I am going to tell you my opinion and the information I used to form it. There are certain situations that will require different living arrangements for some horses and circumstances. For simplicity, I will only be addressing healthy horses without special circumstances.
Remember, I know this isn't always possible for PLENTY of reasons. This is just the ideal situation for a healthy horse.
24/7 turn-out with a buddy is great for several reasons.
- Continuous grazing. This is so important for proper digestive function and prevention of ulcers. The act of grinding grass triggers the production of natural buffers that keep the stomach lining protected.
- Continuous movement. The ability for your horse to be moving freely is FANTASTIC for their circulation and can prevent stocking up (or other swelling). This also supports proper digestive function.
- Social interaction. Horses are very social creatures. They are herd animals and there can be serious emotional and behavioral (sometimes even physical) consequences for keeping them secluded. Plus, there really isn't anything cuter than 2 horses playing and loving on each other.
- Emotional well-being. Being confined in a stall (especially in a busy barn) can be very stressful- no matter how many "fun" toys you provide.
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Taking care of your body doesn't have to be complicated. And it doesn't require a doctor or any other expert for that matter. I have studied health more than most people that haven't chosen to work in the "health industry" and it isn't uncommon for me to get asked questions about what to do under certain circumstances.
While I am an advocate for wellness and prevention and I do teach people how to care for their bodies and those of their beloved pets, we really need to get something straight.
1. I am not a doctor or a veterinarian and therefore, it is illegal for me to diagnose or treat human or animal.
2. Wellness and prevention have nothing to do with diagnosing and treating.
I understand how this can be a confusing concept. Especially because we have been raised in a culture that taught us that if we have a question about our bodies and how they function or if something is "normal" we need to speak with a doctor. This logic seems to even make sense- I mean doctors go to school for a long time so they really must be better informed on what it takes to have and maintain optimum health. However, this simply isn't true.
Doctors go to school to study diseases and treatments for disease. They generally do not spend a lot of time studying health and what causes it. In fact, they don't really study what causes disease either. So, what does that mean for you? Simple: wellness and prevention is something you can learn about and dominate for yourself and your family if you want to! And, if you are experiencing intense symptoms and need a diagnosis and possibly a treatment- GO TO THE DOCTOR!
No matter where you are on your wellness and prevention journey, it is important to remember to use all of your resources. If you are lucky enough to have a friend or contact that is super knowledgeable- fantastic! However, remember that your health and wellness is your responsibility and that means that you need to use your resources- the internet (coupled with your favorite search engine) is a powerful resource. As are the reference books offered by Life Science Publishing and many other publishers. Heck, there are even reference apps!
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I can tell you now that I know that is all wrong- but maybe not in the ways you are thinking.
As it turns out, what I currently refer to as Liver Detoxing isn't really what I initially thought of when it was originally presented to me. When I think detox, I think of ridding something of toxins. It is actually the Liver's job to help the body eliminate toxins. That being said, we don't necessarily need to get toxins out of the liver (that's a little redundant 😉).
When we are saying "liver detox" we are really wanting to help the liver to function better. A strained liver is the result of many toxins coming into the body from various different ways including food, what goes into/ on the body, and other environmental factors. So, when we support a healthier liver, we are allowing the liver to clean out our body's the way they should.
How do you know if you or your pet may need a liver detox?
- Excessive Fatigue
- Skin Issues and Hair Loss
- Hormone Imbalances
- Bloating/ Passing Gas
- High Levels of Heavy Metals
- Definitely an important step- talk to your doctor or your pet's veterinarian.
So.... What do you need to do to have a happy liver?
If you want to learn more about mine and Ardy's journey + the supplements, foods, and experts that we have used to heal- join my community on Facebook Here.
It is very common to hear people talk about how horses have helped them heal their long-standing traumas. We also hear people talk about rescuing horses. But there is very little conversation around helping horses truly heal and release traumas. Here are 3 reasons we should not only be talking about helping horses release their traumas, but also making it a point to actually do it. We can help our horses truly heal!
Trauma leads to anxiety...
very much the same as it does in people.
Each horse shows their anxiety differently- also, just like people. It is very common for horses to express their feelings of anxiety as common stable vices: cribbing, weaving, and pawing. If these vices go on long enough they will become bad habits (or become unmanageable). If we can help the horse release it's trauma, we can help them heal, stop the bad vices, and live a better life.
Better performance
is totally possible.
Stable vices are definitely not the only side effects of trauma. From loading in the trailer to misbehaving under saddle, trauma responses and the physical manifestations of trauma can happen anywhere and can range from barely noticeable to straight-up life-threatening for the horse, handler, and any bystanders. By helping the horse release their trauma every aspect of life for the horse and surrounding people can be improved, from the show ring to the trails.
Helping the horse heal
can lead to a deeper bond.
So many people have stories of how horses have helped them heal. People have stories of trauma that result in feelings of anxiety and unworthiness. Those people (and others) have reported that working with horses has made them feel whole again. A huge part of that healing is the emotional connection that people have to horses. There is no greater feeling than when you and your horse have bonded on a deeply emotional level. This often leads to more joy and fluidity during the time spent between horse and rider/ handler.
