Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com • 9 As the understanding of nutrition and gut health expands, the desire for comprehensive reviews of nutrition programs has snowballed. Clients are increasingly more aware of the importance of nutrition and gut health to overall animal health and performance. The desire for natural, organic, non- GMO, ketogenic diets, etc. in human nutrition has motivated clients to question the diets of their horse(s). Because clients often have more frequent contact with their veterinarians than nutritionists, a general understanding of a nutrition consult may aid in the development of high-quality nutrition programs and promote collaboration with nutritionists during acute or chronic diseases. Furthermore, with the abundance of false information on social media, veterinarians may assist nutritionists through their frequent contact with clientele to dispel common nutrition myths and misconceptions. Farm Visit Ideally, a nutrition consult begins with an on-farm visit, allowing the nutritionist/veterinarian to observe the current feeding program, assess the condition of the horse(s), and collect feed/forage samples for nutrient analysis. A farm visit serves two main purposes, to assess and make changes to the nutrition program, and to educate the client about good feeding practices. A nutrition program does not stop with high-quality feed. The means by which the feed is applied to the animal is equally important. The start of the on-farm visit should begin with a short discussion with the client about the current feeding program, including a detailed description of what is being fed and current feeding practices. It is important to determine whether horse(s) are fed individually or as a group, the horse(s) stage of life, and the intensity of exercise, if any. This information will influence both nutrient requirements and recommended feeding practices. Following client discussion, the consultant should then tour the facility, assess the animal(s), observe feeding practices, and collect feed/forage samples. These are described in more detail in the following sections. If an on-farm visit is not possible, the consultant must request the information described above, and instruct the client on feed/forage sample collections. Additionally, pictures of the client horse(s) taken from a profile view will aid the consultant in estimating horse/herd condition. by Amanda N. Bradbery, PhD Dr. Bradbery grew up in Virginia, where her passion for animal nutrition began as she pursued her undergraduate career in Animal and Poultry Science at Virginia Tech. Upon graduation, she worked as Facility Supervisor and Instructor for Virginia Tech prior to beginning her graduate career. In 2012, she met her mentor, Dr. Josie Coverdale at Texas A&M University, where she received her Master of Science in Animal Science in 2014 focusing on the influence of nutraceuticals on joint inflammation and cartilage metabolism. Bradbery continued her graduate career, completing a PhD in Animal Science at Texas A&M University in 2019 where her research focused on the influence of maternal overnutrition on the predisposition of offspring to metabolic diseases. Bradbery is passionate about helping clients maintain horse health, optimize performance, and improve longevity through nutrition. Amanda N. Bradbery, PhD Consultations: Things to consider Nutrition

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