New Staff Members Explore Relationship Between Nutrition and ...

Thoroughbred sprinter’s physiological response to exercise comparedto an Arabian horse completing an endurance race?Not surprisingly, the critical connection between diet and exerciseemerged more clearly with the results of every study. KERpresident Dr. Joe Pagan commented, “We know that nutritionstrongly influences every aspect of a horse’s life. Over the years,we’ve learned a lot about how to modify equine diets to relieveexercise-induced muscle conditions. A new focus of the company isto find ways of preventing, rather than treating, nutrition-relatedproblems so that horses can perform to their maximum abilities.”Melissa Fryer is manager of KERx Special Needs Nutrition, a divisiondesigned to extend the range of KER’s services by combiningthe individual strengths of veterinarians and nutritionists in order tooptimize equine wellness. A Versailles, Kentucky native, Melissa isnot new to KER, having worked as a summer intern during her highschool years. Her present position, however, has a much broaderscope, encompassing product development and marketing as wellas the dissemination of nutritional information to veterinarians andhorse owners.“Nutrition is increasingly on the minds of veterinarians,” sheexplained. “They are finding that nutrition is related to many medicalconditions such as tying-up, hindgut acidosis, and insulinMoving OnAs new personnel moved in, Tiffany Dobbs, a research internfrom Queensland, Australia moved on. The year she spent atKER was packed with activities and adventures as she made useof the many resources in nearby Lexington, heart of theThoroughbred world. “The industry here is just remarkable,” shesaid. “KER offers many opportunities, but so does the entireLexington area. There were so many resources available here toexpand my experience!“ Exploring the region, Tiffany madeconnections with a number of professionals who welcomed herskills and enthusiasm. She spent some time assisting with studiesof genetics, reproduction, and nutrition at the Gluck EquineResearch Center at the University of Kentucky. Training, riding,and showing third-level dressage horses at a nearby stable tookup more hours, and whatever free time was left over was spenttraveling to nearby points of interest.Armed with degrees in applied animal science with specialstudy in insulin resistance from the University of Queensland,Tiffany had first applied to work at KER’s Australian office, butwhen she found out about the research intern program, shejumped at the chance to spend a year in the U.S. At the end ofher stay, she commented on her experience: “I learned you cannever stress nutrition enough. I really enjoyed working with JoePagan and Karen Hooks on insulin resistance research. AndStephanie Valberg was very knowledgeable and wonderful towork with.”What’s on tap now for Tiffany? After some travel, she’llreturn to the University of Queensland to work toward a doctorate.She’s especially interested in insulin resistance and OCD,and expects to spend about three years earning her degreebefore looking for a position in the field of equine nutrition.Catherine BishopAustralian nativeTiffany Dobbsrecently finished a yearas a KER researchintern. Her favorite barnbuddy was Pepe, afour-year-oldThoroughbred gelding.16 Equinews/ Volume 11, Issue 1

esistance that are seen on a daily basis. KERx is a resource whenowners have specific questions about feeding their horses. If veterinariansneed more information on nutrition, they can seek us outfor some input, or direct their clients to us. Our goal is to provideeducation so clients can take the best care of their horses.”KERx offers a range of products and services to veterinariansand horse owners, and Melissa has been instrumental in gettingthe program started. Helping to design the Web site(www.kerx.com), marketing the new division through trade showsand meetings, and defining objectives for distributors are all withinthe scope of her position. Melissa’s education (degree inmarketing) and work experience (management, financial planning,and sales) have given her solid business skills, while herstrong equine background (riding and showing hunters, memberof hunt-seat and Western collegiate equestrian teams, huntershow judge) is a benefit when she talks to anyone in the horsebusiness. However, no one person can launch a concept like KERxSpecial Needs Nutrition, and Melissa works closely with other staffmembers to achieve the new division’s goals.Dr. Karen Hooks, a veterinarian from Arkansas, joined KER in thefall of 2007. Visiting her grandfather’s ponies as a young child,Karen developed an interest in learning how to provide care andhealing to horses and other animals. After the ponies came aQuarter Horse, then a foxtrotter, and then dressage and jumping ona leased Thoroughbred. Following veterinary school, she bought aThoroughbred/Clydesdale cross gelding, and most recently becamethe owner of a two-year-old Hanoverian. In addition to this handsonexperience with many different breeds and types of horses,Karen has studied veterinary chiropractic and acupuncture therapies,and lists years of experience in clinical practice, farm calls, andemergency medicine and surgery.Looking for a change, she was drawn to Kentucky EquineResearch. “I knew KER conducted excellent research and offeredgood products for the benefit of the animals,” she explained. “Also, Ilike the fact that the company looks toward preventing health problemsrather than simply fixing them.”In addition to providing routine veterinary care for the more than30 horses in the KER herd, Karen’s work will focus on research andproduct development. One of her first assignments involved theKERx Wellness Program, in which a team evaluates horses in a particularstable, identifying specific dietary needs and health risks foreach animal based on riding discipline, exercise schedule, and otherfactors. “Every horse’s profile will be unique,” she said. “If you lookat a dressage horse, a Grand Prix jumper, and a young racehorse,their requirements for various nutrients will be slightly different. I’lllook at dietary parameters, and also determine each horse’s risk forJeff Rogersparticular injuries and metabolic problems based on the demandsof training and performance.” With this information, the KERx staffcan design a Wellness Supplement containing all the ingredientsneeded to support health and exercise for each individual.Assisting with the Wellness Program is Nicola Crowley, whorecently finished a year working directly with the KER horses beforeaccepting a position as a research fellow. Nicola, who came to theU.S. from Liverpool, England, is currently working on the nutritionalaudits that precede Wellness Supplement formulation. She’s alsoresearching behavioral issues with performance horses, and willhelp to design studies evaluating the effects of diet on behavior. Intime, this effort may lead to products that can allow horses to workmore calmly, eliminating stress and enhancing overall well-being.An eventing enthusiast who rides and competes regularly, Nicolaappreciates the importance of groundwork and preparation in bothriding and research. “I went to a meeting the other day to discussproduct development,” she said. “It was exciting to see a productbeing built around the results of the research data I helped collectlast year when I worked with the horses. When you’re doing barnchores every day, maybe cleaning stalls or bathing horses whenthey come off the treadmill, it’s hard to keep in mind that you’reactually participating in a study that could influence the design ofproducts and supplements in the future.”If these efforts can someday eliminate problems like insulinresistance or severe muscle cramping in equine athletes, owners willsee their horses staying healthier and performing better.Equinews/Volume 11, Issue 1 17

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