Nutrition Consultancy

 

Independent, evidence-based nutrition advice for your horse

Good nutrition doesn't need to be complicated.

Every horse is an individual, and their nutritional requirements change with pasture and forage, workload, age, body condition, health and management.

Equine Hands provides independent, evidence-based nutrition advice with a forage-first, whole-diet approach. Rather than simply adding another feed or supplement, I look at everything your horse is eating - pasture, hay, hard feeds and supplements - and assess how well the overall diet meets their individual requirements.

A nutrition consultation can help identify nutritional gaps or excesses, simplify unnecessarily complicated feeding programs and ensure the diet is appropriate for your horse's workload, life stage and individual needs.

Because Equine Hands is independent, recommendations are based on your horse and their diet, rather than affiliation with a particular feed or supplement company.

The aim is practical: a balanced feeding program that supports your horse's health, condition, wellbeing and performance while also working with your management, available forage and budget.

What is considered?

Nutrition is about much more than what's in the feed bucket.

Depending on the horse and consultation, assessment may include:

  • Current pasture and forage

  • Hard feeds, balancers and supplements

  • Bodyweight and body condition

  • Workload and performance requirements

  • Age and life stage

  • Health history and veterinary-diagnosed conditions

  • Seasonal and pasture changes

  • Management and feeding practices

  • Owner goals and practical considerations

Where appropriate, hay or pasture analysis can be incorporated to provide more accurate information about the forage component of the diet.

Onsite Equine Nutrition Consultancy - $170

Available throughout the NSW Central Coast and surrounding areas.

An on-site consultation allows me to assess your horse, their management and their feeding environment in person.

The consultation includes:

  • Discussion of your horse's history, current diet, workload, management and your concerns or goals

  • Assessment of body condition and relevant physical characteristics

  • Review of feeds, supplements, pasture and forage

  • Pasture assessment where relevant

  • Analysis of the complete diet

  • A detailed written report explaining the findings and recommendations

  • A practical feeding plan tailored to your horse

  • Follow-up support to discuss the recommendations and how the horse is progressing

Where forage testing would be particularly useful, hay or pasture samples can be collected and submitted for laboratory analysis. Laboratory fees are additional.

Remote Nutrition Consultancy - $150

Available Australia-wide.

Remote consultations provide the same whole-diet approach for owners outside my on-site service area or where an in-person visit isn't necessary.

The consultation includes:

  • A detailed questionnaire completed before the consultation

  • Phone or video consultation

  • Photos and/or video of your horse and pasture where relevant

  • Review of the current diet, forage, feeds and supplements

  • Analysis of the complete diet

  • A detailed written report and feeding recommendations

  • Follow-up discussion of the recommendations

  • A six-week check-in to assess how the new diet is working

Hay or pasture analysis can also be incorporated into a remote consultation where practical.

Nutrition review - $75

For existing nutrition clients whose horse's circumstances have changed and the current feeding program needs to be reviewed.

A review may be appropriate following changes such as:

  • Workload or training

  • Weight or body condition

  • Hay or forage

  • Pasture or seasonal conditions

  • Property or management

  • Feed availability

Where there has been a substantial change in the horse's health, management or nutritional requirements, a new full consultation may be more appropriate.

Not ready for a full nutrition consultation?

The Bodywork + Nutrition Snapshot provides a high-level overview for owners who would like an initial look at their horse's diet alongside a bodywork session, without a full diet analysis. Click here for the details.