse (iOS) with a free 7-day trial:https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

NSC is one of those three-letter acronyms that pops up on feed bags and hay reports… and consistently manages to confuse even the most dedicated horse owners. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida McGilchrist unpacks Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) in a practical, horse-owner-friendly way.This episode looks at what NSC actually is (starch + water soluble carbohydrates; WSC), how it relates to WSC, whether we should be using WSC or ESC to calculate NSC (see, it gets confusing!), and why that 'fructan piece' matters for both laminitis risk and the hindgut microbiome.You’ll learn why NSC is everywhere in hay, pasture and feeds, and why it’s levels can fluctuate so dramatically, depending on plant type, time of day, climate, temperature, drought stress, and even soil fertility. Nerida shares real-world examples (including from her own horses) to explain what happens when NSC is too high. Problems can include crazy high insulin levels, laminitis, colic, tooth decay and microbial dysbiosis. And she explores why “not enough NSC” can also be a problem in performance horses where energy intake, palatability, and gut function matter.If you’re feeding a pony with insulin dysregulation, a horse with PPID/Cushing’s, a laminitis-prone horse, or a metabolically healthy high performance athlete, this episode will help you make informed, smarter decisions around NSC. 📱 If you’d like help applying this to your horse, download the MyHappy.Horse app on the Apple App Store and start building a diet you can feel confident about. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💖 And if this episode helped you, please share it with a horsey friend (especially the one currently arguing about pasture sugar on Facebook 😅)

A horse that won’t eat isn’t being “fussy”… it’s a red flag. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida, PhD equine nutritionist and founder of the MyHappy.Horse app, breaks down the most common nutrition-related reasons horses go off their feed, what they look like in real life, and what actually helps.Nerida covers hindgut disturbance (including hindgut acidosis) and the appetite knock-on effects, including the destruction of  vitamin B1, why some horses go off grain but still eat hay, and how faecal/manure pH can be a handy monitoring tool (with the key low-pH threshold to watch).You’ll also hear how gastric ulcers can affect appetite (and why it’s not always obvious), plus the salt trap: too much salt can make feeds unpalatable (and may worsen discomfort in ulcer-prone horses), while too little sodium, especially after watery diarrhoea or heavy sweating, can switch appetite off entirely.And don’t miss the quick but important one: DON mycotoxin (“vomitoxin”). If a new batch of feed is eaten for a few days, then suddenly refused, it may be the feed, not your horse, and testing can help confirm it.You’ll also hear the story of Breeze, Nerida’s very old mare, and the tiny, cheap change that brought her appetite back and genuinely saved her life. Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 Learn more: https://www.myhappy.horseAnd, if you know someone with a horse that isn’t eating well, please share this episode! And we’d love you to follow the Happy Horse Nutrition podcast… following us helps more horse people find science-based feeding help 🐴🙏🏼❤️

In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida tackles a pasture risk that catches many good horse owners out: high-oxalate warm-season grasses that can block calcium absorption, slowly weaken bone, and set horses up for nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (Bighead disease). You’ll learn the simple physiology behind it (the “bone calcium bank” concept), why blood calcium can look normal even when bones are being depleted, and the real-world signs that are easy to misread; shifting lameness, sore or grumpy behaviour, odd gait, skull changes, loud breathing noise under work, dental issues and poor hoof quality. Nerida walks you through practical pasture ID tips for the big culprits—kikuyu, buffel, couch/bermudagrass, and the high-risk one: setaria! And explains how oxalate levels and risk change with growth stage and location (including cooler regions in summer). Finally, she outlines prevention: targeting a calcium: oxalate ratio of at least 0.5:1, keeping calcium balanced with phosphorus and magnesium, why lucerne/alfalfa helps on multiple fronts, and when it’s smarter to use a properly formulated balancer or get expert help… especially if setaria is involved.✅ Want help checking whether your horse’s diet is actually balanced for these pastures (without doing the maths)? Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324❤️ If this episode helped, please follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts/Spotify and share it with a horse owner in warm, wet coastal regions (or anyone feeding teff or bermudagrass hay). 🕖 Until next time… go have a quick paddock walk! Your feed room decisions should always start with your grass. 🌱🐴 

