If you often wonder what it is like to work as an equine nutritionist or what qualifications you might need to become one then read on as Katie Williams, Dengie's Senior Nutritionist, gives us an insight into just what she spends her time doing.
I'm usually in the office by 8.30am and first job of the day is to check my e-mails. I run through the inbox to see what has come in while I've been out of the office. I spend roughly 50 per cent of my time away from the office, which can mean my inbox fills up pretty quickly. Thank goodness for Blackberries!
As the others start to arrive we usually have a quick catch up on what they've been doing. I manage three nutritionists who also spend time out and about visiting horse owners so there is usually a lot to catch up on, not to mention all their horsey news from the weekend.
My mornings are usually spent dealing with any urgent queries or issues that might have popped up while I've been away. This might include an issue with the supply of a raw material for example or a customer with a problem with one of their horses. I also spend time looking at analysis results of various feeds to ensure everything is as it should be nutritionally.
As I am responsible for the ingredients that we use in Dengie's feeds, I need to meet regularly with suppliers. This is a great opportunity to learn about new materials they may have and how we might incorporate them into our range of feeds and supplements.
In addition to my work as Senior Nutritionist, I also carry out the role of Product Manager. This means that I am ultimately responsible for the technical accuracy of Dengie's adverts, posters, literature and bags and so I spend a lot of time proof reading and liaising with the creative agencies who design things for us. It also means that I have to keep up to date with current legislation which might sound boring but is actually really important as it should reduce the risk of problems like feed contamination which could be harmful to horses and ponies.
Having reached the afternoon, lunch is usually a very quick bite to eat whilst having a quick read of some of the latest journals and magazines, at the moment I'm into avocados as they contain lots of vitamin E and I am very health conscious – I do practice what I preach!
After lunch I usually spend time on project work as the afternoons tend to be quieter so I can focus on new feed formulations without too many interruptions. This is one of the most exciting parts of my job as I get to create new feeds. It is also really rewarding to get feedback from customers who have had great results from a product that I've created.
I may also need to visit our head office, based near Southminster, Essex, about 15 miles away. This is also where the production of our Alfa-A and Hi-Fi feeds takes place. I work closely with the Quality and Production Managers checking raw materials and finished goods to ensure they’re of the quality our customers expect. If we are carrying out trials of a new product I like to see how it looks and make tweaks to the formulation if necessary while I'm there so we can run another batch.
When in the office I usually work until around 6-7pm depending on how long my to-do list is. Then it's off to the gym, I find exercise is a great way to clear the mind and relieve the day's stresses. I have been with Dengie for over five years and although I work fairly long hours I am really lucky as I love what I do. I think I have the best job in the world as it is so varied and best of all I have a great team who do a fantastic job.
Katie began her career by studying for a B.Sc (Hons) in Equine Science. After graduating, Katie responded to an advertisement for a nutritionist. She was offered the role, something that she describes as “being in the right place at the right time”. While working full time Katie studied for a Masters degree on a part-time basis, gaining a distinction and being awarded the Edgar Pye Scholarship from the Society of Feed Technologists for her dissertation. She moved to Dengie as Head Nutritionist in 2003 and has been with the company for 5.5 years.
The first thing to consider is that there aren't many equine nutritionist jobs and so it is important to keep your options open. You will certainly need a degree in equine science/studies or animal nutrition – think about what other jobs you might like to do before deciding which course is best as you may have to wait a while for an equine nutritionist job to come up. Contact universities that run these courses for their entry requirements.
You will also need excellent communication skills as a nutritionist needs to be able to communicate with a wide variety of people from vets to Pony Club children. Enthusiasm and willingness to learn are very important as there is always more to know. It is also important to believe in the benefits of good nutrition and the impact it can have on a horse or pony’s health and performance.
