Horses Grieve, Too. How to Help Them.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks, April retells a story about an incident in one of her clinics. Despite being told repeatedly to NOT tie the horse to the corral panels, one student did just that. When the horse spooked, the corral panel hit another student in the head and caused a small but bloody gash. While her students were wondering what to do, April stepped in to treat the wounded student.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, April Love shares helpful practices for caring for older horses. She offers information not only about supporting the symptoms of arthritis but even more importantly, preventative measures to keep it at bay for as long as possible. April also shares many other useful tips for aging equines such as choosing healthy feed to keep on weight, the importance of daily stretching, and even hoof care.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, host April Love delves into the often unseen environmental factors that can significantly affect a horse’s behavior, mineral assimilation, and overall immune system. Through insightful anecdotes and practical advice, April sheds light on how power lines, water sources, and even natural elements like trees out in the pasture can impact a horse’s well-being.

Horse care is more than just the physical— there's also an emotional component. Emotions can it directly affects the horse's behavior, performance, and overall health. It's also important to consider how the emotions of the owner can affect the emotions of the horse, and vice versa.

Join us in this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks with April Love as we explore the often-overlooked significance of the first mobility rib in equine anatomy. She sheds light on how misalignments of the first rib can lead to various issues with people such as thoracic outlet syndrome, frozen shoulder, tendonitis, bursitis, and carpel tunnel syndrome. So think about all the things it could be impeding your horse's freedom of movement in the front end. This is what starts the high-low hoof syndrome, horse not picking up right or left lead, mysterious lameness, kissing spine, behavioral issues, and even roaring in horses requiring expensive tie-back surgery.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, April offers guidance on helping your horse cope with the loss of a pasture mate. Horse's herd is their family, and the absence of a companion can be deeply distressing. While it's natural to want to replace the lost companion immediately, April suggests giving your horse space to grieve and process their emotions.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, April, addresses a question about a horse that refuses to pick up one of its hooves. If the horse is avoiding putting weight on one hoof, the focus should be on understanding why it’s uncomfortable shifting its weight rather than forcing the hoof to be lifted.

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, April Love discusses ways to handle moodiness in mares during the summer when they are cycling. The main concern is that the moody behavior may affect interactions with other horses, and impact performance at horse shows or events. By understanding the mare’s specific needs, balancing her hormonal system, and addressing any physical discomfort, it becomes possible to improve her behavior and overall well-being. Similar to humans, horses can become irritable when in pain.

A cow-hocked horse refers to a conformational issue where the horse's hocks are positioned closer together than normal when viewed from the rear. We'll explore why this happens and discuss ways to address and prevent such issues for a healthier, sound, and rideable horse.

Does your black horse fade to brown in the summer? In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Talks, April discusses how the color change is likely due to a copper deficiency in the horse’s diet. She suggests feeding the horse Dynamite Liquid Trace Minerals once a week to provide the necessary copper and prevent the fading of its black coat.