Latest Articles
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Deep Muscles are Connected with The Digestive, Respiratory & Cardiac Systems
Did you know? The digestive system, respiratory system and cardiac system and deep muscles are directly connected through deep fascia and the deep ventral facial line. Nerves, blood vessels and lymph vessels are also embedded within this fascia. This means that the respiratory, digestive and cardiac systems, and the deep muscles, strongly influence each other.… Read more
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“Pain is the Body’s Assessment of Risk.”
In other words; how big is my weakness? One advantage to having a injured ankle is that I have a chance to explore the experience that my fellow athlete, the horse, might go through if it had a similarly threatening injury. While I can still do most of the things I need to with my… Read more
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Detecting and Transmitting Signals Related to Pain
Nociceptors are specialized sensory receptors that are responsible for detecting and transmitting signals related to pain. They are primarily located in various tissues throughout the body, including the skin, muscles, joints, and internal organs. Nociceptors play a crucial role in the body’s ability to sense and respond to potentially harmful or damaging stimuli. When activated,… Read more
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Building a Healthy Topline: Tips and Exercises for Your Horse
The other day, I was asked an interesting question: ‘Can you recommend some exercises for “just the topline?”’ The short answer is no. You can’t separate or isolate the topline from the rest of the horse. It’s not a car where the parts begin and end. Your horse’s topline is very firmly attached to every… Read more
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The Box Analogy – (And Why You Need To Know It)
I have noticed a disturbing trend lately: I see a lot of people asking for chiropractors when what they really mean is that they need a bodyworker. This use of the term “chiropractor” as an an all inclusive category for bodyworker leads to miscommunication, as some people use the term correctly and some don’t. It… Read more
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NRF2: Exploring its Role, Benefits & Dietary Activation in Horses
What is NRF2 NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the horse body’s antioxidant response and cellular defense mechanisms. It is a transcription factor that controls the expression of various genes involved in antioxidant production, detoxification, and inflammation modulation. NRF2 helps to protect cells from… Read more
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A Guide to Understanding Biotics: Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics
What are the “biotics?” The terms “biotics” refer to different components related to the health of the gut and the interactions between microorganisms in the digestive system. Here’s an explanation of each: 1. Prebiotics: Prebiotics are substances that serve as food for beneficial microorganisms, such as probiotics, in the gut. They are typically non-digestible fibers… Read more
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The Importance of Hay Quality and Forage Testing (winter nutrition)
Hay is the most effective feed option for keeping horses warm during winter, surpassing both grass and feed. The act of digesting hay produces more internal metabolic heat than digesting grass, corn, oats or any type of grain. Increasing the amount of quality hay offered during cold times will allow the horse to warm themselves… Read more
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Tips for Maintaining Your Horse’s Muscles, Tendons, and Joints in Cold Weather
Cold weather can cause increased stiffness your horse’s muscles, joints and tendons. Tasks that were easy in warmer weather become much more challenging when the body is cold. In chilly weather, your horse’s nervous system initiates adaptive responses. Muscles contract as a means of generating heat, accompanied by vasoconstriction—the narrowing of blood vessels that restricts… Read more