We are currently experiencing an epidemic of stress-related conditions in horses, affecting virtually every aspect of their health. So, this week, we are focusing on ways to prevent or reduce stress in horses.

When a horse becomes stressed, various physiological changes occur, exacerbating any health issues or challenges that may already exist.

Join me as I explore why horses tend to get stressed, examining the biochemical processes that unfold when they do and how their organs respond, highlighting how these factors can ultimately lead to either the success or failure of their health.

Categories of Stressors

Stressors in horses can be physical or emotional. Physical stressors include chronic illness, injuries, surgeries, pain, inflammation, high physical demands, and chronic hunger. Emotional stressors stem from the social nature of the horse. They may include weaning, grief, anger, frustration, loneliness due to confinement, and chronic hunger.

Physical Stressors Chronic Illness and Injuries:

Chronic illnesses place constant stress on the equine body as it struggles to restore balance. Injuries, such as pulled ligaments, broken bones, or muscle damage, require the body to activate resources to reduce inflammation and begin healing, which is a significant stressor.

Surgeries and Pain:

Surgeries are invasive and traumatic for the tissues of horses. Pain and inflammation, whether from injuries, food allergies, or high-sugar diets, create a constant state of low-grade stress, hindering tissue repair and allowing degenerative processes to take place.

Performance and Chronic Hunger:

High-performance physical demands can be stressful, so the necessary tools and resources are essential to help the horse recover. Horses are natural grazers, so chronic hunger can lead to chronic stress, affecting their physical and emotional well-being.

Emotional Stressors Social Nature and Weaning:

Horses are highly social beings with a strong emotional IQ. Weaning is a significant emotional stressor and is often the first traumatic event for a horse. Some horses adapt well, while others carry the trauma long into adulthood.

Grief:

Grief from losing herd mates, whether due to death or separation, can affect horses. They may exhibit signs of depression and a loss of zest for life, potentially leading to physical health issues like ulcers or laminitis.

Anger, Frustration, and Loneliness:

Poor human-horse relationships, where the horse feels misunderstood or unheard, can lead to frustration and anger. Loneliness, often due to confinement and lack of social interaction, is another emotional stressor that could affect their health.

Impact of Stress on Horses

As prey animals, horses have a pronounced and severe stress response hardwired for survival. This response, necessary for escaping predators, includes hypervigilance and neuroses. Genetic factors can influence their stress response, highlighting the importance of breeding calmer, less stressed horses to ensure better future generations.

Fight, Flight, and Freeze

The natural stress response in horses is flight. However, in unnatural environments where fleeing is impossible, this energy has no outlet, leading to frustration, anger, and irritability. Chronic stress without release can result in shutdown and withdrawal, further compounding any existing health issues.

Physiological Effects of Stress

Stress significantly impacts the digestive system, reducing blood flow to vital organs, slowing gut motility, inhibiting nutrient absorption, and reducing digestive secretions. That can lead to malnutrition and colic. Chronic stress also increases acidity in the stomach, contributing to ulcer formation, especially in performance horses.

TheEndocrine System

Stress triggers the release of hormones like glucagon and ACTH, which increase blood sugar and cortisol levels. Long-term cortisol production can lead to tissue breakdown, immune system suppression, and metabolic issues such as insulin resistance and PSSM.

Immune System and Healing

Prolonged stress affects the immune system by delaying healing and contributing to leaky gut syndrome. Chronic stress can lead to adrenal burnout, affecting cortisol production and exacerbating health issues.

Cortisol and Anti-Inflammation

Cortisol is produced naturally as an anti-inflammatory response in horses, playing a crucial role in managing inflammation from chronic conditions like laminitis and the overall immune response. However, persistent cortisol production, particularly in autoimmune conditions such as uveitis, can lead to oxidative stress and harm tissue integrity.

Stress and Immune System Impact

Chronic stress significantly impacts the immune system of horses. Since 70% of the immune system is in the gut, stress can disrupt digestion and redirect resources away from immunity. Suppressing the immune system increases susceptibility to infections and other health issues.

Thymus Gland and Stress Response

The thymus gland, responsible for producing white blood cells and other immune cells, can shrink by up to 50% under stress. That leads to a drastic drop in immune defense, making horses more vulnerable to infections. Chronic stress, often seen in horses rescued from neglectful situations, severely compromises their immunity.

Supporting Immune Function

Horses under chronic stress experience delayed healing and increased vulnerability to infections. You can support their recovery by providing nutritional support for the adrenal glands to create a healthy immune response. That includes addressing stressors, improving the environment, and ensuring they have a proper outlet for stress.

