Explore every episode of the podcast Healing Horses with Elisha

ast week, we explored the liver’s four key metabolic roles in equine metabolic syndrome, including converting T4 into the active thyroid hormone, T3.

Today, we’re looking at how thyroid function affects your horse’s metabolism, and why you may still struggle to understand what’s happening when the bloodwork and what you see in your horse don’t match—even when you’re doing everything right.

The Thyroid

The thyroid helps horses regulate their metabolism, energy, body temperature, coat quality, and hoof growth. It produces T4, which then gets converted into active T3. This conversion happens largely in the tissues, including the liver, and requires nutrients such as selenium.

Normal Thyroid Tests

If your horse is struggling with weight, low energy, or insulin resistance despite your best efforts, don't assume a normal thyroid test means everything is working as it should. True thyroid gland disease is rare in adult horses, and metabolic problems can exist even when thyroid blood results are normal. So consider your horse's symptoms, history, and overall health, not just the numbers.

Slow Thyroid Hormone Conversion

Illness, stress, and food scarcity can slow the conversion of T4 into active T3 to conserve energy. This doesn't necessarily mean the thyroid gland itself is faulty. In some horses, the underlying stress may be linked to a major health event, like an infection, or an emotionally stressful experience, such as losing a herd mate or moving to a new environment. Recognising these factors can help you better understand what may be contributing to your horse's metabolic difficulties.

Stress

Chronic stress can elevate cortisol, which can interfere with thyroid hormone production and the conversion of T4 into T3. Stress is not always obvious. Chronic pain, laminitis, isolation, restricted movement, and a lack of opportunities for the horse to express natural behaviours can be stressful. So, consider these factors when trying to understand why your horse's metabolism is not responding as expected.

Over-restricting Feed

Horses are designed to chew for much of the day. If your horse finishes its hay within a couple of hours and then goes for long periods without anything to eat, its body may respond as though food is scarce, slowing its metabolism down to conserve energy. While managing sugar intake is important for metabolic horses, further feed restriction may actually work against you. The goal is to manage your horse’s sugar intake while ensuring it has an appropriate feeding plan that allows for regular chewing.

A Vicious Cycle

Pain creates stress, and stress can worsen any existing problems. For example, a horse with painful feet may experience ongoing stress, and long periods without forage can cause ulcers and create additional discomfort. So, look beyond the most obvious symptom and consider anything else that might be contributing. Identifying the factors driving this cycle is an important step towards your horse’s recovery.

The Liver

Your horse's liver plays an important role in converting T4 into active T3. When the liver is under pressure, this process may be affected, even if the thyroid gland itself is healthy. If your horse doesn’t respond as expected to dietary changes, remember that metabolic health involves more than one organ, and the liver, thyroid, and insulin regulation are all interconnected.

Total Toxic Load

Chemical residues from sprayed hay and pasture, fly sprays, topical products, and drinking water can add to the toxic load the liver has to process. Even small chemical exposures can add up over time, increasing the overall burden on the horse’s liver. When the liver is already under pressure, this can affect its ability to carry out its many functions, including converting T4 into active T3. So, look at the bigger picture and consider everything your horse is exposed to, rather than focusing on just one product or source.

Supplements

More supplements are not always the solution. Iodine, for example, is essential for thyroid hormone production, but too much can suppress thyroid function. Focus instead on proper nutrition, clean ingredients, and nutrients your horse can actually use, rather than assuming that more supplements will produce better results.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Stress and toxicity can also contribute to nutrient deficiencies, so consider the whole nutritional picture rather than supplementing individual nutrients without reviewing the horse’s diet.

Medications

Some medications can lower measured thyroid hormone levels, and the effects can persist for several days after the last dose. If your horse is having thyroid tests, ensure that your veterinarian knows which medications it has received to provide some context for the results.

Signs to Look For

Persistent fat pads, difficulty losing weight, low energy, coat changes, delayed shedding, slow hoof growth, shivering, and slow healing can indicate something is not right. These signs can overlap with other conditions, however, including Cushing's disease, so look at the whole picture rather than simply assuming it's a thyroid problem.

Three Drivers of EMS

Stress, toxicity, and nutrient deficiencies are three key drivers of equine metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. They often overlap, so identify which factors may be affecting your horse before deciding where to focus.

The Right Order

If your horse does not improve, don't restrict its feed or add more supplements. Instead, look at the bigger picture, including liver function, nutrient availability, and stress.

Always focus on root causes before symptoms, and remember that no two horses are the same, so no two programs should be either.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Your Horse's Root Cause Reset: Join the waitlist

FREE TRAINING: Why Your Metabolic Horse Isn't Getting Better: The Three Drivers of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

In our last episode, we explored five reasons metabolic horses struggle in the fall. Today, we’re going a layer deeper, exploring the liver, its role, what may strain it, and signs that your horse’s liver may be under pressure. We also explore why two horses can respond very differently to the same environment.

The Liver

The liver plays an important role in regulating blood sugar, clearing insulin, processing fats, and converting thyroid hormones. When the liver is under strain, these functions may be affected, potentially contributing to metabolic challenges.

Insulin Resistance

High insulin is often associated with excess sugar in the diet and increased insulin production by the pancreas. However, the liver also helps clear insulin from the bloodstream, so its role may be worth considering. Research into this connection in horses is still developing.

Increased Workload

A horse’s liver may be coping with several demands at once, including excess sugar, concentrated vegetable oils, high protein intake, certain supplement ingredients, chemical residues in feed, or excess iron. Ongoing stress can also add to this burden by raising cortisol levels and increasing the amount of sugar released into the bloodstream.

Feed and Supplements

Look closely at feed and supplement labels for concentrated vegetable oils, preservatives, artificial flavourings, synthetic additives, and inorganic minerals. Consider whether each product is truly necessary and whether its ingredients are actually appropriate for your horse.

Routine Treatments

Think about the cumulative effect of medications and dewormers over a horse’s lifetime. Then consider how many deworming treatments and medications your horse has received, rather than overlooking these, to reduce the strain on your horse's liver.

Water and Environmental Exposure

Well water can contain excess iron, as can supplements containing inorganic iron, such as ferrous sulfate. Testing your water and reviewing supplement labels can help you to identify potential sources. You also need to consider the chemical residues from herbicides, pesticides, and fertilisers in your hay and pasture.

Signs of Liver Strain

A persistent crest or fat pads, slow progress despite management changes, sensitivity to feed or supplements, recurring skin problems, inconsistent manure, and low energy may all warrant closer attention. Hives, swelling, and laminitis can also indicate metabolic problems. No single sign shows that the liver is under pressure.

Swelling and Recurring Eye Problems

Swelling in the legs, sheath, or belly may indicate fluid retention. Swelling in the lower legs sometimes improves with movement. I have also noticed recurring weepy eyes in some horses but have no research to support this connection.

Routine Blood Tests

Routine liver enzyme tests can indicate liver cell damage, but they will not necessarily reveal every aspect of the liver's function or how much work it is managing. Normal results therefore do not rule out every possible concern. Any signs of ill health still need to be considered.

Beyond Restricted Feed

Reducing sugar intake may be essential for a metabolic horse, but feed restriction alone may not address every contributing factor. It is also worth reviewing supplements, water quality, environmental exposures, and stress rather than focusing only on feed rations.

A Whole-Horse Approach

Stress, toxicity, and nutrient deficiencies are the three main drivers of insulin resistance. Simply restricting the horse’s feed will not address these three factors. The key is to identify what may be straining your horse’s system, remove what you can, and support the horse’s ability to eliminate unwanted substances.

Always consider the root cause before symptoms!

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Your Horse's Root Cause Reset: Join the waitlist

FREE TRAINING: Why Your Metabolic Horse Isn't Getting Better: The Three Drivers of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Fall can be a challenging time for horses with metabolic issues, even when you’ve spent months doing everything right.

Today, we’re exploring five reasons metabolic horses struggle in the fall. You’ll learn how to recognize seasonal setbacks, track meaningful signs of improvement, and support your horse without abandoning a program that may still be working.

Metabolic horses

Shorter days trigger hormonal changes that prepare horses for winter. Rising ACTH and cortisol can increase blood sugar and insulin, promoting fat storage. Metabolic horses may also develop fat pads, retain fluid, and experience increased inflammation.

Fall grass

Sunny days followed by cold nights can cause sugars to accumulate in grass. Frost-stressed, short or brown grass may also be high in sugar, increasing risks for sensitive horses.

Dietary changes

Abruptly switching from grass to hay disrupts the hindgut microbiome and may contribute to inflammation and digestive problems. Instead, transition gradually over two to three weeks.

Inflammation

Digestive problems, unresolved hoof damage, and poor circulation can contribute to inflammation. Inflammation may increase insulin, while high insulin promotes fat storage. Fat deposits can further contribute to inflammation.

Stress

Feed restriction, prolonged isolation and confinement can all increase stress and cortisol levels, even when a horse shows no obvious signs of anxiety. Some horses become withdrawn and apathetic rather than restless or agitated. Supporting metabolic health therefore means looking beyond diet to the horse’s overall well-being, with particular attention to the three Fs: forage, freedom and friendship.

Setbacks

Horses with existing metabolic dysfunction or incompletely healed hooves are more vulnerable to seasonal changes. Temporary setbacks do not automatically mean your management plan has failed.

Keep track

Track the horse’s energy, comfort level, mobility, digestion, and social engagement alongside physical changes. Record symptoms and pain levels to establish a baseline and objectively measure the horse’s progress.

Hoof problems

Stronger digital pulses, reluctance to move, or changes in stance warrant prompt attention. Assess the horse’s hoof trim, circulation, existing pathologies, and provide nutritional support.

Hormone tests

ACTH and insulin levels naturally fluctuate with the seasons, making isolated test results difficult to interpret. Assess the results alongside seasonal reference ranges and also consider the horse’s clinical signs and, ideally, hormone measurements taken over time. A single elevated result during fall should not automatically trigger a diagnosis or a decision to begin lifelong medication, as treatment decisions require a more complete picture of the horse’s health.

Preparing for fall

Transition gradually to hay, obtain a hay analysis, monitor pasture after cold nights, and maintain appropriate hoof care. Address stress, nutrition, and any other potential contributors to metabolic dysfunction.

Root causes

Persistent problems despite careful sugar management may be due to stress, gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, toxicity, or chronic hoof inflammation. Similar symptoms can have different underlying causes, so each horse requires an individualized approach.

Recovery takes time

Equine metabolic syndrome requires consistent, long-term management. Addressing the underlying causes may help reduce seasonal setbacks and improve recovery over time. My forthcoming course, Your Horse's Root Cause Reset for Equine Metabolic Syndrome, will focus on identifying these causes.

Takeaways

Fall setbacks are not necessarily evidence of failure. Owners need to understand seasonal changes, track meaningful improvements, and investigate the horse’s individual needs rather than reacting to isolated symptoms. Remember that no two horses are the same, so their management programs should always address each horse’s individual needs.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Your Horse's Root Cause Reset: Join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we explored how to tell whether your horse is on the right track, why the original symptom often lasts the longest, and how looking at the whole horse lets you see real changes long before that one symptom catches up. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you listen first, because today’s episode picks up right where we left off.

Stay tuned to find out why, even after you start noticing changes, it can still be so hard to trust what you’re seeing.

Past Disappointments

Repeated attempts that fail—supplements, feed, restriction plans, or other approaches—can leave you emotionally, financially, and physically depleted. You may then protect yourself from further disappointment by refusing to believe something is actually working. That could lead you to change a plan just as your horse begins to respond.

The Last Thing to Change

Weight tape and blood work measure specific things at a specific point in time. Your horse can have better energy, digestion, swelling, or movement even when the weight tape hasn’t changed. The most important symptom is often the last thing to change.

Doubt

Information from the internet or AI should not override what you observe in your horse. Searching for answers can expose you to stories about horses that failed to improve or had negative outcomes, and those stories might make you question the positive changes you see in your horse.

Previous Decisions

Many owners believe they should have recognized their horse’s problems sooner. That can make it difficult to trust their judgment when the horse starts improving.

Remember that you did the best you could with what you knew at the time. The instinct that told you something was wrong is the same instinct that helps you recognize improvement.

Beliefs Affect Decisions

You can make changes that support your horse while still believing that recovery is impossible without medication. That belief can move you toward medication.

A medication-free approach requires you to trust your decisions, your intuition, and your horse to heal.

How to Measure Progress

Horses don’t heal in a straight line, and one rough day does not necessarily mean a setback.

So, instead of comparing how the horse was yesterday, compare your horse with its baseline, where it was a month ago or three months ago. That is where real change becomes easier to see.

Keep Notes

Record a few observations several times a week. Note changes such as meeting you at the gate, trotting to the water, improved digestion, or changes in movement. Your notes will give you evidence to return to when doubt appears.

Patterns Matter

Patterns help you distinguish noise from information. A single good day may be a fluke, and a single bad day may not mean anything significant. Consistent changes over several weeks provide a far more useful measure of progress.

Your Observations

Knowing your horse and documenting what you see makes you a better advocate for them. Mention your observations to others involved in your horse’s care rather than relying entirely on their opinions. Your notes can also give your veterinarian information they cannot get from a short appointment.

Visible Symptoms

Your horse’s energy, demeanor, digestion, swelling, and movement may improve while the most visible symptom remains unchanged. That can make you think you need to do more when the horse’s overall picture is actually improving. Remember that the goal is progress, not immediate resolution of every symptom.

Staying the Course

Changing the plan too soon could undo any progress already made.

Some parts of recovery take longer than others. In Skip’s case, his hooves recovered the slowest because hoof growth, strengthening, and improvement in laminar integrity take time.

Building Trust

Trust develops through observations and patterns over longer periods, not just one good day. Look at your horse’s progress over one to three months rather than expecting immediate change.

Remember, no two horses are the same, so no two programs should be either—and no one knows your horse the way you do.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Your Horse's Root Cause Reset: Join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we spoke about supplements, exploring how to select them, how to combine them intentionally, and how a simpler program that focuses on the actual root cause will almost always outperform those built around symptoms.

If you haven’t listened to Episode 107 yet, I recommend starting there because we’re picking up right where we left off today, looking at what real healing looks like, why patience matters, and why you shouldn’t give up on a treatment plan before the original symptom has been resolved.

The Whole Horse

Once you have a plan based on the underlying cause, assess the improvement across the whole horse, not just the symptom that initially caused concern. The original complaint is often the most advanced problem and can be the last thing to resolve. If you focus exclusively on it, you may miss significant improvements happening elsewhere.

Healing Takes Time

Recovery rarely happens in a straight line. There will often be periods of noticeable improvement, pauses, and even temporary setbacks. Years of dysfunction cannot necessarily be reversed quickly, so consistency and patience are essential. The horse’s body needs time and a stable environment in which to recover.

Early Signs

Changes in the horse’s energy and engagement can appear before any visible physical changes. A horse may greet you more readily, enjoy its food, play with other horses, or show more vitality. Those subtle changes can indicate that things are beginning to shift at a foundational level.

Brighter Demeanor

More alert eyes, greater interest in the surroundings, and the return of personality can be meaningful signs of improvement. Horses with equine metabolic syndrome can experience fatigue and what appears to be depression, which can sometimes be mistaken for normal behavior until their vitality begins to return.

Valuable Information

More consistent manure, less gas and bloating, and reduced puffiness can all provide valuable information. In horses with equine metabolic syndrome, digestive improvements are especially important because gut health is closely connected to the broader picture of metabolism, inflammation, detoxification, and absorption.

Partial Improvement

Swelling can improve in stages rather than disappearing completely at once. Even partial improvement can be meaningful. A noticeable reduction in swelling during the first week or two may indicate that the horse is moving in the right direction, while further improvement can take time.

Metabolic Changes

The crest and fat pads provide valuable information about what is happening metabolically, but they may be among the last things to resolve completely. A crest may first soften and then gradually decrease, while fat pads can take time to reduce.

Hoof Recovery

Comfortable movement is important, and appropriate hoof care and support are essential. Hoof inflammation and pain often take longer to resolve, particularly following laminitis, founder, or prolonged hoof problems. You may also need to correct trimming issues and allow the hoof capsule to grow out over time.

Don't Abandon a Plan Too Quickly

If the original symptom is not resolved, it can be tempting to change direction or add more supplements. Before changing course, however, give the existing plan enough time to work, and look for any other improvements that may have occurred.

Your Horse's Baseline

Pay attention to how the horse moves in the morning, how its crest and fat pads feel, how it greets you, how it eats, and how it interacts with its environment. You don’t need to record every detail obsessively. Just become familiar enough with the horse’s baseline to notice any changes.

Keep a Record

When you record where your horse started and look back periodically, improvements that seemed insignificant at the time can become obvious. With root-cause work, changes can often occur gradually and quietly, so don't abandon your plan simply because the progress you see isn't dramatic.

Skip’s Progress

After Skip's program was simplified, his digestion relaxed first, followed by improvements in his relationship with food, satiety, energy, inflammation, and fat pads. His hooves took the longest to improve. That explains how focusing on just one symptom can make you miss any other meaningful progress.

