https://www.equineherbalist.com.au/

Mickie Magan Equine Herbalist, Grose Vale (2026)

24/03/2026

I see many horses that have all had something in common.

Neck pain.

Over or consistent working of the wrong muscles will change the shape of the neck
Horses use their necks as well as other parts to balance.

There are plenty of easy to spot actions that you can note to indicate pain in the neck.

The biggest one is bending the neck side to side. The horse may bend but often there are very distinct avoidance moves.
Start with one hand on the middle of the neck, other hand just under the halter noseband. Ask the horse to bring the head around towards the shoulder.

The two most common behaviours will be…

1: The horse will turn the head sideways and then bend.
2: The horse will move backwards.
Both of these show avoidance.

If the neck is built up on the underside, and the nuchal ligament is damaged, I know that the horse has been ridden in a frame behind the vertical. Whether this damage is caused by the current owner or previous, it doesn’t matter. The musculature doesn’t lie.

There is an almost pathological desire amongst some riders to get the horse in a frame by pulling the head in, which immediately hollows the back.

If you drive the horse from behind and you have rhythm and impulsion, the horse will automatically come into a frame because it’s more comfortable for them.

I say this a million times a year and honestly it’s a hill I will die on.

23/03/2026

Choke in horses can be caused by a number of things.⠀
Pretty much anything that goes in a horses mouth is a potential for choke.⠀
It’s often a sign that a horse eats too quickly and does not properly chew the food. Typically forage, treats or grain that are either too dry or in the case of grain, swell rapidly; can become lodged in the oesophagus.⠀
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Lack of dental maintenance can also contribute to choke. Painful, sharp or loose teeth can cause the horse to spend less time chewing; therefore the food is not broken down into a bolus for easy swallowing.⠀
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Below are some signs of choke:⠀
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🔹Drooling saliva mixed with food particles⠀
🔸Horse appears to be constantly yawning or coughing or gagging.⠀
🔹After trying to eat or drink, the horse has water and food particles coming from the nose.⠀
🔸Repeatedly extending the head and neck.⠀
🔹A lump in the near side of the horses neck. ⠀
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The treatment will depend on the size and severity of the obstruction.⠀
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Sometimes choke will resolve itself, by producing more saliva which lubricates the obstruction enough to be swallowed.⠀
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I’m more severe cases, the horse may be sedated which allows the muscles to relax so the obstruction can pass through the oesophagus.⠀
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The vet may be required for more extreme cases that require mechanical intervention.⠀
Usually the horse is sedated and then a nasogastric tube is inserted until it reaches the blockage.⠀
Water is then pumped through the tube to soften and push the obstruction down with the pressure of the water.⠀
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If you have a horse that is food aggressive or eats really fast, you can place a salt block or a clean brick or large rock into the middle of the feed bin. This will slow down the rate of consumption by limiting the amount that can be consumed in a mouthful.⠀
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Hay nets or slow feeders also help.⠀
Wetting down the hard feeds, particularly chaff stops small bits getting stuck in the throat.⠀
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High fibre feeds have the ability to absorb more water or saliva, so it’s advisable to soak these feeds prior to feeding.

22/03/2026

I use these pads quite a bit. There are several different types.
The pads vary in density which makes them easier or more challenging depending on your goal at the time.
I have hard slanted pink ones and the green firm pads which tend to cover a lot of different issues.
They come in soft, firm, medium and hard. Some of them have two sides that can be used. The give and weight distribution are different for each set.

💙 The soft blue pad is the most comfortable. Perfect for sore feet, or horses with thin soles or laminitis.

💚 The firm green pad is good to use on calm horses as an introduction to balance pads.

💜 The medium purple pads are a bit springier.

🧡 The orange hard pads are helpful for nervous horses, they are very stable. Some horses need that to start before they can trust the process.

💛 Yellow firm slanted helps to change joint angles which can feel better for horses with hoof or rotational issues.

💖 The pink hard slants help a horse to keep the angle of the hoof.
Generally it’s placed with the lower end at the front and the thicker end under the heel.

They benefit the horse’s proprioception, keep the horse thinking about his stance and weight distribution. Improves core stability and balance.

