Healing Horses with Elisha

Last week, we spoke about supplements, exploring how to select them, how to combine them intentionally, and how a simpler program that focuses on the actual root cause will almost always outperform those built around symptoms. If you haven’t listened to Episode 107 yet, I recommend starting there because we’re picking up right where we left off today, looking at what real healing looks like, why patience matters, and why you shouldn’t give up on a treatment plan before the original symptom has been resolved. The Whole Horse Once you have a plan based on the underlying cause, assess the improvement across the whole horse, not just the symptom that initially caused concern. The original complaint is often the most advanced problem and can be the last thing to resolve. If you focus exclusively on it, you may miss significant improvements happening elsewhere. Healing Takes Time Recovery rarely happens in a straight line. There will often be periods of noticeable improvement, pauses, and even temporary setbacks. Years of dysfunction cannot necessarily be reversed quickly, so consistency and patience are essential. The horse’s body needs time and a stable environment in which to recover. Early Signs Changes in the horse’s energy and engagement can appear before any visible physical changes. A horse may greet you more readily, enjoy its food, play with other horses, or show more vitality. Those subtle changes can indicate that things are beginning to shift at a foundational level. Brighter Demeanor More alert eyes, greater interest in the surroundings, and the return of personality can be meaningful signs of improvement. Horses with equine metabolic syndrome can experience fatigue and what appears to be depression, which can sometimes be mistaken for normal behavior until their vitality begins to return. Valuable Information More consistent manure, less gas and bloating, and reduced puffiness can all provide valuable information. In horses with equine metabolic syndrome, digestive improvements are especially important because gut health is closely connected to the broader picture of metabolism, inflammation, detoxification, and absorption. Partial Improvement Swelling can improve in stages rather than disappearing completely at once. Even partial improvement can be meaningful. A noticeable reduction in swelling during the first week or two may indicate that the horse is moving in the right direction, while further improvement can take time. Metabolic Changes The crest and fat pads provide valuable information about what is happening metabolically, but they may be among the last things to resolve completely. A crest may first soften and then gradually decrease, while fat pads can take time to reduce. Hoof Recovery Comfortable movement is important, and appropriate hoof care and support are essential. Hoof inflammation and pain often take longer to resolve, particularly following laminitis, founder, or prolonged hoof problems. You may also need to correct trimming issues and allow the hoof capsule to grow out over time. Don't Abandon a Plan Too Quickly If the original symptom is not resolved, it can be tempting to change direction or add more supplements. Before changing course, however, give the existing plan enough time to work, and look for any other improvements that may have occurred. Your Horse's Baseline Pay attention to how the horse moves in the morning, how its crest and fat pads feel, how it greets you, how it eats, and how it interacts with its environment. You don’t need to record every detail obsessively. Just become familiar enough with the horse’s baseline to notice any changes. Keep a Record When you record where your horse started and look back periodically, improvements that seemed insignificant at the time can become obvious. With root-cause work, changes can often occur gradually and quietly, so don't abandon your plan simply because the progress you see isn't dramatic. Skip’s Progress After Skip's program was simplified, his digestion relaxed first, followed by improvements in his relationship with food, satiety, energy, inflammation, and fat pads. His hooves took the longest to improve. That explains how focusing on just one symptom can make you miss any other meaningful progress. Different Recovery Patterns Improvements don't happen in the same order or on the same timeline for every horse. So, look for an overall pattern rather than expecting everything to improve at once. Always remember to pay attention to changes across the whole horse, and remember that no two horses will heal in precisely the same way. Links and resources: Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website. Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we explored why a supplement that produces remarkable results in one horse can make virtually no difference in another, and what that comes down to. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, go back and listen to it first, because we’re building on it today. Supplements A full supplement shelf doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing enough for your horse. Although each product may have been selected initially to address a specific symptom, the combination is unlikely to address the root cause of a horse’s problems. How to Evaluate Supplements Consider whether or not a supplement is actually helping your horse. Look beyond the testimonials and social media, examine the ingredients and the company’s reputation, and be willing to acknowledge when something isn’t working. Root Causes Treating each symptom with a separate supplement can mean missing the underlying imbalance that is driving the problem. Identifying and addressing the root cause can make some supplements unnecessary. When Supplements Are Combined Different supplements can contain overlapping ingredients, so some may be redundant or unnecessary. Using too many different supplements can also make the digestive system and liver work much harder without providing any additional benefit. Simplifying the Program Removing certain supplements can make owners worry that they aren’t doing enough for their horses. However, simplifying the program helps them focus on addressing what the horse actually needs rather than simply adding more products. Diet and Lifestyle Matter Supplements cannot fix a hungry horse or address stress caused by prolonged hunger. So, owners must consider diet, forage, feeding schedule, lifestyle, and stress levels when addressing a horse’s health issues. Skip’s Story Skip is a 12-year-old Quarter Horse with EMS who was placed on several supplements to address various problems. Despite the owner’s careful efforts, his progress stalled. When evaluating his entire picture, it emerged that stress, due to severe hay restriction, was a key issue. So his supplements were replaced with specific B vitamins and bioavailable magnesium, while his owner focused on providing consistent forage and feeding, a better lifestyle, and nervous-system support. Within weeks, Skip was more relaxed, his vitality improved, and he began to gain muscle and become more active and playful. What to Remember No two horses are the same, so no two programs should be either. Horses’ programs should always address root causes rather than simply treating symptoms, and supplements should be used for a specific reason. Links and resources: Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website. Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we discussed the hidden cost of chasing symptoms instead of root causes, and the importance of understanding that symptoms are the messengers, not the problem. We’re expanding on that today, looking at why a supplement that works really well for one horse may do very little for another. Choosing a supplement Don't choose a supplement simply because it produced great results for someone else's horse. Look at whether it is actually creating the changes your own horse needs, and if you can't see meaningful progress, be willing to question whether it's the right choice. Don't let an ingredient list or a product's reputation decide for you. Even a clean, high-quality product may not be what your horse needs, so choose according to your horse's individual situation. Don’t assume Don't assume that horses eating the same hay or living in the same environment have the same nutritional needs. One horse may already be getting enough of a nutrient while another may have a genuine deficiency, so look at the individual horse rather than the shared diet. Additionally, when two horses have the same visible problem, don't automatically treat them in the same way. Look for what is actually driving the problem in each horse, because the underlying causes may be completely different. What to focus on Don't focus only on the nutrients the horse is getting from its diet. Gut health, inflammation, toxicity, other ingredients, and the form of the nutrient can all affect how well a horse can utilize what you're giving them. If a horse fails to respond as expected If the horse isn't responding as expected, consider what else may be preventing its improvement. You may need to address its medication, the commercial feed’s suitability, digestive problems, or emotional stress rather than simply adding another supplement. Your horse's history Don't treat your horse as if it’s starting from scratch. Past illness, stress, age, breed tendencies, medication, and its environment all form part of the picture and can influence how it responds to anything new you introduce. Supplements to avoid High-quality supplements can be valuable, but don't expect them to resolve an issue they were not designed to address. If the supplement has no connection to the underlying cause, redirect your time and money toward finding what actually needs attention. Changing direction If you've given something a fair opportunity and aren't seeing improvement, don't keep on with it simply because you expected it to work. Use the lack of progress as information and reconsider what your horse may need. The underlying cause Don't rely on an anti-inflammatory supplement to resolve pain or inflammation when something else is causing or contributing to the problem. Address the underlying cause so that your supportive measures can have a better chance of helping. Keep looking When your approach doesn't work, don't decide that you've failed or your horse is beyond help. Instead, recognize that particular approach wasn't the right one and keep looking for what your horse actually needs. Individual needs If something doesn't work for your horse the way it worked for someone else's, don't automatically view that as a failure. Use it as information showing your horse's picture is different and requires another plan that will better suit its individual needs. Links and resources: Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website. Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Last week, we discussed what it takes for horses to recover and heal truly. Today, we’re building on that by clarifying the hidden cost of chasing symptoms instead of uncovering the root cause lying beneath them. Recurring symptoms A symptom is often a messenger rather than the actual problem. When a symptom fails to improve, or returns despite trying different products, it tells you that you have not yet identified the underlying cause. Consistency and patience Finding the right approach for a horse is not quite as simple as following someone else’s plan. Recovery requires attention, consistency, and a willingness to reassess when something does not produce the results you need. History matters A past illness, stress, age, breed tendencies, medications, environment, and other experiences can all influence how a horse’s body responds to something new. Understanding its history helps to explain why the same supplement can produce very different results in two horses. Quick fixes Symptom-focused treatments can be reassuring when they produce a quick or visible response, but improvement does not necessarily mean the underlying issue has been resolved. Repeatedly changing products can keep you focused on the symptom rather than actually understanding what is driving it. The whole picture Rather than focusing only on what is going into the horse’s feed bucket, consider the whole picture, including its diet, health history, medications, environment, digestion, and any other factors that may influence how it responds. Meaningful changes When introducing something new, pay attention to whether or not you notice any meaningful changes in the horse. If the horse shows no noticeable improvement, that approach may not be addressing what it truly needs. Good nutrition Good nutrition is not simply about what goes into the horse’s mouth. Gut health, inflammation, toxicity, and nutrient interactions can all affect how much of what a horse consumes is actually absorbed and available to its body. When something doesn’t work A lack of improvement does not mean that you, your horse, or the product has failed. It provides valuable information, telling you that your approach is not addressing the horse’s particular needs and that it is time to look in a different direction. Links and resources: Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website. Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Horses need rest, especially when they’re dealing with metabolic issues. Their nervous systems need it, and in many cases, rest is an important part of their recovery. So today, we’re talking about why deep work requires downtime, and why giving your horse the right kind of rest might be the missing piece in how you’re managing their metabolic health. Rest and Recovery The work that genuinely changes an outcome rarely happens in a straight line. Whether you’re helping a student or supporting a horse through recovery, you need periods of focused effort followed by time to rest, process, and integrate. Skipping the recovery phase can ultimately undermine the work itself. Making Better Decisions Building a complete health profile means taking a deep dive into your horse’s history and putting all the pieces together. That can be difficult and emotional, especially when you begin to see how past events may have contributed to the challenges your horse is facing now. It can also create a strong urge to fix the problem immediately. However, taking time to understand the whole picture first helps you make more informed decisions. Subtle Shifts Paying attention to subtle shifts in your horse—how they respond to their environment, changes in the herd, the seasons, their routine, or their recovery—can reveal patterns over time. Observing those shifts can give you valuable clues about what’s really happening with your horse. Exhaustion Working harder and constantly pushing yourself doesn’t necessarily create better results. When you’re depleted, you stop noticing subtle details, lose your ability to be genuinely present, and may even begin putting your energy into the wrong things. Downtime Downtime allows you to integrate information and experiences, gives your nervous system a chance to reset, and lets your body catch up with everything it’s had to handle. Rest is not laziness or falling behind. It is part of maintaining your ability to do meaningful work. True Rest A horse can be standing quietly and still be in a state of alertness or survival. True rest allows the horse’s nervous system to stop bracing and scanning so the parasympathetic system can support its digestion, recovery, tissue repair, and hormonal regulation. Restriction vs Recovery For horses with EMS or suspected metabolic problems, you may need to look beyond more restriction or control. Those horses also need the right lifestyle, movement, freedom, and periods of rest so their bodies can settle, find their rhythm, and recover. Constant Intervention Every new supplement, therapy, training session, or other intervention is another input. When you’re constantly applying different things, you have little opportunity to observe what is actually helping the horse, or allowing it to settle and find its own rhythm. Sometimes, just avoiding another intervention is the most appropriate next step. Panic When something is wrong, your instinct may be to act immediately. However, your panic could lead to unnecessary or poorly considered interventions. Taking a pause gives you the space to regulate yourself, observe what is actually happening, and ultimately make a more thoughtful decision. The Bigger Picture Rather than always adding something to address each new symptom, step back and consider the horse’s history, environment, lifestyle, routines, and other contributing factors. The goal is to create the right conditions for the horse to stabilize and recover, while also providing enough structure, freedom, and connection to support its natural rhythms. Links and resources: Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website. Join Elisha's email list Learn more about Healing Horses Their Way