Different Recovery Patterns

Improvements don't happen in the same order or on the same timeline for every horse. So, look for an overall pattern rather than expecting everything to improve at once. Always remember to pay attention to changes across the whole horse, and remember that no two horses will heal in precisely the same way.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we explored why a supplement that produces remarkable results in one horse can make virtually no difference in another, and what that comes down to.

If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, go back and listen to it first, because we’re building on it today.

Supplements

A full supplement shelf doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing enough for your horse. Although each product may have been selected initially to address a specific symptom, the combination is unlikely to address the root cause of a horse’s problems.

How to Evaluate Supplements

Consider whether or not a supplement is actually helping your horse. Look beyond the testimonials and social media, examine the ingredients and the company’s reputation, and be willing to acknowledge when something isn’t working.

Root Causes

Treating each symptom with a separate supplement can mean missing the underlying imbalance that is driving the problem. Identifying and addressing the root cause can make some supplements unnecessary.

When Supplements Are Combined

Different supplements can contain overlapping ingredients, so some may be redundant or unnecessary. Using too many different supplements can also make the digestive system and liver work much harder without providing any additional benefit.

Simplifying the Program

Removing certain supplements can make owners worry that they aren’t doing enough for their horses. However, simplifying the program helps them focus on addressing what the horse actually needs rather than simply adding more products.

Diet and Lifestyle Matter

Supplements cannot fix a hungry horse or address stress caused by prolonged hunger. So, owners must consider diet, forage, feeding schedule, lifestyle, and stress levels when addressing a horse’s health issues.

Skip’s Story

Skip is a 12-year-old Quarter Horse with EMS who was placed on several supplements to address various problems. Despite the owner’s careful efforts, his progress stalled. When evaluating his entire picture, it emerged that stress, due to severe hay restriction, was a key issue. So his supplements were replaced with specific B vitamins and bioavailable magnesium, while his owner focused on providing consistent forage and feeding, a better lifestyle, and nervous-system support. Within weeks, Skip was more relaxed, his vitality improved, and he began to gain muscle and become more active and playful.

What to Remember

No two horses are the same, so no two programs should be either. Horses’ programs should always address root causes rather than simply treating symptoms, and supplements should be used for a specific reason.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we discussed the hidden cost of chasing symptoms instead of root causes, and the importance of understanding that symptoms are the messengers, not the problem.

We’re expanding on that today, looking at why a supplement that works really well for one horse may do very little for another.

Choosing a supplement

Don't choose a supplement simply because it produced great results for someone else's horse. Look at whether it is actually creating the changes your own horse needs, and if you can't see meaningful progress, be willing to question whether it's the right choice.

Don't let an ingredient list or a product's reputation decide for you. Even a clean, high-quality product may not be what your horse needs, so choose according to your horse's individual situation.

Don’t assume

Don't assume that horses eating the same hay or living in the same environment have the same nutritional needs. One horse may already be getting enough of a nutrient while another may have a genuine deficiency, so look at the individual horse rather than the shared diet.

Additionally, when two horses have the same visible problem, don't automatically treat them in the same way. Look for what is actually driving the problem in each horse, because the underlying causes may be completely different.

What to focus on

Don't focus only on the nutrients the horse is getting from its diet. Gut health, inflammation, toxicity, other ingredients, and the form of the nutrient can all affect how well a horse can utilize what you're giving them.

If a horse fails to respond as expected

If the horse isn't responding as expected, consider what else may be preventing its improvement. You may need to address its medication, the commercial feed’s suitability, digestive problems, or emotional stress rather than simply adding another supplement.

Your horse's history

Don't treat your horse as if it’s starting from scratch. Past illness, stress, age, breed tendencies, medication, and its environment all form part of the picture and can influence how it responds to anything new you introduce.

Supplements to avoid

High-quality supplements can be valuable, but don't expect them to resolve an issue they were not designed to address. If the supplement has no connection to the underlying cause, redirect your time and money toward finding what actually needs attention.

Changing direction

If you've given something a fair opportunity and aren't seeing improvement, don't keep on with it simply because you expected it to work. Use the lack of progress as information and reconsider what your horse may need.

The underlying cause

Don't rely on an anti-inflammatory supplement to resolve pain or inflammation when something else is causing or contributing to the problem. Address the underlying cause so that your supportive measures can have a better chance of helping.

Keep looking

When your approach doesn't work, don't decide that you've failed or your horse is beyond help. Instead, recognize that particular approach wasn't the right one and keep looking for what your horse actually needs.

Individual needs

If something doesn't work for your horse the way it worked for someone else's, don't automatically view that as a failure. Use it as information showing your horse's picture is different and requires another plan that will better suit its individual needs.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we discussed what it takes for horses to recover and heal truly.

Today, we’re building on that by clarifying the hidden cost of chasing symptoms instead of uncovering the root cause lying beneath them.

Recurring symptoms

A symptom is often a messenger rather than the actual problem. When a symptom fails to improve, or returns despite trying different products, it tells you that you have not yet identified the underlying cause.

Consistency and patience

Finding the right approach for a horse is not quite as simple as following someone else’s plan. Recovery requires attention, consistency, and a willingness to reassess when something does not produce the results you need.

History matters

A past illness, stress, age, breed tendencies, medications, environment, and other experiences can all influence how a horse’s body responds to something new. Understanding its history helps to explain why the same supplement can produce very different results in two horses.

Quick fixes

Symptom-focused treatments can be reassuring when they produce a quick or visible response, but improvement does not necessarily mean the underlying issue has been resolved. Repeatedly changing products can keep you focused on the symptom rather than actually understanding what is driving it.

The whole picture

Rather than focusing only on what is going into the horse’s feed bucket, consider the whole picture, including its diet, health history, medications, environment, digestion, and any other factors that may influence how it responds.

Meaningful changes

When introducing something new, pay attention to whether or not you notice any meaningful changes in the horse. If the horse shows no noticeable improvement, that approach may not be addressing what it truly needs.

Good nutrition

Good nutrition is not simply about what goes into the horse’s mouth. Gut health, inflammation, toxicity, and nutrient interactions can all affect how much of what a horse consumes is actually absorbed and available to its body.

When something doesn’t work

A lack of improvement does not mean that you, your horse, or the product has failed. It provides valuable information, telling you that your approach is not addressing the horse’s particular needs and that it is time to look in a different direction.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Horses need rest, especially when they’re dealing with metabolic issues. Their nervous systems need it, and in many cases, rest is an important part of their recovery.

So today, we’re talking about why deep work requires downtime, and why giving your horse the right kind of rest might be the missing piece in how you’re managing their metabolic health.

Rest and Recovery

The work that genuinely changes an outcome rarely happens in a straight line. Whether you’re helping a student or supporting a horse through recovery, you need periods of focused effort followed by time to rest, process, and integrate. Skipping the recovery phase can ultimately undermine the work itself.

Making Better Decisions

Building a complete health profile means taking a deep dive into your horse’s history and putting all the pieces together. That can be difficult and emotional, especially when you begin to see how past events may have contributed to the challenges your horse is facing now. It can also create a strong urge to fix the problem immediately. However, taking time to understand the whole picture first helps you make more informed decisions.

Subtle Shifts

Paying attention to subtle shifts in your horse—how they respond to their environment, changes in the herd, the seasons, their routine, or their recovery—can reveal patterns over time. Observing those shifts can give you valuable clues about what’s really happening with your horse.

Exhaustion

Working harder and constantly pushing yourself doesn’t necessarily create better results. When you’re depleted, you stop noticing subtle details, lose your ability to be genuinely present, and may even begin putting your energy into the wrong things.

Downtime

Downtime allows you to integrate information and experiences, gives your nervous system a chance to reset, and lets your body catch up with everything it’s had to handle. Rest is not laziness or falling behind. It is part of maintaining your ability to do meaningful work.

True Rest

A horse can be standing quietly and still be in a state of alertness or survival. True rest allows the horse’s nervous system to stop bracing and scanning so the parasympathetic system can support its digestion, recovery, tissue repair, and hormonal regulation.

Restriction vs Recovery

For horses with EMS or suspected metabolic problems, you may need to look beyond more restriction or control. Those horses also need the right lifestyle, movement, freedom, and periods of rest so their bodies can settle, find their rhythm, and recover.

Constant Intervention

Every new supplement, therapy, training session, or other intervention is another input. When you’re constantly applying different things, you have little opportunity to observe what is actually helping the horse, or allowing it to settle and find its own rhythm. Sometimes, just avoiding another intervention is the most appropriate next step.

Panic

When something is wrong, your instinct may be to act immediately. However, your panic could lead to unnecessary or poorly considered interventions. Taking a pause gives you the space to regulate yourself, observe what is actually happening, and ultimately make a more thoughtful decision.

The Bigger Picture

Rather than always adding something to address each new symptom, step back and consider the horse’s history, environment, lifestyle, routines, and other contributing factors. The goal is to create the right conditions for the horse to stabilize and recover, while also providing enough structure, freedom, and connection to support its natural rhythms.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Join Elisha's email list

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way

I’m delighted to have Trish Collins, owner of a 30-year-old mare called Teddy, joining me today to discuss the challenges of supporting a senior horse. We unpack the dietary changes and behavioral quirks of a senior horse and discuss the value of natural nutrition, homeopathic remedies, and holistic care.

Changing Appetites

Senior horses like Teddy often change their preferences or skip meals. Trish learned to stay flexible, offering alternatives and listening to Teddy’s cues rather than forcing a rigid feeding schedule. Even at 30, Teddy now displays curiosity, an enthusiasm for food, and she engages with her environment. Trish noticed how she regained her energy, playfulness, and mental sharpness after implementing a tailored nutrition and care plan.

Nutrition

A consistent, nutrient-rich diet is essential for senior horses. Proper nutrition supports appetite, digestion, weight maintenance, and overall vitality, even in horses with health issues or on medications.

Observing and Responding

Trish developed confidence by watching Teddy closely, noting her likes, dislikes, and reactions. This observation has guided adjustments in feed, supplements, and care routines, empowering Trish to make informed decisions.

Natural and Complementary Approaches

Homeopathic remedies and medicinal plants are important for supporting Teddy’s appetite and vitality. Natural options can complement standard care, especially when conventional solutions are limited.

Consistency and Patience

Teddy’s progress did not come from one dramatic change. It came from Trish’s steady and consistent changes, made after observing Teddy closely and implementing thoughtful adjustments. Nothing was rushed. Trish learned that improvement often occur quietly and gradually, not all at once. Staying patient, sticking with the plan, and allowing Teddy the time she needed proved far more powerful than constantly changing course.

A Stress-Free Environment

Stress-free environments are crucial for senior horses to thrive. Allowing Teddy to roam freely and move on her own terms improved her appetite, mood, and overall quality of life.

Preventative Strategies

The strategies Trish used with Teddy also serve as a model for younger horses. Paying close attention to their diet, movement, and health early on helps to prevent any future challenges and sets them up for longevity.

Emotional and Owner Insights

Trish found that supporting her own horse felt far more emotional and overwhelming than helping clients with theirs. She learned that staying observant, trusting what she was seeing, and allowing room to adjust the plan helped to calm her anxiety.

Trish’s confidence did not come from having all the answers. It came from paying attention, staying flexible, and consistently moving forward.

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Over the last few episodes, we’ve explored topics related to mindset, how we approach our horse’s health, what we notice, and how to interpret what we see.

This week, I help you understand what your horse’s body is actually telling you, and, more importantly, how to recognise those signals with clarity and confidence.

You Know More Than You Think

You’ve accumulated years of data from observing your horse directly. Every time you pick up their feet, watch them move, notice shifts in their energy, skin, coat, eyes, or behavior, you’ve been learning. The problem is that you don’t trust what you’re noticing. Your horse’s body is dynamic, and its chemistry is changing every millisecond, so you need to bring the power back to yourself.

Why We Doubt Ourselves

Self-doubt usually comes from three patterns. First, we treat our observations as less valid than measurable data, even though lab tests are only snapshots of a moment in time. Second, we confuse observation with diagnosis, jumping from “stiff today” to catastrophic conclusions without enough information. Third, we minimize what we see because we are afraid of what it might mean—both overreaction and avoidance block clear decision-making.

Structure

Structure includes posture, muscle development, hoof quality, coat condition, body composition, and movement patterns. Those are visible and measurable expressions of deeper processes. Structural changes are often a result of diet, stress, movement-related issues, environmental issues, toxicity, and time. A dull coat, dropped topline, or poor hoof quality reflects what has been happening internally over weeks, months, or longer.

Function

Function is how the horse moves through the world. It includes energy levels, behavior, digestion, respiratory patterns, appetite, and emotional expression. Functional shifts usually occur before structural breakdown. Subtle changes in manure quality, food aggression, pacing, anxiety, coughing, or stiffness are often early signals. Addressing those signs early prevents bigger problems later.

Connection

Connection reflects emotional well-being, trust, and a sense of safety. Changes in willingness, engagement, affection, or reactivity may signal physical discomfort or unmet needs. Health challenges such as chronic pain or metabolic issues can alter a horse’s emotional state. A shift in connection may indicate a hidden health issue.

From Observation to Understanding

Clear thinking requires separating observation from interpretation. An observation is specific and descriptive. A diagnosis requires evidence. Patterns matter more than single moments. When did it start? What makes it better or worse? Is it constant or intermittent? Patterns reveal root causes and guide informed action.

The Whole Horse Perspective

Every symptom exists within a system. Stiffness may be related to limited movement, cold weather, circulation, trimming, or management practices. Digestive changes may be due to stress, diet, or environmental factors. Viewing the whole horse allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than react fearfully.

Framework Builds Confidence

Observation without structure leads to anxiety. Observation within a framework leads to clarity. When you record patterns, make thoughtful adjustments, and monitor outcomes, your confidence grows naturally. You begin making decisions based on knowledge instead of fear.

Knowledge and Action Work Together

Understanding how the horse’s body systems connect strengthens your decision-making. You do not need perfect certainty before taking action. Thoughtful changes, followed by observation, build experience and trust in your own judgment.

Community Reduces Isolation

Health journeys can feel lonely. Shared learning, pattern recognition, and collaborative problem-solving provide perspective and reassurance. Noticing how other horses move through similar challenges helps normalize recovery and refine expectations.

Trust Is the Foundation

Your horse communicates through structure, function, and connection every day. The goal is not perfection. It is presence, awareness, and the willingness to trust what you see. Confidence grows when you combine observation, understanding, and action.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Masterclass: How to Trust Your Horse Instincts with Confidence (even when everyone else disagrees)

We're getting uncomfortably honest today.

In this episode, I continue the conversation I began early in January, to support you with invaluable mindset and perspective shifts, and the knowledge to empower yourself to make the best decisions for your horse, to get the best outcomes with their health and your relationship with them throughout 2026, the year of the Fire Horse.

Invisible Walls

Many dedicated owners are following protocols, investing in care, researching, and trying every recommended solution, yet true wellness still feels just out of reach. That is often not due to a lack of effort, but invisible internal walls that unintentionally block any progress. Those walls are built from habit, fear, and misplaced trust in external systems, rather than relying on direct feedback from the horse. Once you see them, meaningful change begins to happen. You can’t change what you can’t see. But once the patterns become visible, everything can shift.

Wall #1: Prioritizing Being Right Over Being Responsive

Conventional wisdom often overrides individual feedback. Feeding charts, supplement labels, trimming schedules, and doing “what everyone does” can become more important than what your horse is showing you. Textbook health is based on averages and generalizations, whereas your horse’s health is based on its unique metabolism, stress response, digestion, genetics, and environment.

Standardized Models

No research paper applies universally to every horse. Horses living in the same herd, on the same feed, and in the same environment, will still show completely different imbalances and needs. When we force them into standardized models, we risk damaging their health trying to make them fit systems that were never designed for them.

Real progress begins when feedback takes precedence over protocol.

Textbook Health

Textbook health is theoretical and based on statistical significance. It gets repeated as a universal truth. Individual health is dynamic and constantly changing. Your horse doesn’t care about recommended feeding charts or daily minimums. It cares about what its body needs today.

True responsiveness means asking: Is this actually improving observable wellness? If not, it’s not working. no matter how good the reviews are.

Wall #2: Fear Disguised as Control

Over-management often stems from anxiety. Restricting turnout to prevent injury, limiting forage to control weight, isolating horses for safety, and excessive blanketing to prevent cold can create the fragility they were meant to prevent.

Fear-based Management

Horses are designed to move, graze, socially regulate, and adapt to weather. When those natural systems are suppressed, metabolic dysfunction, ulcers, behavioral issues, weakened hooves, and chronic stress can follow. Fear-based management creates systems that require even more management.

Allowing horses live more naturally builds resilience. Micromanagement builds dependence.

Control = Anxiety

Control is often anxiety projected onto the horse’s body. A powerful shift occurs when the question changes from “How do I prevent every possible problem?” to “What does my horse need to become more resilient?”

Wall #3: Trusting Protocols More Than Feedback

Supplements, feeding systems, and management routines are tools, not guarantees. When supplements or medications continue for months without any noticeable improvement, when balanced feeds do not result in better coats or stronger hooves, when calming supplements replace environmental or training changes, it means protocol has replaced feedback.

