Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr Independent Equine Nutritionist

09/03/2026

TAKE CARE TURNING HORSES OUT ON GOOD GRASS - GRADUAL IS THE KEY

All dietary changes should be made gradually, especially changes in forage.

With some owners now turning out on rested pasture and grass getting growing, this is a timely reminder.

Spring grass can cause gut disturbance due to the rapid change in nutrients the horse's gut is exposed to when they're turned out onto fresh fields of good grass.

It's not sugar getting into the caecum that causes this - sugar is thoroughly digested in the small intestine before the caecum. Sugar always seems to get the blame!!

What causes the problem is the rapid change to a different type of forage which is high in fructan (a highly fermentable carb) and much lower in cellulose (structural fibre) than hay. Both these can cause rapid changes in the gut microbiome, which can lead to large intestine acidosis, gas, and digestive disturbance.

There's no need to get your horse's faeces tested (it's quite clear what the problem is so don't waste £100s to be told what you already know), to panic about ulcers or indeed panic about anything else (that's not good for you or your horse):

1. Introduce new grass growth gradually and maintain hay intake as you change over
2. If you haven't done this, take a step back and readjust (you may need to strip graze, use a grazing muzzle or share a turnout plan with friends)
3. Consider feeding a good gut supporting supplement but ONLY after you've altered the diet back to closer to how it was and started more gradual change
4. Understand that your horse may be tight/irritable just as would be expected from a gut disturbance
5. Speak to your vet if you suspect a medical issue with your horse such as ulcers or gut inflammation (please don't self- or social-media-diagnose or treat because you may miss something important or get it wrong)
6. Don't believe everything you read on social media 😊

Feel free to share; thank you 🐴🍏

09/03/2026

If you are unsure about whether your horse’s feeding regime is really right for them, or you want to do the very best to help support your horse’s health, happiness and well-being this spring…
. then you might want to join me tomorrow for a webinar all about making the right feeding decisions for your horse or pony so that you can give them just what they need – and nothing more. Just comment webinars for all the details.

It can be so easy to get caught up with worry that you’re not doing it right, that you’re missing something, and then get caught by clever product advertising. Then you can so easily end up with a confused you who has wasted money, and a horse who is missing a correctly balanced diet and whose health suffers as a result.

Spring is a great time to rehaul and reset your feeding regime, not just because it’s fresh start-sort of time of year, but also because the grass is growing and many horses and ponies are out more and so the base of their diet changes.

If you would like to know the truth about feeding your horse well, so they can be happy and healthy and have optimal well-being, then this is for you.

I will be explaining what to keep, what to cut and what to add, in 2026. I’ll be exposing nutribaloney, and showing you how to build a correct diet for your horse or pony without confusion or faff.

Simply comment webinars to get all the details,

I look forward to seeing you if you're joining us!
Clare 🐴🍏

08/03/2026

Get your horses diet sorted.

What to keep
What to cut,
What to add,
In 2026.

Join us for a Spring 2026 Feeding Reset!

Comment webinars for all the details.
🐴🍏

08/03/2026

🤷 In the confusing minefield of different forages, feeds, supplements, feeding systems and nutrition ideas available, it’s easy to get lost and stuck going round in circles.

Every day I get questions from owners wondering what on earth to feed.

One owner I worked with had given up with any bucket feed after feeling so confused about what she should feed, even although she knew she wasn’t feeding a balanced diet.

She was confused but also frustrated with all the opinions available, and had gone from going around in circles to just giving up, but then felt guilty for her horse 🥴

Another owner had been given feed advice from a supplement company which she was unsure about. She felt it wasn’t good advice and was worried her horse wouldn’t lose the weight they needed to, but she was in conflict because, after all, the company sold supplements so shouldn’t they know?

She ended up stressed out, caught between company advice and her instincts for her horse 🥴

🙋‍♀️If you’ve felt like this, you’re not alone! It can be such a minefield trying to decide what and how to feed your horse for optimal health and well-being, especially if their regime changes with the seasons.

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 all the different choices available, and you don’t know who to believe when you read about what’s best for your horse, then I will clear a path for you. I will demystify what’s good and what’s not, and clarify what really matters for your horse’s health and well-being.

In my spring 2026 feeding reset webinar, we will delve into what to keep, what to cut and what to add, in 2026. We will explore how to adjust the diet for the spring and approaching summer, and what really matters so that you don’t waste your money on unnecessaries.

