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Warning: 10 Subtle Signs of Laminitis in Your Horse

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Laminitis is a painful disease that affects the hoofs of the horse. In medical terms, it is inflammation of the laminae (the soft tissues that attach the pedal or coffin bone to the hoof wall), which causes instability in the coffin bone and extreme pain.

Continue reading Warning: 10 Subtle Signs of Laminitis in Your Horse

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Here’s How You Can Get Your Kids Familiar with Horses

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It’s no secret that parenting is challenging, rewarding, and everything in between. When kids start growing up and developing their unique personalities, many parents struggle finding a way to spend more time and connect with them.

Continue reading Here’s How You Can Get Your Kids Familiar with Horses

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Do Horseshoes Hurt My Horse And Other Questions About Horseshoes You’ve Always Wanted To Ask

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Shoeing or shodding horses is a pretty common practice among horse owners. Horses have been wearing shoes for thousands of years. Some historians believe that we’ve been shoeing horses since the ancient Roman times.

Continue reading Do Horseshoes Hurt My Horse And Other Questions About Horseshoes You’ve Always Wanted To Ask
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Equine Aromatherapy: For Dressage Horses and Equine Athletes

beautiful girl with white horse

Equine aromatherapy is becoming accepted as a viable complimentary means of care, along with massage, chiropractic, acupressure, homeopathy, magnetic therapy, and therapeutic touch for horses.

Continue reading Equine Aromatherapy: For Dressage Horses and Equine Athletes

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Easy Steps For Natural Horse Hoof Care

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As the weather turns to wet and wintry it becomes increasingly important to pay attention to your horse’s hooves. Hooves are extremely sensitive and very vulnerable to injury, illness, and infection. Taking good care of the hooves helps to protect your horse from health issues while letting them lead a happy and active life. Here are some easy steps you can take every day to ensure their hoof health is supported.

Continue reading Easy Steps For Natural Horse Hoof Care
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What Should I Do If My Horse Is Hurt?

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No matter how careful we are, we all get injured sometimes. That includes our horses. Nothing is scarier than when your horse gets injured though. You want to do everything you can to make them feel safe and comfortable. Fortunately, with a little extra knowledge and the right tools, you can help. Here are the steps to take when your horse sustains any kind of injury from a mild scrape to a bone break.

Continue reading What Should I Do If My Horse Is Hurt?
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Breaking Down The Life Of A Horse

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When you get a horse, you will form a lifelong bond with them. From birth to their golden years, you will share many beautiful experiences. In order to help them have the best life possible, it’s important to provide care that is appropriate for their needs at every age. Here is everything you need to know about the life stages of a horse and how to provide care that will support a healthy, happy life no matter if they are a foal, yearling, or senior.

Continue reading Breaking Down The Life Of A Horse
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In Defense of Farriers

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About 20 years ago, I couldn’t find a good farrier. My trusted farrier’s back had finally given out and he was done. Farriers don’t grow on trees, and GOOD farriers are a rare bird. During a visit to ISU vet school, I asked their residential farrier if he knew someone that I might call to do my regular work. He said, “Well, I have a guy that you can call. He’s very good. He’s a Certified Journeyman Farrier, but he’s kind of prickly. He doesn’t get along with everyone. You might not like his personality.” I looked him square in the eye and said, “Listen. I don’t need a great guy. I need a great farrier.” He gave me the man’s number and he has been my farrier for almost 20 years.

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Four Natural Herbs To Improve Your Horse’s Health

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Too often today, horse owners use mass-produced synthetic products to care for their animals. The use of these products has created numerous health hazards for horses. Horses are now more prone to conditions indicative of poisoning. As a horse owner, you should, whenever possible, want to use products that are 100% natural and safe for horse consumption.

Horses have adapted over the many centuries to self medicate using the herbs and plants they could forage in their natural environment. As owners we can make use of this instinct to help our horses by supplementing beneficial plants into their feed, or even better, by encouraging these plants to grow wild in your pasture. Below, you’ll find four natural herbs that I recommend.

Continue reading Four Natural Herbs To Improve Your Horse’s Health
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The Best Horse Habitat

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Domesticated horses live very differently than horses in the wild. In order to give your horse their best life, you need to do what you can to create a comfortable habitat that meets all of these natural needs. Although many of us do not have the land or the resources to perfectly recreate a natural environment, there are still many things we can do to create a healthy habitat where your horse will be safe, happy, and live a comfortable life. As someone who believes in the power of nature, I believe the best place to start is to look at how wild horses live. Continue reading The Best Horse Habitat

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Focus on the Basics

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I am giving a lesson. We are working on the flying changes of lead. We are building toward the changes that the horse already knows, but as we progress in the lesson, the horse not only acts like he has no idea what his rider wants, but he is starting to act irritated. I hop on to evaluate what the problem may be. Is the horse being naughty; is his back sore? What is going on? I start the canter work, balance the horse and perform the changes without much problem. We trade places and the student asks: Continue reading Focus on the Basics

