Happy Horse Nutrition

MyHappy.Horse
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Join Dr. Nerida McGilchrist, a world-renowned PhD equine nutritionist with over 25 years of experience, as she simplifies the science of horse nutrition into actionable insights. Trusted by top trainers and breeders, Nerida combines her passion for data with engaging interviews of leading experts in the field. With her warm, humorous style, she uncovers the latest research and practical tips to optimise your horse's health and performance. Tune in for expert advice that you can apply today!

  1. 1D AGO

    40. What is NSC? And is it bad for my horse?

    NSC is one of those three-letter acronyms that pops up on feed bags and hay reports… and consistently manages to confuse even the most dedicated horse owners. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida McGilchrist unpacks Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) in a practical, horse-owner-friendly way. This episode looks at what NSC actually is (starch + water soluble carbohydrates; WSC), how it relates to WSC, whether we should be using WSC or ESC to calculate NSC (see, it gets confusing!), and why that 'fructan piece' matters for both laminitis risk and the hindgut microbiome. You’ll learn why NSC is everywhere in hay, pasture and feeds, and why it’s levels can fluctuate so dramatically, depending on plant type, time of day, climate, temperature, drought stress, and even soil fertility.  Nerida shares real-world examples (including from her own horses) to explain what happens when NSC is too high. Problems can include crazy high insulin levels, laminitis, colic, tooth decay and microbial dysbiosis. And she explores why “not enough NSC” can also be a problem in performance horses where energy intake, palatability, and gut function matter. If you’re feeding a pony with insulin dysregulation, a horse with PPID/Cushing’s, a laminitis-prone horse, or a metabolically healthy high performance athlete, this episode will help you make informed, smarter decisions around NSC.   📱 If you’d like help applying this to your horse, download the MyHappy.Horse app on the Apple App Store and start building a diet you can feel confident about. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324   💖 And if this episode helped you, please share it with a horsey friend (especially the one currently arguing about pasture sugar on Facebook 😅)

    53 min

  2. FEB 9

    39. Horse not eating? Learn the 4 most common causes of loss of appetite

    A horse that won’t eat isn’t being “fussy”… it’s a red flag. In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida, PhD equine nutritionist and founder of the MyHappy.Horse app, breaks down the most common nutrition-related reasons horses go off their feed, what they look like in real life, and what actually helps. Nerida covers hindgut disturbance (including hindgut acidosis) and the appetite knock-on effects, including the destruction of  vitamin B1, why some horses go off grain but still eat hay, and how faecal/manure pH can be a handy monitoring tool (with the key low-pH threshold to watch). You’ll also hear how gastric ulcers can affect appetite (and why it’s not always obvious), plus the salt trap: too much salt can make feeds unpalatable (and may worsen discomfort in ulcer-prone horses), while too little sodium, especially after watery diarrhoea or heavy sweating, can switch appetite off entirely. And don’t miss the quick but important one: DON mycotoxin (“vomitoxin”). If a new batch of feed is eaten for a few days, then suddenly refused, it may be the feed, not your horse, and testing can help confirm it. You’ll also hear the story of Breeze, Nerida’s very old mare, and the tiny, cheap change that brought her appetite back and genuinely saved her life.   Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324   Learn more: https://www.myhappy.horse And, if you know someone with a horse that isn’t eating well, please share this episode! And we’d love you to follow the Happy Horse Nutrition podcast… following us helps more horse people find science-based feeding help 🐴🙏🏼❤️

    48 min

  3. FEB 2

    38. Danger in the Grass: High-Oxalate Pastures, Calcium Deficiency & Bighead Disease in Horses

    In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida tackles a pasture risk that catches many good horse owners out: high-oxalate warm-season grasses that can block calcium absorption, slowly weaken bone, and set horses up for nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (Bighead disease).  You’ll learn the simple physiology behind it (the “bone calcium bank” concept), why blood calcium can look normal even when bones are being depleted, and the real-world signs that are easy to misread; shifting lameness, sore or grumpy behaviour, odd gait, skull changes, loud breathing noise under work, dental issues and poor hoof quality.  Nerida walks you through practical pasture ID tips for the big culprits—kikuyu, buffel, couch/bermudagrass, and the high-risk one: setaria! And explains how oxalate levels and risk change with growth stage and location (including cooler regions in summer).  Finally, she outlines prevention: targeting a calcium: oxalate ratio of at least 0.5:1, keeping calcium balanced with phosphorus and magnesium, why lucerne/alfalfa helps on multiple fronts, and when it’s smarter to use a properly formulated balancer or get expert help… especially if setaria is involved. ✅ Want help checking whether your horse’s diet is actually balanced for these pastures (without doing the maths)? Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 ❤️ If this episode helped, please follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts/Spotify and share it with a horse owner in warm, wet coastal regions (or anyone feeding teff or bermudagrass hay).   🕖 Until next time… go have a quick paddock walk! Your feed room decisions should always start with your grass. 🌱🐴

