What’s the first horse keeping practice that benefits the overall health of the horse?
Imagine that you’ve just walked out to your barn or you’ve arrived at your boarding facility excited to spend time with your horse. She whinnies for you and as you approach her stall she tries so hard to stick her cute nose through the bars to greet you.
As you pull her out of the stall, she steps out somewhat stiff as she usually does. You don’t think anything of it because you’re use to this and you may even think it’s normal.
As equine caregivers, we often wonder if what we’re doing for our horses is really in their best interest.
Could it be possible that your horse keeping is inferior and your horse is really trying to tell you something? What your horse is probably trying to tell you is that you’re breaking the first rule of natural horse care.
Inferior Horse Keeping
Most equine caregivers would love to optimize their horse keeping practices, but first it’s important to be aware of the warning signs that point to inferior horse keeping.
So, here are 7 warning signs to cause you to rethink your horse keeping strategies and create a positive shift in mindset.
These 7 warning signs are all a side effect of one single ingredient that is missing from most equine horse keeping programs.
Movement.
Along with movement comes increased circulation throughout the body.
Stalled horses can’t move enough to keep adequate circulation. Add on top of that a horse being shod and we have further significantly decreased circulation.
What does this mean to you?
You have created a horse who…
- Gets stiff
- Has poor hoof quality
- Requires more frequent hoof care = increased hoof care bills
- Has muscles and ligaments that lose tone
- Has increased probability of injury
- Is more prone to illness and increased vet bills
- Has increased displaced behavior (i.e. cribbing, weaving, aggression, etc.)
THINK THE OPPOSITE of what you think is “NORMAL”
I’ve come to realize over the years that most of the lessons I teach have a lot to do with a mind shift. That mind shift usually requires you to THINK THE OPPOSITE of what you think is normal by domestic horse standards.
So what’s the opposite of my 7 warning signs list above?
A horse who is allowed to move constantly through the day AND night will by default ….
- Minimize or eliminate stiffness (especially in barefoot horses)
- Have increased hoof quality (in barefoot horses)
- Require very little trimming (in barefoot horses) = decreased hoof care bills
- Have muscle and ligaments that are toned and well developed
- Have decreased incidences of injury
- Be less prone to illness and have minimal vet bills
- Create a more physically, mentally and emotionally balanced equine companion where displaced behavior doesn’t exist
Again, the common denominator of inferior and optimal horse keeping is movement.
So, does any of this sound like you and your horse?
Non-traditionally yours,
Stephanie Krahl
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Natural Horse Care Coaching
If you need help understanding more about natural horse care or natural boarding, check out our consulting and coaching services.
About Stephanie Krahl
Super article. Movement is so critical to the well being of the horse and indeed to virtually all animals.
In the words of the old song, “..fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly….” If Jerome Kern had thought of it he would have added “… horses gotta run, gallop, trot and generally gambol..” Movement is an imperative. I’ve observed a few animals, mostly but not solely canines, who were regularly confined for long periods. All of them developed behavioral and personality issues.
I hope this article reaches many and that they make any needed adjustments.
Hello GT. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for your support of Soulful Equine.
You bring up a very good point about other animals… it’s not just about the horse when it comes to movement. In my mind, it’s critical to set up an environment for our animals that closely mimics their natural habitat. The horse industry, as a whole, is really behind the times in that department and hopefully over time and through education we can change that mind set.
Thanks so much for your time.