Horse Nutrition Isn’t a Guessing Game — Pick Products Made by PhDs

By Annie Emery
Revolution Equine Nutrition

When you’re picking a supplement, feed, or ration balancer for your horse, you’ve probably noticed some brands proudly mention "formulated by PhDs" — and you might wonder: does that really matter?
Short answer: Yes, it absolutely does.
In fact, take the extra time to understand this as one of the key points when choosing products.

Here’s why...

There’s a lot that goes into formulating feeds and supplements. Remember — anyone can make a vitamin and mineral supplement. And that’s exactly where I start having some serious reservations! Some products are absolutely lovely, and I use them without hesitation. Others? Not so much.

A PhD in equine nutrition isn’t just a fancy title. It means that person spent years studying how horses digest, absorb, and use nutrients. They understand how vitamins, minerals, proteins, and calories come together to support muscle, energy, hoof health — everything your horse needs to thrive. The type of product matters too — and just as importantly, so does how the ratios of nutrients are set up.

PhD equine nutritionists design products to meet National Research Council (NRC) standards — the gold standard for ensuring horses are getting enough (but not too much) of what they need. That means better balance, better results, and fewer gaps in your horse’s diet.The ratios are sound, and in most cases, additional top dressings aren’t needed.

I don’t just want my feeds designed by qualified experts — I want my supplements built on that same strong foundation too.

Social media can make it seem "easy peasy" — like nutrition is no big deal. But having just a little experience and good intentions can actually be a big problem.

Having a truly qualified expert behind the scenes makes a huge difference. I’ve seen stark differences in how products meet requirements — and it often comes down to who made it, and what kind of background and qualifications they have.

I’m talking about a throw me for a loop kind of difference.

A major difference.

With the explosion of new products (especially vitamin and mineral supplements), this topic has become a huge focus of my educational efforts. If you want smart, science-based nutrition that actually supports your horse long-term, look for products formulated by people who have truly done the work to understand it.
It may take some digging (or just ask me for help!) — but it’s absolutely worth it.
If you want support in this process, reach out for a consultation. I’ve developed a keen eye for what’s the best — and what’s better left on the shelf.

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