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Understanding the Musculoskeletal System

The musculoskeletal system is a complex network of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provides support and enables movement in horses. In the podcast, April emphasized the significance of recognizing how each component interacts. For instance, they discussed how a minor issue in the ligaments can lead to larger problems in the horse’s mobility, illustrating the interconnectedness of the system.

Holistic Approaches to Horse Care

April advocated for a holistic approach to horse care, which considers not just the physical aspects but also the emotional and environmental influences on a horse’s well-being. They shared specific examples of how stress and anxiety can manifest physically, leading to musculoskeletal issues. By addressing these emotional factors, horse owners can improve their horses’ overall health and performance.

Practical Tips for Horse Owners

During the podcast, several practical tips were shared that horse owners can implement immediately. One recommendation was to incorporate regular stretching and warm-up routines before riding to prevent injuries. Additionally, the importance of proper nutrition was highlighted, with a focus on feeding practices that support muscle and joint health. For instance, the inclusion of Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet was suggested to promote anti-inflammatory benefits.

Case Studies and Success Stories

April recounted success stories from her program, showcasing how her holistic approach has transformed horses’ lives. One particular case involved a horse that had been struggling with chronic lameness. After a thorough assessment and implementation of a customized care plan, including physical therapy and environmental adjustments, the horse showed remarkable improvement. These real-life examples serve as powerful testimonials to the effectiveness of holistic care.

Key Takeaways

The podcast from Holistic Horseworks highlights the critical role of understanding the musculoskeletal system in horse care. By adopting a holistic approach that considers physical, emotional, and nutritional factors, horse owners can significantly enhance their horses’ health and performance. Key takeaways include the importance of regular physical assessments, integrating stretching routines, and focusing on nutrition tailored to musculoskeletal health.

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As the days grow shorter and the temperatures start to drop, it’s time for horse owners to start thinking about how to best care for their equine friends through the winter months. With the right preparation and proactive steps, you can help ensure your horse stays healthy, comfortable, and thriving all season long.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share six essential cold weather horse care tips straight from the experts at Holistic Horseworks. Whether you’re dealing with freezing temperatures, icy conditions, or relentless mud, these strategies will help you keep your horse happy and healthy through even the harshest of winters.

Blanket Horses at Night When Temperatures Drop Below 45 Degrees

As the temperatures start to dip, it’s important to pay close attention to your horse’s comfort and ability to stay warm. If a horse has to shiver to stay warm, they are burning extra calories just to maintain their body heat.

This can be especially problematic during the winter months when hay and grain prices are already high. By providing a blanket for your horse at night when temperatures drop below 45 degrees, you can help them conserve that precious energy.

Of course, the ability to blanket at night may depend on your specific situation. Some horse owners who board their horses or have multiple pens may find it challenging to put blankets on and take them off each day. In those cases, investing in an automatic, heated water trough may be a better solution.

The key is to monitor your local temperatures and your horse’s behavior closely. If you notice shivering or other signs they are struggling to stay warm, a lightweight blanket at night could make a big difference in their overall health and comfort through the winter months.

Make Sure Horses Have Access to Unfrozen, Lukewarm Water

Another critical component of cold weather horse care is making sure your equine friend has access to unfrozen, lukewarm water at all times. Not only is ice-cold water physically uncomfortable for the horse, but drinking it can actually discourage them from drinking enough. Horses that don’t consume adequate water are at higher risk of impaction colic, as the lack of hydration causes the digestive system to slow down.

But it can be a real hassle to constantly break through ice that forms on top of water troughs, especially if you have multiple pens to maintain. To combat this issue, try investing in an automatic, heated water trough. This will keep the water temperature around 45–50 degrees, making it much more palatable for your horse.

Here are a few water heaters I recommend trying:

This one works well for smaller water buckets.

You can also try adding a bit of salt or electrolytes to their water (I like Dynamite Dyna Spark electrolytes), which can further encourage drinking.

