For about 150 years, research at major universities in Animal Nutrition has allowed scientists to develop nutrition systems (aka Ration Balancing Systems) for providing optimal levels of nutrients (minerals, vitamins and amino acids) for all the money-making, production animals (milk, eggs, beef, pork, etc.). However, ration balancing for horses did not exist until 1984.
About that time, the late Karl Donaghy, CEO of Virginia Equine Research, (retired thoroughbred racehorse owner, trainer, breeder, and farrier) met Dr. Marion L. Jones at a church coffee hour in North Carolina. He recognized Dr. Jones as the world-renowned animal nutritionist; owner of a highly successful and sophisticated nutrition formulating company; and Professor Emeritus (Clemson University and NC State University). This prompted Karl to ask why a sophisticated nutrition system had never been developed for horses. The evident answer was that, as non-production animals, there wasn’t enough money in it, in tonnage, for the major feed manufacturers to bother, and there was no accountability to force the issue.
Donaghy, whose “edge” in racing success was his life-long study of animal nutrition*, teamed up with Dr. Jones to produce the first-ever ration balancing system for horses. For this project, Dr. Jones enlisted his best friend, Dr. Ed Harris (Ph.D. Animal Nutrition, Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, D.V.M., and private consultant to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals).
The Mission—to calculate the ideal amount and inter-coordinated balance of the full spectrum of minerals, vitamins and amino acids for all Equines―regardless of cost! Making it palatable would be dealt with afterward.
Their final product was called OPTIMA. It changed the world for open-minded horsemen. Crooked-legged foals became correct within a week. Rogue horses became placid lambs. Arthritic sport horses became 100% sound. Many more health benefits were discovered.
When Dr. Jones decided to retire, I was in a tough spot! As a NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructor for over 20 years, I knew that I could never return to commercial feeds and all the problems that went with them. I pressured Karl to re-formulate and improve the entire system under the name Virginia Equine Research, with Dr. Jones as our Consulting Ph.D. and Karl as our Chief Nutritionist.
Then it was time to share this product with like-minded horsemen and horsewomen. One of our boarders, after seeing the dramatic results on her horse, suggested the name HorseSense. As she said, “Because good nutrition just makes good horse sense!”
We opened a store in Marshall, VA called HorseSense. For a while we included products from major feed manufacturers as well as our own. Then one summer, the commercial feeds arrived at our store green with mold! We refused them and sent them back. We were furious that the lives of horses were so little valued. Mold produces mycotoxins which are poisons that can cause liver failure and fatal colic.
Karl’s research found the perfect solution to this persistent feed problem―live-fire roasting. Exposure to flame removes all mold, chemicals, dirt, and bacteria. Roasting also gelatinizes the starches in grains which prevents colic, improves flavor, and almost doubles digestibility. The roaster he found tosses every grain repeatedly through a flame until the internal temperature is correct for that particular grain. True feed safety was achieved! And with that, we added Performance and Senior feeds to our line of products.
Andrea Weyer Donaghy, President
*Frank Morrison, Cornell University and University of Oklahoma; The Father of Animal Nutrition, author of the “Bible of Animal Nutrition”: Feeds and Feeding, and under whom Drs. Jones and Harris earned their Ph.D.s.
