There’s a trend in the horse world right now: everyone wants to “do their own research.” It sounds like a good idea—after all, we live in an age where information is just a click away.
Social media groups, webinars, online gurus—there’s endless content about horse nutrition. No one wants to be caught off guard or taken advantage of by others. It’s great to be an engaged, informed horse owner. (I actually encourage that.) Owners who are curious and pay attention tend to make better decisions overall.
But here’s the thing: while being informed is essential, “doing your own research” in the deep, technical sense of nutrition balancing can actually do more harm than good. Let me explain why, and why owners should not be expected to do their own diets: It’s very stressful to tackle this as an owner, and one of my main goals with my work is client support and emotional assistance.
THE CHALLENGE WITH ONLINE CONTENT
We’re surrounded by a flood of information. So many words. In equine nutrition, especially, there are thousands of posts online every day about feeds, supplements, and new “miracle cures.”
While some of it is helpful, a lot of it is incomplete, oversimplified, or downright misleading. As an owner, who do you even believe? Who is the real deal? This is a lot of pressure to carry as someone who isn’t trained in the area both in knowledge and in geographical location.
As someone who’s worked with hundreds of horse owners across the U.S. and Canada, I hear the same story over and over: people feel overwhelmed. They’re spending hours online, reading conflicting opinions, and ending up more confused than when they started.
One post says “never feed this,” another says “this is essential,” and neither one explains the full context or what is best for your horse.
Social media has a place. I believe in community conversations, and I love sharing ideas in my Facebook group. But it can’t replace real, evidence-based nutrition expertise from legitimate professionals. Posts often lack nuance. They don’t account for the individual horse, the forage base, the workload, or the full diet. And people mean well, but it’s critical to realize the NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL is based on your horse’s needs—so copying diets from friends and community members is not suggested. I can have two horses that are the same age and workload but on completely different diets.
The biggest problem I see is people piling on supplements while overlooking the basics. They’re trying to fix a diet with products instead of stepping back and asking whether the foundation is correct in the first place.
THE LIMITS OF DIY NUTRITION
I often compare this to saddle-fitting. I ride regularly myself, and I rely on a professional saddle fitter for that work. Sure, I could watch webinars and learn some basics, but I don’t need to be an expert in tree points, billets, or saddle bridging. My job as the horse owner is to notice when something seems off and then call in the professional who has the expertise and training to fix it.
I don’t need to know everything, but I am active and engaged in the process. Yet as a horse owner myself, I’m not carrying the load to fix the saddle or fully understand how to fix it. A key is identifying when to make a change, and I have taught on body condition scoring to do just that.
Equine nutrition is exactly the same. Owners don’t need to be able to balance a diet down to the last mineral. That’s what professionals like me are here for, and I can bring the experience of hundreds of horses to the table.
There’s also a concept that comes up all the time: people don’t know what they don’t know. A little bit of information can be useful, but it can also be misleading when it’s taken out of context.
Nutrition is not just about individual ingredients—it’s about how everything works together.
THERE IS A REASON WE EQUINE NUTRITIONALISTS GO TO SCHOOL
What works for one “thin horse” may not be right for another thin horse. Horses have different metabolisms, different workloads, different forage, and different underlying issues. Copying diets from the internet or from a friend at the barn rarely leads to consistent results.
WHY IT’S WORTH TRUSTING PROFESSIONALS
Here’s what I see time and again: when owners trust qualified professionals, they get better results and far less stress.
Yes, it takes time and money to do it right. But in the long run, it saves you hours of confusion and often hundreds (or thousands) of dollars spent chasing the wrong supplements or making constant feed changes that don’t actually solve the problem.
A good nutrition program is not about throwing more at the horse. It’s about precision. It’s about understanding the forage, the right concentrate at the right amount, hydration, and supporting the horse’s individual needs in a thoughtful way.
It also takes the weight off your shoulders. You don’t have to figure out every single detail. Your job is to observe your horse, communicate what you’re seeing, and work with someone who can interpret that information and build a plan.
THE ROLE OF THE OWNER
This doesn’t mean owners shouldn’t learn anything. In fact, there are basics every horse owner should understand.
🤔You should know the six classes of nutrients and where they are digested in the horse.
🤔You should know how to ‘body condition’ score and recognize if your horse is underweight, overweight, or in a healthy range.
🤔You should understand hydration basics, including salt, electrolytes, and water intake.These are the foundations of good horse care. They empower you to make day-to-day decisions and to recognize when something isn’t right.
But putting together a fully balanced diet that meets your horse’s needs based on forage testing, workload, and health status—that’s a specialized skill. It requires not just knowledge, but experience. There is nuance that comes from working with hundreds of horses and seeing patterns over time.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
I understand that some people have been burned by professionals before. It’s hard to trust people sometimes, especially in an industry where there is a wide range of qualifications.
It’s okay to be cautious. Ask questions. Get second opinions if needed. Look for someone who is independent, transparent, and willing to explain their reasoning. You may also want to ask for proof of qualifications, insurance, and a legitimate business structure. If the internet went away, they should still have the same dynamic.
But don’t let past experiences stop you from seeking help altogether. There are qualified professionals out there who truly care about helping horses and their owners succeed.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t think horse owners need to be experts in diet balancing. I don’t think you should spend hours every week falling down internet rabbit holes, only to feel more lost than before.
Instead, build a strong foundation of knowledge. Learn the essentials. Stay curious, but also recognize where your role ends and where a professional’s role begins.
Then, trust the professionals to do what they do best. That’s what I do with my saddle fitter, my farrier, and my vet—and it’s what I do every day with my own nutrition clients.
You don’t have to figure it all out yourself. That’s what I’m (We’re) here for. If you’d like to talk about your horse’s diet, you can always reach out to me. Let’s take the stress out of feeding your horse, together. Feel free to submit any questions or comments in the Forum following this article.
ANNIE EMERY 🇺🇸 MS, CRC, CESMT, CENA
Annie Emery is the owner of Revolution Equine Nutrition is an equine nutrition professional based in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Through her virtual consultations, Annie has worked with hundreds of horses across the US and Canada, helping them achieve improved health and performance through tailored nutrition plans and education. From imported stallion prospects to FEI level horses … she has seen it all! She specializes in advanced diets for performance horses with muscle disorders, metabolic issues, ulcers, and hindgut issues. Annie reaches thousands more through her popular podcast (The Scoop Equine Nutrition Podcast) and educational initiatives, sharing evidence-based insights with horse owners and trainers. Completely independent of any company or product, her advice remains unbiased and free from commercial influences.
Annie is also an active dressage rider and has been engaged with the Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota CSDEA community since 1994.
Please note that her guidance is educational in nature and is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice, nor is it a diet suggestion for your specific horse.
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