As we prepare for the upcoming holiday gatherings, making our favorite foods, I want you to know that you can put those apple scraps to work for you and your horses when you're making that apple pie, apple crisp or even the Waldorf salad!
One of the things I love about fall is the variety of apples that are prevalent in our area ( there are many but Mac's are my favorite!). Apple picking has always been an activity I look forward to each year. It's safe to say that I like to use apples in any way possible from eating off a tree, to making sauce, to making pies.
When I read that it was possible to make Apple Cider Vinegar from the apple scraps, I was immediately interested in learning how! Not only do I use this for myself but ACV has been a daily nutrition piece for my horses for as long as I have included it in my own daily regimen.
Quite awhile back I changed how I was eating. I learned how to fast through the morning and break my fast somewhere between 11:00 am and noon time, sometimes later if I'm involved in a project! One of the things that I began incorporating into my morning routine was drinking a tea of ACV, a few drops of Thieves essential oil, hot water and honey. This tea, with the ACV, helped to set the stage for activating my digestive system for the day. The Thieves oil helps to support my immune system and in general keep me healthy. For both of these reasons I also give the Thieves oil to my horses intermittently.
Apple Cider Vinegar offers a variety of benefits for the body (ours and our horses)...
Internal use of Apple Cider Vinegar;
* Rids the body of toxic waste, with its "mother enzyme", by what is referred to as acetolysis. Even our horses are susceptible to toxins through their environment as well as nutritionally.
*Reduces the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Drinking just 1 Tbsp, 2 x per day lowers the glycemic index of that meal. The acetic acid that's in ACV inhibits the enzyme that converts starch into simple sugars better managing blood glucose and improving insulin response to carbohydrate meals. (study from Johnston, C.S. , Journal of Functional Foods 2013). What a great way to help the EMS horse.
*Weight loss. The pectin in apples (ACV) helps to cleanse the digestive tract while stimulating the body to burn stored fat. Again helping the horse that is an "easy keeper" and could lose a few pounds.
*Increasing weight. For those who are under weight, often they are deficient in enzymes that are necessary to break down food to be utilized by the body. Organic apples contain these necessary enzymes. When combined with iodine ( I use J. Crow Lugol's Solution for me and Sea Life kelp for my horses) to support the thyroid and digestive enzymes (Essentialzymes, Detoxzyme, Allerzyme) food is broken down readily and utilized more efficiently. For the "hard keeper" these suggestions are a good place to start.
*Cleaning the system. ACV and water, when combined with flax acts as a lubricant for the large and small intestines. The omega 3's in flax also help remove toxins. When soaked, flax becomes gelatinous helping to move things along in the intestines. Flax also provides 700x the amount of fiber in whole grains and legumes. For horses think colic. It is imperative to keep things moving!
*Supports healthy joints. ACV removes the stony acid crystals that form and deposit in the joints and cardiovascular system. ACV washes out this waste for improved function. It also helps to soothe muscle cramps and soreness. Joint, cardiovascular and muscle support are all areas of focus when caring for our horses.
*When using ACV topically it supports healthy skin by returning ph balance. It is also beneficial for sunburns, insect bites, yeast and fungus. Adding ACV to DIY fly sprays or for hoof soaks is a great use for our horses.
Now that I've gone through all the great benefits of ACV, I think I will be adding another ACV tea to my daily routine! Especially now that I make my own with this easy apple scrap vinegar recipe...
1 # apple scraps
1 cup sugar or honey
1/2 cup raw ACV
2 quarts water
Mix ingredients together and place in a warm spot, covered with a thin cloth. Stir daily and allow to ferment.
When bubbles slow or stop, remove scraps by straining through cheesecloth. Discard the scraps.
Keep the "Mother" (the white film that develops) and return her back to the ACV.
Cover again with cloth cover and let sit on shelf (warm and dark for 2-4 weeks.
This is so easy to make and add to my horses' daily routine. I add about a 4 oz of this ACV to a 12 oz jar, fill with water and divide up between my 3 horses. But as like myself, I may just start adding it to their evening meal too!
If you're looking for more holistic ways to support your horses, join us over in our Hearts Of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care community on Face Book.
All the best,
Marta
The blog post describes a delightful scene where horses engage with their natural environment after a poplar tree was brought down on their track. The horses enthusiastically stripped the accessible bark from the branches, deriving not just pleasure but also numerous health benefits. Poplar bark contains salicin and oleo-resins, which are known for their pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and protective properties, historically utilized by Native Americans to manage various ailments.
Poplar trees offer an array of beneficial attributes, including astringent, analgesic, anti-rheumatic, anti-septic, antibacterial, anti-irritant, and anti-fungal properties. The tree also holds cultural significance as a protective plant, believed to negate negativity and restore harmony. Interestingly, bees use its resin to safeguard their hives, showcasing how these trees contribute to broader ecological well-being.