Supplements

Supplements should function as feedback tools, not permanent fixes. Management should serve the horse’s biology, not the owner’s schedule. “This is how we’ve always done it” is not a sufficient reason to continue something that isn’t working.

Your horse’s body is the curriculum. Observable wellness is the only true test.

The Confidence Triangle: Physical, Emotional, Mental

True wellness depends on three interconnected systems working in balance:

1. Physical health
2. Emotional well-being
3. Mental clarity

You cannot supplement your way out of emotional stress. You cannot manage your way out of physical pain. You cannot train your way out of mental overload. Those systems influence one another constantly. When one is compromised, the others follow.

Holistic Health

Holistic health requires integration, not fragmentation. Instead of chasing symptoms, support systems. Instead of reacting to problems, create conditions for wellness. Instead of working against their nature, work with the horse’s biology.

When the Walls Come Down

When responsiveness replaces ego, fear loosens its grip, and feedback becomes the guide:

1. Problems are caught earlier.
2. Money stops flowing toward ineffective solutions.
3. Resilience strengthens.
4. Chronic issues begin to shift.
5. Decision-making becomes confident instead of anxious.
6. Partnership deepens.

Healing often occurs not because the perfect product was found, but because the barriers blocking natural health were removed.

Awareness

Awareness is the first step. Notice where you may be prioritizing being right over being responsive, controlling out of fear instead of building resilience, or trusting protocols more than feedback. Once visible, those walls can come down, and your horse’s innate wisdom can emerge.

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Welcome to our 100th podcast episode!

In the last episode, we discussed permitting yourself to trust your instincts. Today, we continue that discussion, diving even deeper into the topic.

Tuning In

Horses are constantly communicating their needs, but we often stop noticing the subtle ways they demonstrate how they feel physically, emotionally, and instinctually. By slowing down, tuning in, calming down, and asking what they need, we can start seeing them clearly again.

Physical Silence

Early intervention means noticing whispers of pain before they escalate. Horses often show early discomfort through subtle cues, such as stiffness, girth sensitivity, or reluctance to move, but those signals are often dismissed as personality quirks. Ignoring physical signs can ultimately lead to chronic health problems.

Emotional Silence

When horses express anxiety or stress, and it is dismissed or medicated rather than addressed, they stop communicating their emotional needs. Separation anxiety, behavioral stress, and high arousal are not problems to suppress. They’re messages that require consistent attention, gradual training, and emotional support to rebuild trust.

Instinctual Silence

Ignoring the natural biology of a horse (Social needs, movement requirements, and grazing behavior) creates systemic stress, metabolic dysfunction, and delayed healing. With long-term confinement, isolation, or mismanaged diets, horses become quiet, masking their real health and welfare needs.

Human Awareness

Our own anxiety, busyness, or problem-focused mindset can block communication. Horses mirror our nervous state, so pausing, grounding yourself, and observing calmly allows subtle signals to emerge. Daily wellness check-ins, curiosity-driven observation, and tracking patterns will help you identify root causes before problems escalate.

Re-establishing Communication

Shift from “What’s wrong?” to “What does my horse need?” Focus on body, mind, and spirit. Pause, breathe, and observe before taking action. Small, consistent practices, including meditative observation and affirmations, can help you maintain a focused mindset, reinforce trust, and encourage your horse to start communicating once again.

Tracking Patterns

Observe your horse’s energy, movement, social behavior, and emotional responses every day. Look for correlations with diet, herd dynamics, weather, or schedule changes. Noticing patterns allows early intervention, supports holistic well-being, and prevents symptoms from worsening.

Prevention and Wellness

Horses never stop talking. By creating space to listen and responding thoughtfully, you become a true health advocate. Supporting wellness instead of chasing symptoms fosters partnership, helps catch issues early, and leverages your horse’s innate wisdom for better health outcomes.

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

We’re talking about permission today.

In last month’s Firehorse Fierce episode, we briefly touched on permission-seeking. Today, I clarify what that really means.

Too often, we turn to another professional opinion, recommendation, or protocol before fully understanding what we are facing. The truth is, you know your horse better than anyone. So, this episode is about allowing yourself to trust what you already see in their eyes, feel in their body, and sense in their energy.

Permission Starts With You

Permission does not come from professionals, protocols, or expert opinions. It comes from you. In an industry full of strong opinions and conflicting advice, it’s easy to believe you need someone else to validate what you already see. But as your horse’s primary caregiver, you are the one who knows their baseline, their patterns, and when something feels off. That lived knowledge truly matters.

Waiting vs. Being Paralyzed

There is a difference between pausing to calm your fear so you can make a clear decision and being paralyzed while waiting for external permission. Most hesitation comes from fear of being wrong, not from lack of care. When your doubt delays your decisions, the horse often pays the cost.

Outside Opinions

Every outside opinion can quietly erode trust in your own observations. Over time, decision-making shifts away from the horse and toward outside voices, even though your horse is communicating clearly through changes in energy, movement, digestion, and behavior. Those early signals are meaningful. Disease seldom shows up loudly; it builds through whispers long before it screams.

Expert Support

Professional support has a place, but professionals are consultants, not permission givers. You remain the decision-maker. True advocacy means staying grounded in what your horse is showing you while using outside expertise to support, not override, that awareness. Flexibility matters far more than rigid adherence to any single philosophy.

When You Trust Yourself

When you give yourself permission to listen and act, everything changes. Communication becomes clearer, stress decreases, and trust deepens. When their whispers are heard, horses don’t need to scream. Your horse is counting on you to trust what you already know.

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Today, we’re continuing our conversation about mindset and perspective when it comes to your horse’s health.

This year, I have received many messages about navigating information overload and conflicting advice about your horse’s health. In this episode, I focus on the vital and often missing emotional support needed for making clear, grounded decisions.

Stay tuned to learn the difference between knowledge that truly serves you and information that simply creates more noise.

When Knowledge Turns Into Anxiety

The more you try to take in, the harder it becomes to filter out the noise. That can result in analysis paralysis, where no option feels safe, and doing nothing starts to feel easier than making a decision.

Conflicting Expert Opinions

Different practitioners adopt different approaches. Metabolic, biomechanical, emotional, traditional, and alternative approaches all highlight different aspects of the picture, and without a way to bring them together, the information can become extremely confusing.

General Advice

What works for most horses will not always work for your horse. Each horse has a unique body, history, genetics, and energy. Trying to force a generalized protocol onto an individual horse often delays progress and creates more frustration.

Past Experiences

Previous losses, mistakes, or missed signs can quietly influence current decisions. Guilt and urgency from the past can cloud your ability to stay grounded and respond clearly in the present moment.

The Decision Filter

Clear decisions require a simple framework. Before acting on new information, it should pass three questions:

Does this align with what I’m observing in my horse right now?

Does this address the root cause or only manage symptoms?

Can I implement this consistently with the capacity I have today?

Observation Comes First

Your day-to-day observations matter more than generalized recommendations. What you notice in your horse’s body, behavior, and patterns is primary information. Expert advice is valuable, but it comes second.

Root Cause Over Quick Fixes

Urgency often pulls us toward symptom management. While comfort matters, lasting improvement comes from understanding what is happening beneath the surface and addressing the underlying cause.

Consistency Over Complexity

A simple and consistent approach is far more powerful than a complicated, sporadic plan. What you do consistently, day after day, matters far more than accessing all the latest research or trends.

Reducing the Noise Restores Clarity

Slowing down the flow of information, focusing on careful observation, and sticking to a simple, clear plan helps reduce anxiety and creates space for healing. As you become calmer and more consistent, your horse will likely begin to stabilize too.

Trusting Yourself

You are the one who knows your horse best. Outside expertise has value, but your insight deserves equal weight. Confidence grows when knowledge and self-trust work together.

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Last week, we looked at how easily our sense of urgency can spill over onto our horses. We explored ways to manage our fears and the urge to intervene when all our horses need is the time and space to heal.

Today, I take that a step further by explaining how healing is a steady, repetitive, and imperfect process that requires our trust and patience.

Imperfect Progress

Horses require consistency, observation, and time for their nervous systems to process changes. Owners often act out of fear or urgency, switching practitioners, modalities, or approaches mid-process. But when we simplify our approach, tension is released, and both horse and human can move at a natural pace. Even though visible results may take weeks, progress is happening beneath the surface.

Self-Awareness

If you are anxious, impatient, or reactive, your horse will feel it and reflect it back. Healing your horse begins with you regulating your own nervous system and showing up with presence, patience, and clarity, rather than trying to control the outcome.

Integration and Patience

Healing unfolds in stages. Setbacks, plateaus, and integration periods are normal. Your horse’s body needs time to adjust to new movement patterns, nutrition, and modalities. Owners need to embrace this pace, trusting that chemical and neurological changes are happening even when the results are not immediately visible.

Small, Consistent Steps

Choose one approach at a time for your horse and commit to it for at least three to four weeks before evaluating progress. For yourself, establish one daily practice that supports your nervous system- a short walk, breathwork, or grounding ritual. Consistency beats intensity.

Observation Without Judgment

Notice any changes in your horse’s movement, energy, behavior, or body without labeling them as either good or bad, and observe your own emotions without self-judgment. Journaling helps you track patterns, separate emotions from reality, and build confidence in your decision-making.

Integration Practices

Support your horse with rest, social time, and basic care. Let them lie down, play with friends, or simply relax without interference. Similarly, honor your own needs. Regulated owners make better decisions and create an environment that fosters true recovery.

Reflection

Track progress with photos, videos, and regular check-ins with trusted practitioners. And for yourself, spend 15 minutes weekly reflecting on what shifted, what was hard, and make the required adjustments.

Managing Urgency and Fear

Recognize when the urge to act comes from fear, not clarity. Ask yourself: “Will this action move my horse toward healing in the next 28 days?” and “What small step respects my horse’s and my own capacity today?” Small, deliberate actions will keep healing on track.

Two-Track Approach

Take immediate, low-risk actions while planning high-leverage actions for the future. That honors urgency without hijacking the process, allowing progress to continue steadily while you maintain clarity and focus.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

I have spent the past few weeks reflecting because the start of a new year naturally brings a desire to change what we do, how we do things, or even how we think.

If you’ve been sitting with a quiet sense that something needs to shift, for yourself or for your horse, this episode is exactly what you need to hear as we step into 2026.

Pay Attention to Your Feelings

When you sense that something is different with your horse, pay attention because it matters. A strong connection helps you notice subtle shifts long before anything obvious shows. Ignoring that gut feeling often leads to endless research, outside opinions, and overthinking, which only adds confusion instead of clarity.

When Caring Turns Into Freeze

Freezing, overthinking, and second-guessing are proof of how deeply you care. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, especially when your horse’s health is on the line.

Analysis Paralysis and Lost Intuition

Too much information can shut down your intuition. Articles, courses, podcasts, and social media create noise that drowns out the quiet knowing you gain from daily observation and experience with your horse.

The Information Collector

Waiting to know everything before taking action keeps change out of reach. Confidence does not come from more information. It comes from deciding and taking action, even if the steps are small or imperfect.

The Permission Seeker

Looking for opinions from vets, trainers, or social media delays leadership. Horses don’t need thousands of opinions. They need an owner willing to advocate, make decisions, and guide their care with clarity and intention.

The Worst-Case Spiraler

Imagining disasters will drain your energy and stall progress. Indecision becomes a costly choice when fear prevents you from acting. Moving forward requires grounding, focus, and shutting out both external noise and internal catastrophizing.

Indecision Versus Intentional Action

Doing nothing is still a choice. Creating a plan, committing to it, and adjusting along the way brings stability to both horse and human. Calm, centered leadership will have a direct effect on your outcomes.

Intuition as Valid Data

Gut feelings are just as important as science. Daily observations, patterns, and responses are meaningful information. Writing them down turns intuition into evidence and builds confidence in decision-making.

Alignment Matters

Decisions that contradict your beliefs and instincts disrupt flow. When actions align with your values and intuition, outcomes improve. When they don’t, stress rises and progress often stalls.

Fire Horse Energy for 2026

The Year of the Fire Horse calls for boldness, movement, and decisive action. It favors momentum over perfection and independence over approval. It’s a push to stop waiting and start acting.

Imperfect Action Over Perfect Planning

Horses benefit more from timely, intentional effort than from endless preparation. Small, thoughtful changes often lead to noticeable improvements and strengthen trust between horse and owner.

Become the Expert on Your Horse

Creating a health profile for your horse helps you notice patterns and understand what has led to their current state. Knowing where things have shifted or gone off balance guides the changes your horse truly needs.

Fire Horse Goals vs. Frozen Goals

Frozen goals keep you stuck in learning mode. Fire horse goals are action-based: you create a plan for your horse, implement it, and adjust as you go. Taking steps- even if they are not perfect- builds confidence and leads to results.

Simple Changes Create Real Feedback

Small changes give immediate information. Observe what happens, write it down, and adjust as needed. This makes observations into valuable data and strengthens both trust and clarity.

Support Without Surrendering Authority

Bringing in help doesn’t mean giving up leadership. The right support aligns with your beliefs, respects your intuition, and works with your understanding of your horse.

Community Builds Confidence

Confidence grows in connection. Shared experience, accountability, and support reduce isolation and replace judgment with learning.

Stepping Forward in 2026

This is the year to stop waiting and performing for others. Step up for your horse with courage, commitment, and consistency. Remember that perfection is not a requirement.

“Your horse would rather you try at 70% certainty than wait for 100%.”

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Save your seat in Elisha's 2-hour live workshop Detox Done Right.

Healing Horses Their Way: Sign up for the 6-month payment plan

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

Every year, from late November to early December, we roll up our sleeves, set the dates, map out the plan, and fine-tune the details for the year ahead.

Join me today for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how we structure the program, what you will learn, the rollout date, and all the incredible benefits you can expect!

Overview of the Program

This signature program has been a favorite among horse owners and practitioners since it launched in 2018. It has been designed to give you a strong foundation in holistic horse care and is packed with practical, easy-to-understand information to help you make the best choices for a healthy and happy horse. Updated in 2020 with even more resources, it is a hands-on, flexible learning experience perfect for horse lovers at any level.

A Supportive Global Community

Caring for horses can feel like a solo adventure sometimes, especially if you live in a remote area. This course connects you with a worldwide community of like-minded people who share your passion. You will swap stories, share insights, and learn how horse care challenges are surprisingly universal, no matter where you are.

How the Course Works

The course spans 12 weeks and includes nine in-depth modules with a few pause weeks to allow you to work through the material at your own pace. Each module builds on the last, with practical exercises you can apply to any horse.

A Holistic Mindset

The course starts by helping you view horse health from a new perspective. You will learn to look at the history of a horse, spot patterns, and connect the dots between symptoms and underlying issues. It is a whole-horse approach that considers mental, physical, emotional, and even spiritual health, giving you a deep understanding of how the equine body works and reacts to care.

Practical Horse Care

In modules two and three, we dive into the fundamental aspects of anatomy, physiology, and diet. You will learn how to use food as medicine, tailoring the diet to address imbalances, intolerances, or allergies. By the end, you will know how to customize a feeding plan to meet the unique requirements of your horse. 

Advanced Tools for Health

We also explore therapeutic nutrition, herbs, and homeopathy. You will learn to use vitamins, minerals, and natural remedies to tackle specific health challenges. These modules are all broken down into simple and easy-to-apply, actionable steps.

Tackling Common Problems

In the later modules, we get into the nitty-gritty of hoof health, toxins, and parasites. You will learn how to spot common hoof issues, like thrush or long toes, and how to address them naturally. You will also learn strategies to minimize exposure to toxins and manage parasites in ways that keep your horse feeling their best.

Real-Life Solutions

One of the highlights of this course is the final module, which has natural protocols for over 30 specific health issues. When you reach this point, you will have all the tools you need to create a personalized care program for your horse. You will also know how to track your horse's progress and adjust when necessary.

Flexible and Easy to Follow

The course is structured to fit into your busy life. The materials are released weekly, and there are live classes every Tuesday evening (with recordings if you cannot make it). There is also a private Facebook group where you can get extra support and connect with other participants, and quizzes you can complete along the way, and you will earn a certificate at the end.

Ready to Join?

If you want to learn about holistic horse care and give your horse the gift of better health, this is the course for you! Join the waitlist on our website or email us at support@elishaedwards.com if you have any questions. 

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Save your seat in Elisha's 2-hour live workshop Detox Done Right

This week, we are continuing with the theme of toxicity because it lies at the root of most health issues horses experience.

Looking back at past cases, the pattern is unmistakable. Once you remove those dietary toxins, things start to turn around. The tricky part is knowing what is helpful and what is harmful, so that is what we are focusing on today.

Over-Supplemented

Over-supplementation becomes a major contributor to malabsorption, inflammation, and chronic health problems. Many ingredients, especially synthetic, inflammatory, or poorly absorbed ones, cause toxicity, overwhelm digestion, and suppress the immune system.

Interpreting Ingredient Lists

Horse owners must learn to interpret ingredient lists to distinguish food ingredients from vitamins, minerals, preservatives, flavorings, and fillers. Many supplements contain a few beneficial components surrounded by ingredients that negate their benefits. So it is essential to know which are organic, which are inorganic, and which are highly processed.

