What’s the #1 disorder in people and horses. Yep, you guessed it, Metabolic Disorders or Insulin Resistance. I hear people ask all the time, “Why are so many horses having laminitis or metabolic disfunction? When I was a kid we fed all the horses oats and they could eat all the  grass they wanted without any issues!” The answer to that question is what I want to reveal… cellular dysfunction. I am really writing this to share about your horse’s health, BUT I want  you to realize this applies to your own health as well. I have been learning about this for several years and have been on a personal mission to dive deep into understanding what is happening to our horses. Like with everything I believe, it is critical to address the ROOT CAUSE and not just be reactive and address the symptoms. A lot of people are treating their horses for metabolic disorders whether it be with drugs, supplements, or lifestyle, but no one is talking about treating the root cause! Well, here it is…
 
We know that the incorrect metabolism of insulin is what causes laminitis. There is a lot of research that confirms that. The question is WHY is the body not able to correct metabolize the insulin.
 
Our bodies and our horse’s bodies are made to remove toxins. However, the toxins they are exposed to now in today’s world are exponentially higher than they were 40-50 years ago (even 20 years ago really). In a healthy body, the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER), go back to Biology class with me here, in the cell is known as the waste treatment plant of your cells. In order for that SER to function correctly there are certain co-factors that need to be present for the cell to have energy to remove the toxins. Unfortunately, the extreme amount of toxins we are exposed to limit the co-factor’s energy and therefore impact the SER ability to detox our cells and ultimately affect the body’s ability to function properly. This includes its ability to metabolize insulin, regulate hormones, and have a healthy immune system (which also includes the gut microbiome). Oh and let's not forget the EPIDEMIC of allergies in horses we see now! This also applies to allergic disfunction. 
 
The disfunction does not show up overnight. In fact, it shows up in small ways over time until the body becomes extremely dysfunctional and classified as metabolic. What toxins is my horse exposed to? I’m glad you asked.
 
Now, don’t freak out. Don’t get overwhelmed. Toxins are literally EVERYWHERE. In the air, water, food (feed, hay grass) , supplements (yes, really), grooming aids, buckets, vaccines, NSAIDS, even your halter and tack. The key is to limit exposure where possible. You are not going to be able to limit exposure completely. Is that enough? Unfortunately, no. Because your horse is constantly exposed to toxins, you must constantly detox your horse to keep it as healthy as possible. Let’s talk about what that entails.
 
There are three levels of detox that are required to be completely effective: trapping the toxin, supporting the removal, and fueling the cells. You must trap the toxin to move it out of the body, ensure it does not stay in the body, and support healthy mitochondria in the cells. The mitochondria are the power house of the cells and needed to provide the cell energy to function properly and stay healthy.
 
Our best approach to helping our horses is to create a plan to provide elimination of as many toxins as possible, provide a constant detox plan, and help the horse's body be as healthy as possible for it to do the inherent healing God designed it to do. Being proactive in the health of your horse is the most effect approach you can do. 
 
There is no one size fits all approach to creating a detox plan for your horse. I am offering Nutritional Consultations to determine what is the best approach for your individual horse’s situation that will address all three levels of detoxing.
 
Thank you for continuing to learn more to keep your horse (and yourself) healthy.
 Please reach out to me via the methods on my Contact page if you are interested in scheduling a Nutritional Consultation. 
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Blessings,
Amy

There are two things I want ALL horse owners to be aware of during the end of Summer. Acorns and the “Seasonal Rise”.

You may have noticed; acorns are starting to fall from oak tress now. Why does that matter to your horse? Well, some horses love the taste of acorns, and if they eat too many it can be detrimental to their health in a couple ways. Firstly, they are high in sugar and can cause laminitis in horses that are sensitive to sugars. Secondly, they are high in tannins and if eaten in large volumes, your horse can experience liver dysfunction. Please be sure to limit your horse’s acorn exposure this fall. Some horses can moderate just fine, while others really develop a taste and gorge themselves.

You may have heard something called the Seasonal Rise. This is referring to the natural rise in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). During the end of Summer (peaking in September), your horse’s body is already preparing for Winter. Horses experience a natural increase in the production of ACTH from their pituitary glands, which is called a "seasonal rise". ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol. This seasonal rise can also cause fluctuations in insulin and glucose levels. 
For most horses, the seasonal rise is not a problem. However, it can be more difficult for older horses or those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as equine Cushing's disease. In these cases, the seasonal rise can lead to laminitis, a painful hoof disease, in the fall. 

What can you do? If your horse is overweight, diagnosed as insulin resistant (IR), had a previous laminitic flare, or has PPID, you need to go full tilt to prevent sugar consumption mode. This may mean removal from grass and/or the addition of a grazing muzzle. It should also be noted that horses who have PPID under control via Pergolide may need an increase in dose during this time. It is important to work closely with your veterinarian to be proactive.

Enjoy your horse as the temperatures cool off!

Blessings,
​Amy

​But also, be gracious…

Most of us have heard the phrase “Do your best until you know better, then do better.” But, one piece of that we often forget, it to be gracious and forgive ourselves for that time we didn’t know any better.

For decades, my horses wore metal shoes. That’s just what we did. I believed most performance horses had to wear metal shoes, so mine did as well. My beliefs began to change, and I learned better when I began to see over and over the cause of unresolved lameness coming from the hooves. So naturally, on a mission to learn more and help our horses, I delved into learning to trim and shoe my own horses.
At my first barefoot and composite shoeing education class was with Ida Hammer, I had a huge breakthrough about something I did not know I was carrying around.

During class, I would ask questions and preface the question with “I used to have metal shoes on my horses.” Finally, after a few of those questions with the preface, Ida looked at me, looked at the class, and said “Raise your hand if you have ever put metal shoes on your horse.” Literally almost every hand went up. At that moment, I realized two things. One, most horse people have put metal shoes on their horse at some point, and two, I had some guilt I was holding onto about harming my horse’s hooves. I had not realized that I had failed to be gracious with myself and forgive myself for past mistakes and ignorance. This realization helped me to move forward and truly be open to learning more to do better.

Is there something on our horse journey that you need to be gracious with yourself about? Is there a past belief or training method that you now know better, but you are holding onto some guilt? I encourage you to examine your heart to find it. Our horses know we are trying to constantly do the best we can for them.

When you know better, do better, and be gracious with yourself.
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Blessings,
Amy