Your trusted partner in equine nutrition and mentorship.
Equine Consultant
MDL Equine
Nutrition & FEED ADVISeR °° HORSE MANAGEMENT
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"Balanced Nutrition is vital for your horse.
It affects every system in the body and is the
foundation of neuromuscular and overall health."
Nina MacDonald-Lewis MA, PGCE, PG Equine Digestion & Nutrition.
BETA ENFAR Accredited. BETA Assc Member. Fully Insured.
About Nina
Current student MSc Equine Science
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
University of Edinburgh
Equine Digestion & Nutrition PG
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
University of Edinburgh
MA Psychology University of Aberdeen
PGCert Education University of Aberdeen
Nina began her equine journey as a child, learning to ride on Highland ponies and continuing into adulthood as a keen riding club member, competing in all disciplines as an amateur rider. Nina qualified with an MA in Psychology and a PGCE in Primary Education in the early 2000s. With 20 years experience as an educator, Nina understands different learning styles and strives to facilitate learning for everyone.
Nina has always been very passionate about native breeds in particular, in 2010 she founded Drumnagair Shetland Pony Stud and has bred many successful performance and competition ponies. Her valued bloodlines have also been exported around the world to set up breeding programmes abroad, including the USA. Nina has extensive experience in equine reproduction. In 2017 she attended Twemlows Stud's residential Foaling The Mare Course and in 2025 she undertook work experience with Dukes Equine Vets. Nina has also been a 'Pony Club Mum' and has experienced all the highs and lows that brings.
In 2024 Nina left the teaching profession to focus fully on an equine career and is now studying an MSc in Equine Science through the Royal Dick Vet School, University Of Edinburgh. Nina continues her passion for native breeds and Drumnagair Stud welcomed it's first Highland pony foal in 2026. Nina has extensive experience with all native breeds and currently owns a Fell, Welsh Section D, Miniature Shetland and New Forest pony. She has also previously owned a Connemara, Dartmoors and Exmoors along with several part bred types, traditional cobs and donkeys! She now competes mainly in ridden showing, occasional local dressage, low level endurance and loves hacking.
Nina's mission has always been to produce her ponies to be able to perform in any sphere to their best abilities. To be in peak 'competition condition', well muscled and fit but not fat. Nina's Shetland ponies are competing in driving trials, pony club, working hunter and are contesting hoys ridden classes all over the country. Nina has always struggled to find truly independent feed advice to support her ponies and as such began researching and learning as much as she could herself. After one of her ponies was seriously ill and spent a week at Glasgow Vet School he required very specific nutritional support for his recovery and it was at this point she decided to start formally studying equine nutrition. In 2025 Nina completed Edinburgh University's Post Graduate Equine Digestion & Nutrition Course, this is the highest level course of it's kind that is currently available. Nina is committed to ongoing learning and is currently enrolled in an MSC in Equine Science at Edinburgh University and is studying Welfare, Behaviour & Ethics and Exercise Physiology.
Nina is proud to be an associate member of BETA the British Equestrian Trade Association. In 2026 she passed BETA's entrance assessments to become a fully accredited feed adviser and has achieved registration on their new Equine Nutrition and Feed Advisers Register, ENFAR. Being accredited by BETA means she is committed to further nutrition training and ongoing CPD to ensure her knowledge is current and she agrees to adhere to the BETA ENFAR Code of Best Practice to ensure she provides a good level of advice to customers and clients
Nina is also a British Horse Society volunteer and runs a local horse owner's group with a mission to improve road safety for horse owners.
Our Services
Nutrition & Feed Advice
Mentoring
A Word About Native Ponies
Thrive not Survive
It's a common mis-conception that native ponies and similar types need to be kept 'on starvation' and this can be very misleading. Every pony should be managed as an individual and there are massive variations within breeds. Always evaluate your pony by condition scoring and although weigh tapes are not very accurate, they can be useful to use by way of keeping a record and noting changes. The most important thing is that your pony is receiving all the nutrients that they require. Whether your native is a Mini Shetland field pet or a Highland Pony competing in HOYS WH classes, they deserve to thrive and be as healthy as possible.
Our nutritional consultations are designed to provide bespoke feeding plans for your horses, ensuring they receive the right nutrients based on their specific needs and circumstances. Diet directly influences the structure and function of your horse's body and it is important to get this right from the start in order to prevent issues. We provide advice to owners of all types from Shetlands to Sport horses. We are fully independent and not affiliated to any one brand or product. We can evaluate your horse's current diet and formulate a plan to support your horse's overall health and your future goals with your equine friend.
We offer a mentoring program for new horse owners, providing practical guidance and support to help you make informed decisions about your horse's care and management. Whether you are moving your horse home for the first time or choosing a livery yard, we are here to support you all the way. Nina has extensive experience in creating tailored management systems to suit the needs of different horses.
We also offer a horse purchasing mentor package. Ideal for first time or novice owners who find the ever changing horse market overwhelming. Nina has experienced all the highs and lows of horse ownership from a novice owner's point of view to forging into the world of affiliated competition, buying and selling ponies both for herself and sourcing for others, becoming a registered breeder and sharing the journey of 'first pony' and onward through pony club with her young son.
Tailored Advice
Guided support for new & novice horse owners
Aberdeenshire
For all booking enquiries please email ninamdl@yahoo.com
MDL Equine
Nutrition & FEED ADVISeR °° HORSE MANAGEMENT