CONTENTS November/December 2021/January 2022
Departments 6 Editorial 23 Product picks 27 Business profile — Kelcie's
34 Rider fitness 35 Holiday gift guide 36 From the NASC 44 Acupressure at-a-glance
45 Classifieds 45 Marketplace 46 Neighborhood news
Features 28
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Nutritional support for injured equines
Is your horse injured? Here’s how to support her with nutrition throughout the recovery process.
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H ow to build up your horse’s weak muscle zones
Could your horse benefit from some additional strength training? Here are a few easy ways to build up his weak muscle zones.
Columns
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A NIMAL COMMUNICATION “How do I know my horse is happy?”
An animal communicator shares how you can determine if your horse is truly happy.
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EATING WELL Cushing’s — the subtle signs your horse is trying to show you
One of the primary causes of Cushing’s is one that you can control. Listen to your horses and take steps to bring them back to a state of balance — naturally.
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DIET AND NUTRITION Dos and don’ts for better horse feeding!
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Follow these dos and don’ts to optimize the way you feed your horses.
QUINE THERAPY E What is “horse therapy” all about?
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INFOGRAPHIC
Expertrecommended ways to improve equine mobility
Understanding and selecting equine related services means knowing the difference between therapy, equine learning, and therapeutic riding.
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L IFESTYLE Choosing the right bedding for your horse
It’s important to pay attention to your horse’s mobility, especially as he ages. Here’s some expert advice on how to keep him moving with ease throughout his lifespan.
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Tips, contests and more! /EquineWellnessMagazine News, events, and tips! @ EquineWellness
Saying goodbye to a beloved animal is no small feat. Let’s take a look at what you might experience as you move through grief and recover from the loss.
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NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP
How to develop your natural aids How you can rise to harmony in the training ring by creating connection and calmness with your natural aids.
Social Media
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S AYING GOODBYE A few things to expect when grieving the loss of your horse
Let’s take a look at some bedding options that can help improve comfort and sleep patterns in your horses.
MOTIONAL WELL-BEING E Easing equine anxiety for better performance It’s the day of the show, and your horse is on his worst behavior. Could anxiety be the culprit? Let’s take a look at what you can do to help calm him down.
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ELL-GROOMED W A weekly grooming checklist for your horse
Grooming your horse weekly doesn’t just keep him looking dapper — it enhances his health and well-being and offers a regular opportunity for bonding. Use this checklist to make sure you cover all the bases!
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Tips, horse photos, and more! EquineWellness
Equine Wellness
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FEATURE
Nutritional support for
injured equines By Jessica Putnam, BVMedSci(Hons), BVM BVS(Hons), MRCVS
Is your horse injured? Here’s how to support her with nutrition throughout the recovery process.
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When a horse is injured or otherwise ill, her daily routine is likely to change, both in terms of turnout and exercise. The horse’s diet therefore needs to be adjusted to account for these changes, as well as to support her in her recovery. Feeding an injured horse requires striking a careful balance. Proper equine nutrition may be commonly considered important for optimal performance, but the role it plays in supporting healing must not be underestimated. Here are some important factors to consider when feeding an injured equine.
VITAL FIBER Even minor injuries can require a horse to be confined to her stable for rest and recuperation, so it’s vital that she has access to plenty of dietary fiber to support normal gut function. Microorganisms in a horse’s hind gut break down fiber to create an important source of slow-release energy. These microorganisms also support the immune system and aid recovery from any infections, particularly those within the digestive tract.
SUDDEN DIETARY CHANGES Although not ideal, it may sometimes be necessary to change an injured horse’s diet, such as drastically reducing her concentrate ration, should her workload become significantly reduced. This reduces the horse's risk of developing metabolic disorders, like asoturia (muscle damage), caused by starch overload from excessive cereal intake. A horse’s gut takes time to adjust to a significant change in diet, and any sudden alterations can result in a disrupted microorganism population, potentially contributing to colic, loose droppings, or even laminitis. Use the tips offered in this article to support your equine companion through this process and be sure to ask your vet for individualized recommendations.
REDUCING CONCENTRATES Any reduction in concentrate volume should be accompanied by an increase in forage. When a horse is resting for long periods of time, she may require some concentrate to maintain her overall condition depending upon her body condition. Consider introducing a high fiber cube gradually over four or five days after the original diet has been reduced.
FRESH, NUTRITIONAL PASTURE Given that the nutritional values of conserved forages like hay are generally lower than that of pasture, and that concentrate quantities must be reduced when a horse is in prolonged rest, her overall intake of nutrients can drop significantly. In these circumstances, a feed balancer can be ideal, as it provides horses with all the quality protein, vitamins and minerals they require for both maintenance and repair, but without the levels of energy that could create digestive and behavioral upsets.
Equine Wellness
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PRE AND POST-BIOTICS
TIPS FOR
MOTIVATING A FUSSY HORSE TO EAT When horses are stressed, anxious or depressed, they can quickly lose their appetites for feed, and tempting them to eat can be tricky. The following suggestions may assist you in encouraging an injured horse to eat: • Offer only small feeds at a time. • Try adding yummy succulents, such as carrots or apples, to make it more enjoyable (be aware that carrots and apples are very high in sugar if you are trying to reduce or limit calorie intake). • Garlic can be added to hide the taste and smell of any medicinal powders or supplements. • Adding warm water to their feed appeals to some horses. • Ensure that her feed bowl is in a comfortable position in relation to her injury. • Using concentrated sources of essential nutrients will reduce the amount of feed you need her to ingest.
