HeartSong Equine

14/07/2025

This is one you won’t want to miss! Chiara and Zak are amazing! 🤩

Hello Colorado!

Zak Maytum and I are excited to invite y'all to come out for a day of showcasing our herd and our work. We will have limited space for haul-in horses for participation in the demo activities so please register quickly if you are interested. Auditing is FREE and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

~ Chiara

Registration Link for Auditors and Participants: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoxN-rnvKA40V4GyB2YNJ1_GC7-rglNvqT_9dMiP9tz3VqzQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=113598641304292749112

14/07/2025

🙌🏻

I saw a post today that said:

“All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl.”

So I decided to fix it.

As much as it’s lovely to imagine a horse being adored by a child (or even a middle-aged woman), sometimes love just isn’t enough. We see it all the time, people say they love their horse, but their actions tell a different story.

Just like we ask, “Is education enough?” we can ask, “Is love enough?” And the answer is no.

A pony decked out in all pink gear, with sparkly toes, cute braids, brushed to perfection and showered with affection is undeniably adorable. But that doesn’t mean their needs are truly being met. That same pony might be living in isolation, without proper friends, forage, or freedom.

So I’ve changed the quote to what I believe horses actually deserve:

Horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be truly understood, respected, and loved for who they are — not just for what they can do.

Because love is only meaningful when it’s paired with understanding, respect, and a commitment to meeting their needs.

11/07/2025

Almost a year post-trailer accident, and this photo from his person made my day. 💛

Seeing him so happy and doing so well fills my heart in the best way.

After all the ups and downs of his rehab journey, pictures like this are everything. I’ll never stop loving updates like this. ✨💕

📸 and

23/06/2025

What a fun and full weekend with a truly special group of heartfelt guardians, bodyworkers, trainers, and barefoot trimmers during the Foundations of Fascia course.

Everyone showed up with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to truly listen.

We explored fascia through anatomy, connection, movement, energy, and intentional touch. Watching each student soften into their hands, attune to the horses, and support one another was a powerful reminder of the heart behind this work.

Far from just a technique—this work is about connection, listening, and honoring the wisdom of the horse and the body.

If you feel called to explore fascia and whole-horse healing, more opportunities are coming—both in-person and online. I’d love to have you join the journey. 💕

16/05/2025

A little smile to fill your Friday! 🐽🐷🐽

08/04/2025

I love you can mean a lot of different things.

…Sometimes it means an extra scratch in that sweet spot.
…Sometimes an extra carrot.
…Sometimes it means a slow, quiet walk to reconnect.
…And sometimes, in the spring, for some horses,

𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀.

Where I live, the grass is just starting to grow. It’s not lush yet, but it’s already high in sugars—especially in the late afternoon after a full day of sun. While some horses can tolerate it just fine, others simply can’t. For our metabolic horses—those with insulin resistance, Cushing’s, or a history of laminitis—even a small amount of pasture can trigger a downward spiral. It can sneak up quickly.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:

•Skipping turnout altogether for now. Early spring grass is high in sugars (Studies show that early spring grass can exceed 20% non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) with levels peaking in the late afternoon after a sunny day. As the grass matures in late spring sugar content decreases, but it’s still important to be cautious for metabolic horses!

• Offering early morning-only turnout when sugar levels are lowest.

•Using a grazing muzzle

• Choosing low sugar and high fiber hay over even a small amount of grass.

•Slowly increasing turnout time and carefully monitoring how your horse responds.

•Monitoring insulin levels and supporting with herbs or meds if needed.

•Spacing out injections, dewormers, and vaccines (when possible, checking titers instead) The HHC just had a great webinar with Dr Lisa Jacobson on this topic! Check it out: www.holistichorsecollective.com

Laminitis doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It can be quiet at first:

• Slight heat in the hooves
• A digital pulse that wasn’t there yesterday
• A shorter stride
• Hesitation or a misstep in tight circles
• Shifting weight
• A shift in energy, mood, or posture

Those early signs are important. And so is trusting your gut when something feels just a little “off.”

Sometimes I love you sounds like, “Not today… not this season… not anymore” when it comes to pasture.

