Why Holistic, Species‑Appropriate Nutrition Is the Missing Piece in Equine Wellness
By Katey – KC Equine Wellness
There are new and exciting offerings coming in 2026, and I’m finally able to share one that has been years in the making. Many of you already know how passionate I am about equine nutrition, specifically holistic nutrition and nutritional therapy, and how profoundly these approaches can change a horse’s health trajectory. This blog marks the beginning of something I’ve wanted to build for a long time: a space where horse owners can learn, explore, and reconnect with what horses truly need to thrive.
Feeding practices today often rely on a one‑size‑fits‑all approach, and we know this doesn’t work. We can get away with it for a while, but eventually the cracks show.
Dysfunction and disease are rampant, far more common than they should be, in both the horse and human worlds, and this tells us something important: There is room for improvement. It is not simply “natural aging.” We should not be expecting that most horses over the age of 16 will develop metabolic dysfunction. Eighty percent of horses should not be suffering from ulcers. These numbers are not normal, although they are common, and they are signals that we need to make improvements in how we nourish and care for horses.
Holistic Nutrition vs. Nutritional Therapy: What’s the Difference?
Holistic equine nutrition looks at the whole horse—physical health, metabolic function, environment, stress load, lifestyle, and feeding practices. It focuses on species‑appropriate nourishment, not just meeting minimum requirements. It asks: What does this horse’s biology actually need to function well? How do all systems interact? Nutritional therapy goes deeper. It uses targeted nutrients, whole foods, herbs, and therapeutic supports to address chronic issues, long‑standing imbalances, metabolic or digestive dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation. It is nutrition used therapeutically, to restore regulation, reduce stress on the body, and support healing. Together, these approaches move far beyond symptom management. They create the conditions for deeper, more resilient health.
Why I’m Offering This Work
As an Equine Osteopath, I’ve spent years supporting now thousands of horses through hands‑on therapy, and I began noticing the same pattern again and again: no matter how skilled the bodywork, healing could only go so far when nutritional foundations were missing. When nutrition became a core pillar of care, everything changed. Horses became more resilient, more regulated, and far more capable of true whole‑body healing.
Holistic nutrition has been a lifelong passion of mine, rooted in years of research, practice, and lived experience. Over the last two years, I’ve expanded this work even further through formal continuing education, advanced coursework, and a dedicated mentorship focused specifically on holistic, therapeutic, and species‑appropriate equine nutrition.
I’ve been offering nutritional support to my clients for years, and it has become an essential part of my therapeutic approach. Now, I want to make this work more accessible and offered in a systematic approach, to a wider community of horse owners who are seeking answers, clarity, and a more biologically aligned way of caring for their horses.
I’m offering these consultations because the way most horses are currently being fed often does not make sense. Modern feeding practices often overlook what horses are truly designed to eat, and I see the consequences of this every day in my therapeutic work. Feed programs are filled with processed feeds, binders, fillers, chemicals, high sugar, poor quality nutrients, and ingredients lists that are far to long.
These consultations are designed for horses with chronic issues, complex health histories, or preventative maintenance for owners who want to move beyond short‑term fixes and toward long‑term wellness.
My Approach: Thorough, Individualized, and Therapeutic
Every consultation begins with a comprehensive review of your horse’s health and medical history, current diet and feeding practices, environment and management, workload and lifestyle, behavioural patterns and stress load, and your goals, concerns, and observations. From there, I create a customized nutrition and wellness plan that may include whole foods, plants and herbs, highly bioavailable nutrients, homeopathy where appropriate, and lifestyle and management recommendations. This work follows a layered, systematic process, much like peeling an onion. As one layer of imbalance is addressed, the next becomes clearer. This allows the body to move steadily toward deeper regulation and long‑term wellness.
What the Process Looks Like
This is not a one‑time consultation or a quick fix. It is a guided process that unfolds over time. Intake Form: You begin by completing a detailed intake form covering your horse’s full history, diet, environment, and goals. Initial Zoom Consultation: We review the intake together, clarify priorities, identify patterns, and establish realistic timelines. (If you’re a current client and I see your horse regularly, this step may not be required.) Individualized Nutrition & Wellness Plan: After our call, I create a detailed plan to support your horse over the next 2–3 months. This includes an overview of the conditions or challenges we’re addressing, hay and forage recommendations, whole foods, plants, and herb blends, bioavailable nutrients, therapeutic supports, and specific ingredients, amounts, and purchasing suggestions. Ongoing Support: Most horses require multiple follow‑ups, gradual adjustments, and ongoing assessment. Many cases span 6–12 months depending on complexity. Some are only a few months when we’re focusing on preventative maintenance. Every horse is an individual, and the process reflects that.
Important Things to Know Before You Begin
This work is deeply rewarding, but it requires commitment and a willingness to look beyond conventional feeding models. Most horses have not had their nutritional needs fully met for much of their lives. Restoring balance takes time and must be done gradually to respect the nervous system. Many commonly used pharmaceuticals, ulcer medications, NSAIDs, pergolide, thyroid medications, are often overused without addressing the root cause. While sometimes necessary, foundational nutritional support can often reduce long‑term reliance on them. My goal is to support the body effectively so that fewer interventions are needed over time. This is a species‑appropriate, whole‑horse approach that prioritizes nourishment, regulation, and long‑term wellbeing over symptom suppression.
Who This Is For
Holistic nutrition consultations are supportive for both complex cases and proactive care. This work can be especially helpful for horses experiencing metabolic issues (PPID, insulin resistance), ulcers or digestive dysfunction, laminitis or hoof issues, allergies or skin conditions, chronic stress or nervous system dysregulation, behavioural changes, persistent lameness or recurring tension, stocking up, or chronic inflammation. It’s also ideal for owners who want to prevent issues before they arise and support long‑term health, resilience, and reduced reliance on medications.
Why Nutrition Matters So Deeply
Modern feeding practices often rely on processed feeds and multi‑mineral mixes that don’t meet true biological needs. Many contain fillers, binders, preservatives, poorly absorbed nutrients, excess sugars, oils, soy, GMOs, and glyphosate‑contaminated ingredients. Over time, these inputs can contribute to inflammation, metabolic stress, digestive dysfunction, and nervous system overload. After more than a decade of therapeutic work, one truth has become unmistakably clear: nutrition provides the foundational building blocks for tissue repair, immune function, recovery, and overall health. Inadequate nutrition limits the body’s ability to heal. When nutrition, environment, workload, and nervous system support come together, the body can do what it is designed to do—heal and maintain homeostasis.
Offered Online
These consultations are offered online, allowing me to work with horse owners across Canada and beyond. If you’re unsure whether this work is a good fit for your horse, I’m always happy to discuss your situation!