Wholesome Horses

03/09/2025

This... from Dr. Lizzie. SO IMPORTANT!
Did you know most horses need to consume about 2% of their body weight in forage and feed (dry matter) each day to maintain weight and gut health?

For a 500 kg horse, that works out around 10 kg of dry matter daily and the majority should come from forage (hay or pasture).

Note: Some easy keepers do well with ~1.5% bodyweight, while others - like hard keepers, performance horses, lactating mares, or growing youngsters - may need to 2.5 - 3%.
Pasture Facts:

On good pasture, a 500 kg horse can consume 50 - 60 kg of grass in 24 hours, which equals 10 - 12 kg of dry matter.
But once the grass is shorter than 2 inches, even if it looks green, your horse simply can’t consume enough to meet their needs.
When that happens, problems start:

The stomach is emptier → higher ulcer risk
The hindgut runs out of fibre to ferment → triggering microbial imbalance
Gut motility slows → increased risk of impaction colic
Reduced gut fill → increased chance of displacement or torsion colic
Many owners underestimate just how much bulk horses actually need. I recently saw a horse whose owner was worried because manure output had dropped. After examining the horse, looking at the paddock, and reviewing the diet, the diagnosis was simple - not enough forage.

12/08/2025

Wow!!!

This capsule gives veterinarians and researchers a noninvasive way to track ulcer treatment progress in horses without repeated scoping.

11/08/2025

Just another one of those little things that people don’t stop to think about…

It’s amazing to me that so many things are still widely accepted in the horse industry, when we know they aren’t beneficial to the horse. One that really gets me is shaving/clipping whiskers. Mainly because whiskers are essential for them! Here is the actual definition and function of the whiskers:

“Horse's whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are highly sensitive sensory organs that play a crucial role in a horse's ability to navigate and interact with its environment. They act like a "sensory radar," helping horses to perceive their surroundings, locate food and water, and avoid obstacles. The follicles of these whiskers are packed with nerve endings, making them extremely sensitive to touch and air currents.”

Yet I still see whiskers being hacked off. Regardless if you show, sell, photograph, whatever, horses need their whiskers. My horsemanship journey has been an interesting one, and I’ll always stand behind what’s best for the horse, not best for me or anyone else. ❤️

11/08/2025

Hi all, I just wanted to share that I feed my horses spirulina, chia, flaxseed, curcum and other good stuff. If you are looking for a good quality, less costly supplier, check these guys out. I have been ordering from them for years and love their stuff (AND THEIR SERVICE!!!)

You’ll love Nuts.com – the #1 destination for discovering, devouring, and sharing everything delicious.

22/07/2025

Hebrew follows

Yay! What an amazing and deep learning experience on working on performance sport horses! Thank you to Walter Saxe and all My colleagues who joined me in Germany and of course Jim Masterson, the reason so many horses in this world perform so comfortably and successfully in their chosen field!

יש! איזה חוויה מדהימה ומעמיקה של למידה ועבודה עם סוסי ספורט מקצועיים! תודה ענקית לוולטר זאקס ולכל הקולגות שהצטרפו אליי בגרמניה – וכמובן לג’ים מאסטרסון, הסיבה שבזכותה כל כך הרבה סוסים בעולם זוכים לנוע בנוחות ובהצלחה בתחומם!

13/07/2025

ENGLISH FOLLOWS:
מספיק עם ההצטנעות.

אני עוסקת בשיטת מאסטרסון® לטיפול גוף בסוסים כבר יותר מ-11 שנים. ואומר את זה בצורה הכי ברורה: אני יודעת מה אני עושה.

מאז שהוסמכתי כמטפלת בשיטת מאסטרסון® בשנת 2014, העמקתי עוד בלמידה – עם הכשרה באקופרסורה לסוסים (Tallgrass), בלימודי מיו-פאשיה ובהתאמת ציוד רכיבה והשפעתו על תנועת הסוס. כי כשמדובר בבריאות של הסוס – לפרטים הקטנים יש חשיבות עצומה.

עבדתי עם סוסים מכל התחומים – צעירים ומבוגרים, מתוחים, כאובים, סגורים או רגישים – וראיתי במו עיניי כמה השיטה הזו אפקטיבית. ראיתי סוסים נכנסים למצב של רגיעה עמוקה, נושמים טוב יותר, נעים בחופשיות – ולראשונה, גם ישנים טוב יותר. זה לא קסם – זה הגוף שמקבל סוף סוף את ההזדמנות לעבור ממצב הישרדות למצב של ריפוי.

זה לא עיסוי. זו לא רייקי. זו לא ״אנרגיות״. זו שיטה מדויקת שמכבדת את הרגישות של הסוס ומאפשרת שחרור עמוק – פיזי, עצבי ורגשי – מבלי לעורר את מערכת ההישרדות שלו.

וכן, נמאס לי שמדירים אותי מהשיח המקצועי על בריאות הסוס בארץ. ואני מוכנה להפסיק לשתוק לגבי עומק הידע והניסיון שאני מביאה איתי.

מחפשים מישהי שבאמת מבינה בסוסים? הנה היא – מולכם.

Enough Tiptoeing.

I’ve been practicing the Masterson Method® of equine bodywork for over 11 years. And I’ll say this plainly: I know what I’m doing.