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Ways To Protect The Skin Of Your Horse

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It’s really important to think about the health of your horse’s skin. Weather changes can wreak havoc on your horse’s delicate skin. So can being out in the pasture all day, where it is exposed to the elements. Luckily there are some simple things you can do to ensure your horse’s skin is protected. Continue reading Ways To Protect The Skin Of Your Horse

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Boosting Your Horse’s Health

As a horse owner, the most important thing to me is my horses’ overall health. I want them to live a long, happy, and fulfilling life. Over the years, I’ve become more and more focused on ways to support a healthy lifestyle for my horses. From making simple adjustments to their daily diet, to developing a line of natural horse care products, I have spent hours researching and speaking with other horse owners. Along the way, I have learned a lot and I wanted to take some time to share what I’ve learned with you. Here are my key tips for helping you boost your horse’s overall health and wellbeing. Continue reading Boosting Your Horse’s Health

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Horse Hooves: A Beginner’s Guide

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If you’re considering getting a horse or are a first time horse owner, one of the more important aspects of their care is hoof maintenance. A horse’s hooves provide the foundation of a healthy life. Without healthy hooves, horses cannot walk, run, or carry. Horses can also get specific illnesses that enter through weak or damaged hooves. Thus, the best way to keep your horse healthy and happy is through routine hoof maintenance. In order to help first time horse owners, we’ve put together this guide that includes details about what hooves are, what kind of damage they can incur, and how to care for them. Let’s get started!

Continue reading Horse Hooves: A Beginner’s Guide
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More Thoughts on Effective Horse Grooming

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Horse lovers across the globe are well aware of the joys of getting to own their own horse. Without a doubt, horses are lovely creatures. They are faithful, they are agile, and they are beautiful. If you happen to be a landowner or live somewhere in the country, you’ll be aware of the pleasures of riding your equine friend during lazy summer evenings.

But, as with any pet, there is a lot consider before making the commitment to buying a horse, and you need to make sure you can provide the space, money and, above all else, time the horses in your care deserve. Continue reading More Thoughts on Effective Horse Grooming

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Are Essential Oils Effective For Horse Care?

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With the hustle and bustle of modern life, there are few things that get us outdoors or communing with our environment like having a horse. The longer I’m a horse owner, the more I understand how important this connection is for our health and well-being. As a result, I’ve been on a journey to live in a more natural way. This journey is what led me to the power of essential oils and their application in all areas of my life, including my horse’s care. Continue reading Are Essential Oils Effective For Horse Care?

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What To Do With A Wounded Horse

Horses have a highly refined sense of “fight or flight.” Unfortunately, when that instinct is triggered they will react no matter the cost, even if it means injuring themselves. Horses also spend a lot of time outdoors, running, and playing through the fields where they are exposed to all kinds of injury risks like sharp twigs, rocks, and even other animals. Even though they are incredibly graceful, any horse owner will tell you they can be very clumsy sometimes. That clumsiness can cause injury. In short, horses are very accident prone. So it is important that as a horse owner you understand what to do if they get injured. Here are my tips. Continue reading What To Do With A Wounded Horse

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Adopt Effective Habits of Expert Horse Groomers For Best Results

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Do you ever wonder how expert horse groomers achieve great results? Well, having witnessed and worked with a few amazing horse groomers, I can tell you that great groomers are not born but they are made through consistency, technique, and by using the right products. If you want to achieve similar results, even as a novice groomer, I recommend these top habits. By replicating their ways, you too can achieve expert quality horse grooming. Continue reading Adopt Effective Habits of Expert Horse Groomers For Best Results

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Professional Grooming Tips and Tricks for a Beautiful and Healthy Horse

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We all have a routine we use when we groom our horse, but many of us are left wondering why our horse’s coat, mane, and tail don’t ever look as wonderful and healthy as we would like them to. We spend lots of time putting work in, but are never fully satisfied with the results. Many times, we find ourselves asking: what’s missing? Continue reading Professional Grooming Tips and Tricks for a Beautiful and Healthy Horse

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How To: Take Care of Your Horse’s Hooves

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Cleaning out your horse’s hooves is important for several reasons. It is an essential part of a good horse care routine. It’s a step that needs to be done frequently and when done properly will keep your horse healthy and happy and free to trot along without any pain or risk of thrush! Continue reading How To: Take Care of Your Horse’s Hooves

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Horse Grooming Challenges: Tail Rubbing

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Grooming is one of the most wonderful experiences you can share with your horse. It’s a time to show care and bond, and revel in their shiny coats. Sometimes though, even the most bonded horse and owner can run into grooming problems. This series addresses common horse grooming challenges, and today we are covering tips to help with tail rubbing. Continue reading Horse Grooming Challenges: Tail Rubbing

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Horse Grooming Challenges: Tangled Tails

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Grooming is one of my favorite things about being a horse owner. It’s a wonderful time to connect, bond, and show your care. However, sometimes grooming time isn’t all sunshine and roses. Even a master horse groomer can run into challenges and this series aims to address some of these challenges. Today I’d like to address another common issue: tangled tails. Continue reading Horse Grooming Challenges: Tangled Tails