Feeding horses during emergencies (bushfires, floods, storms, evacuations) can quickly become a “take what you can get” situation, but the choices you make in your makeshift feed room can determine whether your horse copes… or tips into dehydration, gastric ulcers, hindgut dysbiosis, colic, or even laminitis. In this practical episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida shares her approach to natural disaster horse feeding with one core rule: keep the diet as close to normal as possible.You’ll learn how to prioritise clean water (and what to do when horses won’t drink), why hay and fibre are your horse’s lifeline, and how to reduce risk when you’re forced to swap feeds or hays fast. We cover smart strategies like ingredient/forage variety, feeding little and often when hay is limited, avoiding the trap of over-using grain/hard feed, and why you should keep hay available when pasture regrows. There’s also specific guidance for horses with PPID (Cushing’s), insulin dysregulation, and laminitis, including when soaking hay might help in a tight spot.If you want a simple emergency checklist to protect hydration and gut health when your horse’s world is upside down, this one’s for you. ✅ Follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast on Spotify/Apple so you don’t miss new episodes. Useful links & resources📲 MyHappy.Horse app (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🎧 Start here: Episode 1 - Feed Your Horse Like a Horse (foundation principles for gut health and safer feeding)🎧 Also helpful: Episode 24 - Ingredient Variety and Why it Matters in Horse Nutrition 🎧 For metabolic/laminitis horses: Episode 15 – All about laminitis – keeping your horse safe

Should you feed before you ride? After? Or let your horse graze along the trail? 🐴In this myth-busting Q&A, Dr Nerida and Orla tackle some feeding folklore that just won’t die. Learn why lucerne before exercise protects the stomach from acid splash, why water restriction after work is probably just a Black Beauty hangover, and how letting horses snack mid-ride actually supports gut health. Plus they briefly cover mare abortions caused by hairy caterpillars and reading feed labels.It’s the perfect blend of evidence, experience, and friendly banter, plus a few stories from the saddle! 🌙🥕💧 🐛 Research article on mare abortions caused by the hairy caterpillars: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23452012/ and https://en.engormix.com/equines/horse-health/equine-amnionitis-foetal-loss_a34801/ 🏷️ Reading a Feed Label from Racing Queensland's Queensland Off the Track Nutrition Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-tixE0Jhg 📲 Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🤖 Ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai❤️ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and review — it helps us share science-based horse nutrition with more owners like you!

Forage sits at the very heart of equine nutrition, yet for most horse owners, the numbers on a hay or pasture analysis can feel like a foreign language. In this deep-dive episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida sits down with Anthony Balzer and Kimberly Detmers from Feed Central and Local Ag for an enlightening conversation about what’s really in our forage, how much it changes, and why testing matters more than most people realise.Together, they explore how hay and pasture analysis can influence everything from basic health to performance, soundness, growth, and healthy pregnancies. You’ll hear:Why forage can make or break a horse’s health—and sometimes an entire racing stableHow hay and pasture testing actually worksThe critical mineral shifts that dictate whether a youngster grows sound joints or ends up with OCDWhy nitrate levels matter (and the way it affects laminitis, broodmare health, and athletic performance)What “safe” NSC levels look like for laminitic horsesWhy TEFF hay is not always the low-sugar safe option many believeHow ingredient and species diversity in forage protects gut health and reduces colic riskHow to dilute risk by feeding multiple, tested foragesWhat makes a “near perfect” performance horse hay—and why no single hay is perfect for every horse; andWhere to send hay and pasture for analysis in Australia or overseasWith practical examples, on-farm stories, and clear explanations, this episode makes hay and pasture numbers approachable for every horse owner—from broodmare managers to everyday riders.If you’ve ever wondered what your hay and pasture is really doing inside your horse, this episode is essential listening. Understanding forage is one of the most powerful ways to keep your horses healthy, performing well, and protected from avoidable nutrition-related issues. 📱 Download the MyHappy.Horse app:https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🔬 Find out more about hay and pasture testing or submit a sample: https://www.feedcentral.com.au/how-to-submit-a-feed-sample-for-testing/🌱 Buy Aussie hay that has already been tested: https://www.localag.com.au/buy🐴 Check out the analysis services from Equi-Analytical: https://equi-analytical.comIf this episode helped you feel more confident about what’s in your hay and pasture, a quick rating or review in your podcast app really helps more horse owners find the show, and more horses get fed the way that’s best 💗

