Replay: Bone health and horses with Dr Brian Nielsen

Podcast #49

In this replay episode, we are bringing back Dr Nerida’s chat with Professor Brian Nielsen on bone health in horses, because the ideas in this conversation have huge implications for soundness, durability, performance and long-term welfare.

If you have ever been told that long, slow work builds strong bone, or that the safest path is always to wait until horses are skeletally mature before exposing them to speed, this episode may really make you stop and think.

Dr Brian explains how bone actually adapts to exercise, why turnout and even very small amounts of high-speed work matter so much, how confinement can reduce bone mass, and why this is such an important issue for young horses in particular. It is a fascinating conversation that challenges some deeply held beliefs in horse management and racing, while also being incredibly practical.

This was one of the standout episodes from the early days of the podcast, and now that many more of you are listening, it feels like the right time to bring it back.

If you care about raising, training or managing horses for long-term soundness, this episode is well worth your time 🌟  

🧪Find the full scientific review here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/789

💛 If you’re looking for more practical help with nutrition and managing your horse, have a look at MyHappy.Horse, our app designed to help horse owners make more confident feeding decisions: https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324