Since becoming a certified Masterson Method® practitioner in 2014, I’ve continued to deepen my understanding of the horse—studying equine acupressure (Tallgrass), myofascial release, and tack-related mobility issues. Because when it comes to equine health, the small things matter.

I’ve worked with horses from all disciplines—old, young, stiff, sore, shut-down, or explosive—and I’ve seen firsthand how effective this method can be. I’ve watched horses drop into deep relaxation, breathe more freely, move with more ease, and finally sleep better. Not because of magic, but because their nervous system has finally been given permission to shift out of survival mode.

This is not massage. It’s not Reiki. It’s not “energy work.” It’s a refined technique that reads and respects the horse’s thresholds, staying below the radar of the fight-or-flight response so that true release—physical, neurological, and emotional—can happen.

So yes, I’m tired of being overlooked in conversations about horse health in this country. And yes, I’m ready to stop being quiet about the depth of what I bring to the table.

You want someone who knows horses? You’re looking at her. 052-320-9390

08/07/2025

Hebrew FOLLOWS
What happens when teens meet horses in an unexpected way?
Moments of stillness, depth, and connection — the kind that stay with you long after the session ends.

Yesterday I had the joy of joining Yael Taller Magal at Havat Ya'ar (Forest Ranch) in Beit Keshet to work with a group of incredible teens. Together, we explored how to tune in — first to the subtle energy of the horses, and then to each other.

We talked about how to recognize discomfort in a horse by observing their body language — from swishing tails to tight jaws, pinned ears to shifting weight. The group practiced sensing their own energy and that of their peers, and they did beautifully.

Later, I introduced them to the Masterson Method — a gentle approach to equine bodywork that helps release tension. Each teen traced the bladder meridian along the horse’s body, a slow and quiet process that invites deep listening. Sometimes it’s just a blink, a sigh, or a soft lick — but these are moments of connection. A quiet conversation between horse and human.

What a gift to witness such presence in a group of young people.
Sometimes, the quietest moments are the most powerful.

HEBREW
מה קורה כשנוער פוגש סוסים בדרך לא שגרתית?
רגעים של שקט, עומק וחיבור — כאלה שנשארים בלב הרבה אחרי שהמפגש נגמר.

אתמול הייתה לי הזכות להצטרף ליעל ב־חוות יער בבית קשת, למפגש עם קבוצה של כ־15 בני נוער מרגשים במיוחד.
יחד חקרנו איך "לכוונן את עצמנו" — קודם כל לאנרגיה העדינה של הסוסים, ואחר כך גם זה לזה.

דיברנו על איך לזהות חוסר נוחות אצל סוס לפי שפת הגוף שלו — מתנועות זנב חדות ועד לסתות קפוצות, אוזניים שטוחות או שינויי משקל. בני הנוער תרגלו מודעות לאנרגיה שלהם ושל אחרים — ועשו את זה פשוט מדהים.

בהמשך, הצגתי להם את שיטת מסטרסון — גישה עדינה לעבודה עם גוף הסוס, שמטרתה לעזור לשחרר מתחים. כל אחד מהם עבר לאורך מרידיאן שלפוחית השתן של הסוס, בתהליך שקט ואיטי שמזמין הקשבה מלאה. לפעמים זו רק מצמוץ, נשיפה, או ליקוק קטן — אבל אלה רגעים של קשר אמיתי. שיחה שקטה בין סוס לאדם.

איזו מתנה זו — לראות נוכחות כל כך עדינה ומדויקת אצל בני נוער.
לפעמים, הרגעים הכי שקטים הם הכי עוצמתיים.

17/06/2025

Join us for our next 2-day introductory seminar for the Masterson method here in Israel! PM me for more detail details!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16afJUiR3k/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/06/2025

I’ve never been a fan of knotted rope halters. This deepens my conviction that they aren’t in the horses best interest. All halters should be breakaway— in my opinion. Thank you Kim Christopherson Kohl for sharing…

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BrCQMFLdE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

16/05/2025

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

21/04/2025

I didn’t back my horse until the age of four and even then very slowly. What about you?

How long does it take a horse to develop muscles that are really strong enough to carry a rider?

According to Dr. Ann Marie Hancock (DVM, Equine Osteopath, and Equine Acupuncturist), it takes about 1-2 years for a horse to develop the muscles necessary to carry the weight of a rider without causing physical damage.
The muscles that need to be developed are the Dorsal (exterior) chain and the Ventral (Flexor chain). You probably know these simply as the “back” and “core” muscles. But, did you know that there are also “interior” muscles that are postural?

The Dorsal chain of muscles includes the nuchal ligament, the latissimus dorsi, the long back muscles, and the gluteal muscles. These allow for the flexing (lifting) of the back.
The Ventral chain of muscles includes the hyoid apparatus (which connects also to the TMJ and the tongue), the Sternocephalicus muscle, all the muscles that go into the sternum, the belly wall, and even connecting in to the front of the back leg.
When you work a horse too quickly or even sit on an unfit horse for long periods of time, you are fatiguing the muscles that you want them to use for carrying weight. And the horse then uses other muscles (the postural muscles) that are not meant for that purpose.
That’s why “30 day” programs are harmful especially for starting young horses. And even for the older horse who has been out of work for weeks or months. It’s important for your horse’s wellbeing to take time with short rides that focus on building the right muscles.

Image Credit: Vicki Wise