Horse Careers: Equine Nutritionist

Dr. Bob Coleman
Horse Expert and Nutritionist
Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky

Dr. Bob Coleman loved animals, so he decided to study Animal Science at the University of Manitoba.

While he was in college, two of his professors showed him how exciting the field of nutrition was for both animals and humans. Even though he did not realize the job of horse nutritionist existed, Dr. Coleman met a person who had that same job. This led him to further his education with the goal to specialize in horse (equine) nutrition. He earned his PhD (which gives him the title Doctor) in 1998 from the University of Alberta, and Dr. Coleman was hired at the University of Kentucky, in the heart of horse country. He said he is still friends with the person who encouraged him to work toward this career.

As an animal/equine nutritionist, Dr. Coleman works on making specific horse feed recipes. To do his job, he needs to know the nutrient needs of all kinds of horses and the different feedstuffs that will supply those nutrients to the horses. After he creates the feed, he calculates how best to feed the horses so they will get the nutrients they need to be healthy. Reading new information from other horse nutritionists is a large part of his job as well.

Once he has made a feeding program, Dr. Coleman must then communicate his advice to horse owners through writing articles and giving in-person presentations. He said a favorite part of his job is when a horse owner tells him their horse is doing well on the program he recommended.

To prepare for this career, Dr. Coleman studied chemistry, biology, and animal nutrition. This helped him understand what chemical nutrients horses need and how their bodies digest and use those nutrients. Math, specifically algebra, is also very important for his job. Most importantly, however, Dr. Coleman said that a good nutritionist candidate will like to solve puzzles, as they need to choose the correct feed for the correct horse.

If you would like to become a horse or animal nutritionist, consider studying at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Dr. Coleman could be your professor.