June has arrived, and everything is turning green again. With no more mud and ice around, it becomes much easier for horse owners living in wet and snowy areas to get their horses moving as they should once more.

This week, I share some tips to get your horse moving in spring, which is particularly important if your horse is on grass, with few other options.

Movement Matters

Spring and summer grasses are rich in sugars, which can be risky for horses with metabolic issues like insulin resistance or laminitis. Supplements may help manage those conditions, but regular physical activity is essential for maintaining their metabolic balance and general health.

Small Steps

Small, regular efforts are more effective for horses than occasional intense workouts. Just 15 minutes of walking a few times a week can help to improve circulation, metabolism, muscle tone, detox pathways, and mood in horses.

Encouraging Natural Movement

Some horses are naturally less active when hay is readily available. You can encourage more movement by spreading their hay stations out, placing food and water at opposite ends of a paddock, or using slopes and snow to make horses do a little work for their meals, even in winter.

Engaging the Body and Mind

Scavenger hunts for alfalfa pellets or small pieces of carrot or cucumber will encourage your horse to move and provide mental stimulation without overfeeding. If your horse is not getting ridden, consider groundwork or short walks to boost circulation and muscle use. Use hoof boots for extra comfort if needed, and increase exercise gradually as your horse improves.

Make It Work for Both of You

Combine exercising your horse with your fitness goals. If your goal is 10,000 steps a day, you can spend some time walking your horse around the pasture or driveway. For minis or horses that cannot be ridden, ponying or trotting them alongside another horse or a slow-moving vehicle can be an effective alternative.

Prioritize and Plan Movement

Make scheduled movement a priority for your horse. Aim for 2–3 sessions of 15-30 minutes per week. Over time, even brief, consistent activity will offer meaningful improvements. Supplements can support equine health, but movement is still a non-negotiable for managing sugar levels in horses, building their strength, and maintaining their long-term well-being.

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This week, we are taking a closer look at equine sarcoids.

Equine sarcoids are a common issue that can be concerning for horse owners. These skin growths are neither serious nor life-threatening, but they can be unsightly and sometimes tricky to manage. They tend to vary in appearance and location, and in some cases, can go unnoticed until they become more visibly pronounced.

What Are Equine Sarcoids?

Sarcoids are skin tumors that account for 36 to 40% of equine tumors. They can be flat, raised, crusty, weepy, or ulcerated, and can grow and spread at different rates. There are two main types: dry sarcoids and ulcerated (weepy and inflamed) sarcoids. They are generally benign and don’t spread to internal organs, but they can cause serious problems if they obstruct bodily functions like urination or defecation.

Conventional vs. Holistic Approaches

With traditional veterinary treatments, which include cutting, freezing, or surgically removing sarcoids, recurrence is common. Holistic practitioners aim to understand why the sarcoids appeared in the first place. Removing growths will not solve the internal imbalance that allowed them to develop.

Potential Causes and Triggers

Sarcoids, which may originate from the bovine papillomavirus, behave like viruses, flaring up with stress, toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies. Horses with compromised immune systems due to anxiety, malnutrition, or chronic stress are more prone to developing sarcoids. Events like moving farms, losing a herd mate, accidents, poor-quality hay, or vaccines can act as triggers.

Chemical Toxicity and Vaccines

Sarcoids could result from exposure to chemicals. Sprays on hay, some feeds, and vaccines can attack horses’ immune systems. When their immune system is under strain, dormant viruses can activate, allowing sarcoids to spread rapidly. Sarcoids often tend to appear soon after vaccinations, especially in compromised horses.

Skin as an Elimination Organ

The skin acts as a pathway for the body to release toxins and reflect internal imbalances. When sarcoids appear on the skin, they are often signs of an internal issue.

Malabsorption and Nutritional Gaps

A horse may seem to be getting good nutrition, yet still be malnourished if it does not absorb nutrients properly. Ulcers or chronic nervous system stress can interfere with their nutrient uptake and contribute to a weakened immune system.

Environmental and Age Factors

At around 15, horses often start showing signs of conditions that have been building silently for years. Chronic stress, aging, and accumulated exposure to harmful substances can contribute to immune dysfunction and tumor development.

