29/12/2024
Horses are pretty switched on when it comes to healing their bodies. They know what it needs. It's up to us to learn how to listen to what they are telling us.
I am currently working with a horse who is ill and doesn't have a huge appetite for a hard feed but much prefers to just eat the grass and hay. Now, our first response is normally, "if he won't eat it, we'll find a way to make him eat it". Adding more enticing ingredients to the feed such as molasses or sweet treats, isn't going to support what his body's system is trying to tell you. It's only sending that body into overdrive in order to try and digest it all. Sugar only makes things more complicated and I would try and avoid it at all costs! "It's just a little. It won't do anything," but I say, "a little every day adds up" and it's the adding up that counts. Let's not make more work but simplify things.
Slow down. Watch. Observe. Learn. Then act.
The hard feed I made was with clean ingredients and supportive herbs (same as what my horse Digger eats and loves) but this horse is telling me something isn't right in his body to eat this right now. His body is giving me clues as to where I need to look to truly help him.
Horses need fibre to survive. Their digestive system is made to digest and ferment fibre for energy and life.
If your horse is underweight - fibre
Dealing with ulcers - fibre
Stressed - fibre
Overweight - fibre
No fibre = no horse.
So, this horse that just wants the grass and hay makes me pretty happy, but the moment he stops eating altogether that's when we should worry. Another note, when your horse is fighting illnesses keep their protein and fat levels low. Cut out lucerne as it puts more work on the liver to produce bile to be able to digest that protein and fat. Their body needs rest from over work from digesting complex foods inorder for the body to focus on fighting their battle.
Got any questions? Send me a message or leave a comment 😊🐴
