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
In recent years, there has been more and more information reported about the ineffectiveness of traditional paste wormers. Parasites have become resistant to the traditional deworming drugs. This fact combined with the fact that paste wormers are not well received by horses and are a royal pain in the butt to administer(because horses don’t like them!), makes it a perfect time to consider the alternative ways to deworm your horse.
Parasites are present in all horses. It becomes a problem when there are too many! Too many parasites leads to damage in the gut, damage to blood vessels, problems with circulation and often colic.
Some of the things you might see in your horses appearance or behavior when there is a heavy parasite burden are…
- Loss of weight
- Poor appetite
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
As with anything related to health… PREVENTION is the key! Keeping horses healthy means they are less likely to become susceptible to such things as disease and parasites. It’s all about keeping those vibrations high! After all disease and poor health enters the body at around 58 MHz.
A few factors that will help you to keep your horse as happy and healthy as possible are…
- Allowing your horse the ability to move about as much as possible. Get them out of the stall and onto a track. Moving as a herd plays into their sense of safety and less stressed life. Emotional stability plays a huge role in their wellness.
- Keep a clean environment. Removing manure will help to insure good health and reduce parasite problems.
- Feed a good forage based diet to your horses with plenty of minerals and fresh water.
- Have fecal checks done periodically on your horses. Your veterinarian can do this or you can get a microscope and do it yourself!
Early on when we got started with horses, we were also homeschooling and learning all about the benefits of plants. Incorporating herbs and plants into my horses’ lifestyle was an easy path to follow from there. This was also how I met our “plant sage”, herbalist neighbor Rosemary Gladstar (there’s a pretty funny story there too…!).
I learned about the many plants that are considered to have anthelmintic qualities and began using them with my horses. I sourced them from Mountain Rose Herbs having received the recommendation from Rosemary (she had started this company many years earlier). One of the plants that I found out has these qualities is cedar. How lucky that we live in cedar woods! Some other plants that are known for their anthelmintic qualities are…
- Aloe Wood Sorrel
- Marshmallow Thyme
- Pumpkin Garlic
- Senna Ferns
As time went on and I was introduced to Young Living’s Essential Oils, I began using these and their oil infused nutritional products to maintain balanced health. The first oil I chose and still rely on daily for my horses is Lemongrass. I add a few drops to their morning feed daily and they love it! It also is a great support to their immune system. I also include DiGize in their daily feed as well for its digestive support and cleansing abilities.
Other essential oils that have cleansing qualities are…
Singles;
- Peppermint Patchouli Orange
- Tarragon Copaiba
- Fennel Tea Tree
Blends;
- Thieves Immupower
- JuvaCleanse. Purification
- AromaEase Melrose
Other products that I have found extremely helpful are Life 9, ParaFree and ICP.
Life 9 contains 9 strains of beneficial bacteria that support normal immune, intestinal and metabolic function.
ParaFree soft gels contains a blend of powerful cleansing oils along with carrier oils of sesame seed and olive oil.
ICP offers a gentle intestinal cleanse by combining a mix of fibers as well as essential oils that improve nutrient absorption, decrease a build up of waste and promote a healthy heart.
Topical Applications
The best cleansing spray I’ve used in terms of effectiveness and safety for my animals is by far the Thieves Household Cleaner. You can super charge it with oils from some of the ones listed above to really cleanse. Just add 20 drops of Digize, Copaiba, Melrose, Purification and Orange or Lemongrass. Use this spray daily for best results. The Rain Drop Technique is also a recommended practice every couple of days.
Taking advantage of a full moon helps to expel parasites as they are most active during this time. Adding extra drops of oils before, during and after the full moon is most beneficial. Incorporating ICP, periodically on full moons, would be helpful as well.
Schedule with your vet or do your own fecal checks. We have a Worm Moon coming on March 18, 2022, so you can be ready to increase your applications if needed.
If you’re looking to try out any of the Young Living products I’ve talked about, use my link here.
All the best,
Marta
Are you not sure what that even means?
That’s ok. I wasn’t either until a few years back…
Everything carries energy and vibration… plants, rocks, animals and people. The higher the vibration, the greater your health. Generally, a healthy body enjoys a frequency range measured in Megahertz of 62-78 MHz, while disease or illness begins at 57 MHz. Clearing old negative energy away and adding new increased energy to ourselves and horses improves wellness. Below are a few of the ways I have incorporated vibration and energy work into the care of my horses… and myself!