For those times when you can’t provide heated water, offering a warm mash can be helpful. The warm, wet feed will help increase your horse’s overall hydration levels. Just be sure to monitor their water intake closely during the winter months.

Provide Warm Mashes with Electrolytes and Supplements

In addition to ensuring access to lukewarm water, I like to offer my horses a warm mash as part of their winter feeding routine. This can be an effective way to get more fluids into their system, especially if they are reluctant to drink enough on their own

One of my favorite recipes is mixing a warm mash with ingredients like shredded beet pulp, timothy hay pellets, and a bit of an electrolyte supplement like Dynamite Dyna Spark. The warm temperature and added electrolytes can help stimulate thirst and keep the digestive system functioning properly.

For older horses or those prone to impaction colic, you can even try adding a small amount of Epsom salt or sea salt to the mash. This can help draw more water into the intestines and prevent blockages. Feeding a warm, hydrating mash a few times per week, especially before any strenuous exercise, can be a game-changer for your horse’s winter health and comfort. Just be mindful not to let the mash freeze before they can consume it.

Prioritize Hoof Care in Wet, Muddy Conditions

While keeping horses warm and hydrated is essential during the winter months, it’s also important to maintain hoof health, even in the face of challenging, wet, and muddy conditions.

I’ve seen horses’ hooves rot away due to constant exposure to unsanitary, moisture-laden environments. To combat this in the past, I’ve used a diluted bleach solution to kill off harmful bacteria and thrush—around 1 teaspoon in a 16 oz water bottle as a makeshift hoof treatment. However, now I prefer a more natural solution, like my Hoof, Hand, and Ting Miracle Spray.

For horse owners facing similar muddy situations, I suggest being extra diligent about regular hoof picking and cleaning so you don’t get to that point. You may also want to consider using a topical hoof treatment or ointment to help protect the delicate frog and prevent further deterioration. The Hoof, Hand, and Ting Miracle Spray is also great for this.

Neglecting hoof care can quickly lead to lameness, infections, and other serious issues. So be sure to make this a top priority, even when the weather makes it an unpleasant chore.

Keep Horses Moving to Maintain Circulation

It’s important to keep horses active and moving during the winter, especially older horses. As horses age, they can become stiffer and less inclined to get up and move around as much.

However, maintaining circulation and movement is crucial for their overall health and well-being. The “frog pump”—the natural pumping action that occurs when a horse walks—helps move toxins out of the legs and keep blood flowing.

To encourage horses to stay mobile, here are a few strategies:

• Provide a warm, comfortable place for them to rest that is off the cold, wet ground

• Incorporate light exercise and movement into their daily routine, even if it’s just walking around their stall or small paddock. You could also try the horse yoga routine

• Offer supplements or treatments that can help reduce joint stiffness and pain, like Dynamite Free and Easy

By making a conscious effort to keep horses active, you can help prevent circulation issues, muscle atrophy, and other problems that can arise from prolonged inactivity in the winter months

Support Your Horse’s Immune System Before Problems Start

Winter is already asking a lot from your horse’s body. They’re burning extra calories to stay warm, working harder to digest dry hay, dealing with less turnout and movement, and fighting off the cold.

Their immune system is working overtime just to keep them healthy under normal winter conditions. So when something else comes along, like a cut that won’t heal, a neighbor’s horse that comes back from a show with a cough, a batch of dusty hay, a routine vet visit, their system doesn’t have the reserves to handle it.

That’s when you see horses go downhill fast in winter. A small issue becomes a big one because their body is already maxed out.

I recommend Silver Lining Herbs Immune Support through the winter months to give their immune system backup when it’s already under stress. An immune support supplement is cheap insurance compared to dealing with respiratory issues, infections, or a horse that just can’t bounce back.

Prepare Your Horse for a Healthy, Comfortable Winter

As the temperatures start to drop and winter approaches, it’s important to take proactive steps to ensure your horse stays healthy, comfortable, and thriving through the colder months.