Healing and Stress Management

Healing is delayed in horses under chronic stress, especially when dealing with conditions like laminitis or metabolic syndrome. That is why owners must address their mental and emotional states and provide outlets for stress relief to promote their healing.

Sleep Deprivation and Narcolepsy

Stress and lifestyle factors can lead to sleep deprivation and narcolepsy in horses. Those conditions can cause horses to fall asleep while standing, posing a danger and making it essential to address lifestyle factors that could contribute to their stress and sleep issues.

Lifestyle Changes for Stress Reduction

Supplements alone cannot resolve stress-related issues in horses. It is crucial to make lifestyle changes, like providing more playtime, adjusting feeding schedules, and ensuring social interactions. Even by making small changes, you can significantly reduce stress levels and improve a horse's overall health.

Importance of Rest

Allowing horses to rest is essential for their recovery and health. Adequate sleep supports the immune system, tissue repair, and digestive health. Owners should avoid disturbing resting horses, especially those recovering from traumatic or neglectful environments.

Conclusion

Understanding and addressing physical and emotional stressors in horses is crucial for their health and longevity. By recognizing the signs of stress and implementing stress management strategies, owners can promote better health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for their horses.

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

Stress is a significant concern for horses, as it influences countless aspects of their health and well-being. So, this week, I invited Glenn Stewart to join me to dive into the emotional health of horses. 

Glenn works with wild horses. I have been following his travels across the globe for several years, doing clinics and working with horses and humans. He has been an invaluable resource in my quest to understand more about equine behavior and health within a natural environment. 

Glenn is one of the premier horsemen in the world with four decades of experience, having worked with thousands of horses and 38 different breeds. He runs annual High & Wild camps at his ranch in Fort St. John, British Columbia, where he leads groups into the mountains to work with horses that have had very few interactions with humans. 

Glenn has won many competitions, including the Cold Starting competition at the Horse Expo in Red Deer, Alberta. He became the 2021 champion at Road to the Horse in Alberta, Canada, and clinched the world championship title at the 2022 Road to the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Join us as Glenn draws from his expertise and vast experience to explore the intricate relationship between stress and equine health.

Understanding Stress in Horses

Even though stress in horses is not inherently harmful, excessive stress may harm them. Discomfort is necessary for growth in both humans and horses. Glenn notes that horses, being prey animals, find many things stressful, and the goal should be to build their confidence rather than shield them from all stress.

Importance of Balance

It is essential to find balance when working with horses. Protecting horses from all discomfort is as damaging as exposing them to constant stress. The key is to expose them to stress in a controlled, step-by-step manner to help them become calmer and more confident.

Long-term Stress and Horse Behavior

Some may try to avoid putting their horses in stressful situations, believing it will keep them calm. Glenn counters this by explaining that long-term stress from constantly being protected can make horses more fearful. He believes that with proper training, any horse can build confidence and become calmer, regardless of their initial temperament.

Keeping Horses Out of Self-Preservation Mode

Glenn explains the importance of preventing horses from entering self-preservation mode, which occurs when they feel overly pressured and see no way out. Proper training involves showing horses that there is an answer to the pressure they face, encouraging them to think and remain calm.

Mental and Emotional Development

Glenn stresses the importance of mental and emotional development over physical fitness in horse training. He believes in building mental and emotional resilience in horses to prevent them from reacting adversely under stress.

Misconceptions about Fast Training

Glenn addresses the misconception that quick training is harmful. He argues that fast training can be beneficial and less stressful for the horse if done correctly. Prolonged confusion and slow training can lead to more stress and anxiety for the horse.

Trust between Humans and Horses

Trust gets built through consistent, clear communication and handling. Horses need to know what humans expect of them and see their human owner as a reliable leader. Glenn emphasizes the importance of developing yourself before trying to train your horse.

Training Approach in Competitions

Glenn often waits to saddle or ride the horse in competitions, focusing instead on building trust. He explains that the goal is to get enough positive responses from the horse before proceeding to ensure the horse is mentally and emotionally prepared.

Mental and Emotional Development

Glenn reiterates the importance of mental and emotional development over physical fitness in horse training. He feels it is essential to develop the resilience of horses, as it prevents them from reacting adversely under stress.

Human Factors in Horse Stress

Humans are often a significant source of stress for horses. Glenn believes it is the responsibility of horse owners to work on their skills to reduce the stress they cause their horses. Building a relationship based on trust and respect is essential for horses.

