Here’s a horse health care question: What does it mean when your horse is shaggy rather than shiny in the spring? Most horse owners expect to see their horses shed out their dull winter coats after the winter season is over, and emerge with a shiny spring bloom. A shiny horse is a healthy horse. … Continue Reading »
Boy, has this been a dry winter/spring in Central Texas. It is only April and we are regularly in the nineties with single digit humidity. The Metal horse temperament is the most at risk for colic under these conditions. The Metal horse temperament often has challenges with the lung and large intestine so a Metal … Continue Reading »
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 … Continue Reading »
Last week was sunny and warm which was quite a contrast from the previous week of sub freezing temps. Unfortunately, this is typical for Central Texas in February. On Monday night it was 80 degrees and by Tuesday morning it was 24 and we did not get above freezing for 3 days. We had multiple … Continue Reading »
It may sound ridiculous to say that your horse needs a chef, but it’s true. Sadly, many much-loved horses suffer from poor nutrition, even at the hands at dedicated and truly affectionate owners. Why does this happen? Because not every horse can thrive on the same diet. The best feeding program for your horse depends … Continue Reading »
What do you do if you put your horse on a very strict diet to control his weight but he is not getting any thinner? You swear he is getting fat on air, but more than likely your horse has found a way to get around your efforts. Your horse is probably sneaking treats when … Continue Reading »
If buying gifts for the holidays has made you crazy, then shopping for all the “right” supplements for your horse can make you downright insane. Not only do you need to visit multiple stores to buy various products (whether you shop in brick-and-mortar or online stores), but many stores don’t carry holistic horse feeds and … Continue Reading »
With over 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States, according to the American Horse Council, the number of horses showing up at horse sales and horse rescues, or simply “turned loose on the range,” is increasing. As a result, the number of malnourished and skinny horses is also on the rise. Luckily, some of … Continue Reading »
Nutrition is critical for a holistic horse health program. When evaluating the cost of feed for horses you have to consider quality over price. I recently bought 2 bales of alfalfa hay for horses and I paid $15 for one bale and $12 for the other. The $15 bale was expensive but very green and … Continue Reading »
Horse health care is one thing. Caring for a horse who has a history of ulcers is something else altogether. Owners of horses who have had ulcers in the past are super-sensitive to any signs of possible new ulcers forming, whether it be a horse leaving his feed or experiencing a mild colic. These owners … Continue Reading »
The weakness of the Metal horse temperament is his digestive tract, specifically the large intestine, and excessive dryness will damage this organ. Impaction colic in horses can be the result of dryness in the large intestine so monitoring water consumption is very important. Metal horses also have an extremely high pain tolerance, which can allow … Continue Reading »
It has been a month since I started feeding a horse di magnesium malate supplement my horses. What a difference! Remi, my Yang Ming horse temperament gelding, had been on magnesium oxide for over a year so he did not show a big change but both Tess and Cerise are different creatures. When my hoof … Continue Reading »
Had a great ride on Cerise today and I credit this to increasing the level of magnesium in her diet. Who would have thought that feeding a horse extra magnesium would make such a difference but for the past several months Cerise has been tense and tight when I worked her. I actually contacted my … Continue Reading »
Earth horses tend to need support for their muscles rather than their joints, and high-quality protein helps the Earth horse temperament develop strong, supple muscles. The goal in feeding the Earth horse is to offer foods or supplements that contain high-quality protein without excess calories. Alfalfa, for instance, is a rich source of protein, but … Continue Reading »
The weakness of the Metal horse’s digestive tract is the large intestine, and excessive dryness will damage this organ. Impaction colic is the result of dryness in the large intestine so monitoring water consumption is very important. Metal horses also have an extremely high pain tolerance, which can allow a mild impaction to advance to … Continue Reading »
Earth horses tend to need support for their muscles rather than their joints, and high-quality protein helps the Earth horse temperament develop strong, supple muscles. The goal is to offer horse foods or supplements that offer high-quality protein without excess calories. Alfalfa, for instance, is a rich source of protein, but is too high in … Continue Reading »
Because the Earth horse temperament has poor digestion and is subject to dampness throughout his body, he needs a lot of immune support. Specifically, dampness and poor digestion can lead to: 1. parasite infestation 2. fungal infections 3. lymphatic imbalances 4. respiratory infections 1. Clearing or Preventing Parasite Infestation in the Earth Horse The Earth … Continue Reading »
The Earth horse temperament seems to have the most trouble with assimilation of nutrients. Many Earth horses tend to get overweight, so owners compensate by underfeeding these horses. It is important to feed the Earth horse nutrient-dense foods, but not feed more than 1.5% of their body weight daily. Feeding a horse larger amounts of … Continue Reading »
Fire Horse Immune Support Fire horse feeding for immune support includes many of the same products that support digestive health since healthy gut flora is so important for a strong immune system. A poor barrier in the intestinal lining puts extra stress on the immune system so supporting gut health will indirectly support immune health. … Continue Reading »
Wood horses are high-energy individuals who love physical challenges, and must be kept active or they will develop bad habits like kicking and biting. Wood horses also tend to become unhealthy if they are not exercised enough. While the Wood horse is not a picky eater, he does have a very sensitive liver and is … Continue Reading »