EQUINE WELLNESS
Equine
Your natural resource!
WELLNESS
BOREDOM BUSTING
POLE EXERCISES
DIY: IM INJECTION HOW TO GIVE AN
Feeding
7
A complementary approach to
OUR TOP
HUNTER’S BUMP
HORSE SHOPPING
TIPS
Is your horse in a
PANIC?
Holiday
How to tell the difference between PANIC and FEAR
treat recipes
Yoga
Seedy toe
WITH HORSES
WHAT IS IT?
Display until January 28, 2012 $5.95 USA/Canada VOLUME 7 ISSUE 6
December 2012/January 2013
+GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
EquineWellnessMagazine.com
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Contents 26
44
FEATURES 10 BUMPS INTHE ROAD A complementary approach to hunter’s bump or sacroiliac subluxation.
14 DO IT YOURSELF
How to give your horse an intramuscular injection.
16 YOGA WITH HORSES
Adding stretching and yoga to your equine’s routine can improve his wellbeing and performance.
22 IS YOUR HORSE IN A PANIC?
Understanding the difference between panic and fear makes all the difference in how you handle the situation.
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26 LET FREEDOM REIGN
How one sanctuary is ensuring America’s wild horses live out their lives as nature intended.
31 BOREDOM BUSTERS!
Seven pole exercises to shake up your flatwork routine.
34 WINTERIZE YOUR HORSE This cold weather acupressure session promotes energy and circulation.
38 HAY HO FOR THE HOLIDAYS Yummy treats your horses will love!
40 BY ANY OTHER NAME
Many of us have heard the term “seedy toe” – but what is it, really?
44 ALONG FOR THE RIDE
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the documentary, Wild Horse, Wild Ride.
54 A TRYING TIME Our top seven tips to make horse shopping easier!
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31
40
DEPARTMENTS
COLUMNS 8
Neighborhood news
20 Product picks
57 Hot to trot 58
6 Editorial
Social media corner
29 Gift guide 48 Equine Wellness resource guide
50 Holistic veterinary advice
59 Marketplace 61 Classifieds 62 Events
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The Mountain pose (left) improves your posture and allows you to better relate to your position in the saddle. Below and right: Lateral neck stretches increase your horse’s suppleness, and alert you to any limitations in flexibility.
Yoga
with horses?
Incorporating stretching and yoga into your equine’s routine can improve his well being and performance, and alert you to any issues as they arise.
“Y
oga with horses? How is that possible?” These are the questions I often hear when people discover what I do. It may be difficult to comprehend at first, but once you get a glimpse of what it’s all about, it actually makes a whole lot of sense. If you can appreciate the benefits of yoga for humans, then you can translate them to horses.
What’s good for you can be good for your horse The practice of yoga reconnects you with your body. You essentially teach (or re-teach) yourself where your body is and how to move it in the strongest and most balanced way with the least amount of stress. You also stretch, strengthen and tone. Anything with a body is therefore a yogi. Body awareness is
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equine wellness
BY LINDA GUANTI, CYI
fundamental to preventing injury and chronic pain. For riders, knowing how you are using your body can help you realize that sometimes it is your body that is preventing your horse from performing something you are asking!
Yoga for horses So how do you get a horse to stretch? There are quite a few methods. Some are done while riding – performing certain maneuvers such as half passes and shoulder in/out. Others can be done from the ground. The horse sometimes needs a little time, encouragement and practice to figure out what you are asking of him. It is a wonderful bonding experience and you also start to figure out where your horse is lacking in flexibility and strength or may be feeling uncomfortable.
STRETCHES FOR YOUR HORSE 1. Lateral neck stretch • A carrot can help you with this stretch -- keep the carrot close to the horse’s mouth and guide him to bend his neck towards his shoulder. • Discourage the horse from shifting his body to try to get the carrot (positioning him with a wall or fence on the opposite side can help). • You can take this stretch further and guide the horse to stretch towards his stifle. • Try to hold the stretch for five to 15 seconds before the horse receives the carrot. • Remember you should always do both sides.
Benefits • Improves suppleness. • Can sometimes provide passive chiropractic adjustment. • Brings awareness to the horse’s comfort or range of flexibility.
2. Sternum lift Note: Some horses may not be comfortable with this stretch when first introduced! Ensure you are comfortable with your horse, and be aware of how he might react. • Stand facing the side of your horse, just behind the shoulder. • Bend your knees and place your hands palm up on your horse’s sternum (under the rib cage and belly where you can feel the muscles meet). • Create a claw-like hand, and using your fingertips, apply pressure upwards. • Start with slight pressure and increase as needed to encourage him to lift his back up. • If constant pressure is not working, you can prod your fingertips in a short scratching motion or run your fingertips along the centerline towards the belly. • Keep your eyes on his back. You should notice his back lift, even if just slightly. The curve behind the withers will flatten.
Benefits • Stretches and engages the abdominal and thoracic muscles, helping with posture and rider support. • Preventative for swayback.
He has the mind
Poor hooves prevent him from reaching his full potential. Help him prove his ability with Farrier’s Formula®. Within weeks of feeding Farrier’s Formula® he will have an emerging new band of hoof growth and a glossy, more deeply colored coat. Internal benefits are harder to see, but just as dramatic.
The
courage The
heart If only he had
the feet.
800-624-1873 www.LifeDataLabs.com cservice@lifedatalabs.com http://fb.me/lifedatalabs 12290 Hwy 72 • Cherokee,AL 35616 Product of the USA
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