When we talk about equine nutrition, the conversation usually starts with what is in the feed bin, labels, mineral balances and so on. And rightly so — those are the essential foundations, but good nutrition doesn’t stop there.
You’ll always hear me bang on about the other pillars of health, namely environment, routine, relationships, mental health and stimulation, movement…the daily things that don’t come in a bag but contribute to how your horse (and you) feel and function. Add to that, massage and other modalities, make us feel amazing and contributes to our animal’s health and vitality.
Whilst what we and our animals consume is essential to our health, diet alone is only part of the pillars of health. No supplement can replace the importance of movement in a paddock, a low-stress environment (the herd mentality) curiosity and enrichment!
My Example: Walking the Ponies and dogs. A small yet helpful addition. Over winter I’ve made it part of my own routine, to walk my dogs and ponies even if it’s only once or twice a week. It was more than what I was doing before. It’s not groundbreaking and I don’t track the steps. A steady walk down the laneway, along the fence line is better than nothing at all. It’s not about calories or conditioning, but connection. A little self care for all of us.
The ponies get to explore something new, stretch their mind and move their feet. And I get to slow down, breathe and step away from the mineral mixing, the paperwork and the long list of jobs. We both come back better for it.
By incorporating the pillars of health to you and your horse’s lives, it’s amazing how much better we all feel both physically and mentally.
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