Detoxifying Means Removing, Not Adding

Detoxification comes from removing substances rather than adding more. Every ingredient requires a digestive resource, and when the system is congested, even beneficial nutrients turn toxic. Removing non-essential supplements frees the liver, gut, and cells to function normally, improves absorption, and reduces inflammation. A temporary reset with hay, water, and salt will allow the digestive system to heal.

The Fear of Stopping Supplements

Many owners fear that their horses will regress if they remove their supplements, yet many horses decline because they cannot properly absorb the supplements they get. Most commercial ingredients are so processed and inorganic that the body barely recognizes them. Simplifying is not deprivation. It restores capacity. Nutrition from forage and whole foods becomes far more effective with reduced digestive stress.

Why Simplifying Works

Turnarounds can happen when owners strip everything back to only a few essential nutrients plus detoxifying herbs. Even horses on high-quality programs with good ingredients can improve dramatically by reducing their overall load. Fewer ingredients reduce competition for receptors, lowering inflammation and improving the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients and minerals.

Ingredient Competition

Inflammatory ingredients block the absorption of critical minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, and proteins. Even high-quality formulas can fail if too many ingredients compete for absorption. Less is often more because simplified diets reduce receptor blockage, increase bioavailability, and allow the body to use what it gets.

Choosing Supplements

Labels market conditions like ulcers, metabolic syndrome, and digestion, without guaranteeing ingredient suitability. Horses with ulcers, for example, cannot absorb synthetic nutrients well, especially while on proton pump inhibitors. So owners must evaluate what each ingredient actually does rather than trusting marketing claims.

A Three-Step Supplement Audit

1. Count every ingredient your horse consumes daily across all supplements.
2. Categorize each item (food, vitamin, mineral, preservative, flavoring, or colorant)
3. Assess processing level and quality

Auditing provides clarity and helps you decide what to remove, what to keep, and what genuinely benefits the horse.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Much of what we read online about horse health is misleading. So, for those of you following a more natural and holistic path by focusing on the diet, lifestyle, and environment of your horses before turning to drugs or surgery, having the correct understanding is essential. I hope that each episode helps you view conditions like insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and laminitis with clearer eyes and more confidence.

Today, we are exploring insulin, what happens when it stays high for too long, why it becomes toxic in the body, and how this links to metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and the early stages of laminitis.

Insulin Can Become Toxic

When insulin remains elevated for too long, it starts to act like a toxin. It constricts blood vessels, increases inflammation, damages cells, and impairs nutrient delivery, especially to their highly sensitive hooves.

Inflammation and Insulin Feed Each Other

High insulin drives inflammation. Inflammation drives insulin levels even higher, damaging tissues, reducing circulation, and increasing the likelihood of laminitis. Breaking this cycle requires addressing both inflammation and insulin simultaneously.

The Role of Nutrition and Detox

Supporting your horse with proper nutrition and removing toxins is essential. Antioxidants, clean feed, and reducing chemical exposures will help the body repair damaged cells, restore balance, and bring insulin levels back into a healthy range.

Hoof Health Depends on Circulation

Hoof care and internal health must go hand in hand. Restricted blood flow in the hooves worsens laminitis and founder. Proper trimming, padding, booting, and movement are all critical, along with dietary and metabolic support. 

The Whole Body Matters

If symptoms are visible in the feet, the rest of the body will be affected as well. Supporting liver function, reducing stressors, and regenerating cells throughout the body improves overall health and helps prevent further complications.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health? 

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out. 

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you! 

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Last week, we explored the early signs of toxicity in horses. Today, we revisit a previous episode to clarify what toxicity is and how it affects your horse.

Toxicity is one of the leading causes of equine disease. When the toxic load of horses exceeds what they can process, it becomes hard for their tissues to remain healthy, their organs to function as they should, and their body systems to work together to sustain good health.

Today, I scratch the surface of the vast and complex topic of toxicity, giving you a little food for thought. Since this is a massive subject, I will likely revisit it and dive deeper into some of the points we cover today in future episodes.

Understanding Toxicity in Horses

Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm cells, tissues, organs, or entire systems. For horses, toxicity often accumulates gradually, influencing their health over time. Genetic makeup, nutrition, and environmental exposure are all factors that determine how well a horse can handle toxins. Well-nourished horses with good constitutions and minimal exposure to harmful substances are generally more resilient. Yet they can also struggle as they age, particularly between 14 and 16 years, when signs of imbalance often emerge.

Early Signs of Toxicity

The initial effects of toxicity can be subtle and easy to overlook. A horse may develop a dull coat, cracked hooves, or irregular shedding patterns. Some subtler changes, such as stiffness, swelling, joint discomfort, a weakened immune system, or slow recovery from illness, could also indicate that the body struggles to handle its toxic load.

Key Sources of Toxicity

1. Environmental chemicals in feed, hay, and water
2. Fertilizers, preservatives, and additives
3. Pathogens, like bacteria, viruses, and parasites

Dietary imbalances

Dietary imbalances are another major factor contributing to poor equine health. Excess sugar or protein can stress the body and lead to inflammation, metabolic issues, and poor gut health, and a diet heavy in oils can disrupt the gut microbiome.

Acidity

Acidity in the body often results from an imbalanced diet, leading to conditions like leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and joint issues. Hormonal imbalances, such as prolonged high cortisol or insulin levels, also cause significant damage over time, contributing to tissue breakdown, laminitis, and immune dysfunction.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are crucial for combating free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells and DNA. Free radicals naturally occur during metabolic processes, but increase with high toxic loads. Without sufficient antioxidants to neutralize them, free radicals can accelerate aging, weaken the immune system, and cause long-term damage.

The Cumulative Effect of Toxicity

Even though toxins seldom cause immediate harm, they accumulate over time. A horse that has consumed feed with additives, dealt with multiple infections, or been on long-term medications may eventually show signs of toxicity. The cumulative effect often leads to nutritional deficiencies, compromised immunity, and declining health.

Strategies for Reducing Toxicity

1. Eliminate unnecessary supplements and observe how the horse responds to a more natural diet.
2. Prioritize high-quality feeds and hay with minimal additives, and avoid excessive sugar, protein, or oils, as they can disrupt metabolic health and the gut microbiome in horses.
3. Address pathogens and infections promptly.
4. Support detoxification with bioavailable nutrients to restore reserves and help the body manage its toxic load effectively.

Final Thoughts

Toxicity develops slowly. Understanding the sources and taking steps to minimize exposure allows you to assist your horse in maintaining vitality and resilience throughout its life. Proactive care and reducing toxic burdens will ensure their long-term health and well-being.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

We’re talking about toxicity today.

I’ve been seeing several cases lately where toxicity plays a role, so I thought it was time to revisit the topic. In episode 53, I covered the definition of toxicity and what it means for your horse, so you can go back and listen to it after this episode for more details.

Stay tuned as I share the signs to look out for.

Understanding Toxicity in Horses

Toxicity in horses often develops slowly and subtly through accumulated exposure to feed contaminants, environmental chemicals, medications, or poor-quality diets. Unlike sudden poisoning, this buildup can take years to show outwardly. Younger horses may appear healthy despite ongoing exposure, but as they age, resilience drops and health issues surface, usually from around age 12 onward.

Early Warning Signs

Subtle behavioral and physical changes often signal toxicity. These can include fatigue, dull eyes, reduced social engagement, depression, or anxiety. Appetite changes are also key clues- horses that suddenly become picky or disinterested in food may be reacting to gut irritation or inflammation. Paying attention to these small shifts helps catch toxicity before it escalates.

Behavior and the Nervous System

Toxicity can impact the nervous system, leading to high anxiety and nervousness. While horsemanship helps build horses’ confidence, chronic anxiety can point to underlying health issues or an internal imbalance. Ulcers and overactive immunity often accompany this state, as pain and inflammation trigger more stress in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Inflammation

Inflammation is one of the most common consequences of toxicity. It often presents as laminitis or joint stiffness, even when blood work looks normal. Laminitis is particularly revealing as hoof tissues react early to systemic inflammation. Many arthritic horses may actually be struggling with toxic buildup rather than structural degeneration, and they often improve after detoxification.

The Liver

The liver detoxifies all chemicals entering the body, but chronic overload eventually leads to fatigue and dysfunction. As detoxification slows, toxins accumulate, affecting hormone balance, immune strength, and overall vitality. So, even when liver enzymes appear normal, the liver may still be under strain.

The Gut–Toxicity Connection

Gut health is often the first to suffer. Long-term exposure to irritants, sugars, or intolerant feeds leads to inflammation, leaky gut, and cecal acidosis. A damaged intestinal lining allows toxins to circulate through the body, causing hives, laminitis, or chronic infections. Gut inflammation also prevents nutrient absorption.

Nutrient Deficiency

Toxicity compounds over time. Horses with chronic gut irritation or sugar-heavy diets often experience nutrient depletion because their inflamed intestines cannot absorb key minerals and vitamins.

Common Physical Signs

Visible indicators include dull or coarse coats, cracking or separating hooves, weepy eyes (often linked to liver dysfunction), nasal discharge, and reduced energy. These may seem mild or age-related, but they could reflect systemic imbalance from long-term toxicity.

Reversing the Effects

Improvement begins with removing toxins from feed, water, and the environment. Cleaning up the diet allows the liver, kidneys, and gut to recover. Even older horses can regain their vitality after reducing their toxicity and with good nutrition.

Long-Term Prevention

Reducing toxicity is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease. By being mindful of feed quality, ingredient lists, and exposure sources, owners can dramatically improve their horses’ health spans and overall resilience.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Today I’m sharing winter nutrition tips for horses.

As temperatures drop and the seasons shift, you will need to adjust your feeding to support your horse’s health through the colder months. I’m in Calgary, Alberta, where we experience extreme temperature swings. Wherever you live, the degree of cold you experience will influence how you should feed your horses for optimal health, and one of the most important factors to consider is your horse’s weight regulation.

Managing Weight in Winter

Winter poses challenges for both easy and hard keepers. Easy keepers often enter the season carrying extra weight, while hard keepers struggle to maintain condition due to increased energy demands for warmth. Managing both types requires paying attention to diet, sugar levels, and feeding strategies.

Easy Keepers: Use Winter as an Opportunity

Winter can help easy keepers lean out naturally. When grass is dormant or covered by snow, sugar intake gets reduced. That is ideal for managing insulin resistance, PPID, and equine metabolic syndrome.

Encouraging natural movement and moderate feeding

Encourage natural movement and moderate feeding by spacing hay stations far apart. Avoid free-choice hay for overweight or sugar-sensitive horses. Instead, feed in controlled portions, ideally using slow-feeding nets, ensuring they don’t stand for too long without food.

Leaner winter conditioning helps restore insulin sensitivity, supports metabolism, and prepares horses for spring.

Hard Keepers: Prioritize Calories and Warmth

For hard keepers, maintaining weight in cold weather is essential. Offer them free-choice hay or extra feeding sessions separate from easy keepers. Provide larger mashes (such as beet pulp or alfalfa cubes) to boost calorie intake and hydration. You can use extruded feeds temporarily for better absorption and calorie density. Even if the ingredient list is not perfect, the priority is to prevent weight loss and support their muscle mass through the winter.

Once spring arrives, you can detoxify them and move them back to cleaner feeds when forage becomes available.

Supplements to Prevent Deficiencies

When a horses shift from grass to hay, the levels of fat-soluble nutrients (especially essential fatty acids) drop sharply. Supplementation is the key to preventing deficiencies that affect skin, coat, and metabolism. Crushed flax, hemp hearts, or chia seeds are excellent plant-based sources of omega-3 and other nutrients. Oils, such as flax, camelina, or hemp, can be used short-term, but only in small amounts. They must be stored properly, however, and selected for stability.

Selenium and Vitamin E Support

Horses on hay-only diets are usually deficient in selenium and vitamin E, which are vital for immune function, circulation, metabolism, and hoof health. The two nutrients work synergistically, as selenium enhances vitamin E’s antioxidant action. Since hay rarely provides enough nutrition, consistent supplementation is essential. It is always best to use high-quality supplements that are free of unnecessary additives or preservatives.

Carrots and Beta-Carotene

Carrots provide beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and easy keepers can eat them in moderation. The fiber and phytonutrients in carrots prevent blood sugar spikes, making them a beneficial winter addition.

Winter Nutrition Takeaway

Winter is the perfect time to fine-tune your horse’s nutrition. Allow easy keepers to lose weight gradually on their own while ensuring hard keepers receive enough calories to stay warm and maintain their condition. Focus on good quality hay, balanced supplementation, and moderate feeding to support movement and metabolic health. By managing your horse’s sugar intake, providing essential nutrients, and keeping inflammation low, you can set your horse up for a healthier and more resilient spring.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

This week, we’re tackling a question horse owners often ask, which is why their horses eat dirt.

Some horses only lick or nibble dirt occasionally, while others take it to extremes, even digging holes in their paddocks. The term for this behavior is geophagia, or pica, which in humans means eating things with little or no nutritional value. In horses, that behavior always points to an underlying cause that owners must explore.

Why Horses Eat Dirt

Horses that eat dirt are not just engaging in random behavior. They are seeking to soothe discomfort or fulfill a nutritional or emotional need. The causes often relate to mineral deficiencies, digestive issues, or stress and boredom. Identifying the reason involves careful observation and systematic elimination of possibilities.

Nutritional Deficiencies

When domestic horses eat dirt, it often signals unmet mineral needs, particularly sodium or selenium. Even horses on synthetic multi-mineral mixes may not be absorbing nutrients effectively, especially if their digestion is compromised or the mineral forms lack bioavailability.

Improving Mineral Intake

Offer free-choice salt, ensuring it’s free from unnecessary additives. Experiment with different salts for 10 days, adding 1–2 teaspoons to a mash if needed. Selenium deficiency is common. You can use organic selenium (selenomethionine) to correct it, even pairing mineral supplements with plant-based sources for better absorption. Products like Riva’s Remedies Happy Horse or Happy Horse Senior provide natural, bioavailable minerals and added herbs for cognitive support in older horses.

Digestive Health

When horses are getting adequate nutrition, eating dirt may stem from digestive discomfort or ulcer-related pain. Horses may also be searching for probiotics from soil or manure. Support their digestion with a high-quality probiotic, and notice whether the behavior occurs before or after meals, during stress, or when the stomach is empty.

Lifestyle and Environment

Horses in dry lots or dirt pens often experience boredom, stress, and periods of fasting between meals. Empty stomachs continually produce acid, which can irritate the stomach lining and lead to ulcers. Providing slow-feeder hay nets, extra hay feedings, turnout time, and social interaction can reduce stress-related behaviors. Ensure your horse has companionship and mental stimulation, as isolation and lack of forage contribute to habits like dirt eating.

Eating Manure

Dirt eating can also signal a lack of fiber or probiotics. Horses on lush pasture may need added fiber sources like beet pulp or timothy cubes to support hindgut health. You can give horses a human probiotic with 50 billion CFUs daily to help restore their microbial balance and reduce manure eating.

Balancing Behavior and Biology

Occasional dirt licking is normal. That behavior typically disappears once the nutritional and emotional needs of the horse are satisfied. Owners only need to be concerned when dirt eating becomes excessive or destructive.. Each horse is different, so resolving the issue requires observation, experimentation, and patience.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

With winter just around the corner, I decided to offer some tips today, for preparing mash in the colder months.

Stay tuned for practical tips to make soaking and preparing mash far easier- not only in winter, but throughout the year.

Keep Mash Prep Simple

Keep mash prep simple by using single, whole ingredients rather than mixed commercial feeds full of synthetics and fillers. This approach supports recovery and makes year-round feeding easier.

Soaking Cubes and Beet Pulp

Always soak cubes or alfalfa to prevent choking and improve digestibility. Use warm water to soften them, and soak overnight when possible. It is also essential to expand the beet pulp and pellets by allowing them to soak overnight.

Preventing Mold and Spoilage

Beet pulp molds easily in warm barns, so never leave it for more than a day. Store soaked mash in a cool, dry spot to keep it fresh.

Adding Dry Ingredients at Feeding Time

Keep dry ingredients separate until feeding. Mix the soaked portion first, then add dry ingredients right before serving to maintain freshness and nutrient quality.

Preparing in Advance

For convenience, prepare ziplock bags with a month’s worth of pre-measured dry mixes. Label each bag and then add it to the soaked mash when ready to feed.

Handling Oils and Apple Cider Vinegar

Add oil and apple cider vinegar at feeding time, and not in advance. Oils can go rancid if left open or exposed to heat, and vinegar is most effective when added just before feeding. It supports digestion and metabolic function and can even be offered in water if horses like the taste.

When Soaking Isn’t Practical

If soaking is impractical, use dry ingredients like alfalfa pellets or bran and moisten them slightly before feeding to make the meal more palatable.

Simplifying for Helpers or Travel

If you need to go away and have someone else feeding your horse, you can simplify things by providing pre-packed dry mixes. Short breaks or simplified routines will not undo your horse’s progress, and you can resume full feeding once you return.

