Clarity Equine Nutrition

10/12/2026

Many of my clients come to me after their horse has been diagnosed with gastric ulcers, often looking for answers about what they should be feeding and what else they can do to help. And understandably so. Ulcers can be frustrating to manage, especially when a horse isn’t responding to treatment as expected or the problem keeps coming back. But managing ulcers involves more than choosing the right feed or adding a supplement. Understanding the type of gastric disease, working with your veterinarian on appropriate treatment, and looking at the horse’s overall diet, daily management, environment, and stress levels are all important pieces of the puzzle.

That’s one of the reasons I was so pleased that we had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Ben Sykes on Scoop & Scale. This conversation tackles some of the confusion around squamous and glandular gastric disease, so-called hindgut ulcers, treatment options, and the role of management and welfare. If you’re navigating an ulcer diagnosis with your horse, I hope you’ll give this episode a listen. And if you’re struggling to work out how nutrition fits into your horse’s overall ulcer management, please reach out.

🎧 Listen to the latest episode of Scoop & Scale!
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🎙 New Episode Available now

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐔𝐥𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 & 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐤𝐞𝐬 | 𝐄𝐩. 𝟖𝟔

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a common concern for horse owners, but not all gastric ulcers are the same. In this episode of Scoop & Scale, we’re joined by Dr. Benjamin Sykes, an equine internal medicine specialist and leading researcher on equine gastric ulcer disease. Together we discuss squamous gastric disease, glandular gastric disease, and the confusion surrounding so-called hindgut ulcers in horses.

We explore how these conditions differ, how veterinarians diagnose and treat gastric ulcers, and why some horses struggle to heal despite treatment. We also discuss current research on ulcer medications, nutrition, stress, management, and equine welfare, including practical steps owners can take to support digestive health and reduce ulcer risk.

In this episode, we discuss:
-Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), including the differences between squamous and glandular ulcers
-Common signs of digestive discomfort, and why accurate diagnosis matters
-Gastric ulcer diagnosis and treatment, including gastroscopy, omeprazole, sucralfate, misoprostol, and newer treatment options
-Risk factors for gastric ulcers, including stress, exercise, nutrition, and daily management, plus why some ulcers are harder to treat than others
-Practical strategies for ulcer prevention and recovery, including management changes, equine welfare, supporting digestive health, and so much more
-Whether your horse has been diagnosed with EGUS, has recurring gastric ulcers, is not responding to treatment, or is showing signs of digestive discomfort, this episode offers an evidence-based discussion of equine gastric ulcer diagnosis, treatment, nutrition, and management.

Dr. Ben Sykes is an equine internal medicine specialist and internationally recognized researcher in equine gastric ulcer syndrome. He was the lead author of the 2015 European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) consensus statement on equine gastric ulcer syndrome, which helped establish the distinction between squamous and glandular gastric disease.

This episode is brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, makers of GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) oral paste.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app, link in the bio or in the comments

10/07/2026

Are you a horse owner near Cherokee Feed & Seed? Don't miss this Nutrition seminar THIS Thursday, October 8th! RSVP now! Join us at 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐆𝐀. Dr. Clair will present, "What's Missing in Your Hay? Building A Balanced Forage First Diet." See the flyer below for our RSVP QR code.
*All attendees who 𝐑𝐒𝐕𝐏 will receive a coupon for a 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐛𝐚𝐠 of Triple Crown Feed!

10/06/2026

Hindgut ulcers? 🤔 It’s a term horse owners hear quite a bit, but what exactly are we talking about when we use it?

In this upcoming episode of Scoop and Scale, we talk to Dr. Benjamin Sykes, a leading researcher and internationally recognized expert in equine gastric disease, to take a closer look at equine gastric disease, what the research tells us, what has changed, and some of the assumptions that deserve a closer look.

This is exactly why conversations grounded in research matter. The more we understand, the better equipped we are to make thoughtful decisions for our horses.

🎙️ Episode drops Monday, October 12!
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Hindgut ulcers? 🤔

You’ve probably heard the term. But do “hindgut ulcers” actually exist?

