All that horse guardians really want is for their horse to be strong. The domesticated horse is highly dependent upon us... |
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From the very first inhale, the the very last exhale, the lung is in charge of the the horse's pulse... |
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The Ole Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be... |
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The foal is tucked in the snug confinement of the dam's womb. The magic moment comes when this gift of life is pushed through the narrow walls of the birth canal out into the expanse of the new world... |
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What exactly is the perfect image of health? Actually, Gwen gave a pretty good description of what it looks like. Horses tell us a lot by how they look, move, and respond to us. |
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Winter is a time of survival. It is the season where horses must go deeply into their core essence to survive both physically and emotionally. During the cold of winter, the horse must retain and manage the heat of his body.
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The ancient Chinese were keenly aware of subtleties in the quality of energy. The energy expressed in the fullness of summer is different than in the waning of summer. In Chinese thought, Late Summer is a season unto itself with its own distinct characteristics. |
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Every feature, every movement of this young horse emanates joyous vitality; a shocklingly brilliant coat; full, articulating muscles; a handsome, crisp-looking head; a sparkling eye that bespeaks his quick intelligence. His good, loving nature is the one thing that could possibly contain his burning, passionate nature. His spirit soars with his increasing physical strength in the warmth of summer. This animal is the perfect flesh and blood manifestation of the metaphor of the Fire phase. |
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"If Stomach Chi is good; prognosis is good. If Stomach Chi is not good; prognosis is not good." This ancient Chinese saying could not be more apt when it comes to horses. As a grazing animal, a horse wants to eat at all times. If he doesn't, you know he's not feeling well. |
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Every feature, every movement of these young horses emanates joyous vitality: a shockingly brilliant coat; full, articulating muscles; handsome, crisp-looking heads; sparkling eyes that be-speak quick intelligence. Their good, loving nature is the one thing that could possibly contain their burning, passionate nature. Their spirits soar with increasing physical strength in the warmth of summer. These are the perfect flesh and blood manifestations of the metaphor of Fire Phase of Transition in Traditional Chinese Medicine. |
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"The ole gary mare, she ain 't what she use to be." True, but who is? Age takes its toll on all of us, including our beloved horses. We tend to think of them as fit and active, then one day, they suddenly look older. The hollow above the eye seems deeper, muscles looks less toned and full, white whiskers sprout on the muzzle, the gait appears stiff - and then we remember ten years have passed.
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It was a brilliantly clear and warm late summer morning when Kate went out to get her favorite mare, Tara. She was usually ready and waiting in the morning for whatever adventure the day might hold. Tara was standing in her stall with her head down as if to graze, but she was not chewing on anything. Kate gave her a pat on the rump to let her know she was there and to awaken her. Tara slowly raised her head and looked at Kate with a dull eye then looked away. This was not like Tara. Kate stroked her neck; it felt cooler then usual. She started to wonder if there was something wrong. | ||
Acupressure Helps You Take Action Against Colic Unpredictable and seemingly so difficult to prevent, colic is the most dreaded, far-too-common occurrence in a horse's life. | ||
Masters of Disguise Horses are the grand cover-up artists; they are masters of disguising pain. Not showing pain is inherent to the species. In the wild, if horses were to show any signs of pain or weakness, their lives would be at risk and maybe even threaten the safety of the entire herd. Horses will do everything they can to not display any evidence of pain or injury. A compromised horse is most likely a dead horse and they know this deep in their shared psyche.