Consistency Over Perfection

If you can only prepare mash three times a week, it is still worthwhile. Consistency matters more than perfection, and horses benefit even from partial improvement.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Today, we are exploring how our mindset can influence the decisions we make about challenges to our horses’ health.

Whether you are dealing with a common issue or a new diagnosis that feels overwhelming, it is essential to stay grounded in practical knowledge and clear reasoning rather than emotion because disease labels can sometimes influence our perspective and choices in ways that do not serve the best interests of the horse.

What Disease Labels Really Mean

Disease labels are clinical tools that help classify health problems in horses, based on their blood tests, symptoms, and behavior. They can provide a framework for understanding what is happening in the body and guide the appropriate care. Some diagnoses, such as insulin resistance, are straightforward, while others may not be quite as clear. The key is to know whether a diagnosis will guide your next step or limit your perspective.

When Diagnosis is Useful

When progress has stalled or the symptoms fail to add up, a well-defined diagnosis will clarify what you are dealing with. Knowing the specific problem will allow you to tailor your support holistically, through diet, nutrition, stress management, and other natural approaches.

The Power of Belief and Fear

Disease labels can shape an owner's mindset, often leading to fear-based decisions. When a horse receives a diagnosis, the label can carry emotional weight, narrowing all that the owner may believe is possible. That fear may prevent a deeper exploration of other options, which could influence the horse’s energy and its recovery.

The Laminitis Example

Beliefs about laminitis have evolved drastically. Years ago, pads and shoes were considered the only option for comfort. Today, however, many horses recover with patience, proper hoof care, and the right nutrition. Unfortunately, outdated beliefs still cause many owners to give up on their horses prematurely, leading to unnecessary suffering or euthanasia.

The Cushing’s (PPID) Example

PPID is another condition that evokes fear. While some horses may require lifelong medication, others can improve naturally through holistic management. High ACTH results do not always mean a permanently broken pituitary. Each case is unique, so it is essential to avoid assuming the worst before exploring all options.

How Beliefs Shape Outcomes

What an owner believes about their horse’s condition will directly influence its healing. Negative expectations can impair recovery, while confidence and calm leadership encourage it. Horses mirror the emotions of their owners, so if you believe your horse can heal, you create the space for that healing to happen.

Emotional Leadership

Your emotional state guides your horse. If you stay grounded, hopeful, and consistent, your horse will feel safer and more able to recover. That mindset will also protect you from burnout by replacing your anxiety and grief with trust.

Managing Financial Fear

Avoid letting your financial fears drive your decisions before fully understanding what is truly needed. Financial pressure often amplifies the stress of a diagnosis, so owners may assume they will be liable for massive costs before exploring all options. Yet many horses recover with far less expense and intervention than expected.

Old Beliefs

Many beliefs about equine health stem from decades-old assumptions or limited studies. Always question the source of your information. Was it from a solid, well-designed study, or just anecdotal experience? Our modern understanding continues to evolve, and open-mindedness can make all the difference between despair and recovery.

Health and Recovery Gray Areas

Equine health often lies in the gray areas, and recovery could involve setbacks, surprises, and even miracles. Keeping an open mind, researching, and maintaining a balanced mindset can transform the outcome for your horse, while also allowing you peace of mind.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

As we move from summer to fall, and temperatures at night start to cool, subtle changes begin to occur in our horses.

Shorter days trigger powerful hormonal shifts, often before we even notice. Those shifts play an essential role in the health of our horses- especially those with metabolic conditions.

Hormone Shifts and Metabolism

Seasonal hormone shifts influence how horses process sugar, maintain muscle, and manage inflammation. In fall, ACTH levels naturally rise, increasing cortisol to drive fat storage and coat growth in preparation for winter. When those hormones remain elevated for too long, however, problems like delayed shedding, thick coats, sweating, muscle loss, inflammation, and a higher risk of laminitis may emerge.

Fall as a High-Risk Season

Far more horses tend to experience metabolic flare-ups in the fall as it brings a dangerous mix of hormonal shifts, fat storage, and higher pasture sugar levels, all of which raise the risk for equine metabolic syndrome and PPID. As horses naturally conserve energy and build fat reserves before winter, insulin resistance also tends to worsen.

Testing and Diagnosis

A single test showing high ACTH in fall is not enough to diagnose PPID. As ACTH naturally rises seasonally, it is essential to use multiple test results, and get a complete health profile before deciding on lifelong medication.

Insulin, Inflammation, and Weight

Insulin is fundamentally a fat-storage hormone. If it is high, horses cannot lose weight. Chronic inflammation from laminitis or hoof pathologies drives insulin even higher, and elevated cortisol keeps blood sugar high, locking horses into a state of fat storage. That combination often causes gain weight and soreness in the fall.

Diet and Forage Management

Careful forage management is the foundation of supporting metabolic horses. Prioritize low-sugar hay and limit access to rich pasture, especially during high-risk seasons, like fall. Slow feeders, soaking hay, and controlled turnout can all help regulate sugar intake. Consistency in diet not only stabilizes insulin and energy levels but also reduces the risk of flare-ups.

Lifestyle and Stress

Stress management is as important as diet. Horses need freedom to move, regular forage, and companionship to regulate their cortisol levels and maintain metabolic balance. Stalled or isolated horses, or horses with long gaps between feedings suffer higher stress levels, which compounds hormone problems, and no supplement can overcome the damage caused by chronic stress and inappropriate living conditions.

Long-Term Management

Consistency is essential. Progress may seem slow at times, but steady attention to low-sugar forage, regular exercise, and stress reduction leads to lasting improvements. Expect seasonal setbacks, but they will be temporary. Over time, consistent care helps horses rebuild their health and resilience.

Hormonal Considerations in Mares

Mares can be susceptible to seasonal hormonal shifts. Changes in daylight and hormone levels often affect their cycles, behavior, and comfort. For mares with metabolic issues, those fluctuations may add another layer of stress, making careful monitoring and consistent management even more essential.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

This week, we are diving into skin problems with horses.

Skin problems are hard to ignore. They are right in your face, so they grab your attention instantly.

Types of Skin Problems in Horses

Skin issues range from dry, flaky skin to severe allergic reactions. Horses may suffer from hives, sweet itch, infections like rain rot or mud fever, and chronic itchy skin. These conditions may appear as sudden, alarming outbreaks or develop into persistent, long-term struggles.

Why Skin Problems Demand Attention

Unlike hidden health issues, skin problems are visible and alarming, often pushing owners to act quickly. Acute flare-ups can appear to be emergencies, and chronic flare-ups may frustrate owners when topical treatments and medications only provide temporary relief.

Beyond the Surface

The skin is an organ and part of the immune system. When reactions occur externally, it is a sign of deeper imbalances, such as inflammation, immune dysfunction, or a toxin overload that can also affect internal systems.

Digestive Problems

Digestive problems often correlate with skin flare-ups. Ulcers, leaky gut, and poor liver function can raise histamine levels, leading to hives, itching, and chronic skin irritation. When the liver and gut cannot properly eliminate toxins, issues frequently surface in the skin.

The Role of Histamines

Histamine release is a natural immune response that can cause symptoms like swelling, itching, and hives. Horses with gut issues often produce excess histamine, making them more prone to skin outbreaks. Treating your horse only with antihistamines can suppress symptoms, but that does not solve the root cause.

Diet and Allergens

Some feeds can trigger skin reactions. Allergies or intolerances (such as to alfalfa) may take years to appear as acute symptoms. Long-term toxic buildup from feed, medication, or supplements can overload detox pathways and weaken skin health.

Liver Health

The liver plays a central role in detoxification. Over time, medications, poor nutrition, or stress can overwhelm the liver, leading to chronic skin problems. Supporting liver health is the key to sustainable recovery.

Triggers

Hormone imbalances and stress can affect skin health. Stress-related cortisol and adrenaline spikes increase histamine production, sometimes also triggering ulcers and hives. Managing stress is critical for restoring balance.

Long-Term Solutions

Quick fixes rarely last. Holistic management focuses on supporting digestion, detox pathways, nutrient balance, and emotional well-being. Owners may need to experiment and make gradual adjustments to find lasting solutions.

Key Takeaways

Skin health reflects whole-body health. A methodical approach that addresses gut health, liver function, diet, hormones, and stress will lead to lasting improvements, whereas symptom-only treatments will keep horses stuck in recurring cycles.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in the metabolic health and overall vitality of horses, yet it is often overlooked or treated only when serious problems arise.

Understanding the role of the thyroid gland and the factors that support or hinder it is the key to long-term equine wellness. Remember that supporting your horse’s health holistically always begins with their diet, lifestyle, and stress reduction.

Recognizing Thyroid Imbalance

Changes in the coat are often the first visible sign of thyroid imbalance. Horses may develop coarse or dry hair, experience hair loss, shed slowly, or grow curly hair. Those changes are all tied to the thyroid and could overlap with pituitary dysfunction.

Metabolism and Temperature Regulation

Thyroid health strongly influences weight and temperature regulation. Horses may gain weight despite appropriate feed and exercise, or show cold intolerance by shivering when others remain comfortable. Those signs reflect compromised heat production and metabolic function.

Hormones and Reproductive Health

Hormones are interconnected, so a thyroid imbalance could also affect the cycling and overall reproductive health of mares. Disruption in one hormone system influences others, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach.

Behavior and Energy Levels

Thyroid imbalance could manifest as depression, fatigue, or anxiety. Horses may withdraw from herd interaction, appear less playful, or become unexpectedly reactive despite consistent training. Physiological health can drive behavioral changes that horse owners should never overlook.

Muscle Health and Mineral Balance

Muscle weakness is another possible sign of thyroid imbalance. Selenium deficiency can also present similarly, highlighting the importance of evaluating mineral balance in addition to glandular health. Minerals often influence multiple systems simultaneously.

Closing Thoughts

Thyroid function is complex because it interacts with the pituitary gland, reproductive hormones, metabolism, and mineral balance. Paying attention to any changes occurring in the hair, coat, weight, temperature tolerance, behavior, and muscle strength can provide practical clues to possible metabolic imbalance. When those signs are present, it is essential to seek the right help to explore whether thyroid health may be a contributing factor.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right:

How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

In Episode 13 last year, I covered some of what I discussed in my free webinar series, Become Your Horse’s Healer.

We have a replay of that episode today, so tune in to learn how to reset your expectations for your horse’s health.

Understanding Healing Patterns

Horses usually respond to healing programs in four different ways. Some horses respond positively to a new program and show rapid improvement. Others experience a temporary worsening of their conditions as their bodies start the healing process, often marked by fatigue or increased inflammation. Some horses show initial improvement followed by a later setback, while others progress gradually.

Emotional and Physical Health Interplay

Healing is a complex journey that involves physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. In addition to addressing their physical symptoms, owners must understand the emotional aspects that might impact their horse's well-being. Challenges may arise when a horse’s physical and emotional health are misaligned. Recognizing all the interconnected elements is essential for comprehensive care and successful healing.

Setting Realistic Expectations and Goals

It is essential to set realistic expectations at the start of a health journey. Each horse has a unique healing trajectory, and patience is paramount. Making rushed decisions due to having unrealistic expectations could lead to setbacks. Owners need to acknowledge their horse's individuality, taking their age, constitution, and any chronic conditions they may have into account. Horses with a more robust constitution and those at risk due to breed characteristics may respond differently. Understanding these factors allows owners to tailor their expectations and approaches accordingly. Setting achievable goals and celebrating small victories allow owners to navigate the healing process with more of a positive mindset.

Addressing Obstacles to Recovery

In some instances, despite your well-intentioned efforts, obstacles may still hinder your horse’s progress. So it is crucial to identify physical and emotional sources of toxicity or address the lifestyle factors that impede the healing process. Gradual changes, observation, and responsiveness to the horse's cues help create a more effective healing environment.

Chronic Nature of Diseases and Pathology

Chronic diseases in horses are particularly challenging. Conditions such as side bone, ring bone, and bone remodeling in the feet or joints that show tissue changes complicate issues. Horse owners must learn to distinguish inflammation from degeneration because once tissues (especially bone) start changing, it complicates recovery. Setting realistic expectations is crucial for determining whether or not full recovery is possible.

Genetic Predispositions and Melanomas

Genetic predispositions, like melanomas or related conditions, impact a horse's health. (White and grey horses often have melanomas due to genetic factors.) Improvement is possible in those cases, especially when owners can recognize the genes that influence the disease expression. Managing a horse’s diet, nutrition, and lifestyle is crucial for modulating genetic expression and switching off detrimental genes to mitigate their effects.

Constitution and Environmental Factors

The constitution of a horse is influenced by factors starting in the womb. In some horses, constitutional weaknesses show up as susceptibility to allergies or illnesses. With proper care, strengthening a horse's constitution is possible. With certain breeds, especially easy-keepers that are predisposed to conditions like insulin resistance, owners may need to tailor their expectations to incorporate genetic and environmental factors.

Managing Expectations for Aging Horses

Owners of senior horses must manage their expectations. They need to understand that complete recovery may not always be possible and shift their focus instead to preventing further damage and supporting connective tissue for prolonged mobility. Adjusting expectations for older horses with long-term conditions (such as PPIID) involves looking for visible improvements, such as higher energy levels and reduced inflammation, rather than expecting rapid recovery.

Obstacles to Recovery

It is essential to recognize any obstacles to recovery, like sources of toxicity or stressful lifestyle factors. Parasite infections, viruses, bacteria, and medications can all hinder progress. Emotional factors can also impact a horse's well-being. Identifying and addressing those obstacles requires a comprehensive approach. The absence of any change might suggest the need to reevaluate the strategy to pinpoint any elements omitted in the care plan.

Emotional Connection Between Horses and Owners

The emotional connection between horses and their owners is significant because it influences how the horse responds to stressors. Some horses may even prioritize the well-being of their owner over their health.

Making Gradual Changes

Owners must make gradual changes to avoid becoming overwhelmed or overwhelming their horse. By changing one aspect at a time, owners can be more focused while assessing the horse's response, reducing guesswork and potential self-sabotage in their care plan.

Conclusion

Navigating a horse's health journey involves embracing the unpredictable nature of healing patterns and considering various factors influencing the recovery. By understanding those dynamics, owners can set realistic expectations, foster a positive healing environment, and celebrate the gradual progress that ultimately leads to improved well-being.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right:

How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

This week, we are revisiting the topics of insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS).

Those issues have been on my mind recently due to the many questions I have received, and because I am currently working on a project with an insulin-resistant mare that is struggling to make any progress at the facility I manage.

Join me as I share my insights on how these recoveries typically unfold.

Act Early and Monitor Progress

Recognize any changes in your horse before they become serious problems. Prevention is always the key, as long-term, unmanaged insulin resistance can lead to laminitis and permanent damage.

The Danger of Repeated Relapses

Each time a horse swings between recovery and relapse, it becomes harder to reverse insulin resistance. Aim for consistent recovery, with no symptoms and healthy blood work. After that, you will need to maintain those results through controlled management.

Safe Grass Reintroduction

Horses benefit from a natural herd life and grazing, but returning to pasture should be gradual. Monitor the horse closely for swelling, fat pads, or any early sign of regression, and adjust its turnout times accordingly.

Key Physical Signs

Fat pads behind the shoulders or on the tail dock, and a crested neck, are usually indicators of insulin resistance, even before blood work confirms it. Unexpected weight gain or puffiness can also signal trouble.

Behavioral Clues

Food aggression and irritability can result from poor satiety-hormone regulation and blood sugar swings. That is often mistaken for personality, but improving the metabolic balance usually reduces that behavior.

Thirst and Urination Changes

Increased thirst and urination may indicate that the horse's body is working hard to flush out excess sugar. That often tends to occur in spring or when grass intake increases.

Edema and Fluid Retention

Swelling in the sheath, udder, legs, or above the eyes often links to high sugar intake and reduced movement. Increasing the horse's daily activity can quickly improve that.

Laminitis Risks

High insulin can damage hoof tissues, and reduced movement worsens the problem. Support hoof comfort, but keep the horse moving to break the inflammation–insulin cycle.

General Inflammation and Soreness

Insulin resistance can cause full-body soreness, joint stiffness, and mobility issues, which can sometimes be mistaken for aging. Addressing diet and movement can often reverse those symptoms, even in older horses.

Consistent Management

Recovery is not always linear. Track the symptoms over 30, 60, and 90 days, and adapt your management, if necessary, for any setbacks caused by weather, limited movement, or dietary slips.

Final Thoughts

Insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome require early recognition, consistent management, and ongoing monitoring. Watching for key physical and behavioral signs, addressing issues before there are any changes in the blood work, and maintaining a steady diet and movement routine will allow you to break the cycle of relapse and protect the long-term health of your horse.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right:

How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

Today, we are focusing on how much a horse should eat.

Horses should not eat continuously, but determining the right amount of food and finding the right balance between enough and too much can be complicated, particularly for horses with insulin resistance or metabolic issues.

Metabolic and Insulin-Resistant Horses

Feeding horses with metabolic issues and insulin-resistance the correct amount can often be the missing piece once their exercise and nutrition are optimized. Some horses can self-regulate easily, while others need careful management to avoid overeating.