To kick off Season 2 (2026), we’re re-sharing our most listened-to Season 1 episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, and it’s a classic for a reason.In this practical, science-backed episode, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida breaks down what it really means to feed your horse like a horse, using evolution and gut physiology to help you understand and make modern feeding choices that truly honour your horse’s gastrointestinal physiology.You’ll learn the 5 non-negotiables:Why forage-first is the cornerstone of gut healthHow fibre/forage variety supports microbial diversity (and why that matters for the whole horse)Why horses need near-constant access to fibre to help protect the stomachWhy forage alone won’t cut it and the importance of a balanced diet; andThe importance of clean water + salt, every dayWhether you’re a horse owner, trainer, or vet, this episode gives you a simple, foundational understanding of every horse’s basic nutrition needs 📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🌐 Learn more: https://www.myhappy.horseP.S. if you enjoyed this episode, we'd love you to subscribe so you don’t miss all the good stuff that is coming in 2026. We'd also love you to please share this episode with a friend who loves a nutrition deep-dive as much as you do! 🐴💛

To wrap up 2025, we’re resharing our most popular guest interview from Season 1 — and it’s a favourite for good reason.In this episode, microbiology expert Dr Belinda Chapman and Dr Nerida take us inside your horse’s hindgut ecosystem.Together, they look at what the microbiome actually is, why horses rely on microbes far more than we do, and how the balance between the fibre-loving “good guys” and the weedy, greedy starch-fermenters can influence everything from digestion and energy production to health, performance, and behaviour. Dr Belinda and Dr Nerida also dive into some seriously fascinating concepts (in a very listenable way), including:Why horses have a more complex microbiome than humansThe underappreciated role of anaerobic fungi in fibre breakdownWhat “quorum sensing” is (and why it’s a bit mind-blowing); andWhy microbial diversity = resilience (and what that means in the real world) If this episode helps you see feeding through a new lens, we’d love you to subscribe so you don’t miss the practical, science-backed episodes coming in 2026 - and we’d really love ypu to share this with a friend who loves a good horse nutrition rabbit hole as much as you do, they’ll thank you for it.💛 More about Quantal Bioscience: ⁠https://www.quantalbioscience.com/⁠Hindgut microbiome testing with Dr Belinda: ⁠https://www.equigi.com/home⁠Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: ⁠https://www.myhappy.horse

In this last new episode for 2025, professional equine nutritionist Dr Nerida shares five ingredients she loves using in real-world diets, and five (actually if you listen carefully, she sneaks in 6!) ingredients she tries hard to avoid, including a couple she’d happily see disappear from horse feeds altogether!Listen as Dr Nerida frames nutrition the way she actually practices it — like a big jigsaw puzzle. No magic ingredient, no perfect feed… just smart puzzle pieces put together in the right way to support horses and to honour the physiology of their ancient gut.Plus find out which feed ingredient(s) makes it onto the ‘avoid’ list, mainly because of their marketing claims (hello “grain-free” when you’re not actually grain free!). This episode is an easy listen, and will help you think clearly about nutrition, read labels better, and make more confident feeding decisions that your horse and their hindgut will thank you for.Wishing you a happy and safe festive season 🎄❤️Remember to Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming in 2026 🤍 — and if this episode helped, we’d love you to share it with a horse friend who’s feeling stuck with feeding!Racing Queensland's Off The Track Nutrition Hub (free resources): ⁠https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/animal-welfare/off-the-track/nutrition-education-hub⁠Download the MyHappy.Horse app (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324Learn more about MyHappy.Horse: https://www.myhappy.horse 

