The Four
F's
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Why
not get Back to Basics? Let’s take a page out
of history and simplify your horse keeping! In these economic
times especially, knowledge can save you thousands of dollars
a year in vet bills, food bills and lowered stress –
both yours and the horses! We think that’s a solution
worth having don’t you? |
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Feed
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The
cornerstone of any health, horse or human, is nutrition.
Not how much your horse is eating, but what is it eating
and how much of it is being absorbed in the digestion. No
matter how much money you spend, if the horse cannot absorb
it, you are throwing money away in the manure pile! Horses
rely on connective tissue strength to hold up their massive
heavy skeleton. If the muscles, ligaments and tendons are
not strong, and the body is pulling nutrients from the bone
to satisfy the need, the horse’s entire body is compromised,
prone to injury and a lowered immune system leaves the open
to infection and disease. |
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Feet
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The
old saying “no foot no horse” could not
be a truer statement. Here at Wit’s End, after 30
years of shoeing my horses, I have adopted the barefoot
trim. This may not be practical for all horses, but at least
consider giving your horse several months without shoes
every year, so they have a chance to rest and spread, you
can still ride – as exercise is key to barefoot. Since
most of us ride in rings on good footing, shoeing all winter
when you are not showing or riding on roads is not really
necessary. |
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Fitness
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Another
cornerstone of health! An unfit horse cannot perform
at its best, and is prone to injury. Cross training is key
and will help your horse achieve lifelong soundness. Training
according to Classical Prinicples based on balance and suppleness
produces a sound and fit athlete who will live long and
stay sound.
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Flexibility
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Someone
said “you don’t get old and stiff, you get stiff
and then you get old”. Nothing could be more
true for the horse, as without flexibility in movement the
joints suffer and wear out. This is why we have so many
injuries, hock injections and drugs being administered today
where a change in husbandry could drastically reduce, or
eliminate many problems in the modern barn. |
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Call today for consultation, and learn how to become
the Calm, confidant Herd leader your horse wants you to
be.
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The Connection
Explained !
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Horses have the same issues as their human
counter parts, but we call it "attitude" instead
at recognizing it as discomfort. Before you change saddles
or buy a new bit - try and figure out what your horse is
trying to tell you! Accidents and injuries are common -
but people say "the horse seems fine" Suddenly
- 6 months later an abnormality shows up, but we forget
to connect it to an incident that happened months or years
ago!
Horses are experts at compensation - as looking lame results
in being someone's dinner! Also, their pain tolerance is
10-15 times higher than ours. Chances are that by the time
you see lameness, it's already been there 6 months or longer. |
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Call in
the Professionals ! |
Since the days of saving cocaine & heroine
addicted horses off the racetrack in Jamaica, to working
on Leslie Reid's Olympic mounts, Ann & Anthony have
developed a system that works!
From farm calls to rehab; their knowledge is based on "common
sense" horsemanship & personal experience. The
simplicity of it - "feed, feet, fitness & flexibility"
is based on a horse's basic needs that haven't changed in
thousands of years. All their healing starts with nutrition,
as an injured body cannot heal without the nutrients necessary
for cell regrowth. Horses in rehab at Wits End Farms
receive an organic sugar free diet, with high quality supplements,
flax and salt. It's simple but effective.
For an evaluation, call Ann
& Anthony to see how "simple" can benefit
your horse's health.
Complete rehabilitation and healing takes place
on all 3 levels at Wit’s end – psychological,
mental and emotional. Ann & Anthony understand that
the body and the mind are connected, and one does not heal
without the other. Horses can suffer from the same symptoms
as people who have experienced trauma – depression,
lack of self esteem, eating disorders and Post Traumatic
Stress Syndrome. |
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| Wit's End Farms
is a member of the BC Association of Animal Massage &
Body Work Professionals
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