There are millions of horses in the United States, all of which must eat to survive. But how well are we using the available resources to improve our feeding practices? A pair of equine nutrition researchers recently took a closer look.

Jayne Roberts, MSc, of Equijay, in Queensland, Australia, and Jo-Anne Murray, PhD, PgDip, PgCert, BSc(Hons), BHSII, RNutr, FHEA, senior lecturer in Animal Nutrition and Husbandry at the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, asked three primary questions:

• What is the status of equine nutrition in the United States?
• What role does the veterinarian play in nutritional advice from the owner and veterinary perspective?
• Is nutrition education currently meeting veterinarians’ needs?

The Current State of Equine Nutrition

Equine nutrition research in the last decade has focused on better understanding how horses are being fed through the distribution of surveys in varying geographical areas across the United States