Tag: horse care

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How To Avoid Sticky Stifles And Add Longevity To Your Horse’s Mobility

4 Vital Steps To Evading Stifle Struggles

The horses stifle is comparable to the human knee. It is a complex network of 4 bones, 3 joints, 14 ligaments, and 2 cartilage menisci. The stifle allows for your horse to flex and extend their hind leg and is designed to help absorb shock as your horse is in motion. Commonly most people think of performance horses when it comes to injury or concern of the stifle…

What is important to understand is that conformation, genetics, and fitness/conditioning plays a role in the health of your horse's stifle. Which means that even recreation and leisure horses can experience concern if the right supportive measures are not implemented with the horses care and lifestyle to promote the proper function of this intricate system of your horse's body.

  1. Proper Digestion- There are many resources that teach on proper nutrition to ensure the health of your horse's musculoskeletal system, but if the delivery vehicle for that nutrition is not functioning at its best. It is likely that the nutrition will go in one end and out the other… leaving your horse still at risk and your hard earned money in supplements in a steaming pile of poo. A great start is to support with the 3 Amigos of Equine Digestion, click here to read more.
  2. Species Appropriate & Individualized Nutrition- The resources I mentioned sharing nutritional advice… not only fail to address the delivery vehicle being operational (big deal if you want results…) but they also preach on cookie cutter, ratio, lab created synthetics that will most certainly fall short of the long term health and benefits you desire for your horse. Do you think that you and I have the exact same nutritional needs, what about compared to your spouse, kids, or your friend who goes to the gym for an hour everyday?? Is blanket nutrition really what you want to trust your horses's vibrant health to?  Once you have cleaned the nutrition of synthetics, chemicals, and toxins… look to add a natural amino acid supplement or check out our favorite joint health hack by clicking here.
  3. Fitness & Conditioning- Proper warm up, cool down, and overall fitness have a huge impact on the health of your horse's stifles. Did you know that the quadriceps and stifle area of your horse is the last place to build and strengthen from your conditioning routine? That means it will also be the first to weaken if you lack consistency or if the horse is on stall rest or inactive over a period of time. Remember that strength training is best done with slow work, consistency, and patience. Working with a sports trainer or qualified professional with slight incline hill work, trotting poles, lateral suppling exercises, and serpentines are great ways to build fitness and condition over time.
  4. Recovery & Therapy- Supporting your horse with bodywork, natural liniments, and nutritional support and remedies known to reduce oxidative stress, and aid in cellular reproduction, repair, and function can be the small difference that puts the icing on the cake to your additional efforts.

Simple Exercises You Can Do Now With Your Horse To Support Hindquarter & Topline Health

When you don't know where to start…

It can be overwhelming and confusing to know how to best care for your horse. It seems there are so many opinions, facts, and conflicting information out there! We want to help empower you to individualize your horse's care with confidence and peace of mind… we designed a FREE PDF guide to get you started right now.

Get our 10 Tell Tale Signs Your Horse May Be Suffering From Dangerous Digestive Problems guide sent to your inbox right away. Click Here to download your copy today.

I hope you found value in this post. Please share via your favorite social media page to help us on our mission to promote horse health and wellness. You will find share buttons at the bottom of the post.

Life is better when you're horsin’ around!

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Do You Respond or React To Horse Health Concerns?

Whether You Respond Or React… Will Impact Your Horse's Health

We have all been there where a sudden illness or problem arises with our horse and an internal panic ensues… but did you know that your stress, worry, and anxiety has the potential to make your horse's health concerns worse?

On top of that the market is full of tactics that take advantage of your concern, promising solutions with their products that often mask, treat, or suppress the problems your horse has…

Driving them deeper into the body and setting your horse up for additional, more severe health problems! Soon you feel lost not sure where to turn or how your horse got here in the first place.

Somehow, the experts and marketers get you to take comfort in the fact that it is “normal” for your horse to be experiencing health concerns as the trends reveal there are more horses that are sick or diagnosed with health concern, then those who remain healthy and sound.

You may be wondering then… What am I to do??

You must begin with YOU! Your mindset, knowledge, belief, and confidence in caring for your horse is something completely within your power.

