Today, we’re continuing our conversation about mindset and perspective when it comes to your horse’s health.

This year, I have received many messages about navigating information overload and conflicting advice about your horse’s health. In this episode, I focus on the vital and often missing emotional support needed for making clear, grounded decisions.

Stay tuned to learn the difference between knowledge that truly serves you and information that simply creates more noise.

When Knowledge Turns Into Anxiety

The more you try to take in, the harder it becomes to filter out the noise. That can result in analysis paralysis, where no option feels safe, and doing nothing starts to feel easier than making a decision.

Conflicting Expert Opinions

Different practitioners adopt different approaches. Metabolic, biomechanical, emotional, traditional, and alternative approaches all highlight different aspects of the picture, and without a way to bring them together, the information can become extremely confusing.

General Advice

What works for most horses will not always work for your horse. Each horse has a unique body, history, genetics, and energy. Trying to force a generalized protocol onto an individual horse often delays progress and creates more frustration.

Past Experiences

Previous losses, mistakes, or missed signs can quietly influence current decisions. Guilt and urgency from the past can cloud your ability to stay grounded and respond clearly in the present moment.

The Decision Filter

Clear decisions require a simple framework. Before acting on new information, it should pass three questions:

Does this align with what I’m observing in my horse right now?

Does this address the root cause or only manage symptoms?

Can I implement this consistently with the capacity I have today?

Observation Comes First

Your day-to-day observations matter more than generalized recommendations. What you notice in your horse’s body, behavior, and patterns is primary information. Expert advice is valuable, but it comes second.

Root Cause Over Quick Fixes

Urgency often pulls us toward symptom management. While comfort matters, lasting improvement comes from understanding what is happening beneath the surface and addressing the underlying cause.

Consistency Over Complexity

A simple and consistent approach is far more powerful than a complicated, sporadic plan. What you do consistently, day after day, matters far more than accessing all the latest research or trends.

Reducing the Noise Restores Clarity

Slowing down the flow of information, focusing on careful observation, and sticking to a simple, clear plan helps reduce anxiety and creates space for healing. As you become calmer and more consistent, your horse will likely begin to stabilize too.

Trusting Yourself

You are the one who knows your horse best. Outside expertise has value, but your insight deserves equal weight. Confidence grows when knowledge and self-trust work together.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.

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Last week, we looked at how easily our sense of urgency can spill over onto our horses. We explored ways to manage our fears and the urge to intervene when all our horses need is the time and space to heal.

Today, I take that a step further by explaining how healing is a steady, repetitive, and imperfect process that requires our trust and patience.

Imperfect Progress

Horses require consistency, observation, and time for their nervous systems to process changes. Owners often act out of fear or urgency, switching practitioners, modalities, or approaches mid-process. But when we simplify our approach, tension is released, and both horse and human can move at a natural pace. Even though visible results may take weeks, progress is happening beneath the surface.

Self-Awareness

If you are anxious, impatient, or reactive, your horse will feel it and reflect it back. Healing your horse begins with you regulating your own nervous system and showing up with presence, patience, and clarity, rather than trying to control the outcome.

Integration and Patience

Healing unfolds in stages. Setbacks, plateaus, and integration periods are normal. Your horse’s body needs time to adjust to new movement patterns, nutrition, and modalities. Owners need to embrace this pace, trusting that chemical and neurological changes are happening even when the results are not immediately visible.

Small, Consistent Steps

Choose one approach at a time for your horse and commit to it for at least three to four weeks before evaluating progress. For yourself, establish one daily practice that supports your nervous system- a short walk, breathwork, or grounding ritual. Consistency beats intensity.

Observation Without Judgment

Notice any changes in your horse’s movement, energy, behavior, or body without labeling them as either good or bad, and observe your own emotions without self-judgment. Journaling helps you track patterns, separate emotions from reality, and build confidence in your decision-making.

Integration Practices

Support your horse with rest, social time, and basic care. Let them lie down, play with friends, or simply relax without interference. Similarly, honor your own needs. Regulated owners make better decisions and create an environment that fosters true recovery.

Reflection

Track progress with photos, videos, and regular check-ins with trusted practitioners. And for yourself, spend 15 minutes weekly reflecting on what shifted, what was hard, and make the required adjustments.