If your horse trips over his feet or drags a toe, these pads are ideal to address balance and body awareness.
They can be used daily.
The deciding factor will be the horse’s interest or desire to use them.

I always allow the horse to dictate how they stand and for how long.
Sometimes it will just be a toe for 1 minute.

Sometimes it’s both feet for an entire bodywork session.

For those who have your own, I urge you to try them on yourself.
If you have back, leg or hip pain, you might be surprised with how unevenly you stand. I certainly was.

21/03/2026

The horse’s centre of gravity is the clear circle. The filled circle indicates the centre of energy and control.

The centre of gravity is the balance point of the horse and is located in the girth area. The centre of gravity is below the spine at the girth area.

His center of control and energy, however, is below his spine at the back of his loin, just below the lumbosacral joint.

In humans, our centre of control and energy is in our lower back, just in front of our lumbosacral joint.

Due to standing vertically, unlike the horse which is horizontal, our center of gravity is not near our shoulder blades but rather is in the same area as our center of control and energy.
As a result, when we put our center of gravity over our feet for balance, we also find our center of control and energy in the same spot.

When we are riding, this is something to really think about.
This is especially true for eventers and show jumpers.

When people learn to jump, they often lean way too forward trying to mimic greater or professional riders. Everyone wants to lean over and do the crest release.
The problem is, the horse uses it’s neck for balance. Given it’s centre of gravity is just behind the girth, they have to work twice as hard to balance the rider and themselves.

In dressage, we can make the mistake of leaning too far back when learning seated trot. This puts pressure on the control and energy centre.
If the horse has to work harder from the back end to address and rebalance our bodies, it can compromise performance and we don’t get that great hock action we’re looking for.

If you have a coach, get them to point out those times when you’re unbalanced, too far back or too far forward. The more balanced we are the happier our horses will be.

20/03/2026

🤩🤩 WOWZERS 🤩🤩

What a week brand ambassador Tina Slade had at Australian Appaloosa Association Ltd Show 🎉🎉🎉

Paisley as in more than 30 classes.

🏆 PLACINGS 🏆

🥉3rd Place Amateur Ranch on the Rail
5th Place Senior Horse Ranch on the Rail
5th Place Amateur Ranch Riding
5th Place Senior Horse Ranch Riding
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION All Age Conformation
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION Amateur Ranch Conformation
🏆GRAND CHAMPION RANCH CONFIRMATION

🥉3rd place All age Suitability for Dressage
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION All Age Led Hack
🏆 GRAND CHAMPION LED HACK
🥈2nd Place All age Ridden Hack 14hh & Over
🥇 NATIONAL CHAMPION Amateur Ridden Hack
Amateur Novice HSE (oops off pattern 🤦‍♀️)

🥉3rd Place Jackpot All Age Hunter Under Saddle Classic
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION Jackpot Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Classic

🥇 NATIONAL CHAMPION Senior Horse Hunter In Hand
🥈RESERVE CHAMPION All Age Walk/Trot HUS
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION Amateur Novice HUS
🥈RESERVE CHAMPION Senior Horse HUS

5th Place All Age Walk/Jog Horsemanship
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION Amateur Novice Horsemanship
Senior Horse Horsemanship (oops off pattern 🤦‍♀️)

🥈RESERVE CHAMPION 4yo & Over Mare
🥈RESERVE CHAMPION Amateur Halter Mare 4yrs & over
🥈RESERVE CHAMPION Amateur Novice Showmanship

5th Place All Age Walk/Trot Ranch Riding
🥇NATIONAL CHAMPION Amateur Novice Ranch Riding
6th Place Senior Horse Ranch Riding

Amateur Novice Trail

Paisley is an Equiherbal horse, takes B*tch Please and always has Colic Rx on hand at competitions.

Tina is dedicated and hard working. She deserves all of this and more.m
So very proud of this amazing pair.

19/03/2026

I’m currently treating two racehorses for tendon injuries.
Tendons attach muscle to bone or cartilage. They are easily injured.

Injury due to external trauma as in blunt force or injury from mechanical overwork or overloading.
This doesn’t mean that the horse is specifically overworked, it could be from uneven ground, or hard running of a track. This may not show up immediately, repetitive concussion of the hoof for prolonged periods have an accumulated effect.

