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
Have you ever felt intimidated, overlooked or even minimized when it comes to working with your horse's health care professionals?
Interactions like this can leave you feeling helpless, frustrated and even angry. Especially if you, as the caregiver, have some reservations about what is happening or just plain disagree! Early on I readily accepted the information from my professionals. After all, I was new to horses and was learning! But as time passed and I dove into a variety of aspects of caring for my horses, especially hoof care, there were many things I had been doing that just didn't feel right. I now had options for new, different and what I believed were better things to do. Things that felt better to me and were more closely in line with what I have for ideas on how I choose to care for my horses.
As I learned more, it became easier for me to speak up and ask questions and even disagree with what I may have been told by my professionals, who I had chosen. At some point, we must realize when and if things may not be working with that professional and seek out another who is more in alignment with our beliefs. Remember, you are the horse owner who hires the professional. You get the last word.
It is important for caregivers to realize that they are the decision makers for their horses.
Knowing we are the decision maker for our horse and actually speaking up and standing our ground, so to speak, are two very different things. For some it comes easier to speak up while others may need some help and encouragement.
Luckily, there ARE things we can do to BUILD OUR CONFIDENCE so that we feel empowered when talking with our horse's healthcare professional. The first thing to do is learn more about the various areas of our horse's care. Dive into books, watch videos, read blogs, go to seminars and webinars and learn from as many sources as you can. I can remember when I first got started I was grabbing every book and dvd collection I could get my hands on, for nutrition and hoof care! Luckily I had a great barefoot trimmer who was willing and happy to share her knowledge and resources with me.
Just having more knowledge gives us a more solid foundation from which to ask questions and feel more secure about having a conversation with a professional. Whether the topic is nutrition, hoof care, vaccinations or parasite protocols it is beneficial for you to learn that there are a variety of ways to deal with and promote good health. And you get to choose what you feel are the best ways to handle these for your horses.
The next thing to do is find and surround yourself with people who feel the same way that you do! Whether it is the barn community you choose or an online community, finding groups who align with our beliefs goes a long way to helping us feel confident in the decisions we are making. It gives us a sense that we are not alone, or crazy, for thinking and feeling the way we do. Just because it's a bit different than the "norm", doesn't make it bad or wrong. I have created an online community for exactly this kind of support and empowerment. It's called The Hearts of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care. Join us there if you're ready to feel empowered!
Now get started on these two tasks and see where your confidence journey takes you! I bet even your horses will notice a difference in your demeanor and energy...😉
All the best,
Marta
Have you ever felt poorly and later discovered you were actually deficient in nutrients?
Well I had an experience like this quite a few years ago. Once I got a supply of what I was needing (iodine), I started feeling much better! Iodine is a trace element and an essential nutrient that supports healthy thyroid function. This same scenario happens for our horses if they are not getting all the minerals and trace elements to help them with healthy body functions and their ability to thrive.
Through my experience with iodine, it brought to my attention how prevalent its deficiency is in both people and horses! The experience also brought to my attention the benefit of kelp in the diet to supply iodine along with many other beneficial nutrients. Kelp are large brown algae seaweeds. They are grown in forests in shallow ocean areas. It is known for it's high growth rate, growing as much as a 2 feet a day!
⭐️ Kelp provides an array of ... trace minerals, amino acids and vitamins and also includes iodine! Some of the minerals you'll find in kelp are calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It also contains the vitamins Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), and Folate (B9), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.
⭐️ With its generous amount of iodine, kelp supports the thyroid and healthy metabolism.
⭐️ Kelp supports healthy immune function.
⭐️ Kelp has a calming effect.
⭐️ Kelp is beneficial for skin, hair and hooves.
⭐️ Kelp supports healthy joints.
And so important...
⭐️ Kelp helps to remove heavy metals from the body.
Adding Kelp to my horses' diet has a been a daily thing for quite a few years now. I feed them about half an ounce per day in one meal. It is easily digested and utilized by the body. I have been using a brand called Sea Life out of Maine, organic kelp meal for animals. A 50# bag lasts us quite awhile and is very cost effective.
If you're looking for more helpful nutrition information, grab this free guide...foundation nutrition.
And for more holistic care information, join our community...The Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care.
All the best,
Marta
There’s probably a good reason that someone made up that old saying of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. My guess is because apples are loaded with all kinds of good nutrients for your body… like enzymes, minerals, trace minerals and potassium. And after all, our horses love them too! These important life building nutrients are all contained in Apple Cider Vinegar.
Quite a few years back I changed how I was eating due to the physical discomfort in my body. I did a fast (3 days without food!) and learned to gradually reintroduce certain healthful foods back into my diet.
