Happy Horse Nutrition

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. 🐴💛 

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

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

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! ❤️

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! ❤️