World Class Equine Insights

NRM Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood gained valuable insights when she attended a global conference on equine nutrition in Florida earlier this year. 

The Equine Health and Nutrition Conference, held at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, was hosted by Kentucky Equine Research (KER). NRM has a strategic partnership with KER, giving it access to world-leading international research on equine nutrition. The star-studded speaker line-up at the conference included Dr Joe Pagan, the founder of KER. “He did his PhD back in the eighties at Cornell University around energetics, specifically how horses use energy and the sort of energy sources they need,” says Luisa, who worked for KER earlier in her career. “He's got a real passion for that side of things, so there were various research papers presented on the topic.” 

The conference also featured insights from horse nutrition at the Olympics. “KER have supplied the feed for most of the Olympics over the last 20 years, so they have taken that opportunity to analyse the different feeds that are made for the different disciplines,” Luisa says. “It was useful as a nutritionist for a feed manufacturer to see the different levels of energy, fat and fibre in, say, a performance horse feed or a racing feed and compare it to what ours are like at NRM. It was nice to see that we were in line with what was recommended.” The conference also featured a presentation by renowned researcher Dr Stephanie Valberg on equine myopathies, including muscle conditions and disorders. “Dr Valberg is an international leader in diagnosing and treating equine neuromuscular disorders and has worked closely with KER over the years,” Luisa says. “She's helped them formulate a feed called Re-Leve, which is sold in America and in the UK, and we've developed a version for New Zealand, called NRM Muscle Relieve. With the help of KER, we've adapted this formulation for New Zealand conditions, so we have a solution for those horses that tie up.” 

Luisa’s trip was funded by Pure Oil New Zealand, which produces canolabased products used in some NRM feeds. She says the science of equine nutrition is constantly evolving, and being able to attend KER’s conference was a valuable learning experience. “Having that partnership with KER ensures our feeds are always backed by the latest science, and we can provide the best advice to customers on their horses’ nutritional needs. NRM Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood learned plenty from her recent trip to the USA.”