Managing Urgency and Fear

Recognize when the urge to act comes from fear, not clarity. Ask yourself: “Will this action move my horse toward healing in the next 28 days?” and “What small step respects my horse’s and my own capacity today?” Small, deliberate actions will keep healing on track.

Two-Track Approach

Take immediate, low-risk actions while planning high-leverage actions for the future. That honors urgency without hijacking the process, allowing progress to continue steadily while you maintain clarity and focus.

Links and resources:

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Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Healing Horses their Way: Get more information and join the waitlist

I have spent the past few weeks reflecting because the start of a new year naturally brings a desire to change what we do, how we do things, or even how we think.

If you’ve been sitting with a quiet sense that something needs to shift, for yourself or for your horse, this episode is exactly what you need to hear as we step into 2026.

Pay Attention to Your Feelings

When you sense that something is different with your horse, pay attention because it matters. A strong connection helps you notice subtle shifts long before anything obvious shows. Ignoring that gut feeling often leads to endless research, outside opinions, and overthinking, which only adds confusion instead of clarity.

When Caring Turns Into Freeze

Freezing, overthinking, and second-guessing are proof of how deeply you care. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, especially when your horse’s health is on the line.

Analysis Paralysis and Lost Intuition

Too much information can shut down your intuition. Articles, courses, podcasts, and social media create noise that drowns out the quiet knowing you gain from daily observation and experience with your horse.

The Information Collector

Waiting to know everything before taking action keeps change out of reach. Confidence does not come from more information. It comes from deciding and taking action, even if the steps are small or imperfect.

The Permission Seeker

Looking for opinions from vets, trainers, or social media delays leadership. Horses don’t need thousands of opinions. They need an owner willing to advocate, make decisions, and guide their care with clarity and intention.

The Worst-Case Spiraler

Imagining disasters will drain your energy and stall progress. Indecision becomes a costly choice when fear prevents you from acting. Moving forward requires grounding, focus, and shutting out both external noise and internal catastrophizing.

Indecision Versus Intentional Action

Doing nothing is still a choice. Creating a plan, committing to it, and adjusting along the way brings stability to both horse and human. Calm, centered leadership will have a direct effect on your outcomes.

Intuition as Valid Data

Gut feelings are just as important as science. Daily observations, patterns, and responses are meaningful information. Writing them down turns intuition into evidence and builds confidence in decision-making.

Alignment Matters

Decisions that contradict your beliefs and instincts disrupt flow. When actions align with your values and intuition, outcomes improve. When they don’t, stress rises and progress often stalls.

Fire Horse Energy for 2026

The Year of the Fire Horse calls for boldness, movement, and decisive action. It favors momentum over perfection and independence over approval. It’s a push to stop waiting and start acting.

Imperfect Action Over Perfect Planning

Horses benefit more from timely, intentional effort than from endless preparation. Small, thoughtful changes often lead to noticeable improvements and strengthen trust between horse and owner.

Become the Expert on Your Horse

Creating a health profile for your horse helps you notice patterns and understand what has led to their current state. Knowing where things have shifted or gone off balance guides the changes your horse truly needs.

Fire Horse Goals vs. Frozen Goals

Frozen goals keep you stuck in learning mode. Fire horse goals are action-based: you create a plan for your horse, implement it, and adjust as you go. Taking steps- even if they are not perfect- builds confidence and leads to results.

Simple Changes Create Real...

Every year, from late November to early December, we roll up our sleeves, set the dates, map out the plan, and fine-tune the details for the year ahead.

Join me today for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how we structure the program, what you will learn, the rollout date, and all the incredible benefits you can expect!

Overview of the Program

This signature program has been a favorite among horse owners and practitioners since it launched in 2018. It has been designed to give you a strong foundation in holistic horse care and is packed with practical, easy-to-understand information to help you make the best choices for a healthy and happy horse. Updated in 2020 with even more resources, it is a hands-on, flexible learning experience perfect for horse lovers at any level.

A Supportive Global Community

Caring for horses can feel like a solo adventure sometimes, especially if you live in a remote area. This course connects you with a worldwide community of like-minded people who share your passion. You will swap stories, share insights, and learn how horse care challenges are surprisingly universal, no matter where you are.

How the Course Works

The course spans 12 weeks and includes nine in-depth modules with a few pause weeks to allow you to work through the material at your own pace. Each module builds on the last, with practical exercises you can apply to any horse.

