Do you feel confident asking questions or disagreeing with the opinion's of your horse care professionals?
If you don't, you'll want to read on...
It is imperative that we, as caregiver's, accept the responsibility of knowing as much as we can about the specifics of our horse's care so that we can be the advocate they need. Here are a few ways that you can improve your own knowledge and skills, so that you too can be the confident caregiver you choose to be!
Continue to learn by reading, asking questions and joining groups that offer information you align with!
There is so much information out there at our finger tips that it really only takes some initiative and a bit of time to read, watch videos and learn! I've created just such a community where you can learn about a variety of holistic care options for helping your horses. There are posts to read, videos with demonstrations and even interviews with holistic care professionals. If you're not already in it, I think you might enjoy The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care.
Listen to your brains... both your gut and your heart!
That nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach every time you look at your horses feet because you feel something is wrong... means that there is something wrong! Maybe you can't put your finger on exactly what the problem is, maybe you need to learn a bit more about the foot, perhaps you just need to hear a new perspective. Whatever it is, listen to that feeling and do something about it! If it's hooves, do the free workshop in my group! Or if you're really serious and want to start trimming your own, find my course here. Do you need ideas as to why your horse is so itchy? Check the guides for that topic too. There are over 40 guide topics on holistic care for your horses in the group The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care.
Look for professionals who align with your beliefs on how to care for your horses.
It may be a bit harder and even take some time, but finding the right professionals to work with will make your horse's (and your) life so much better. Better because you'll be on the same page. Better because you will trust this person and will be able to have an open conversation and discussion with them about your horse's care. Finding professionals who have a similar vision of care for your horses will be your goal.
Have the confidence to question your horse's care professionals if you do not agree!
When you are faced with a situation with your professional, where you have that feeling in the pit of your stomach that says, "this is not right"... be respectful yet firm in letting them know that you do not agree and will be seeking out more information. It is ok to get second opinions! People do it all the time for their own health. Remember YOU are the ultimate decision maker for your horse.
Know that it is ok to say NO to your professional if you do not agree... and be ready to let them go!
Perhaps you are being told, by the professional, that he/she needs to do a particular protocol. You listen to your heart and don't agree with it. So you say NO! Hopefully they will respect your wishes but if they don't, stand firm. Saying no may mean you may lose them as a professional. Be prepared for this. You will then need to search for one who is more aligned with your own beliefs.
Accepting everything your professional says as gospel will only lead to disappointment. Stand up and empower yourself! Join the The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care today!
All the best,
Marta
When I first got started with horses, I used "bute". Phenylbutazone (a synthetic analgesic) is what everybody used and the vets prescribed readily for most problems. Later, when I learned that it creates problems in the gut, I knew I needed to look for alternatives for pain and inflammation management.
Managing pain and inflammation are a priority when helping your horse to recover from anything! When these two issues are diminished it allows the animal to initiate their own innate healing. We can help them when we put things in place that allows them to heal faster and easier. For example, while learning more about hooves, it became clear that stall rest would create longer healing times and was hard on horses mentally and emotionally. The faster we can get them comfortable and moving with their herd, the faster the healing time.
I've always been drawn to plants, so I gravitated to plants and herbs as these safer options of pain and inflammation management. Getting help form a local herbalist, I began using such herbs as yucca, devil's claw and white willow bark. It became clear that the horses liked these choices too as they never turned their nose up at eating them. I even found that branches from our willow tree, that had blown down into their track, were readily stripped of leaves and the bark was chewed! That said a lot to me! They were seeking out these options on their own.
Later, I would be introduced to Young Living Essential Oils and would fall in love with how well and how quickly they helped in every situation in which I used them! One memorable time, I went to trim a horse who was favoring one foot when I arrived. It was the left hind and he wasn't putting any weight on it. I asked the owner if I could apply some Wintergreen oil in the hopes that he may feel well enough to allow me to work on the other back foot. I applied a drop to each of the Ting points on the coronary band. In seconds that lovely, older gelding swung his head back and said, "Thank You, that feels so much better"! This is one experience that happened early on when I started using the oils and really solidified my belief in how well and quickly they work (without any ill side effects). Some of my other favorite oils in theses situations are Clove, Copaiba, Lemongrass, Helichrysum, Panaway and the Orthosport and OrthoEase Massage Oils.