As part of my new regimen, I learned about the many health benefits of and started using Apple Cider Vinegar, the good stuff with the “mother” in it! It contains an enzyme that “eats up” the toxic waste in the body.
Some of the amazing benefits I’ve learned about ACV include…
- Detoxifies the blood stream and organs
- Helps to achieve and more balanced pH
- Assists kidneys, bladder and liver
- Promotes circulation
- Supports digestion
Also for animals (including the above)…
- Deters fleas, ticks and mosquitos
- Relives skin and ear problems
- Promotes a healthy, shiny coat
I started drinking ACV in a tea first thing in the morning. One of the things it does is jumpstart my digestive system. All I know is that I am feeling so much better by starting my day with ACV/Thieves tea with honey!
At some point along the way I decided that it was doing so much good for me that I should give it to my horses too! I was already using it topically for their hooves for thrush by soaking and spraying. The ACV can be added to their water for drinking, but for me, I just add it to their daily feed. I add about a third of a cup of ACV to a liter bottle and fill the rest with water. Then I mix some into their milled flax and supplements.
Potassium is one of the key constituents offered in ACV. Did you know 75% of the body’s potassium is found in skeletal muscle and is necessary for function? Horses are able to excrete excess potassium through urine or sweating but when there is a deficiency in the body, there can be some pretty detrimental effects.
A horse with low potassium will exhibit…
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Reluctance to exercise
- Decreased water and food intake
- Restlessness
- Spookiness
Offering your horse a lifestyle with unlimited forage will help to avoid low potassium issues. It’s always good to test your hay to know what the levels of minerals are contained within it. From there you have a clearer picture on what to supplement.
An excerpt from the book, Apple Cider Vinegar; Miracle Health System by Paul Bragg ND PhD and Patrice Bragg ND PhD…
Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, in 400 B.C. treated his patients with amazing raw Apple Cider Vinegar because he recognized its powerful cleansing and healing qualities. It is a naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs and bacteria in the body.
I have found that adding Apple Cider Vinegar to my horse’s daily routine has been a great boost to their health. It has added another beneficial layer to their holistic lifestyle!
Give it a try and see how your horses like it.
Marta
We live on about 3 acres of rocky limestone hillsides loaded with cedar trees and roots! While it’s not what one would think of as an ideal horse environment, it is actually a far better choice of living space, especially if your horse has metabolic challenges.
At the beginning of my horse journey, I was introduced to the benefits of creating a track system for my horses’ living environment. It benefitted their hooves, their digestion, in general their overall wellness. It was easy for me to see this was what I wanted for my horses. In addition, the concept fit extremely well with our small acreage and varied terrain. We even have access to an old road to utilize which has a great hard packed base for a trail.
As fate would have it, I acquired a couple of foundered horses (from my trimming practice) as well as a Morgan horse (a hardy breed that does not need rich feed to maintain weight and good health). Our track system has proved to be the ideal living set up for horses with metabolic issues, hoof troubles and for avoiding the problems with spring and fall grasses.
Our track contains no lush grass. It does offer a variety of plants, shrubs and trees that our horses browse as they move around the different paths on the track system. We have the benefit of monitoring our horses’ grass intake by allowing them to roam the rest of the property at strategic times to benefit them. We choose times when the sugars are lowest in the grass. When the sun is out, plants are producing their sugars for energy through photosynthesis. This is high sugar content time and should be avoided. It is at night when the grasses use up their sugar stores from the day, so the very early morning is the safest time for the lowest sugar levels.
Once the fall comes and the temperatures drop at night, grass begins to hold onto their sugar stores for its growth. This “stressed” grass is now very high in sugar. Any stressed grass will have increased sugar levels so be aware, especially for your at risk horses. Some other ways that grass gets stressed are by over-grazing, drought and frost. Even the brown grass late in the fall when it’s still warm during the day will have sugar filled green sprouts that your horse would love to snack on!
Waiting for the temperature swings to stop and the grasses to go dormant is a safe option for your horse.
Other safe options…
- Consider setting up a track system or at least elements of it for your horse. Creating a forage based, movement centered space will do wonders for them!
- Create a dry lot for your horse and encourage movement within the space through the placement of hay bags or hay piles.
- Use a muzzle and monitor their time of day out as well as the amount of time out.
- Consider a probiotic to benefit their gut health. This is a key component to overall health. Life 9 is the probiotic I love and use for my herd.
If you’re curious to learn more about setting up your own track system, take a look at Guide 3 in my community The Hearts of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care. You’ll find videos with information on how to create your own track system.
May you and your horses enjoy this fall season in good health...
Marta
