Natural horse care has become a popular approach for maintaining a healthy, vibrant equine whose dignity and spirit are also fully intact.

These three areas – health, dignity, and spirit – are rarely balanced in the domesticated equine, especially if the human has competitive goals.

Before going much further, it’s important to define what natural horse care is and why it’s so different from other approaches to horse care.  The answer to those questions can vary and there’s no “one right answer.”  Therefore, I’m going to focus on Soulful Equine’s approach and perspective when it comes to this subject.

First and foremost, it’s important to understand horses from their point of view and honor their natural state.  In reality, there’s nothing “natural” about keeping horses domesticated.  Instead, think of it this way:

Natural horse care embodies the concepts you implement in order to maintain a consistently healthy horse in mind, body and spirit, which results in quality of life and longevity.”

Although some may argue this ideal is not possible with a domesticated horse, it is obtainable. It all depends on you and your answers to these three basic questions:

1. Can you put ego aside?
2. Do you care about your horse’s over-all well-being, quality of life and longevity?
3. Do you understand your own core values and, most importantly, do you align with them?

Those are some loaded questions for the human, especially if you have high-level goals for you and your equine partner.

For many people, goals are more important than aligning with their core values.  If that’s the case, natural horse care is not an option for your equine partner.  However, if you choose to align your core values with your goals and, at the same time, provide your horse with what she needs to thrive, then natural horse care is a viable option.

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

A common term that floats around natural horse care circles is wild horse model.  Put simply, it means modeling an environment for the domesticated equine that mimics that of a wild horse’s habitat.

This concept can vary because there’s no “one” wild horse model. There are models which are more optimal for the domesticated horse, but there isn’t just one.

Most know of the term wild horse model as it relates to natural hoof care, but in reality the horse’s hoof is a by-product of it’s environment.

The model that most are familiar with is based on horses who live in harsh desert lands. The plant sources are dry and usually low in nutrient content.

Other wild horses, like those in the marshes of France, may live in wet environments with an abundance of varied plant sources.

That’s two examples of varied environments.  There’s an abundance of knowledge we can obtain from learning about the variety of wild horse habitats.  Horses are adaptable and that’s why they have survived for millions of years.

One criticism of natural horse care is that it attempts to mimic how horses live in the wild and it’s impossible to reproduce that habitat in domestication. This is, to some degree, a true statement.

It is, however, our responsibility as our horses’ care giver to give them every opportunity to experience life as close as possible to how their wild counterparts live. Why would you want to do this?

It’s a well known fact that zoos decided to design more natural habitats to promote an animal’s well-being. This is not a new concept. It’s actually so old it’s new again.

Horses, by nature, are designed to move continuously (24/7) – seeking out food and water – and to continuously eat small amounts of forage. They’re also one of the most social of creatures; therefore, socialization is critical to their well-being. As they move, they are capable of forging a beautifully shaped natural bare hoof that functions optimally for their body and terrain.

Given these few simple facts I shared with you about wild horses, consider these questions – Why do humans …

1. Keep horses in stalls?
2. Put metal shoes on a horse’s hooves?
3. Feed horses highly processed food stuffs?
4. Restrict food to two or three large meals per day?
5. Restrict continuous movement, allowing horses access to only a small confined area like a 12×12 stall?
6. Not allow equine companionship, instead isolating horses in stalls?

The horse industry is way behind the times when it comes to promoting a horse’s overall health, well-being, quality of life and longevity. In most cases, what appears to be this beautiful, healthy, domesticated equine is just a facade and an illusion.

When you take away the superficial approaches to horse care and begin to apply the principles of natural horse care, your horse has a greater chance of thriving versus just surviving in their domesticated, human world.  It’s your responsibility as your horse’s guardian to give her every opportunity to thrive.

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Picture Credit

Have you ever compared a picture of a domesticated horse to one of her wild counter-parts?

Can you tell which horse is wild and which isn’t at first glance?

I can easily spot a picture of a wild horse. There’s a different look about them that’s not superficial or defeated and doesn’t cry “my spirit is gone.”

Just because a horse is domesticated, doesn’t give humans the right to strip them of their dignity and spirit for personal gain.

So, you may ask, why have horses in the first place if we’re not going to do anything with them? Or you may say, it’s common knowledge that you put horses in stalls, metal shoes on their hooves, and give them buckets of sweet feed.

It’s unfortunate that what most consider common knowledge about horses goes completely against their nature.”

What isn’t common knowledge is horse keeping naturally – that which lines up with a horse’s true nature – like they would live in the wild.

“Like they would live in the wild” is a foreign concept for most people.

The reason the concept is foreign is because humans have decided that horses must conform to the human’s environment.

A valid question is, “Horses are adaptable, so why wouldn’t you want them to adapt to the human’s environment?”

Playing devil’s advocate – you do want them to adapt. However, you don’t want them to adapt in such a way that degrades their health, well-being, dignity, and spirit, nor do you want to deprive them of a life of quality and longevity.

This type of counter-productive adaptation is the most dangerous threat to your horse’s health.

The best way to understand natural horse care is this:

Treat a horse like a horse not how humans think a horse should be treated.”

In order to adhere to this key principle, you must first understand your horse from her point of view.

