Horse nutrition is a complex subject that can be scary to navigate. Many fear that they are going to “do it wrong” if they try to feed their horse with natural forage alone. Unfortunately, this often leads people to opt for the “easy way” out with processed feed that claims to be complete and balanced. In the conventional view of horse nutrition, the nutritional requirements of horses can be met by any means possible instead of in a species-appropriate way. This allows the feed industry to use ingredients that are far from appropriate for horses, yet when the nutritional analysis comes back, e ..read more

Stress management for horses – now here’s a topic I’m very passionate about! After a lifetime with horses, I’ve seen it all (or close to it). My process of understanding animal health requires a method of reverse engineering to figure out what makes them sick instead of just looking at disease as a random event. To understand how disease develops, I look at the ancestry of the animal and the most common modern disease processes that affect them. I research the science that suggests the cause of these diseases and compare that to their ancestry to find clues to where I might find solutions and ..read more

Fellow equine enthusiasts: do you find horse nutrition confusing? Do you want to learn how to feed a more natural diet but not sure where to start? You’re not alone… Horse nutrition has been in the dark ages for a long time. An industrialized way of managing and feeding them has been shown to create disease processes in horses and so today, we are talking horse feeding basics! We’re going to explore the ins and outs of the different food types for horses today and what the pros and cons of each one are.  Horse Feeding Basics To really get into horse feeding basics, you have to understand ..read more

Horses are highly sensitive to energetic changes in their environment and even to the energy of their fellow humans. For this reason, homeopathy can be a great tool to help them through acute and chronic situations.  There are many misconceptions about homeopathy – what it is and how it works. So let’s unpack homeopathy for horses today! A Little Bit of History Homeopathic medicine originated over 200 years ago. It was discovered by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, in the early 19th century. He observed that quinine, which was commonly used to treat various disease states in his time ..read more

Spring is upon us and we can finally warm our faces from that sun shining through. And that means show season is just around the corner! It’s a rejuvenating time of year, one that encourages us to get outside and start training with our horses.  Early in the season, there is a lot of prep that needs to be done ramping up for the shows. It’s kind of like spring cleaning – do the prep now, and you’ll be thankful all season long! To help, I’ve gathered up the best show horse prep tips for a healthier, happier athlete this season. Spring Season Support Our horses’ biological clocks work ..read more

I dare to say that the study of equine nutrition remains in the dark ages… It’s sad to say, but no one actually knows what horses truly need to eat. Today’s horses are largely being managed with cured forage and the aid of synthetic supplements and feeds. The National Research Council, the organization that provides the best educated guess on nutrient requirements for the equine species, can only go by what is know. Unfortunately, that is extremely limited due to the lack of scientific research being done on equine nutrition. Instead, research is heavily focused on studying how to feed them sy ..read more

Everyone knows the saying “no hoof, no horse”. And it’s one million percent true! Horse hoof care is a whole world unto itself. Every horse owner has a trimmer and/or a farrier who takes care of your horse and it’s paramount for making sure they are comfortable and happy.  But even with the perfect farrier, hoof care takes work, and you need to be able to address various issues and help manage them as soon as they appear. This week, we’re talking about the various ailments that can affect the hoof, and how you can help your horse! What is a Hoof? Your horse’s hoof is more than just a foot ..read more

I’ve been highlighting some of my favorite herbs lately and today, we’re talking licorice root for horses! This medicinal herb is widely used with horses, but there are some things you need to know to use and source it to reap all the benefits.  Licorice Root Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is native to southern Europe and some parts of Asia. It’s been used for at least 3000 years, as far back as Ancient Greece in the 3rd century. The indigenous people of the area most likely used it long before this. It has a wide range of medicinal uses in horses. It is particularly well-known for it ..read more

Herbs are a fantastic way to add nutrition and other health benefits to your horse’s diet. Some herbs are considered nutritive, others have more medicinal benefits, and some are both. Today’s spotlight is on a very special medicinal herb: marshmallow root. Marshmallow Root for Horses Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is known as a demulcent. That means that it soothes irritation of mucous membranes. It is widely recognized for this purpose in horses. Studies show that it is effective for: gastric inflammation (1) coughs and respiratory inflammation (2) repair of mucosal membranes (3) ant ..read more