The Role of Detoxification and the Liver

The liver detoxifies chemicals, medications, and environmental toxins. If it is overburdened, the immune system suffers. Many horses show signs of liver strain if they have been on long-term medication or exposed to repeated vaccinations and chemical-laden feeds.

Immune System and Pathogen Load

Chronic issues like thrush, scratches, or recurrent parasite infections indicate a compromised immune system. Parasites, bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi often coexist, increasing the toxic load and making it harder for horses to maintain internal balance.

Using Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional therapy is a preferred holistic strategy. It involves using single nutrients in specific doses to clean up toxicity, correct imbalances, and support immune health. Antioxidants like selenium and vitamin C can help to detoxify chemicals and support liver function.

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This week, we continue where we left off last week, exploring equine eye conditions through a holistic lens.

A holistic approach focuses primarily on optimizing the diet and lifestyle of horses, providing everything they need to support their overall health and maintain healthy eyes.

Long-Term Health Issues Often Begin with Deficiencies

Chronic deficiencies, prolonged stress, and toxin exposure are often the root causes of long-term health issues in horses. Those problems develop slowly, sometimes taking years to show symptoms. Even though genetics may be an underlying factor, nutrition is crucial in determining health outcomes.

Protecting the Eyes of Prey Animals

Eyesight is critical for horses to feel safe. Vision loss increases their anxiety and vulnerability. Keeping blind or visually impaired horses calm, secure, and well-supported within a herd can help to reduce their stress and improve their quality of life.

Antioxidants Play a Crucial Role in Prevention

Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, support immune function and detox systems, and protect the sensitive eye tissues. Even without eye symptoms, improved nutrition supports clearer and healthier eyes. A targeted supplement plan should always match the specific needs of each horse.

Selenium: An Underrated Powerhouse

Selenium deficiency is common in horses, affecting their coat, muscles, metabolism, and more. Selenium indirectly supports the eyes by boosting antioxidant defenses, especially when paired with vitamin E. While it is not an eye-specific nutrient, selenium does contribute to overall equine resilience.

Vitamin E is Essential and Often Deficient

Vitamin E is often lacking in hay-fed horses. Vitamin E protects the tissues from oxidative damage and plays a key role in eye health and detox support. High doses may be required to correct deficiencies in horses, especially for performance or aging horses.

The Right Dosage and Timing Matter

Too many antioxidants at once can overwhelm the body. Start with one or two at low doses and monitor progress over several weeks. Horses with autoimmune issues, like uveitis, need especially careful and gradual supplementation.

Zinc: The Surprise Ally for Eye Health

Zinc supports metabolism, thyroid function, liver health, and immunity. It also helps with weepy eyes and visual clarity, likely due to its high concentration in ocular tissue and role in processing light. Zinc works well with vitamin A to support vision.

Be Cautious and Responsive with Zinc

Not all horses need zinc. Try using low doses of about 150 mg elemental zinc in an organic form and observe. If there is no visible improvement within 6–8 weeks, zinc might not be the right solution.

Beta Carotene: A Natural Source of Eye Support

Beta carotene, found in fresh forage and colorful foods like carrots, supports vision and immune health. It converts to vitamin A, which helps with light processing.

Forage-based diets naturally provide more beta carotene than hay.

Support Through Food Whenever Possible

Whole foods and high-quality forage offer the best long-term nutritional support. While supplements are valuable, a varied, nutrient-dense diet reduces dependence on pills and powders and supports holistic, sustainable health.

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This week, we are focusing on eye health in horses.

Eye conditions consistently rank among the most common and concerning issues reported by horse owners. With vision being such a crucial aspect of the well-being and safety of horses, owners must gain a holistic understanding of equine eye conditions and learn how to manage them responsibly and effectively.

Why Eye Issues Matter

Eye problems in horses are often a clue pointing to deeper health issues. Symptoms like weepy eyes, swelling, or more serious conditions like uveitis and conjunctivitis sometimes show up alongside other imbalances in the horse’s health. Holistically speaking, the eyes can give us clues about what is happening inside the body. So when a horse has an eye problem, it is often part of a bigger picture.