Natural horse care is a subject that is simple, yet foreign, to most. That’s why it’s usually – at first – misunderstood and it’s difficult to grasp the principles that give your horse every opportunity to thrive.

Once you understand the principles of natural horse care, you can begin to gradually incorporate and adjust to those concepts. Over time, you’ll take the concepts I share with you and create a natural horse care program that lines up with your goals and your core values.

You may find that some of these concepts work for you and some don’t, but as you make those decisions, keep in mind that they do work for your horse.

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Photo credit

Ransom, Stephanie and Faith

Picture this – you walk out to halter your horse. She doesn’t offer to come to you so you decide to try the “bucket of grain” bribe technique.

As you shake the bucket to make a little noise, your horse looks up, pointing her ears toward you. Then she goes about her business – ignoring you and continuing to eat grass. You think to yourself, “I’ve seen people get their horse to run to them. How come mine won’t do that? I have a bucket of grain. Isn’t that enough?”

As the time passes, you still haven’t caught her (or better yet your horse hasn’t caught you). Frustration and anger build. Every time you approach your horse she runs away.

Why? Your anger becomes more obvious, not only to your equine companion, but to the neighbors who decide to sit on their back porch to watch. When you finally catch your horse, you’re so angry you start to blame her. From there it’s all downhill.

It Shapes Your Relationship

Did you know that a horse can cause you to feel and express every human emotion imaginable? Not only that, but your emotions drive the quality of your relationships. It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship – mother, daughter, son, husband, wife, close friend, co-worker, or your equine partner.

The force that shapes how your horse responds to you – whether negatively or positively – is the force that shapes your relationship with her. That force is emotion. Becoming the person your equine companion needs you to be will result in you learning how to become emotionally fit.

The Meaning of Emotional Fitness

What is emotional fitness? The definition of emotional fitness may be quite different for different people.

To me, it’s about being in present time – in the moment. It’s about not allowing my emotional energy to be used or expressed in a counterproductive manner. When it comes to horses, it’s about your emotions and feelings and how you react to situations that affect your equine companion.

Horses are highly perceptive and easily tune into your intentions and emotions. That’s why developing your emotional fitness not only can keep you safer around horses but can also allow you to deepen your relationship with your equine partner.

The difference between an emotionally fit person and an unfit one is the ability to bounce back quickly from negative emotions.” ~ John Gray, psychologist and author - Known for the book, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

An Essential Ingredient

Emotional fitness is not optional when you have horses in your life. It’s one of the most critical ingredients of good horsemanship.

The truth, if you have horses in your life, is you’ll become emotionally fit because you have to – it’s a necessity. Those who choose not to will usually sell their horse, become frustrated, resort to abuse at various levels, or get out of horses all together. There’s either no relationship or a disconnected one. Both types result in some form of force versus a willing partnership.

Emotional fitness is about balancing key emotions your equine partner appreciates and needs, which can result in mutual respect, love and, at the same time, responsiveness.

With it you have few issues or “bad horse days” – you’re confident, controlled, and you’re not reactive – rather you’re able to think and access your rational problem solving skills in the most critical of situations.

Without it, you’re not prepared for a multitude of situations that tend to happen with horses – instead, fear takes over, you panic and crumble, which is not good for you or your horse. This type of response can cause your horse to tune into everything else but you, which is not what you want.

What Your Horse Wants and Needs

Have you ever seen the 1998 movie, Six Days Seven Nights?

It stars Harrison Ford, as Quinn , and Anne Heche, as Robin. The gist of the movie is they become stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere. There’s a scene in that movie I love where Quinn becomes frustrated and a little emotionally unstable. Throughout the movie, Ford’s character radiates a confident energy that says, “Follow me, I’ll get you off this island.” Even though he knew more likely the opposite would happen.

There finally came a point where he had a brief emotional breakdown. Robin put her hands on his shoulders, looked him in the eyes and said. “I need you to be my confident captain. I can’t tell you how difficult this is gonna be for me … if you lose it.”

The next time you’re with your horse, think of that movie scene. Your equine partner is no different. She needs her confident, emotionally fit captain.

Put yourself in that same situation. Would you rather feel alone and lost or be with someone like Quinn? Your horse feels the same way.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to emotional fitness and deepening your relationship with your equine partner:

You Have to Earn It

To have that close relationship with your horse I know you desire, emotional fitness is required.

Desire doesn’t equal an outcome unless you take action – you have to work on becoming the person your horse needs. Much like the equine in the herd that everyone likes hanging out with. She’s respected and loved but at the same time, other herd members will listen to her, walk by her side, and fully trust her. That didn’t come over night, she earned it!

It’s not about domination, being pushy, being a constant nag, nor is it just all about love.

Emotional fitness doesn’t come over night; it’s a process and is a talent you’ll continue to fine-tune over a lifetime of study with horses.  As an added benefit, you’ll enhance the intimacy level in any relationship, especially the one with your equine companion.

As for the person wanting to catch her horse, her horse catches her instead. No need for bribing or chasing her horse around the pasture.

The first step in developing emotional fitness is awareness. Start this week and create a positive habit of observing your level of emotional fitness when you’re around your horse. Don’t change anything, simply observe.

