The Red Mare Project

Today we are tackling one of the most powerful and heavily burdened parts of the horse’s anatomy: the sacroiliac (SI) joint. 🐴 Before diving into equine biomechanics, we kick off with some exciting updates—explaining what our new intro music means for the podcast's future and officially introducing Red Mares as our very first title sponsor!

To set the stage, we break down exactly what the SI joint is, why it acts as the "hidden engine" of the horse, and how arthritis in this area destroys a horse's ability to safely absorb the mechanical stress of movement.

Then, we are joined by our fantastic guest, Rachel McIntosh, to talk about the wild goose chase of a diagnostic journey with her horse, Kirby. When a horse's primary symptom is chronic bucking under saddle, it is incredibly easy for others to dismiss it as a bad attitude. Rachel shares what it took to look past the explosive behavior, advocate fiercely for Kirby, and finally uncover his unilateral SI arthritis.

Tune in to learn why terrifying behaviors are often the loudest indicators of severe pain, and how one-sided arthritis creates confusing, asymmetrical symptoms that can easily baffle your care team. 

A very special thank you to our title sponsor, Red Mares! Home of your horse’s favorite hoof butter. Check out www.redmares.com to learn more about Hoof Butter and to place your order. Use Promo code: MUD20 for 20% off your first order!

(P.S. We are officially accepting outside sponsors! If your brand is a great fit for our audience, reach out to secure a spot.)

Today's Guest: Rachel McIntosh

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

What happens when the medical hits just keep coming, and the puzzle pieces still don’t quite fit together?

In this week’s episode, we sit down for an incredibly candid conversation with fellow equine professional, Bailey Elliot, to discuss the saga of her handsome boy, Red. Bailey walks us through a grueling timeline of setbacks, surgeries, and rehabilitation, unpacking what it actually takes to navigate multiple major diagnoses back-to-back:

• 🦴 The Orthopedic Hurdles: We discuss the frustrating reality of treating a bone cyst through surgery, and a bone chip on his coffin bone.
• 🔬 The Oncology Battles: As if the structural issues weren't enough, we dive into the emotional toll of dealing with recurring sarcoids and fibrosarcomas.

The breakthrough finally came with a diagnosis that connected the dots of Red’s underlying weakness and inexplicable muscle wasting: Vitamin E Response Myopathy. Vitamin E is a crucial antioxidant required for healthy nerve and muscle function. When a severe deficiency occurs, it can cause profound muscle wasting, neurological weakness, and a compromised system that makes recovering from other injuries significantly harder.

This episode is a masterclass in relentless advocacy, leaving no stone unturned, and the power of trusting your gut when you know your partner isn't feeling 100%. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by hit after hit after hit, a medical mystery, or had to fight to get to the bottom of a diagnosis, grab some snacks. This one’s for you.

Today's Guest: Bailey Elliot

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

What started as a mysterious "warm-up cough" and a boogery nose turned into a massive lifestyle shift for Scooter and his amazing owner, Donna McLean. While veterinary medicine has a few different names for it—including RAO, COPD, equine asthma, and Heaves—the daily reality of the diagnosis remains the same. From the sticker shock of equine inhalers to the freezing reality of winter hay soaking, this episode covers the messy, expensive, and deeply rewarding journey of loving a horse with heaves. If you've ever stood in a feed room covered in soaking wet hay, fiddled with a million different supplements to find the right menu, or worried your horse might be experiencing asthma-related breathing problems, this one is for you.

Follow Donna and Scooter on Instagram and TikTok: scootie.b.and.me

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Join Taylor, and celebrity co-host Leila Moore, for a heartfelt conversation with our dear friend, Hannah Christian Post. Hannah shares the story of her late mare, Tenny, and her struggles with ECVM (Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation). We explore the anatomy of this condition, tracing the subtle and not so subtle timeline of Tenny's symptoms, and the heart-wrenching reality of clinical ECVM. Hannah discusses the decision to humanely euthanize Tenny due to her challenges, the process of composting her bones for further understanding of her presentation, and the stories told in Tenny's bones.

If you're concerned your horse may have ECVM, or was diagnosed with ECVM, or simply want to learn more about this abnormality, this one's for you.

Host: Taylor Schouten, Wild Hoof Equine, North Metro Atlanta, GA Co-host: Leila Moore, Moore Equine Body Work (IG and FB), North Metro Atlanta, GA Guest: Hannah Post, Elevated Performance Equine Bodywork, Colorado Springs, CO 

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Join us for Part 2 of Rory Potter's series. In this episode, she shares the tale of Odin and his struggle with significant sleep deprivation and even more challenging, EDM (equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy). EDM is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the brainstem and spinal cord in horses, and results in loss of neuromuscular function that presents as ataxia, behavior changes, and cognitive changes. It's a tough one. If you haven't listened to part 1, check that out. For more information on sleep deprivation, scroll back to episode 19. If you're concerned your horse may be struggling with EDM or sleep deprivation, or if you simply want to learn more about it, grab some snacks. This one's for you. Peace

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Settle in for a powerful conversation with the newest member of the Red Mare herd, Rory Potter. Rory is a Wisconsin based farrier, rider, trainer, and Myofascial Release therapist. She shares the stories of her two geldings, Odin and Charlie. Since Rory is sharing two complex journeys, this is the start of a two part series. In this episode, we hear Charlie's story of Wobblers, DSP narrowing, canker, and chronic complex colic. Next episode (Part 2) will discuss Odin's story of EDM and sleep deprivation. For more information on wobblers, refer back to Episode 11: Teddy's Legacy. If your horse or if you know a horse struggling with neurological issues, or if you simply want to learn more, grab some snacks. This one's for you. Peace.