When a horse presents with ulcers, colic risk, poor performance, slow healing,  unexplained weight change or a plethora of other health conditions, nutrition may be part of the story—even if it isn’t the primary cause. In this episode, Dr Nerida, PhD shares a practical, vet-friendly framework for a rapid field assessment of diet: the same fast mental checklist nutritionists run through when they first meet a case.You’ll walk away with three high-impact screening steps: (1) is there enough forage (and are there long fasting gaps that increase gut risk), (2) is grain being fed appropriately and in a digestible form (to avoid starch overflow into the hindgut); and (3) is the horse actually receiving correct supplementation—meaning a fortified feed/balancer/vitamin-mineral supplement at the proper feeding rate to cover common nutrient gaps and prevent “silent” deficiencies.✅ See all the figures and tables used in Dr Nerida’s AAEP presentation and read more about the rapid diet assessment framework https://www.myhappy.horse/rapidassess👇 Download the MyHappy.Horse app and use the Rapid Diet Assessment tool to quickly find red flags and decide when a full nutrition assessment is needed.https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

The racing world is changing — and happily, it’s science leading the charge.Dr Nerida and Orla return to unpack the data from Ciaron Maher Racing’s nutrition overhaul: less grain, more fibre, and a healthier, happier gut. Learn how high-fibre feeding transforms energy systems, why “the slump” after a diet change is worth pushing through, and what 12 months of microbiome testing revealed about real equine gut adaptation.From elite racehorses to everyday mounts, this episode shows how feeding for the hindgut fuels better performance, resilience, and recovery. 🧬💪📲 Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🤖 Ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai 💬 If you loved this discussion, please follow, rate and share — the horses will thank you! ❤️

When used well, strip grazing becomes one of the most effective tools for managing weight, preventing laminitis and protecting pasture. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida walks through exactly how strip grazing works in real life, why it matters and how to tailor it to your climate, pasture growth stage and horse’s body condition.Drawing on published research, decades of practical experience and her own track-plus-strip system at home, Nerida explains how to move fences strategically, when to increase or decrease allocations, why early-morning moves matter in spring and how straw can be a powerful safety net for easy keepers. She also covers the role of back fencing, how to protect pasture species, and how track systems improve movement, welfare and gut health.If you manage good doers, laminitis-prone horses or simply want clearer guidance on how much to move the fence and when, this episode gives you the practical framework you need. Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horse And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If today’s episode gave you something useful to take back to your horses, I’d love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more owners find trustworthy nutrition info instead of guesswork. ❤️ RESOURCESStrip grazing: Changes in biomass, nutrient content and digestibility of temperate, midsummer pasture by strip-grazed or 'free'-grazing ponies, over 4 weekshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890600/ The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponieshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275860/ 

A glossy coat isn’t just about looks — it’s a window into your horse’s inner health.In this episode, Dr Nerida takes you through some of the reasons coats lose their shine — from seasonal changes and mineral imbalances to sun bleaching and plain old horse individuality. Learn why copper  and zinc  are non-negotiables, how diet balance drives coat brilliance, and why balanced diets and good ol’ fashined patience often outshine any supplement.Whether your horse is looking “rough around the edges” or you’re chasing that moonlit gleam, this episode helps you feed and manage for healthy skin, strong colour, and natural glow. ✨ ❤️ Learn more about the MyHappy.Horse virtual nutritionist: https://www.myhappy.horse 📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 💬 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us and leave a rating and review — it helps more horse owners find science-based nutrition advice that truly benefits their horses! ❤️

