Dr. Thunes is also available for collaboration both in person and via video conferencing with veterinary practices seeking nutritional support for their patients.
With extensive experience as a consulting nutritionist to international feed and supplement companies, Dr. Thunes is a valuable asset in any phase of development
Dr. Clair Thunes is a dynamic speaker and educator dedicated to empowering horse owners with the knowledge to make sound decisions when it comes to feeding their herd
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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. www.facebook.com/share/p/19UdVU7qSH/🚨 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. 🎧 ... See MoreSee Less
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.
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. www.facebook.com/share/p/1H2o1D8RKY/... See MoreSee Less
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 pituita...
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! ... See MoreSee Less
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. 🎧 www.facebook.com/share/p/1T3p7abwfn/🚨NEW EPISODE - AVAILABLE NOW🚨
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.
Important research being carried out by the vets at UC Davis in the impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on equine respiratory health. ... See MoreSee Less
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.
www.facebook.com/share/p/19UdVU7qSH/🚨 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. 🎧 ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
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.
www.facebook.com/share/p/19NQvShotj/ ... See MoreSee Less
Laminitis in Horses: Managing Insulin Dysregulation, Diet, Medications & Hoof Care Part 1 | Ep. 84 - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
Sep 14, 2026 | Cushings, Dr. François-René Bertin, Hoof Care, Hyperinsulinemia, Insulin Dysregulation, Insulin Resistance, Laminitis, Metabolic, Podcast, PPID2 CommentsComment on Facebook
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.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1H2o1D8RKY/ ... See MoreSee Less
Cushing’s in Horses: Understanding PPID and Why Fall Testing Matters | Ep. 83 - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
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 pituita...2 CommentsComment on Facebook
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! ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
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. 🎧
www.facebook.com/share/p/1T3p7abwfn/🚨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 👉 scoopandscale.com/ep-82-horse-amino-acids-lysine-methionine-threonine-more/ ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Important research being carried out by the vets at UC Davis in the impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on equine respiratory health. ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook