25. Breaking the Horse Nutrition Mold: How Ciaron Maher Racing are Challenging Status Quo in Australian Thoroughbred Racing

Discover how Ciaron Maher Racing (CMR) is pushing the boundaries in the Australian thoroughbred racing industry and breaking away from traditional nutrition strategies. In this in-depth conversation, PhD equine nutritionist Dr. Nerida sits down with Katrina Anderson (Sports Science Lead) and Josh Kadlec-Cavanagh (Head of Data and Performance) to reveal the data-driven approach that's challenging decades of traditional feeding practices.

The trio discuss:

• Why feeding less grain (but more digestible grain) leads to better racehorse performance
• The critical role of hindgut microbiome health in racing success
• How faecal pH monitoring allows them to fine tune their feeding program
• The connection between gut health and chronic issues like foot soreness and tying-up
• Why the "footy horses" at CMR have virtually disappeared
• The remarkable case of Saint George: how targeted nutrition reversed severe thrush and fungal issues and got him back on the track
• Understanding the performance slump when transitioning to more digestible feeds; and
• The hard reality about gastric ulcers and race day challenges
  

Kat, Josh and Nerida also cover fiber fermentation vs. grain-based energy systems, managing the grain-to-bodyweight ratio for optimal performance, microbiome testing and its practical applications, reducing dependency on supplements and medications like omeprazole and the importance of lucerne hay before morning work.

With over 400 horses in training, CMR provides unprecedented data insights into what works—and what doesn't—in modern racehorse nutrition. Whether you're a trainer, owner, stable hand, veterinarian, or equine nutritionist, this episode is packed with, science-backed strategies to improve racehorse health, welfare, and performance.

If you’d like to read more about the brilliant microbiome study we discuss, see:

Wunderlich G, Bull M, McGilchrist N, Zhao C, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. The horse gut bacteriome and anaerobic mycobiome are influenced by seasonal forages and small intestinal starch digestibility. J Appl Microbiol. 2025 Sep 1;136(9):lxaf203. doi: 10.1093/jambio/lxaf203. PMID: 40802476. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40802476/

Discover and download the MyHappy.Horse nutrition app: https://www.myhappy.horse

And ask your nutrition questions 24/7 with Dr Nerida AI: https://www.myhappy.horse/nerida-ai

If you enjoyed this episode, we would LOVE if you would leave us a rating and review and share with your friends! It really helps us to get grounded, science-based information to horse owners and trainers… and it is their horses who benefit the most! ❤️