One of the next tools I learned about and acquired was a red light from Photonic Health. The red light activates cell respiration, releasing nitric oxide and creating energy in the form of ATP(adenosine triphosphate). This action causes blood vessels to relax and widen allowing for greater blood flow within the tissues. The increased ATP production allows for better absorption of nutrients, eliminates toxins, triggers release of endorphins, enkephalins, anti-inflammatories, serotonin and more. I have used this tool on my horses for such things as cuts and scrapes, hoof issues and puncture wounds to regular wellness care. It's so easy to use and with the reference books, it makes it even easier!
The most recent option for holistic care that I learned to use is Healing Touch for Animals. HTA just drew me right in when I first observed it at an holistic care animal conference a few years ago! Soon after I took the online Level 1 and later went on to take the Level 2 in person, in PA. What an amazing way to support our horses (and other animals) using specific techniques and being the "tool" in helping to restore their energetic flow and balance. HTA techniques reduce and eliminate pain, stress and trauma by allowing the relaxation response to occur. When there is relaxation, the body initiates its own healing response. Addressing this energetic side of our horses, in my opinion, is the piece that is overlooked in traditional care. It is the piece, that when cared for, allows the animal to heal themselves faster and more completely. It is also the piece that when focused on, is a great tool for preventive care. A balanced energetic system is part of being well and healthy.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful and consider giving one or all a try!
And if you're not already in it, join my community for more holistic care ways to care for your horses...The Hearts of Horse, Empowering Through Holistic Care.
All the best,
Marta
It's here! Bug season!
The noseeums are out in full force here in VT and I have stocked up with my favorite things to keep my horses protected. Having a variety of safe options for my horses is a priority for me at this time of year. There are multiple ways I attack this, let me share with you what I use to keep my horses happy and protected from a variety of pests.
One of the things I've been doing for awhile, and attacks the problem from the inside, is feeding garlic. I started feeding it seasonally but after learning all the benefits of garlic (read about that in my blog here ), I decided I to feed it daily, year round. I think it makes a huge difference in keeping the bugs from biting my horses! I like and use the SpringTime Bug Off Granules. They are freeze-dried with just garlic as the ingredient. I feed about a tablespoon per day to each horse. Because it is so strong, this is something you really need to start off with very small amounts to introduce to your horses. Gradually you can increase the amounts as they accept the garlic. Mine have no trouble with it but I also add a couple of essential oils that may help the taste as well. SpringTime even offers a great buy 2 get 1 free option, when purchasing, along with free shipping at a certain level of dollars spent.
For the face, ears, throat and undersides ( belly and back legs especially) I have had great success with using Young Living Insect Repellent. It comes in a 6 oz container. I can use it straight from the bottle as very concentrated as it is or cut it with some ACV and add it to an aerosol spray bottle. These aerosol bottles are great for putting out a fine mist that works well on their underside area.
The Insect Repellent also comes in the form of wipes. These are especially effective and easy to use on the face, ears and neck area. I also have reused the wipes by adding more of the repellent from the bottle! They are so handy to throw in a saddle bag, keep with grooming tools or toss in the Holistic Care Equine Emergency Kit.
Last year I discovered the following recipe from a friend and have found it very effective. I'm not sure if it's the catnip tea, the essential oils or the combination of all of the ingredients but I do like how well it works. And using the Cleaner, Dish Soap and so many oils for everyday life just makes it easy to whip this up! I make and keep plenty available so that my spray bottles never run out!
Spray Recipe from Cherie Ross
1. Steep 1/2 cup catnip in 1/2 gallon of water, cover and cool to room temp. Then strain. A coffee filters works great for final straining.
2. Add catnip tea to a jug.
3. Add 1 TBSP Thieves Household Cleaner , 1 TBSP Thieves Dish Soap , 1.5 TBSP neem oil.
4. Add 20 drops each Citronella, Lemongrass, Kunzea (known as tick bush where it grows native), Basil
5. Add 10 drops each Hinoki, Copaiba, Peppermint, R.C.
Shake to mix and shake before each use.