By following the six key tips outlined in this article—from blanketing at night to maintaining proper hoof care—you can help your equine friend conserve energy, avoid dangerous health issues like colic, and weather the winter season with ease.

Remember, every horse is unique, so be sure to monitor your individual animal’s needs and adjust your care routine accordingly. What works for one horse may not be the best solution for another.

With a little extra time and attention, you can help set your horse up for a safe, healthy, and comfortable winter.

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“What would you do if your horse was limping, colicking, or spooking—and no one could tell you why?”

That question lit a fire in April Love that would grow into a global mission: helping horse owners uncover the root causes of mystery lameness, behavioral issues, and chronic pain that traditional methods often miss.

Recently, April joined Kimberley on The Backyard Horse Enthusiast podcast to share her journey, from early passion and endurance riding to developing the revolutionary bodywork system that is now Holistic Horseworks.

From Endurance Rider to Equine Healer

April’s journey began like many others: a childhood love of horses, followed by a return in adulthood. But her story took a unique turn when she encountered recurring lameness issues during 50-mile endurance rides. Vets couldn’t pinpoint the cause. Adjustments wouldn’t hold. Treatments failed to last.

So April started asking deeper questions:

• Why does my horse keep getting pulled for mysterious lameness?

• What’s causing the hooves to grow unevenly?

• How can I fix this without relying solely on expensive treatments?

She began studying with healers and bodyworkers, combining everything she learned into a whole-horse system. The real teacher? Her little Arabian gelding, Tiki.

The Truth About First Ribs, Cranial Bones, and High-Low Hooves

April discovered that most horses are struggling with undiagnosed structural imbalances that develop as early as foalhood—long before they show symptoms. Things like:

• Misaligned first ribs affecting shoulder movement and hoof growth

• Compressed cranial bones from pulling back while tied, leading to metabolic issues like Cushing’s and Uveitis

• Unbalanced hind-end loading that contributes to tendon and suspensory injuries

These aren’t rare problems. They’re common—and fixable.

Empowering Horse Owners Through Education

What makes April’s approach unique is that she teaches horse owners how to become their horse’s best healer. Through hands-on clinics, online home study courses, and a growing archive of over 200 YouTube videos and bite-sized podcasts, April shares techniques that work—because they’re based on real results over decades of experience.

From resolving Uveitis without surgery, to transforming behavioral “problem horses” into calm companions, April’s stories are more than anecdotes—they’re evidence of what’s possible when we support the body’s ability to heal itself.

And the best part? You don’t need to be a vet, trainer, or therapist. You just need the right tools, a little guidance—and a deep love for your horse.

Learn more by watching April Love’s interview with Kimbery Ley on The Backyard Horse Enthusiast.

Ready to Start Helping Your Horse?

Start with April’s foundational training, Equine Musculoskeletal Unwinding, available to learn online with live 1:1 support. This step-by-step course teaches you how to release deep patterns of imbalance and pain—so your horse can move, feel, and live better.

Whether your horse is showing signs of discomfort or you simply want to deepen your connection and care, this program puts powerful tools in your hands.

Includes video lessons, downloadable workbooks, and a personalized distance reading from April herself.

Rather learn in-person? Check out our hands-on equine remedial therapy clinics, available all over the globe →

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Early bodywork can profoundly impact your foal’s development, ensuring they grow into healthy, balanced, and well-adjusted adults. Let’s talk about essential timing and techniques of early bodywork, helping you recognize signs of misalignment and understand the benefits of starting bodywork from a young age.

How Early Should You Start Doing Bodywork on Foals?

One of the most common questions I receive is about the timing of bodywork for horses. How early should we begin? The answer is simple: as early as possible. From my experience, the sooner we start addressing the physical imbalances in foals, the better their overall development and future performance will be.

During my work, I’ve seen foals as young as six weeks old showing signs of misalignment. For instance, I once encountered a six-week-old filly who was dangerously aggressive due to discomfort and misalignment in her body. After a session of gentle bodywork, this filly transformed into a calm and manageable young horse, highlighting how early intervention can prevent behavioral issues rooted in physical discomfort.