Gaining Unexpected Benefits from Horsemanship

Participants in horsemanship clinics often receive unexpected benefits. Initially, the attendees arrive with specific goals for their horses, like loading or saddling. However, by engaging in the process, they gain a wide range of skills and improvements for themselves and their horses.

Building Mental and Emotional Fitness

Emphasizing the importance of building the mental and emotional fitness of both the horse and the owner, Glenn adds that one cannot expect more from their horse than they expect from themselves. Mutual development is the key to successful horsemanship.

Communicating Differently with Horses

Elisha shares a story about how her horse initially ran away from her, but over time, through improved communication and understanding, her horse now comes running to her. Glenn highlights that changing how we communicate with horses can lead to significant positive changes.

The Importance of Perspective and Attitude

Perspective and attitude play crucial roles in horsemanship. Glenn emphasizes that although the techniques are important, the right mindset and approach are equally essential for aligning with the horse to achieve better results.

Impact of Human Emotions on Horses

Human emotions directly influence how horses behave. Horses are sensitive to human feelings, timing, and even smells. Glenn stresses the importance of maintaining mental and emotional fitness to avoid negatively impacting the horse.

Handling and Training Approaches

Glenn discusses different handling approaches, explaining how some methods, like petting or feeding, might not work for training. He points out that meaningful interaction and proper training are more beneficial than being kind without structure.

Responsibility of Horse Owners

Glenn asserts that horse owners must educate themselves and develop the necessary skills to address the anxieties and stressors of their horses. That involves continuous learning and improvement to ensure the well-being of their horses.

Final Thoughts

Glenn encourages horse owners to keep improving their communication skills with horses, emphasizing the endless potential for growth and development in horsemanship. He invites people to explore all the available learning opportunities to better connect with and train their horses.

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

Glenn Stewart:

Glenn's Website 

Glenn's 30- day Kickstart  

This week, we return to the basics of equine care to focus on the three Fs of fundamental requirements for a healthy horse.

The three Fs stand for forage, friendship, and freedom. This concept has been around for quite some time as it effectively encapsulates all the principal necessities for any horse to thrive. 

Join me as we dive into the importance of always focusing on these core pillars of horse health first to ensure all your horse's mental, physical, and emotional needs get met.

Definition of Natural

Natural means something nature created, so it is not there due to human intervention. Applying a natural lifestyle to horses in a domestic setting is challenging because humans control almost every aspect of a horse's environment, including food, water, supplements, living quarters, social interactions, and freedom. That means what we often consider normal horse-keeping is not necessarily natural or best for the horse.

Horse Communication

Horses communicate their needs and discomforts through their behavior. Unruly, aggressive, or dangerous behavior often shows that a horse is unhappy with its environment, lifestyle, or treatment. Knowing about that and responding appropriately to the signs will help you have a better relationship with your horse and improve its well-being.

Forage and Digestive Health

The digestive systems of horses are supposed to have food constantly. In the wild, horses graze continuously, preventing digestive issues like ulcers and colic. Domestic horses need regular access to forage to mimic that natural state. Restricting food, especially for insulin-resistant and metabolic horses, can lead to stress and health problems. Slow feeders can help manage the amount and pace of their eating, reducing their stress and promoting health.

Friendship and Social Needs

Horses are social animals, so they need companionship. Living in herds provides safety and fulfills their social needs. Horses deprived of social interactions can suffer from loneliness, depression, and stress. So, it is essential to allow horses to bond with other horses and ensure they have social opportunities, even if it means getting creative with their living arrangements.

Freedom to Move

Horses need space to move naturally, which often gets restricted in domestic settings. Providing environments like track systems to encourage movement can help mimic their natural behavior. Movement is crucial for a horse's physical health, aiding their digestion, metabolism, and overall well-being.

Practical Adjustments

Adjusting your horse management to provide more natural conditions, even in limited spaces, can significantly impact the health of your horse and its happiness. That includes ensuring they have forage available, providing opportunities for social interactions, and allowing them the freedom to move. 

Case Study on Insulin-Resistant Horse

A case of an insulin-resistant horse with behavioral issues highlights the importance of the three Fs. Despite all efforts to manage his diet and health, his aggression and stress did not improve until he was allowed more freedom and given a more natural living environment. This case underscores the importance of addressing the horse's emotional and mental needs alongside its physical health.

Conclusion

Horses thrive when their natural behaviors and needs are respected. That includes having constant access to forage, social interactions, and the freedom to move. Domestic settings often restrict these natural behaviors, but making some adjustments to provide more natural conditions will usually lead to healthier and happier horses.

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