And that kind of love? It’s proactive. It’s protective. And it can make all the difference. 🌱💫

01/04/2025

Just ONE spot remaining! Join us for a fun weekend learning from the horses! ✨🐎

Register today to reserve your spot!
http://heartsongequine.com/classes-events

17/03/2025

🌀 🐎3-Day Fascia Workshop: Restore Flow, Freedom & Balance

Join us for a transformative, hands-on workshop designed for equine professionals and horse guardians who want to develop a gentle, intuitive approach to fascial release.

This 3-day immersive training blends science with feel—equipping you with practical tools to support your horse’s health, movement, and overall well-being.

Through a whole-body approach, you’ll learn how to assess, educate, and rebalance the horse’s fascial system using refined touch, acupressure, and intentional movement techniques. The result? Greater fluidity, postural alignment, and long-term soundness.

Whether you're a bodyworker, trainer, or simply passionate about equine wellness, this workshop will help you deepen your connection with horses and elevate your skills.

June 20-22, 2025 9am-5pm at HeartSong Equine.

To Register:
http://heartsongequine.com/classes-events

(HHC members get $50 off! Promo Code is in the website. )

11/03/2025

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆?

It’s a question I receive often since our launch at the New Year. The HHC isn’t just one person or one approach—it’s a collective of guardians and experienced practitioners from around the world, offering support, guidance, and education on all aspects of horse wellness. We bring together expertise in bodywork, nutrition, training, herbs, energy work, and more to empower horse guardians with knowledge and options for holistic care.

One way we do this is through our monthly calls, where you get direct access to experts on various topics. This month, we’re diving into:

✨Vaccines & Over-Vaccination with Dr. Lisa Jacobson—What does science really say about immunity, and how can we make informed choices for our horses?

✨Crystals for Horses with Tracey Duncan—How can crystals be used as energetic support in your horse’s wellness routine?

✨Myofascial Lines and Balance Through Movement Method with Celeste Lazaris. How Pillar work supports the whole body.

Are you seeking a deeper connection with your horse, rooted in trust and well-being, and wish to replace uncertainty with confidence in their care? If so, the Holistic Horse Collective is here to support your journey. Join us to gain confidence in advocating for your horse and making informed, independent decisions within a supportive community that prioritizes your horse’s needs. 💕.

www.holistichorsecollective.com

Give it a try! Enter 1MONTHFREEHHC at checkout for a free trial!

01/03/2025

* ~ Food for Thought ~ *

Horses are not that different from us - whether or not they are an athlete in high levels of work, they can experience body soreness from day to day life - just like us.

Many dysfunctions we see can be caused or influenced by the rider/handler - and unfortunately, our current horse world is still in a state where many of these dysfunctions are so normalized, that they are not seen as a problem at all. Responsive behaviours are passed off as personality traits instead of forms of communication, muscle atrophy/hypertonicity is passed off as conformation, and thin horses are passed off as being "fit".

Can you imagine, feeling the need to announce your pain so loudly, only to be silenced by harsher equipment, or rougher training practises?

As a practitioner, it has been very eye opening over the years to work with numerous horses who are in various levels of work, who are struggling to support their own bodies - let alone the weight and influence of the person on their back. They cannot stand or hold proper posture for a full minute, let alone be forced into a false frame, under-saddle, while being asked to complete high level movements or jump large obstacles.

No. Holding your horses' head and neck using equipment for extended periods of time is not going to strengthen their core, thoracic sling or topline. This will only strengthen their already existent dysfunctions instead of addressing the underlying problems.

When you go to a health care professional - do they put you in equipment that is going to forcefully hold you in a specific position, and ask you to go run for an hour?

No.

Why? Because there is no benefit to this. If anything, you will be at a greater risk for further injury as muscle fatigue sets in, and other parts of your body try to compensate for not only a lack of strength, but also a lack a movement due to the restrictive equipment.

The same goes for our horses.

Just because they are horses, does not mean their muscles can suddenly develop in a different way than any other species. It takes TIME, proper form, proper muscle activation, and a gradual increase in difficulty.

When movement is restricted in one area, another area will compensate - these areas then often become more hypermobile or unstable as we continue to work in this state, and the areas that are supposed to perform the movement become more hypomobile or more stiff as they are unable to move correctly. Altered posture, muscle atrophy, over-developed areas, etc are all symptoms of this kind of dysfunction.

