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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I am not sure that I have ever called out a product publicly on social media before but after a client consult today, I feel compelled to do so. Not because you would be wasting your money if you fed it (there are lots of those), but because it could have serious health consequences for some horses.
A client with a PPID horse has been feeding Havens Natural Balance as her balancer. On investigation of this product, it sounded promising as it claims that it “helps horses who are prone to laminitis, summer itch and insulin resistance.” This is due to the fact that it has “No added sugars and is completely free of molasses.” However, on closer investigation of the nutrient guarantees and ingredients, I was shocked to find the starch listed as 36.7% giving this feed a whopping NSC of 39.5%. This feed is entirely inappropriate and could in fact be considered dangerous to feed to a horse with insulin resistance especially one with a history of laminitis.
Let me be clear, no metabolic horse should be fed this feed and Haven’s should be ashamed of positioning this feed as being a safe option for such horses. ... See MoreSee Less
Raising a young horse can be both rewarding and humbling. There’s a lot of information out there on how to feed for growth, and not all of it points in the same direction. Conversations like this are a good reminder that there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all approach. Join us on this episode of Scoop and Scale as we discuss feeding young horses. www.facebook.com/share/1BM3bokDsJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr... See MoreSee Less
From birth through weaning and into early training, feeding young horses correctly is critical—but often misunderstood. Nutrition during this stage directly impacts growth, joint health, metabolism,...
Our understanding of the broodmare’s role in equine nutrition has evolved significantly in recent years.
For a long time, we’ve thought about feeding the mare as simply supplying nutrients to the foal. But the science is showing us it’s much more than that. What happens during pregnancy doesn’t just support growth in the moment, it can influence how that foal develops, functions, and performs for years to come.
Mare nutrition plays a far bigger role in foal development than most horse owners realize and the science is now showing that what happens during pregnancy can influence a foal for life. In this episo...
In a recent survey of 285 veterinarians presented at the 2025 AAEP convention, 52% reported administering injectable Vitamin E–selenium. Adverse reactions were reported by 31% of vets, with anaphylaxis being the most cited adverse effect (65%). Of these anaphylactic cases, 𝟑𝟓% 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥.
But here’s the part that deserves just as much attention: Only 𝟑𝟏% 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟖% 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.
This isn’t about fear, it’s about informed decisions.
There are safer, oral alternatives for most situations, and not all forms of Vitamin E are equally effective. Yet injectable products are still widely used, often for convenience or the assumption of deficiency rather than confirmed need. The survey reported that over 50% of the time, vitamin E-Selenium injections are given for suspected deficiency not diagnosed deficiency.
This is exactly why testing matters. Why understanding form matters. And why “just in case” supplementation isn’t always harmless.
If you haven’t listened yet, our latest episode breaks down Vitamin E deficiency, testing, and how to supplement effectively.
Spring means more riding and possibly more oxidative stress for your horse. After a winter on hay, many horses may be low in vitamin E, a key antioxidant for overall health.In this episode, we cover:-...
Horses with equine asthma burn a ton of energy just trying to breathe. Calories that should go toward condition, muscle, and performance are spent on… breathing. Maintaining weight can be an uphill battle, and this is just one of many nutrition challenges these horses face.
Dr. Laurent Couëtil from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital shares early signs, diagnosis tips, treatment options, and practical strategies to help your horse breathe easier and stay fit.
I am not sure that I have ever called out a product publicly on social media before but after a client consult today, I feel compelled to do so. Not because you would be wasting your money if you fed it (there are lots of those), but because it could have serious health consequences for some horses.
A client with a PPID horse has been feeding Havens Natural Balance as her balancer. On investigation of this product, it sounded promising as it claims that it “helps horses who are prone to laminitis, summer itch and insulin resistance.” This is due to the fact that it has “No added sugars and is completely free of molasses.” However, on closer investigation of the nutrient guarantees and ingredients, I was shocked to find the starch listed as 36.7% giving this feed a whopping NSC of 39.5%. This feed is entirely inappropriate and could in fact be considered dangerous to feed to a horse with insulin resistance especially one with a history of laminitis.