Tendinitis refers to inflammation from stress overload which ruptures the tendon fibre bundles.
Tendon sheath infection results when there has been a puncture or some opening that has introduced foreign material or bacteria.

Treatment of tendon injury includes lots of time off.
For me it also means a very specific mix of herbs that support cellular growth. Circulatory herbs such as yarrow, which helps proliferation of red and white blood cells.
Comfrey is a great assistance also for repair of tissue.
I usually give a separate herb for pain relief and anti inflammatory use.

Signs of tendon damage are inflammation, heat, swelling and pain. Reluctance to move forward and resting a leg.

Cool hosing in the first instance will be good f great help.
Ice boots or packs. A bucket with epsom salts in the days to follow will help to reduce swelling and pain to a degree.

A rehabilitative exercise regime must be strictly followed. It’s a long process that has to take the time it takes.
It simply cannot be rushed without catastrophic effect.

18/03/2026

Not all of our rides are great. Sometimes they are downright awful.

Most of the equestrians I know are pretty tough on themselves.
We get annoyed at our selves for not doing better.

Sometimes it’s just not a good ride. There is no fault, nobody to blame it’s just not great.

Here’s how you can turn an average ride on your horse into a positive.

It’s a learning experience. I think it was George Morris who said, every time you tide, you’re either training the horse or untraining the horse.

If you have an average lesson, it can help to show you some of the following:

🔹Have you become complacent? Sometimes we skip the detailed preparation for getting into the corner, taking the turn or checking our balance or the horse’s.

🔹It can show you holes in your training. Perhaps the horse has been over-faced or is being asked something it doesn’t understand. Perhaps the way we are asking isn’t the way the horse gets it.

🔹It can encourage us to learn and develop more. I know that when I’ve had a crummy ride, I sit afterwards and go over what I could have done better. What were the moments leading up to the horse’s refusal or misunderstanding. Did I leave a crucial step out before I asked for something.

🔹It can teach us humility and patience.
When we are striving for something and asking our horse to fulfill a request, it can be easy to forget the horse has a mind of its own, we become so focused on what we want, we forget that the horse is not a mind reader. I have always said that the horses job is to do what we ask until we ask for something different. Our job is to ask it in a way the horse understands.

🔹It strengthens our problem solving skills. Sometimes, the horse just isn’t ready for that level of performance. It’s important that we recognise when our horse simply can’t do it yet. Therefore we need to find other areas to concentrate on until the horse lets us know when he wants to try again. Just like us, horses can suffer from overwhelm.

17/03/2026

Dressage is a sport of accuracy, precision and control.
Circles, laterals, travers and renvers are practised a lot more than running hills that’s for sure.

However there are distinct advantages to a bit of hill work. Here are a few reasons why.

🌱 Strength - Hills are great for strengthening the hind end and contributing to topline. Using the hind end makes the horse step under and push.

🌱 Low Impact - Walking or trotting up hill uses the hind end as much as canter, with less strain on the lower limbs so reduces the potential of injury.

🌱 Improves Balance - Varying the terrain and the gradient makes the horse more self aware about foot placement.

🌱 Boosts Cardiovascular Fitness - Walking up hills is great for respiration, circulation and can quickly increase stamina and fitness.

As with all new exercises, it’s important to introduce new work slowly and don’t ask too much too soon.

Not only will hill training help your dressage, it’s great for your horse to have a change of workout and scenery, footing and terrain, reducing arena sourness.

16/03/2026

Horses are one of the highest vibrational animals on the earth.

There are many organisations that use horses in rehabilitation work,

Riding for the disabled is an amazing example of how horses can pick up the differences in people and how willing they are to adapt to our needs and abilities.

Horses are used by many people to assist in helping those with emotional and mental health issues.
The reality is we don’t need to be diagnosed with anything to benefit from the healing of horses.

When we swing our leg over the horse’s back, we are immediately receiving healing whether we realise or not.

Whatever trouble was on your mind gets left behind,

The horse will help teach you patience and compassion without you knowing you needed it.

Sometimes you just want to be with your horse. Quiet and still. This is when healing can go both ways.