If you’re up for the task, take it a step further and also notice how your horse responds to you and rate your level of emotional fitness ranging from 1 to 10 – 10 being the best.

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

Medieval Times

Think back for a moment. What caused you to believe that barefoot is best for your horse?

I bet that once you invoked your critical thinking skills, and became knowledgeable about the subject, there was no turning back. As a result, you realized you had to learn continuously, become a thinker and a problem solver.

Since you believe bare is better for your equine partner, do you occasionally run into someone who thinks you’re high on drugs? Crazy? A tree hugger?

At first, human nature takes over – your ego surfaces and you’re ready for battle.

Once the dust settles, you take a step back to see things from their point of view. Plus, you were once in their shoes (no pun intended).  You think, “They love their horse, too.”

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”  ~ Elbert Hubbard

Once ego’s out of the way, you do your best to see both sides, think rationally and without judgment. You come to the conclusion that they believe in nailing iron shoes on a horse as much as you believe in barefoot.

Stop Preaching This Nonsense

I felt compelled to share a comment with you that I received from a reader. As you read through it, note the multitude of issues with the situation and the equine guardian’s choices.

My intent is not to pick on anyone but merely to highlight the difficulties many horse guardians face, especially when choosing between barefoot and nailing on metal shoes.

What do you think about this reader’s dialog, attitude, and message? A clue – there’s a lot going on here.

From this comment I see someone who needs to acquire more knowledge, is frustrated, and has many limiting beliefs when it comes to horses.

No one wants to feel dis-empowered, downgraded, or made to feel bad that they’re not doing what’s best for their horse. I’m a firm believer in setting great examples, taking ego out of the equation, and not taking something like this personally. We’re all learning, growing, and evolving, plus, we’ve all been there.

On that note, what we know today can change tomorrow.

Simply put, the method of nailing an iron shoe onto a horse’s hoof is nothing more than medieval at best. It’s called evolution for a reason. You evolve or you’re left behind.”

Metal Shoes Nailed onto a Horse’s Hoof Cause Damage

It’s a fact that the horse’s hoof is damaged by metal shoes. However, what most don’t understand is that poor barefoot care is also damaging. I’m 100% about keeping a horse barefoot, but only if it’s done in a responsible manner.

Some believe that just certain horses can go barefoot, as Chelsea stated in her comment. This is a true statement. There are equine guardians who feel there’s a need to nail on a metal shoe. However, it’s the human’s need not the horse’s need.

Traditional Horse Keeping Methods Work Against Your Horse

I pulled the shoes on my equine companions more than 10 years ago (2002) – I haven’t nailed on a metal shoe since. From there, it’s been a never-ending experience of discovering the power of working with a horse’s innate, basic needs vs. against them.

Nailing on a metal shoe is one human need that works against the horse.

As an equine guardian, we’re led to believe that traditional ways of horse keeping are best. However, 99.99% of those methods work against the horse rather than for her.

Unfortunately, the sh– doesn’t hit the fan until you have a horse who opens your eyes to a better way. You either give up on that horse or you choose to seek more knowledge. Some of the most successful people in history failed multiple times before success became apparent.

As for the performance horse, read on.

The Performance Horse Barefoot Myth

It’s a common myth that horses need metal shoes for recreational riding as well as for performance events. What most people don’t understand is that the barefoot horse has a competitive edge over the shod horse. Here are a few examples – better traction, they can feel the ground, and they have better circulation throughout their entire body.

This can result in a more energetic, stronger, happier, healthier equine, with reduced lameness issues. Not to mention all the other benefits of having a sound, barefoot horse.

The fact is – horses were not intended to participate in performance events the human has created. Another fact, take the human out of the equation and the horse would not develop many of the common lameness issues we see in domestication.

As an equine guardian, you must be dedicated to your horse’s overall well-being and health first – barefoot is part of that equation.

The Horse Who Needs Hoof Protection

I believe in helping a horse grow the healthiest hoof she can. In my experience, the best way to do that is without nailing on a metal shoe. That doesn’t mean the horse won’t ever need protection.

Some situations in which protection might be needed include:

• During transition from shoes to barefoot
• Working on terrain that’s different than where the horse lives
• Rehabilitating a horse who had significant damage from wearing metal shoes for most of her life

If your equine partner needs temporary protection (note the word temporary) technology has advanced drastically. So much so, that there is no longer a reasonable excuse for nailing on a metal shoe.

One situation some will say requires metal shoes is the reining horse who needs sliders on the hind hooves. I, however, would argue that the amount of damage that particular event can do to a horse’s body is not worth it.

It’s a Management Philosophy

To have a successful barefoot experience, you must have a management philosophy that puts the horse’s needs first. Their needs must be a priority over convenience. In order to have a sound barefoot horse, you have to be prepared to commit to horse care management modifications.

Their longevity and quality of life must be put above the equine guardian’s ego and ambitions. (Note to self: longevity and quality of life need not be mutually exclusive.)

As I stated in my book, having a barefoot horse is not for every human. In those cases, it’s best to nail on a metal shoe simply because the human doesn’t want to do what’s needed to keep the horse sound, barefoot.