A Holistic Mindset

The course starts by helping you view horse health from a new perspective. You will learn to look at the history of a horse, spot patterns, and connect the dots between symptoms and underlying issues. It is a whole-horse approach that considers mental, physical, emotional, and even spiritual health, giving you a deep understanding of how the equine body works and reacts to care.

Practical Horse Care

In modules two and three, we dive into the fundamental aspects of anatomy, physiology, and diet. You will learn how to use food as medicine, tailoring the diet to address imbalances, intolerances, or allergies. By the end, you will know how to customize a feeding plan to meet the unique requirements of your horse.

Advanced Tools for Health

We also explore therapeutic nutrition, herbs, and homeopathy. You will learn to use vitamins, minerals, and natural remedies to tackle specific health challenges. These modules are all broken down into simple and easy-to-apply, actionable steps.

Tackling Common Problems

In the later modules, we get into the nitty-gritty of hoof health, toxins, and parasites. You will learn how to spot common hoof issues, like thrush or long toes, and how to address them naturally. You will also learn strategies to minimize exposure to toxins and manage parasites in ways that keep your horse feeling their best.

Real-Life Solutions

One of the highlights of this course is the final module, which has natural protocols for over 30 specific health issues. When you reach this point, you will have all the tools you need to create a personalized care program for your horse. You will also know how to track your horse's progress and adjust when necessary.

Flexible and Easy to Follow

The course is structured to fit into your busy life. The materials are released weekly, and there are live classes every Tuesday evening (with recordings if you cannot make it). There is also a private Facebook group where you can get extra support and connect with other participants, and quizzes you can complete along the way, and you will earn a certificate at the end.

Ready to Join?

If you want to learn about holistic horse care and give your horse the gift of better health, this is the course for you! Join the waitlist on our

This week, we are continuing with the theme of toxicity because it lies at the root of most health issues horses experience.

Looking back at past cases, the pattern is unmistakable. Once you remove those dietary toxins, things start to turn around. The tricky part is knowing what is helpful and what is harmful, so that is what we are focusing on today.

Over-Supplemented

Over-supplementation becomes a major contributor to malabsorption, inflammation, and chronic health problems. Many ingredients, especially synthetic, inflammatory, or poorly absorbed ones, cause toxicity, overwhelm digestion, and suppress the immune system.

Interpreting Ingredient Lists

Horse owners must learn to interpret ingredient lists to distinguish food ingredients from vitamins, minerals, preservatives, flavorings, and fillers. Many supplements contain a few beneficial components surrounded by ingredients that negate their benefits. So it is essential to know which are organic, which are inorganic, and which are highly processed.

Detoxifying Means Removing, Not Adding

Detoxification comes from removing substances rather than adding more. Every ingredient requires a digestive resource, and when the system is congested, even beneficial nutrients turn toxic. Removing non-essential supplements frees the liver, gut, and cells to function normally, improves absorption, and reduces inflammation. A temporary reset with hay, water, and salt will allow the digestive system to heal.

The Fear of Stopping Supplements

Many owners fear that their horses will regress if they remove their supplements, yet many horses decline because they cannot properly absorb the supplements they get. Most commercial ingredients are so processed and inorganic that the body barely recognizes them. Simplifying is not deprivation. It restores capacity. Nutrition from forage and whole foods becomes far more effective with reduced digestive stress.

Why Simplifying Works

Turnarounds can happen when owners strip everything back to only a few essential nutrients plus detoxifying herbs. Even horses on high-quality programs with good ingredients can improve dramatically by reducing their overall load. Fewer ingredients reduce competition for receptors, lowering inflammation and improving the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients and minerals.

Ingredient Competition

Inflammatory ingredients block the absorption of critical minerals, fat-soluble vitamins, and proteins. Even high-quality formulas can fail if too many ingredients compete for absorption. Less is often more because simplified diets reduce receptor blockage, increase bioavailability, and allow the body to use what it gets.

Choosing Supplements

Labels market conditions like ulcers, metabolic syndrome, and digestion, without guaranteeing ingredient suitability. Horses with ulcers, for example, cannot absorb synthetic nutrients well, especially while on proton pump inhibitors. So owners must evaluate what each ingredient actually does rather than trusting marketing claims.

