Where would I go for this...?

[Sprat]

I’m looking for an independent (if possible) nutritionist who can give me some ideas in jazzing up my laid back thinking mare. She is currently on top chop lite chaff, Baileys performance balancer and top spec turbo when required (an hour or so before a ride). She is not as hot as I would like, and lacks stamina.

I could also do with an idea of a structured exercise regime to get her fitter - I know fitter generally means more energy - but not sure where to start really.

Workload has recently increased, the flatwork is becoming more demanding, she is now jumping / polework / gridwork more, as well as regular competing and trips to the gallops. Hacking can be tricky as I don’t have many people to hack with, and she is not great on her own, so I struggle to go out for a reasonable amount of time to get the fitness up.

Open to recommendations!

 

[Shay]

I don't know where you would get someone truely independant - if indeeed there is such a thing. But many feed companies have local reps who will come out and advise. They are paid by the feed companies but tbh they are all more or less similar.

You have the "odd bunch" who push a particular feed type or regime - simple systems, thunderbrooks etc. Then you have the mainstream bunch who are obviously there to try to sell thier feed but in fact the feed runs are pretty much similar so pick the one you like.

I'm in Surrey. I have a very longstanding relationship with the Spiller rep (although I do not and have never actually fed spillers...) She is happy to come out to every PC camp, a couple of rallies every year and on yard to weigh bridge. I also have a good relationship with the Allan & Page rep (which I do feed). She comes out twice yearly for my lot to weighbridge and advise - and will speak to anyone on yard who wants to, weigh anything, leave samples etc. The simple systems rep will come out - and in fact thier HQ is less than 5 miles away - but I find thier approach rather narrow and intimidating - feed thier stuff or the horse will suffer type of approach. Whereas both Spillers and A&P will reccomend another feed company's product if that better fills the gap for the horse in front of them.

Your feed solution is slightly odd. Despite its name top spec turbo isn't something you would feed before work to try to get a turbo like response. There isn't anything that does that. I'm also slightly at a loss as to why you are feeding a balancer and a complete feed.

There are some very good on line courses and there is no substitute for knowing for yourself what you are feeding your horse and why. But you do also need help with your feeding solution. I would strongly reccommend speaking to A&P. But every major feedline has nutritional experts. Call around and see who will come out to you.

 

[paddy555]

https://equinenutritionist.co.uk

This is one person I came across on another group. No idea if she is good but she is independent. She also has a FB page and seems to answer a lot of questions for people so it may be worth having a look at that. Perhaps someone will be able to recommend her.

 

[Auslander]

Clare Macleod - as paddy555's link. She's excellent, very well regarded.

 

[Sprat]

I don't know where you would get someone truely independant - if indeeed there is such a thing. But many feed companies have local reps who will come out and advise. They are paid by the feed companies but tbh they are all more or less similar.

You have the "odd bunch" who push a particular feed type or regime - simple systems, thunderbrooks etc. Then you have the mainstream bunch who are obviously there to try to sell thier feed but in fact the feed runs are pretty much similar so pick the one you like.

I'm in Surrey. I have a very longstanding relationship with the Spiller rep (although I do not and have never actually fed spillers...) She is happy to come out to every PC camp, a couple of rallies every year and on yard to weigh bridge. I also have a good relationship with the Allan & Page rep (which I do feed). She comes out twice yearly for my lot to weighbridge and advise - and will speak to anyone on yard who wants to, weigh anything, leave samples etc. The simple systems rep will come out - and in fact thier HQ is less than 5 miles away - but I find thier approach rather narrow and intimidating - feed thier stuff or the horse will suffer type of approach. Whereas both Spillers and A&P will reccomend another feed company's product if that better fills the gap for the horse in front of them.

Your feed solution is slightly odd. Despite its name top spec turbo isn't something you would feed before work to try to get a turbo like response. There isn't anything that does that. I'm also slightly at a loss as to why you are feeding a balancer and a complete feed.

There are some very good on line courses and there is no substitute for knowing for yourself what you are feeding your horse and why. But you do also need help with your feeding solution. I would strongly reccommend speaking to A&P. But every major feedline has nutritional experts. Call around and see who will come out to you.

That's my concern with the feed companies, I don't necessarily want someone to just push their own brands. Clearly, I'm a bit of a numpty with feed so I do need to speak to someone. A&P sound sensible if they also recommend other feed companies, I'll look into them. Regarding the turbo, I'd been recommended it by a few people, and after speaking to Top Spec they were the ones who advised to feed before riding for more of a zing. I did notice a difference to begin with, but as I've upped the workload I'm not getting the results I had hoped, so time to review and look at some thing else.

https://equinenutritionist.co.uk

This is one person I came across on another group. No idea if she is good but she is independent. She also has a FB page and seems to answer a lot of questions for people so it may be worth having a look at that. Perhaps someone will be able to recommend her.

Clare Macleod - as paddy555's link. She's excellent, very well regarded.

Super thanks both, I will get in contact with Clare.

 

[paddy555]

That's my concern with the feed companies, I don't necessarily want someone to just push their own brands. Clearly, I'm a bit of a numpty with feed so I do need to speak to someone. A&P sound sensible if they also recommend other feed companies, I'll look into them. Regarding the turbo, I'd been recommended it by a few people, and after speaking to Top Spec they were the ones who advised to feed before riding for more of a zing. I did notice a difference to begin with, but as I've upped the workload I'm not getting the results I had hoped, so time to review and look at some thing else.





Super thanks both, I will get in contact with Clare.

regarding Top spec. I got in touch with them. The advice they gave me was very poor. They didn't take into account that really I was describing an underlying problem that I didn't understand at the time but as nutritionalists they should have thought of. They gave me advice for Turbo. I tried it. I was too scared to stay on the horse and too scared to get off and lead. It sent him completely bonkers.

Good that someone has recommended Clare.

 

[Sprat]

regarding Top spec. I got in touch with them. The advice they gave me was very poor. They didn't take into account that really I was describing an underlying problem that I didn't understand at the time but as nutritionalists they should have thought of. They gave me advice for Turbo. I tried it. I was too scared to stay on the horse and too scared to get off and lead. It sent him completely bonkers.

Good that someone has recommended Clare.

It's a minefield with feed companies isn't it, so difficult to know what to listen to when they each push their own agenda's. I've popped Clare an email, she does remote consultations which sounds promising.