Natural Hoof Care Nutrition and Lifestyle Equine Bodywork Recommended Books Favorite Links
Favorite Links
Nutrition links
Dr. Juliet Getty's website and free shipping supplement store. She has a PhD in Equine Nutrition and recently published a book I highly recommend for all horse owners: "Feed your horse like a horse" which you can order on her website. Her supplement store is helpful to people needing direction to specific high quality supplements available for specific "issues" with their horse.www.equi-analytical.com -For hay analysis and testing, instructions and sample form. This site explains what to do and how to do it, its very user friendly. Results are fast, within 2 days of mailing your sample, typically you will receive an email of your results.
www.balancedequinenutrition.com - after figuring out whats in your hay (see equianalytical.com) or forage, use this site for custom blending of a mineral mix to balance your total ration. ALSO look at their list of NSC (sugar,starch, fructan) amounts for standard horse feeds (Triple Crown, Nutrena, and others).
www.wholehorse.com - Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and consultation. Offers custom blends based on your individual horse's needs, and classic formulas. Offers support for Cushings and IR horses. Note this is not meant to replace veterinary care, but to serve as a supportive adjunct to veterinary care.
www.smartpakequine.com - for CRS- GOLD DFM (www.crsgold.com) - probiotic and Direct Fed Microbial. It is reasonably priced considering the size of the scoop and how long it lasts (shelf life is 2 years). It includes 8 strains of live bacteria microencapsulated, and 7 enzymes. Probiotics are important for all of our horses in order to replace lost beneficial bacteria in the gut that is destroyed by stress and improper nutrition. Site also includes APF from Auburn Labs.
www.theholistichorse.com - all natural and organic products in pure form. More pricy. Great site for browsing. Offers full range of supplements, topicals etc. I use their "wormguard" products successfully, all my horses have been dewormed naturally and have regular fecal tests showing negative results. The main effective ingredient is Diatomaceous Earth which has now been FDA approved for human consumption, and farmers have been using it for years for pest control in their silos. It works mechanically, not chemically,by puncturing the exoskeleton of the parasite (even getting the encysted small strongyles which are becoming more resistant to Ivermectin). It will not harm smooth muscle or the "insides" of your horse.
www.abcplus.biz - Advanced Biological Concepts. Offers a full line of supplements plus topicals, Organics, and poultices (great for abcesses or wounds) and an important detoxifier called M.O.P. which is clay based and has herbs mixed in. I use this successfully with horses to assist them with carrying toxins out of the body. It can be fed free choice as well.
www.healthyasahorse.net
- APF (Advanced Protection Formula) offered at $57/bottle. APF is a
immune system enhancer using a combination of adaptogenic herbs. Used
and recommended by Parelli. Manufacturer is Auburn Labs.
www.uckele.com
- Hair Mineral Analysis and professional consultation offered. Also a
full line of supplements, and custom blending based on HMA results for
individual horses.
www.horsetech.com
- Great customer service, reasonable prices. Sells flax mixes,
probiotic, all types of supplements and custom made products (AZ
regional mix, Mag Ox, etc).
www.thenaturalvet.net - The natural vet Dr Dan Moore's site. Products for horses, humans and pets. Tends to be a bit pricy, but high quality. Maker of Bug Check, Health Check and others. Red -Cal is a loose salt/mineral mix for free choice feeding which includes garlic and grapeseed extract, trace minerals, salt, and montmorillonite clay. FOR SCRATCHES I highly recommend trying the GRAPE BALM WOUND HEALER.
www.skodeshorsetreats.com
- By now you may be wondering "what CAN I feed my horse?" These treats
are loved by horses (cookies, brownies, and trail mixes!). Skode lists
the ingredients and the NSC level for all their treats (most are below
10% NSC). I use Vashka's Vittles (5.7% NSC). As usual though, use
wisely and in moderation.