Some horses are more compromised than others or have more hoof damage – usually due to the human’s management philosophy – not any fault of the horse. Therefore, knowledgeable, competent care is required.

A Barefoot Horse is Not Convenient for The Human

It took me a long time to realize this:

Most equine guardians are not willing to make changes to their horse care program, despite the fact that those changes would improve their equine partner’s overall health and well-being.”

The domesticated horse faces a multitude of health challenges that the wild horse never encounters. This is a clue for the human to step up to the plate and do what’s best for the horse not just what’s convenient – nailing on metal shoes is a convenience.

A key goal is to Help Your Horse Thrive™ despite domestication – that’s my philosophy.

What I’ve shared with you doesn’t imply you shouldn’t ride your equine companion or participate in performance events. However, in order to have a horse that is stronger in mind, body and spirit, it does require changing your equine care philosophy – AND putting it in to practice.

The result? You just may win your horse’s heart and possibly a competition or two.

In the end, a barefoot horse is “not convenient” for the human, but barefoot is what’s best for every horse.

I respect a person’s right to nail metal shoes onto their horse’s hooves.  I don’t respect the decision.

In return, I expect the same respect for the barefoot industry and for those who choose to do what it takes to maintain a sound and healthy barefoot horse.

I’d love to hear your barefoot horse challenges, discoveries and success stories. Share them with our community in the comments section.

In the meantime, here’s something to think about:

A horse who’s only sound in shoes is not a sound horse.”  ~ Steve Dick

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Photo Credit

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.” ~ Unknown

I hate to tell you this – but you are not normal. How do I know? Because you’re reading this article. You’re looking for a place to belong, feel accepted and have a voice.

You feel deeply for the horse. She pushes you to become more informed, not only for her well-being, but for you to develop your critical thinking skills. Developing these essential skills can allow you to feel confident in making informed decisions.

I know how you feel. Finding a place where you fit in can be difficult. Especially when you continue to encounter individuals who are extremists.

I’ve observed a common pattern in the horse industry where people are unaccepting of anything else other than what they’re evangelizing. This results in closed minds, criticism and rejection, not to mention downright hateful commentary.

If you accidentally wander into the territory of the true evangelist, you’re likely to become chastised, downgraded, and picked apart like a turkey on Thanksgiving Day. When you are not careful with whom you interact, these types of people can cause your emotions to get the best of you.

Learning to Read a Situation Can Reap a Multitude of Benefits

It’s important to learn to accurately read the people you choose to associate with when it comes to horses. They don’t have to agree with you on every subject, but their core values and belief systems must line up with yours.

The relationship must include mutual respect. Remember these simple words of wisdom – everyone has something to contribute, you’re unique and your experiences are yours and only yours. No experience and situation is exactly the same.

There are no experts, only differing schools of thought, and people with a variety of experiences and levels of knowledge.”

There are many different ways to achieve the same or similar outcome, so be a voice for your horse, without becoming an extremist on either side of the fence. Not often do you find opinions that advocate balance versus extremism.

Play a Bigger Role in Your Horse’s Well-Being and Yours

Sometimes I’ll notice a true seeker of knowledge, the one who chooses to use her critical thinking skills, rather than erring on the side of extremism. This quality comes from obtaining a higher level of consciousness in society.

A more conscious individual usually develops true emotional fitness. Here’s a tip: look for the good in the feedback or constructive criticism you receive – it’s a gift. However, it’s your responsibility to weed through it in a fair manner and determine what is a truth and what isn’t.

If you want to seek that which is meaningful to you, learning to find ways to deal with rejection and criticism is required.

Avoid the Thorns So You Can Enjoy the Roses

The better you become at using your critical thinking skills the more you’re able to quickly weed out those who are not supportive of your cause and beliefs. Even better, you’ll attract higher quality people to you whom you enjoy interacting with.

Here’s what to look for – horse people who:

• Are like-minded
• Do not become defensive or rude at the slightest drop of a hat
• Have beliefs and core values that line up with yours
• Help you to see things from a different perspective but in a respectful manner
• Don’t need to fully agree with you on every subject but what they stand for must resonate with you
• Aren’t extremists

Here’s what to steer clear of – the big red flags – horse people who:

• Are clicky and become snobbish as they get to higher levels in their chosen discipline or area of knowledge
• Believe their approach or method is the only way
• Have a case of silver bullet poisoning (a quick fix to anything)
• Don’t put the horse’s noble nature first – before ego, a blue ribbon, or winning the next big futurity
• Have opinions and beliefs that are extreme and distorted
• Are always citing scientific studies

It’s important to note that you can still learn a lot from the second list above because you can choose to apply it in a way that resonates with you. It’s not required that you interact or become close with certain groups, but there’s always something to be learned from any situation or individual.

Soulful Equine encourages you to use your critical thinking skills – unlike most organizations. Here we’re anything but “normal.”

We can learn from each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect, where the misfits and rejects have nothing to fear.

The best advice I can give you is to learn to read a situation before you decide to embark upon a mission that will end in nothing but disappointment and despair. In other words, pick your battles and understand that the true power lies in setting great examples that produce positive results for you and your horse.

Share with me in the comments the last time you were booted out of a clicky horse related situation (whether it was on the Internet, or off).

