and launch her business Wholesome Equine Nutrition, LLC in 2014. “Today I act as an independent consultant and do not take kickbacks from any manufacturers. In that way I can customize a feed program strictly looking out for each horse’s welfare,” she explains. Today she has helped more than 250 horses make the switch to a whole food diet.
Jumper Rider Casey Millis
Casey Mills, who has ridden hunters and jumpers most of her life, hails from Georgia but migrates further south each winter to Ocala, Florida for the popular HITS show circuit. Currently she owns a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood, Secret Agent, and a 13-year-old Selle Français, Rigoletto du Lys. Both were imported and are the laid-back types—‘solid citizens’ who enjoy their jobs in the jumper ring. Twelve years ago,
Casey decided she wanted to be an animal chiroprac- tor (for horses and dogs) and earned her doctor- ate at Life University in Marietta, Georgia and then went to animal chiro- practic school at Options for Animals in Wellsville, Kansas. That experience was eye-opening, she says, as she learned just how important a healthy diet is for humans and animals alike. First she changed her own diet to be health- ier in 2010 and, after notic- ing major health benefits, became interested in doing the same for her animals. A few years ago she
moved her horses to a new barn in Georgia and was lucky to connect with fellow boarder Karen Bates. “Hearing about how Karen was feeding her horses and the education she had on equine nutri- tion was impressive,” Casey says. “It wasn’t long before I switched my horses to a whole food diet, with Karen’s help of course.” She wasn’t having
any major issues with
her horses before the switch, but afterwards, she could feel and see a difference. “My horses’ coats are amazing and their muscling improved. They feel better and stronger now.” Their workload includes riding them six days per week, along with daily exercise on either a hot walker or treadmill. She shows her ‘boys’ in 1.10 and 1.15-meter classes. “I don’t use Bute or Banamine. If I need an anti-inflamma-
tory, I use the all-natural product Turmerical,” Casey contin- ues. “I stay away from corn, soy and canola oil, which are prevalent in bagged feeds and cause inflammation.” She likes some of the Biostar products and when she travels she gives her horses probiotics. “My goal is to feed my horses a non- toxic, clean, nutrient-rich diet. I care about my horses’ longev- ity—I want them to stick around for a long time.”
Anna Frensemeyer, Founder of Crypto Aero
Twenty years ago, German-born Anna Frensemeyer moved to south Florida as a student. She studied microbiology and nursing and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in both. After growing up riding in Germany among Warmbloods, she never lost her desire for horses. “I was fully aware of how much it costs to board horses in the Wellington area. It wasn’t anything I could afford at the time on a nurse’s salary,” Anna says with a laugh. But the ‘horse bug’ got the best of her and in 2012 she
adopted an off-the-track Thoroughbred after seeing only a video. When Crypto Aero walked off the trailer, she was devastated. “He looked like death and was nothing but a bag of bones with terrible feet and severe ulcers. I started feeding him traditional high-calorie feeds and treating his ulcers, but his progress was minimal. He was also colicking once or twice a week,” she says. Then she picked up a tag to find out what was in a bag
of his feed. “As soon as I read the list of ingredients, I knew immediately that the food had way too many fillers and was making things worse, not better. Crypto needed a different, healthier diet,” she says. She then started to cook his meals on a daily basis. The task was very time consum- ing but proved to be well worth her efforts. Crypto’s health improved immensely and he gained 300 pounds. “The transformation was amazing. I knew I was on to some- thing, feeding whole foods, and I couldn’t find any compa- nies selling a complete whole food diet for horses,” she exclaims. Passionate about how horses should be fed, Anna was
Top: Casey Millis stands with her two jumper geldings who have been on their new diet for about two and a half years. Middle: Casey competes on 12-year-old Danish Warmblood Secret Agent last year in Georgia. Bottom: Casey and her 13-year-old Selle Fran- çais Rigoletto du Lys competing at HITS Ocala.
determined to make her feed accessible for other horse owners. Her first step was to find a clean feed mill to produce her recipe of non-GMO, all-natural horse feed. “It wasn’t as easy as it sounds,” she remarks. “I was rejected by numerous mills due to my formulation, which included ingredients like papaya. Plus they weren’t used to dealing with a woman. In many ways it’s a ‘closed door’ industry. Newcomers like me weren’t welcome.” Anna’s perseverance paid off and four years ago she
finally found a mill in Okeechobee, Florida that does not manufacture medicated feeds for other livestock
Warmbloods Today 33
Courtesy Casey Millis
Alison Hartwell
Sportfot
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