Introducing diverse natural elements to horses’ environments can mentally and emotionally stimulate them, promoting a return to their instinctual habits. This interaction not only nurtures their well-being but creates interest and variety in their daily routine, akin to their wild ancestors. For more insights into holistic horse care and the benefits of various plants and trees, interested individuals are encouraged to join a dedicated Facebook community that shares a wealth of information on the topic.
Read more...
I believe horses, well, really any animal, come into our care for a reason.
The reason could be to help us... to grow in some way, to change a behavior, to resolve hurt or trauma, to release feelings that are holding us back, to show us problems with our health or anything else that helps us to become better or whole again. When I began to realize the significance the animals had in my life...on my emotional growth, it opened me up to a greater awareness that increases with each day. And it encourages me to do a better job of being a better person for myself as well as for my animals.
One of my past experiences was with Dinah, a senior husky, who came into my life as a foster then I adopted her. She had been surrendered, overweight with difficulty walking as well as getting up and down. She was the redemption for the regret I carried of not knowing how to help our last senior dog, Bryndall. With all that I had learned using Young Living products, I was able to give this girl a couple more healthy, happy and vibrant years with our family. Our horse Frannie came to help me to release emotional baggage. He showed me that sometimes there is nothing we can do to save them. This is from hurt I carried for many years over the death of my father.
So something happened this morning that was really kind of a slap in the face to wake me up out of my funk lately! That I needed to do better and that my horse was showing me the error of my ways. I wanted to share it as I think we can all get caught up in our lives and need a reminder to be in the moment and pay attention to what our horses are telling us!
Here's what happened...
The horses had been out and about foraging. I had put a flake of hay in each of the stall areas for when they came back in. Each horse generally starts out having their breakfast in their chosen stall, then they move from stall to stall eating from the hay bags(in this hot/humid weather they have been choosing to stay in during the day). Saxon always eats in the middle stall as his large dish and place mat are set up for him. Calli happened to be in that stall when I headed down with the dishes of food. Saxon started to go in, saw Calli and whipped his head to the side catching me. It wasn't hard, but I did feel it and it brought up my anger. With that anger and my hands full of feed dishes I sent Calli out of the stall so I could get Saxon set up to eat. I then fed Maggie and Calli as both were then waiting in the other stalls.
I left the area to go make hay bags and on my way up to the barn, I heard a squeal and a bang on the wall. I looked back to see Maggie running out of the stall and a bit upset. Calli had finished her meal and had gone in to push Maggie out with the same kind of anger that I had just displayed to her. I apologized to Maggie, then Calli for the blame of this situation was not on them or even Saxon, it was on me.
My anger that came out is not something I am happy about, but I am glad that Calli showed me what I look like by doing the same thing to Maggie. It made me realize that I must manage my emotions better...regardless of the heat, the bugs and any other things in life that may be bothering me. Being in the moment with our horses is what they show us is important. It's when we are off in our heads that problems arise. So I have pulled out my Feelings Kit of oils to use to help myself feel more relaxed and balanced.
Kind of a coincidence (are there really coincidences?), just this morning I had a message from a friend asking for suggestions regarding a situation with one of her horses. The last thing that she said when we finished talking was that she is noticing the horse is showing the same physical issues that she has! That is the key, notice what our horses are telling us. Our horses are our mirrors and will show us what we need to pay attention to and change to make us better or whole again.
For more information on holistic horse care, be sure to join us over in our FB community The Hearts Of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care.
All the best,
Marta
Remembering Tex...
A few years ago when I started The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care community, a new friend reached out looking for suggestions to help her horse. Tex was experiencing falling down, to the point that his legs were getting bloodied and bruised. The first thing I thought was that there was an issue with hoof angles and the stay apparatus. Horses have a stay apparatus which allows their legs to lock so that they can nap while standing. It's possible for hoof angles to be such that this apparatus does not work properly. As it turns out, this was NOT Tex's problem! He was actually SLEEP DEPRIVED from his inability to lay down comfortably! A major health concern for aging horses... sore joints.
Once we realized that Tex was sleep deprived, due to not being comfortable lowering himself to the ground, I suggested to his caregiver to try Sulfurzyme to support his joints. From my own personal experience, with animals and myself, I know how well it works and was sure it would help Tex. Happily, Tex felt improvement on 4 capsules of Sulfurzyme per day in the first few days of using it. I was so pleased to get this great news from his "Mom" and a photo of him laying down peacefully and napping.
Why Sulfur? What does it do for the body?