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Photo Credit

Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you freeze on the spot? Your heart starts to race and although you can move physically, you feel trapped?

This can happen in a number of situations. The most common is when you’re learning something new. Another common scenario is when you’re overloaded with information – when there are so many choices and conflicting views, coming from every direction.

In our information abundant world, this is unavoidable unless you completely unplug from it. Once a week I make it a point to unplug. I go on a digital diet. For a geek like me, that small task can be difficult. However, I’ve found that it’s necessary to help me recharge and become more disciplined about being present.

Constant Distractions Become Emotional Blocks

When you’re constantly distracted by things such as TV, your cell phone, text messaging, social media, and the Internet, your energy becomes scattered and disconnected from what’s in your immediate world. This trains your body and mind to not be in the present moment.

To be present is to feel deeply and it allows you to become more in-tune with your surroundings, your horse, your pets, and the people most dear to you. In other words, you become deeply connected and you allow yourself to feel.

For some, feeling (no matter what the feeling) is scary. Distraction gives you an “out” from having to feel. Most people remain distracted in their life, so to effectively process feelings is almost impossible.

If this is you, you’re immediately disconnected from not only your loved ones but from your equine partner. The humans in your life are probably just as distracted as you, but your equine companion isn’t – she’s in the moment here and now, no matter what the situation.

Use Feel to Connect With Your Equine Partner

I’m always aware of how I feel when I’m around my horse and I take it seriously because they’re such hypersensitive individuals. Most people don’t understand this about horses. They know they’re big and strong but what they don’t know is that they’re feeling of you the minute you’re in their sight. They tune into you and your energy. Some believe it happens before you’re in their sight – the minute they smell your presence or when you think about them.

Through feel, a person can get the horse to think about and do many little things that are very important to the horse and to the safety of the person. These little things can be felt by the person and the horse too, of course, but they aren’t visible to everyone’s eyes. That’s because these observations take a lot of time and not many people want to spend their time this way.”  ~ Bill Dorrance, From the book True Horsemanship Through Feel

We’re all living, energetic beings and when we’re connected to the beauty of that energy it’s an amazing feeling, but you can’t feel it unless you become aware of it first.

Here’s How

Here’s a simple strategy I use to help me process my feelings.  It can be the feeling of overwhelm, having an “off” day, anger, fear, it doesn’t matter – fill in the blank.

Allow yourself to FEEL it and don’t over-analyze why you feel the way you feel. Give yourself permission to feel, so your body, mind and spirit can process it. This doesn’t mean to act on your feelings, such as anger. Just FEEL without judgment.

When you become good at this, your horse responds to it. She knows you have honest intentions to become a better human being. It allows you to become more connected. You can clear the clutter in your head, become less scattered, more in the moment, and you’ll be able to make decisions about your equine companion’s care in a much different light.

You’ll also become less likely to act out of fear when making those decisions.

I like to call this “developing access to your intuitive power.” Believe it or not, we all have it. It’s just a matter of how you choose to interpret what “it” is. You also have to get out of “its” way.

Develop Insight that Guides You

When people come to Soulful Equine they stumble upon articles about caring for their horse naturally. My goal is to help your horse thrive! That all sounds great but underneath that message is this question:

What kind of person do you have to become so you can help your horse thrive?”

Part of the journey is learning strategies to become more connected with not only your equine companion but the whole world around you. Although you can connect with others through the Internet, that’s not what I’m talking about. Rather, it’s a type of connection you develop. It guides you in the decisions you make each and every day. It provides you with a gift of just knowing.

Call it intuition, that voice inside, or a gut instinct – it doesn’t matter.

What I do know is that we all have it but we have to develop it. You had it as a child but lost it as an adult. It’s now a matter of tapping into it and becoming friends with it again. So, be aware of it, trust it and act on it, but don’t be afraid of it.

Your Assignment

Here’s a simple exercise to help you. Become aware of your feelings each day. Notice how your feelings are affecting your equine partner and the loved ones around you.

Remember this valuable tip: as much as you try, you can’t hide your feelings from your horse. It’s easier to fool the human but you can’t fool a horse.

Awareness is the first step to causing change in your life. Are you up to the task?

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

What is the essential foundation of a quality natural horse care program?

Something I’m good at is identifying patterns. I love to discover common patterns in most anything.

Since I have such a deep-rooted computer science background, identifying and understanding patterns comes naturally to me. It can be any kind of pattern. For example, common patterns exist in both the human and animal health care industries. Most of which are both counterproductive and detrimental.

However, the type of pattern to encourage is a positive pattern – in other words, a pattern that results in a desirable outcome.

Principles and Positive Patterns

Anyone who knows me well understands that I take my health and the health of my animals seriously. My diet is strict (although I do occasionally treat myself to pizza and beer).

Since I grew up on a typical Texas farm, great home-style cooking was abundant (just thinking about it makes my mouth water). Like most people “from the farm” I love to eat, so developing the discipline of consistent, healthy eating was not easy. However, over time, it was apparent to me that my health depended on my eating habits, and changing my lifestyle became a necessity.

For more than 20 years, I’ve been passionate about constantly learning and implementing key health and wellness principles in my life. Many of which I also apply to horses.

