Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr Independent Equine Nutritionist

20/06/2026

DON'T BE DUPED!

"Free from any prohibited substances as defined under Jockey Club and FEI rules"

If a company say this, you should check that they actually test and hold those products 'under bond' until they have clear test results.

If they don't test, they cannot truthfully state that the product is free of prohibited substances.

If they are not holding product under bond whilst they test the batch, they should state something like 'the formulation does not contain any prohibited substances'

Stating 'Free from..' when you don't test is a clue that the company do not properly understand nutrition or the correct production of feeds or feed supplements.

One way to get peace of mind that a feed or supplement product is safe to feed to horses competing under rules is to ensure that the manufacturer is approved under the BETA NOPS scheme (British Equestrian Trade Association's Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances)

Companies approved under this scheme must adhere to a strict quality assurance scheme, which necessitates rigorous standards which in turn minimise the risk of horses accidentally eating natural and other prohibited substances.

If you are competing under rules, then it is recommended to use only companies who are approved under the BETA NOPS scheme, If not, you are at a higher risk, even (and especially) if the company states something like 'free from' (and are not actually bonding and testing)

If you are not competing under rules, it is recommended to steer away from companies stating 'free from' when they are describing the ingredients they use, but they are not testing the end product, or operating under the BETA NOPS scheme.

Horse owners - be aware that someone can operate a feed or supplement company without understanding correct nutrition, the rules and regulations around making and selling feed, or the risk of a positive test for prohibited substances.

There are no rules or regulations in place to ensure that feed or supplement companies actually know about and understand nutrition!

This is - I agree - unfortunate, but it is the way it is, so as consumers we just need to be aware, and if any doubt, contact the company and ask for clarification.

If you didn't know this please share to spread the word....
Thank you
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about horse nutrition and feeding

20/06/2026

Not much grass? Or maybe not... 🐴🍏

20/06/2026

A reminder of how hard farmers work making hay and haylage for our horses and ponies!

Big thanks to all the farmers currently working hard making horse forages. We are all very grateful!

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Today has been long & hot🥵 2 tractors decided that today of all days they would leak either oil or diesel, we've had to drive into town multiple times to pick up machine parts & we've baled, loaded, wrapped & stacked 1500+ haylage bales. We didn't use the Arcusin today, instead we used our muscles and individually wrapped & palletised every bale.

WHAT. A. TEAM💪

That's all I have left in the tank to write this evening.

We go again tomorrow😁

19/06/2026

Horses are individual in their parasite susceptibility as well as their nutrition needs!

Whilst we have guidelines based on studies of populations, we do need to always monitor the individual in front of us.

This applies to all aspects of their health care, as well as nutrition (and it's why textbook values for energy (calorie) need are not accurate).

If you follow me, you might be feeling like I'm repeating myself.

That's my aim:

Saturation of the important key points about horse health and happiness 😁

Thanks to Westgate Labs for excellent information, as always.

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19/06/2026

HORSE FEED ROOM NON-NEGOTIABLE

A lady I was working with was doing a grand job fulfilling her horses' energy requirements (calories) by adjusting their concentrate feed.

When I asked her if she had weighing scales in her feed room, she admitted that no, she'd just been using the scoop i.e. the volume of the feed to change the calorie delivery.

Fair enough, but how do we know they are getting enough of the essential vitamins and minerals if we don't weigh?

This lady was getting their diet balanced in terms of calories (energy) but not in terms of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).

This is a common error.

Good nutrition is completely reliant on a diet balanced for all the essential nutrients - as well as energy (calories).

We need to know how much in weight we are feeding in the bucket, to be sure we are feeding the full recommended amount of vitamins and minerals, even if we know the calorie supply is correct.

Also, if we know the weight of what we're feeding, it allows a more accurate adjustment of calories (energy) and other nutrients like protein.

In most cases I describe 'feeding guidelines' not 'feeding rules' but when it comes to having weighing scales in our feed room...
. it is a rule 😊

It's an essential, a non-negotiable, a must-have.

Have you got scales in your feed room?
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18/06/2026

ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS ARE NOT TONICS OR TREATMENTS!!!

Vitamin E and selenium are essential micronutrients that are needed daily all year round, regardless of grass

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is needed all year round, regardless of grass.

Vitamin C is not essential for most horses because they make it themselves in their body.

This type of information (in the picture) is misleading because it implies that we add nutrients as tonics or treatments for conditions or to ameliorate some other dietary factor like grass.

We feed extra nutrients to balance the diet!