Hoof Care links
www.barefoothorse.com - Marjorie Smith's site. a layperson's friend to understanding basic hoof care, structure and function.
www.hoofrehab.com - a MUST go to site. Pete and Ivy Ramey's site/ Includes articles, photos, links to other sites, clinic information and a NEW 10 disc DVD series called "Under the Horse" which I highly recommend for all horse owners and professionals.
www.safergrass.org - Katy Watts site, please study this site down to the smallest details. Here's the thing: your farrier or your veterinarian cannot fix your foundered or laminitic horse. It is incumbent on YOU, the owner, to understand diet and nutrition for your horse based NOT on what feed manufacturers tell you, but on the horses needs. A good farrier or vet can definitely assist you, and are a necessity; but it is by educating yourself that you will save your horse, and prevent problems to begin with.
www.easycareinc.com - for quality hoof boots. I am an official dealer. I use these boots regularly in practice and on my own horses. They carry Easyboot Epic, Boa, Grips and Bares. Epics are the most popular and practical for most owners. There will always be a need to "protect" horses hooves as long as they remain in domestication. Rehabilitation time can be dramatically decreased (i.e. healing speeds up) by being able to exercise your laminitic or foundered horse. Boots provide this capability without sacrificing hoof function, in fact by enhancing it.
www.ironfreehoof.com - Paige Poss's site.
www.tribeequus.com - Cindy "hawk" Sullivan's site, promoting high performance barefootedness. Read her articles. Cindy is a founder of the Equine Sciences Academy, and an author.
www.thehorseshoof.com - a one stop information site. This site is very comprehensive. Yvonne Welz site, she is also the Editor of The Horses Hoof Magazine.
www.naturalhoofcare.net
- Todd and Annmarie Jaynes' site. Todd is currently the Equine Sciences
Academy Outreach educator, Instructor, is travelling and giving
clinics, and has recently acquired his Equine Dentistry certification
from the Advanced Whole Horse Dentistry Learning Center (Spencer LaFleur's
school). He is amazingly knowledgeable. Photos of my track system can be viewed on his website as well.
Bodywork links
www.anamcaraschool.com
- My teacher Karen Braun's site, located in Merrimac WI. Karen
blends energy healing and intuitive skills with massage, Myofascial
Release, and cranial-sacral therapy.
www.equinology.com
www.equinesi.com
Natural Horsemanship Links
www.parelli.com - If you have a horse, do yourself and your horse a favor and check out what Parelli is about, and how they have revolutionized horsemanship.
www.thehorsefirst.net
- A brand new facility focused on education in natural horsemanship,
and natural horsekeeping. Located in South central WI.
Includes a coverall arena, honeycomb, playground, groomed riding
trails, and several tracks (Paddock Paradise) where the horses live - the first of its kind on a large scale.
Tack/Saddle links
www.balanceinternational.com - All BALANCE saddles are designed to be 'horse shaped' using extensive feedback
from real experts in horse comfort, namely....horses. These saddles are not just
another human being's idea of what is appropriate for the horse! BALANCE know
from experience that their Saddles and Saddling System help the ridden horse.
www.harmanyequine.com - Dr. Joyce Harman,DVM, author of numerous books on saddle fit. Check this site out, she has written an illuminating article about vaccinations, very informative. She also has an online shop. I recommend her book "The Horses Pain-Free Back and Saddle Fit."
www.freeformusa.com - for the English saddle version of a treeless saddle. These are elegant, and affordable.
www.treelesssaddle.com - April Battles site. Promoting Bob Marshall Sport saddles. I use the Bob Marshall treeless endurance saddle and love it. Comfortable for me, comfortable for my horses.
www.bitlessbridle.com - Dr Robert Cook's innovative cross-under bitless bridle. Also find the book "Metal in the Mouth" by Dr. Cook and Dr Hiltrud Strasser.
Testimonial from a customer
"I know I already told you this but I'm so excited about it I had to
tell you again!!! I purchased Dr. Cook's bitless bridle this winter.
It's awesome ... my horse responds wonderfully and there was no break in time. She loved it the moment we took off with it. There's
absolutely no breaking in period. I would recommend it to everyone."
Professional Organizations
Equine Sciences Academy; www.equinesciencesacademy.org
American Hoof Association; www.aha.org