By modifying my behavior when it came to diet, I was able to overcome many health challenges earlier in my adult life. Additionally, I continue to manage certain issues I know can resurface or that can manifest into something worse.

Quality food is much like a dear friend to me and I honor its ability to heal the body. I also have respect for the fact that the wrong kind of food can cause debilitating disease.

When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need.” ~ Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb

Over time I developed a daily regimen that I continue to fine-tune and improve upon each year. That regimen includes, but is not limited to, high quality superfood/superherb supplementation, as much gluten free as possible, minimal sugar and red meat intake, no processed dairy (except for pizza night), and avoidance of genetically modified (GMO) foods and ingredients.

My horse care program is quite similar. The principles and positive patterns I adhere to – in order to keep my horses sound, healthy and happy – are much like the principles I use for my own health. The reason? It works. More importantly, the pattern  is that it works and it works for the long term.

Principles That Just Work!

What works is choosing to follow a healthy lifestyle regimen where you promote your horse’s health, which is even better than prevention of disease and illness.

Put this approach over quick fixes or having to treat a problem.

The quick fix or “Silver Bullet Poisoning” approach only works in the short term.*  Sometimes it doesn’t work at all.

Writing this article got me thinking about what I would do if I had to start over again. What elements of my current horse care program would I need to recreate in order to have a good foundation in place? I covered most of those necessary components in my book, Guiding Principles of Natural Horse Care, but what we still need to address is this:

The first definition we need to agree on is that a consistently healthy horse has few, if any, health issues over the course of her life. In other words, she has quality of life and longevity and you achieve the ideal of minimal veterinary expenses.

This seems obvious, but few people can say, “My horse has no health issues and my vet expenses are practically non-existent.” When you follow a healthy, consistent regimen, if something does happen to your horse, she heals quickly and most times (since you are your horse’s confident, well-informed captain) you’re able to handle it on your own minus the expensive vet bills.

Common Equine Health Issues

To jog your memory on what can be considered a “health issue,” here are a few common ones horses experience:

• Allergies
• Colic
• Ulcers
• Reoccurring thrush
• Low-grade or full-blown laminitis
• The “need” to have metal shoes nailed on to their hooves
• Chronic runny eyes and nose
• Vices such as cribbing and weaving
• Manure that indicates health issues
• The next “disease” wave

And the list goes on …

As far as fundamental indicators of poor or vibrant health, most concerns revolve around:

• Skin and hair quality
• Hoof health
• Dental health
• Immune system health
• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Mental and emotional health

The majority of domestic horses experience health problems from that list – daily.

Any person of sound mind would agree that’s a problem.

You Can Choose Principles that Minimize Equine Health Concerns

How many horse guardians can say their horse has been consistently healthy for more than 10 years? The key to knowing if your foundation is working is to know that your guiding principles are working in the long run; otherwise they’re quick fixes.

Any time you have a problem with your horse’s health, there are holes in your natural horse care program.

A problem could be anything – just name it – such as reoccurring thrush, brittle hooves, hair coat bleaching out in the summer, hormonal issues, “needing” to chemically deworm your horse, any time you have to administer a drug, ulcers, arthritis, tying-up, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), Cushing’s, insulin resistance (IR), digestive system problems, and the list goes on.

Again, interestingly enough, these are common health concerns in the equine world. Most horses have five or more of the issues I’ve listed at one time!

A common pattern in the horse industry is that most people believe this type of stuff is “normal” – and it is, if you’re not a naturally-minded horse care guardian.

The Natural Horse Care Guardian Has a Different Approach

When you’re naturally-minded, you ask yourself, “Where are my holes?” or “Do I have holes in my horse care program?”

From there you decide to dig deeper and become a more informed equine guardian rather than looking for a quick fix. You also decide to become the CEO of your horse’s health.

As a good friend of mine says,

Utilize experts but do not rely on them.”

I’m not going to sugar coat it. Although the quick fixes offered by most equine experts appear to be the easy way out, in the end those “fixes” may create more problems in the long run – some that are sadly irreversible.

My challenge to you is to strive for that ideal of a consistently healthy horse and intentionally interrupt any common, destructive patterns in the equine industry.

What are some common patterns you can identify in your horse care program or in the horse care industry? Are they positive, negative, destructive, or counterproductive? What have you observed?

Now over to you. The action happens in the comments, so share your thoughts!

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Original Photo Credit

Have you ever had that feeling that something just wasn’t right? Then you dismissed it, blew it off, or you allowed someone else to convince you that it was nothing?

We’ve all been there. I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. What I can tell you is every time I’ve allowed my logical mind to override “that feeling,” the outcome wasn’t good.  Each time it happened, I said to myself, “Never again!”

What happened from there? I’d do it again, and again.

Eventually (it took most of my life) I reached a point where I drew a line in the sand and said, “No more!” I finally figured out that there was one common denominator that was causing this craziness. It was my logical mind. I allowed it to rule over my intuition in every one of those situations.

Why does someone allow herself to do this?  For me it was a multitude of reasons. One being, I was told that’s how it’s always been done so it must be right (there goes the logical mind again).

Other reasons were: “science says” or “some expert says” or some person who claimed they had more horse experience than me thought they knew more about my horse than I did, and the list goes on.

