Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr Independent Equine Nutritionist

Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr Independent Equine Nutritionist Nutrition isn't everything; but there's nothing without it... Nutrition Consultancy and an extensive online resource, The Equine Nutrition Learning Centre
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09/12/2025

There's a lot more to good nutrition than just nutrient requirements! 🐴🍏

09/12/2025

⚖️ Weight management – not too thin, not too fat - can be one of the most worrying parts of horse ownership.

Carrying extra weight increases the risk of laminitis, EMS, joint strain and reduced performance… but being underweight comes with its own set of challenges, from poor topline and low energy to underlying health or feeding issues. It’s stressful, and it can feel like you’re guessing every day 😟.

If you’re confused, frustrated, or feeling out of control about how to safely guide – then keep - your horse or pony at a healthy weight — without compromising gut health, behaviour, fitness or well-being— then read on🥴

🙋‍♀️You’re not alone! It can be such a minefield trying to work out what is best for your own horse or pony, considering all the conflicting opinions out there. Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health and well-being and our horses and ponies rely on us to make the right choices for them🐎

👉If you’re struggling with how to get your good doer to lose weight, how to ensure your horse maintains a healthy weight, or you’re worried about your poor doer getting too thin over winter, or you’re increasing – or decreasing - your horse’s work, then you need to know how to adjust their diet to meet their needs.

In my webinar on winning the weight challenge, I teach you how to adjust your horse or pony’s diet to help them maintain a healthy weight all year round. You also get to ask all your questions ❔ about feeding your own horse or pony.

✅ Comment ‘webinars’ below to learn more about my upcoming webinar on winning the weight challenge

Here’s what you’ll find out 👇:
🐴 How to balance your horse’s diet for a healthy weight
🍏 How to leave behind worries of being over- or underweight
🐴 How to feed for the right weight
🍏 How to avoid fluctuations in weight
🐴 Practical tips and a clear plan to keep your horse or pony thriving and give you peace of mind that their diet is under control

As we go through the webinar, I help you to work out how to adjust your horse or pony’s dietary management so that they get the diet they need 🐴✅.

You get access to all this help from the comfort of your sofa, with an online, live webinar, and you get access to a replay for 2 weeks, in case you miss the live event or want to rewatch any sections.

I’ve worked with thousands of horses and owners over more than 2 decades and I know that what I share in my webinars will work to give you clarity about how to feed your horse well, for long-term health and happiness 🥳🐴.

Comment ‘webinars’ below to learn more about the webinar!

Enjoy your horses and ponies
Clare 🐴🍏

FORAGE ALONE CAN MAKE YOUR HORSE TOO FAT ❗️And not just grass either!So it's time to explain this again....All types of ...
08/12/2025

FORAGE ALONE CAN MAKE YOUR HORSE TOO FAT ❗️

And not just grass either!

So it's time to explain this again....

All types of hay (including organic meadow hay) and haylage can all cause obesity.

Don't assume that all fat horses are overfed from a bucket. Some will happily eat double the normal intake of forage if fed ad lib (free choice).

Some owners already know this, but more and more horses and ponies who aren't fed much in a bucket are obese, and there a persistent myth that if you feed natural non-ryegrass hay, they will regulate and stay a healthy weight.

This is simply not true.

Some will overeat more after restriction; some will regulate if fed ad lib (but not many); some will literally eat themselves to death (yes, even on just hay).

Horses are all VERY different so be open minded and MONITOR your horse or pony regularly and carefully.

Also worth noting is that horses and ponies can come down with laminitis on hay-only diets, without grass. This is more unusual than those who get laminitis whilst grazing, but I have come across several cases of the former.

Monitor, monitor, monitor your horses and ponies to avoid and manage obesity, and reduce the risk of laminitis.

Please help spread the word by sharing - thank you
🐴🍏
ps comment webinars for details of my winning the weight challenge talk happening tomorrow evening

Need Nutrition and Feeding help?Don't be stuck, confused or stressed out wondering how or what to feed (there's enough t...
08/12/2025

Need Nutrition and Feeding help?

Don't be stuck, confused or stressed out wondering how or what to feed (there's enough to sort out at this time of year).

A last minute Nutrition Consultation space has come up for Wednesday 10th December in West Wilts, S Glos/Bristol areas, early afternoon.

Please comment or drop me a WhatsApp for the info or to secure.

Please share if you're in these areas!
Thank you
🐴🍏

To help you get your horse healthier and happier.....it starts with nutrition and feeding.I made 21 ways in 21 days to u...
06/12/2025

To help you get your horse healthier and happier...
..it starts with nutrition and feeding.

I made 21 ways in 21 days to upgrade your nutrition nouse.

It's completely free.

You can claim yours by commenting '21'
🐴🍏

STRAW AS A FORAGE FEEDCereal straw is becoming more commonly fed to reduce total calorie intake without over-restricting...
05/12/2025

STRAW AS A FORAGE FEED

Cereal straw is becoming more commonly fed to reduce total calorie intake without over-restricting the amount a horse or pony on a weight loss regime can be fed.