An empowered horse owner stands prepared and ready should health challenges arise for their horse, but the best part is that they also have the skills and tools necessary to reduce their horse's risk of many of the problems a majority of horses are facing.

The worst place you can be in regards to your horse's health is in your head. One of the best questions you can ask yourself is, are you all in? Are you truly committed to doing what it takes to get the result and desired outcome you want for your horse?

You will face opposition.

People will tell you that you're wrong, crazy, and some may even call you ignorant.

There will be times it seems like it isn't working, it might look like it is getting worse, and it will take investment of both time and money…

My mentor often makes the statement that if you argue for your limitations you get to keep them. Are you arguing for either your personal limitations or maybe what you perceive to be your horse's limitations?

You are your horse's headlights and they can only see and make it as far as you are willing to go. That means that you must let go not only of the limiting beliefs that you have, but those that have been “given” to you be your friends, vet, farrier, trainer, etc.

Draw a line in the sand of what you are determined to achieve for your horse, regardless of if you know how to get there or not! For more suggestions and tips on how to respond vs react check out the audio below.

You Have To Decide & Then You MUST Take Action

With my mare Pokey I had 3 different opinions with “tests” to back why each was right and the others were wrong…

Although each professional had a different label of what Pokey suffered from, there was a shared consensus of euthanasia as the only option. I was disheartened, confused, and not sure what to do.

I decided that I would not accept this fate for Pokey and set out to change and improve her health with no earthly idea how I would do it. All my mentors and peers thought I had lost my mind and nothing good would come from my false sense of hope and determination…

If you know our story… that was back in 2001 and she is still here with me today. I make it my mission to have the tools and information available to those open and looking for a better way to care for their horses.

One of the very first steps is to spot the overlooked signs of health concern, that your horse could be sharing with you right now… My mare struggled with #3 on the list for many years and I was told it was a behavior and training issue. I created a free pdf guide that shares 10 Tell Tale Signs Your Horse May Be Suffering From Dangerous Digestive Problems. Click Here to download your copy today.

I hope you found value in this post. Please share via your favorite social media page to help us on our mission to promote horse health and wellness. You will find share buttons at the bottom of the post.

Life is better when you're horsin’ around!

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7 Tips to Supporting Your Horse Through Detox

Tips for supporting your horse through a cleanse-

In this day and age supporting the body to detox is very important. There are different ways in which you can detox your horse. Some people like to more aggressively detox the body and choose to utilize specific detox systems and programs….

The tips shared in this post are meant to guide you through a more moderate and lifestyle approach. With the amount of toxins our horses are combating it seems more advantageous to maintain a balanced and continual detox approach.

  1. Clean your horse's nutrition of synthetics and chemicals- many feeds on the market today actually contain the very ingredients in which you are looking to cleanse from your horse's system…
  2. Support the digestive system with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes- if the digestive system fails to deliver the nutrition your horse's bodies needs, the body will not have the fuel it necessary to properly cleanse. Resulting in toxic build up…
  3. Filter water and ensure appropriate hydration- Utilize options like a Horse Hydrator to filter out chemicals within your water that raise the risk of health concern.
  4. Stop applying topical products that are synthetic laden and based- Feeds and supplements are not the only ingredient lists that you need to review and be aware of. Switch your fly sprays, liniment, shampoos, etc. to more organic natural choices.
  5. Utilize herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, or dandelion leaf to support cleansing- Always be sure to review the tips above and lifestyle of the horse, adjusting and reducing the toxins where you can prior to utilizing natural remedies.
  6. Add essential oils to your care routine (supports pH, frequency, and reduced oxidative stress)- Remember health begins at the cell level. Continued toxic overload after implementing these tips is a sign of imbalance at the cell level. Check out Where does your horse's health begin? for more information on cell health.
  7. Exercise and bodywork- Exercise is crucial to your horse's overall health and wellness… and bodywork is a great way to help support your horse's circulatory, endocrine, and lymphatic systems.

What is most important to understand is you are looking to cell health and function. If you are implementing these 7 tips in your horse's health and wellness you are on the right track!

Don't Unknowingly Let Dangerous Digestive Problems Linger-

When toxins build up in the horse's system it can be due to the digestive system not functioning properly… many of the health concerns our horses face today are connected to problems that begin in the GI tract. It has also been my experience that these concerns often are overlooked by equine professionals and horse owners alike.

