“Horse nutrition is my passion as well as my job.”
The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has announced that Dr Pat Harris MA PhD VetMB DipECVCN MRCVS has become the first honorary member of the Equine Nutritionist and Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR).
ENFAR launched at the end of 2025, providing one trusted place for horse owners to find experts to help support them with nutritional advice.
Feeding is a complex subject with professional help needed to prevent inappropriate or even dangerous feeding, says BETA. ENFAR was formed to address this issue, by providing an online register where people can find approved advisers and nutritionists who have shown deep knowledge of the subject, attend CPD, and have signed up to the Code of Conduct to ensure excellence.
For those who have made a significant contribution to equine nutrition and health, honorary membership is provided, and when the committee were considering who should be the first person with this accolade, Dr Pat Harris was the unanimous decision.
“Pat is a renowned nutritionist, having led the Waltham Petcare Science Institute’s Equine Studies Group, for many years,” said Claire Williams, Executive Director of BETA.
“She is a European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical and Comparative Nutrition, was a past president of the British Equine Veterinary Association, and is the only RCVS recognised specialist in equine veterinary clinical nutrition.
“For years, Pat has been at the forefront of equine nutrition. Her global reach includes being a past-president of both the Equine Science Society and the European Society for Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition as well as over 300 scientific publications - I’ve only mentioned a few of her accolades above, but her work has (and continues to) advance equine nutrition and, therefore, equine welfare in enormous ways.
“We’re delighted to have Pat as our first honorary ENFAR member and thank her for her support with the Register too. She is on the working group that developed the structure of the Register and has supported the principle from day one, which we are all very grateful for.”
“I am extremely proud to have been chosen as BETA ENFAR’s first honorary member,” said Dr Harris. “Having spent more than 30 years working within the equine nutrition sector, including as Science & Nutrition Director for Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand, and Head of the Equine Studies Group, it’s fair to say that the science behind horse nutrition has been, and continues to be, my passion as well as my job.
“Equine nutrition is multifaceted and so important with a direct impact on performance, behaviour, health, and welfare. A consistent goal within my role at Mars Horsecare has been to enhance the health and welfare of horses and ENFAR is helping to do exactly that. By providing a Code of Best Practice, as well as requiring ongoing CPD, the scheme will help to raise and maintain standards. Ultimately the new BETA ENFAR register provides support for horse owners to help them obtain reliable nutrition advice for their horses.”
To find out more about ENFAR and to find an equine nutritionist or feed adviser, see www.beta-uk.org/enfar-directory/