How do I know if my foal needs bodywork?

Foals can develop misalignments and compensations even from birth. These issues can stem from complications during the birthing process, early handling, or accidents like getting stuck under a fence. Common signs to watch for include:

Uneven gait or movement: A foal that always leads with the same leg when grazing might have a first rib misalignment.

Behavioral issues: Kicking, biting, or general unmanageability can often be traced back to physical discomfort.

Physical asymmetry: Noticeable differences in hoof shape or size can indicate underlying skeletal imbalances.

Techniques and Benefits of Foal Bodywork 

Working with foals requires a gentle touch. The techniques I use differ from those for adult horses and involve more of an “itchy-scratchy” approach. This method allows the foal to experience relief without the stress of forceful adjustments. In many cases, foals will return for more, recognizing the relief it brings.

For example, in a recent case, a three-month-old colt that was labeled a problem horse, kicking anyone who would come close, and refusing to be led by the halter showed amazing improvement after just one session of bodywork. By the end of our session, he was leading quietly next to his dam and showing none of the previous aggressive behavior. This transformation was a testament to the power of early intervention.

Starting bodywork early not only addresses immediate physical issues but also sets the foundation for a lifetime of health and harmony. Here are some benefits:

Improved training and handling: Foals that undergo bodywork are easier to handle and train. They are more willing and less likely to develop negative associations with training tools and environments.

Prevention of long-term issues: Addressing misalignments early prevents compensatory patterns that can lead to chronic issues later in life, such as kissing spine or tendon injuries.

Enhanced bond: Regular gentle handling through bodywork strengthens the bond between you and your foal, fostering trust and cooperation.

Learn How to Do Bodywork on Foals

Ready to start helping your foal or yearling with bodywork? Holistic Horseworks detailed video, “Bodywork for Foals and Yearlings,” provides step-by-step instructions, real-life examples, and practical tips to help you master these techniques. You’ll learn how to identify common misalignments, perform gentle adjustments, and ensure your young horse grows up healthy and balanced. Start your foal on the right path today, you have the power to transform their future!

Watch Instantly: Bodywork for Foals and yearlings *

We are very excited to bring you a unique video on how to work on foals and yearlings. This is information that is being missed in the equine industry, as most horse owners do not start bodywork until a horse is in training, or showing signs of body or lameness issues.

* Prerequisite: Level 1: Equine Musculoskeletal Unwinding clinic or home study course. 

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As the summer heat sets in, it’s important to consider your horse’s electrolyte needs. Proper electrolyte supplementation can help keep your horse happy, healthy, and performing their best even in the hottest weather. Discover the importance of electrolytes and get our top recommendation for the best electrolytes, along with tips on when and how to use them effectively.

What do electrolytes do?

Electrolytes are essential minerals—such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium—that play critical roles in maintaining various physiological functions in horses.

Regulate Fluid Balance

Electrolytes help maintain the balance of fluids inside and outside of cells. Sodium, in particular, is crucial for managing water distribution in the body. This balance is vital for hydration, which affects overall health and performance.

Support Muscle Function

Electrolytes are key to proper muscle function. Calcium and magnesium play a significant role in muscle contraction and relaxation. An imbalance can lead to muscle cramps, weakness, and reduced performance.

Facilitate Nerve Transmission

Electrolytes such as potassium and sodium are involved in transmitting nerve impulses. These impulses are essential for communication between the brain and muscles, affecting coordination and response times.

Maintain Acid-Base Balance

Electrolytes help maintain the body’s acid-base balance, which is crucial for normal cellular functions. Chloride, for example, works with bicarbonate to keep the blood at the proper pH level.

Support Energy Production

Electrolytes are involved in various metabolic processes, including energy production. For instance, phosphate is a component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of cells.

Why are electrolytes important?