Learn how to spot nutribaloney, how to avoid unnecessary extras and ensure your horse gets the right nutrition for optimal health, well-being and performance. You also get to ask your questions ❔ about anything and everything horse-nutrition.

✅ Comment ‘webinars’ below to learn more about my upcoming webinar, spring 2026 feeding reset.

Here’s what you’ll get 👇:
🐴 What to keep, what to cut and what to add, in 2026
🍏 How to adjust your horse or pony’s diet now spring is approaching
🐴 Understanding of how getting it wrong can cause your horse’s health to suffer
🍏 Help with navigating the confusing choice of products and systems available to you
🐴 Learn how to spot nutribaloney so your horse gets the right diet for optimal health, well-being and performance
🍏 Exploration of how to avoid unnecessary extras, to save money on your feeding bill

As we go through the webinar, I demystify feeding and nutrition and help you understand what your horse truly needs. 🐴✅. You get peace of mind about what you’re feeding, so that you can put your energy into enjoying your horse rather than worrying about what or how to feed.

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, and join us to get your horse’s diet sorted for spring!

Enjoy your horses
Clare 🐴🍏

08/03/2026

Sprouting grass 🌱🌱 means it's time for a diet reset!
Comment webinars if you need help with what to do with your horse's diet now the grass is getting going again
🐴🍏

08/03/2026

So good. Every time. 😄🐴🍏

07/03/2026

If you want a happier, healthier horse for 2026, you need to know the whats, whys and hows of good feeding and nutrition.

I made 21 ways in 21 days to help you navigate the truth about feeding your horse so you can upgrade their diet.

Comment '21', you'll get a DM to a link - then I'll send No1 right away.

Feel free to share to let your friends know

Thanks!
Clare
🐴🍏

07/03/2026

FEED SUPPLEMENT COMPANIES TALKING NUTRIBALONEY

Will you just stop it!

Please.

It's driving me nuts.

Lately I have had so many horse owners coming to me asking about feed advice they've been given from companies selling supplements who clearly have no basic understanding of nutrition.

These are all Nutribaloney:

"This/that ingredient is inflammatory.

"You must avoid sugar beet.

"Ignore most of the soluble carbs in hay.

"Consider sugar alone! (no mention of calories...energy).

"Compound feeds contain nasty fillers

"Molasses is toxic

"Good quality forage and a herbal supplement are all you need

I could go on....

Please be cautious of feed advice from supplement companies unless you know they have properly qualified, knowledgeable people working for them.

And! when someone starts criticising your horse’s entire diet while trying to sell you a supplement…

Switch on your Nutribaloney radar!
🐴🍏

07/03/2026

STABLING DOES NOT HAVE TO = BREATHING PROBLEMS

If you have to stable your horse this winter, you can avoid breathing problems with good hygiene of bedding, forage, feed and good airflow.

To say that if you stable your horse you will turn them into a heaving misery who needs medication is not true.

Does stabling challenge their airways compared to living out?
Yes, to some extent

Can we keep them healthy if we stable them part of the day/night?
Yes, with careful management and feeding

What are the main considerations to ensure stabling does not cause breathing issues?
🐴 Clean bedding, and as low-dust as possible
🐴 Good hygiene - no feed or forage residue left to mould in corners, thorough mucking out (no mouldy corners or banks)
🐴 Soaked or steamed hay, or haylage
🐴 Dampened feed
🐴 Good airflow

Is living out better for the airways?

Yes, but then again living out without adequate shelter or dry standing with nowhere comfortable to lie down and sleep is likely to cause other much bigger health and welfare problems so stabling for part of the time can be the better choice.

Not everyone has access to the perfect environment where they can keep their horse exactly as they would want to, and some of us have to work around the facilities at our livery or rented yard.

I believe we can make the best of a variety of environmental options for our horses with careful thought and consideration of their health and behavioural needs, and through diligent daily management.

Feel free to share
🐴🍏

06/03/2026

And you know what?

I'd propose that this applies to all aspects of their care and not just handling, riding and training.

Their environment
Their daily management
Their diet.

What do you think?
🐴🍏

“Controlling your emotions is the biggest challenge for a horseman.”-
Buck Brannaman

06/03/2026

This is so great to see!

06/03/2026

Calories, not sugar!!!! 🐴🍏