MDR Equine Services

10/07/2025

🌾 🐴

❄🐴🌾 Is it safe to graze horses after a hard freeze? What do I need to consider before turning them back out on pasture? Also, what defines a hard freeze?

🌡 A hard freeze refers to a frost that is severe enough to end the growing season. The National Weather Service defines a hard freeze when temperatures fall below 28ºF for a few hours. Cool-season grasses commonly found in Midwest horse pastures go into dormancy for winter and conserve their energy stores (starches and sugars) following a hard freeze.

❄️ We recommend keeping horses off pastures for at least 7 days after a hard freeze. Frost-damaged pastures are higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) because plants can not use up their energy stores as efficiently. It can take plants 7 days to return to more normal nonstructural carbohydrate levels. Higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates can lead to an increase risk for laminitis, especially in horses diagnosed with or prone to obesity, laminitis, Cushings, and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

The decision to graze again after a hard freeze depends on the condition of your pasture. After a hard freeze, no additional regrowth of the pasture will occur, even though the pasture might appear green in color. If your cool-season grass pasture is

✅ taller than 3 to 4 inches, then grazing can resume 7 days after a hard freeze and can continue until the pasture is grazed down to 3 to 4 inches.
❌ shorter than 3 to 4 inches, then no grazing should occur after a hard freeze. Grazing below 3 inches can harm the plant and lead to poor productivity next season.

🌾 Plants rely on stored nonstructural carbohydrates in the lower 3 inches for energy. Therefore, the 3- to 4-inch minimum height recommendation is necessary to help maximize winter survival and can help predict a vigorous and healthy pasture come spring. We do recognize horses rarely graze uniformly and pastures tend to have areas of both over and under grazing. You will need to base decisions on the average appearance of your pasture

10/05/2025

Lessons Beneath the Surface:

This weekend was one of deep learning and even deeper gratitude.
I had the opportunity to participate in a whole-body equine dissection — an experience that was as humbling as it was enlightening.

To witness the intricate design of the equine body firsthand — every muscle fiber, fascial layer, tendon, joint, and organ — is to truly appreciate the miracle of movement and adaptation. Each structure tells a story: of balance, compensation, and resilience.

For those of us dedicated to equine bodywork, experiences like this bridge the gap between science and feel — between what we know anatomically and what we sense through our hands. Continuing education like this keeps our work grounded in both understanding and respect.

My deepest gratitude goes to the incredible equine who made this learning possible — a silent and generous teacher whose contribution will continue to guide countless hands and hearts in the years to come.

A heartfelt thank you to Trinity Equine Services for the phenomenal instruction and guidance and to KR Acres for graciously hosting such an impactful weekend of education and connection. Working alongside High Peak Equine and meeting other same minded professionals was a cherry on top!

Every moment spent in study is a way to serve the horse better.

Maintain,Develop, Restore — through understanding.

09/17/2025

🦄🫶

If the Mind Is Unsettled, the Body Cannot Heal

We see it all the time. Horses labeled as “spooky,” “difficult,” or “bad-tempered.” But look deeper, and the truth is simple: these horses are not misbehaving—they are crying out. What we are witnessing is not defiance, but unmet needs.

At the core of every horse’s survival is one essential requirement: safety.

Without it, nothing else matters. A horse that is perpetually on edge, scanning the horizon, or bracing under pressure is not choosing to be difficult. It is living in a state of fear. And fear rewires the nervous system. Repeatedly scolding, pushing, or forcing a horse in that state doesn’t fix the issue—it confirms their belief: humans are not safe.

Over time, those pathways solidify until the horse no longer reacts with uncertainty, but with defensiveness. And who can blame them.. any one of us would do the same if we were in a constant state of terror and nobody was listening.

Yet, again and again, practitioners and trainers are asked to “fix” these horses so they can perform—compete, show, or simply obey. But here’s the hard truth: we cannot fix tissues that are locked in fear. A body braced for survival will not soften, no matter how skilled the technique or how advanced the training.

