Ask The Horse

How do you feed recreational riding horses to meet their nutritional and digestive needs without causing weight gain? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews equine nutritionists Abby Keegan, MS, PAS, of Cargill North America and  Clair Thunes, PhD, of Clarity Equine Nutrition. You'll learn about the nutritional needs of recreational riding horses, hay and forage options, how to ensure your horse is getting the salt, vitamins, and minerals he needs, and more! 

This podcast episode is sponsored by Nutrena.

Abby Keegan, MS, PAS, is an equine nutritionist for Cargill North America. With more than 16 years professional experience, Keegan enjoys connecting research and development with real-world application, creating new products, services and solutions that support improving the health of the horse. Keegan is passionate about educating horse owners and veterinarians on equine nutrition, she has trained many consultants and taught continuing education courses for equine veterinarians across the United States. Keegan received her BS in Animal Science from Iowa State University, MS from Kansas State University, and also holds an ARPAS equine certification. Her roots run deep in agriculture as she grew up on a farm raising cattle and crops, showing livestock and horses, and continues that tradition today with her husband and two sons.

Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club.

Is your horse getting the nutrition he needs to reach his athletic potential? Are you looking to build his topline or increase his stamina? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Marty Adams, of Cargill Animal Health & Nutrition, and Dr. Clair Thunes, of Clarity Equine Nutrition. You'll learn about the nutritional needs of performance horses, protein and amino acid requirements, energy content in equine diets, and much more! 

This episode is sponsored by ProElite. 

Marty Adams, PhD, ARPAS, is a technical services equine nutritionist for Cargill Animal Health & Nutrition. Cargill owns and manufactures Nutrena Horse Feeds, including SafeChoice, ProForce, Empower and Triumph brands, as well as Legends, ProElite and Progressive Nutrition Horse Feeds and Supplements. He was formerly the equine nutritionist and horse feed manager for Southern States Cooperative. Adams also served as an assistant/associate professor at Louisiana Tech University after graduate school, and then was the equine nutritionist for Seminole Feed before taking the position at Southern States. Adams has two bachelor’s degrees from Missouri State University and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri (Animal Science/Equine Specialty). American Registry of Professional Animal Science) certification.

Clair Thunes, PhD, is an independent equine nutrition consultant who owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, based in Arizona. She works with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the United Kingdom Pony Club. Today, she serves as the regional supervisor for the Sierra Pacific region of the United States Pony Clubs. As a nutritionist she works with all horses, from WEG competitors to Miniature Donkeys and everything in between. 

Massage can promote relaxation, support your horse’s muscles, and improve his performance.  Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Michele Haman, owner of Equi-Librium Therapy, LLC, and veterinarian Dr. Gina Tranquillo-Shade . You'll learn about equine massage therapy, how to find a qualified massage therapist for your horse, and how it can benefit certain types of horses. 

This episode is sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products. 

Michele Haman is the founder and owner of Equi-librium Therapy, LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky and Wellington, Florida, which offers massage for equine athletes. She holds bachelor’s degrees in equine therapy, equine science, and equine management, as well as in accounting. She’s passionate about helping animals feel and perform their best and strives to grow and share her knowledge every day.

Gina Tranquillo-Shade, VMD, grew up showing Arabian horses and continued intercollegiate competition at Wilson College, in Pennsylvania. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and completed a field care internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in Lexington, Kentucky. She later practiced equine medicine at All Points Equine, in Pennsylvania. Her interests include reproduction, preventive medicine, sports medicine, field care, and acupuncture. She also completed an equine sports massage therapy certification through Equissage, in Round Hill, Virginia. Although she recently transitioned her scope of practice to small animals, she’s an active horsewoman and enjoys riding, cooking, and spending time with family.

Your horse’s head, face, and mouth comprise sensitive nerves, bone, and soft tissue. While many of us focus on saddle fit, bridles and bits often get overlooked as a cause of discomfort. Bits can cause mouth pain and injury, and research shows many nosebands are adjusted too tight to the point of cruelty. Is your horse wearing the right bit and bridle?

Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Hilary Clayton, Professor and Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair Emerita at Michigan State University. You'll learn about the importance of bit and bridle fit, how different types of bits fit and work in a horse's mouth, how to measure the tightness of a noseband, and much more! 

Dr. Hilary M. Clayton is a veterinarian, researcher and horsewoman. For more than 40 years she has performed innovative research in the areas of locomotor biomechanics, lameness, rehabilitation, conditioning programs for equine athletes, and the interaction between rider, tack, and horse. She has published seven books and more than 200 scientific articles on these topics. Clayton served as the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine from 1997 until she retired from academia in 2014. She continues to perform collaborative research with colleagues in universities around the world. Clayton is a charter diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science and has been inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame, the Midwest Dressage Association Hall of Fame, and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. She is a lifelong rider and has competed in many equestrian sports, most recently focusing on dressage in which she trains through the Grand Prix level and has earned U.S. Dressage Federation bronze, silver, and gold medals.

From learning theory and counterconditioning to supplements and pharmaceutical options, we’ll take a look at ways to safely help nervous, high-strung, and energetic horses relax. 

Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Camie Heleski, PhD, and Jenny Biehunko, PhD. You’ll learn about different health conditions that might contribute to a horse’s anxiety, how to handle a herd bound horse, different medications and supplements to help horses relax, and much more! 

This event is brought to you by Confidence EQ by Bimeda.

Dr. Camie Heleski is an instructor and adviser in the University of Kentucky equine science and management program. Previously, she worked at Michigan State University, where she was the two-year horse management program coordinator for 25 years. Her applied research interests include equine behavior and welfare, horse-human interactions, and working equids in the world’s developing regions. She’s currently president of the International Society for Equitation Science and has served as scientific chair for the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Canadian equine welfare code committee. Her equine research and outreach efforts have taken her to Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Egypt, and Mali. She enjoys dressage with her Arabian gelding, MSU Ducati.

Dr. Jenny Biehunko is a 1998 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She’s practiced behavioral medicine in a private practice setting for over more than 20 years. In 2016, she began a residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, working toward a specialty in veterinary behavior. Dr. Biehunko teaches ethology and behavior at both the Auburn and Tuskegee Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, and she has a special interest in equine behavior, as well as integrating lower stress and humane handling methods into the veterinary and training communities. Her grandfather was an equine veterinarian and rider, and Jenny was raised with horses. She has a small herd of Arabian horses, and rides dressage, trail, and endurance.

Equine nutritionists and veterinarians agree: Forage should be the cornerstone of the equine diet. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Laurie Lawrence, of the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Stephen Duren of Performance Horse Nutrition. You'll learn about different forage options for horses, including beet pulp, alfalfa, and more. 

This event is brought to you by Standlee Premium Western Forage. 

Dr. Laurie Lawrence is an equine programs professor in the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Her research interests include nutrient requirements of broodmares and foals, nutrient requirements of exercising horses, equine digestive physiology, pasture and forage utilization, and equine exercise physiology.

Dr. Stephen Duren completed his Bachelor of Science in animal sciences at the University of Idaho. He earned a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in equine nutrition and exercise physiology from the University of Kentucky. His research focus centered around feeding fat to racehorses and changes in blood flow distribution in fed and fasted horses during exercise. Dr. Duren has now formed Performance Horse Nutrition, LLC, where he consults with feed manufacturers and horse owners throughout the world. He has owned competitive horses and understands the investment of time and training and realizes that diet should be a factor that helps the horse, not limits the horse. Dr. Duren has been pivotal in the way Standlee Premium Western Forage ensures their forage nutritional and quality excellence.

Few horses are lucky enough to have constant, year-round access to fresh, green grass, which provides the best natural source of vitamin E. This powerful antioxidant supports muscle and nerve health. Is your horse getting enough? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Carrie Finno. You'll learn about horses' vitamin E requirements, signs of a vitamin E deficiency, and how natural sources of vitamin E compare to synthetic vitamin E. 

This event is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products.

Dr. Finno is an equine internist who serves as associate professor in veterinary genetics and the Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). She received her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 2004 and then completed a three-year residency in large animal internal medicine at UC Davis. She elected to pursue a career in translational genetic research, with a strong focus on inherited neuromuscular diseases. Her research studies the interaction of vitamin E and neural development in a naturally occurring disease in the horse and using a well-established mouse model.

Do you manage a pastures for your horses? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Krishona Martinson, PhD, MS, of the University of Minnesota Equine Extension Program. You’ll learn about grass health, maintenance, rotational grazing, weed control, dry lots, and much more.

Dr. Krishona Martinson, is a professor of equine science and leads the University of Minnesota Extension Horse Program and is an equine extension specialist. Her applied research program focuses on improving equine forage utilization. She currently serves on the Equine Science Society board of directors. Along with her daughters, Dr. Martinson competes locally in timed events. 

Sometimes we as horse people get stuck in our traditions and habits or are influenced by mythology and marketing. But is there a better way? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Camie Heleski of the University of Kentucky. You’ll learn about how equine welfare plays an important part in training and managing horses, how  equine welfare is measured, improvements we can make to our horses’ housing and lifestyles in order to improve their wellbeing, and much more.

Dr. Camie Heleski is an instructor and adviser in the University of Kentucky equine science and management program. Previously, she worked at Michigan State University, where she was the two-year horse management program coordinator for 25 years. Her applied research interests include equine behavior and welfare, horse-human interactions, and working equids in the world’s developing regions. She’s currently president of the International Society for Equitation Science and has served as scientific chair for the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Canadian equine welfare code committee. Her equine research and outreach efforts have taken her to Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Egypt, and Mali. She enjoys dressage with her Arabian gelding, MSU Ducati.

How cold is too cold to ride? Does your horse need a blanket? What should your horse eat during frigid weather? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Karen Waite, PhD of Michigan State Extension. You'll learn about blanketing, winter horse nutrition, preventing injuries in icy pastures, and how to encourage horses to drink water during the colder weather. 

Dr. Karen Waite is part of Michigan State Extension, where she serves as an academic specialist and coordinator of the equine education undergraduate program. Her teaching responsibilities include a variety of equine courses. Additionally, she’s faculty advisor to the MSU Equestrian Team and Horsemen’s Association.