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
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
Did you or your horses have a bad experience with this year's fireworks? Is this celebration (or anytime with loud noises) always a time of stress for you and them?
We are about one week past this year's 4th of July celebrations. NOW is the time to begin preparing your horses for next year's celebrations. Try these suggestions to make some changes and empower yourself to enjoy, and not fear, this yearly event!
Getting your own mind and emotions right first is a good place to start! The Universe says that you get what you focus on... sooo focus on a positive, calm experience that you can see for you and your horse! Do this every time you interact with your horse. Create a calm picture in your mind of what you will be doing. Your horse will see this and feel the calm from you. If you see this picture in your mind ahead of time, doing it multiple times, chances are your experience with your horse will go as you created (pictured) it!
Taking the time to get ourselves grounded before we interact with our horse will also help them to feel that way too! Take a moment to ground yourself through a meditation, a quiet moment or just picture the upcoming interaction. Quiet your breathing and feel the calm with your horse. This will help to set the tone for your time with your horse.
Essential Oils have been a big part of our successful care and that includes helping with calming and grounding. A couple of favorites that work well are Peace and Calming and Stress Away. Another blend called Valor is very beneficial for supporting the lower energy centers that can be the root problem for horses that have these issues around safety. Once I realized how integral the emotions are with what we see outwardly with our horses, in terms of their physical health, I put together a resource that makes it easy to figure out what my horse might be feeling and the potential oils I can use to help open up those areas of the body. Grab the resource here.
Giving attention to my horse's energy systems has been a wonderful addition to their care. The Healing Touch for Animals® techniques allows me to remove the congestion and blockages that contribute to unsettled behavior as well as physical issues. Techniques like Grounding and Focus™, Bridging™ and the Chakra Balance™ are all useful in helping our horses to become more balanced mentally, emotionally and physically. There's even a technique called Trauma Release™ that is helpful when there is deep seated trauma that needs to be released. To learn more about this amazing program, click here.
Now that you've prepared yourself and your horse with a great image, calming oils and grounded balanced energy...now it's time to go explore! Take walks with your horse to expose them to a variety of new things in their life! Allow them to be curious and explore the new objects, whether the objects are stationary, moving, silent or loud! The more you and your horse get out and explore together, the more you will be developing confidence and connection. There is a 30 Day Challenge with daily prompts of activities you can do with your horse that will help to develop this calm, confidence and connection. You can find it in my community The Hearts of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care. Remember you are always looking for your horse to find relaxation in each of these new situations.
By putting your attention on these areas and spending time with your horse now to overcome this issue, you'll be enjoying a quiet, uneventful celebration with your horses come July 4th 2023!
All the best,
Marta