Looking Beyond the Eyes

Treating the eyes with drops or targeted supplements often fails because the root cause is unresolved. Look at the whole horse instead of isolating the eye as the only problem, as chronic eye issues can be a sign of inflammation elsewhere, and are often linked to conditions like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or a weak immune system. Addressing those imbalances can result in unexpected improvements in eye health.

The Limitations of a Symptom-Focused Approach

The eyes are generally the most visible part of a broader inflammatory picture. Holistic care means reducing inflammation and supporting overall health rather than treating isolated symptoms.

The Importance of Vision in Horses

Compromised eye health in a horse can increase its vulnerability within its environment and affect its ability to function within the herd. Horses have 350-degree vision, with only small blind spots directly in front and behind them. Their eyes are set in a position to protect them by detecting threats, making vision a key component of their survival.

Prey vs Predator Vision

As prey animals, horses have eyes on the sides of their heads, while humans, as predators, have forward-facing eyes. That difference creates a natural tension in our relationship with horses. When we acknowledge that, we can modify our behavior to become less threatening and build trust.

Color and Light Sensitivity

Horses see blue and green more distinctly than red, and respond more to the vibrational energy of colors than to the specific shades. Their night vision is excellent, but they need more time to adjust between light and dark areas. So it is essential to be patient and mindful during those transitions.

Emotional and Environmental Triggers

Much like laminitic horses can experience flare-ups during periods of stress, horses with eye vulnerabilities may develop eye inflammation in response to vaccinations, dietary changes, environmental shifts, or emotional stressors. These episodes are not random. They reveal underlying weaknesses that require attention.

The Liver-Eye Connection

There is a link between liver health and eye conditions. Detoxification and liver support are essential when treating recurring eye issues. Improving liver and gut health can lead to clearer eyes, better digestion, fewer foot issues, and stronger immunity.

Individual Sensitivities and Triggers

Pay attention to what sets off flare-ups in your horse. It could be seasonal grass, certain types of hay, or even temperature changes. Those patterns can reveal underlying sensitivities and guide you toward more targeted support.

Consistency and Commitment

Managing chronic or recurring eye issues requires consistent care and a committed health program. Rather than reacting to the eye symptoms alone, proactive support of the overall health is the key to preventing flare-ups and supporting their...

This week, we are following up on our last discussion about sourcing the right hay for your horse by focusing on the practice of soaking hay.

Soaking hay is a common strategy for reducing sugar levels for sugar-sensitive horses. This practice is helpful for horses with insulin resistance, acute laminitis, or high-insulin PSSM.

Join us to learn how to soak hay to improve your horse's health and ensure longevity while avoiding the associated risks.

When and Why to Soak Hay

Soaking hay can be helpful, but it should only be done when necessary, in cases of acute laminitis, severe insulin resistance, or PSSM, where high sugar levels in hay contribute to the problem. Soaking is not something you want to rely on long-term or use just in case. You must always consider whether it is doing more good than harm and use it as a short-term tool when you do not have a better option.

Keep It Temporary

If you need to soak hay, do it for a limited time, perhaps two weeks. If sugar is the issue, you will typically see changes in your horse within 24 to 48 hours. If nothing improves after soaking the hay for several weeks, the problem may not be sugar-related. If you continue to soak at that point, it could deplete essential nutrients.

Be Aware of Nutrient Loss

Remember that soaking does not only remove sugars. It also pulls out vital minerals and amino acids. Since hay is less nutritious than fresh forage, soaking can make it even more deficient. For horses with metabolic conditions, PPID, or PSSM, the loss of nutrition could cause a slow and steady decline in their overall health.

Think Beyond Sugar

Sugar is only part of the story. Inflammation, poor hoof balance, and limited movement can also drive high insulin and hoof pain. If insulin remains elevated and symptoms persist, chronic inflammation could be the cause, not sugar. Always step back and assess the whole horse.

Use Soaking Strategically

Limiting your hay soaking to 15–20 minutes is usually enough to reduce sugar without removing too many essential nutrients. Soaking is ineffective for lowering protein and should not be used to manage dust- a quick spray with water works better. Avoid long-term soaking, as it can do more harm than good by further depleting an already nutrient-poor feed.

