Flourish Equine Nutrition

01/20/2025

New year, new faces around here!

Hi to the new folks, I'm Megan and I run Flourish Equine Nutrition.

I completed my bachelor's in Agriculture, Animal Science intending to head to vet school, but instead fell in love with nutrition during my third year. After graduating, I've spent almost a decade in pet food, with almost 7 of those years in R&D.

After getting Dolly, my newest mare, thin, and overall in poor health, she inspired me to head back to school.

I've since completed additional courses through the University of Guelph and became a certified advisor through Legacy Equine. I've even taken some herbal courses to better help those of you who like to dabble in the botanicals.

My goal here at Flourish is simple; education and feeding empowerment. Helping you to build feeding plans that you feel good about feeding and support your horses overall health and wellness.

01/14/2025

I personally cannot wait to see all of your babies hitting the ground over the next few months. But, those mama's are needing the love right now as they enter the most nutritionally challenging part of pregnancy.

Understanding your mares body condition and current feed program, including their hay is really key to ensuring we meet those increased requirements that support the rapid fetal growth.

Drop your broodmare feeding questions in the comments and let me know if you have any babies coming this year!

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01/08/2025

2025 is your year to prioritise your horse's nutrition.

Nutrition is such a pivotal part of whole horse wellness. Every horse has individual nutritional needs, so stop guessing and let's build a feed program that helps build a healthy, happy horse from the inside out.

Sign up for a free discovery call and start seeing the difference personalised nutrition can make for your horse this year.

www.calendly.com/flourishequinenutrition

01/07/2025

Track systems seem to be a popular choice now a days. But does the research support what people are saying?

Overall, I think the study highlights some interesting points and some concerns that should be addressed with the development of these systems. However, I think there's room for more research on how track systems compare to other housing methods and the impact it might have on different groups of horses.

Have you ever considered a track system?

01/03/2025

Rightfully named after the mares I've had the pleasure of loving over the years, we are running full sp*ed into 2025 with a more tailored program list.

1. The Dolly. Our feature program, a 6 week tailored nutrition program, either on farm or virtual. Great for every horse owner who wants to get their feed program balanced and tailored to their individual horses needs. This program includes 2 x 1 hour sessions.

2. The Rosie: perfect for those equestrians with all the questions, but you don't necessarily want to commit to a full consult.

3. The Diane: our new yearly program. Perfect for those that want to get yearly updates for their horses. This program will have quarterly check ins and include up to 2 hay samples each year.

Want the full details of each program? Lets connect for the 2025 season.

Want to work together in another capacity? Send me your ideas! Let's make 2025 a year of feeding empowerment.

12/24/2024

Wishing you all a happy holidays with your loved ones this season.

See you in 2025!

12/04/2024

What's my love language? A well organised feed room.

Here are just a few of my green flags in the feed room.

Secure storage: Your hay is stored properly to prevent mold or other potential contamination. Your feed is stored in clean bins, to prevent mice and bug contamination, and potential mold.

Scales: You have a fish hook or digital luggage scale to weigh your hay or your feed buckets. Maybe you have a little kitchen scale. A weighted feed program is a good feed program.

Tailored supplements: You have a few, well tailored supplements for the individual horse, not a wall of 20+ supplements that do nothing.

What are some of the things in your feed room that make you go 😍.

12/02/2024

Do you add omega 3's to your horses diet? Is it in the form of flax?

Flax oil is a good source of alpha-linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid for horses. This means that the horse needs to consume a source of alpha-linoleic acid as the body cannot produce it on its own.

Flax meal is also often added, and tends to be a better source of protein than fat, however, the fat content of the meal is highly dependent on who is manufacturing the meal.

While flax can be beneficial, there are also some concerns that arise with flax, including that of the omega 3 oils, it is one of the most sensitive oils to oxidation, meaning it can go rancid more quickly than other oils and meals. You may even notice some companies add vitamin e, or a mixed tocopherol (often a vitamin e, rosemary blend), to help prevent the oils from going rancid.