I have always loved plants. The first things I did when I bought my first house was to plant a big vegetable garden and create herb/flower beds. Years later, when my daughter was in high school (we were homeschooling and purchased a home study course), I began studying and learning more about the medicinal nature of plants. I began using herbs regularly, even including them in the care of my horses. I loved mixing herbs for teas, learned to make tinctures and salves and still have a favorite lotion recipe that my husband enjoys.
It wasn’t until I got into horses and my trimming practice that I was introduced to Young Living Essential Oils. The emotional impact that blends of oils had on horses was incredible and undeniable! I began using them daily for my horses and the more I learned, the more I was using them. I soon was using them in their feed and trading out all the usual horse products I had for these essential oils. If you're looking for the highest of quality essential oils and oil infused products, check out the ones I use here, Young Living Essential Oils.
Along my journey of beginning with horses, there were signs and introductions to such things as dowsing (using a pendulum) and muscle testing. I had the opportunity to observe people using these techniques at a friend's barn. To me it was fascinating, but I wasn’t quite ready at that time to investigate those areas.
I needed more work on cleansing myself and my environment. As I made changes in my daily life in these areas (reading food labels, eating cleaner food, using products without harmful toxins), my vibration increased (low vibration = sickness and disease) as did my intuition.
With this raised vibration from cleansing, my fascination with crystals started to blossom.
I had a very old necklace that was my great grandmother’s. It had been hanging on a picture, over my dresser, that I walked by every morning and evening. It is a beautiful, tear drop shaped stone of Lapis Lazuli, on an antique chain. When I’d pass by it, I found myself stopping and touching it. I eventually started wearing it. Lapis is a stone that promotes your intuition. It is also known for harmonizing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a being. Lapis also brings objectivity and clarity.
From this beginning, my love of crystals grew… learning more, collecting and carrying them. I am now starting to incorporate them into my Healing Touch for Animals work. I was so excited to have had a conversation/interview in my horse community about using crystals with the founder of the HTA program, Carol Komitor. If you’d like to watch that, you can find the video in the Guides section of my Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care community.
I learned about a new crystal application tool this past fall, when I attended an online Animal Conference that included a variety of speakers. Through one of the presentations, I learned about these crystal mats and their healing abilities. The crystals raise your vibration and can increase circulation and reduce inflammation. There are mats you can lay on as well as wraps to apply to the body. I can see many uses for this for myself as well as my animals. I am excited to delve more into learning about this tool in the coming new year!
Light therapy is another tool I use with regularity and see a multitude of benefits. I use it proactively, as in promoting the immune system as well as for emergency situations. You can hold the light on your carotid artery for about 10 minutes and thoroughly cleanse your blood!
My red light came in pretty darn handy when my dog, Zeke, got hit by a car a few years back. It’s also great for the cuts and scrapes the horses get on occasion. The light therapy also offers green and blue along with the red with each having its own unique health benefits. I love the one I have as the company offers such great support and education around using the tools and resources. Check them out if you'd like to see what they offer...Photonic Health.
The next thing I found was incredibly powerful to me. A few years back I was fortunate to have attended the Animal Conference at Young Living’s Mona, Utah Farm. There were many terrific demonstrations and information about using essential oils, but the one that captivated me the most was the demonstration with Carol Komitor and Kate Brown on Healing Touch for Animals. I was drawn to everything about it, including the use of the oils, but the desire to know more about influencing the energy of an animal to promote faster healing was so exciting. I had made up my mind right there that I would learn more by taking the Level 1 online course! I have since completed that along with an in-person Level 2 course. If you're interested in learning more, have a look here at Healing Touch for Animals.
Introducing each of these vibration/energy tools into my daily use has been a process over time. Each has proven to be an incredible addition to provide wellness to my family and animals. I am excited to keep learning about more ways to help my animals. If you’re ready to learn more about these energy healing modalities I've talked about above, be sure to find the information on each in the guide section in the Hearts of Horses, Empowering Through Holistic Care community. I'd also be happy to talk with you personally, so feel free to reach out and contact me!
Happy New Year and see you in the Hearts of Horses community...
Marta
