Testimonials
Ashley & Elsa
“I am absolutely blown away by the change in Elsa, and cannot overstate what a relief and weight off of my shoulders it is to know that her weight and diet are (finally!) in such a healthy place. She is looking and feeling the best that she ever has, and all while remaining forage-based!”
My 7yo OTTB mare, Elsa, has a pretty extensive health history - and as a result I am extremely picky about who I entrust with her care. I am very careful when it comes to any changes that need to be made in her life. After years of struggling with her weight and knowing Connie’s journey with her own OTTB mare, I knew that she was the only one I would trust to create a diet plan for my heart horse that would allow her to put on the weight that she needed in a safe and manageable way, while also tailoring to Elsa’s very specific physical, mental, and emotional needs.
Connie takes the whole horse into account, looking at not only their current diet but also their environment, activity level, mental wellbeing, and health history before constructing a plan and has always been willing to answer my myriad of questions thoroughly with research-backed evidence.
Two months later, all I can say is…wow, who is this horse?! I am absolutely blown away by the change in Elsa, and cannot overstate what a relief and weight off of my shoulders it is to know that her weight and diet are (finally!) in such a healthy place. She is looking and feeling the best that she ever has, and all while remaining forage-based!
My only complaint is that now she is so shiny and glowing from the inside out that I need to wear sunglasses to look at her in the sunlight! ;)
-Ashley M.
Elsa
Amanda & Obi
“Connie spent so much time learning not just about Obi’s diet, but also his personality as a whole. With all of this information, she provided me with an incredibly detailed plan on how to change is diet to maximize his full potential.”
I was so incredibly lucky to have Connie work with my 4 year old OTTB, Obi. Obi went from being a dull skinny little twig, to becoming a total beefcake in just 30 days.
Connie spent so much time learning not just about Obi’s diet, but also his personality as a whole. With all of this information, she provided me with an incredibly detailed plan on how to change is diet to maximize his full potential. I was given week by week instructions on how to incorporate some grain changes and she reviewed the supplements he used to be on, while providing recommendations on what she thought would better accommodate Obi based on not just ingredients but research as well. Obi struggles with ulcers, and I am excited to see how these changes help him heal.
I could go on about how wonderful Connie is all day, but the real proof is in his transformation photos. I look forward to continuing to work with 17 Hand Equine Nutrition as Obi grows and changes throughout his lifetime.
-Amanda M.
Obi
Noelle & Mikki
“After just 30 days, Mikki is looking far better and is happier in his work. It feels like one of the final pieces of his care has slotted into place.”
Starting a 30-day program with Connie sits in my top 5 "Best Choices I've Made for Mikki'. There are very few people I trust with Mikki and his care, but Connie has completely proven herself to both of us. Mikki needed to lose weight, and I wanted to get help understanding his diet before I made any changes. Connie broke down each component of his diet down to individual vitamins and calories as well as helped me make the best decisions for both of us with supplementation, serving sizes, and an exercise regimen. All the while she took into account Mikki's various quirks and limitations (physically and mentally) and made me feel confident in my care for him and the changes we were making. After just 30 days, Mikki is looking far better and is happier in his work. It feels like one of the final pieces of his care has slotted into place. I highly recommend 17 Hand Equine Nutrition to anyone and everyone no matter your goals or education level! Thank you times a million, Connie!
-Noelle T.
Mikki
Christina & Wish
“I’m so grateful to Connie for her expertise. She answered every question I had with compassion and evidence, checked in regularly, and taught me SO much about so many elements about equine nutrition. I feel so much more confident in my ability to keep Wish’s condition as good as it is now long-term, especially since I’ll always be able to consult her for guidance.”
My horse, Wish, is a 15 year old Dutch Warmblood with a tumultuous past of being bounced around in the competitive dressage world as a high level performer. When I found him at age 11, he had been rejected from that world for “bad” behavior and was basically given to me. Our first two years together were super difficult with injuries, hoof concerns, and some behavioral challenges.
While we’ve thankfully moved past much of that with the help of our wonderful trainer, bodyworker, and vet, Wish’s nutrition has been a constant source of frustration for me. I’ve tried so many different supplements, herbs, and regimens and he still never really achieved the healthy look I was hoping for.
To say I was impressed by Connie’s offerings is an understatement. I wasn’t sure what to think or if I’d even follow all of her recommendations but I was truly blown away by her professionalism, attention to detail, commitment to evidence-based practice, and general enthusiasm for our journey.
Our goals were to help mitigate inflammation in Wish’s body, help him gain weight, grow healthier hooves, and just be healthier overall. In just a month, Wish has gained an entire saddle size, three inches at the girth line, almost 100 pounds, is growing new hoof like crazy, and is shinier than I’ve ever seen him. He’s also been excelling in the work like I’ve never experienced before. He’s moving, feeling, and looking like the fancy warmblood he truly is.
