March 2016 – Mid Month Update
Holistic Horsekeeping
How to have a healthy happy horse
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In This Issue:
1. How to help a Fire horse handle stress
2. Temperament Type Consults
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1. How to help a Fire horse handle stress
My 24 year old Fire horse has had a rough start to this year. She loves attention and I have had very little time to spend with her. I have been busy with a big move to Colorado and there have been many changes Cerise has had to handle. In the past Cerise has not handled change well. She has a very sensitive stomach and like many Fire horses she tended to stop eating when stressed. I wanted to support Cerise with management that would help her handle her stress so she could remain healthy and happy despite her world being upended.
I placed her horse friend, Remi, into a wonderful new home and Cerise had to live without a pasture mate for about 5 days. Then I moved her to a new place where she will live until the weather warms enough for her to come to Colorado. I moved Cerise to a farm where she would be with a mare she had lived with before but her friend took exception to a gelding’s affection for Cerise and chased her over a wire fence. So in a span of 10 days Cerise lost a good friend, had to be by herself, moved to a new farm, got beaten up by an old friend and had to be doctored daily for cuts on her back legs. Plus, I was not there to be with her. I am very happy to say she never missed a meal or lost an ounce of weight.
Here is what I did to support Cerise. The day before Remi left I started Cerise on our Fire horse balancing formula so that she would have plenty of the nutrients a Fire horse needs to handle stress. As a Fire horse temperament I knew she did well with alfalfa hay so I started breaking up her alfalfa servings into 3 to 4 times a day. This gave me a chance to go out and comfort Cerise and give her a treat I knew she would enjoy. This also allowed the alfalfa to keep buffering her stomach acid in a gentle way that would not upset her gut bacteria.
Even though my plan to board Cerise with her past horse friend backfired a bit she ended up being very happy living with her new beau, Turbo. My good friends, Pat and Rita, continued to get Cerise from her pen every day and bring her over to their trailer to have a flake of alfalfa. They also took care of her minor injuries. The barn owner was great to make sure Cerise was taken care of and happy with her new pasture mate. I left Cerise on her Fire horse supplement until Pat and Rita reported she seemed totally relaxed and comfortable with her life. In all she was on the Fire horse balancing formula for about 3 weeks.
I went to visit Cerise last week and boy did I get the cold shoulder. I knew she had been through a lot and I spent extra time grooming and petting her before we went on a short ride. By the time our ride finished, Cerise seemed to forgive all and I felt pleased to see her doing so well. I believe Cerise was able to handle her stress because she was supported by her diet, the Fire horse balancing formula, the attention she got from my good friends and the great care she got at Haven Acres. I am so looking forward to having Cerise with me in Colorado when the snow melts.
2. Temperament Type Consults
Not sure what your horse’s type is? You’ve read the Horse Harmony book, listened to the 5 Element Temperament Typing audios, read the 5 Types and 6 Temperament ebooks and still aren’t completely sure which type your horse is. This is where one of our specially trained typologists can help. An affordable way to make sure you are supporting your horse in the particular way he needs for his specific temperament type is to get a consult with our typologists. Get one for yourself or as a great gift for one of your horse friends or family. And if you are looking for more in-depth study on temperament typing, nutritional or homeopathic care take a look at our Mentoring Program one on one with Dr. Ward.
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