Pure Joy Horsemanship

03/15/2025

**Hoof Education Series - What Do You See??**

Here's a "Before and After" of a foot I began trimming in December '24. The second pic was taken in early March.

Fyi the only thing that's changed for this horse is the trim. Diet and lifestyle remained the same.

The red lines indicate the amount of growth, specifically following the growth ridge that may have also been an abscess.

Aren't hooves AMAZING?! 👏😍

I look forward to your comments and questions. 😁

Purejoyhorsemanship.com

03/10/2025

Hanging out and getting lovies from sweet Flora, one of the first horses to become a resident of Pure Joy Horse Haven. ❤️

It was hard to get her big beautiful noggin in the shot! 😄

Purejoyhorsehaven.org

03/08/2025

Is it Wrong to Treat Your Horse Like Your Dog? 🐶

How do you treat your dog? Like a friend? A companion? A being full of eagerness and curiosity about the world?

Do you and your dog enjoy playing together? Relaxing together? Exploring together?

Now replace the word "dog" with the word "horse." How does that feel to think of interacting with your horse in the same way?

But WAIT!

Dogs are PREDATORS and horses are PREY! They can't be compared to one another or handled in similar ways. They are TOTALLY different!!

Are they??

Let's get fundamental about this. Horses and dogs have similar needs - feel safe, feel comfortable, have access to food, express themselves in a natural way, have opportunities to move, play, and have social interactions.

Their brains work quite similarly. They share complex emotional systems. Both species are highly intelligent and excellent problem solvers. Either can get stressed out. Dogs and horses experience pain, fear, and joy.

Are there differences too? You bet, but the similarities far outweigh them.

Consider the benefits of seeing your horse as a companion with a wide range of abilities, including the ability to connect on a deep emotional level.

Given the right circumstances, horses enjoy learning, participating, and even contributing to activities you can enjoy together.

Purejoyhorsemanship.com

03/07/2025

**Hoof Education Series - What Do You See??**

Hello My Fabulous Hoof Learning Crew!

I'm so PROUD of each and every one of you, and there are THOUSANDS of you, for being inspired and taking the time to expand your knowledge about the health of your horse's hooves. I appreciate and applaud you! 👏😁

Talk to your farrier. Question your vet. Acknowledge that not everyone knows how to help your horse. Better yet, learn how to trim and maintain your own horse! It's WAY EASIER than you think!
https://www.purejoyhorsemanship.com/services/teach-and-trim---

We are collectively improving the lives of horses. If their feet aren't right, neither is their body, behavior, or quality of life. 😯

So my well educated observers and eager learners, what do you see with this foot?

One more thing. I have a favor to ask. Can you all tell me the best way to get my follow up answers to you? Is it better to do a brand new post? Add the answers to the existing post? Pin the original post?

I want to make sure to get the info to you but I'm not sure how to best get FB to tell you I've added something new.

Alrighty! Put your assessment goggles on and tell me what you see! As always this is a safe place for learning. I look forward to your comments and questions!

Remember to share with your friends.😃

Purejoyhorsemanship.com
Purejoyhorsehaven.org

03/06/2025

** Saddle Fitting - What's are the MOST Important Factor to Consider? **

- Fit of the Horse
- Fit if the Rider

- Comfort of the Horse
- Comfort of the Rider

- Mechanical Influence on the Horse
- Mechanical Influence on the Rider

Did you guess "All of the Above?"

Then you are CORRECT! 🎉

THAT'S why saddle fitting can be such a challenge. Getting all those components to come together takes effort, skill, experience, and even a bit of ingenuity sometimes.

Getting it wrong can mean pain, behavior problems, and physical damage to horse and rider. Getting it right means a foundation for a harmonious connecting under saddle.

Getting it right isn't always a walk in the park, but it is essential for your horse's welfare and yours.

For local and virtual therapeutic saddle assessment and fitting services for you and your horse, go to
https://www.purejoyhorsemanship.com/services/therapeutic-saddle-fitting

03/04/2025

What Does Your Horse's Posture Reveal About Comfort and Balance?

One of the first things I notice when I begin a Wellness Assessment is how the horse is standing. Are legs evenly positioned in the four "corners" of the body? Are there repetitive postural abnormalities that show compensation or pain avoidance?

A horse with a healthy, functional, and comfortable musculoskeletal system will tend to stand with fore and hind feet evenly placed in anatomical alignment the shoulders and hips.

That's the most efficient way for a horse to stand. If they're choosing an inefficient, more effortfull posture, we need to identify the cause so we can restore equilibrium and comfort.

For more information about wellness-focused horsemanship visit Purejoyhorsemanship.com

Thanks in advance for helping horses live their best lives by sharing. ❤️

02/27/2025

**Nutrition Tip of the Day**

Is Your Horse FAT or Bloated?

When I'm called out for a nutrition consultation, owners often mention that their horse is too fat.

The horse definitely LOOKS fat. It's belly is round, sticking out, and hanging down...
That's because the horse is too fat, right??

Not necessarily.

