Veterinary CE Event Aims to Bring Nutrition Insights to Help an Ever-Growing Population of Horses Aged 20+ Years

Nettie Liburt, PhD, PAS, will present on nutritional management of senior, obese and laminitic horses alongside Pat Harris, MA, PhD, VetMB, DipECVCN, MRCVS & RCVS and Amy Polkes DVM, DACVIM as part of the MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Equine Veterinary Continuing Education Series

Aug. 24, 2021 (McLEAN, Va.) – As the population of aged horses (20+) grows, according to the USDA, and veterinarians continue to be a sought-after resource for equine health information, it’s important for veterinarians to learn about the nutritional needs of older horses. Research in equine nutrition has come a long way in the 21st century, and many long-held beliefs, such as it is normal for old horses to be very thin, have been disproven. As horses live longer, our knowledge of how to feed and manage them comfortably has increased. In addition, we’re learning more every day about how to provide the best nutrition not only for senior horses, but for horses needing to lose weight or who suffer from laminitis. This series of Equine Veterinary Continuing Education seminars, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™, takes a deep dive into these topics while intending to offer a total of six Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE)-CE credits to veterinarians and veterinary technicians this fall. The virtual series will take place on three consecutive Saturday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm EST on Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13. Topics will include Obesity, Laminitis and the Senior Horse covering relevant research and providing up to date nutritional advice, as well as current guidance on diagnostics. For more information and to sign up for registration information, please visit https://web.antechdiagnostics.com/equinewebinarseries.

This virtual educational series integrates Mars, Incorporated’s equine-focused products and services which include WALTHAM™, Antech®, SOUND®, BUCKEYE™ Nutrition and SPILLERS™ Brands. The expert panel of speakers features nutrition and veterinary specialists in research, diagnostics and product development.

Nettie Liburt, PhD, PAS, who is the Senior Equine Nutrition Manager at Mars Horsecare US, Inc., working on the BUCKEYE Nutrition brand will speak alongside Pat Harris, MA, PhD, VetMB, DipECVCN, MRCVS & RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Nutrition (Equine) and Amy Polkes, DVM, DACVIM. Dr. Liburt holds Master’s and PhD degrees in Animal Science (Equine Nutrition & Exercise Physiology) from Rutgers University, where she studied the effects of age and exercise training on glucose metabolism and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Dr. Liburt’s current role in Research and Development involves creating and formulating new products, training associates and customers in equine nutrition, providing veterinary continuing education, and working with the company’s UK-based team at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute on developing and implementing research protocols designed to improve our understanding of the nutritional needs of the horse.

Dr. Liburt has proven expertise in formulation, product development, as well as equine nutrition research and is directly involved in the horse industry, both personally and professionally. She is a lifelong horseperson who came up through the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Horse program and went on to turn her love of horses into a career that serves to improve equine nutrition. Dr. Liburt is a member of the Equine Science Society, is a registered Professional Animal Scientist (PAS), is a past board member of the East End Livestock and Horseman’s Association on Long Island, NY. She has an Appendix gelding named “ET” that she occasionally competes in the hunter and equitation divisions.

“I am incredibly excited to talk to veterinarians about these three areas of equine nutrition,” said Dr. Liburt. “Working with vets on a proper nutrition plan is an essential collaboration, especially for horses with endocrine disorders or those with a history of laminitis. Equine professionals and amateurs alike often feel overwhelmed by all of the nutrition information out there. I work to make it easy to understand and try to streamline the feeding regimen into something that ultimately is best for the horse, particularly in these special categories where proper nutrition is a critical part of management.”

The series will be presented virtually with pre-registration required. Registration details will be forthcoming. Equine veterinarians and veterinary technicians are encouraged to save the dates. For more information, please visit https://web.antechdiagnostics.com/equinewebinarseries.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, MILKY WAY®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, ORBIT®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL™, WHISKAS®, COCOAVIA®, and 5™; and take care of half of the world’s pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield™ Pet Hospitals, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, and VCA™.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn and YouTube.

About MARS EQUESTRIAN™

MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Sponsorship, funded by Mars, Incorporated, is the link between our iconic brands and the equestrian community. For generations, Mars has celebrated a rich equestrian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS EQUESTRIAN is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines, to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustainability, the MARS EQUESTRIAN Brand is dedicated to our purpose to improve the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them. For more information please visit www.marsequestrian.com and join us @marsequestrian.

About ANTECH™ and SOUND® EQUINE

For more than 30 years, Antech Diagnostics has been a leader in providing high-quality diagnostic laboratory and imaging solutions with over 70 labs throughout North America. Building upon extensive scientific inquiry and data analysis, ANTECH™ Equine has developed new platforms to address the health conditions of veterinary patients through risk assessment and diagnostics. ANTECH Equine Health Program is designed to promote preventative health care by enabling veterinarians to incorporate wellness programs into their practice at an affordable price. Antech is constantly working to improve the level of equine health care and has partnered with Sound® Equine to expand their diagnostic capabilities through imaging. Sound® Equine, the pioneer of veterinary DR and the creator of the NEXT Equine DR system, is the exclusive provider of GE Ultrasound and Samsung mobile CT systems for the US veterinary market. Additionally, Sound® Equine developed and innovated Regenerative Laser Therapy, which has helped countless horses get back to work and into the winner’s circle. Above all, ANTECH and Sound® Equine values partnership, both in our long-standing relationships with industry-leading vendors and our continued dedication to the largest veterinary customer-base in the market. Visit us at antechdiagnostics.com. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the BUCKEYE™ Nutrition Brand

The BUCKEYE™ Nutrition brand combines science, innovation and a genuine passion for horses to produce the highest-quality, safest feed possible. Every product is formulated by equine nutritionists and produced in a state-of-the-art, medication-free facility. The BUCKEYE Nutrition brand takes feed safety seriously, using only 100 percent pure ingredients delivered daily and traced from field to feed bucket. These stringent quality standards are backed by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, a world-leading authority on animal care. In business since 1910, Mars Horsecare US is passionate about unlocking the full potential of horses, allowing them to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Visit BuckeyeNutrition.com.

About the SPILLERS™ Brand

The SPILLERS™ Brand is a proud partner in care and strives to lead, support and communicate research to continually expand knowledge and improve horse health worldwide. Having produced the first ever compound feed for horses back in 1958, the SPILLERS Brand now has feeds to suit all types of horses and ponies, including fibers, balancers, Laminitis Trust approved products and a superior range of thoroughbred breeding and racing feeds.

All SPILLERS products are underpinned by science from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, a world-leading authority on pet nutrition and home to the WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group, led by Professor Pat Harris, MA, PhD, VetMB, DipECVCN, MRCVS.

The SPILLERS Brand is part of Mars, Incorporated, who put quality at the heart of everything.

About the Waltham Petcare Science Institute

The Waltham Petcare Science Institute is Mars Petcare’s pet research center. Our work focuses on the nutritional and behavioral needs of pets, as well as preventive health. We use this knowledge to support development of innovative products and services, advancing science to deliver our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™. The WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group, which is headed by Professor Pat Harris, MA, PhD, VetMB, DipECVCN, MRCVS, is dedicated to advancing the science of horse nutrition and provides the scientific support for Mars Horsecare globally including the BUCKEYE™ Nutrition, SPILLERS™, and WINERGY™ brands. By collaborating with key research institutes and universities around the world its work remains at the forefront of equine nutritional science.

Contact:

Abby Jacobi

Sr. Marketing Associate

[email protected]

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