Feeding the Right Amount of Hay

A widely accepted guideline is to feed horses between 1.5% and 3% of their body weight in hay per day. That is not a hard and fast rule, however, as hard keepers and some thoroughbreds may require more, while easy keepers and metabolic horses may need less. The key is to adjust the quantity according to the individual needs of each horse.

Finding the Right Balance

Horses can usually cope with three to four hours without food, but extended gaps should be avoided, especially within a 12-hour window. Feeding them too much can increase weight gain and metabolic issues, while over restricting can slow their metabolic rate, raise their stress levels, compromise their immunity, delay healing, and increase the risk of ulcers.

Factors That Matter

The needs of horses vary according to their breed, body condition, health status, and even past experiences with food scarcity or starvation. Herd dynamics can also influence intake, as dominant horses often consume more than their share, leaving others with less. Noticing which horse controls access to the hay and how it interacts with its herd mates can reveal any hidden imbalances in feeding.

Managing Intake

Slowing their eating tends to be more effective than feeding horses less. Using small-hole slow-feed nets, providing smaller portions often, and placing hay in different locations can help owners control their food intake. Owners should also encourage their horses to move by using track systems, ponying them, or taking short walks, as that supports their metabolism, increases satiety, and reduces the urge to graze constantly. The increased muscle mass will also increase the metabolic rate of a horse, helping to manage its weight more effectively.

Special Considerations

Horses with insulin resistance or other metabolic issues tend to become hungry more often, as blood sugar fluctuations affect their satiety hormones. Owners should provide those horses with a low-glycemic forage and high-quality nutrition. They should also ensure they exercise regularly, using track systems, ponying them, or taking short walks to support their metabolism, increase satiety, and reduce the urge to graze constantly. As their nutrition improves, those horses may even naturally reduce their eating to play and interact with other horses.

Practical Feeding Adjustments

When horses have free access to food, it can be challenging to know exactly how much they eat, so observing their behavior is often the best way to gauge their intake. It is also essential to consider pasture consumption, especially when the grass is abundant, to prevent calorie overload. Proper storage and presentation of hay will reduce waste, which sometimes means holding off on topping up until the horse has finished eating.

Planning Strategically

Horses train their humans to feed them on cue, so when owners become strategic about their feeding times, it helps to maintain a healthy balance between satisfaction and overfeeding.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right:

How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

This week, we are focusing on dosing.

In this episode, I explain the concept of the minimum effective dose, which is the smallest dosage required for the body to respond to or benefit from. The same principle applies to horses when adjusting their nutrition or adding supplements. The aim is to provide just enough to see a positive response, without going so far that it causes unwanted or harmful effects.

Dosing Principles

In pharmacology, the ideal dosing range lies between the minimum effective dose and the maximum tolerated dose. That principle also applies to nutritional supplementation in horses, where exceeding the minimum effective dose could lead to side effects or adverse reactions. The goal is always to use the smallest amount that elicits a benefit, minimizing waste and risk.

Why Less Is More

Once a supplement starts to work, increasing it will not necessarily improve the results. It will likely reduce the effectiveness and strain the body. So, always start with just enough to be effective.

Individual Tolerance and Sensitivity

Every horse responds differently to supplements. Factors like breed, health history, and immune strength all play a role. One horse may tolerate pasture or a supplement easily, while another may react badly to the same thing. Sensitivity varies widely, so dosing should be based on the individual horse rather than generalized standards.

Understanding the Modern Horse

Today, horses are often nutrient-deficient due to poor food quality, high toxicity levels, and chronic stress. Those factors increase sensitivity and reduce nutrient absorption, leading to horses with leaky gut, immune disorders, or genetic diseases that require a more individualized approach to their supplementation.

Start Low

Many people tend to overdo supplementation, thinking more is better. That mindset could be harmful for sensitive animals like horses. When starting with a low dosage, you allow room to adjust upward if necessary and can avoid overloading the body. High doses can cause intolerance and side effects that could be mistaken for a problem with the supplement itself.

Special Considerations

The form and bioavailability of nutrients are the keys to determining whether or not a horse can absorb and benefit from them. For horses with inflammation, metabolic issues, or digestive stress, gentle and minimal intervention is always better. By avoiding multivitamins and using single, targeted nutrients instead, horse owners can support more precise and effective recovery.

Form Matters

Nutrient forms differ in their bioavailability. For example, magnesium oxide is less bioavailable than magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate. When absorption is poor, you may need higher doses to see results, which can push the dose closer to the maximum tolerated limit without any real benefit. Choosing well-absorbed, high-quality forms helps ensure the horse benefits without adding stress to the body.

Watch for Absorption Issues

Stress and chronic health conditions can impair nutrient absorption. Even the best supplement will not help if the horse cannot digest or utilize it. Bloodwork is helpful, but if levels do not improve with supplementation, the issue may be poor absorption rather than insufficient dosing.

Over-Supplementing and Nutrient Competition

Supplements with too many ingredients can cause nutrients to compete for absorption, reducing their effectiveness. For example, copper and zinc interfere with each other when given together. Complex formulas can overwhelm the body, adding to its load. In many cases, simplifying the diet is more effective than increasing supplementation.

Reset and Rebuild

In cases of toxicity or poor liver function, the best course may be to remove all supplements, leaving the horse on only hay and water. That helps the body reset, reduces inflammation, and reveals whether or not a supplement is causing harm. Recovery should always begin with the basics. Only add nutrients and supplements once the horse can handle them.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right:

How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Healing Horses with Elisha: Links and resources

Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way 2026

Pay-in-full or 3-month payment plan

And for extra flexibility we also have a 6-month payment plan​

Either way, you’re stepping into an experience that your horse will be grateful for.

We are exploring glucosamine today.

About a decade ago, glucosamine was marketed and sold as a joint supplement for horses. It is still available for joint support in dogs and humans, but seldom as a supplement for horses. 

In this episode, I discuss my experience with glucosamine, sharing its origin and clarifying some of the holistic principles it breaks.

Nutrients vs. Nutraceuticals

Nutrients are the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that are essential for life and must come from food. Glucosamine is a nutraceutical, a non-essential compound found naturally in cartilage that can help manage joint inflammation. It is not a dietary requirement, and it does not address deficiencies.

Doubt Around Glucosamine

Glucosamine was once widely used in equine joint supplements, often combined with MSM or chondroitin. However, many horse owners and practitioners saw no real benefits. Its popularity was due to marketing and general concerns about joint health and mobility in horses.

Inflammation 

Supplements alone cannot cure joint inflammation. Often, underlying factors (stress, poor diet, and excessive sugar) play a role. If those issues go unaddressed, even the best supplements will be inneffective.

Insulin-Resistant Horses

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that contains a glucose molecule, which raises red flags for insulin-resistant horses or those with a sluggish, congested liver. Those horses are already prone to inflammation and joint pain, and adding glucosamine may further burden their liver’s ability to metabolize.

Long-Term Supplementation

Long-term use of glucosamine without addressing nutrient deficiencies may do more harm than good. The liver metabolizes everything that enters the body, so long-term supplementation could overburden it, especially if the supplement is unnecessary or of low quality.

Source Matters

Most glucosamine gets sourced from shellfish, which violates holistic principles for horses, as they are strict herbivores. Using animal-based ingredients for horses is not considered species-appropriate and should always be avoided unless the supplement is truly effective.

Glucosamine Forms and Sulfur Sensitivity

Glucosamine comes in different forms- either glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine HCl. As the sulfate version can cause sensitivities, like hives or respiratory issues, glucosamine HCl may be a safer option for horses with sulfur sensitivity.

Evaluating Supplement Effectiveness

To assess whether a supplement is truly helping, always consider whether mobility is improving and inflammation is decreasing. If you cannot see or measure any benefit, reconsider its use. Addressing nutrient deficiencies will likely lead to more effective and lasting results.

Study Limitations 

Scientific studies on glucosamine are inconclusive and often based on other species (like rats, mice, or humans), so they may not reflect the realities of insulin-resistant or metabolically compromised horses. Ultimately, the individual history and response of the horse should guide your decisions.

Final Considerations

Although glucosamine is not inherently harmful, its long-term use should be questioned, especially for horses with insulin resistance. Glucosamine is not an essential nutrient, and it may place unnecessary strain on the body. 

Always prioritize foundational nutrition before turning to nutraceuticals.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Today, we cover three foods to avoid for better horse health. This topic ties into our last discussion, where we explored toxicity in horses and how accumulated toxins can build up over time and lead to serious health issues.

Sources of Toxicity in Horses

Horses get exposed to various sources of toxicity, mainly through chemicals and preservatives in their food and water, medications, vaccinations, and deworming agents. Over time, the toxins build up and can overwhelm the immune system, leading to chronic health issues like inflammation, allergies, and sensitivities. Addressing the diet and removing toxic elements is often the first step toward recovery when horses are unwell.

Corn

Corn has high-calorie content and energy density, making it a common ingredient in horse feed. However, corn lowers digestive pH, leading to leaky gut and immune issues. It is also high in starch, which can overwhelm the small intestine if fed in excess, as the undigested starch can reach the hindgut, where it ferments, potentially causing acidosis, colic, or laminitis. Its low fiber content and imbalance of protein and amino acids make it less suitable as a standalone feed. There is also a risk of mold contamination when corn is improperly stored. While corn can be an energy boost for horses with high caloric needs, it is best to use it sparingly.

Wheat Middlings

Wheat middlings, a byproduct of milling wheat for flour, are often used as a source of fiber and protein in horse feed. They can be high in phosphorus and low in calcium, creating an imbalance that can affect bone health in horses if consumed in excess. Wheat middlings can also ferment in the hindgut, leading to digestive upsets like colic or laminitis. High levels of non-structural carbohydrates in wheat middlings can also be problematic for horses prone to metabolic issues like insulin resistance or equine metabolic syndrome. While middlings can be part of a balanced diet, feed them in moderation and combine them with other sources of fiber and essential nutrients.

Processed Oils

Canola, soybean, corn, or hydrogenated oils are not ideal for horses as they undergo high-temperature processing that generates free radicals, harming the immune system and leading to various diseases. Soybean oil can also create hormonal imbalances due to its phytoestrogen content. It is essential to choose cold-pressed, high-quality oils and only add them to the diet when necessary.

High-Fat Diets

High-fat diets can provide energy for horses doing heavy work or needing to gain weight, as fats are calorie-dense and provide slow-burning energy without the risks associated with high-starch feeds. However, horses lack a gallbladder and are biologically unsuited to process large quantities of oils. So, high-fat diets can cause digestive issues, malnutrition, and liver strain, slowing gut motility and worsening conditions like colic or ulcers.

Balancing Nutrition

While some challenging cases, like underweight or elderly horses, may require short-term use of problematic foods or oils, the goal should always be to provide high-quality, minimally processed nutrition in the long term. Horses thrive on a natural diet that aligns with their biology. For optimum health and resilience in your horse, pay attention to sensitivities and make adjustments where necessary.

Final Thoughts

Avoid ingredients like corn, wheat middlings, and processed oils. Focus on natural, high-quality feeds, and tailor the feeding strategy to fit the specific dietary requirements of your horse and support its long-term health and vitality.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now.

I am excited to welcome Jessica Fobert as my guest today!

Over the past decade, Jessica and I have worked together on many challenging cases, and I have come to value her input as a trusted second opinion for my clients. She is a hoof care practitioner and lifelong horse lover, registered with both the Canadian Equine Hoof Care Association and Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners. She and her business partner, Natalie, run a rehab facility in Toddham, Ontario, where they take on the toughest of cases. 

Join us as Jessica dives into the critical work she does at the rehab, debunking common trimming myths and highlighting the crucial importance of proper hoof care.

Many Cases Go Undiagnosed

Owners and professionals alike should be vigilant and proactive, as subclinical laminitis often goes unnoticed. Many horses can have inflammation without full-blown laminitic episodes, and even minor hoof distortion, recurring abscesses, or poor posture may be early signs. 

Inflammation 

Hoof inflammation starts before any rotation or visible damage occurs. It typically results from systemic stress, poor nutrition, or mechanical imbalance. While X-rays may not reveal early changes, heat, soreness, gait alterations, or behavioral changes can indicate trouble brewing inside the foot.

Movement and Circulation 

Stabling a sore horse may seem protective, but confinement reduces circulation and delays healing. Movement is crucial to restoring hoof health. Gentle, controlled exercise within the comfort zone of the horse, often with the help of boots, can significantly improve blood flow and tissue regeneration.

Boots

Boots help reduce inflammation and promote healing, allowing sore horses to move more comfortably. However, they are not a permanent solution. 

Avoid Over-trimming 

Trimming should preserve the sole and reduce leverage without forcing the foot into an artificial shape. Over-trimming or removing too much sole worsens instability.

Be Cautious with Certain Treatments

Corrosive thrush treatments may kill bacteria but can also damage live tissue, making reinfection more likely. Non-corrosive antimicrobials can restore microbial balance without damaging sensitive tissue, soothing the foot, and helping to reset its microbial environment. Consistency and gentle application are the key.

Gut Health 

Thrush and white line disease can recur when gut health is compromised. High-sugar, high-starch diets fuel inflammation and weaken hoof tissue from the inside. Horses fed low-NSC diets will often show rapid hoof improvement. In some cases, long-standing issues like contracted heels and white line disease will resolve completely within months of a diet change.

Lasting Change

Lasting hoof changes must be supported from the inside, as no trim can undo the effects of a poor diet. Contracted heels, long toes, and weak hoof structures are often diet-driven. Even horses that have been trimmed carefully for years may not improve until their processed feeds get replaced with low-sugar alternatives. 

The Power of Movement

Movement is essential for healing hooves. Even sore horses should be allowed to move freely within their comfort range. Boots can encourage movement, reducing pain and enabling gradual increases in circulation and use. 

Metal Shoes

Metal shoes may provide instant relief for some horses. However, they increase concussion and vibration, which can worsen laminitic damage over time. Whenever possible, barefoot is ideal, but there are situations where temporary shoeing provides a helpful bridge.

Euthanasia Is a Complex Decision

For owners facing the possibility of euthanasia due to chronic laminitis, the most important factors to consider are quality of life, age, and the extent of internal damage. A younger horse with good overall health and minor pathology may fully recover with time, while an older horse with extensive remodeling and no progress after months of care may not. It is not about how long you have been trying. It is about whether or not progress is still possible.

There Is Hope with the Right Support

Horses can recover from severe laminitis. Even cases that seem hopeless can recover with the right support. A strong rehab plan includes proper trimming, pain relief, an appropriate diet, and enough movement. If the damage is not too severe and the blood supply remains intact, healing can be dramatic.

Owner Education Makes a Difference

Owners who understand hoof anatomy, inflammation, and the impact of diet are better prepared to advocate for their horses. A good support team includes trimmers, veterinarians, and professionals who collaborate and communicate openly. 

Expert Help Is Available

Jessica Foutbear offers remote consultations, ranging from quick second opinions to in-depth assessments and trim guidance. She also teaches clinics and workshops. You can reach out to her via email or on social media.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Contact Jessica Fobert

On social media: @BarefootHorseCanada

Email: Jess.fobert@gmail.com  

This week, we explore some key contributors to laminitis, other than grass, that every horse owner should be aware of.

In the last episode, we discussed sugar-induced laminitis and why spring grass can be a big concern for many horse owners. However, sugar is not the only factor that can trigger laminitis, and owners need to understand the broader range of potential causes.

A Whole-Body Issue

Laminitis is inflammation of the lamina. It is often a reflection of systemic inflammation and not just a foot problem. Inflammation, especially when chronic, can damage tissues and affect many parts of the body before appearing in the hooves. Laminitis is often a symptom of deeper, unresolved health issues.

Stress and Emotional Triggers

Stress is the primary cause of inflammation in horses. Emotional stress resulting from the loss of a pasture mate, a new environment, or changes in the herd can lead to laminitic episodes. Chronic stress raises cortisol, increases blood sugar, and suppresses the immune system, which is particularly dangerous for insulin-resistant horses. Supporting horses through emotional changes and acknowledging their grief is essential, as horses feel things deeply, and unaddressed stress can lead to significant health issues.

The Role of Gut Toxicity

Gut health links closely to laminitis, especially in horses with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. A compromised gut, often caused by poor diet or chronic inflammation, can lead to a leaky gut, which allows toxins to enter the bloodstream, creating systemic inflammation. Removing inflammatory ingredients such as processed feeds, preservatives, and vegetable oils from the diet can significantly improve hoof health. Owners should look for food sensitivities, even to common ingredients like flax, and consider rotating feeds and supplements to reduce the risk of intolerance.

Hidden Causes in the Diet 

Some horses are more sensitive to ingredients than others. So, an ingredient that is safe for most horses might be causing your horse inflammation. If your horse is not improving despite a low-sugar diet, look at everything it eats. Supplements cannot offset food intolerances. So, if your horse is reacting to something in its diet, the only solution is to remove that item.

