Happy Horse Nutrition – Details, episodes & analysis

Did you know that our traditional exercise and management regimes of performance horses can contribute to a decline in bone health? And may even lead to catastrophic bone injury! 

Learn how to keep bone healthy with world leading equine exercise physiologist Dr Brian Nielsen, Michigan State University and Dr Nerida as they discuss Dr Nielsen’s research into bone health that spans the last three decades.

Find the full scientific review here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/789

Find out more and download the MyHappy.Horse App here: https://www.myhappy.horse

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! <3

Lucerne before riding? Absolutely — and here’s why.
In this episode, Dr Nerida explains how feeding lucerne (alfalfa) hay before exercise can help protect your horse’s stomach from acid splash and ulcers. Especially important for horses in regular work, this simple strategy could make a big difference to your horse’s comfort, behaviour and gut health.

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: ⁠https://www.myhappy.horse⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! <3

A horse's gastrointestinal tract is unique and complex. In this episode, Dr Nerida demystifies the horse's gut!

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: ⁠https://www.myhappy.horse⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! <3

Honouring our horses' ancient gut

Welcome to the very first episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast! 🎙️
If you’ve ever wondered why “normal” modern feeding often leads to issues like colic, ulcers, unpredictable behaviour, poor condition, poor performance or picky eating… this episode is your starting point.

PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida takes you back to the horse’s blueprint: 55 million years of evolution as a grazing animal — and shows you the tiny sliver of time our horses have been living the way we keep horses today.

When you understand how the horse’s gut was designed to work, feeding becomes a whole lot simpler (and your horse gets a lot happier and healthier!).

In this episode you’ll walk through the 5 key rules of feeding your horse like a horse:

·       Why forage should be the foundation of every diet

·       How forage and fibre variety supports nutrient intake and gut resilience

·       Why horses need near-constant access to fibre to help protect the stomach from acid

·       The truth about balanced diets (why forage is essential… but often lacking critical nutrients); and

·       The overlooked basics; clean water and salt, and why they directly affect feed intake and colic risk.

This is a practical, science-backed framework, delivered in Dr Nerida’s friendly, matter-of-fact manner, that you can apply whether you have a backyard pony, a performance horse, a racehorse, or a broodmare.

📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324
🌐 Learn more: https://www.myhappy.horse

If this episode helped you, please subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming nutrition deep-dives. And please share it with a friend who wants to feel more confident in their horse's feeding regimes. 🐴💛

Feeding on the road? Don’t leave your horse’s gut behind.
In this episode, Dr Nerida breaks down exactly how to feed during multi-day competitions to support performance, health, and wellbeing. Smart strategies for stress-free travel, happy guts, and horses that perform at their peak.

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: https://www.myhappy.horse

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! <3

Feeding through drought? Here’s what your horse really needs.
Drought can be overwhelming — but your feeding choices can make all the difference. In this episode, Dr Nerida shares expert, practical advice to help you keep your horse healthy, nourished, and mentally sound through tough times. Learn which hays are safe, how much to feed, and why vitamin E capsules and carrots might just be drought essentials.

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: https://www.myhappy.horse

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! <3

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.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 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 treatments
• Faecal transplants for horses and their effectiveness
• Microbiome diversity and fibre variety in equine diets
• Post-biotics vs probiotics for horse gut health
• Feeding broodmares for healthy weight gain
• Palomino smutting and copper/zinc nutrition
• Pasture-based feeding strategies

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.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! ❤️

How can you tell if your horse’s hindgut is healthy—or heading for trouble? In this episode, Dr Nerida explains three practical and science-backed ways to assess hindgut health: manure scoring, faecal pH, and microbiome testing. Learn how each method works, what to look for, and how these insights can help you determine if your horse’s hindgut and the microbes who live there are healthy, or not!

Get your manure scoring cheat sheet here: https://www.myhappy.horse/manurescoring 

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horse

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️

Your horse’s hindgut microbes are the key to their health, happiness, and performance. In this episode, you’ll learn the 4 essential feeding rules that support a healthy hindgut—and why those rules matter more than any gut supplement.

Before you spend money on gut health products, make sure your horse’s diet is doing the basics right. It’s simple, practical, and based on science.

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://www.myhappy.horse

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️