Prevent Dehydration

During periods of intense exercise or travel, horses lose significant amounts of electrolytes through sweat. This loss can quickly lead to dehydration if not replenished. Dehydration impairs performance, reduces endurance, and can lead to serious health issues.

Optimize Performance

Adequate electrolyte levels are essential for maintaining peak physical performance. They help ensure that muscles function efficiently and recover quickly, which is crucial during competitions and long rides.

Enhance Recovery

Post-exercise, the replenishment of electrolytes aids in faster recovery by restoring fluid balance and supporting muscle repair. This helps your horse bounce back more quickly after strenuous activities.

Prevent Heat Stress

Electrolytes play a critical role in thermoregulation. During hot weather or intense exercise, proper electrolyte balance helps horses dissipate heat more effectively, reducing the risk of heat stress and related conditions.

Improve Overall Health

Beyond performance, electrolytes are fundamental to overall health. They support vital bodily functions that affect everything from digestion to cardiovascular health. Ensuring your horse has a balanced intake of electrolytes contributes to their long-term well-being.

Tips to Maintain Electrolyte Balance

When horses travel or engage in strenuous activities during work or competition, they lose significant amounts of electrolytes through sweat. This loss can lead to dehydration and compromised performance if not adequately managed. Signs of electrolyte imbalance include lethargy, muscle cramps, and reduced stamina, highlighting the critical need for supplementation.

Mix the Electrolytes with Water

One effective way to support your horse’s electrolyte balance is through the use of electrolyte supplements like Dynamite’s Dyna Spark. This specially formulated product provides a convenient and palatable way to replenish essential minerals before and after long hauls or demanding competitions.

I used to mix Dynamite Dyna Spark with water in a squirt bottle to give to my horse during endurance rides. This allowed for easy administration and ensured I could replenish electrolytes regularly during the ride. All I had to do was lean forward and squirt the bottle into my horse’s mouth to give him drink!

The other riders wondered how I could get my horse to take his electrolytes so easily, while they struggled to do so with theirs. The secret is in the taste. Dynamite Dyna Spark is a solution of raw, organic molasses that horses love. It’s also easy for them to ingest compared to traditional powdered electrolytes which can burn the mouth and esophagus.

Feed an Electrolyte Mash Mixture

Mix the recommended dosage of Dynamite Dyna Spark with shredded beet pulp, oat hay pellets, and warm water. Let it soak for several minutes to create an easy to digest, hydrating and enticing mash. Feed the mash to your horse the night before and after a competition or other strenuous activities.

When to give electrolytes

Ensuring your horse gets the right amount of electrolytes can make a significant difference in their overall health and performance. Here’s how you can incorporate electrolytes into their routine:

1-2x Weekly for Any Horse

Even if your horse isn’t regularly competing or undergoing intense training, providing electrolyte supplementation 1-2 times a week can still offer substantial benefits. This routine is especially advantageous for horses living in hot climates, where they are more likely to lose electrolytes through increased sweating. Consistent administration helps maintain their hydration levels and supports general well-being.

Daily for Physically Challenged Horses

For horses engaged in competition, sport, or physically demanding work, daily electrolyte supplementation is essential. The physical challenges these horses face lead to significant electrolyte loss, which, if not replenished, can impair performance and recovery. Daily supplementation ensures they remain hydrated, sustain muscle function, and achieve peak performance during competitions or work.

By integrating regular electrolyte administration into your horse’s care routine, you can ensure they stay hydrated, healthy, and ready to take on any challenge that comes their way. Whether it’s occasional supplementation for general well-being or daily doses for high-performance needs, the right electrolyte regimen can make all the difference.

The Best Electrolytes for Horses: Dynamite DYna Spark

Dyna Spark is a must for any horse that is being challenged physically. It provides a unique electrolyte balance as well as addresses the subtle physiological requirements of a working horse – be it training, competing, foaling, or even recovering from injury. Dyna Spark is free of refined sugar and contains nothing artificial.