07/31/2026
Client Spotlight Update✨ Scooter
Scooter & Nicola were one of my very first client pairs, almost 2 years ago. Our initial goal was to build a diet that supported Scooter as a senior hard-keeper with PPID and compromised dentition — all while working within his very particular taste preferences and the barn’s set feeding schedule.
Over the following seasons, Nicola and I monitored Scooter closely, making small diet adjustments as needed. Fast forward to early 2026: after previously being stable, Scooter’s recheck endocrine bloodwork indicated worsening insulin dysregulation and PPID, and he experienced a laminitis episode. Fortunately, it was caught early and managed very proactively by Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley, his veterinary podiatrist, and Nicola — but it was time for more significant diet changes.
Over the course of a month, we were able to reduce Scooter’s baseline insulin from 84 uIU/mL → 30 uIU/mL through diet changes alone. While improvements like this don’t happen for every horse — or always this quickly — it was an exciting early success that accompanied Scooter’s steady recovery from laminitis.
With ongoing medication adjustments and close monitoring by Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley & his veterinary podiatrist, we saw further improvements in Scooter’s endocrine health parameters.
After this year’s harsh northeast winter and the stress of acute health concerns, Scooter had lost weight, and regaining it was understandably slow, especially with medication changes affecting both his appetite and metabolism.
With incredible patience and diligence from Nicola, and an ongoing dose of creativity when it comes to keeping Scooter eating, we’re now approaching our target body condition score of 5.5 and have even seen improvements in his topline — no small feat for a senior horse with PPID, where muscle loss can become significant.
Scooter’s story is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished through collaboration.
Nicola’s dedication, paired with veterinary-podiatrist-nutrition collaboration, has helped — and continues to — support Scooter’s health and quality of life in ways that might not have been possible not too many years ago, from the availability of more high calorie, low NSC feed options to SGLT2i medications and an overall deeper understanding of equine endocrine health.
Do you have a senior horse whose nutrition-related health needs feel overwhelming? Or are you a veterinarian interested in how a collaborative, detail-oriented approach with nutrition can support your senior patients? I’d love to chat.
Thank you, Suki Sin, for continuing to entrust me with your boy’s nutrition 💚
