Author Archives: Madalyn Ward, DVM

About Madalyn Ward, DVM

This blog provides information based on my unique take on horse health and well being. The articles are based on experience of treating and working with horses for over 40 years. In most cases the articles are focused on an holistic approach to health and management. When conventional medicine offers good research or therapy, I share this information as well. Madalyn Ward, DVM

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter April 2023

Holistic Horsekeeping, Madalyn Ward, DVMHow to have a healthy happy horse.Volume 28, Number 4 Spring Feeding Spring is here and for those lucky horses who live in native grass pastures this means a wide selection of herbs and nutritious weeds, plus fresh grass high in omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients. For those horse … Continue Reading »

Avoiding Burnout Based On Your Horse’s Temperament Type

Holistic Horsekeeping – March 2023 – Mid Month NewsletterBy: Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse! Horses are such giving creatures. There is no reason they should do what we ask but they seem to enjoy interacting with humans and doing fun stuff. That is until we get too greedy. We … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter March 2023

Holistic Horsekeeping, Madalyn Ward, DVMHow to have a healthy happy horse.Volume 28, Number 3 Free Fecal Water Syndrome Free fecal water syndrome (FFW) is being recognized more often in horses. The clinical signs are normal manure that passes along with watery manure. FFW is different for diarrhea because the manure is patricianly formed along with … Continue Reading »

Horseman’s Health: How Essential Fatty Acids Benefit Your Heart

By guest contributor Barb Swanson(author of Beyond Foods: The Handbook of Functional Nutrition) Are you looking for a way to keep your heart happy and healthy? Look no further than essential fatty acids! These small but powerful compounds might not be as well-known as some other heart-healthy nutrients, but trust us, they are just as important.  What … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter February 2023

Holistic Horsekeeping, Madalyn Ward, DVMHow to have a healthy happy horse.Volume 28, Number 2 =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Aph. flos-aquae (AFA )Why would you feed AFA algae to your horse? Because many horses never get access to pasture that would supply them with the fresh enzymes and micronutrients they need for optimum health. AFA algae has so much … Continue Reading »

January 2023 – Mid Month

Holistic HorsekeepingHow to have a healthy happy horse! Is your Horse in Sympathetic Burnout Because of You? No human or horse can live in the fight or flight state indefinitely, yet that is exactly what is happening to so many right now. People are stressed and that stress is transferring to our horses when we … Continue Reading »

Horseman’s Health: 4 New Year Resolutions Combining Health and Wealth

Top of the list of most popular new year resolutions seem to always be some type of health goal, losing weight, or increasing finances goal. This year think about having it all with your resolution goal. There are many ways that improving your physical health can also improve your financial health. Here are a few … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter January 2023

Holistic HorsekeepingHow to have a healthy happy horse.Volume 28, Number 1 =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* In This Issue: 1. How to Easily Use Homeopathy for Humans 2. For the New Year commit to a better understanding of your horse =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 1. How to Easily Use Homeopathy for Humans Homeopathy was my first introduction to holistic medicine. I fell … Continue Reading »

Buzz from the Barn: Natural Horse Health in Winter

By Dr. Madalyn Ward, How to have a Healthy Happy Horse! When winter weather hits our natural human tendency is to do what we can to protect our horses from the cold, damp, and wind. This is a wonderful nurturing and protective instinct, and at the same time I frequently see people overdoing that protection, … Continue Reading »

December 2022 – Mid Month

Holistic HorsekeepingHow to have a healthy happy horse FAQ’s for a Fire Horse TemperamentQ. My Fire Horse is very physically sensitive to pain and irritation. Fly bites swell, injuries blow up into huge hematomas, and small scratches are very painful. Can you suggest ways to help Fire horses recover more quickly from physical irritations and … Continue Reading »

Horseman’s Health: Winter Skin Protection

By guest contributor Barb Swanson(author of Beyond Foods: The Handbook of Functional Nutrition) 6 Tips for Healthy Skin This Winter No doubt about it, winter is here! Depending on your location, it might be snowing, sleeting, raining, or maybe, just maybe… it’s sunny and 70 degrees. No matter the conditions, the undeniable fact is that it is … Continue Reading »

Acidophilus and Bifidus

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter, December 2022, Volume 27, Number 12 Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse Acidophilus and Bifidus – I have trusted these probiotics for over 30 years. They are both prepared in a way that helps them survive in the gut. An acidophilus capsule contains 5 billion CFUs and … Continue Reading »

November 2022 – Mid Month Update

How to have a healthy happy horse with Dr. Madalyn Ward Does your Metal horse have sore heels? The Metal horse temperament is generally strong and tough but their achilles heel is – their heels. The Metal horse has a tendency to contracted, sore heels. Confirmation can play a part as many Metal horses have … Continue Reading »

Horseman’s Health: Managing Stress for the Holidays

With Dr. Madalyn Ward As if life isn’t stressful enough juggling family, work, and social commitments, the holidays are here to bring a whole new level of stress. Sure the holidays can be a fun and joyous time, but there’s no denying they also bring on stress with preparing for celebrations, travel, and possibly having … Continue Reading »

Is Your Horse in Pain?

Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter, Nov. 2022, Volume 27, Number 11 Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse The no pain, no gain attitude can really work against you when you work with horses. It is one thing to tolerate pain yourself and push yourself past your limits but quite another thing to … Continue Reading »

The Wood Dog

Mid-Month Holistic Horsekeeping Newsletter, October 2022, Dr. Madalyn Ward – How to have a healthy happy horse When I think of the Wood dog I think of a Blue Heeler. These dogs love to work and they enjoy moving other animals around. They don’t have the reputation as being the most obedient but when they … Continue Reading »

Horseman’s Health: Pumpkin – Good For More Than Just a Fall Decoration

October is the month we see lots of pumpkins around, but they are so much more than just a pretty fall decoration or good for making jack-o-lanterns. What’s In Pumpkin That is So Healthy?First, pumpkin is a great source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body turns into Vitamin A. This particular antioxidant which gives … Continue Reading »

Holistic Horse Health: The Buzz From the Barn

Madalyn Ward, DVM shares her answers to specific holistic horse care questions and case studies from clients. To see more questions and answers on real holistic horse care situations check out our Holistic Horsekeeping and Horse Harmony Facebook pages. Here we present a case study from farrier Cecilia Adamson on a horse with chronic, persistent thrush deep in the … Continue Reading »