Is flax a staple in your horses diet?

11/27/2024

1 year ago, I launched Flourish Equine Nutrition. Because, when it comes to your horse’s health, one size does NOT fit all, and the support for nutrition was lacking. 🐴✨

As an independent equine nutrition consultant, I’m here to provide personalized guidance based on your horse’s unique needs, whether you're optimizing their performance, supporting a specific health condition, or improving their overall wellbeing. Here’s why working with a consultant makes a difference:

1️⃣ Tailored Plans: Every horse is different, and so are their nutritional requirements. I create custom feeding plans that take into account your horse's breed, age, workload, and health history—no generic, one-size-fits-all recommendations here!

2️⃣ Science-Backed Recommendations: With knowledge grounded in the latest research, I provide evidence-based advice that helps you make informed decisions, ensuring your horse receives the right balance of nutrients for optimal health and performance.

3️⃣ Holistic Approach: I consider the full picture—your horse’s diet, lifestyle, environment, and even supplements—to ensure they’re getting the best care possible.

4️⃣ Ongoing Support: I’m here for the long haul! Whether you’re making adjustments or tracking progress, you’ll have ongoing support and guidance to navigate your horse’s evolving nutritional needs.

Your horse deserves the best. Let’s unlock their full potential together!

Sign up for your free discovery call today: https://calendly.com/flourishequinenutrition

11/25/2024

I don't know about you, but, I had enjoyed a mild November here in Alberta. But, the snow and consistent cold temperatures are finally here.

With the cold comes an increased calorie need by your horse to stay warm. This doesn't mean you should be free feeding all your horses, especially those easy keepers!

However, providing extra forage as temperatures dip below -15c (the lower critical temperature) ensures they can stay warm.

How much extra depends on things like your horses body condition, coat condition, weather conditions and type of hay. You may find your seniors need more calories to maintain, then your easy keepers, or a horse on high alfalfa needs less than one on a low calorie grass hay to maintain condition.

If your horse is struggling with their weight this winter, let's talk and build a program that will help them feel their best this winter.

11/18/2024

🌾This may not be your go to feed, but I think it can be a valuable option for some horses!

As a feed, straw is not highly nutritious and lacks essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It's mainly valued for its fiber content, which aids digestion and can help prevent boredom-related behaviors like wood chewing, especially when used as roughage in the diet. However, because it’s low in nutrients, straw should never replace high-quality forage (like grass or hay) and should be used in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

A 2021 study showed a diet with 50% wheat straw had no adverse gastric issues with potential benefits to overweight horses such as weight loss. This study only looked at 6 horses for 3 weeks, so additional research is needed to confirm any benefits of straw. and that there are not any long term feeding concerns at high levels.

I typically like to stay at 25% or less straw for most horses if you do decide to add it in to the diet. And, if you do choose to add straw, test it too! Straw can be variable for nutritional content just like hay and may not be suitable for your horse, especially if you have a metabolic horse. Do not assume the sugar and starch content is low!

Let me know in the comments if you add straw into your horses diet.

11/07/2024

Do you use Beet pulp in your feed program?

Whether it's a carrier for your supplements, a way to increase your horses water intake, or to extend your winter hay when it's been a rough year, this is a versatile feed ingredient that can be a great addition to a feed program.

Scroll through to learn a bit more about Beet pulp.

11/01/2024

What an incredible year at Flourish Equine Nutrition!

To celebrate, I'm offering 15% off consults booked in November! The actual consult can be at a later date, I just need you on the books.

Let's connect in a free discovery call and see if a nutrition consult is the right fit for you and your horse: www.calendly.com/flourishequinenutrition

10/25/2024

So you want to add protein to your horses diet.... Let's talk about it.

While we typically look at adding protein to the diet, what we actually need is amino acids for biological function.