My mare struggled with #3 on the list for many years and I was told it was a behavior and training issue. I created a free pdf guide that shares 10 Tell Tale Signs Your Horse May Be Suffering From Dangerous Digestive Problems. Click Here to download your copy today.

I hope you found value in this post. Please share via your favorite social media page to help us on our mission to promote horse health and wellness. You will find share buttons at the bottom of the post.

Life is better when you're horsin’ around!

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How To Make The Best Decision For Your Horse’s Care

Your Internal Guidance System-

I just recently watched an amazing training by Zen DeBrücke – it was one of those times where I knew I was in the right place at the right time and to be honest it actually made me cry…

My heart and passion to help horse owners with improving their horse's health is strong and sometimes can be overpowering. It comes so natural for me to research, process, and make decisions quickly and confidently that I have found it hard to empower my students with the skill to duplicate it. Although many students get to that point, it often takes a great deal of time with me, one on one, and/or time studying my course content.

While I listened to Zen's training she confirmed and brought an awareness to me of a pattern that I have unconsciously done for as long as I can remember. Zen teaches people about their Internal Guidance System, how to feel it, and utilize it. This is actually what I use to determine what care my horses need, when I need to switch or cycle supplements, what natural remedies to use, etc. I use my IGS so often that I am not even aware of it most of the time.

How to Tap Into Your Internal Guidance System

I encourage you to check out Zen DeBrücke's website, Zen In A Moment, for more information on this topic, but I want to share with you with the newly found awareness I now have, how I tap in and utilize my IGS in my horse care and even horsemanship routines.

Think for a moment for me…

Picture a time with your horse that you felt open, expanded, and care free. Everything was in flow and harmony and life seemed to be synchronized and meant to be. Hold that feeling for a moment.

Then I want you to picture a time when you had a “bad horse day”, you were frustrated, confused, stressed, or overwhelmed with your horse's behavior, a performance, your horse's health situation, etc. Notice what you feel in your body right now…

Did you feel contracted, closed, shrunk or shriveled?

What is really causing us to feel either positive or negative feelings during these situations? If you think about it and raise your awareness can you connect that feeling of openness and expanse when you are aligned and on the right path and contracted and closed when you believe that you aren't?

Strengthen The Internal Guidance System Like A Muscle-

When I share my story about helping my mare Pokey, sometimes people fail to realize or connect that her situation led me to the information I know now… meaning I didn't have a clue how to help her and thankfully I didn't have to! I followed what is shared in the video in my own unconscious way.

One of my favorite statements that Zen said during her talk was, “Just go from opening to opening to opening.” That is exactly what I did for Pokey and what I continue to do for every one of my personal horses and even those of my clients. Sometimes I am amazed at the doors that open for me, that are truly a blessing to those I am working with. I find the information they need through the same concept and internal guidance.

I want you to start to strengthen your IGS in relation to your horse(s). Choose 5 things that weigh on your heart and mind in regards to your horse's health, care, and even horsemanship. Many times these statements are the I should, could, would if, have to, need to, I can't, I am not… thoughts in our head. Here are some ideas:

  • “I would change my horse's diet if I was more knowledgeable and experienced”
  • “I have to feed fortified scientifically complete nutrition”
  • “I have to vaccinate”
  • “I need to ride more”
  • “I am not experienced enough”
  • “I can't figure out what is wrong with my horse”

One last one I want you to write down is whatever label or diagnosis your horse has been given. My horse has (fill in the blank). When you say that or think it do you feel open or closed? What about if instead you say or think-

  • I can find the answers to support my horse back to health.
  • My horse is vibrant, exuberant, and full of life.
  • My horse is nature in its finest form, harmonious, synchronized, and in balance.

Now that you have your statements, use your IGS to help you mark whether you feel open, closed, or neutral. If you feel open make note and move toward that opening! If you feel closed rework the statement to something that brings openness and release. If you feel neutral you may need to find more information and try the statement again.

Go with your initial response and don't let your head get in the way. If it does, try again. It will come more natural to you, over time.