Medication, Liver Load, and Toxicity

Long-term use of medications, exposure to chemicals, commercial feeds, and over-vaccination can compromise liver function. When the liver becomes overwhelmed, toxins tend to build up, and the immune system responds with inflammation. To reduce the inflammation, focus on supporting detoxification and reducing the overall toxic load. Chronic inflammation can lead to further issues like Cushing’s disease if not addressed early.

Vaccination Considerations

Vaccines can trigger inflammatory responses, especially in horses already dealing with laminitis or metabolic challenges. Inflammation from vaccines may not appear immediately, but it can cause issues in the weeks that follow. For sensitive horses, particularly those with compromised immune systems or high toxicity levels, vaccinations should be approached with care. Work with your vet to determine what is necessary, how to support your horse through the process, and when it might be best to delay or avoid certain vaccines.

Final Thought

If your horse is struggling with chronic laminitis and nothing seems to help, it may be time to look beyond sugar and hoof care. Evaluate every part of its lifestyle, including emotional health, gut health, diet, medications, and vaccination history. 

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Today, we are tackling the topic of laminitis and exploring those early-stage situations where your horse begins to show signs of soreness and tenderness.

What we focus on today does not include the more mechanical cases of founder laminitis but rather horses that tend to become sugar-sensitive as the grass begins to turn green in spring.   

Recognizing Sugar Sensitivity in Horses

Some horses become sore or tender as soon as lush spring grass appears. It is often due to sugar sensitivity, and these horses may also be insulin resistant. Insulin resistance can present as swelling in the eyes, sheath, udders, lower limbs, or a general puffiness in the body. It is not always related to obvious hoof problems but often reflects a broader systemic reaction to dietary sugar.

Real-Life Example

At the facility I manage, several horses broke into a lush pasture and soon showed signs of swelling and tenderness despite us urging them to move. Even horses that were not usually at risk began showing symptoms. That highlighted just how quickly sugar overload can tip the balance and why it is crucial to act early.

Step 1: Reduce Sugars

The first step in managing sugar-induced laminitis is reducing sugar intake, especially from grass. Some horses can tolerate limited pasture, while others may not. Create dry lots, use fencing or panels to limit access, and have your hay sugar levels analyzed. Watch out for feeds containing molasses, vegetable oils, preservatives, and other additives that may spike insulin and cause inflammation.

Step 2: Encourage Movement

Exercise is critical. Even when a horse is sore, movement helps lower insulin, burn sugar, and reduce inflammation. It can be as simple as walking, ponying, or hand-jogging. Any movement counts, even 20 extra minutes a few times a week. For horses not currently ridden, gentle groundwork or hand-walking is enough to make a meaningful difference.

Step 3: Add Supportive Footwear When Needed

Hoof boots with padding can help to relieve pain and make movement possible for horses in extreme pain. Movement is essential for healing, so boots are a helpful short-term solution to get your horse comfortable enough to walk. Creative options, like diapers or duct tape, can also work until you find a better solution.

When It Is More Than Just Sugar

If you have reduced sugar and increased movement, and your horse is still inflamed or tender, you may be dealing with more than just dietary sugar overload. Persistent fat pads, a crested neck, and excessive thirst and urination can point to deeper insulin resistance. 

Every Horse is Unique

Horses respond differently to diet and management. While some thrive on pasture combined with regular movement, others may continue to struggle, even when their sugar intake gets reduced and they exercise enough. Factors like breed, history, and individual constitution can influence their response. If you are following best practices but not seeing progress, you may need to explore deeper metabolic factors and consider targeted nutritional and organ support.

Final Thought

The sooner you become aware of early signs of sugar sensitivity and act on them, the better. Reducing sugar, increasing exercise, and providing hoof support when needed can make all the difference. If those measures are not enough, there is still hope, as most horses can regain their balance and comfort with the appropriate nutritional and metabolic support.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

The symptoms most horses experience from digestive issues and anxiety tend to cause them lots of discomfort. Fortunately, there is a wonderful plant horse owners can use to manage those conditions. 

Chamomile is a versatile herb with a wide range of uses for horses. It has a calming energy and a pleasant smell, and horses love it!

The Link Between Digestion and Anxiety 

There is a close connection between digestion and anxiety in horses. Stressful events like separation or fear can trigger digestive issues such as colic or ulcers. Those two systems work in a cycle. So, when one is out of balance, the other often follows. Supporting both systems is the key to breaking that loop.

A Holistic Strategy 

To help a horse heal, the owner must identify whether stress or digestion is the primary issue. Sometimes, calming the nervous system allows the gut to recover, while, in other cases, improving digestion eases emotional strain. Reducing stress even slightly can usually create enough momentum for healing.

Chamomile

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a well-known traditional herb with a long history of medicinal use. It has yellow-centered white flowers that are easy to recognize. Chamomile contains beneficial compounds like calcium, magnesium, and flavonoids. Those minerals support the nervous system and reduce muscle tension, which is why chamomile is known for its relaxing and soothing properties.

Whole Herbs Work Best

Chamomile benefits digestion, the nervous system, muscles, immunity, and skin in horses. Its strength lies in its synergy. Due to the interaction of many compounds within it, chamomile provides a broad range of health benefits. Isolating a single ingredient can often reduce its effectiveness and cause side effects, which is why whole herbs are preferable. 

Targeted Uses

Chamomile is soothing to the gut and the nervous system and can help reduce inflammation, support immune function, and provide antibacterial effects. Horses with chronic digestive tension or stress often benefit greatly from this herb.

Chamomile is especially useful for:

• Digestive upsets, including colic and cramps
• Muscle tightness and spasms
• Nervous tension and anxiety

Flavonoids 

Chamomile is rich in flavonoids, which are antioxidants. Its compounds regulate cell function and boost immunity. A 2022 PubMed study identified 50 different flavonoids in chamomile, including quercetin. Chamomile also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer properties.

Practical Use and Dosage

Cut and sifted chamomile is ideal for horses, as it stays close to its natural form and has a good shelf life. A typical starting dose is one tablespoon, with the option to increase to two. Most horses enjoy chamomile, and its gentle nature makes it easy to introduce. Chamomile can be used short-term for specific issues or longer-term (three months) for chronic imbalances.

Chamomile for Variety 

Chamomile is a gentle herb that does not have a strong taste. So, even horses without anxiety or digestive issues enjoy chamomile added to their diet for variety. 

Homeopathic Chamomile (Chamomilla)

Chamomile is also available in a homeopathic form, Chamomilla. That remedy often gets used for digestive upsets, nervous tension, and teething-related discomfort. It can be helpful for horses that are easily overwhelmed, hard to soothe, or showing signs of intense emotional distress that is difficult to calm.

Final Thoughts

Chamomile is a powerful, multi-functional herb. It supports the nervous system, digestion, and musculoskeletal system. Whether used to address chronic conditions or balance the system, it is a safe, soothing option worth trying. 

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

This week, our focus returns to the equine diet.

Whether you are supporting overall health or addressing a particular issue in a horse, it always starts with their food. That often means identifying and removing dietary intolerances or introducing an anti-inflammatory or alkaline diet. 

Since each horse has a unique constitution, their diets must be individualized to support their specific sensitivities.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Horses

Offer a variety of fresh produce like melons, shredded beets, cucumbers, watermelon rind, apples, blueberries, and carrots. Chop them into small pieces for easy eating, and avoid feeding large amounts of stringy celery to horses with dental issues or a history of choking.

Using Cauliflower and Other Veggies

Many horses enjoy nibbling on cauliflower occasionally. However, you should only feed it in small amounts since large quantities can cause gas. Always observe how your horse reacts to new foods and adjust accordingly.

Incorporating Herbs

Add herbs (chamomile, mint, raspberry leaf, chickweed, plantain, and milk thistle) to salads or treats. Herbs provide added health benefits, especially raspberry leaf for mares and other reproductive support. Let your horse explore different herbs to see what they prefer.

Preparing and Serving Salads

Make fresh horse salads once or twice a week, using any available clean or organic produce. If using non-organic items, wash them thoroughly. For picky eaters, introduce one ingredient at a time or mix new foods into their regular mash to help them adjust.

Enrichment Through Foraging

Scatter chopped fruits, veggies, and herbs around the pasture to encourage natural foraging and gentle exercise. This “Easter egg hunt” approach is stimulating and rewarding for your horse.

Enhancing Flavor

Some horses enjoy a splash of apple cider vinegar or a little olive oil as a salad dressing. Experiment with small amounts to find what your horse likes best.

Benefits of Fresh Salads for Horses

Feeding horses fresh salads regularly promotes better overall health, shinier coats, improved hoof condition, reduced inflammation, and more contentment. Fresh, live nutrients support the cells and tissues naturally.

Moderation and Variety Are Key

Avoid feeding too much of any single ingredient. Provide a varied mix to allow your horse to enjoy different flavors and nutrients without overindulging in one thing, and always pay attention to its preferences and sensitivities.

Tips for Horses with Specific Conditions

Avoid or chop stringy vegetables like celery finely for horses with dental problems or a history of choking. Salads and fresh foods can be particularly helpful for horses managing metabolic issues (EMS) by providing live nutrients without excess sugars or fats. Introducing fresh produce gradually and mixing it with regular feed helps sensitive horses adapt. Feeding a variety of herbs and fresh foods can support inflammation reduction, hoof health, and hormone balance, especially for mares. Always observe how your horse tolerates new foods and adjust accordingly.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

June has arrived, and everything is turning green again. With no more mud and ice around, it becomes much easier for horse owners living in wet and snowy areas to get their horses moving as they should once more. 

This week, I share some tips to get your horse moving in spring, which is particularly important if your horse is on grass, with few other options.

Movement Matters

Spring and summer grasses are rich in sugars, which can be risky for horses with metabolic issues like insulin resistance or laminitis. Supplements may help manage those conditions, but regular physical activity is essential for maintaining their metabolic balance and general health.

Small Steps

Small, regular efforts are more effective for horses than occasional intense workouts. Just 15 minutes of walking a few times a week can help to improve circulation, metabolism, muscle tone, detox pathways, and mood in horses. 

Encouraging Natural Movement

Some horses are naturally less active when hay is readily available. You can encourage more movement by spreading their hay stations out, placing food and water at opposite ends of a paddock, or using slopes and snow to make horses do a little work for their meals, even in winter.

Engaging the Body and Mind

Scavenger hunts for alfalfa pellets or small pieces of carrot or cucumber will encourage your horse to move and provide mental stimulation without overfeeding. If your horse is not getting ridden, consider groundwork or short walks to boost circulation and muscle use. Use hoof boots for extra comfort if needed, and increase exercise gradually as your horse improves.

Make It Work for Both of You

Combine exercising your horse with your fitness goals. If your goal is 10,000 steps a day, you can spend some time walking your horse around the pasture or driveway. For minis or horses that cannot be ridden, ponying or trotting them alongside another horse or a slow-moving vehicle can be an effective alternative.

Prioritize and Plan Movement

Make scheduled movement a priority for your horse. Aim for 2–3 sessions of 15-30 minutes per week. Over time, even brief, consistent activity will offer meaningful improvements. Supplements can support equine health, but movement is still a non-negotiable for managing sugar levels in horses, building their strength, and maintaining their long-term well-being.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

This week, we are taking a closer look at equine sarcoids. 

Equine sarcoids are a common issue that can be concerning for horse owners. These skin growths are neither serious nor life-threatening, but they can be unsightly and sometimes tricky to manage. They tend to vary in appearance and location, and in some cases, can go unnoticed until they become more visibly pronounced.

What Are Equine Sarcoids?

Sarcoids are skin tumors that account for 36 to 40% of equine tumors. They can be flat, raised, crusty, weepy, or ulcerated, and can grow and spread at different rates. There are two main types: dry sarcoids and ulcerated (weepy and inflamed) sarcoids. They are generally benign and don’t spread to internal organs, but they can cause serious problems if they obstruct bodily functions like urination or defecation.

Conventional vs. Holistic Approaches

With traditional veterinary treatments, which include cutting, freezing, or surgically removing sarcoids, recurrence is common. Holistic practitioners aim to understand why the sarcoids appeared in the first place. Removing growths will not solve the internal imbalance that allowed them to develop.

Potential Causes and Triggers

Sarcoids, which may originate from the bovine papillomavirus, behave like viruses, flaring up with stress, toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies. Horses with compromised immune systems due to anxiety, malnutrition, or chronic stress are more prone to developing sarcoids. Events like moving farms, losing a herd mate, accidents, poor-quality hay, or vaccines can act as triggers.

Chemical Toxicity and Vaccines

Sarcoids could result from exposure to chemicals. Sprays on hay, some feeds, and vaccines can attack horses’ immune systems. When their immune system is under strain, dormant viruses can activate, allowing sarcoids to spread rapidly. Sarcoids often tend to appear soon after vaccinations, especially in compromised horses.

Skin as an Elimination Organ

The skin acts as a pathway for the body to release toxins and reflect internal imbalances. When sarcoids appear on the skin, they are often signs of an internal issue.

Malabsorption and Nutritional Gaps

A horse may seem to be getting good nutrition, yet still be malnourished if it does not absorb nutrients properly. Ulcers or chronic nervous system stress can interfere with their nutrient uptake and contribute to a weakened immune system.

Environmental and Age Factors

At around 15, horses often start showing signs of conditions that have been building silently for years. Chronic stress, aging, and accumulated exposure to harmful substances can contribute to immune dysfunction and tumor development.

The Role of Detoxification and the Liver

The liver detoxifies chemicals, medications, and environmental toxins. If it is overburdened, the immune system suffers. Many horses show signs of liver strain if they have been on long-term medication or exposed to repeated vaccinations and chemical-laden feeds.

Immune System and Pathogen Load

Chronic issues like thrush, scratches, or recurrent parasite infections indicate a compromised immune system. Parasites, bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi often coexist, increasing the toxic load and making it harder for horses to maintain internal balance.

Using Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional therapy is a preferred holistic strategy. It involves using single nutrients in specific doses to clean up toxicity, correct imbalances, and support immune health. Antioxidants like selenium and vitamin C can help to detoxify chemicals and support liver function.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

This week, we continue where we left off last week, exploring equine eye conditions through a holistic lens.

A holistic approach focuses primarily on optimizing the diet and lifestyle of horses, providing everything they need to support their overall health and maintain healthy eyes.

Long-Term Health Issues Often Begin with Deficiencies

Chronic deficiencies, prolonged stress, and toxin exposure are often the root causes of long-term health issues in horses. Those problems develop slowly, sometimes taking years to show symptoms. Even though genetics may be an underlying factor, nutrition is crucial in determining health outcomes.

Protecting the Eyes of Prey Animals

Eyesight is critical for horses to feel safe. Vision loss increases their anxiety and vulnerability. Keeping blind or visually impaired horses calm, secure, and well-supported within a herd can help to reduce their stress and improve their quality of life.

Antioxidants Play a Crucial Role in Prevention

Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, support immune function and detox systems, and protect the sensitive eye tissues. Even without eye symptoms, improved nutrition supports clearer and healthier eyes. A targeted supplement plan should always match the specific needs of each horse.

Selenium: An Underrated Powerhouse

Selenium deficiency is common in horses, affecting their coat, muscles, metabolism, and more. Selenium indirectly supports the eyes by boosting antioxidant defenses, especially when paired with vitamin E. While it is not an eye-specific nutrient, selenium does contribute to overall equine resilience.

Vitamin E is Essential and Often Deficient

Vitamin E is often lacking in hay-fed horses. Vitamin E protects the tissues from oxidative damage and plays a key role in eye health and detox support. High doses may be required to correct deficiencies in horses, especially for performance or aging horses.

The Right Dosage and Timing Matter

Too many antioxidants at once can overwhelm the body. Start with one or two at low doses and monitor progress over several weeks. Horses with autoimmune issues, like uveitis, need especially careful and gradual supplementation.

Zinc: The Surprise Ally for Eye Health

Zinc supports metabolism, thyroid function, liver health, and immunity. It also helps with weepy eyes and visual clarity, likely due to its high concentration in ocular tissue and role in processing light. Zinc works well with vitamin A to support vision.

Be Cautious and Responsive with Zinc

Not all horses need zinc. Try using low doses of about 150 mg elemental zinc in an organic form and observe. If there is no visible improvement within 6–8 weeks, zinc might not be the right solution. 

Beta Carotene: A Natural Source of Eye Support

Beta carotene, found in fresh forage and colorful foods like carrots, supports vision and immune health. It converts to vitamin A, which helps with light processing. 

Forage-based diets naturally provide more beta carotene than hay.

Support Through Food Whenever Possible

Whole foods and high-quality forage offer the best long-term nutritional support. While supplements are valuable, a varied, nutrient-dense diet reduces dependence on pills and powders and supports holistic, sustainable health.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

This week, we are focusing on eye health in horses.

Eye conditions consistently rank among the most common and concerning issues reported by horse owners. With vision being such a crucial aspect of the well-being and safety of horses, owners must gain a holistic understanding of equine eye conditions and learn how to manage them responsibly and effectively.