    45 min

  4. JAN 26

    37. Natural Disaster Horse Nutrition: What to Feed When Everything Changes

    Feeding horses during emergencies (bushfires, floods, storms, evacuations) can quickly become a “take what you can get” situation, but the choices you make in your makeshift feed room can determine whether your horse copes… or tips into dehydration, gastric ulcers, hindgut dysbiosis, colic, or even laminitis. In this practical episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida shares her approach to natural disaster horse feeding with one core rule: keep the diet as close to normal as possible. You’ll learn how to prioritise clean water (and what to do when horses won’t drink), why hay and fibre are your horse’s lifeline, and how to reduce risk when you’re forced to swap feeds or hays fast. We cover smart strategies like ingredient/forage variety, feeding little and often when hay is limited, avoiding the trap of over-using grain/hard feed, and why you should keep hay available when pasture regrows. There’s also specific guidance for horses with PPID (Cushing’s), insulin dysregulation, and laminitis, including when soaking hay might help in a tight spot. If you want a simple emergency checklist to protect hydration and gut health when your horse’s world is upside down, this one’s for you.   ✅ Follow the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast on Spotify/Apple so you don’t miss new episodes.   Useful links & resources 📲 MyHappy.Horse app (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🎧 Start here: Episode 1 - Feed Your Horse Like a Horse (foundation principles for gut health and safer feeding) 🎧 Also helpful: Episode 24 - Ingredient Variety and Why it Matters in Horse Nutrition  🎧 For metabolic/laminitis horses: Episode 15 – All about laminitis – keeping your horse safe

    51 min

  5. JAN 19

    36. Horse Nutrition Q&A: Feeding Before Riding, Hydration Myths & Trail Snacks

    Should you feed before you ride? After? Or let your horse graze along the trail? 🐴 In this myth-busting Q&A, Dr Nerida and Orla tackle some feeding folklore that just won’t die. Learn why lucerne before exercise protects the stomach from acid splash, why water restriction after work is probably just a Black Beauty hangover, and how letting horses snack mid-ride actually supports gut health. Plus they briefly cover mare abortions caused by hairy caterpillars and reading feed labels. It’s the perfect blend of evidence, experience, and friendly banter, plus a few stories from the saddle! 🌙🥕💧   🐛 Research article on mare abortions caused by the hairy caterpillars: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23452012/ and https://en.engormix.com/equines/horse-health/equine-amnionitis-foetal-loss_a34801/ 🏷️ Reading a Feed Label from Racing Queensland's Queensland Off the Track Nutrition Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-tixE0Jhg 📲 Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse app on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🤖 Ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai ❤️ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and review — it helps us share science-based horse nutrition with more owners like you!