It is my true belief that horse ownership and horsemanship should be fluid, in flow, full of freedom, and fun. I had lost that along time ago. I had silenced my IGS with horses for way too long. It took Pokey's situation to bring me out… that too was a choice. You must make the choice to grow and practice this skill or rely on others to make the decisions for you.

Check out the audio below for a recent call I did sharing more on your internal guidance system and using it for your horse's care…

Utilizing Nature's Care & Design

To ensure you experience the results you desire it is imperative that you assess and review that your horse's care and lifestyle are aligned with Nature's plan and design. You can get started on supporting your horse to vibrant health right now, by downloading your copy of our FREE PDF guide, The Secrets of Equine Naturopathy, click here or the image below to get this guide sent to your inbox today!

How to Naturally Improve the Health of Your Horse

I hope you found value in this post. Please share via your favorite social media page to help us on our mission to promote horse health and wellness. You will find share buttons at the bottom of the post.

The Journey To Your Horse's Health Begins Here & Now!

The title photo of this post is the work of professional photographer, Nadja Rider. She has a great passion for the mustangs of the Sand Wash Basin and her work brings awareness and life to the herds and horses there. I hope to further the efforts of her great work, through utilizing these beautiful images. If you would like to follow these horses on Facebook Click Here. Be sure to check out Nadja photos, they share a story of the lives of mustangs in such an honest and authentic way.

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The Missing Link to Your Horse’s Health

It is the little things that make a huge difference-

Your horse's body is made up of trillions of cells. Whether your horse is experiencing health or disease is determined by how their cells are functioning and communicating with one another. Through utilizing the 8 Laws of Health, feeding a species appropriate, clean nutrition, and supporting the digestive system you can establish a great foundation and terrain to foster optimal cell health.

I am curious though… Have you ever felt like you are taking action to balance your horse's lifestyle, your feeding awesome nutrition, supporting the digestive system, and yet there are still health concerns present?

If so, you're not alone! I have a few of my horses that I still feel short of providing them with the tools they need for them to experience their best health.  How can that be?

Combating Oxidative Stress-

What I have discovered is although I am doing everything within my control to manage and reduce the health stressors that my horses come in contact with there are many things within even the “clean feeds”, the irrigation water, the air, the hay, etc. that are still putting their health at risk. There are also times where horses come to my path later in their life, I often spend a lot of time and effort trying to erase the years of cell damage that have resulted from unnatural or more traditional care.

What we are struggling with is damaged cells and often they are damaged due to free radicals – oxidative stress. When there is an imbalance of free radicals and they overwhelm the cells antioxidant capacity, the cell is at risk of malfunction and concern.

Much like inflammation, oxidative stress is linked too most disease and health concerns. This is why we are often told by experts and nutritionists to increase the amount of antioxidants that we feed our horses. By increasing things like Vitamin E and Vitamin C to help fight against free radicals.

It is not a surprise that an increasing amount of studies are revealing that supporting antioxidants nutritionally is just not enough. I know from my personal experience and that expressed by some of my clients, we are witnessing this fact first hand…

It is still imperative that we focus on lifestyle, nutrition, and digestion. But is there more we can do? My drive and determination has led me to a breakthrough option that has me hopeful that the answer is YES! I found a way that has been proven to reduce oxidation stress in people, with an increasing amount of people seeing results and benefits in horses as well (best thing is that it is naturally derived too).

If you are looking to support cellular health and function, and you are open to reducing your horse's oxidative stress by stimulating the body to produce higher levels of free radical devouring enzymes like catalyze and SOD, then Contact Me for more information and see if this option is the next step for your horse.

Understanding Health & Naturopathy-

To be successful in improving your horse's health it is crucial to put your focus on fostering health, not fighting disease. This may sound simple and common but in this day and age it is not. So much time and attention is put on the problems and concerns instead of the solutions.

Get started on supporting your horse to vibrant health right now, by downloading your copy of our FREE PDF guide, The Secrets of Equine Naturopathy, click here or the image below to get this series sent to your inbox today!

How to Naturally Improve the Health of Your Horse

I hope you found value in this post. Please share via your favorite social media page to help us on our mission to promote horse health and wellness. You will find share buttons at the bottom of the post.

The Journey To Your Horse's Health Begins Here & Now!