Pour into a 28-30 oz. spray bottle. Keep out of sun.
As needed, I also use the Animal Scents Ointment on areas of the skin that may be open but I need to keep the bugs off. A finger full of this ointment, whipped up, and it soothes the area while keeping pests away. I have even slathered it on lower legs when the bugs seemed very bad and were bothering Saxon. It was amazing how well it protected him!
Perhaps this is not what you want to hear but giving your horses a place to roll in a sandy or even muddy area allows them to get relief from the bugs as well. Having areas like this to indulge in offers them more of the natural lifestyle features that promote balanced horses. When horses are able to live like horses they tend to be happier with fewer of the problems we see in traditional horse care.
Looking for more information on holistic care for your horses? Join our community The Hearts Of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care and learn more about supporting your horse's wellness!
All the best,
Marta
If you're like me and your horse has had a reaction to a spring or fall shot, then you may already be in this frame of mind or way of thinking...
It is not normal for our horses to be sick after getting their shots.
This should be a huge, waving red flag to horse owners. Repeating the same vaccines year after year horse owners must realize that this indiscriminate vaccine schedule, that is recommended to them, is not really about protecting their horses. There are side effects like swelling, fever, hives, colic symptoms, disorientation, lethargy and more! The overabundance of these vaccines builds up in the body causing a vaccinosis. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to create a variety of health issues, some permanent, just to avoid the potential of a problem. Problems that can be avoided through good health and horse keeping.
I can remember talking with a client about their pony who had bouts of laminitis every spring. It was always after the traditional spring shots had been administered. I suggested she skip the shots from now on and see how her pony does. It was no surprise to me that the pony had no problems with laminitis that spring. He was turned out with a grazing muzzle and spent his time happily with the herd!
Did you know you can get a titer? Titers are a way to learn the protection status of your horse. This is valuable if you have a horse and have no knowledge of his background and previous care. Titers are a blood test to measure the antibodies for specific antigens which develop from previous exposure or previous vaccine against a disease. A positive titer means the horse is sufficiently protected and remains that way for a number of years. So titers can be spread out over a few years. It seems to me that this is a much safer option for the horse. When you know what the horse is already sufficiently protected from, then you don't need to vaccinate again.
Instead of staying in the same pattern of shots every spring and fall, take a look at your horse's lifestyle. There are things to consider to determine if your horses are at risk and the diseases that may be threatening in your area. Do your horses stay at home all the time? Do they travel and go to events? Does your horse have any pre-existing health conditions? This is a big one right here! Horses with compromised health of any kind should not be vaccinated (it says it on the vaccine data sheet)! Unfortunately, it happens more often than I care to know.
As your horse's caregiver, it is up to you to become educated on this and other care topics. Once you learn more, you will then be able to make an informed decision for the health of your horse. A short while back I did an interview with holistic veterinarian Dr. Barb Fox in my holistic care community The Hearts Of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care. She offers a great holistic care perspective on this topic along with important lifestyle features to consider when deciding on vaccines for your horse. If you'd like to watch the interview, you can see it here.
Once you become more knowledgeable on topics like vaccines, it makes it easier to ask questions of our professionals. Having the confidence to ask questions can be difficult, but when it's our horse's care at stake... it is our responsibility to do the best we can for them. Take the time to ask questions with your veterinarian, have a conversation. Hopefully, they will be open to answering your questions. If not, and they are not willing to work with you, know that you can seek out new professionals (vet, dentist, hoof care etc.) who are in line with how you feel about your horse's care.
Remember, you are the decision maker for your horse's care. You hire the professionals to work with you and for you and your horses. No one knows your horses as well as you do. The decisions are yours. Learn more and empower yourself to be the best care giver that you can be.
Join our Hearts of Horses community and learn even more about supporting the health and wellness of your horses.
