The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has launched the Equine Nutritionist & Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR).
This has been designed to showcase equine nutritionists and feed advisers who conduct themselves professionally and engage in continued professional development, to help support horse owners when making choices on where to go for advice on equine feeding and nutrition.
The profession of nutritionist is not protected, meaning that anyone can profess to have a level of knowledge sufficient to advise horse owners on what to feed their horses. Clearly this can result in poor or inappropriate advice being given which could ultimately compromise equine health and welfare.
Through ENFAR, professional nutritionists and feed advisers who have been accepted will have their information, qualifications and credentials visible and horse owners can be assured everyone will have been through a rigorous application procedure before being accepted on to the register.
Membership of BETA ENFAR also requires feed advisers and nutritionists to agree to abide by a Code of Conduct and undertake relevant CPD to ensure they remain up to date.
Dr Katie Williams, vice chair of BETA’s feed committee, has led the working party developing ENFAR as the idea was borne out of her PhD.
“Through my research, I was able to see the need for a register, to give people confidence that members had achieved a minimum standard of knowledge and were adhering to best practices,” Dr Williams said.
“And from the other side, we want to create a community for those working in the feed industry where there is support and CPD available. Our profession attracts wonderful, dedicated people who want to do their best for horses and their owners, and being able to do promote them all through ENFAR is great for every part of the equestrian industry.”
ENFAR will have two categories; one for equine nutritionists (who have a degree level qualification and more than three years in a role related to equine nutrition), and one for feed advisers. For both, people need to apply through BETA’s website and submit a CV and online assessment. Applications are then assessed by the ENFAR Registrations Committee.
“Feed makes up a big part of the equestrian world, and as any horse owner knows, it can be a really complex subject,” said Claire Williams of BETA.
“There are many incredible feed advisers and nutritionists in the industry, but we’re also seeing a rise of ‘armchair experts’ giving advice that isn’t just wrong, it’s potentially dangerous. We wanted to do something to address this issue from a wellbeing point of view, at the same time as celebrating the incredible professionals we have.”
Professionals can now apply to join BETA’s ENFAR register by clicking here.