Researchers showed that replacing 50% of the forage (in this case, grass haylage) with straw for a group of horses prolonged feeding time, reduced insulin response, and did not affect the prevalence of gastric ulcers. No detrimental effects were noted e.g. in gut function or droppings. (Jansson et al, 2021; Animals)

I've been recommending replacing some hay with straw for years, with good results for weight loss and without any unwanted side effects.

If you feed straw, select good hygienic quality (bright orange or yellow), introduce it gradually, ensure good dental function and free access to clean fresh water. Hygiene is more important than species i.e. oat, barley and wheat are all suitable, and choose from the hygienic quality (cleanliness).

Feel free to share 🐴🍏🟨

A GRAVE FEEDING ERROR 🙈🐴I keep coming across owners who get stuck into a set way of feeding all horses.This is an error....
04/12/2025

A GRAVE FEEDING ERROR 🙈🐴

I keep coming across owners who get stuck into a set way of feeding all horses.

This is an error.

What the overweight horse in the pictures needs is completely different to the slim, exercising horse, or the underweight horse!

Some owners have become worried about feeding ANYTHING BUT a low calorie diet over 10 or 12% NSC (sugar, fructan and starch) but...
..the point is that this type of diet is correct for horses and ponies who are of the following types:
🐴 good doers prone to putting on weight
🐴 overweight horses and ponies (especially if obese)
🐴 EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) ie laminitis, HAL (hyperinsulinaemia associated laminitis) ID (insulin dysregulation)
🐴 Natives in little or no work (genetically have a higher risk of ID)
🐴 Laminitis-prone
🐴 PPID (Cushing's syndrome)

Such a diet will NOT support a horse from the following list!:
🏇 horses in hard work e.g. endurance 50 miles +, eventing Novice +, racehorses, polo ponies in hard work, horses hunting regularly, hard-working stock horses
🏇 poor doers, especially over winter (horses prone to losing weight and condition)
🏇 broodmares who are not good doers
🏇 young growing horses on relatively poor forage

Don't get scared to feed your horse if they need it.

Please help spread the word by sharing - thank you!
🐴🍏

YOU MIGHT NEED TO SOAK FOR LONGER!! If I had a pound for every time I've mentioned lately that soaking hay is not done j...
03/12/2025

YOU MIGHT NEED TO SOAK FOR LONGER!!

If I had a pound for every time I've mentioned lately that soaking hay is not done just to reduce sugar content, I'd be rather rich.

We soak hay not only to reduce water soluble carbs (sugar and fructan) but also - importantly - to reduce calories (energy)..

Reducing calories of hay means that more can be fed (better for welfare) whilst still ensuring your horse loses weight (body fat).

Low sugar does not necessarily mean fat loss! Yes, reducing sugar and fructan will contribute to lower calories but the reduction in calories from a hay soak may not just be due to WSC loss.

Only a calorie deficit can cause weight loss.

I'm going to repeat that..

Only. a. calorie. deficit. can. cause. weight. loss.

If your overweight horse or pony is still not losing weight and you can't reduce the amount of hay any more without compromising welfare (gut and psychological health) then soak for longer (max 12 hours).

There are other ways to reduce calorie intake (like replacing some hay with straw), but. ...

We do not soak hay just to reduce sugar content and we might need to soak longer than 1 hour.

Nutritionists know from both research and practice that horses and ponies can easily become obese from forage-only diets, so we do have to take care with the amount of calories (energy) coming from forage, without half-starving them to keep them healthy.

Please share to help me spread the word!

Thank you
🐴🍏

HELP! MY HORSE IS LOSING WEIGHT 😣If this is you, over winter, then read on: For owners of overweight horses, winter weig...
03/12/2025

HELP! MY HORSE IS LOSING WEIGHT 😣

If this is you, over winter, then read on:

For owners of overweight horses, winter weight loss is very helpful, but for those who are not, it can be challenging time for owners.

Especially owners of poor doers who seem to drop weight at the drop of a hat!

Here's a few tips:
> First rule out health issues with veterinary advice (including a dental check)
> Feed ad lib forage and the highest energy you can source
> Ensure plenty of forage in the turnout (hay/haylage if grass has run out)
> Choose moderate to high energy (calorie) bucket feed, and feed plenty
> Add another meal per day if possible e.g. after exercise
> Many low starch compound conditioning feeds are available and they can be ideal for weight gain without excess exuberance/fizziness e.g. Baileys Ease & Excel, Spillers UlcaFibre, Saracen ReLeve
> If using straights be sure you feed by weight not volume and balance them correctly
> Add oil-rich feeds or veg oil for even more calories
> Encourage a good appetite

For more details, comment webinars and I will send you details of an upcoming evening all about keeping your horse at a healthy weight.
🐴🍏

Address

15 Meyer Close, Wellington
Taunton
TA219FE

Telephone

+447733324390

Website

https://linktr.ee/claremacleod

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Nutrition isn’t everything, but there’s nothing without it

Independent, unbiased advice from a qualified, experienced and friendly Equine Nutritionist. I also have my own horses so I truly understand the challenges you as owners have in feeding your horses, managing their routines, and negotiating your way through the huge amount of available information and products.