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Horse Grooming Challenges: Bath-Time Battles

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Welcome to my series on horse grooming challenges. In each post, I cover one of the most common challenges I hear from my customers. In this post, I’m going to cover bath-time battles because sometimes ornery horses just don’t want to get a bath. Even professional groomers struggle with bath-time battles sometimes, so don’t worry. It’s definitely something that can be overcome with patience. Continue reading Horse Grooming Challenges: Bath-Time Battles

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Keeping Your Horse’s Coat White

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We’ve all dreamed of having a white horse at some point in our lives. They are absolutely majestic and create a sense of fantasy when you see them galloping through the fields. Though undeniably beautiful, it is not a dream to care for a white coat. White coats are prone to staining, yellowing, and looking dull and dirty. However, there are a few grooming tricks you can do to keep your horse’s coat shiny, bright, and white. Continue reading Keeping Your Horse’s Coat White

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Natural Hoof Soaks

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There is nothing more fun than going for a mani-pedi with your friends. For your horse, a mani-pedi can actually be beneficial to their health, especially in the fall and springtime when the combination of wet weather and changing temperatures can see dangerous microbes thrive. At these times, horses may be at risk of picking up a nasty fungus or bacterial infection on their hooves which can cause deterioration of the hoof and pain when standing or walking. To help prevent these issues we recommend a microbe-busting natural hoof soak. Continue reading Natural Hoof Soaks

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Horse Massage with Essential Oils

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Massage isn’t just a great way to relieve equine joint and muscle pain, it can also be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your horse. Learning a few effective massage techniques can help relieve tension and pain, reduce anxiety before a show, and just generally help your horse unwind. Adding the soothing power of essential oils can make the massage experience even better.

Here are four techniques to help introduce your horse to the benefits of massage: Continue reading Horse Massage with Essential Oils

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How To Relieve Rain Rot Naturally

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Rain Rot is a type of bacterial infection that can be triggered by prolonged exposure to moisture and rising temperature. Rain Rot can become an issue for horses during wet months of the year, and while most owners will turn to the various chemical potions on the market to help treat it, I prefer a natural approach using essential oils. Continue reading How To Relieve Rain Rot Naturally

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Horse Show Anxiety

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Do you tend to show horses that perform at events such as hunter/jumper shows, dressage events, breed shows or westerns? Have you experienced the problem of extreme anxiety in the horse? Believe it or not, aromatherapy may be the answer. Continue reading Horse Show Anxiety

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Preparing For Long-Distance Travel

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Horses are herd animals that are used to open plains. When confined in small spaces without adequate companionship or exercise, it can be an immensely stressful experience for them. Travel can be extremely disruptive to their natural needs, but with a few tips, you can help prepare them for their journey so it is not traumatizing. Continue reading Preparing For Long-Distance Travel

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Introducing Aromatherapy To Your Foal

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This springtime did you have the pleasure of watching your beloved mare become a mother and meeting their new baby for the first time? Caring for a foal can be a wonderful experience, and now that the first few months are through, the time has come to start training, which means it’s the perfect time to introduce the young horse to essential oils.. Continue reading Introducing Aromatherapy To Your Foal

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HOW TO: Keep Cool and Comfortable All Summer

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There are a lot of irritants in the summer. The blazing sun and allergens can be tough on your horse’s skin. Also, in the summer months there are irritating pests everywhere. With the summer months fast approaching, now is the time to put together a strategy to keep your horse cool and comfortable. Equi-Spa offers a couple products that can help battle against these summer irritants. Continue reading HOW TO: Keep Cool and Comfortable All Summer

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Must-Have Products For Every Stable

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Each horse is truly one-of-a-kind and will have unique grooming and wellness needs. When people are first starting out with Equi-Spa products, they often ask me what they should buy. I usually have a wonderful conversation about their needs and what their horses are like. Once I get to know them a little better, I’ll make recommendations from there.

I’m always happy to help you find the perfect product for your horse, but I thought I’d make a list of products that I recommend keeping in every stable to help you start your journey. Continue reading Must-Have Products For Every Stable

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HOW TO: Intimate Cleaning

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Equi-Spa recommends cleaning your horses sheath twice a year, Spring and Fall. Spring cleaning is necessary because during the cold winter male horses do not like to drop all the way, so natural cleansing is limited. As responsible horse owners we like to start the winter with clean sheaths for the same reason, so a Fall cleaning is recommended. Continue reading HOW TO: Intimate Cleaning

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Stretch for Success!

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Updated  5/7/2018

Preparing your horse for dressage takes a lot of dedication. Dressage is both a physically and mentally demanding sport, and one of the best things you can to do prepare is to incorporate stretching as part of your grooming routine. Also regular, gentle stretching can help maintain the health and mobility of any horse throughout its life, so keep reading even if your horse is not a competitor. Continue reading Stretch for Success!