For some people another reason is that they’re not strong enough to resist peer pressure and the programming of traditional thinking. However, inside they know differently, but they choose to ignore that voice.

An Unprepared Mind

Over time, I’ve learned to accurately recognize that feeling or voice, act accordingly, and override logic in those situations.

The scariest part of it all is this: by following your intuition it might push you in a direction that causes you to do the hardest thing you’ve ever done in your life. Most people are not ready for that because it involves change, so they choose to ignore that voice inside.

Albert Einstein is credited with a quote that sums it up well:

Intuition does not come to an unprepared mind.”

From a scientific standpoint, intuition is not considered a mystical gift that can’t be explained. Instead, it’s that small voice that advises you based on what you’ve learned and processed in your life. Supposedly intuition emerges from the subconscious. I believe that’s true, but I also believe there’s more to it that can’t be proven or explained by science.

That’s the power of intuition!

You’re taught to rely on your rational thoughts, but you use the power of your intuition every day without realizing it. You probably also ignore it, to your detriment. It’s important to pay close attention to that voice inside.

For me, that “feeling” or “voice” happens daily. It didn’t use to, or at least I thought it didn’t. What was going on is that I wasn’t listening. When I look back, I always had it, I just didn’t pay attention or I dismissed it.

Now I know to listen to that voice and it happens automatically. It always emerges when I’m with my horse or a client’s horse. It especially happens when I’m riding, preparing my horse to ride, or trimming a horse’s hooves. I automatically tune into it each and every day when I feed my horses. It also happens when I’m writing. If something doesn’t feel right I no longer second guess myself. Instead, I hit the delete button immediately.

Is Natural Horse Care “Woo Woo”?

In an article from The Huffington Post by Deepak Chopra called Woo Woo Is a Step Ahead of (Bad) Science, this is how he defined the phrase “woo woo”:

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, ‘woo woo’ is a derogatory reference to almost any form of unconventional thinking, aimed by professional sceptics who are self-appointed vigilantes dedicated to the suppression of curiosity.”

The phrase “woo woo” may be thought of as derogatory, but I believe that it’s usually the caring, curious, creative, and unconventional types who are most responsible for the advancements we experience today. Those are ones who choose to push the envelope and help raise the level of consciousness.

For example, take the barefoot horse care movement. That had to start somewhere. It didn’t start with an individual who was locked into conventional ways of thinking.   Of course, having a barefoot horse forces you to learn about natural horse care, which is not considered normal by traditionalists.

I’m finally at a place in my life where I no longer allow my logical mind to override my intuitive guidance. I’ve decided that I will not allow myself or my horse to be a victim of my logical mind. Instead, they both work in harmony with each other, but the logical side now knows its place – and it’s not on top!

That decision was freeing. It now allows me to focus on developing my intuition but also effectively bridging the gap between it and logic or hard science.

Some will label the actions you take that are a result of your intuition as “woo woo” or crazy. What I have to say to that is this – it’s a much more pleasant road when you get out of your head and into your heart, become more present, and listen.

Naturally, the more intuitive you become, the more open you are to the possibilities. As a result, you become a more conscious individual. You also come to realize that many of the limiting beliefs you had before have been eliminated. You’re able to more easily make confident, sound decisions because you’ve finally reached a point where you trust yourself without fearing your choices.

The logical types will look down on this type of person. I’ve come to accept that, and move forward anyway. The way I look at it is that every invention in the history of the world had to start first with a thought and a gut feeling before anything became of it. It’s just how it is! I call it intuition.

Extreme Logical Types

The extreme logical types are usually those who think they’re solving problems when in reality, they’re not. They’re usually causing more problems for themselves and the horses in their care. I could give hundreds of examples of this but simply put …

Alternative approaches to horse care – and your own health – would not exist if the very problems that drive people there were being solved or didn’t exist in the first place.”

What causes people to finally go there is listening to their intuition, overriding logic, as well as listening to their horse. I know you already do this or it’s unlikely you’d be reading this article. However, it’s important to be able to recognize the type of person I’m talking about and also recognize it in yourself.

This type of logic-oriented individual has a lot to offer, but rarely are they able to help you out of an inferior health situation with your horse. The logical mind will usually focus on treating symptoms and back up poor decisions with bad science. You can recognize this individual (in traditional or alternative care) because they continue to offer the same options that don’t fully promote the health of your horse.

The logical mind often attempts to override what can’t be explained. In those situations, the unexplained is sometimes dismissed as “woo woo.”

This is not always bad but it’s not good either. As I often state over and over again, there must be balance in everything.

Logic Can Only Get You So Far

A valuable lesson I’ve learned is that science and logical thinking can only get you so far when it comes to health and wellness. Most people forget that the best use of science is explaining nature. Instead, more often than not, it’s used to manipulate her in a way that is harmful to life.

There are many things that science simply can’t explain because it’s not advanced enough yet. So, although the unexplained things that the woo woo person discovers are effective, they’re usually dismissed. The typical response is, “There’s no scientific data to back up what you’re saying.” That may be true, but science doesn’t know everything and it can’t.