Have a Plan

If you are soaking hay, take the opportunity to put a longer-term plan in place to support the metabolic health of your horse. It might involve switching to hay with a lower sugar content, adding essential nutrients, reviewing your trim schedule, and encouraging more movement. The goal is to rebuild resilience rather than relying on an ongoing restriction.

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Today, we tackle hay, an essential yet often overlooked component of an equine diet.

Hay provides most of the calories and nutrition horses need, especially in colder climates. However, it is not always the first place we look when issues arise. Since hay is dried grass with less nutritional value than natural forage, it is not a perfect food, yet it is what most horse owners must rely on. The quality of the hay, the treatments it has undergone, and how it affects your horse are critical factors to consider. That is why it is best to start with a hay analysis to ensure the foundation of their diet supports the health of your horse rather than adding to any hidden problems.

What I Focus On First

When analyzing hay, I always start with the macros- the protein, sugar, and fiber levels, as those are crucial for every health condition I have worked with. It is essential to monitor sugar and protein levels. High protein can be as problematic as high sugar. Perfect hay does not exist, so we must balance things wherever possible.

Sugar Sensitivity and Hay Analysis

A hay analysis is always essential for sugar-sensitive (prone to laminitis, high insulin, etc.) horses. Removing sugar from their diet is crucial for their recovery, as even on the best metabolic programs, high-sugar hay can completely derail their progress.

Fiber and Coarseness: Matching Hay to Your Horse

With coarser hay, horses need to eat more to get enough nutrition, which can be a struggle for some. The fiber in coarser hay is often higher than the recommended level, and although that is generally acceptable, it could impact hard keepers. Coarse hay is better suited for easy keepers, but be cautious if it causes digestive issues.

Focus on Your Most Unwell Horse

When you have a group with mixed needs, prioritize the horse that needs the most help. Pick your hay based on what that horse requires first, as the healthier horses usually find it easier to adapt. This approach will save you time and money and offer better horse health in the long run.

Glyphosate and Fertilizers

I always consider chemical sprays like glyphosate, as it is very toxic and damages the microbiome, which is crucial for immune and digestive health. Older horses and those with compromised livers often struggle with cumulative chemical exposure over their lives. Fertilizers can also trigger health issues like fecal water, especially in aging horses.

Balancing Risks and Benefits

Sometimes, you may have to choose between low-sugar hay treated with chemicals or untreated hay with higher sugar. You have to prioritize based on the condition of your horse. In many cases, low sugar must win if the horse is at serious metabolic risk.

Palatability

Palatability matters. Some horses refuse to eat coarse, low-sugar hay simply because it is not what they are used to. Others dislike the taste of certain grasses or chemical residues. You can try mixing different types of hay to help them adjust, but watch out for dust, especially if you have horses with respiratory problems.

Minerals

Although many nutritionists focus on balancing minerals to match hay, I do not worry too much about it. I prefer adjusting nutrition to the individual needs of each horse, using high-quality, bioavailable nutrients without any chemical additives.

Grass Types

Some horses have intolerances to specific grass types, and if nothing else explains their poor health, consider a grass type change. Common ones I see include Timothy, Teff, Orchard, and Brome. Canary Grass and Fescue are types I usually tend to avoid.

If it is Not Working, Change it

If your horse's health does not improve despite your best efforts, do not be afraid to try different hay.

As spring approaches, many horse owners become concerned about what the grass returning could mean for their more sugar-sensitive horses, as those horses usually have a history of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, PPID, PSSM, laminitis, and hoof problems.

Managing sugar intake and keeping their hooves healthy is the key to avoiding serious setbacks in sugar-sensitive horses. So, in this episode, I share some simple and effective strategies for supporting horses and managing their sugar levels as they go back onto grass.

Supporting the Transition to Grass

Spring grass can be challenging for horses with metabolic issues or a history of laminitis. Owners must do all they can to avoid setbacks in those horses while supporting their natural foraging instincts.

Why Grass Can Be a Problem

Fresh grass is low in fiber and high in rapidly digestible carbohydrates, which can cause insulin spikes in sugar-sensitive horses. The lack of fiber and abrupt dietary change can also impact gut health, leading to leaky gut and cecal acidosis.

