Every week I introduce the podcast by saying it is about all things equine. For the most part the conversation has focused on training. This week we’re going to broaden our focus to include a discussion of foot care.

Two weeks ago we did a podcast on the training of good foot care manners. This week we are joined by foot care specialist and anatomy specialist, Paige Poss. The conversation centers around a project that Dominique is exploring with two of her horses. She wants to transition her horses to barefoot. She has lots of questions. She’s been doing a lot of research, so of course we want to share with you what she’s been learning.

We need your help!

In our first season we did two podcasts with Dr. Michaela Hempen. In the first she explained how single-subject design studies work. In the second she described a research project she is conducting that is exploring a behavioral approach to reducing cribbing. This is much more than an update on that project. This is a request for help.

Please listen to this podcast to find out what is needed.

We discuss the basics of teaching great foot care manners.

Susan Kayne, founder of the thoroughbred rescue Unbridled Thoroughbreds, begins by talking about what can be done to help ex-race horses and other unwanted horses. She goes on to describe the initial training involved in re-homing off-the-track-thoroughbreds.

Susan Kayne, the founder of Unbridled Thoroughbreds, an organization that rescues off-the-track thoroughbreds talks about her work. This interview is a bit of a change from usual focus on training theory, but as you’ll hear in part 2 of this interview, an understanding of horses, behavior, and training is a must when you are working with many of the horses that end up in horse rescues. In Part 1 Susan outlines the problem, and in Part 2 we will pivot away from the grim statistics to consider the solutions.

As we continue our discussion with Manda Scott, the podcast begins with the question - what do you do with your manure pile? It isn't just how do you get rid of unsightly piles around your barn. How do you use it to regenerate your fields? It's a win-win situation. Healthier pastures are good for your horses and for the planet.

Manda Scott takes us through the basics of maintaining healthy, sustainable pastures. We can not only grow healthier pastures for our horses, we can sequester carbon to help the planet. It's a win-win.

Horses are grazing animals. But for far too many horses the grass they are eating is making them sick. Why? What can we do about it? And how is this related to the climate change crisis? Find out in this interview with Manda Scott, veterinarian, author, and climate crisis activist.

Then join us on facebook at Horses for Future and learn more about how you can make a difference for the health of your horse and the planet. Horse people can make a difference!

We conclude our conversation with Anja Beran with a discussion of the current system in Germany for performance testing young warmbloods and the problems that creates.

Sound horses - that's what we all want. The question is does your riding contribute to keeping your horses sound? That means so much more than fit. It means are you riding in such a way that your horse will be stay sound well into his twenties? Anja talks about classical dressage and the role that it plays in developing a horse's balance for the good of the horse. This is followed by a discussion of her work between Alexandra and Dominique.