Sometimes common sense trumps empirical evidence.” ~ Dr. Joseph Mercola

Science and technical advancement have their benefits but they fall short in many areas, especially when it comes to sustaining life on earth and working with, rather than against the laws of nature. Science is not superior to nature and it never will be.

It may appear that I’m against the scientific community, but that’s far from the truth. Ethical scientific advancements exist and will continue to exist. This is part of the universal law of balance.

There’s just as much of what I call ethical science going on as there is destructive science. I’ve been studying such advancements and cutting edge longevity technologies for some time now – it’s the kind of science I choose to support and use in my everyday life.

One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein says it all:

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

So, was Einstein woo woo? Some may think so. But he was also a genius.

An Essential Component to Your Horse’s Health

Combining science and logical thinking with intuitive guidance is essential for having a naturally healthy horse. Call intuition “woo woo” if you like but it’s been around since the beginning of time. It’s essential for helping you weed through the abundance of good and bad information – especially in this day and age – and to make choices that are necessary for change.

Use it to assist you with your natural horse care strategies and your own health care options, as well as when choosing holistic professionals – veterinarians, natural hoof care professionals, naturopaths (for you) or other healers.

Intuitive guidance is essential during those times when an expert is telling you one thing but your horse is telling you something completely different.

If you’re not in-tune, and listening to your inner guidance, it’s more difficult to listen to your horse as well as override a decision an expert may force upon you that isn’t right for your situation.

When you’re healthy in mind, body and spirit, it easily transfers over to your horse. It allows you to be able to make more sound, rational decisions based not only on science and data but also on common sense and intuition. It’s important to learn to balance logic and intuition.

You want to be in the Goldilocks’ position: not too much and not too little. It’s the optimal position for health in mind, body and spirit. In order to be there, you have to develop balance.”

I believe balance is a universal law. It’s an essential element that must be learned and mastered in every aspect of life.

Are You the Logical Type?

Being logical is not a bad thing, by any means. However, when it comes to horses, and to your own health, it’s imperative that you develop your intuitive side. If you’re thinking, “I don’t have it” - fear not because everyone has it. It’s just a matter of tapping into it.

It’s not something that happens overnight, it happens over time. It also takes you making the decision to dedicate the rest of your life to developing it – your horse will love you for it!

So how do the more “logical” types develop intuition? First of all, get the thought out of your head that you don’t have it – that’s a limiting belief. If you’re a woman, you’re already ahead of the game because women are more likely to tune into it more than men.  Have you ever heard of a woman’s intuition?

There are several ways to start developing your intuition. One is to start with your diet (surprising, huh?). When your diet is clean and your body is nourished with whole and raw food nutrition, that include superfoods and superherbs, you’re more likely to be clear in your mind and have more balanced feelings.

The next step is to use this simple technique. No matter where you go or who you interact with, make note of what you feel the instant you enter that situation.  Don’t allow logic to interfere. I wrote about this in another article as it relates to feeling and being with your horse.

Learning to feel what goes on around you is a necessary asset. In order to do this, you may need to stop checking email, stop text messaging, get off the computer, get rid of the television and put down your iPhone for a little while.

Which are you – more logical or intuitive? Have you ever encountered a situation where logical thinking caused an undesirable outcome for you or your horse?

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl

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Photo Credit

Did you know that salt plays an important role in your horse’s health? Without it, life would not be possible. There are a multitude of misconceptions about feeding salt to horses – many of which I cover in the book Salt for Horses: Tragic Mistakes to Avoid.

I continue to see much confusion and misguided information floating around on this subject. That’s why I wrote this book. It seems like such a simple subject but in essence it is very misunderstood in the horse industry even by most well-established equine nutritionists who are unintentionally providing advice that’s neither healthy nor scientifically sound.

The subject of “salt and horses” is an interesting one, and it’s necessary to understand the role it plays in your equine partner’s health and in a well-rounded natural horse care program. Additionally, it’s important to know what to avoid when it comes to, what I consider, tragic mistakes.

I released a similar version of this book to a limited group of individuals in 2011 and then decided to revamp it and offer it to a wider audience this year (2013). This is one area of equine nutrition I feel strongly about and, as you’ll find in Salt for Horses, I left no stone unturned.

Prior to this release, I intentionally asked a few horsey and non-horsey people to read it, because I wanted to make sure that anyone could easily understand the information and be motivated to take action. What I found intriguing is that the feedback was consistent. Each person said it was interesting, packed with helpful information, and that it held their attention.

To my surprise, they also shared with me that they not only obtained more knowledge about equine nutrition, but also learned valuable strategies to use for their own health.

I hope you enjoy reading Salt for Horses and that you gain valuable information about maintaining or regaining your horse’s health.

The Book Bundle

Since this book is a great complement to my book Guiding Principles of Natural Horse Care, I’ve created a bundle on our website of the two books for an attractive price:

Click here to purchase the bundle (US and Canada only).

For a physical copy of the book …

Click here to purchase it on Amazon U.S.

Click here to purchase it on Amazon U.K.

Also available in digital format on Kindle:

Click here to purchase the Kindle edition on Amazon U.S.

Click here to purchase the Kindle edition on Amazon U.K.

Keep it soulful,
Stephanie Krahl