We’re diving into that question and a whole lot more with Dr. Benjamin Sykes, a world-renowned expert and leading researcher in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). We talk about what we know, what has changed, and where the science may challenge some of what we’ve come to accept about gastric ulcers in horses.

🎙️ Episode drops Monday, October 12!

This episode is brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, makers of GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) oral paste.

09/28/2026

Laminitis is a complicated condition, and for horse owners, knowing how to manage a horse at risk or actively dealing with it can feel overwhelming. There is no shortage of advice available, but understanding what the research supports and how it applies to your individual horse is important. In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. François-René Bertin on Scoop and Scale, we focus on the practical side of laminitis management, including nutrition, medications, supplements, and hoof care.

I encourage horse owners to listen to both parts of this conversation. Understanding the science behind the recommendations can help you ask better questions and work more effectively with your veterinary and hoof-care team.
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🚨 New episode available now

Laminitis in Horses: Managing Insulin Dysregulation, Diet, Medications & Hoof Care Part 2 | Ep. 85

In Part 2 of our conversation on laminitis, we continue our discussion with Dr. François-René Bertin, DVM, MS, FHEA, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), a Professor and Director of the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Centre at Mississippi State University, focusing on what horse owners can actually do to manage horses at risk of, or actively dealing with, laminitis. We talk about diet, insulin dysregulation, supplements, medications, and hoof care, including some of the areas where there is still plenty of debate and confusion.

In this episode, we discuss:
• How diet and NSC fit into managing insulin dysregulation and laminitis
• Supplements and medications that may or may not have a role
• Managing pain and inflammation during an active laminitis episode
• Hoof care, therapeutic support, and getting your veterinary and hoof-care team on the same page
• Prognosis, recovery, and what to do when you suspect laminitis

If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we recommend starting there. We discussed what causes laminitis, the role of hyperinsulinemia, identifying horses at risk, and testing before turning to the practical side of management in this episode.

Scoop & Scale is proudly sponsored by GG Equine.

We’re excited to partner with GG Equine, makers of thoughtful slow-feed systems trusted by horse owners, veterinarians, and professionals. Go graze! Scoop & Scale listeners receive 15% off GreenGuard muzzles with code SCOOPSCALE15

🔥🔥 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP! Or use the link in our bio to listen. 🎧

09/14/2026

Insulin dysregulation is an important piece of the laminitis conversation. In this episode of Scoop & Scale, we sit down with Dr. François-René Bertin to take a deeper look at laminitis, including what happens inside the hoof, the different pathways that can lead to laminitis, and the important connection between insulin dysregulation and laminitis..

For horse owners, understanding the risk factors and working with your veterinarian to identify and manage those risks is an important part of being proactive about your horse’s health. If you’re struggling to figure out how to feed a horse with insulin dysregulation, laminitis, or other metabolic concerns, I can help you develop a nutrition plan that fits your horse’s individual needs.

Listen to Part 1 of Laminitis in Horses: Managing Insulin Dysregulation, Diet, Medications & Hoof Care on Scoop & Scale.
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Sep 14, 2026 | Cushings, Dr. François-René Bertin, Hoof Care, Hyperinsulinemia, Insulin Dysregulation, Insulin Resistance, Laminitis, Metabolic, Podcast, PPID

08/31/2026

If you have an older horse, fall is a good time to start thinking about PPID testing. The seasonal rise in ACTH can make this an especially important time to evaluate horses for PPID, commonly known as Cushing’s. And while some of the classic signs are hard to miss, early changes can be subtle and easily dismissed as normal aging.

In the newest episode of Scoop and Scale, we take a deeper look at PPID, why the timing of testing matters, how different testing methods are used, and why insulin status is an important part of the conversation, particularly when we're thinking about laminitis risk and nutrition. Listen now on your favorite podcast app or click on the link below.
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If you have an older horse, you’ve probably heard of Cushing’s disease, but how much has changed in what we know about diagnosing and managing it? In this episode, we take a closer look at pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), the condition commonly called Cushing’s in horses, and expl...