Start Slowly

The transition from hay to grass should be gradual, and sugar-sensitive horses should not be allowed to binge on grass after long winters off-pasture. Even a 10-minute binge can trigger symptoms in sensitive horses, so pay attention to early warning signs like swelling, fatigue, or hoof soreness.

Always Offer Hay with Grass

Providing low-sugar hay alongside grazing reduces the glycemic impact and helps regulate blood sugar. Strategically placing hay around the pasture will encourage movement and help manage total carbohydrate intake.

Timing Matters

Grass sugar levels change throughout the day. Mornings, especially between 5 and 7 a.m., is the safest time for horses to graze, as photosynthesis has not yet caused sugar levels to spike.

Feeding Strategies

Feeding horses a fiber-rich, balanced mash before turning them out can increase their satiety and blunt insulin spikes. That helps manage metabolic responses and makes grazing less risky.

Monitor and Adjust

Look out for swelling in the sheath, puffy eyes, a laminitis stance, or general fatigue, as those indicate that the horse is reactive to sugar. Pull the horse off the grass immediately should any of those symptoms appear.

Gut Health

Healthy gut flora is essential, especially during feed changes. Give your horse a high-quality probiotic and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to their feed daily to support digestion and help regulate blood sugar.

Consistent Feeding Programs

Following a well-balanced feeding program, like those in my Equine Metabolic Syndrome course, can support insulin regulation and prevent problems during seasonal transitions.

Balance

Entirely restricting grass may increase stress and reduce the quality of life of horses. The aim is to build tolerance and support health so the horse can eventually enjoy some natural forage safely.

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Today, we share seven key pointers to help you, as a horse owner, plan a parasite control program for your horse.

In this episode, you will learn how to formulate a parasite program and how to prepare your horse for it. We will also explain how to schedule your program effectively and responsibly.

Understanding the Role of Parasites in Equine Health

Parasites can affect the health of horses significantly, and they can worsen problems in horses with ulcers, digestive issues, or chronic colic. So, owners should tailor their parasite management to suit the history and needs of each horse.

Fecal Testing: A Useful but Limited Tool

Even though fecal tests are helpful to monitor parasite loads, they should not be relied upon, as they do not detect every type of parasite, and they may not be effective when the parasites are in certain life stages or encysted in the gut lining. Living environments, pasture management, and herd dynamics can influence parasite exposure and infection risk. So, fecal testing should be part of a broader monitoring system that includes seasonal timing, observation of symptoms, and an understanding of the regional parasite risks.

The Limitations of Natural Dewormers

Chemical dewormers are necessary when dealing with high parasite loads, as although herbs and homeopathic remedies can support intestinal health and help preventinfestations, they cannot be relied on for treating active infections. Using only herbs in such cases may lead to severe or irreversible damage.

The Dangers of Over-Deworming

Overusing chemical dewormers could lead to parasite resistance and damage the horse's microbiome. Deworming too often or using the same chemical repeatedly allows the parasites to adapt and reduces the effectiveness of the deworming treatments. It could also add to the growing issue of parasite resistance across all animal species.

Deworming Strategically

Strategic deworming supports equine health and helps to reduce dewormer resistance in parasites. Strategic deworming means considering the parasite risk of your horse rather than relying on a fixed schedule, reducing the risk of over-deworming, and allowing the deworming drugs to remain effective. Factors like the age of the horse, its health status, pasture conditions, seasonal parasite patterns, and regional risks should all inform your deworming decisions.

Handling Deworming Challenges

In cases where horses are averse to oral administration of dewormers, training is the answer. Owners can work with trainers or use temporary strategies like mixing dewormers with foods the horse enjoys.

When Is the Best Time to Deworm?

To time deworming treatments, owners should consider seasonal parasite activity and fecal egg count results. In temperate climates, deworming in late winter or early spring helps reduce pasture contamination before peak parasite transmission in late summer and early fall. Avoid treating during extreme heat or cold when parasites are less active. Some owners prefer to deworm just before or after the full moon, but there is no scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of that.

Strengthening the Hindgut and Immune System

A healthy gut creates an environment less hospitable to parasites. Supporting digestive immunity with good nutrition and high-quality probiotics helps fortify horses, supports their overall health, and reduces their susceptibility to infestations.

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