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When changing a horse’s diet quickly, introducing “digestive enhancers” like pre and post-biotics can be beneficial in aiding the microorganisms to adapt more easily to the changes. This, too, may reduce her risk of suffering unpleasant digestive upsets as she recovers.
HEALING FEED During convalescence, it is essential to provide adequate nutrition to aid soft tissue healing and maintain overall health. Amino acids, for example, are essential for soft tissue construction and repair, as they are the building blocks of protein. Some amino acids must be provided via the horse’s diet, as she cannot synthesize them on her own. Forages do not typically contain high enough quality proteins to supply sufficient essential amino acids, although alfalfa is a particularly good source of lysine. Again, it can be useful to introduce a feed balancer or amino acid supplement to ensure that the horse receives all the amino acids required to heal her injured tissues.
REDUCING CARBOHYDRATES When reducing carbohydrates is recommended, as in the case of azoturia or laminitis, oil can be an excellent alternative fat source of nonheating calories.
SUPPORTING HEALTHY MUSCLE AND NERVE FUNCTION
Inadequate sources of vitamin E can impair nerve, immune and muscle functions, which in turn may slow down healing. Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant that minimizes the damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress at a cellular level. Injured horses require higher levels of vitamin E to counteract the increased demands placed on their immune systems. Vitamin E is abundant in fresh green grass, but its potency declines quickly once the forage is harvested and dried, so it is best to supplement an injured horse’s diet with a source of highly absorbable vitamin E.
FINAL THOUGHTS When a horse is injured, she faces changes in diet and exercise that can place additional stress above and beyond the injury itself. It is important to fully support her in her recovery by introducing targeted nutrients to aid her in recovering faster and maintaining overall condition and well-being. Consult with your veterinarian for further guidance and support. Having ridden her first pony at the age of three, a continued love of horses sparked Jessica Putnam’s interest in becoming a vet, and she qualified from the Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. Jess has worked in equine veterinary practices in Lancashire and North Yorkshire ever since, including undertaking an internship at Rainbow Equine Hospital. She enjoys all aspects of her role in clinical practice, including ambulatory and hospital work, and also has a passion for client communication and education – she regularly runs owner education workshops in her practice in North Yorkshire.
EDITOR’S NOTE: choose your supplements wisely Nutritional supplements can offer vital support to horses during the healing process. The key is to choose products wisely to ensure they offer your equine companion exactly what she needs to recover as quickly as possible. Look for trusted, high quality brands such as SweetPro® — premium supplements created for fiber-digesting animals with ingredients that won’t disrupt their digestive systems. Visit sweetpro.com to learn more.
ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
happy?
“How do I know my horse is By Lindsey Hunt
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An animal communicator shares how you can determine if your horse is truly happy. This is a question I would say almost everyone asks me. We love our horses so much and we hope they are happy with us. We hold some fear in our hearts — that we have not done enough, shown up enough, bought enough treats, offered enough support, given enough hugs and kisses, etc. The majority of the time, our horses seem grateful to have us in their lives. After all, we’re the ones that bring the food! But how can we tell that they are truly happy? Here are some easy ways to recognize joy in your equine companions:
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THEY NICKER WHEN THEY SEE YOU
When horses feel comfortable, they nicker as a form of communication — it’s their way of saying hello to a friend and acknowledging their presence.
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THEY WALK TO THE FENCE LINE WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Horses are herd animals, meaning they like to have friends and people they trust around them. If your horse walks up to you at the fence line or sticks close by when you’re in their paddock, not only do they like you — they trust you!
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THEY’RE EAGER TO PLEASE
Horses demonstrate their contentment and trust by following your cues on the ground or in saddle. Remember, they are
1,100 lb prey animals — they don’t have to do anything for you, they choose to!
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THEY HUG YOU WITH THEIR HEADS AND NECKS
My horse Airosa was very sensitive on her face, so she preferred to show her affection by wrapping her neck around me. Now Eragon seems to think he’s like a lap dog and tries to wrap his front legs around me to show his love — though I need to have boundaries about this or I will be on the ground with him on top of me! He also loves to play to show his affection — he pulls off my hat, unties my shoes laces and plays with my zippers!
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Since all horses have unique personalities, they each have their own way of showing their happiness. Pay attention to their body language — is their energy open to you, or are they closed, guarded and ready to bolt? Any aggression, pinned ears or a swishing tail is indicative of unhappiness. If this is the case, work to learn what’s causing their agitation and take appropriate action.
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Remember, horses are very keen assessors. They know your intention before you even set foot near them, so always be honest and trustworthy with them in order to form a bond of friendship. Lindsey Hunt has over 25 years of experience with horses in dressage, hunter, liberty and EAL. She is a professional animal communicator, advanced certified FEEL facilitator, Reiki master, spiritual mentor and writer. lindseyhunt.ca
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