All the best,
Marta
With the passing of every winter comes the excitement and joy of spring…warmer weather, trees budding, plants coming up in their bright green colors and time spent getting our horses shed out and cleaned up. There are a few items that have made my life a heck of a lot easier and helped to improve the health of my horses! Let me share these with you…
Let’s take a look at cleaning up the outside first. Sooo much hair to remove and hooves to check…
The first item is one that I discovered while in my trimming practice. It became a staple of my business and I used it on all client’s hooves. I used it for its effectiveness at cleaning hooves and for promoting the healthy growth of the frogs. The fact that I could make up a 28 oz bottle for a little over a dollar was a big deal too! This spray is not only effective for cleaning hooves but it did wonders for the skin and coat of my horses. It is one of the main things to help my horse Calli get over her springtime itching situation that I would deal with every year when I first got her. This Thieves Household Cleaner has become a part of everything I clean in the barn and my home. It’s toxin free ingredients and ability to promote wellness make it a perfect option for those looking for holistic care.
With spring comes exuberant horses and with that comes minor injuries. This next item, while not so much on the cleaning side of things, it certainly goes hand in hand with them and does wonders on these injuries. It’s the thing that I turn to for any cuts, scrapes, nicks or dings on my horses. First they get the Thieves Cleaner spray, maybe an oil or two depending upon what has happened and then a finger full of the Animal Scents Ointment. It goes on easy, almost melts into the skin and provides a protective barrier. It contains powerful essential oils like Myrrh and Tea Tree, along with moisturizing base oils that make a dry, cracked frog feel better. I shared a great hack on making the Ointment more user friendly in my holistic care fb community,The Hearts Of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care . This is another of my must-have horse care tools and is always on hand!
With the warmer weather we can finally give a bath! While I do not go overboard on this, it is still important to me to have something that will not harm my horses’ skin and immune system, but instead supports them. I’ve been using the Animal Scents Shampoo for quite a few years now for both my horses and dog, and the occasional cat. It is a deterrent to lice, ticks and other insects so that is a big gold star in my book, especially since my horses live in the woods! This is very concentrated and only a small amount is needed. I use one of my old Thieves Dish Soap bottles and add a bit to it then fill with hot water to mix it up. This makes application and spreading it around a lot easier. Their hair comes out smelling so clean as well as looking and feeling so soft and healthy.
This next item is one that I discovered works great as a mane and tail detangler! It’s the Insect Repellent. So while I’m untangling manes and tails, my horses are getting a treatment with Vitamin E and bug (mosquito, flea and tick)repelling properties from pure essential oils like Citronella, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Geranium, Spearmint, Thyme and Clove oil. Sesame oil works on the tangles! Double duty on one product makes this one a must have with my spring readiness.
Now let’s take a look at how we can “clean up” our horses’ insides…
When we talk about cleaning up our horse’s insides, it has everything to do with their digestive system health and their nutrition. For awhile now I’ve used garlic granules for my horses. First, I began just giving it to them in their feed seasonally as a bug deterrent but after writing a blog about the benefits of garlic, I decided to feed it year round. From digestive support to fighting fungal infections to detoxifying heavy metals… garlic really helps to clean and maintain internal function.
Adding a potent probiotic will benefit the intestinal system and support proper bowel function. The bowels are so important to immune system health and without their proper function, the body is susceptible to a variety of illnesses. Probiotics are necessary to rid the body of the harmful bacteria and yeast. From personal experience with our oldest gelding Saxon, the Life 9 probiotics have been a saving grace. Saxon was experiencing very loose stools and even liquid dripping marks on his back side. Once I incorporated the Life 9 into his daily regimen, he was back on track! He gets one per day and that seems to work well for him.
The last “inside cleaning” item I will share are enzymes. Enzymes are necessary for proper digestion, nutrient utilization and waste elimination. They can help to combat such things as gas, allergies, lethargy and even behavior changes. This last thing is what caused me to try Allerzyme with Saxon. He was really acting out of sorts and being down right grumpy, which is not his usual demeanor. As soon as I started him on Allerzyme, he went back to his old, happy self. I am currently using Essentialzymes for him now with the same good results. He may even like them better as they have a peppermint coated bilayer for dual time release during digestion.
Wishing you all the best as we kick off spring!
Marta