A Three-Step Supplement Audit

1. Count every ingredient your horse consumes daily across all supplements.
2. Categorize each item (food, vitamin, mineral, preservative, flavoring, or colorant)
3. Assess processing level and quality

Auditing provides clarity and helps you decide what to remove, what to keep, and what genuinely benefits the horse.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain...

Much of what we read online about horse health is misleading. So, for those of you following a more natural and holistic path by focusing on the diet, lifestyle, and environment of your horses before turning to drugs or surgery, having the correct understanding is essential. I hope that each episode helps you view conditions like insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, and laminitis with clearer eyes and more confidence.

Today, we are exploring insulin, what happens when it stays high for too long, why it becomes toxic in the body, and how this links to metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and the early stages of laminitis.

Insulin Can Become Toxic

When insulin remains elevated for too long, it starts to act like a toxin. It constricts blood vessels, increases inflammation, damages cells, and impairs nutrient delivery, especially to their highly sensitive hooves.

Inflammation and Insulin Feed Each Other

High insulin drives inflammation. Inflammation drives insulin levels even higher, damaging tissues, reducing circulation, and increasing the likelihood of laminitis. Breaking this cycle requires addressing both inflammation and insulin simultaneously.

The Role of Nutrition and Detox

Supporting your horse with proper nutrition and removing toxins is essential. Antioxidants, clean feed, and reducing chemical exposures will help the body repair damaged cells, restore balance, and bring insulin levels back into a healthy range.

Hoof Health Depends on Circulation

Hoof care and internal health must go hand in hand. Restricted blood flow in the hooves worsens laminitis and founder. Proper trimming, padding, booting, and movement are all critical, along with dietary and metabolic support.

The Whole Body Matters

If symptoms are visible in the feet, the rest of the body will be affected as well. Supporting liver function, reducing stressors, and regenerating cells throughout the body improves overall health and helps prevent further complications.

Do you know what exactly is in your horse's supplements, and what they're actually doing for their health?

Keeping your horse's diet and supplement program clean is one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. There is nothing that turns a horse's health around faster than cleaning up their diet and supporting their health from the inside out.

The good news is I'm going live on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10 am Mountain Standard Time, and I invite you to join me for my first-ever two-hour workshop called Detox Done Right: How To Reduce Your Horse's Toxic Load and Upgrade Their Health.

For just $127 Canadian, you will get my hands on my label-reading playbook and my clean feed roadmap- and we will finish with a 30-minute Q&A to help turn your supplement confusion into clarity.

If you care about your horse's health and want real, practical steps that lead to results, then this workshop is just for you!

Save your seat by clicking on the link in the show notes, or head over to my website. No need to worry if you register and miss it because I will have a recording waiting for you, whenever you are ready- but I do hope to see you all there, live!

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

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Last week, we explored the early signs of toxicity in horses. Today, we revisit a previous episode to clarify what toxicity is and how it affects your horse.

Toxicity is one of the leading causes of equine disease. When the toxic load of horses exceeds what they can process, it becomes hard for their tissues to remain healthy, their organs to function as they should, and their body systems to work together to sustain good health.

Today, I scratch the surface of the vast and complex topic of toxicity, giving you a little food for thought. Since this is a massive subject, I will likely revisit it and dive deeper into some of the points we cover today in future episodes.

Understanding Toxicity in Horses

Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm cells, tissues, organs, or entire systems. For horses, toxicity often accumulates gradually, influencing their health over time. Genetic makeup, nutrition, and environmental exposure are all factors that determine how well a horse can handle toxins. Well-nourished horses with good constitutions and minimal exposure to harmful substances are generally more resilient. Yet they can also struggle as they age, particularly between 14 and 16 years, when signs of imbalance often emerge.

Early Signs of Toxicity

The initial effects of toxicity can be subtle and easy to overlook. A horse may develop a dull coat, cracked hooves, or irregular shedding patterns. Some subtler changes, such as stiffness, swelling, joint discomfort, a weakened immune system, or slow recovery from illness, could also indicate that the body struggles to handle its toxic load.

Key Sources of Toxicity

• Environmental chemicals in feed, hay, and water
• Fertilizers, preservatives, and additives
• Pathogens, like bacteria, viruses, and parasites

Dietary imbalances

Dietary imbalances are another major factor contributing to poor equine health. Excess sugar or protein can stress the body and lead to inflammation, metabolic issues, and poor gut health, and a diet heavy in oils can disrupt the gut microbiome.