Horses will often single out one person in a group.
That person is often the one with trauma or unresolved grief.

It seems to me that this is the specialty of horses.
Finding the pain or sorrow in us and allowing us to be in their space so we can heal.

They keep our secrets and nuzzle our tears.
They give us all of this and ask for nothing.

You can fool your friends but you can’t fool your horse.

14/03/2026

It makes me sad that on several social media platforms, equestrians often preface their post with… “ please excuse my terrible riding/ tack/ rugs/ equipment/ clothing etc.

Since I joined TikTok earlier this year, I’ve been quite dismayed at some of the equestrian content.

I rarely comment on anyone’s post except to offer encouragement or a smiley face.

How other people ride, train, feed or compete is none of my business.

I have been astounded at the comments of people who think it’s their right to comment on other people’s riding in particular.

I’m not sure why people feel the need to be unkind when others are just trying to post the joy of their lives with their horses.

Suddenly everyone on social media is an FEI Grand Prix rider. ( quite honestly, there needs to be some review about this level of riding in my opinion too).
They seem to think it’s quite ok to criticise and critique others riding, make comments on people’s horses that are off the track, cheap or free.

Hating on beginners, offering endless riding “instructions”, belittling affordability of equipment, work ethic and “quality” of horses.

I saw a post recently where a young woman had displayed a huge amount of ribbons on her wall of her jumping achievements. Immediately the comments were filled with hateful comments about being wealthy, having a push button horse, spending daddy’s money etc.

Regardless of her economic status, she still had to work that horse, still had to get up at “stupid o’clock” to drive to shows and compete. It doesn’t mean she didn’t work for it, even it was affordable in her circumstances.
Please let’s stop doing this! Let’s be equestrians that support each other, not criticise.

14/03/2026

In the Hawkesbury recently, we’ve had heavy rains followed by hot humid days. This type of weather creates ideal growing conditions for all types of things. Stables can get hot and steamy which can accelerate bacterial and fungal growth.

Some things to keep in mind while your horse is stabled.

✔️Check for mould. Even through all the rain, it has been warm. Ideal conditions for mould growth. If you use straw or shavings as bedding.

✔️ Pests. Rats and mice want in from the wet too. They can chew through lids, containers and bags. Ensure your feed room is pest free if you can.

✔️Heat. If hay has been rained on and then shedded, not only can it grow mould, it can also raise the temperature. Under the right conditions, hay bales can spontaneously combust; at the very least it can accelerate the mould growing process.

✔️Ammonia. If your horse pees in the same spot or bedding hasn’t been changed, you will smell the ammonia. Breathing this in over extended periods of time can cause breathing issues in horses and humans.

13/03/2026

The cardiovascular system is closely linked to the lymphatic system.
As blood vessels reduce in size, the capillaries emerge.
These tiny vessels allow water to diffuse through the blood vessel walls, both in and out of the vessels. This creates fluid loss from the cardiovascular system.

The water content is vitally important as this can result in organs and tissue drying out.
When the blood doesn’t contain enough water, it gets thicker.
This water needs to be replaced.

Lymph vessels gather this lost fluid from the body and return it to the cardiovascular system.

However! The lymph vessels only flow in one direction ; meaning fluid can only flow into the cardiovascular system in a series of vessels that start as lymph capillaries, then grow larger.

The muscles of the horse during movement assist the lymph and other fluids to flow.
However, because there are no muscles in the lower limbs, the vessels can’t drain the fluids and become blocked.

There are 3 types of lymphangitis and I don’t have room to explain them all here.
The most common is sporadic. One day you go to your horse and he has a fat leg.
Heat in the fetlock, coronet and a throbbing digital pulse is what you will most likely find. The symptoms for lymphangitis and cellulitis are very similar.

There are great herbs for lymphangitis, centring on the circulatory system, as well as a detoxifying herb such as gentian.
I also add an antibiotic if it is ulcerative ( infection) and a liver herb.

Everything goes through the liver so it needs support at this time.

Mickie Magan Equine Herbalist

24/03/2026

23/03/2026

22/03/2026

21/03/2026

20/03/2026

19/03/2026

18/03/2026

17/03/2026

16/03/2026

14/03/2026

14/03/2026

13/03/2026

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