I’m so grateful to Connie for her expertise. She answered every question I had with compassion and evidence, checked in regularly, and taught me SO much about so many elements about equine nutrition. I feel so much more confident in my ability to keep Wish’s condition as good as it is now long-term, especially since I’ll always be able to consult her for guidance. I couldn’t recommend Connie and 17 Hand Equine Nutrition more highly!
-Christina M.
Wish
Brittany & Seamus
“Working with Connie and dialing in his nutrition has made a huge difference just after 30 days! Seamus is bouncier, fitter feeling and has way more power and willingness to work.”
Working with Connie has been an amazing experience! My performance horse, Seamus, has been a bit of a puzzle to figure out as he’s not a hard keeper by any means (Connemara x TB with the pony holding sway) but has always been a bit more of a lazy kick ride, which hasn’t quite matched his athleticism or drive.
We’ve tried lots of different options and supplements, different proportions and various different conditioning schedules, but just always felt like something was missing. Especially since he’s always checked out as super healthy by the vets.
Working with Connie and dialing in his nutrition has made a huge difference just after 30 days! Seamus is bouncier, fitter feeling and has way more power and willingness to work.
I’m super excited to see how he continues to progress and for what this season has to offer for us thanks to the help that Connie has given us!
-Brittany F.
Seamus
Alix & Usher
“Our goals for Usher were to gain weight and target the inflammation in his legs. 30 days later, Usher has visibly filled out and the swelling in his legs has almost completely gone down to the point I think I need to size down in his boots!”
I am so beyond grateful for Connie and the attention that she has given to Usher’s diet. She is thorough, kind, supportive, and encouraging! Our goals for Usher were to gain weight and target the inflammation in his legs. 30 days later, Usher has visibly filled out and the swelling in his legs has almost completely gone down to the point I think I need to size down in his boots!
I was so worried that adding alfalfa to his diet would make him hot, but Usher is here to prove that’s not the case. He’s as gentle as ever - continues to give beginner lessons and pony rides to my 1 year old daughter.
Seeing my horse happy, healthy and comfortable is the best feeling in the world - I couldn’t recommend 17 Hand Equine Nutrition enough!
-Alix T.
Usher
Carolyn: Tango & Roni
“She took time to meet and get to know my horses, listen to my concerns and develop healthy feeding plans that the horses enjoy, are easy for barn staff to feed and work within my budget.”
I highly recommend Connie Flores with 17 Hand Equine Nutrition for your horse’s nutritional needs! Connie developed thorough and easy to use nutritional plans for my older thoroughbred with Cushing’s and my older warmblood with arthritic changes. She took time to meet and get to know my horses, listen to my concerns and develop healthy feeding plans that the horses enjoy, are easy for barn staff to feed and work within my budget. My horses are happy, healthy and look wonderful!
-Carolyn G.
Tango
Roni
Chelsea & Ego
“She also listened to me without judgement and took all of his quirks into account when devising a plan. She has been so patient and always has great advice and ideas.”
“Connie has been amazing working with my very quirky, picky eater. She came up with 3 different plans to try so we could find something that he would like. She also listened to me without judgement and took all of his quirks into account when devising a plan. She has been so patient and always has great advice and ideas. He has been eating great and I could see the improvement in his body and coat so quickly. My farrier also commented on how great his feet look. I’m so thankful to have this guidance to give my horse the proper nutrition for the healthy life he deserves.”
-Chelsea D.
Ego
Haley & Ringo
“I find myself looking at him in pictures and videos lately and am just shocked by how visible the differences are from now to a few months ago. I wish I had reached out for professional help with his diet much earlier on to save both of us years of struggle.”
"I bought Ringo three years ago as a 4-year-old OTTB, approximately one week after his last race. Ever since, I have struggled with his weight. I have tried to research nutrition on my own before to help him gain weight, but it seemed like no matter what I did I was never fully satisfied with his appearance. He didn’t look terrible, but I knew he could look better. Therefore, I reached out to Connie about helping me with his diet.
She was able to look at his diet and lifestyle to determine what we could do to help him look his best. She answered any questions I had and was super easy to talk to about trying different things. For the first time since owning him, he has started to fill out and look so much better both on the ground and under saddle (despite traveling to multiple shows and lessons out of state since changing his diet a couple of months ago)!
I find myself looking at him in pictures and videos lately and am just shocked by how visible the differences are from now to a few months ago. I wish I had reached out for professional help with his diet much earlier on to save both of us years of struggle.
I highly recommend working with Connie; she makes nutritional plans that are backed up by research, are very detail oriented, and explains everything she does in a way that is so easy to understand."
-Haley P.
