Hale and Hearty Horses

We use touch to comfort, communicate with, and care for our horses. But how often do we stop to consider what happens on the receiving end?

Two horses can experience the very same touch in completely different ways. And what we intend to communicate isn't necessarily what the horse experiences.

In this episode, we take a closer look at therapeutic touch, challenge some common assumptions, and explore why understanding the horse's experience may be just as important as the techniques we use.

Want to explore more about equine health, movement, and natural therapeutics? Visit the Hale & Hearty Horses Library + Collective at HaleAndHeartyHorses.com for in-depth educational resources to help you better understand and support your horse.

ust because something is supported by research doesn't necessarily mean we're interpreting that research correctly.

In Part 2, we continue exploring the questions we should be asking when evaluating scientific studies, including potential conflicts of interest, study limitations, unanswered questions, and whether the findings actually apply to our horses.

We also look at the limitations of reductionist research and why understanding the individual pieces doesn't always mean we understand the whole.

Research is an essential part of making informed decisions, but so are critical thinking, clinical experience, and understanding the individual horse.

The goal isn't to dismiss science. It's to become better at interpreting and applying it.

Horse owners are constantly bombarded with conflicting advice. In this first part of a two-part series, we break down how to read, interpret, and evaluate equine research so you can make better health decisions for your horse — and know when the research actually matters.

Trigger points are often thought of as painful knots in a muscle, but they're much more than that. In this episode, I explore what trigger points are, why they develop, why they spread, and what they can teach us about the way a horse's body adapts to injury, compensation, and chronic dysfunction.

We'll discuss the difference between active and latent trigger points, the role of postural and movement muscles, how fascial lines influence the spread of compensatory patterns, and why trigger points rarely exist in isolation. I'll also share how my background in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, biomechanics, and rehabilitation has shaped the way I evaluate horses and why I believe understanding the why behind a trigger point is just as important as treating the trigger point itself.

Whether you're a horse owner, therapist, trainer, or veterinary professional, this episode will help you look beyond the painful muscle and begin recognizing the patterns that influence movement throughout the entire horse.

Because every trigger point has a story. Our job isn't just to erase the ending. It's to understand how the story began.

Most health conversations focus on cells, organs, and biochemistry — but what about the environment those cells actually live in? In this episode, we explore the extracellular matrix (ECM): the complex, living space that surrounds every cell in your horse's body. From collagen and hyaluronic acid to immune cells and nerve endings, discover how this often-overlooked system regulates nutrient delivery, communication, inflammation, and healing — and why it may be key to understanding why some horses thrive while others struggle with recurring health challenges.

Are you constantly trying new treatments, supplements, or professionals for your horse — but never getting lasting results? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca breaks down the 10 most common ways horse owners get stuck chasing symptoms instead of finding real answers. With over 22 years of experience in integrative and Chinese medicine for horses and humans, she explains how to shift your mindset, identify root causes, and start getting results that actually hold. If you're ready to start learning root causes and patterns of disease, join her in the Hale and Hearty Horse Collective at https://haleheartyhorses.com/collective-landing

Dr. Rebecca sits down with Lisa Dickman, KWPN breeder and founder of Kaneques Farm, to explore the art and science of raising exceptional sport horses. From mare nutrition during pregnancy to foal handling, hoof development, and the critical role of patience, Lisa shares hard-won lessons from over 15 years of breeding success — including inspection champions and horses competing at the Grand Prix level. Whether you're a first-time breeder or experienced horse person, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on setting young horses up for long-term health and success.

Topics covered:

• Mare health & body condition before breeding
• Nutrition during all three trimesters
• Managing foal calorie intake & preventing OCD
• Early foal handling & establishing manners
• Hoof care & farrier schedules for growing horses
• Nature vs. nurture in foal behavior
• When to intervene vs. let time do its work

🔗 Find Lisa: kanequesfarm.com | Facebook: Lisa Dickman

#HorseBreeding #KWPNHorse #FoalCare #SportHorse #DressageHorse #EquineNutrition #HorseFarm #YoungHorses #KanequesFarm #FoalDevelopment #HorseHealth #EquineHealth #HorseRaising #Dressage #HorsePodcast #BreedingHorses #MareCare #EquineManagement #HorseLife #HorseCommunity

This episode explains why vitamin E is a critical nutrient for equine muscle and nervous system health and why deficiency is increasingly common in modern management. It covers how vitamin E functions as a fat-soluble antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, especially in metabolically active tissues like muscles and nerves. The script highlights that fresh pasture (alpha-tocopherol) is the best natural source, while vitamin E degrades rapidly in hay over time, putting stalled, dry-lot, and limited-turnout horses at risk. It discusses deficiency links to neurologic and muscle issues including ENAD/EDM in young horses and EMND in adults, and outlines supplementation basics: natural D-alpha tocopherol vs synthetic DL forms, water-dispersible options, common dosing ranges, and the role of blood testing (targeting roughly 2–4 µg/mL, often ~3).

00:00 Why Vitamin E Matters

00:42 Oxidative Stress Basics02:28 Free Radicals in Metabolism

04:53 Vitamin E Protects Muscles Nerves

05:27 Natural Sources Pasture vs Hay

07:16 Neurologic Disease ENAD EDM

09:23 Adult Signs and EMND

10:07 Choosing a Supplement Form

11:36 Dosing Safety and Blood Tests

14:11 Key Takeaways and Products

15:32 Wrap Up

Discover how sound therapy actually works for horses—backed by science, not woo. In this episode, equine health expert Rebecca Douglass explains the real mechanisms behind tuning forks, vibration therapy, and frequency-based tools.

Learn how sound influences: • Nervous system regulation and parasympathetic response • Fascia, muscle tension, and pain thresholds • Acupuncture points and tissue healing • Movement patterns and structural adaptation

Perfect for horse owners who've wondered "how could sound possibly help my horse?" This evidence-based approach shows when sound therapy is most effective—for high-tension horses, chronic guarding, pain sensitization, and movement issues that don't respond to traditional bodywork.

Part of the Foundation Series on holistic equine medicine, covering chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, myofascial work, and Chinese medicine principles.

Join the Hale and Hearty Horse Collective: haleheartyhorses.com/collective

#HorseHealth #SoundHealing #HolisticHorseCare #EquineWellness #HorseCare #EquinePodcast #HorseOwners #SoundTherapy #HolisticHealing

Chiropractic and osteopathy are two of the most talked about—yet misunderstood—holistic therapies in the equine world. In this episode, we demystify both disciplines and explain what they're actually designed to address, how they work, and when they truly make a difference for your horse.

You'll learn the key differences between chiropractic (joint-focused, rapid changes in motion and reflex control) and osteopathy (system-based, global integration and coordination), what realistic results look like from each approach, and how they compare to other bodywork modalities like myofascial release and Chinese medicine.

Whether you're considering these therapies for stiffness, asymmetry, chronic compensation patterns, or post-injury recovery, this episode gives you a clear framework to decide when they're worth your time, money, and trust—and when they're not the right tool for the job.

If you’re interested in understanding horse health more clearly and moving beyond fragmented advice, you can learn more at Hale and Hearty Horses. It’s where I share a whole-horse way of thinking that helps complex issues actually make sense.

If you want to keep exploring this way of thinking, the Hale & Hearty Horse Collective is where I go deeper. It’s a learning space for understanding whole-horse health and working through complex issues. You can join the waitlist at HaleAndHeartyHorses.com.