The Well Horse’s Top 10 for 2018

Hello friends! As we near the end of 2018, it’s time to reflect on an eventful, educational, and exciting year! The mission for this blog is to learn about, educate on, and promote ways to improve sustainable wellness for our horses. I will admit that since starting up The Well Horse in march, I’ve been humbled, enlightened, and blown away by the horses that fill my life and the people I’m blessed to learn from!

I’m also blown away and ever grateful for those who follow The Well Horse. Thank you. Thank you for your time, for your desire to learn, for teaching me, and most of all, thank you for loving your horses! Growth in the horse industry stems simply from horsemen who desire better for their animals and take action to make it happen! 

Staying true to The Well Horse mission, I want to promote some products that have proven instrumental to my horsemanship & horses’ health this year! Please enjoy The Well Horse’s Top 10 for 2018! 

10) Noble Outfitters Boots

I. Will. Not. Wear. Any. Other. Boots. While people-boots may not affect horses directly, they certainly keep the horse-people on their feet! From Mudds to Western boots, Noble Outfitters footwear is designed to support your stride like a sneaker. Living in these boots, I stay comfortable and dry in the mud and in the saddle!

9) Billy Royal Western Saddles

This year your princess went western! At least a little bit. With my personal mare turning 20, being an angel, and needing more to do, I decided to jump into the western world and give it a go. Little did I know that correct ranch type flat-work would do WONDERS for Dazzle’s balance and movement.

Finding a saddle to fit Dazzle was the key. Being slim-thick with a big shoulder, problem #1 involved finding a saddle with enough gullet width, and making sure the bars flared out for her shoulder proved to be just as challenging! Fortunately, I came across a Billy Royal rough-out training saddle that fits like a glove! Billy Royal trees are designed for the moving horse with flared bars, substantial gullet width, and a contoured skirt for a free rib cage.

8) Copper Sulfate

Got sole Fungus? Weak soles? Thrush? Muddy pastures? Copper Sulfate is your friend! Of all the products I’ve played with this year, this has been the most influential for healthy hooves. To combat soft, fungusy feet, I sprinkle copper sulfate over a freshly painted hoof (turpentine/iodine/lacquer/Keratex) once a day. Priced at $12 for a year’s supply on Amazon, it’s an economical option for fungus prevention and hoof hardening!

7) Slippery Elm Bark Powder

For horses with GI discomfort, slippery elm bark powder has become my go-to for baseline treatment. This botanical comes from the slippery elm tree’s inner bark, and has been used for centuries as a home remedy for sore throats and ulcers in people. Theoretically, the powder will coat the alimentary tract from mouth to anus, catching over dry, ulcerated, and inflamed areas. Essentially the slippery elm acts as a band-aid for uncomfortable spots in the gut. This is a cheap way to jump start and maintain GI health.

6) Probiotic Wise

After trial and error with many different probiotics, I’ve found a brand that keeps my sensitive bellied thoroughbred comfortable! Probiotic Wise by Kentucky Performance Products features fermentation metabolites and Saccharomyces Boulardii. The fermentation metabolites have shown to support positive immune response, antioxidant status, and beneficial bacterial growth in the hind gut. Saccharomyces Boulardii appears to improve starch & sugar digestion in the fore gut and to repair damaged tissue in the intestinal lining. For Ty, it’s made all the difference!

5) Myler Bits

This year, Dazzle upgraded to a Myler comfort snaffle. The Myler bits are designed for maximum pressure release so that the horse has freedom of his tongue. In switching over to this bit, I found Dazzle immediately more relaxed, eager to stretch into the bridle. She moves with more forward intention and freely through her back from the get go!

4) Tribute Equine Nutrition

#EnoughSaid

But I’ll say a little bit anyway! If there is a better formulated feed out there for horses, I’ve yet to find it! Tribute’s formulas offer a complete package concerning nutritional needs and gastrointestinal care. Tribute’s blends use quality, bio-available nutrients to formulate a balanced ration, and the feed utilizes highly digestible fiber and fat to supply energy. Along with added probiotic and enzymatic units, the formulas support a healthy, efficient gut!

3) Rock Tape

Kinesiology Tape lifts and stretches the outer fascia layer from compressed muscle tissue and blood vessels underneath, increasing circulation in the area. This reduces inflammation and muscle tension, and allows better slide between facial layers. It also stimulates local neurosensory response. This further aids healing by stimulating the brain’s awareness of specific areas on the body— directing biological healing.

2) Back On Track

Designed with ceramic infused fibers, BOT products reflect a horse’s body heat. They bring deep heat to the surface to increase circulation. For winter weather, BOT products keep horses limber, muscles warm, and legs tight!

***I’ve found that for pansy-type horses, the BOT sheets keep GI tracts comfortable and horses relaxed***

1) BEMER

BEMER technology uses electromagnetic wave pulses to transport BEMER’s patented bio-energy signal into each cell. This therapy increases micro-circulation. Where pathological disease, apathy, and injury start at a cellular level, optimizing cellular health is key to sustainable wellness. From improving GI health, to bringing down inflammation, this device offers acute therapy like none I’ve ever seen. With the long term in mind, I look forward to seeing my horses thrive for years ahead!