Holistic Horse Health: Can pigeon fever be prevented?
Pigeon fever is a bacterial infection that normally manifests as superficial abscesses. The chest of the horse is the most common location for a large abscess and the swelling resembles the chest of a pigeon. The condition normally shows up in the dry summer months when the bacteria is picked up from the dirt by [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Is your horse’s gut smart?
Imagine my surprise when I read an article in the Wall Street Journal comparing the gut intelligence to that of the brain. I was introduced to this concept years ago when I read the great book, Molecules of Emotions, by Candice Pert. As it turns out, your horse’s gut is smart and any holistic horse [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Blue green algae as a feed for horses
As I was finding yet one more use for my empty algae containers I got to thinking. Since I started on a holistic horse health program about 20 years ago Simplexity blue green algae has been one of my most consistent recommendations as a feed for horses. Blue green algae has been part of the [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Why I feed probiotics
What is the first rule in feeding horses? Don’t make drastic feed changes. This is true because horses depend on a population of friendly bacteria to maintain healthy digestion. Drastic feed changes can alter the balance of healthy bacteria which can lead to colic or laminitis. Stress, drugs and weather changes can also alter the [...]
3 Steps to Helping Horses with Smoke Inhalation
The hottest summer on record for any state in the history ofAmericahas resulted in horrific wildfires in the centralTexasregion. Over 1,400 homes and farms have been destroyed, and many people and horses have been exposed for days to severe smoke and ash in the air. Those owners with a holistic horse health program are looking [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Laminitis in horses
Laminitis in horses is always a serious holistic horse health emergency, but York’s case has been a real challenge. York, a 4 year old, Thoroughbred, race horse was thrown from his trailer when it was rolled in a major wreck. When the emergency workers arrived on the scene they found York standing in the median [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Don’t forget the Vit C in your horse feeding program
Horses can manufacture Vit C but during extreme stress it is a good idea to supplement the diet anyway. For instance, we have been having extreme heat and drought in Texas. I have been seeing numerous conditions that are benefiting from Vit C supplementation in the horse feeding program. Vit C is most often thought [...]
Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?
When it comes to horse health care, this question is better translated as, “Does regular maintenance cost less than crisis management?” It depends. Sometimes regular maintenance with a holistic horse health care program costs less. Other times crisis management is more cost effective. In my veterinary experience, over the long haul the monetary costs are [...]
Holistic Horse Health: How’s your horsemanship?
I have known for many years that horsemanship is an important part of any holistic horse health program. I started my journey of understanding horsemanship about 25 years ago when I was introduced to Linda Tellington Jones. Following LTJ came my good friend Linda Hoover who introduced me to horsemanship icons such as Ray Hunt, [...]
Holistic Horse Health: Horse feeding secret
I have decided that horse feeding is very much like gardening. The secret of a thriving garden is in the soil. In the case of a successful holistic horse health program, the secret is the digestive tract. This fact came to me when I recently made a trip to my local, organic garden store. I [...]
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