Why Eye Issues Matter

Eye problems in horses are often a clue pointing to deeper health issues. Symptoms like weepy eyes, swelling, or more serious conditions like uveitis and conjunctivitis sometimes show up alongside other imbalances in the horse’s health. Holistically speaking, the eyes can give us clues about what is happening inside the body. So when a horse has an eye problem, it is often part of a bigger picture.

Looking Beyond the Eyes

Treating the eyes with drops or targeted supplements often fails because the root cause is unresolved. Look at the whole horse instead of isolating the eye as the only problem, as chronic eye issues can be a sign of inflammation elsewhere, and are often linked to conditions like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or a weak immune system. Addressing those imbalances can result in unexpected improvements in eye health.

The Limitations of a Symptom-Focused Approach

The eyes are generally the most visible part of a broader inflammatory picture. Holistic care means reducing inflammation and supporting overall health rather than treating isolated symptoms.

The Importance of Vision in Horses

Compromised eye health in a horse can increase its vulnerability within its environment and affect its ability to function within the herd. Horses have 350-degree vision, with only small blind spots directly in front and behind them. Their eyes are set in a position to protect them by detecting threats, making vision a key component of their survival. 

Prey vs Predator Vision

As prey animals, horses have eyes on the sides of their heads, while humans, as predators, have forward-facing eyes. That difference creates a natural tension in our relationship with horses. When we acknowledge that, we can modify our behavior to become less threatening and build trust.

Color and Light Sensitivity

Horses see blue and green more distinctly than red, and respond more to the vibrational energy of colors than to the specific shades. Their night vision is excellent, but they need more time to adjust between light and dark areas. So it is essential to be patient and mindful during those transitions.

Emotional and Environmental Triggers

Much like laminitic horses can experience flare-ups during periods of stress, horses with eye vulnerabilities may develop eye inflammation in response to vaccinations, dietary changes, environmental shifts, or emotional stressors. These episodes are not random. They reveal underlying weaknesses that require attention.

The Liver-Eye Connection

There is a link between liver health and eye conditions. Detoxification and liver support are essential when treating recurring eye issues. Improving liver and gut health can lead to clearer eyes, better digestion, fewer foot issues, and stronger immunity.

Individual Sensitivities and Triggers

Pay attention to what sets off flare-ups in your horse. It could be seasonal grass, certain types of hay, or even temperature changes. Those patterns can reveal underlying sensitivities and guide you toward more targeted support.

Consistency and Commitment

Managing chronic or recurring eye issues requires consistent care and a committed health program. Rather than reacting to the eye symptoms alone, proactive support of the overall health is the key to preventing flare-ups and supporting their recovery.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

This week, we are following up on our last discussion about sourcing the right hay for your horse by focusing on the practice of soaking hay. 

Soaking hay is a common strategy for reducing sugar levels for sugar-sensitive horses. This practice is helpful for horses with insulin resistance, acute laminitis, or high-insulin PSSM. 

Join us to learn how to soak hay to improve your horse's health and ensure longevity while avoiding the associated risks.

When and Why to Soak Hay

Soaking hay can be helpful, but it should only be done when necessary, in cases of acute laminitis, severe insulin resistance, or PSSM, where high sugar levels in hay contribute to the problem. Soaking is not something you want to rely on long-term or use just in case. You must always consider whether it is doing more good than harm and use it as a short-term tool when you do not have a better option.

Keep It Temporary

If you need to soak hay, do it for a limited time, perhaps two weeks. If sugar is the issue, you will typically see changes in your horse within 24 to 48 hours. If nothing improves after soaking the hay for several weeks, the problem may not be sugar-related. If you continue to soak at that point, it could deplete essential nutrients.

Be Aware of Nutrient Loss

Remember that soaking does not only remove sugars. It also pulls out vital minerals and amino acids. Since hay is less nutritious than fresh forage, soaking can make it even more deficient. For horses with metabolic conditions, PPID, or PSSM, the loss of nutrition could cause a slow and steady decline in their overall health. 

Think Beyond Sugar

Sugar is only part of the story. Inflammation, poor hoof balance, and limited movement can also drive high insulin and hoof pain. If insulin remains elevated and symptoms persist, chronic inflammation could be the cause, not sugar. Always step back and assess the whole horse.

Use Soaking Strategically

Limiting your hay soaking to 15–20 minutes is usually enough to reduce sugar without removing too many essential nutrients. Soaking is ineffective for lowering protein and should not be used to manage dust- a quick spray with water works better. Avoid long-term soaking, as it can do more harm than good by further depleting an already nutrient-poor feed.

Have a Plan

If you are soaking hay, take the opportunity to put a longer-term plan in place to support the metabolic health of your horse. It might involve switching to hay with a lower sugar content, adding essential nutrients, reviewing your trim schedule, and encouraging more movement. The goal is to rebuild resilience rather than relying on an ongoing restriction.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Today, we tackle hay, an essential yet often overlooked component of an equine diet.

Hay provides most of the calories and nutrition horses need, especially in colder climates. However, it is not always the first place we look when issues arise. Since hay is dried grass with less nutritional value than natural forage, it is not a perfect food, yet it is what most horse owners must rely on. The quality of the hay, the treatments it has undergone, and how it affects your horse are critical factors to consider. That is why it is best to start with a hay analysis to ensure the foundation of their diet supports the health of your horse rather than adding to any hidden problems.

What I Focus On First

When analyzing hay, I always start with the macros- the protein, sugar, and fiber levels, as those are crucial for every health condition I have worked with. It is essential to monitor sugar and protein levels. High protein can be as problematic as high sugar. Perfect hay does not exist, so we must balance things wherever possible.

Sugar Sensitivity and Hay Analysis

A hay analysis is always essential for sugar-sensitive (prone to laminitis, high insulin, etc.) horses. Removing sugar from their diet is crucial for their recovery, as even on the best metabolic programs, high-sugar hay can completely derail their progress.

Fiber and Coarseness: Matching Hay to Your Horse

With coarser hay, horses need to eat more to get enough nutrition, which can be a struggle for some. The fiber in coarser hay is often higher than the recommended level, and although that is generally acceptable, it could impact hard keepers. Coarse hay is better suited for easy keepers, but be cautious if it causes digestive issues.

Focus on Your Most Unwell Horse

When you have a group with mixed needs, prioritize the horse that needs the most help. Pick your hay based on what that horse requires first, as the healthier horses usually find it easier to adapt. This approach will save you time and money and offer better horse health in the long run.

Glyphosate and Fertilizers

I always consider chemical sprays like glyphosate, as it is very toxic and damages the microbiome, which is crucial for immune and digestive health. Older horses and those with compromised livers often struggle with cumulative chemical exposure over their lives. Fertilizers can also trigger health issues like fecal water, especially in aging horses.

Balancing Risks and Benefits

Sometimes, you may have to choose between low-sugar hay treated with chemicals or untreated hay with higher sugar. You have to prioritize based on the condition of your horse. In many cases, low sugar must win if the horse is at serious metabolic risk.

Palatability

Palatability matters. Some horses refuse to eat coarse, low-sugar hay simply because it is not what they are used to. Others dislike the taste of certain grasses or chemical residues. You can try mixing different types of hay to help them adjust, but watch out for dust, especially if you have horses with respiratory problems.

Minerals

Although many nutritionists focus on balancing minerals to match hay, I do not worry too much about it. I prefer adjusting nutrition to the individual needs of each horse, using high-quality, bioavailable nutrients without any chemical additives.

Grass Types

Some horses have intolerances to specific grass types, and if nothing else explains their poor health, consider a grass type change. Common ones I see include Timothy, Teff, Orchard, and Brome. Canary Grass and Fescue are types I usually tend to avoid.

If it is Not Working, Change it

If your horse's health does not improve despite your best efforts, do not be afraid to try different hay. Sometimes, switching the hay can make all the difference, even when the numbers seem perfectly fine on paper.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

As spring approaches, many horse owners become concerned about what the grass returning could mean for their more sugar-sensitive horses, as those horses usually have a history of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, PPID, PSSM, laminitis, and hoof problems.

Managing sugar intake and keeping their hooves healthy is the key to avoiding serious setbacks in sugar-sensitive horses. So, in this episode, I share some simple and effective strategies for supporting horses and managing their sugar levels as they go back onto grass.

Supporting the Transition to Grass

Spring grass can be challenging for horses with metabolic issues or a history of laminitis. Owners must do all they can to avoid setbacks in those horses while supporting their natural foraging instincts.

Why Grass Can Be a Problem

Fresh grass is low in fiber and high in rapidly digestible carbohydrates, which can cause insulin spikes in sugar-sensitive horses. The lack of fiber and abrupt dietary change can also impact gut health, leading to leaky gut and cecal acidosis.

Start Slowly

The transition from hay to grass should be gradual, and sugar-sensitive horses should not be allowed to binge on grass after long winters off-pasture. Even a 10-minute binge can trigger symptoms in sensitive horses, so pay attention to early warning signs like swelling, fatigue, or hoof soreness.

Always Offer Hay with Grass

Providing low-sugar hay alongside grazing reduces the glycemic impact and helps regulate blood sugar. Strategically placing hay around the pasture will encourage movement and help manage total carbohydrate intake.

Timing Matters

Grass sugar levels change throughout the day. Mornings, especially between 5 and 7 a.m., is the safest time for horses to graze, as photosynthesis has not yet caused sugar levels to spike.

Feeding Strategies

Feeding horses a fiber-rich, balanced mash before turning them out can increase their satiety and blunt insulin spikes. That helps manage metabolic responses and makes grazing less risky.

Monitor and Adjust

Look out for swelling in the sheath, puffy eyes, a laminitis stance, or general fatigue, as those indicate that the horse is reactive to sugar. Pull the horse off the grass immediately should any of those symptoms appear.

Gut Health

Healthy gut flora is essential, especially during feed changes. Give your horse a high-quality probiotic and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to their feed daily to support digestion and help regulate blood sugar.

Consistent Feeding Programs

Following a well-balanced feeding program, like those in my Equine Metabolic Syndrome course, can support insulin regulation and prevent problems during seasonal transitions.

Balance

Entirely restricting grass may increase stress and reduce the quality of life of horses. The aim is to build tolerance and support health so the horse can eventually enjoy some natural forage safely.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally.

Today, we share seven key pointers to help you, as a horse owner, plan a parasite control program for your horse.

In this episode, you will learn how to formulate a parasite program and how to prepare your horse for it. We will also explain how to schedule your program effectively and responsibly.

Understanding the Role of Parasites in Equine Health

Parasites can affect the health of horses significantly, and they can worsen problems in horses with ulcers, digestive issues, or chronic colic. So, owners should tailor their parasite management to suit the history and needs of each horse.

Fecal Testing: A Useful but Limited Tool

Even though fecal tests are helpful to monitor parasite loads, they should not be relied upon, as they do not detect every type of parasite, and they may not be effective when the parasites are in certain life stages or encysted in the gut lining. Living environments, pasture management, and herd dynamics can influence parasite exposure and infection risk. So, fecal testing should be part of a broader monitoring system that includes seasonal timing, observation of symptoms, and an understanding of the regional parasite risks.

The Limitations of Natural Dewormers

Chemical dewormers are necessary when dealing with high parasite loads, as although herbs and homeopathic remedies can support intestinal health and help preventinfestations, they cannot be relied on for treating active infections. Using only herbs in such cases may lead to severe or irreversible damage.

The Dangers of Over-Deworming

Overusing chemical dewormers could lead to parasite resistance and damage the horse's microbiome. Deworming too often or using the same chemical repeatedly allows the parasites to adapt and reduces the effectiveness of the deworming treatments. It could also add to the growing issue of parasite resistance across all animal species.

Deworming Strategically

Strategic deworming supports equine health and helps to reduce dewormer resistance in parasites. Strategic deworming means considering the parasite risk of your horse rather than relying on a fixed schedule, reducing the risk of over-deworming, and allowing the deworming drugs to remain effective. Factors like the age of the horse, its health status, pasture conditions, seasonal parasite patterns, and regional risks should all inform your deworming decisions.

Handling Deworming Challenges

In cases where horses are averse to oral administration of dewormers, training is the answer. Owners can work with trainers or use temporary strategies like mixing dewormers with foods the horse enjoys.

When Is the Best Time to Deworm?

To time deworming treatments, owners should consider seasonal parasite activity and fecal egg count results. In temperate climates, deworming in late winter or early spring helps reduce pasture contamination before peak parasite transmission in late summer and early fall. Avoid treating during extreme heat or cold when parasites are less active. Some owners prefer to deworm just before or after the full moon, but there is no scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of that.

Strengthening the Hindgut and Immune System

A healthy gut creates an environment less hospitable to parasites. Supporting digestive immunity with good nutrition and high-quality probiotics helps fortify horses, supports their overall health, and reduces their susceptibility to infestations.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now.

Riva's Hindgut defense

Riva's Probiotics

This week, we are following up on last week’s topic about the adverse effects of parasites on our horses by talking about fecal egg counts.

As horse owners, it is essential to understand what fecal egg counts are, the valuable information they provide, and how to use those insights to evaluate and assess parasite control strategies for your horse or, in some cases, an entire herd.

What is a Fecal Egg Count?

A fecal egg count is a diagnostic test, usually performed by veterinary clinics, to identify the presence and number of parasite eggs in a horse’s manure. It provides critical information for understanding the intestinal immunity of horses and creating parasite control strategies.

Why Fecal Egg Counts Matter

Knowing the shedding status of their horses helps owners tailor a targeted and effective parasite control plan. Strongyles, the most prevalent equine parasite, are a big concern for equine health due to their resistance to deworming treatments. Fecal egg counts guide deworming practices and help prevent the overuse of chemical dewormers.

Timing and Accuracy

Fecal testing is usually done in the spring and fall to align with parasite life cycles. In the fall, parasites often go into hibernation and stop shedding eggs. So spring, when eggs get actively shed, is a far better time to assess parasite load. Relying on a single test can be misleading, whereas multiple tests over time can provide more accurate insights.

Parasites Not Detected by Fecal Tests

Fecal egg counts do not detect all parasites as some go through life stages where they do not shed any eggs. So, owners must also consider regional risks and symptoms when planning a parasite control strategy for their horses.

Parasite Risk Factors

Parasites exploit weak immune systems, so immunity is a key factor for susceptibility. The immature immune systems of young horses make them particularly vulnerable, and older horses may also be at risk due to declining health. Domesticated horses, living in controlled environments, are often at greater risk than wild horses as they have less natural resistance and more exposure.

Holistic Parasite Management

Effective parasite management often requires more than just deworming. Supporting horse's immune systems, microbiomes, and overall health can make the internal environment less hospitable to parasites. A strategic approach should include nutrition, environment, and individualized care for reducing egg counts and building long-term resilience.

Hidden Symptoms

Horses can look healthy and still carry a high parasite load. So, even though fecal egg counts provide a baseline, it is still essential to evaluate the overall health of each horse.

Horses with Chronic Health Conditions

Parasites can exacerbate any issues that horses with chronic health conditions may have. High parasite loads can cause ulcers, inflammation, and poor nutrient absorption. Addressing parasites is a top priority in those cases, as the immune system cannot recover until that burden gets reduced.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now. 

As spring approaches, it is time to start thinking about parasite management.

Parasites are a complicated topic that often gets oversimplified when searching for information. A holistic approach always considers the intestinal immunity of each horse, as that varies from horse to horse. However, parasite management tends to become more complex in herd environments where group dynamics play a role.

The Impact of Parasites on Horse Health

Parasites can have widespread effects on a horse’s body. They contribute to inflammation, disrupt the nervous system, and place stress on multiple organs. Horses with allergies are particularly susceptible because their immune systems are overactive, making it harder to manage infections. If a calm horse suddenly becomes anxious or unmanageable, parasites could be a hidden factor.

Parasites and Ulcers

When horses struggle with digestive issues, an unresolved parasite infection can complicate their recovery. So, it is essential to address parasites first, as parasites, especially encysted strongyles, damage the intestinal lining, which could exacerbate or trigger ulcers.

The Importance of Early and Proper Treatment

Promptly addressing parasites is essential for preventing long-term health damage to your horse. Horses with allergies or ulcers are particularly vulnerable, as parasites tend to exacerbate their symptoms. Parasite treatments should be specific to the condition of each horse. It is also essential to consider the possible effects of parasite die-off with older or weaker horses, and veterinary guidance may be needed.

The Effectiveness of Herbal Treatments

While herbs have some anti-parasitic properties, they cannot be relied on to eliminate a significant infestation, as fecal testing has shown that herbal remedies alone do not effectively reduce parasite counts. Chemical dewormers are the most effective option for controlling parasites, especially in high-load cases.

Managing Parasite Resistance

Overuse and improper use of dewormers can cause parasite resistance, making it harder to eliminate infections. Even when treated, some horses still carry high parasite loads, and parasites can mutate to withstand certain chemicals. Rotating dewormers and strategically targeting different life stages of parasites are essential strategies for long-term parasite management.

Key Takeaways for Responsible Parasite Control

A strategic, science-based approach to parasite management is crucial. Regular fecal egg counts can help track parasite levels, and a well-planned deworming schedule prevents resistance from developing. Supporting the microbiome with good nutrition will also help in building overall resilience against infections.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now.