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Join the girls and Barbara Hubler for an in depth discussion on the world of endurance. Barbara is a client turned fast friend of Taylor's. Hang out with us to learning about conditioning strategy, hoofcare, nutrition, and what to do if in a pickle on the trail. Barbara gives a fantastic breakdown on the sport from every angle, including some very exciting stories from the trails. Learn more about endurance: aerc.org Check out our website updates! https://www.theredmareproject.com/

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another. [email protected] Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner Wild Hoof Equine LLC www.wildhoofequine.com Kahlan Ettere Equine management Wise Choice Equine Wellness LLC Follow along on social media Facebook: The Red Mare Project Instagram: Red Mares Official TikTok: Red Mares Official YT: Red Mares Official

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

This may be one of our most important episodes to date... Come join the girls and their new friend, April Schaeffer of Schaeffer Bodyworks, for an educational story time about sleep deprivation and its devastating effects on equine wellness and longevity. April shares her personal experience with equine sleep deprivation. Her sweet Appaloosa boy Ollie, had quite a traumatic experience before he landed with April that ultimately caused him to suffer with long-term sleep deprivation. While sadly Ollie is no longer with us, April learned tremendously from that experience and uses her knowledge to help every horse she meets. April is a motivated advocate for equine sleep hygiene and species appropriate living. Check out her podcast, The Equine Advocate Podcast on Spotify. This is a collaborative episode and is cross-posted on April's show. How to get in touch with April: https://www.schaefferbodyworks.com/ For more information on equine sleep deprivation, please listen to the following outside episodes. If you're concerned your horse may be struggling with sleep deprivation, speak with your vet. Don't wait.

Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aJYBCVSquHrdkkzwLFcdv?si=5424ac1909a74c60

Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/38KpliutYHnqDXUfpxCfQv?si=oUTyY9tJQDGHx1xmdCaiCw

Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jOtRfDQSQFMr5QmCpg9nZ?si=2LgfQBFwROKvk58Uh7fnyA

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation (ECVM) is a congenital malformation affecting C6 to T2. ECVM is becoming more common and problematic in today’s equine landscape. In this episode, Kahlan and Taylor sit down with equine osteopath in training, Jessica Rein. Jess currently works as a bodyworker at her practice, Magic Hands Equine, and is the proud owner of two ECVM mares. While her girls have two very different ECVM presentations and associated symptoms, Jess has cracked the code on how to manage these two mares specifically. Join us as we learn how Jess has custom built their management protocol to keep her mares happy and well.

For more information on ECVM, read anything from Sharon May Davis, and the ladies at Equus-soma, Pamela Eckelbarger and Diane Dzingle. https://www.equus-soma.com

Jessica Rein’s practice: https://www.facebook.com/NHETOfficial1

Check out our website updates! https://www.theredmareproject.com/

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another. [email protected] Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner Wild Hoof Equine LLC www.wildhoofequine.com Kahlan Ettere Equine management Wise Choice Equine Wellness LLC Check out our website: www.theredmareproject.com Follow along on social media Facebook: The Red Mare Project Instagram: Wild_Hoof_Equine TikTok: redmareproject

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.

Summer is here and so are new friends! Kelly Brann reached out to us via email with not one, but TWO red mare stories to tell. These beautiful ladies have given Kelly a crash course in managing Navicular disease, Lyme, Kissing Spine, metabolic concerns, and some mystery seasonal behavior changes. Join the girls as we hear about Kelly's journey through sight unseen horse purchases, and how she navigated diagnostics and healing her beautiful girls.

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy at https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another. [email protected] Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner Wild Hoof Equine LLC www.wildhoofequine.com Kahlan Ettere Equine management Wise Choice Equine Wellness LLC Check out our website: www.theredmareproject.com Follow along on Facebook: The Red Mare Project Instagram: Wild_Hoof_Equine

Host: Taylor CL Schouten, MS, APF-I Hoofcare Practitioner of Wild Hoof Equine LLC

Email us with your interesting stories. Your horse may be able to help another: [email protected]

Connect with us online:

• TheRedMareProject.com 
• Instagram (@wild_hoof_equine) 
• TikTok (@theredmareproject) 
• YouTube (@theredmareproject)
• Facebook (@RedMaresOfficial)

Learn more about our showcased foundation, Teddy’s Legacy: https://www.teddyslegacy.org/

Copyright of The Red Mare Project 2026.