Ep. 2: Vitamin E and Why Everyone's Talking About It

Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

Does it seem like you've been hearing a lot recently about vitamin E in equine diets? That's for a good reason. This antioxidant is essential for horses' muscle and neurologic health. Fresh grass provides a natural source of vitamin E, but we all know year-round pasture access isn't always an option. And now researchers are discovering genetic reasons some horses require additional supplementation. In this episode we discuss the different types of vitamin E and their bioavailability, signs of deficiency, related diseases, testing, and how to know if your horse needs supplementation.

About Your Hosts
Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist, busy Pony Club mom, and a dressage and eventing enthusiast. She also owns Clarity Equine Nutrition, an independent consulting company based in Gilbert, Arizona. She also works with owners and veterinarians to create diets for individual horses, ranging from retired pasture pets to Olympic athletes. Her services also include formulating feeds and supplements for companies, and there's a good chance you've scooped something she helped develop into your horse's bucket. Clair taught equine nutrition and physiology as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, is a highly sought after speaker.
Michelle Anderson is a lifelong horsewoman who spent two decades writing for and editing equine magazines and websites. In 2022, she started Cadence Marketing + Media, in Bend, Oregon, to support equine-related brands and delivery quality educational content to horse owners. Her clients include equine veterinary hospitals, trainers, boarding stables, and businesses offering professional services for the industry. Her own herd lives at home and includes an aspiring FEI dressage mare, a fiery Arabian-cross trail horse, and a retired Quarter Horse gelding Michelle bred, raised, and (her husband points out) has been feeding for the past 20-plus years. Michelle's goal is to educate owners so they can best care for the horses they love.

Thanks for riding along with us!