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"Hands-On" Help for Equine Toxicity Every chemical released into the environment affects every land mass, every nation, every human and horse ... everything living on this planet. We truly live in a global environment that is intricately interrelated. The toxins created by the ever increasing industrial communities have no borders acid rain falls heavily on the pastures in which our horses graze. Nitrates from fertilizers, pesticides, and other sources dissolve into the water supply. |
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The 5-Element Theory: A Touch of History and Horses Historical Context Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on a series of theories that form a rich source of techniques for sustaining health and allowing the body, human or equine, to heal itself when not in balance. The first and most ancient theory is that of Yin and Yang, the two opposing yet essential aspects of Chi, the dynamic force that promotes life. The Yin-Yang Theory distinguishes Chinese philosophy and thought from all other philosophies in both the ancient and modern worlds. FULL STORY | ||
| Moody Mares by Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis |
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Because we have taken horses out of their natural environment, there is a tendency for mares to be irregular in their cycling or to have a more difficult time during their cycles. In a wild mare, the estrous cycle responds to the longer day light hours of spring, summer, and late summer. Her feed in the wild is very different than in captivity. Her level of exercise is greatly changed from the miles of countryside she can cover each day in her own habitat. When a mare is in a stable or barn, her emotional stability is affected because her social interactions are greatly modified. We separate a mare from her foal sometime between the fourth and eighth month after birth, this does not occur in natural herd behavior. These and many other differences between a mare’s life in the wild and in captivity can cause her body to become irregular or exhibit “witchy” behavior even when the cycle appears to be normal.
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| A Healthy Autumn Treatment by Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis |
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| Acupressure: Action for Colic Concerns by Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow |
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Acupressure and Acupuncture |
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A horsefly is mid-air, within inches of landing on the horse's flank. The surface of his flank twitches just before the fly has a chance to land, warding it off in advance of being stung.It is because of the extraordinary awareness of his body and surrounding "personal space" that the horse is highly responsive to the powerful, yet seemingly gentle, ancient eastern healing modalities. Acupuncture and Acupressure are based on the same principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Historically, these modalities are identical in their approach to healing. Understanding how to balance the many forms of vital energy that sustain and nourish the human or equine body is key to both disciplines.
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| Acupressure: Let Your Fingers Do the Walking by Kara Stewart |
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 Imagine you're on a trail ride, spending several days in the backcountry with friends, far away from civilization. After the first day's lunch break your horse has a sudden allergic reaction, which constricts his windpipe. His breathing becomes increasing labored, even at a standstill, and he eventually collapses to the ground.FULL STORY |
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| Fit To Continue by Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis |
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 It is dark and downright cold. The ride starts at 5:00 a.m. and it is 3:30 a.m. I'm too cold to sleep and Samson, my eight-year-old gelding, is probably just as cold and stiff as I am. He has been able to move around in a pen to keep his blood circulating but I've got to do something to help him warm-up and prepare for the many miles ahead... FULL STORY |
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TALLGRASS ANIMAL ACUPRESSURE INSTITUTE
303.681.3033 - Fax: 303-681-2999
Copyright 1998-2008 All Rights Reserved
Harmonizing with the Seasons
Maintaining Lung Health with Acupressure
The Ole Gray Mare
The Exuberance of Spring: Wood Phase
Healthy as a Horse: From a Chinese Medicine Viewpoint
Winter: The Season of Survival
Horses Share the Wisdom of 
Blazing Saddles and Other Fire Friends
Digestion Dilemma
Blazing Saddles: The Fire Phase
Acupressure helps your "Ole Gray Mare" stay fit and Healthy
Cold Legs, Cold Horse, May Mean a Problem is Brewing
You feel it and your horses feel it even more. The increasingly cool breezes, crisp mornings, and fewer daylight hours all mean that autumn is here and winter is soon to come. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), autumn is associated with the Metal Element in the Five-Element Theory. The Five-Element Theory meteorically describes the seasonal transitions that occur as the earth rotates throughout the year. To maintain good health during the entire year,we have to be sure our life force energy, Chi, is in balance with each season.
The mere mention or thought of colic strikes terror into the heart of every horse owner. It is the most dreaded, only too common occurrence in a horse's life. Colic is so unpredictable and seemingly so difficult to to prevent. It can happen any time, and so suddenly; when you went out to feed in the morning, your horse seemed absolutely fine. By mid-day, he was agitated, kicking his flank, and curling his upper lip, and in an instant you felt the rush of panic and sense of helplessness. It is during this moment of panic that you realize you are not helpless - you can work acupressure points while waiting for your holistic veterinarian to arrive! 