Let me be clear, no metabolic horse should be fed this feed and Haven’s should be ashamed of positioning this feed as being a safe option for such horses. ... See MoreSee Less
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
Raising a young horse can be both rewarding and humbling. There’s a lot of information out there on how to feed for growth, and not all of it points in the same direction. Conversations like this are a good reminder that there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all approach. Join us on this episode of Scoop and Scale as we discuss feeding young horses.
www.facebook.com/share/1BM3bokDsJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr ... See MoreSee Less
Ep. 74: Foal Nutrition: Feeding for Healthy Growth from Birth to Adolescence - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
From birth through weaning and into early training, feeding young horses correctly is critical—but often misunderstood. Nutrition during this stage directly impacts growth, joint health, metabolism,...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our understanding of the broodmare’s role in equine nutrition has evolved significantly in recent years.
For a long time, we’ve thought about feeding the mare as simply supplying nutrients to the foal. But the science is showing us it’s much more than that. What happens during pregnancy doesn’t just support growth in the moment, it can influence how that foal develops, functions, and performs for years to come.
In this episode of Scoop and Scale, we explore how mare nutrition shapes more than just birth weight… from metabolic health to long-term soundness. It’s a conversation that’s changing how I think about feeding broodmares and I think it will do the same for you.
#equinepodcast #equinenutrition #broodmare #foals
www.facebook.com/share/p/15huceeE4YJ/ ... See MoreSee Less
Ep. 73: Broodmare Nutrition: Why Your Foal’s Health Starts Before Birth - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
Mare nutrition plays a far bigger role in foal development than most horse owners realize and the science is now showing that what happens during pregnancy can influence a foal for life. In this episo...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
There’s more to the vitamin E conversation than most people realize.
After hearing the latest research from Dr. Carrie Finno last week and seeing data like this, it’s clear why.
This is exactly why we recorded this episode.
Take a look at the stats below 👇
www.facebook.com/share/p/1CbGQmAr1W/𝟑𝟓% 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝.
In a recent survey of 285 veterinarians presented at the 2025 AAEP convention, 52% reported administering injectable Vitamin E–selenium. Adverse reactions were reported by 31% of vets, with anaphylaxis being the most cited adverse effect (65%). Of these anaphylactic cases, 𝟑𝟓% 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥.
But here’s the part that deserves just as much attention:
Only 𝟑𝟏% 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟖% 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞.
This isn’t about fear, it’s about informed decisions.
There are safer, oral alternatives for most situations, and not all forms of Vitamin E are equally effective. Yet injectable products are still widely used, often for convenience or the assumption of deficiency rather than confirmed need. The survey reported that over 50% of the time, vitamin E-Selenium injections are given for suspected deficiency not diagnosed deficiency.
This is exactly why testing matters. Why understanding form matters. And why “just in case” supplementation isn’t always harmless.
If you haven’t listened yet, our latest episode breaks down Vitamin E deficiency, testing, and how to supplement effectively.
A summary of the survey results may be found here equimanagement.com/research-medical/research/use-and-safety-of-injectable-vitamin-e-selenium-in-e... ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Last week at a nutrition conference, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Carrie Finno, a top researcher in Vitamin E, share the latest findings.
With spring here and horses heading back to work, Vitamin E is more important than ever for their health and performance.
Don’t guess, know what your horse needs. Listen to our latest episode to learn how to identify deficiency and supplement effectively.
www.facebook.com/share/p/1AuKHBQzJ5/ ... See MoreSee Less
Ep. 72: Vitamin E for Horses: Identifying Deficiency and Effective Supplementation - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
Spring means more riding and possibly more oxidative stress for your horse. After a winter on hay, many horses may be low in vitamin E, a key antioxidant for overall health.In this episode, we cover:-...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
📣 New Episode Available Now
Ep. 71: Equine Asthma: Commonly Missed Signs, Causes & Treatments
Horses with equine asthma burn a ton of energy just trying to breathe. Calories that should go toward condition, muscle, and performance are spent on… breathing. Maintaining weight can be an uphill battle, and this is just one of many nutrition challenges these horses face.
Dr. Laurent Couëtil from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital shares early signs, diagnosis tips, treatment options, and practical strategies to help your horse breathe easier and stay fit.
🎧 Listen now!
#equinepodcast #EquineAsthma #EquineRespiratoryHealth #EquineNutrition #horsehealth
... See MoreSee Less
Ep. 71: Equine Asthma: Commonly Missed Signs, Causes and Treatments - Scoop & Scale
scoopandscale.com
Mar 16, 2026 | Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), Dr. Laurent L. Couëtil, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Equine Asthma, Equine Nutrition, Equine Respiratory Health, Podcast, Research1 CommentsComment on Facebook