Dr. Nerida and Orla are back with another Q&A episode that tackles everything from freaky behaviour on ryegrass and mycotoxin binders to a virtually unknown reason your horse might be completely off its feed, plus, how to tell if your grain is safe to feed.What You’ll Learn:• The early signs of ryegrass staggers (and why some horses go totally “goblin mode” 👻)• Which pasture mycotoxins are most dangerous and how to manage them• Why mycotoxin binders don’t work the same for all toxins—and when they do work brilliantly• The truth about cooking grains: does heat destroy nutrients or improve digestibility?• How to test if your horse’s grain is properly processed (and why faecal pH is your new secret weapon)• Real-world case studies from broodmares to racehorses, including why fescue can delay foaling• The surprising fact that some horses seem more resistant to pasture toxicity than othersDr. Nerida and Orla also cover how starch is packaged up like “golf balls” in raw grain and how heat + moisture busts those open for efficient digestion. Plus, you’ll learn how the MyHappy.Horse app can help you track your horse’s gut health using real data like faecal pH; practical, evidence-based tools every horse owner should be using.🎙️ Whether you're managing a quirky pony or fine-tuning a racehorse’s diet, this episode will help you decode behaviour, evaluate risk, and feed with clarity and confidence.👇Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-aiEnjoyed this episode? Leave us a review—it helps more horses get fed right. ❤️

Join Dr. Nerida as she tackles a listener question about feeding “marey mares” — those behaviourally expressive, sensitive, frequently moody, often brilliant mares. This solo Happy Horse Nutrition episode explores why behaviour challenges in mares are rarely caused by specific feed ingredients — and are almost always rooted in gut health, management, or pain.What You’ll Learn:• Why hindgut health is THE most important nutrition factor in mare behaviour 🐴• How the gut-brain axis influences temperament via dopamine and B-vitamin production 🧠• Why feeding hay before riding is non-negotiable for sensitive mares• The 3 things all mares need for stable mental health• How mycotoxin contamination (especially zearalenone in corn 🌽) wreaks hormonal havoc• Why pain (feet, ovaries, saddle fit) must be ruled out first before blaming the feed• The right way to test individual ingredients when sensitivities are suspected• And why your own energy might be mirroring back through your mare’s behaviour 🪞Dr. Nerida shares how her own anxious horses transformed through life changes, not supplements — and reflects on 25 years in the field, where true ingredient sensitivities are exceedingly rare (just 3 for alfalfa, 1 for soy!).🎧 Ideal for mare owners navigating grouchiness, grooming drama, or hormonally “hot” behaviour. Get the real framework for fixing it — starting with pain, gut health, and feeding management, not guesswork.📲 Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324🤖 Ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-aiIf this episode helped you or your mare, please leave a review! It helps more horses benefit from grounded, science-based feeding advice. ❤️

Discover how Ciaron Maher Racing (CMR) is pushing the boundaries in the Australian thoroughbred racing industry and breaking away from traditional nutrition strategies. In this in-depth conversation, PhD equine nutritionist Dr. Nerida sits down with Katrina Anderson (Sports Science Lead) and Josh Kadlec-Cavanagh (Head of Data and Performance) to reveal the data-driven approach that's challenging decades of traditional feeding practices. The trio discuss:Why feeding less grain (but more digestible grain) leads to better racehorse performanceThe critical role of hindgut microbiome health in racing successHow faecal pH monitoring allows them to fine tune their feeding programThe connection between gut health and chronic issues like foot soreness and tying-upWhy the "footy horses" at CMR have virtually disappearedThe remarkable case of Saint George: how targeted nutrition reversed severe thrush and fungal issues and got him back on the trackUnderstanding the performance slump when transitioning to more digestible feeds; andThe hard reality about gastric ulcers and race day challengesKat, Josh and Nerida also cover fiber fermentation vs. grain-based energy systems, managing the grain-to-bodyweight ratio for optimal performance, microbiome testing and its practical applications, reducing dependency on supplements and medications like omeprazole and the importance of lucerne hay before morning work. With over 400 horses in training, CMR provides unprecedented data insights into what works—and what doesn't—in modern racehorse nutrition. Whether you're a trainer, owner, stable hand, veterinarian, or equine nutritionist, this episode is packed with, science-backed strategies to improve racehorse health, welfare, and performance. If you’d like to read more about the brilliant microbiome study we discuss, see:Wunderlich G, Bull M, McGilchrist N, Zhao C, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. The horse gut bacteriome and anaerobic mycobiome are influenced by seasonal forages and small intestinal starch digestibility. J Appl Microbiol. 2025 Sep 1;136(9):lxaf203. doi: 10.1093/jambio/lxaf203. PMID: 40802476. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40802476/  Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app: https://www.myhappy.horse And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, we would LOVE if you would leave us a rating and review and share with your friends! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners and trainers… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️ 

