Food is most important for horses.

Last time, we covered the signs indicating your horse may need a food change. Today, I follow that up by diving into five signs that your horse loves its current diet, which is critical, especially for easy keepers and metabolic horses.

Food Motivates Horses

Horses are highly motivated by food and need to eat constantly, so food restrictions can negatively impact their quality of life. When they cannot eat, they tend to fixate on food, leading to stress-related issues like delayed healing and a weakened immune system.

Introducing a New Feeding Program

When starting new feeding programs, it may take time for horses to adjust, especially if they are picky eaters. Owners often worry that their horses will refuse to eat the new food, but over time, with careful adjustments, most horses begin to enjoy their meals.

Behavioral Changes at Feed Time

One of the first signs that horses are enjoying their food is a change in how they interact with their owner. When horses become more engaged and attentive at feeding time, displaying excitement and curiosity, it is a sure sign that they are enjoying the food and starting to feel better physically.

Stomping in Satisfaction

Another sign indicating horses love their food is stomping their feet during feeding. That is an expression of satisfaction, similar to when someone taps their foot while enjoying a meal.

Closing Their Eyes While Eating

Some horses show their enjoyment by closing their eyes while eating, fully immersing themselves in the experience. That shows they are relaxed, content with their food, and savoring every bite.

Licking the Bowl Clean

Horses that love their food often lick the bowl clean. While some horses may leave food behind when not fully satisfied, a horse that finishes everything shows it has enjoyed its meal.

Improved Physical Health

A sign of a successful feeding program is improved physical health. When horses start improving physically, they show enhanced mobility, reduced inflammation, and overall better health, and that often coincides with them beginning to enjoy their new diet.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

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Horses should love their food because it is important to them.

However, many horse owners struggle to determine whether their horse's diet provides enough nutrition or if something in their food could be causing them problems. So, I have identified seven signs indicating your horse may be ready for a food change.

Recognizing the Need for a Food Change

One of the biggest challenges for horse owners is determining when their horse needs a diet change. Many owners struggle to assess whether their horse is getting enough nutrition or if there could be a problem with their diet. To simplify that, owners must look for signs indicating a change is required. It could mean adding certain essential nutrients or removing any ingredients causing intolerances or digestive issues.

Excessive Hunger and Food Possessiveness

Metabolic horses, particularly those with insulin resistance or equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), often show signs of excessive hunger. Those horses may be aggressive around food, constantly searching for more due to fluctuating blood sugar levels. Stabilizing their blood sugar through appropriate dietary adjustments can significantly improve their satiety and behavior around food.

Lack of Interest in Food

If your horse plays with its food, tips the dish over, or walks away, it might be a sign they dislike something in their diet. Horses are food-motivated, and when disinterested, it could indicate a food intolerance or a taste preference. A process of elimination can help owners identify the offending item.

No Motivation to Approach

A change in their attitude toward food can be a sign of improvement. Horses that eagerly run to their owners for food without showing indifference are likely enjoying the diet and experiencing positive health benefits. This shift can indicate that the current nutrition plan is working.

Unusual BehaviorAfter Eating

Behaviors like cribbing or wind-sucking after eating can signal digestive discomfort. That may be linked to certain ingredients in the diet, like high levels of alfalfa or feeds with many additives. Removing the problematic items and supporting digestion with proper nutrients can alleviate those behaviors.

Eating Inedible Items

If a horse starts eating manure, dirt, or other non-food items, it may be searching for missing nutrients or trying to soothe its indigestion. Changing their food and perhaps introducing probiotics can help resolve that behavior.

Digestive Problems

Chronic digestive issues like diarrhea, fecal water syndrome, ulcers, and colic often indicate dietary problems. Feeding the wrong types of hay, such as coarse hay or straw, or giving a diet too high in sugars can cause bloating, distension, and gut discomfort. Adjusting the diet to include more suitable hay and reducing sugars can help resolve these issues.

Health Problems Not Improving

If the health condition of a horse does not improve despite lifestyle and supplement changes, it may be due to something in their feed. In such cases, stripping down the diet to just hay and water for a short period may reveal whether the food may have been the issue. Many commercial feeds contain similar ingredients that may aggravate the condition if not properly reviewed.

Conclusion

Understanding the dietary needs of your horse does not have to be complicated. Horses thrive on simplicity and variety, so focus on keeping their diet straightforward. Avoid overloading their meals with too many ingredients, and observe their behavior as you make changes. By keeping things simple and observing their responses, you can improve their health and happiness through a well-balanced, tailored diet.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now.

We are exploring muscle testing for horses today.

Muscle testing is an alternative tool that is gaining popularity in equine care. You can use it to determine the best remedies for your horse and to formulate a personalized program tailored to its specific requirements.

An Introduction to Muscle Testing

Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology or autonomic response therapy, has been gaining popularity in human and animal health practices. Applied kinesiology can be confused with the academic study of kinesiology, which focuses on human movement. However, muscle testing is a distinct diagnostic tool rooted in chiropractic care used to identify imbalances in the body.

Evolution and Application

Muscle testing has evolved into a safe and non-invasive diagnostic tool to identify blocks in the energy field surrounding the body, pinpoint specific problems, and provide insights into the course of diseases. It can be helpful to assess food allergies, nutrient deficiencies, and emotional imbalances in humans and animals.

Quantum Physics and Electromagnetic Fields

Muscle testing relies on quantum physics. Human and animal bodies are composed of particles and waves, with the electromagnetic field being a fundamental aspect that influences how energy flows through and around the body.

Energy and Frequency

The electromagnetic field and biophotons (light particles in DNA) play crucial roles in cellular communication and strengthening how energy fields impact overall health. Incoherent energy fields can weaken the organism, making it harder for healing to occur. Practitioners aim to align those fields to enhance the natural healing processes within the body.

Exploring Different Methods

You can apply different muscle testing techniques to assess imbalances and deficiencies within the body. You can use the muscle strength of a surrogate, which involves creating a biofeedback circuit with another person, or the sway method, where you observe how the body moves. You can also use the ring method or the pendulum method to tap into the energy field surrounding the body. For those new to muscle testing, it may be helpful to begin working with a partner or more experienced practitioner to build confidence and skill in interpreting results accurately.

The Role of Intention and Energy

The healing process starts with the intention of the practitioner. The energy fields of the practitioner and the horse interact, influencing the outcomes. So practitioners and horse owners must maintain high energy and positive intentions as they can significantly affect healing processes.

Knowledge and Openness

Effective muscle testing requires a deep understanding of equine health, nutrients, and conditions. Practitioners should remain open and free from preconceived notions, as biases can skew results. Trusting the diagnostic tool and being receptive to unexpected outcomes is crucial for accurate assessments and effective treatment plans.

Trusting the Process

Over time, I have learned to trust that muscle testing will lead me in the right direction, even when I do not fully understand the results. Sometimes, it takes a few months to see how test outcomes align with historical issues or emotional changes of a horse. It is essential to remain patient and trust the process, as understanding often comes with time.

Avoiding Personal Bias

Try not to let your personal beliefs or past experiences influence your muscle testing results. If a particular approach does not work, it is okay to reassess and try a different strategy. The goal is to stay objective and open-minded throughout the process.

Training Opportunities

I have training programs available for anyone who wants to delve deeper into muscle testing. My signature program, Healing Horses Their Way, is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge before diving into muscle testing. It starts in late February or early March each year.

Advanced Learning

After completing the foundational course, you can join me for a more advanced group where I explore muscle testing in greater depth. It includes practical, live events where you can apply your skills with real horses. I will announce the registration dates in the next few months.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now