SPILLERS Science
The science behind SPILLERS is provided by the Equine Studies Group at the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute. WALTHAM is a leading scientific authority that focuses on the nutrition and wellbeing of horses along with other companion animals such as dogs, cats, birds and fish.
The WALTHAM Equine Studies Group, headed by Professor Pat Harris MA PhD, VetMB DipECVCN MRCVS and actively supported by Clare Barfoot BSc (Hons) RNutr who heads up Research & Development at SPILLERS, has collaborated with key research institutes and universities around the world for over 20 years and its work remains at the forefront of equine nutritional science.
The WALTHAM Equine Studies Group is active in many areas of nutritional research but focuses in three key areas;
- Obesity - In horses and ponies, obesity can contribute to a number of health issues. The WALTHAM initiated International Obesity Research Consortium seeks to improve our understanding of the causes and effects of obesity as well as how best to manage overweight and obese animals.
- Laminitis - The WALTHAM initiated International Laminitis Research Consortium is dedicated to enhancing our understanding of this very painful and debilitating condition. Work is particularly focusing on how to identify individuals who are at increased risk and how their management can be supported through nutrition.
- Age related care - WALTHAM has been actively working in this key area for many years through ongoing collaborative projects with Michigan/Minnesota in the US and Liverpool/Surrey/Aberystwyth in the UK. More recently the WALTHAM Equine Studies Group has formed a new research partnership with the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center another internationally recognised equine research facility. Through these collaborations, WALTHAM will continue to support research dedicated to advancing the science of senior horse nutrition, ultimately helping horse owners keep their horses and ponies happy and healthier for longer.
At SPILLERS we are committed to creating a better world for horses through partnering with you to help you care for your horse in the best way possible and the knowledge generated by WALTHAM is key to bringing this vision to life. WALTHAM has pioneered many important breakthroughs in equine nutrition and these learnings have been applied by Professor Pat Harris and Clare Barfoot in developing our range of trusted horse feeds.
If you would like to find out more about the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, you can do so by visiting their website here.
Meet Professor Pat Harris
After qualifying from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School in 1983, Dr. Pat Harris completed her PhD at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket into the Equine Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome. She joined the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute in 1995 and is responsible for the research carried out by the WALTHAM Equine Studies group in collaboration with experts at institutes and universities around the world. This research provides the science behind the SPILLERS brand. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Equine Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool, an Honorary Professor in Equine Nutrition, University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, and an Adjunct Professor at University of Queensland Australia.
Meet Clare Barfoot
Clare graduated with a degree in Animal Science from The University of Newcastle upon Tyne having always shown a passion for animals but particularly horses. Horses and ponies have always played a central role in Clare’s life after being born into a horse mad family. Through Pony Club and beyond Clare has tried her hand sometimes successfully, sometimes not at most equestrian disciplines. Nowadays Clare’s riding endeavours are restricted to schooling and hacking on her Welsh Section D mare Missy (aka the pocket rocket!) who she backed and brought on herself.