Methionine, threonine, and lysine are considered the limiting amino acids in equine diets. If there are insufficient amounts of these amino acids in the diet, your horse will not be able to produce others.

So providing good quality protein in the diet, such as alfalfa, soy, h**p, or even some Timothy hays, is important!

While protein deficiencies in horses are rare, you may not be feeding a good quality protein source, which means poor utilization or improper amino acid intake.

So before you go adding a bunch of protein (which can result in some expensive, smelly p*e), let's make sure you're feeding the right kind of protein!

10/15/2024

A great resource to know when to stop grazing your pastures!

❄🐴🌾 Is it safe to graze horses after a hard freeze? What do I need to consider before turning them back out on pasture? Also, what defines a hard freeze?

🌡 A hard freeze refers to a frost that is severe enough to end the growing season. The National Weather Service defines a hard freeze when temperatures fall below 28ºF for a few hours. Cool-season grasses commonly found in Midwest horse pastures go into dormancy for winter and conserve their energy stores (starches and sugars) following a hard freeze.

❄️ We recommend keeping horses off pastures for at least 7 days after a hard freeze. Frost-damaged pastures are higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) because plants can not use up their energy stores as efficiently. It can take plants 7 days to return to more normal nonstructural carbohydrate levels. Higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates can lead to an increase risk for laminitis, especially in horses diagnosed with or prone to obesity, laminitis, Cushings, and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

The decision to graze again after a hard freeze depends on the condition of your pasture. After a hard freeze, no additional regrowth of the pasture will occur, even though the pasture might appear green in color. If your cool-season grass pasture is

✅ taller than 3 to 4 inches, then grazing can resume 7 days after a hard freeze and can continue until the pasture is grazed down to 3 to 4 inches.
❌ shorter than 3 to 4 inches, then no grazing should occur after a hard freeze. Grazing below 3 inches can harm the plant and may be a health concern for horses sensitive to nonstructural carbohydrates.

🌾 Plants rely on stored nonstructural carbohydrates in the lower 3 inches for energy. Therefore, the 3- to 4-inch minimum height recommendation is necessary to help maximize winter survival and can help predict a vigorous and healthy pasture come spring. We do recognize horses rarely graze uniformly and pastures tend to have areas of both over and under grazing. You will need to base decisions on the average appearance of your pasture

10/15/2024

Flourish is turning 1! Thank you to all of the amazing clients I have met this year. I have loved working with each of you. In honor of turning 1 in November, I'm doing a giveaway!

Enter to win a hay bag and a hay analysis with a 30 minute call to ask all of your burning nutrition questions.

To enter:
1. like and share this post to your storied (tag me so I can see!)
2. for an extra entry, tag someone in the comments who would love to have their hay tested this year.

Contest ends October 31. Open to Canadian residents, mileage may apply. Not associated with Instagram or Meta.

10/09/2024

🌾🐴 Feeding Our Senior Horses 🐴🌾

As our equine friends age, their nutritional needs change. It's essential to provide them with a balanced diet that supports their health.

However, senior isn't the same for every horse. One horse may need a senior feed at 15, and another at 30. So it's important to monitor how your individual horse is doing on their current feed program.

Here are a few tips for feeding senior horses:

High-Quality Forage: Ensure they have access to good hay or pasture.

Specialized Feed: Consider senior feeds designed to meet their unique needs, , typically with highly digestible sources of protein and fiber.

Regular Check-Ups: Work with your vet to monitor their health and adjust their diet as needed.

What’s your favorite way to spoil your older equine companions?

10/02/2024

Have a horse with a metabolic condition and been told to "monitor the NSC's" in the diet?

Testing forages is the only way to know the sugar and starch content of your hay. Why? Because plants adapt to the current environment and store their nutrients accordingly.

Take a read through and learn how the NSC content of grasses changes and why we emphasize hay testing for those sensitive groups of horses.