Look at the horse in this picture. He's got a "fat" belly, but you can also see his ribs. So is he fat or not?

He's not. He's bloated. His hind gut isn't processing fiber correctly and that has caused his belly to expand.

Many horses have the big belly with plenty of meat on their bones, which makes them appear to be carrying too much weight, HOWEVER if you can feel their ribs beneath their skin, they are NOT overweight.

If your horse is bloated, it's very likely there's discomfort, ulcers, and poor absorption of nutrients occurring.

There are a number of causes of this condition in horses. When looking for a solution, each horse should be assessed as an individual. Finding the correct dietary formula almost always yields excellent results.

In my experience, belly bloat starts improving within a couple of days.

If you're interested in learning more, I would love to help. Drop me a line. I am a Certified Equine Nutritionist. I can assess your horse and create a diet that will best fit his or her individual needs.

Purejoyhorsemanship.com

02/27/2025

**Hoof Education Series - What Do You See??**

What does a long skinny frog mean?

Does it mean...

The hoof is elongated?
The frog is underdeveloped?
Circulation to the hoof is compromised?
The back of the hoof isn't functioning properly?
Are the heels underrun?
The hoof is contacted?

Write your answer in the comments. Feel free to discuss or ask about anything related to the hoof. Let's keep this series productive and criticism free. 😃

For a personal assessment of your horse's feet, schedule a Hoof Consultation at Purejoyhorsemanship.com

02/24/2025

**Hoof Education Series - What Do You See??**

This is a very cool visual of stretched laminae. Laminae are the connective tissue between the coffin bone and the inner hoof wall.

1. The outer hoof wall.
2. The inner hoof wall
3. The laminae.
4. Where the coffin bone would be.

What's not cool is how painful this is for the equine it came from.

Yes that's blood fun ruptured vessels that were pulled apart and/or crushed. You can actually see the elongated foramen in the lamellar tissue the vessels pass through.

This was caused by man-made mechanical failure. I'm going to give that a minute to sink in. This hoof was damaged by the way it was trimmed.

I firmly believe that healthy properly trimmed hooves are the minority exception, not the rule.

Thank you for joining me in the quest to become an educated owner so that fewer horses suffer. Situations like this are COMPLETELY avoidable.

Learn more, including how to become your own awesome farrier, at Purejoyhorsemanship.com

Please share this important information.

02/22/2025

Did you know ..

I can't help you get a better ride on your horse unless his feet are balanced?

It's true!

Your horse's feet are his foundation for the way he carries himself and every maneuver he makes. Think about how hard it is to run or play if your feet hurt or your shoes are uneven. 😯

That's why when we begin a riding lesson program together, we're going to take a look at your horse's tootsies.

In fact, we're going to look at his teeth, movement, and muscle development too.

To learn more about my unique welfare-centered approach to developing a successful horse-rider team, contact me directly or go to

At Pure Joy Horsemanship, we help horses and their owners thrive together with our welfare-centered approach to horse training and wellness-based riding lessons. We offer consultations in equine nutrition, hoof health, saddle fitting, and more. We teach barefoot hoof trimming, compassionate behavior...

02/22/2025

Who else is excited about this!!? 👏😃

02/20/2025

Share Your Outdoor Attire, Cold-Weather Been Badd Asses!! 👍🥶👍

I'm in Middle Tennessee. It's in the mid teens. I'm wearing wool socks, sweat pants, lined overalls, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, vest, sweatshirt hoodie, heavy coat, balaclava, ball cap, and watch cap. I was very comfy if not a bit too warm.

02/19/2025

What Does Your Horse's P**p Smell Like??

As a Certified Equine Nutritionist, p**p is often on the information-gathering menu when I'm assessing a horse's gastrointestinal health.

I want it to smell like chewed digested grass. The smell should be more subtle than overpowering. If you wrinkle your nose when your horse defecates, something might be wrong.

That's because you're probably smelling manure with a high acid level. Acidic p**p is a sign of acidosis, a condition of the hind gut that means the microbes that help break down fiber are in an inhospitable environment.

When the healthy microbes are compromised, all kinds of bad things can happen throughout your horse's entire body, for example poor absorption of nutrients, inflammation, ulcers, colic, and more.

There are many ways to combat acidosis and restore your horse's normal PH levels. One is to make sure the diet is on point. Having an independent equine nutritionist, such as myself, assess your horse will ensure your horse's body is getting what it needs to maintain excellent health.

Adding a prebiotic to your horse's diet is another way you can support gut function. My go-to is Kombat Boots,
https://www.purejoyhorsemanship.com/product-page/kombat-boots I love it because it's a clean and simple product that's safe and effective. It reduces acid in the hind gut and increases the body's ability to stabilize itself.

If you have any questions about your horse's diet or how to reduce stinky p**p, let's talk about setting up a consultation.

https://www.purejoyhorsemanship.com/services/nutrition-consultation

Thanks for sharing this information with your friends. ❤️

02/19/2025

No new posts today. Too busy prepping for snow and cold weather. Can anyone relate?? ❄️😄