This year, let's work together to break this normalized view. Let's do better by our horses and not only listen to them, but allow them the time they need to process and develop properly. Let's make sure that they can support their own bodies, before we push them to support ours.

01/03/2025

No matter what’s happening around you—chaos, uncertainty, the weight of the world—you have the power to step into a sacred container of healing. A space where time slows, the noise fades, and you reconnect with your deepest knowing.

Healing doesn’t require perfect conditions. It requires presence. A willingness to soften, to listen, to trust.

Whether it’s through stillness, movement, or the quiet connection with your horse, this space is always available to you.

✨ Step in. Breathe. Begin. ✨

📸 Kim Blake- Tsali a magical water horse with so many teachings. Holding space for ventral line unwinding and sternum release. Our sacred container admist a high energy lesson going on behind us. 💫

19/02/2025

Hair, Blood, or Microbiome? Understanding the Best Testing for Your Horse’s Nutrition.

When it comes to supporting your horse’s health, testing can provide valuable insights—but not all tests tell the same story. Hair mineral analysis, blood work, and microbiome testing each offer different perspectives on your horse’s nutritional status. Let’s take a deeper look at their benefits, limitations, and why the gut may hold the key to true wellness.

🧬𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Hair testing is often used to evaluate mineral levels, heavy metal exposure, and metabolic trends over time. Because minerals are stored in hair as it grows, this test reflects nutritional intake from previous weeks or months rather than a glimpse into what the current nutrition is.

𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴:
- Non-invasive and easy to collect.
- Detects long-term mineral imbalances that may not show up in blood work.
- Can reveal heavy metal toxicity and chronic exposure to environmental contaminants.

𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴:
- Doesn’t show immediate nutrient availability or deficiencies.
- External contamination (environment, shampoos, soil, water) can affect results.

Best for: Identifying trends in mineral balance over time, especially when paired with other health assessments.

🩸 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸:
Blood work is one of the most common tools for assessing a horse’s health, often used to check for vitamin and mineral levels, insulin, organ function, hydration status, and inflammatory markers. However, because the body tightly regulates certain nutrients in the bloodstream, deficiencies don’t always appear in test results.

𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴:
- Provides real-time health snapshot on circulating nutrients.
- Can detect imbalances that require immediate attention.
- Useful for diagnosing anemia, infection, liver/kidney function, insulin and ACTH trends, and inflammatory conditions.

𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴:
- Only a snapshot in time—levels fluctuate based on diet, hydration, and stress- doesn't offer the full picture.
- Some minerals (like calcium and magnesium) are maintained in the blood at the expense of tissues, so a normal reading doesn’t always mean a horse has enough.
- Does not assess how well nutrients are actually being absorbed or utilized.

Best for: Checking immediate health status, ruling out serious conditions, and monitoring organ function.

💩 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:
The microbiome—the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes in the gut—plays a central role in digestion, immunity, inflammation, and overall health. Microbiome testing analyzes the microbial balance in a horse’s gut, offering clues about digestion, immune function, and even mood and behavior.

𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴:
- Identifies microbial imbalances that could impact digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune response.
- Can reveal underlying causes of chronic issues like colic, laminitis, metabolic dysfunction, and poor coat/hoof quality.
- Helps fine-tune diet and supplementation based on how the gut is actually processing food.

𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴:
- Still an emerging field
- While it identifies imbalances, fixing them requires dietary and lifestyle changes rather than a quick supplement fix.

Best for: Understanding how well a horse is truly digesting and absorbing nutrients, identifying hidden causes of poor health, and creating a targeted nutrition plan.
...........

The microbiome influences everything from nutrient absorption to immune function, inflammation, and even hormonal balance. A horse may have a "balanced" diet on paper, but if their microbiome is out of sync, they may not actually be utilizing nutrients properly.

When a horse struggles with chronic issues like ulcers, weight fluctuations, laminitis, or metabolic imbalances looking at the gut is often the missing piece. Microbiome testing can help uncover the root cause, allowing for more precise dietary adjustments that promote real healing rather than just symptom management.

The best approach? Use testing as a tool, not the sole answer. Observing your horse’s body condition, energy levels, hoof and coat quality, and digestion will always be the most valuable guide. Pairing microbiome insights with whole-food nutrition, functional movement, and mindful management creates the strongest foundation for lasting health.💕🐎