Jessica Normand

Early Life

Jessica grew up in Vermont working on horse farms since the age of twelve, to help pay for her riding lessons, board, and horse show fees. She started competing in 4-H and open shows, before moving to the New England hunter/jumper circuit as a teenager. She then competed with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) all four years as an undergrad at the University of Massachusetts, taking home National Reserve Championships over fences and in horse judging.

Since a young age Jessica was motivated to combine her love of horses with an interest in nutrition, having been inspired by her mother, a registered dietician, researcher, and the founding Nutrition Editor of Eating Well magazine.

Jessica’s riding interests evolved beyond the English show ring when she started spending time on a Wyoming ranch each summer throughout her twenties. She’s now living her dream life in Montana, with her partner who runs the Montana State University Farrier School in Bozeman, and plenty of time in the saddle.

Learning The Ropes

For over twenty years Jessica has been dedicated to helping horses thrive by creating outstanding nutritional products and educating owners about optimal care and management. One of the earliest employees of SmartPak Equine, Jessica helped develop the SmartSupplements™ product line and the ColiCare™ colic surgery reimbursement program during her fifteen-year tenure. From there, Jessica spent five years with Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company, as the Senior Marketing Manager for Equine Pharmaceuticals & Brand, followed by a role as the Director of Equine Health for EquiFit.

Throughout her career Jessica has worked extensively with horse owners, equine veterinarians, and farriers, alike. She holds an A.S. in Equine Industries and a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a M.B.A. from Babson College.


Doing Good

Jessica has been involved in equine assisted services since 2015, first as a volunteer for a local veterans’ horsemanship program, then as a member of the Professional Association of Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) Equine Welfare Committee, and she is now in her second term on the PATH Intl. Board of Trustees. She is also studying with the Natural Lifemanship Institute, working toward her NL Certification for Equine Professionals (NLC-EP), which will allow her to partner with mental health professionals, as the horse’s advocate, to incorporate horses into trauma-informed therapy for children and adults.

Jessica joined the FullBucket team as Marketing Director in May 2024. She’s thrilled to return to her first passion of equine nutrition, and grateful to be part of an organization that’s so committed to giving back to horses and the humans that rely on them.

“Horses truly enhance our lives. Whether you’re having a bad day and some time at the barn makes it all melt away, or you’re living in a part of the world where you rely on a horse, donkey, or mule for your transportation and livelihood, we’re all better off because of these incredible animals. I'm grateful to play a small part in contributing to better care for all equines.”