It’s not unusual for older performance horses to have joints that click, crack, or crunch, especially when you first warm them up. Although these “crunching” noises can sound a little alarming, there’s no need to panic. The noises are just a result of aging horse joints, and can be alleviated with some simple holistic horsekeeping … Continue Reading »
Bald spots, tails with mohawks, and assorted lumps and bumps … all of these symptoms can be signs of an itchy horse. Unfortunately, all the symptoms of horse itch are usually worse in the summer, when bugs, humidity, and heat all contribute to the problem. Does your horse itch? If so, then you know it … 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 »
Have you heard the phrase “Life is movement”? In fact, life is dependent on movement and your horses’ ability to freely move his ribs is critical for his physical well-being. In fact, your horse’s ribs are so crucial to your horse’s freedom of movement that they are actually more important than the spine in terms … Continue Reading »
Why can’t there just be a pill to cure all those stubborn equine symptoms. We would pay any amount of money for something easy to make our horses well! But it is not so easy. You see those stubborn equine symptoms are not just simple conditions. They are the result of a process that has … Continue Reading »
Leafy Greens Reverse Toxic Effects January 25, 2010 This is an article my friend, Trish, sent me when we were discussing chia seeds . Aflatoxins can be found in feeds for horses as well. It looks like the chia plant, which is a type of sage, was used in this study. Not such a bad … Continue Reading »
My friend, Stephanie, had a horse we all thought was simply a lazy horse but we were wrong. Marcus was a jumper and Stephanie would have to kick him constantly to get him around the course. Even with a good holistic horse health program, Marcus remained a lazy horse who would get slower each day … Continue Reading »
It’s bad enough if your horse develops ulcers, but it is so much worse if your horse develops ulcers and you don’t have a clue until he’s deathly ill. Unfortunately, there are certain horses who are more likely to develop ulcers without showing any outward signs of pain until they are really sick. In terms … Continue Reading »
These days most horse owners are clued-up enough about horse health care to recognize insulin-resistance in their equine friends. The insulin-resistant horse is the laid-back easy keeper who gains weight if he catches even a whiff of grain. He’s also the one with the cresty neck, elevated levels of insulin and triglycerides in the blood, … Continue Reading »
Have you ever found bits of wadded up, chewed hay laying around the feed area and wondered about the health of your horses teeth? This is called quidding and if you are seeing it then most likely you have an older horse who has lost most of his teeth, a horse that recently had his … Continue Reading »
Spring is just around the corner and this is the time many people start thinking about sending their young colts to trainers, either to be started under saddle or for more advanced training. Many people send their horses for training with futurities, derbies, and classics in mind … all events catering to young horses. While … Continue Reading »
If there is one thing I have learned about horse health care during my career as an equine veterinarian, it is this: You can pay for horse health care now … or you can pay for it later. In short, caring for any single horse requires a certain sum of money, and that money can … Continue Reading »
I don’t know about you, but I used to pick out my horse’s feet religiously, thinking that clean feet were healthy feet. It turns out that this wasn’t always the best choice for horse health care. Why? … because muddy hooves can be healthy. Picking out your horse’s hooves on a regular basis is a … Continue Reading »
I frequently get asked by horse owners whether they should treat herbs as food or medicine for their horses. It’s a good question, especially if you are a do-it-yourself kind of horse owner and want to be sure that what you feed your horse is safe. Herbs are included in many supplements for horses so … Continue Reading »
Bud is doing well but there is a new wrinkle to his symptom picture. I believe his food sensitivities are under control and, thanks to the daily packets of bluegreen algae, probiotics, and enzymes, Eleviv for stress, KLPP and KAM UF , his digestive tract is healing nicely. When I palpate is abdomen it is … Continue Reading »
Because I practice holistic veterinary medicine people often ask me if I avoid using conventional treatments and diagnostics in favor of all-natural approaches. As a rule, I use whatever treatments are best, in a holistic sense, for the horse. Holistically, that means I use horse health care treatments that lead to cure rather than those … Continue Reading »
These days, horse lovers are becoming aware of the many factors that can cause horse ulcers. Antibiotic therapy is one of the main culprits, and many horse owners are anxious to prevent ulcers from occurring if their horse must have antibiotic therapy because of an injury or acute illness. But here they run into a … Continue Reading »
Your proud moment has arrived! You have raised, loved, and nurtured your young horse from the day she was born … and now it is time to send her into training. She’s got the perfect conformation, attitude, and breeding for her chosen discipline, and you just can’t wait to see how she turns out. You … Continue Reading »
This weekend two of my clients had seriously ill horses. Both lived far enough away that it was not easy to see the horses. In one case no vet was available at all due to the holiday weekend so all work was done over the phone. This would not have been possible without the excellent … Continue Reading »