This quarter, I’d like to share a couple of resources that I have found helpful for myself and my clients, both human & horse.
I recently discovered Miranda Esmonde-White’s Classical Stretch on PBS TV. She walks you through a fun and productive 22 minutes of exercises that improve strength and flexibility. I was skeptical at first, but so much of what she talks about aligns with what I am always trying to educate my clients about! It’s important to be “functionally fit”, finding ways to use our whole body efficiently. This is a great resource for those looking to put a little movement into their day but aren’t sure where to start. It’s free on PBS at 6am during the week if you’re a morning person… or you can access her videos through her website with a membership. Here’s the link to her website: https://essentrics.com/start-your-free-trial/essentricstv-streaming/?gclid=CjwKCAjwyqWkBhBMEiwAp2yUFkRwQL5dmzud5EJpcJ9fRnUYl_lHlkmEErgZhxNncFisqdZpam26zxoCIQIQAvD_BwE
In the horse world, I’d like to share an article I came across about protein deficiency. Horse nutrition is always a hot topic. There’s so much varying information out there about feed & supplements that it can definitely be overwhelming! Veterinarian Dr. Tucker created The Horse’s Advocate website that is home to a wealth of information. I highly recommend perusing it sometime if you can. He has also started a grain free challenge and provides the science to back up his recommendations.
I won’t get into why grain can be detrimental to horses here, but I will briefly talk about why he recommends feeding soybean meal and forage instead. Proteins are the building blocks of life. Without them, our bodies cannot maintain healthy skin and joints, and crucial enzymatic processes can’t happen. This article explains how it’s likely that many horses are protein deficient because of how we manage them in a domesticated world. They are not freely grazing hundreds of acres with access to a wide diversity of protein rich forage. Instead, they are confined to small pastures with limited plant diversity, or fed hay with diminished nutritional value. Adding soybean meal can be a simple solution to this problem. It has all of the necessary amino acids that horses require, plus it’s highly palatable. Here is the link to the article if you’d like to learn more: https://www.thehorsesadvocate.com/protein/
Or if you prefer to listen, here’s the link to his podcast episode: https://www.thehorsesadvocate.com/protein-in-horses-the-horses-advocate-podcast-027/
I decided to switch my horse to a grain free diet about a year and a half ago, supplementing with soybean meal, and I am so glad I did. His skin sensitivities and attitude have greatly improved. I highly recommend giving it a try if you’re horse is struggling with poor hooves & connective tissues, skin issues, weight issues or digestive issues.
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