Join Dr. Nerida as she explores why ingredient variety is absolutely critical for your horse's health. In this episode, which comes complete with Lucky the Goat 🐐anecdotes, Dr Nerida reveals the three reasons diverse diets keep horses healthier, happier, and more resilient - and why feeding just one or two ingredients is putting your horse’s health at risk. What You'll Learn:Why horses chew bark and fences (and what it tells us about their diet)The THREE critical benefits of ingredient variety: balanced nutrients, toxin dilution, and microbiome diversityHow different forages and feed ingredients work together to meet nutrient requirementsWhy nitrate and mycotoxin testing is essential for racing stables and performance horsesThe downsides of monoculture pastures and why horses need species diversityProtein combining: how different proteins work together as "Tetris pieces"; andDr. Nerida's personal feeding program for her daughter's OTTB (with multiple forage and fiber sources) Dr. Nerida reveals that the more ingredients in your horse's diet, the better chance you have of meeting complete nutrient requirements - it's like putting together a puzzle where each ingredient fills specific gaps. She explains how ingredient diversity protects horses from toxins (like nitrate in hay or mycotoxins in moldy feed) by either allowing them to avoid problem forages or diluting toxins to safe levels. And she explains how horses with diverse microbiomes can handle stress events like competition and travel without developing colic or diarrhea, while horses on limited diets are far more vulnerable to dysbiosis.  📲 Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horse 🤍 And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️ 

Join equine nutritionist and Happy Horse Nutrition host Dr Nerida as she sits down with renowned nutritionist and Grand Prix dressage rider Liz Owens to discuss the FEI's ‘Be A Guardian’ initiative and the critical role nutrition plays in horse welfare.In this comprehensive episode, Liz shares her extensive experience working with Olympic equestrian teams and competing at the highest levels of dressage. Together, they explore:The single biggest feeding mistake horse owners make (and how to fix it)Why 24/7 forage access should be non-negotiable for horse welfareThe truth about horse allergies and unnecessary supplementsHow proper nutrition directly impacts performance in competition horsesBody condition management for dressage and sport horsesThe gut-brain connection and its effect on horse behavior and welfareFeeding guidelines that Liz and Nerida think should be mandated for all horsesWhether you're an elite competitor or a simply have horses for the love of them, this episode provides down-to-earth advice on meeting your horse's basic nutritional needs while boosting their performance and wellbeing. Liz's straightforward approach cuts through industry myths and focuses on evidence-based feeding practices that every horse guardian should know.Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app: https://www.myhappy.horse And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, we would LOVE if you would leave us a rating and review and share with your friends! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners and trainers… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️ 

Join Dr. Nerida and Orla for a rapid-fire Q&A session (well, maybe not rapid fire, but fast moving!) tackling listener questions on omega-3 supplementation, PSSM tying up, and solving anhidrosis in hot climates. Complete with ‘Friends’ references and an ‘Irish joke’, this episode also manages to deliver some practical, science-based answers to real-life horse feeding challenges.Dr. Nerida reveals the research based, post-work rehydration formula (90 grams salt to 10 liters water) that keeps horses drinking after competition and why it is also critical to offer fresh water! She explains why excess protein depletes electrolytes through urination, and shares dramatic case studies of "problem horses" transformed through simple dietary changes. Learn why that chronically bucking warmblood might just be asking for a PSSM-safe diet.Plus learn about hemp seed benefits, cod liver oil vitamin A toxicity risks, why vitamin A and E disappear from hay after 12 months, and the reason horses won't drink even though you know they are dehydrated.Key topics covered in this episode include:Fish oil vs flaxseed oil: when each is best for a horse’s omega-3 needsWhy fish oil is better with high grain dietsPSSM diet management: recognizing subtle symptoms like chronic bucking and lazinessHow to feed PSSM horses safely without expensive genetic testingAnhidrosis causes: the protein and electrolyte connection in hot climatesCritical electrolyte requirements: 70 grams PLUS daily in tropical conditionsWhy lucerne/alfalfa has caused entire stables to tie up in humid weatherWe would love you to subscribe to the Happy Horse Nutrition podcast for more expert advice on feeding horses for optimal health and performance.Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horseAnd ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️