Balancing the diet means supplying all the essential nutrients the horse's body needs every day - not as a tonic, treatment or therapy, but as the basic building blocks for healthy body function.

Yes, we do sometimes add extra (sometimes called supra-optimal) levels of certain nutrients for particular conditions or situations but this is ALWAYS on top of a well balanced diet.

Basic good nutrition might be a bit boring for some, but it's the only route to optimal health and happiness for our horses!

Please feel free to share
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17/06/2026

TAIL HEAD F*T PADS

After my post the other day about monitoring our horse's body condition and looking out for deposits on their neck crest and at the tail head, a kind owner send me these good examples of tail head f*t pads.

She said I could share, for the benefit of those who haven't seen these or aren't sure what they look like.

The picture in my previous post showed where to feel for them, but that horse did not have any pads in that area.

(And before you ask, I use f*t to get around the facebook algo which will significantly reduce reach of this post if I use the correct word - thanks for bearing with this.

I know some of you find it annoying, but I know many struggle with over weight horses and ponies so I want to keep sharing help and advice about it)

These can be hard to shift, but I assure you, they will go with a long enough calorie deficit.

If you have any examples to share, please do post below - it helps other owners to be able to recognise this issue... thank you.
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15/06/2026

If you want to be inspired today, then be sure to follow the epic journey of these two amazing ladies and their amazing horses!

My friend Ali Zuend and her friend Jo are riding their horses from John O Groats to Lands End in aid of some very worthwhile charities Adventure B4 Dementia 2026

Before they left I gave them a little help with their horses' diets, and I notice their horses are looking fabulous in terms of their condition and overall health, so they are doing a wonderful job of looking after them very well (I hope they are looking after themselves just as well!)

Wishing this group of four all the very best with their amazing adventure and I am thoroughly enjoying following their progress on their page (click the link above).
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‘I don’t like hacking – so why not ride the whole country!’ Riders take on epic John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge to battle for dementia cure

14/06/2026

TRIED BUT FAILED 🥴
AND - WHAT DO YOU NEED?

If you messaged me lately by DM (direct message) you might have had a slightly odd reply!

Facebook advised I use a tool to help me respond to the huge (and growing) number of DMs I get now. It was an AI agent and as someone who likes to keep an open mind and to learn new things, I thought I'd try the new tech!

However, I felt like this tool failed so I have turned it off for now, and instead have activated an instant reply with a pointer of how to contact me in a way I can realistically respond to.

The main reason I felt the AI agent failed was that it read like a person, but it wasn't. If I am using an AI tool then I want it to be clear it is an AI tool...

I've built my business on authenticity, telling the truth, and on human care and attention, and I want to retain this, even as I grow bigger. You get a real person and real, evidence-based information and advice when you work with me, whether you choose 1 to 1 advice, a nutrition course or on demand webinar.

As the number of questions and enquiries grow, I will need to rethink how I manage things... unless tech can help me clone myself (heavens, no!!!).

Until then (😆) so I can be sure I am building nutrition solutions that work for what you need, please comment below on what you need help with, with your own horse or pony.

Thank you. I really appreciate your input and your time,
Clare
(real Clare, not AI agent 'Clare' !)
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14/06/2026

WATCH OUT FOR CRESTS AND TAILHEAD PADS!

Monitoring our horse's body f*t covering is key to catching weight gain (and loss) early so that the diet can be adjusted accordingly (before metabolic disease sets in).

An easy way to determine if a horse or pony is over-weight is if you cannot feel their ribs, and/or you can feel a fat accumulation on the neck crest or above either side of the top of the tail (the tailhead).

The nuchal ligament lies along the top of the neck and any tissue on top of that is f*t, not muscle. On the horse dissection I recently attended, it was fascinating to see how much adipose tissue was laid down on top of the nuchal ligament.

The f*t (adipose tissue) laid down on the neck crest and tailhead are associated with an increased risk of metabolic disturbance including insulin dysregulation.

Unfortunately, insulin dysregulation can be grumbling away without any obvious consequences for some time, and whilst not every over-weight horse will get laminitis, they will be at increased risk and especially if they have this particular f*t deposition on the neck crest and at the tailhead.

If you can feel more than a couple of inches of f*t on the neck crest, or can feel or see pads around the tailhead, it is time to take action and get a calorie deficit in place to reduce the adipose tissue.

When it comes to metabolic disturbances and the associated risk of laminitis, prevention is most definitely better than cure.

Feel free to share
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