Elisha’s Podcast
ELISHA’S PODCAST
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From learning what to feed your horse and how to use nutrition effectively, to practicing prevention and approaching specific health challenges naturally, to just bringing your horse more joy and better health…
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This week, we are continuing with the theme of toxicity because it lies at the root of most health issues horses experience. Looking back at past cases, the pattern is unmistakable. Once you remove those dietary toxins, things start to turn around. The tricky part is knowing what is helpful and what is harmful, so that is what we are focusing on today. Over-Supplemented Over-supplementation becomes a major contributor to malabsorption, inflammation, and chronic health problems. Many ingredients, especially synthetic, inflammatory, or poorly absorbed ones, cause toxicity, overwhelm digestion, and suppress the immune system. Interpreting Ingredient Lists Horse owners must learn to interpret ingredient lists to distinguish food ingredients from vitamins, minerals, preservatives, flavorings, and fillers. Many supplements contain a few beneficial components surrounded by ingredients that negate their benefits. So it is essential to know which are organic, which are inorganic, and which are highly processed. Detoxifying Means Removing, Not Adding Detoxification comes from removing substances rather than adding more. Every ingredient requires a digestive resource, and when the system is congested, even beneficial nutrients turn toxic. Removing non-essential supplements frees the liver, gut, and cells to function normally, improves absorption, and reduces inflammation. A temporary reset with hay, water, and salt will allow the digestive system to heal. The Fear of Stopping Supplements Many owners fear that their horses will regress if they remove their supplements, yet many horses decline because they cannot properly absorb the supplements they get. Most commercial ingredients are so processed and inorganic that the body barely recognizes them. Simplifying is not deprivation. It restores capacity. Nutrition from forage and whole foods becomes far more effective with reduced digestive stress. Why Simplifying Works Turnarounds can happen when owners strip everything back to only a few essential nutrients plus detoxifying herbs. Even horses on high-quality programs with good ingredients can improve dramatically by reducing their overall load. Fewer ingredients reduce competition for receptors, lowering inflammation and improving the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients and minerals. Ingredient Competition Inflammatory ingredients block the absorption of critical minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, and proteins. Even high-quality formulas can fail if too many ingredients compete for absorption. Less is often more because simplified diets reduce receptor blockage, increase bioavailability, and allow the body to use what it gets. Choosing Supplements Labels market conditions like ulcers, metabolic syndrome, and digestion, without guaranteeing ingredient suitability. Horses with ulcers, for example, cannot absorb synthetic nutrients well, especially while on proton pump inhibitors. So owners must evaluate what each ingredient actually does rather than trusting marketing claims. A Three-Step Supplement Audit Auditing provides clarity and helps you decide what to remove, what to keep, and what genuinely benefits the horse. Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health? Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out. The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health. For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity. If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you! Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live! 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 my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally. Save your seat in Elisha's 2-hour live workshop Detox Done Right. Much of what we read online about horse health is misleading. So, for those of you following a more natural and holistic path by focusing on the diet, lifestyle, and environment of your horses before turning to drugs or surgery, having the correct understanding is essential. I hope that each episode helps you view conditions like insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and laminitis with clearer eyes and more confidence. Today, we are exploring insulin, what happens when it stays high for too long, why it becomes toxic in the body, and how this links to metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and the early stages of laminitis. Insulin Can Become Toxic When insulin remains elevated for too long, it starts to act like a toxin. It constricts blood vessels, increases inflammation, damages cells, and impairs nutrient delivery, especially to their highly sensitive hooves. Inflammation and Insulin Feed Each Other High insulin drives inflammation. Inflammation drives insulin levels even higher, damaging tissues, reducing circulation, and increasing the likelihood of laminitis. Breaking this cycle requires addressing both inflammation and insulin simultaneously. The Role of Nutrition and Detox Supporting your horse with proper nutrition and removing toxins is essential. Antioxidants, clean feed, and reducing chemical exposures will help the body repair damaged cells, restore balance, and bring insulin levels back into a healthy range. Hoof Health Depends on Circulation Hoof care and internal health must go hand in hand. Restricted blood flow in the hooves worsens laminitis and founder. Proper trimming, padding, booting, and movement are all critical, along with dietary and metabolic support. The Whole Body Matters If symptoms are visible in the feet, the rest of the body will be affected as well. Supporting liver function, reducing stressors, and regenerating cells throughout the body improves overall health and helps prevent further complications. Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health? Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out. The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health. For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity. If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you! Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live! 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 my self-paced course, Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally. Last week, we explored the early signs of toxicity in horses. Today, we revisit a previous episode to clarify what toxicity is and how it affects your horse. Toxicity is one of the leading causes of equine disease. When the toxic load of horses exceeds what they can process, it becomes hard for their tissues to remain healthy, their organs to function as they should, and their body systems to work together to sustain good health. Today, I scratch the surface of the vast and complex topic of toxicity, giving you a little food for thought. Since this is a massive subject, I will likely revisit it and dive deeper into some of the points we cover today in future episodes. Understanding Toxicity in Horses Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm cells, tissues, organs, or entire systems. For horses, toxicity often accumulates gradually, influencing their health over time. Genetic makeup, nutrition, and environmental exposure are all factors that determine how well a horse can handle toxins. Well-nourished horses with good constitutions and minimal exposure to harmful substances are generally more resilient. Yet they can also struggle as they age, particularly between 14 and 16 years, when signs of imbalance often emerge. Early Signs of Toxicity The initial effects of toxicity can be subtle and easy to overlook. A horse may develop a dull coat, cracked hooves, or irregular shedding patterns. Some subtler changes, such as stiffness, swelling, joint discomfort, a weakened immune system, or slow recovery from illness, could also indicate that the body struggles to handle its toxic load. Key Sources of Toxicity Dietary imbalances Dietary imbalances are another major factor contributing to poor equine health. Excess sugar or protein can stress the body and lead to inflammation, metabolic issues, and poor gut health, and a diet heavy in oils can disrupt the gut microbiome. Acidity Acidity in the body often results from an imbalanced diet, leading to conditions like leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and joint issues. Hormonal imbalances, such as prolonged high cortisol or insulin levels, also cause significant damage over time, contributing to tissue breakdown, laminitis, and immune dysfunction. Antioxidants Antioxidants are crucial for combating free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells and DNA. Free radicals naturally occur during metabolic processes, but increase with high toxic loads. Without sufficient antioxidants to neutralize them, free radicals can accelerate aging, weaken the immune system, and cause long-term damage. The Cumulative Effect of Toxicity Even though toxins seldom cause immediate harm, they accumulate over time. A horse that has consumed feed with additives, dealt with multiple infections, or been on long-term medications may eventually show signs of toxicity. The cumulative effect often leads to nutritional deficiencies, compromised immunity, and declining health. Strategies for Reducing Toxicity Final Thoughts Toxicity develops slowly. Understanding the sources and taking steps to minimize exposure allows you to assist your horse in maintaining vitality and resilience throughout its life. Proactive care and reducing toxic burdens will ensure their long-term health and well-being. Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health? Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out. The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health. For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity. If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you! Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live! 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.
Meet your host
Hi there, I’m Elisha Edwards
Meet your host
Hi there, I’m Elisha Edwards
I have helped guide thousands of horses back to good health over the years from a variety of different health challenges. And through my courses, webinars, and speaking engagements I educate and empower horse owner’s from around the world to take charge of their horse’s health using the holistic model of health care.
So I know first-hand how difficult and overwhelming it can be to navigate all the different opinions and conflicting information that you come across especially when your horse is faced with a health problem. In many cases, the journey is just as hard on the owners as it is on the horses.
I started Healing Horses with Elisha to guide you, support you, and encourage you through the process of prevention and recovery so you feel good about the decisions you’re making for them.
Here’s what I believe
I have seen countless horses with seemingly impossible health conditions that have been resolved so easily with the right combination of diet, nutrition, and natural remedies. In many cases, it is not the health conditions that prevents the horse from recovering, it is the lack of education, resources, and options that are available.
If the insight and information you gain from this podcast gives you some newfound hope or inspires you to take
a new approach then it has served it’s purpose.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you improve your horse’s health.
Keep listening and learning. Your horse is worth it.
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