Sulfur plays an important role for a variety of functions in the body. Most noticeably, when sulfur levels are supplemented, you'll see an improvement in skin health, hair growth, hoof growth and comfort increases in tendons and ligaments. Sulfur helps to metabolize food and protects cells from damage that leads to disease (think cancer). From a hoof care provider perspective, sulfur contains 2 amino acids that are necessary for healthy hoof growth, methionine an cysteine.
How does Sulfur deficiency show up?
* arthritis
* brittle hair/ nails/ hooves
* depression
* skin problems
* gastrointestinal issues
* slow wound healing
* memory loss
* migraines/ headaches
* convulsions
Sulfur-rich foods...
* allium vegetables- garlic, onions, scallions
* cruciferous vegetables- broccoli, cabbage, arugula
* eggs
* legumes- chick peas, kidney beans, peas, lentils
While you many not want to feed your horse all of these foods, some are helpful. Garlic is beneficial for its sulfur content as well as the other health benefits it offers. Read more in this blog about the benefits of garlic. Incorporating these sulfur rich foods in our own diet helps to provide us with necessary amounts of sulfur.
For our horses, I have found it very easy to make positive changes in joint and overall health just by adding the Sulfurzyme capsules. The number of capsules will vary for each horse but I have found starting with 4 per day and adjusting from there is helpful. I have three horses on 2 capsules per day while my oldest gelding does better ( no cracking and popping of joints) on 10 -12 per day. There is also the Sulfurzyme powder, which contains a prebiotic, that may be even more beneficial in some cases.
If you're like me and have an aging herd (or you're aging yourself!) get some sulfur into them! You'll be amazed at the results.
If you'd like to read more stories/testimonials about the benefits of using Sulfurzyme, use the search bar in The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care. Also, check out the Guides in this group for a variety of holistic care topics.
All the best,
Marta
I saw Dollar listed for sale in the newspaper. We had just gotten started with horses and already had two... but I thought Skip (my husband) needed a nice, buckskin QH gelding! Everybody needs a buckskin, right?! Well I went to see "Mac" (his name at the time) and just knew I had to take him home, as I watched the little girl walk under his belly!
Dollar had been a ranch horse out west. He came to VT by way of Pond Hill Ranch. Being new to horses there were so many signs of problems in his body, that a more experienced person would have seen, but I didn't know at the time. And perhaps it was for the best, as I learned so much in caring for Dollar over the years he was with us. I feel as though he came to us to help me in that way.
Dollar was in shoes that were overdue to come off, he had a broken back axis in his front right foot and we would later learn that he had chronic problems with this, right up through his shoulder. It was through these problems with pain and inflammation that I learned about the benefits of using Bentonite Clay as a poultice.
Bentonite clay gets its name from Fort Benton in Wyoming where it is plentiful. It is a clay formed from volcanic ash which contains calcium, magnesium and iron. People have used it for thousands of years to remove impurities on the skin. When used internally, the clay particles absorb and eliminate toxins. It carries a negative charge so it binds to positive charged metals like lead. Some cultures have used it for dietary supplementation as well as a remedy.
In the beginning, while learning to care for my horses, I was calling the vet for so many little things as I had not yet learned how to handle them. I wasn't comfortable with the products I was told to use, by the vets, so I sought out other options. I was fortunate to have been introduced to a local animal communicator/herbalist who shared with me the benefits of using bentonite clay. She showed me how to mix it as a paste by adding cold water using a plastic or wooden spoon (not metal), then slather it over Dollar's hot, inflamed lower leg. After, it was wrapped with a brown paper bag. Later when I started trimming professionally, I carried the clay and supplies to use as needed.
The next piece I added, to bring even more comfort after I learned how fast and well they worked, were Young Living Essential Oils. I started using single oils and blends like Wintergreen, Clove and Copaiba or PanAway to apply couple of drops directly to the sore area then added the bentonite clay over it. Wrapping as needed. Applying a thin layer and allowing the clay to dry, without a covering, has a drawing effect that can be helpful in situations.
It is also helpful when used internally to benefit stomach issues in horses. Mixing 1-3 tsp in cold water to make a slurry that can be added to their feed or given by mouth. It provides a coating that may be beneficial to an upset stomach lining. I've been using it lately for Saxon who has been a little runny on his back end (as we've been out of his Allerzyme and Life 9). It seems to be helping, like when I started him on the enzymes, as his behavior became better. This tells me that he's had some discomfort in his gut that has been remedied by the clay too.
This powder is a great thing to add to your barn health kit. It's easy to mix up and apply. You can even keep a container mixed up and just add a bit more water to make it smooth for application. I like mountainroseherbs.com for many of my herbal needs.
Let me know how it works for you!
All the best,
Marta