08/21/2026

I have been saying this for years and I love that someone took the initiative to do the research. Now we have proof and don't have to rely on anecdotal evidence that individual horses vary in their free choice salt intake, and that this intake is not always enough to meet their sodium needs.

Another great example of practical equine research coming out of CSU Equine Sciences!

A new study by undergraduate researcher Brynne Murphy and Dr. Devan Catalano asked a simple question that comes up frequently in horse management: Does it matter whether horses are offered salt as a block or loose in a pan?

Sixteen horses were offered both loose white salt and compressed white salt blocks over four 7-day periods. While horses tended to consume more loose salt (41 g/day) than block salt (32 g/day), salt form did not significantly affect intake. What mattered much more was the individual horse - daily consumption ranged from just 2 g to 135 g.

Perhaps the most important finding for horse owners: 9 of the 16 horses did not voluntarily consume enough salt to meet their sodium requirements, even after accounting for sodium provided by their regular diet. Water intake was similarly highly individual and was not affected by whether salt was offered loose or as a block.

The takeaway? Providing free-choice salt does not necessarily mean a horse is consuming enough. Knowing your individual horse, workload, and diet is important - and for horses that do not voluntarily consume adequate salt, adding the appropriate amount directly to the daily ration may be the more reliable approach.

We are especially proud that this work was conducted by an undergraduate student, highlighting the important role undergraduate research plays within CSU Equine Sciences. Giving students the opportunity to take an applied question from study design and data collection all the way through presentation and publication is an important part of training the next generation of equine scientists.

Congratulations to the authors on a great publication and a project with information horse owners can put into practice immediately!

08/17/2026

Amino acids are one of those topics that come up frequently when I’m formulating diets for horses. There is a lot of information out there about amino acid supplements, topline, muscle development, and protein quality, but it’s important to understand what your horse actually needs before adding another supplement to the feed room. On this week’s episode of Scoop & Scale, we dive into amino acids. We had a great conversation about the role they play in the horse’s diet and what we actually know about amino acid requirements in horses. If you’ve ever wondered whether your horse needs an amino acid supplement, I think this is a great episode to listen to. 🎧
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🚨NEW EPISODE - AVAILABLE NOW🚨

𝐄𝐩. 𝟖𝟐: 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐬: 𝐋𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 & 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞

What are amino acids, why do they matter, and does your horse actually need an amino acid supplement? In this episode we break down the science behind amino acids, protein quality, muscle development, and the many claims surrounding equine amino acid supplements.

You’ll learn:
-The difference between essential and non-essential amino acids
-What a limiting amino acid is and why lysine, methionine, and threonine are important
-Why amino acids matter for muscle, hooves, hair, and more
-How to evaluate amino acid supplements and what meaningful doses actually look like
-What BCAAs and leucine can really do for muscle
-How much we actually know about amino acid requirements in horses, and more!

If you’ve ever wondered whether your horse needs more protein, an amino acid supplement, or a product marketed for topline and muscle development, this episode will help you understand what the research supports and what may be more marketing than science.

🎧 Listen here or on your favorite podcast app 👉 https://scoopandscale.com/ep-82-horse-amino-acids-lysine-methionine-threonine-more/

08/06/2026

Important research being carried out by the vets at UC Davis in the impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on equine respiratory health.

07/21/2026

We spend a lot of time thinking about what our horses need every day; nutrition, training, turnout, veterinary care, and all the little details that support their health and well-being. But some of the most important decisions we make for our horses happen long before we ever need them.

Preparation isn't about expecting the worst. It's about giving yourself options when circumstances change quickly and making sure you're in the best position to keep your horses safe. This week's episode of Scoop & Scale is a reminder that a little planning today can make a big difference tomorrow.

Have you taken any steps this year to update your plans for your horses? We'd love to hear what's on your checklist.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or click on the link below.
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When a wildfire, flood, hurricane, or other disaster threatens your horses, every minute matters. In Part 2 of our disaster preparedness series, we walk through what a real horse evacuation looks like from receiving the first warning to loading horses, navigating chaotic roads, and arriving at an ev...