Poseidon Animal Health’s founder Linda Goldspink-Lord and Molly.
Our horses give us so much. As Poseidon Animal Health’s founder Linda Goldspink-Lord explains, we should be focused on improving their lives in any way we can. Through her own personal health journey and a desire to give back to the horses she loves, Linda has now made this ethos her profession.
Horses became Linda’s lifeline during a difficult period in her life.
“I am so blessed to have a business that is absolutely improving the lives of horses in every way, so I can then take my love and what they’ve given me, and give it back,” says Poseidon Animal Health founder Linda Goldspink-Lord.
What began as a deeply personal health journey for Linda has evolved into a pioneering animal health company that is gaining international traction for its evidence-based approach to equine gut health.
JOURNEY SPARKED BY ADVERSITY
Linda was once a high-functioning CEO, mother of three, and university lecturer. That life changed in 2007 when she collapsed at work due to encephalitis, leading to years of debilitating cognitive and physical challenges. Just a few years later, she faced the unimaginable – the tragic loss of her daughter, Molly, in an accident.
Horses became Linda’s lifeline during that time. They gave her purpose and structure when trying to survive grief and chronic illness. In searching for ways to improve her own health, Linda began learning about the gut microbiome. The results were transformative.
“If gut health worked for me,
could it work for my horse?”
“I learnt about gut health, and the fact gut bacteria and all the other microorganisms that live in your gut absolutely impact on every single level,” she recalls. “I quit sugar, reduced eating processed foods, and pretty much instantly my grief became more manageable. My seizures slowly disappeared, but I got my clarity of thought back.”
Around the same time, Linda was dealing with persistent health issues in her retired racehorse, Cruz. She wondered: “If gut health worked for me, could it work for my horse?” The results of that personal experiment laid the groundwork for what would become Poseidon Animal Health.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION
Linda and husband Peter Lord founded Poseidon Animal Health in 2018. Built on the powerful intersection of personal experience and scientific innovation, their equine supplements are today used by world leading veterinarians, trainers, elite riders, and horse owners across six countries – and the company is rapidly expanding its reach.
From the beginning, Poseidon Animal Health has been built on a foundation of rigorous science and collaboration with global experts. The company’s flagship product, Digestive EQ, was developed in partnership with some of the world’s leading authorities in equine nutrition and gut health, including a PhD researcher whose work has focused specifically on the complex role of gut bacteria and digestive enzymes in equine health.
At the core of Poseidon’s ongoing innovation is a multidisciplinary team that brings together international expertise. Among them is Dr Erin Roddy DVM, a respected equine veterinarian based in the United States with a strong clinical interest in digestive health. She is joined by leading equine nutritionists, Dr Chris J. Mortensen, PhD and Nikita Stowers, MSc BSc BBS, and veterinarians in Dr Mandy Finnimore, BVSc(hons), and Dr Tiffany Hall, DVM, DACVIM.
Linda’s retired racehorse, Cruz, benefitted from her personal research.
FROM FAMILY FARM TO GLOBAL MARKETS
“We are committed to being at the forefront of scientific evidence and ingredient selection, formulation and manufacturing,” says Peter. “Our products are manufactured in both the USA, Australia and New Zealand under strict quality controls. Customers can be confident that what they are using has been developed and produced according to world-leading standards.”
With a background in animal pharmaceuticals, Peter is the CEO and oversees the company’s operations, growth strategy, and manufacturing. Under his leadership, Poseidon has scaled quickly and sustainably, maintaining a customer-first approach throughout.
“We are a business built on trust, transparency, and results,” he says. “From formulation to packaging, our priority is product integrity and real outcomes for horses.”
Poseidon now has a presence in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA – with expansion plans underway into additional international markets. The company also has a canine range in Australia applying the same gut-health-first philosophy to dogs.
EDUCATION AT THE CORE
Poseidon doesn’t just sell supplements. The company is also known for its commitment to education and community engagement. Through webinars, feed consultations, social media Q&As, and the free online Feed Assist program, the team supports horse owners with personalised advice on nutrition, management, and gut health best practices. With three vets and two nutritionists on the team, there is no shortage of expert advice.
“Gut health is not just about supplements,” Linda emphasises. “It’s about diet, management, education, and consistency. That’s why we work so hard to educate our community.”
Linda often shares real-life experiences directly with horse owners – sometimes even answering messages on weekends. “If someone’s horse is sick or stressed, I know what that feels like,” she says.
MAKING A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE
Poseidon receives hundreds of testimonials from horse owners whose animals have experienced significant behavioural, digestive, and performance improvements. “We’re not just improving horse health – we’re changing lives.”
Roger Fitzhardinge’s journey with beloved horse Bloomfield Vision, who suffers from headshaking, is one of the positive stories that many regular Equestrian Life readers may be familiar with (Equestrian Life, September 2024). While headshaking as an affliction is an enigma with no silver bullet, Roger believes that Linda’s suggestion to improve Jeremy’s gut health was a positive step forward in helping to manage the condition.
“Poseidon’s products have made an enormous difference, there is absolutely no question,” says Roger. “He has never looked so healthy; skin, attitude and putting on weight. He didn’t easily put on weight because he was always a little worried by his tension from his headshaking. Since he has been on their products, I can categorically state that with this great gut health he is now able to keep inflammatory changes better at bay.”
Linda, pictured with her dogs Wilson and Oscar.
Part of the Poseidon team, US-based Dr Erin Roddy uses the products with her own horses. “I started adding [Poseidon] products into my own horses’ diets and the changes were unbelievable,” she says. “Health issues went away, my feed bill went down, and I had happy, rideable horses who looked fantastic. Our horses are brilliantly designed animals… they can make themselves be amazing if we allow them to do that by feeding them the right things.”
“Health issues went
away, my feed bill
went down.”
ALL FOR THE HORSE
Looking ahead, Poseidon is focused on continued research and development, including developing new gut health solutions that support fibre diversity and microbial balance. As new research comes to light, the team regularly reviews product composition to ensure it reflects the latest science. Innovation never stops.
As Poseidon Animal Health expands, Linda and Peter are adamant that growth will never come at the cost of the company’s values. “We know people trust us with their animals, and that’s not something we ever take lightly,” Linda says.
We all want what is best for our horses. Poseidon has been built from love, from loss, and from the belief that gut health has the power to transform – allowing our beloved equine partners to live their best lives. EQ
Related articles
Alexander wasn’t as great as everyone expected. It disappointed cinemagoers, investors, the stars, and Oliver Stone... but there are some excellent horse action scenes and bareback riding.
Hazel Shannon and 19-year-old WillingaPark Clifford have now won Adelaide CCI5*L an incredible four times. Their partnership spans nearly 15 years and 58 starts at FEI events across the levels – including 16 completions at the elite end in four or five-star long-format events. Hazel says they’ve continued to evolve as a partnership, and despite his age Clifford is better than ever.