Acidity

Acidity in the body often results from an imbalanced diet, leading to conditions like leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and joint issues. Hormonal imbalances, such as prolonged high cortisol or insulin levels, also cause significant damage over time, contributing to tissue breakdown, laminitis, and immune dysfunction.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are crucial for combating free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells and DNA. Free radicals naturally occur during metabolic processes, but increase with high toxic loads. Without sufficient antioxidants to neutralize them, free radicals can accelerate aging, weaken the immune system, and cause long-term damage.

The Cumulative Effect of Toxicity

Even though toxins seldom cause immediate harm, they accumulate over time. A horse that has consumed feed with additives, dealt with multiple infections, or been on long-term medications may eventually show signs of toxicity. The cumulative effect often leads to nutritional deficiencies, compromised immunity, and declining health.

Strategies for Reducing Toxicity

• Eliminate unnecessary supplements and observe how the horse responds to a more natural diet.
• Prioritize high-quality feeds and hay with minimal additives, and avoid excessive sugar, protein, or oils, as they can disrupt metabolic health and the gut microbiome in horses.
• Address pathogens and infections promptly.
• Support detoxification with bioavailable nutrients to restore reserves and help the body manage its toxic load effectively.

Final Thoughts

Toxicity develops slowly. Understanding

We’re talking about toxicity today.

I’ve been seeing several cases lately where toxicity plays a role, so I thought it was time to revisit the topic. In episode 53, I covered the definition of toxicity and what it means for your horse, so you can go back and listen to it after this episode for more details.

Stay tuned as I share the signs to look out for.

Understanding Toxicity in Horses

Toxicity in horses often develops slowly and subtly through accumulated exposure to feed contaminants, environmental chemicals, medications, or poor-quality diets. Unlike sudden poisoning, this buildup can take years to show outwardly. Younger horses may appear healthy despite ongoing exposure, but as they age, resilience drops and health issues surface, usually from around age 12 onward.

Early Warning Signs

Subtle behavioral and physical changes often signal toxicity. These can include fatigue, dull eyes, reduced social engagement, depression, or anxiety. Appetite changes are also key clues- horses that suddenly become picky or disinterested in food may be reacting to gut irritation or inflammation. Paying attention to these small shifts helps catch toxicity before it escalates.

Behavior and the Nervous System

Toxicity can impact the nervous system, leading to high anxiety and nervousness. While horsemanship helps build horses’ confidence, chronic anxiety can point to underlying health issues or an internal imbalance. Ulcers and overactive immunity often accompany this state, as pain and inflammation trigger more stress in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Inflammation

Inflammation is one of the most common consequences of toxicity. It often presents as laminitis or joint stiffness, even when blood work looks normal. Laminitis is particularly revealing as hoof tissues react early to systemic inflammation. Many arthritic horses may actually be struggling with toxic buildup rather than structural degeneration, and they often improve after detoxification.

The Liver

The liver detoxifies all chemicals entering the body, but chronic overload eventually leads to fatigue and dysfunction. As detoxification slows, toxins accumulate, affecting hormone balance, immune strength, and overall vitality. So, even when liver enzymes appear normal, the liver may still be under strain.

The Gut–Toxicity Connection

Gut health is often the first to suffer. Long-term exposure to irritants, sugars, or intolerant feeds leads to inflammation, leaky gut, and cecal acidosis. A damaged intestinal lining allows toxins to circulate through the body, causing hives, laminitis, or chronic infections. Gut inflammation also prevents nutrient absorption.

Nutrient Deficiency

Toxicity compounds over time. Horses with chronic gut irritation or sugar-heavy diets often experience nutrient depletion because their inflamed intestines cannot absorb key minerals and vitamins.

Common Physical Signs

Visible indicators include dull or coarse coats, cracking or separating hooves, weepy eyes (often linked to liver dysfunction), nasal discharge, and reduced energy. These may seem mild or age-related, but they could reflect systemic imbalance from long-term toxicity.

Reversing the Effects

Improvement begins with removing toxins from feed, water, and the environment. Cleaning up the diet allows the liver, kidneys, and gut to recover. Even older horses can regain their vitality after reducing their toxicity and with good nutrition.

Long-Term Prevention

Reducing toxicity is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease. By being mindful of feed quality, ingredient lists, and exposure sources, owners can dramatically improve their horses’ health spans and overall...