Confused about which supplements your horse actually needs? In this comprehensive episode, PhD equine nutritionist Dr. Nerida cuts through the marketing noise to reveal what's essential, what may be useful, and what's likely a waste of money.Discover why salt is the one non-negotiable supplement every horse must have access to—and why compressed salt blocks might not be the best option. Learn when electrolytes are truly necessary (and the critical water access rule you must follow), plus get the inside story on hoof supplements, gut health products, mycotoxin binders, and bone mineral supplements.Nerida shares practical insights on vitamin E deficiency in older hay, the truth about most current bacterial probiotics, how joint supplements fall short, and how to spot "snake oil" products that promise everything but deliver nothing. She also explains why feeding supplements at less than the recommended dose—tempting as it is to save money—often means you're just wasting your investment.The bottom line? A balanced diet does 90% or more of the work in your horse’s diet. But when supplements are needed, knowing which ones actually work and how to use them properly can make all the difference to your horse's health.Whether you're feeding a backyard companion or a performance athlete, this episode will help you make informed, evidence-based decisions about your supplement budget.Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horseAnd ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review and share with your friends! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️

Join professional equine nutritionist Dr Nerida and friend and horse industry colleague Orla for another engaging Q&A session. In this episode, we dive deep into free faecal water syndrome in horses—exploring fecal transplants, microbiome programming from dam to foal, and the crucial role of fibre diversity in gut health.Discover why paint horses are more prone to free fecal water, how stress impacts the condition, and whether gut supplements really help. We also tackle the sometimes controversial topic of feeding palominos to prevent smutting (and the possible health compromises involved).Plus, get expert advice on safely putting weight back on thin broodmares after weaning, including the best feeds, forage strategies, and how to avoid hindgut problems during the weight gain process.Key topics covered:Free fecal water syndrome causes and treatmentsFaecal transplants for horses and their effectivenessMicrobiome diversity and fibre variety in equine dietsPost-biotics vs probiotics for horse gut healthFeeding broodmares for healthy weight gainPalomino smutting and copper/zinc nutritionPasture-based feeding strategiesSubscribe to the Happy Horse Nutrition podcast for more expert advice on feeding horses for optimal health and performance.Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horseAnd ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️

Join PhD equine nutritionist Dr. Nerida as she tackles one of horse owners' most pressing questions: does my horse actually need grain? This comprehensive equine nutrition episode breaks down the science behind horse grain feeding, revealing why most horses don't need grain at all - and the specific cases where they do.What You'll Learn:The ONLY reason to feed grain to horses (it's simpler than you think)Which horses should NEVER have grain (insulin dysregulation, PPID, metabolic syndrome)How grain feeding can cause laminitis, colic, behavioral issues, and gut dysbiosisThe "Absolutely Not, No, Maybe, Yes" framework for determining if YOUR horse needs grainSafe grain feeding amounts: maximum limits to prevent hindgut damageWhy cooked grains are essential (except for oats) and which processing methods work bestReal-world examples from racehorses, yearlings and broodmaresKey Takeaways: Dr. Nerida reveals her ideal maximum of just 0.5kg grain per 100kg body weight (that's only 2.5kg for a 500kg horse!) and explains why performance actually improves when grain is reduced, not increased. She also busts the myth that overweight, lazy horses need more grain - often it's exactly the opposite.Perfect for horse owners who want evidence-based nutrition advice without the confusion. Whether you're dealing with a good doer, a hard keeper, or a performance horse, this episode gives you the tools to make informed feeding decisions.Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horseAnd ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️