    43 min

  6. JAN 12

    35. Understanding Hay & Pasture Analysis Results for Horses

    Forage sits at the very heart of equine nutrition, yet for most horse owners, the numbers on a hay or pasture analysis can feel like a foreign language. In this deep-dive episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida sits down with Anthony Balzer and Kimberly Detmers from Feed Central and Local Ag for an enlightening conversation about what’s really in our forage, how much it changes, and why testing matters more than most people realise. Together, they explore how hay and pasture analysis can influence everything from basic health to performance, soundness, growth, and healthy pregnancies. You’ll hear: Why forage can make or break a horse’s health—and sometimes an entire racing stableHow hay and pasture testing actually worksThe critical mineral shifts that dictate whether a youngster grows sound joints or ends up with OCDWhy nitrate levels matter (and the way it affects laminitis, broodmare health, and athletic performance)What “safe” NSC levels look like for laminitic horsesWhy TEFF hay is not always the low-sugar safe option many believeHow ingredient and species diversity in forage protects gut health and reduces colic riskHow to dilute risk by feeding multiple, tested foragesWhat makes a “near perfect” performance horse hay—and why no single hay is perfect for every horse; andWhere to send hay and pasture for analysis in Australia or overseasWith practical examples, on-farm stories, and clear explanations, this episode makes hay and pasture numbers approachable for every horse owner—from broodmare managers to everyday riders. If you’ve ever wondered what your hay and pasture is really doing inside your horse, this episode is essential listening. Understanding forage is one of the most powerful ways to keep your horses healthy, performing well, and protected from avoidable nutrition-related issues.   📱 Download the MyHappy.Horse app:https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🔬 Find out more about hay and pasture testing or submit a sample: https://www.feedcentral.com.au/how-to-submit-a-feed-sample-for-testing/ 🌱 Buy Aussie hay that has already been tested: https://www.localag.com.au/buy 🐴 Check out the analysis services from Equi-Analytical: https://equi-analytical.com If this episode helped you feel more confident about what’s in your hay and pasture, a quick rating or review in your podcast app really helps more horse owners find the show, and more horses get fed the way that’s best 💗

    1h 8m

  7. JAN 5

    Replay: Feed your horse like a horse

    To kick off Season 2 (2026), we’re re-sharing our most listened-to Season 1 episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, and it’s a classic for a reason. In this practical, science-backed episode, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida breaks down what it really means to feed your horse like a horse, using evolution and gut physiology to help you understand and make modern feeding choices that truly honour your horse’s gastrointestinal physiology. You’ll learn the 5 non-negotiables: Why forage-first is the cornerstone of gut healthHow fibre/forage variety supports microbial diversity (and why that matters for the whole horse)Why horses need near-constant access to fibre to help protect the stomachWhy forage alone won’t cut it and the importance of a balanced diet; andThe importance of clean water + salt, every dayWhether you’re a horse owner, trainer, or vet, this episode gives you a simple, foundational understanding of every horse’s basic nutrition needs   📲 Download the MyHappy.Horse app: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324 🌐 Learn more: https://www.myhappy.horse P.S. if you enjoyed this episode, we'd love you to subscribe so you don’t miss all the good stuff that is coming in 2026. We'd also love you to please share this episode with a friend who loves a nutrition deep-dive as much as you do! 🐴💛

    42 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    33. Replay: Your horse's hindgut microbes and their impact on... everything! | Best of 2025

    To wrap up 2025, we’re resharing our most popular guest interview from Season 1 — and it’s a favourite for good reason. In this episode, microbiology expert Dr Belinda Chapman and Dr Nerida take us inside your horse’s hindgut ecosystem. Together, they look at what the microbiome actually is, why horses rely on microbes far more than we do, and how the balance between the fibre-loving “good guys” and the weedy, greedy starch-fermenters can influence everything from digestion and energy production to health, performance, and behaviour.   Dr Belinda and Dr Nerida also dive into some seriously fascinating concepts (in a very listenable way), including: Why horses have a more complex microbiome than humansThe underappreciated role of anaerobic fungi in fibre breakdownWhat “quorum sensing” is (and why it’s a bit mind-blowing); andWhy microbial diversity = resilience (and what that means in the real world)  If this episode helps you see feeding through a new lens, we’d love you to subscribe so you don’t miss the practical, science-backed episodes coming in 2026 - and we’d really love ypu to share this with a friend who loves a good horse nutrition rabbit hole as much as you do, they’ll thank you for it.💛   More about Quantal Bioscience: ⁠https://www.quantalbioscience.com/⁠ Hindgut microbiome testing with Dr Belinda: ⁠https://www.equigi.com/home⁠ Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse App: ⁠https://www.myhappy.horse

    1h 32m
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Join Dr. Nerida McGilchrist, a world-renowned PhD equine nutritionist with over 25 years of experience, as she simplifies the science of horse nutrition into actionable insights. Trusted by top trainers and breeders, Nerida combines her passion for data with engaging interviews of leading experts in the field. With her warm, humorous style, she uncovers the latest research and practical tips to optimise your horse's health and performance. Tune in for expert advice that you can apply today!

Information

  • Creator
    MyHappy.Horse
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MyHappy.Horse
  • Show Website
    Happy Horse Nutrition