Drilling (and Friends and Freedom).
" Everything's been done by the book, and yet it still isn't working!"
That is why I am offering this series of articles to spark some thought.
Indeed, it is not always easy to find solutions. Horses constantly challenge us to rethink our assumptions… but it is so exciting!
Drilling: All-you-can-eat hay!
Equines have a digestive system adapted to metabolizing what is known as “roughage”—that is, feed that is relatively low in energy relative to its volume. In other words, they must eat a lot and over a long period of time.
For years, and until recently, the issue of forage and appropriate nutrition was less of a concern. For sport horses in particular, energy intake took precedence over nutritional quality. Indeed, the living conditions of equines and the lack of consideration for hay supply made it difficult to prioritize nutrition.
Today, knowledge of nutrition has become more widespread and has taken on a significant role in the overall care of equines. Anyone with even a basic understanding now knows that “hay ad libitum” means the ability to eat continuously, at any time of day or night.
Since horses do not have a gallbladder, they secrete bile continuously. Therefore, they cannot go without food for long periods, as this risks causing gastric lesions due to bile secretion! Fasting or consuming too many grains creates, in the short term, an acidifying intestinal dysbiosis that affects the entire system. (See the functioning of the digestive system in Wolter, ref. in bibliography)
General acidification of the body is a significant contributing factor in a wide range of health issues, from skin sensitivity to laminitis.
In Chinese medicine, everything is interconnected: an external cause can affect the body, but also the emotional state. Conversely, emotional distress will exacerbate the imbalance that has been created.
In the case of disorders caused by an inappropriate diet or malnutrition, it is necessary to address the various aspects to hope for lasting improvement.
The physiological impact of diet also has emotional consequences!
Food is directly linked to survival. It is therefore a major concern for horses!
Lack of food and fasting: the example of laminitis.
In the case of metabolic laminitis, the onset is due to an overly rich diet.
The energetic approach invites us to take our thinkinga step further. There is a metabolic crisis caused by dysbiosis*. This prevents the gut from properly metabolizing the feed (which is unsuitable because it is too far removed from the recommended roughage).
Furthermore, from an emotional perspective, we are in the realm of digestion. The realm of nourishment, both physical and symbolic.
Is the crisis due solely to this specific external factor? Or could it also be an accumulation of imbalances that make the horse more vulnerable?
Syndromes (SME, Cushing’s, PSSM, etc.) explain the phenomenon in many cases. But are they alone responsible for all the crises?
If we don’t analyze the “constitutional background, ” we may overlook important cofactors.
The Earth element: nourishing and digesting!
Did the animal physically experience a deprivation that caused anxiety? This indicates an Earth imbalance, particularly involving the Stomach and Spleen/Pancreas meridians.
Or was it unable to nurse? (miscarriage, loss of a foal).
Was he emotionally nurtured? (early weaning, constant changes in living environment or companions).
Failing to consider this factor and fasting an animal that needs to have forage in its stomach at all times increases the risk of gastric ulcers. Yet gastric discomfort, as well as deprivation… increase anxiety!!
Especially if the animal is also isolated due to dietary management.
And I’m not even mentioning here the anxiety of the horse’s caretaker, with the consequences for the horse and the relationship.
We then enter a vicious cycle that can last a long time…
Caring for the Earth: for a calm horse.
We cannot expect true resilience without taking the emotional aspect into account!
Caring for the Earth means taking nutrition into account.
It must be tailored to the needs and physiology of the species. Feeding concentrates in three meals has never shortened a horse’s intestine, nor has it made it better able to digest large amounts of starch.
It also involves providing emotional and affective nourishment: play, affection, and companions with whom the horse can develop genuine, heartfelt relationships. (2)
It also means supporting the horse through emotionally significant events such as the loss of a foal, grief, or separation. Equine shiatsu is a valuable tool for helping to regulate emotions and navigate difficult times more effectively.
Happiness is in the hedge!
What if dietary diversity were a key to psychological well-being?
We’re used to seeing our horses grazing in their pastures, assuming that their digestive needs and their need to chew are being met.
But are all pastures created equal? And if I tell myself that my horse needs a varied diet, am I not anthropomorphizing?
Equines are nomads who, in their natural state, are not accustomed to fences. They roam over vast areas and have access to a wide variety of plants growing on a wide range of soils. They therefore naturally require significant plant diversity to optimize their nutritional intake.
Soil quality affects the plant’s taste and its richness in trace elements and minerals (thanks to symbiotic fungi and bacteria, or the soil’s own mineral content, among other factors).
Grazing and Biodiversity
However, in a pasture that has been used for several months in a row—and even more so if it has been overgrazed, or if it was previously used for cows or sheep, or was once a cultivated field—there is a high probability that the vegetation will be rather poor, both in terms of diversity and micronutrient quality.
The quality of the hay is therefore very important. However, hay alone will not fulfill the need for foraging and selection that allows your horse to develop and use its natural psychomotor skills.
Using its cognitive abilities for visual, tactile, and olfactory foraging and discrimination helps stimulate these skills. In short, it helps develop the horse’s intelligence!
One way to encourage your horse to forage on its own is to provide a more varied range of food sources.
Planting forage hedges: by planting trees and shrubs that equines can eat, you increase dietary diversity and the opportunity for self-medication (e.g., white willow).
Another approach is to leave some brambles ( rose hips, blackberries, and bramble leaves are delicious).
And also, offer “taste-testing” walks where the horse can graze on new plants, and we can observe what it prefers, depending on the season and location.
The forage hedge: a forgotten gem waiting to be rediscovered!
(1). The ethogram forms the basis of research in ethology. It is important to be able to compile a list of a species’ behaviors before analyzing individual behaviors.
https://www.osi-panthera.org/Comment-construire-un-ethogramme.html?lang=fr#slogan
(2) See the related article on social relationships:
https://sohorseandbalance.fr/jamais-sans-mes-potes-les-3f-en-question/
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