Your Trusted Hub For Equine Wellness & Whole Horse Care

Hale and Hearty Horses

Journal

For horse owners who feel modern care answers some questions but leaves others unresolved. This journal explores whole-horse health from the ground up.

Essays and insights for horse owners who want the very best.

The Hearty Horse Journal

Ration Balancers

Ration Balancers

Ration BalancersDr. Rebecca Douglass

This article explores the role of ration balancers in horse nutrition, including their benefits, limitations, and how they fit into a forage-based feeding program. Learn the pros and cons of ration balancers, concerns around soy, GMO ingredients, and synthetic vitamins and minerals, as well as the importance of mineral balance and nutrient bioavailability. Understanding how to evaluate your horse’s overall diet can help you move beyond simply meeting minimum requirements and toward supporting long-term health, soundness, and performance.

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Cellular Health

Cellular Health

Cellular HealthDr. Rebecca Douglass

Cellular health underlies how horses adapt, heal, and perform. This post looks at cellular function through both modern biology and Chinese medicine to explain whole-horse health.

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Can You Really Release a Nerve?

Can You Really Release a Nerve?

Can You Really Release a Nerve?Dr. Rebecca Douglass

What does “nerve release” really mean in the horse’s body? This article explores the anatomy, fascia, sinew channels, and nervous system regulation behind so-called nerve techniques, helping readers understand what’s actually changing and why it works.

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Understanding Load, Force and Capacity In Horses

Understanding Load, Force and Capacity In Horses

Understanding Load, Force and Capacity In HorsesDr. Rebecca Douglass

Most soundness, performance, and behavior problems in horses start with an imbalance between three ordinary things: how a horse moves (force), what the horse is being asked to handle (load), and how much the horse can safely tolerate (capacity).

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Can Reward-Based Training Create Addictive Patterns in Horses?

Can Reward-Based Training Create Addictive Patterns in Horses?

Can Reward-Based Training Create Addictive Patterns in Horses?Dr. Rebecca Douglass

Can reward-based training create dependency in horses? Explore the neurobiology of dopamine, polyvagal states, and how learning capacity changes with nervous system regulation.

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Why "Either Or" Thinking Fails Horses

Why "Either Or" Thinking Fails Horses

Why "Either Or" Thinking Fails HorsesDr. Rebecca Douglass

Integrative medicine isn’t about choosing sides between traditional and holistic care. This article explores how combining the strengths of both creates clearer decisions, better outcomes, and more humane, effective support for horses.

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