The Balanced Equine, LLC

04/02/2026

Happy April! 🌱

But before we get excited about warmer weather… we need to talk about what this season actually does to our horses. (Hello, mud season! 👎)

Spring = constant moisture, unstable footing, and the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

That means:
• Increased risk of scratches
• Thrush creeping in
• More strain on tendons and joints
• Skin that never fully gets a chance to recover

If your horse seems to always have issues this time of year, you’re not alone!

This month, I’m breaking down the effects of spring on our horses—and how to manage it all better.

03/27/2026

OTTBs aren’t “too much”… they’re just misunderstood.

They’re not difficult — they’re different.

Different backgrounds.
Different conditioning.
Different expectations placed on them from day one.

What looks like “too sensitive” is often awareness.
What looks like “too forward” is often confusion.
What looks like “too much” is often just a horse that hasn’t been given the right system yet.

When you slow down, build trust, and support them properly… they’ll meet you there every time.

OTTB owners — what’s something your horse does that people misunderstand? 👇

03/24/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉

Lauren Ramirez, Lisa Robinson, Amy Christy, Moriah Sanborn, Alexandria Plourde

03/23/2026

Something new I’m trying this year… fly predators 👀

I’ve never used them before, but with only two horses on the property now, I’d love to cut back on constantly buying and spraying fly spray.

If you’ve used fly predators:
• Did you notice a real difference?
• How long did it take to work?
• Worth it… or not really?
• Anything you wish you did differently?

I’d love to hear your honest experiences! 🐴

03/18/2026

Back to the electrolyte topic… Bluebonnet is a fantastic nutrition company! 🩵

Encourages drinking, supports sweat response, and helps prevent impaction colic

03/18/2026

🐎 Question for barn owners & managers:

If you could fix ONE system in your barn overnight — what would it be?

• Turnout scheduling
• Feeding programs
• Staffing & delegation
• Communication
• Daily workflow

Every barn has pressure points — identifying them is the first step to improving them.

I’m curious what you’d change first. 👇

03/17/2026

🐎 “That’s just how barns are.”

It doesn’t have to be.

Sometimes it’s not about bad intentions — it’s about:
• Systems that were never built
• Standards that were never defined
• And practices that were never questioned

But horses still feel the impact.

Lack of turnout, inconsistent feeding, or cutting corners shouldn’t be considered “normal” — even if they’ve been common.

Raising the standard starts with being willing to question what we’ve accepted.

What’s something you’ve seen normalized in barns that deserves a second look? 👇

03/16/2026

🌦️ Spring Reminder - Weather Fluctuations

With spring comes big temperature swings — warm afternoons, chilly nights, and unpredictable weather. Today and tomorrow are a prime example. Rainy with a 60 to 30 degree swing.

During these transitions, horses can lose more electrolytes through decreased water intake and increased metabolic stress, even when they aren’t working hard.

A simple electrolyte supplement (or free-choice salt) can help support:
• Proper hydration
• Muscle function
• Recovery from temperature fluctuations

It’s a small detail that can make a big difference in keeping horses comfortable as the seasons change.

This year we have been testing out Stress-Dex and I really like it so far!

03/15/2026

This is so important! Especially as someone new to horses, maybe bringing your child for camp or lessons. Not all facilities are created equal…

It's the time of year when you might be looking for summer camp or 'horse camp' for your kids.

These images are local. Even further, more than a few horses we've rehabbed and adopted have come from so-called 'camp' environments.

Learn what passive neglect looks like. Learn what maximizing profits by skimping on good care looks like.

A horse's spine should not be prominent. A visable rib or 2 is ok - especially in a horse prone to being overweight - but seeing multiple ribs or all of them is not. Hip bones should not protrude. Open sores where tack sits - especially across the withers or back - means tack does not fit. In the summer, coats should be shiny, not dull.

Each horse should have their own tack that fits. Each horse should receive food tailored to its specific needs; senior feed for seniors, for example. Hay and clean water should be available if the horses are not working.

Unfortunately, this is an area where 'the law' and reality do not intersect; if there is 'food, water, and shelter' on site, the law is on the side of the owner, not the horses. The best thing you can do is take your business elsewhere - and let your friends and family know why.

03/15/2026

To Miss. E - my “difficult” horse 🩵

A letter to the “difficult” horse:

I know you show up this way because you’re meant to teach me something big. Something powerful. Something life changing. Here you are before me, begging me to rise to the occasion. To show up. To be better for you.

You’ve been labeled so many things in your life. People have made many assumptions about who you are, solely because of how you have acted in your worst moments. They’ve decided things about you without even knowing you. They’ve turned their back on you before giving you a chance. They’ve left you feeling like something people just throw away when you don’t show up exactly how they want you to.

I think I’m here in your life now because I can relate to all of those things. I’ve been labeled and judged. I’ve watched people make decisions about me without knowing me. I’ve been dropped and left behind, discarded, when I didn’t show up a specific way.

So I get it. I feel it every time I look in your eyes and I desperately want to take all of that away and save you from it.

But I can’t do that. I can’t save you from it because it’s yours to let go of when you’re ready.

But I can sit here. I can hold the space. I can show up for you in a way nobody ever has and prove to you that not every human will fail you the way you expect.

And maybe, just maybe, we can both heal parts of each other that neither of us broke to begin with.

I see you, I love you, and I promise you’ll be okay.

And I will be yours for as long as you need me to be.

03/14/2026

Strangles PSA #2

Biosecurity 🐎

Strangles (and other contagious illnesses) can spread fast within barns and between facilities but simple biosecurity steps can keep your herd safe.

Our top tips for prevention:
🚫 Quarantine new horses for 2–3 weeks before introducing them to your herd.
🪣 Separate equipment — don’t share buckets, grooming tools, or tack between horses.
🧼 Hand hygiene — wash hands thoroughly after handling any horse outside your herd.
🧽 Clean and disinfect — stalls, grooming tools, and feed/water areas regularly.
👀 Monitor closely — watch for nasal discharge, fever, or swollen lymph nodes.
💉 Prevent — work with your vet on proper 💉 protocols for your herd.

Simple precautions now can save your horses weeks of illness and your barn (& others) lots of stress!

03/14/2026

The 5 Pillars of Equine Welfare 🐎

At the heart of good horse care are a few simple principles. When these needs are met consistently, horses are far more likely to stay healthy, comfortable, and mentally balanced.

The core pillars I personally come back to again and again are:

1️⃣ Movement – Horses are designed to move throughout the day. Regular turnout and freedom of movement support their entire body.

2️⃣ Forage & Nutrition – A horse’s digestive system works best with consistent access to forage and a diet built around hay or pasture.

3️⃣ Social Connection – Horses are herd animals and benefit from safe interaction with other horses.

4️⃣ Physical Comfort – Hoof care, dental care, saddle fit, and body comfort all play a huge role in a horse’s well-being.

5️⃣ Thoughtful Management – Daily care decisions should support the horse’s natural needs whenever possible.

These five pillars are the foundation of how I approach horse wellness and education.

I’ll be expanding on these concepts soon in a Horse Owner Foundations course designed to help owners better understand their horses and advocate for their care.

Because better horse welfare begins with informed owners. ✨