The podcast where we dish up the science and weigh the facts about equine nutrition
Why We Started This Podcast
Scoop & Scale is an equine nutrition and horse management podcast hosted by Dr. Clair Thunes, Phd, an independent equine nutritionist, and Jill Jackson, a lifelong equestrian. Together, we explore science-backed information about horse nutrition, health, welfare, and everyday management through conversations with researchers, veterinarians, equine professionals, and other experts. Our friendship began years ago in Arizona, where we both volunteered with the local Pony Club. We quickly discovered how much we had in common, from our own horses and love of dressage to the latest clinics we'd attended and our shared interest in improving horse care and welfare. This podcast is an extension of those conversations. We invite you to ride along as we discuss feeding horses, new equine research, more dressage than you probably want to hear about (we apologize in advance!), and life with horses in general. Our goal is to help horse owners and equine professionals better understand the science behind horse care while sharing practical information they can use in their everyday lives.Episodes
About Your Hosts
Combined we have one doctorate degree, two lifetimes with horses, four horses to feed, thousands of published equine-related articles, and more lessons learned the hard way than we can count.
Clair Thunes, PhD
Dr. Clair Thunes is an equine nutritionist, Pony Club mom, and dressage and eventing enthusiast. She is the owner of Clarity Equine Nutrition, an independent equine nutrition consulting company based in Gilbert, Arizona. Clair works with horse owners and veterinarians to develop individualized feeding programs for horses ranging from retired pasture companions to Olympic athletes.
In addition to her consulting work, Clair formulates horse feeds and supplements for equine nutrition companies and has taught equine nutrition and physiology as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis. She is a sought-after speaker and educator who helps horse owners understand the science behind feeding and caring for their horses.
Clair is also a widely published equine nutrition writer whose work has appeared in The Horse, Dressage Today, Horse & Rider, The Plaid Horse, and veterinary and scientific publications. Her extensive writing, consulting, and educational experience brings a strong scientific foundation to the conversations featured on Scoop & Scale.
Outside of her professional work, Clair shares a large pony with her daughter and competes in dressage.
Jill Jackson
Jill Jackson is a lifelong equestrian with experience owning and caring for horses in two countries and seven states. Having both boarded horses and managed them at home, she brings a practical perspective to horse ownership, nutrition, and everyday management.
Jill grew up in Pony Club, where she developed an appreciation for proper horse care, education, and responsible management. Her horses currently live at home in Iowa and include a dressage sport pony gelding and a rescue Shetland pony.
As co-host and producer of Scoop & Scale, Jill helps guide the podcast’s content development, researches and coordinates expert guests, prepares episodes, and manages production and promotion. She combines her lifelong experience with horses and her professional background in business operations to create engaging, educational conversations about equine nutrition, health, and management.
Jill’s goal is to help horse owners better understand their options, ask informed questions, and make confident decisions about their horses’ care.