The physical issues are not primary. The mind is.

Healing—real healing—only begins when the horse feels safe enough to finally exhale. Until the nervous system lets go of its constant bracing, the muscles, fascia, and joints cannot follow.

Until the horse’s mind is settled, the body will not yield.

This truth is missed far too often. People look for the quick fix, the new modality, the stronger technique. But none of it matters until the foundation of safety is in place.

So if your horse is in panic or fear—that is the first and only priority. Not bodywork. Not more training. Not pressure disguised as “progress.”

Your task is simple, though not always easy: do whatever it takes for your horse to feel safe, seen, and heard.

Only then can healing begin.

09/12/2025

❤️🫶well said!

One of the best things about our industry is the diversity of professionals who care for horses.

Vets, farriers, trainers, saddle fitters, therapists, nutritionists, bodyworkers—we all bring something different and beautiful to the table.

That diversity should be our greatest strength. When horses and their people have access to a team of knowledgeable professionals, the outcomes are almost always better. Horses recover faster. Owners feel more supported. Professionals learn from each other.

But too often, I see the opposite.

Instead of collaboration, I see competition. Instead of respect, I see judgment.
Instead of building bridges, we build walls.

And here’s the truth: when that happens, horses lose.

👉 Owners get confused when professionals contradict each other. Sometimes they freeze and do nothing. Other times, they bounce from one professional to the next, never giving any single plan time to work.
👉 Horses slip through the cracks when interventions are piecemeal or conflicting.
👉 Trust erodes—between owners and professionals, and between colleagues.
It doesn’t have to be this way.

Collaboration doesn’t mean we all agree. It doesn’t mean we always do things the same way. What it does mean is listening, respecting, and building solutions together.

I’ve seen both sides:

🦄A mare with back pain whose vet, trainer, farrier, and saddle fitter all pointed fingers at each other. Her owner, overwhelmed, did nothing. By the time she got into rehab, things had worsened.

🦄A young gelding with lameness whose farrier, dentist, trainer, and therapist all worked together, each in their own role but with open lines of communication (we love a group chat). The horse recovered, the owner felt empowered, and the professionals learned from each other.

🧩Same puzzle pieces. Different picture.

The difference wasn’t who was “right.” The difference was collaboration.

💡 But What About Disagreement?
It’s unrealistic to expect everyone on a horse’s care team to see things the same way all the time. In fact, disagreement can be valuable—it brings different perspectives to the table.

What matters is how we handle it.

Constructive disagreement looks like this:
💙Stay curious. Instead of “you’re wrong,” try “tell me more about how you see it.”
💙Acknowledge shared goals. Even if we differ on the how, we all want the horse to be comfortable and successful.
💙Offer, don’t attack. “Here’s what I’ve noticed and why I recommend this,” is more productive than “that approach never works.”
💙Find the overlap. Often the best solution is a blend of ideas—a compromise that honors different perspectives.

When handled this way, disagreement doesn’t divide the team. It actually makes the plan stronger.

And honestly, that takes an ego check. If your need to be "the one with the answers" is bigger than your willingness to collaborate, the horse will pay the price. Owners don’t want drama. They want a team who puts the horse first.

So here’s my challenge to all of us—pros and owners alike:
✔️ Professionals, let’s be open to learning from each other, even when we disagree.
✔️ Owners, build teams of people who communicate and respect each other.
✔️ And all of us—let’s put horses before egos.

Because raising the standard of care won’t come from one person being “right.” It will come from all of us, working side by side, united by one mission: the horse comes first. 🐴💙

09/02/2025

Big or small, MDR loves them all. 💕

Rosie may be a mini, but her body works just like any other horse’s—muscles, joints, and nervous system included. Minis can hold tension and develop compensations too, which means bodywork is just as valuable for them. 🌿✨

Every horse deserves individualized care, no matter their size. 🐴

08/07/2025

MDR spotted in the program at Otter Creek Horse Trials!

I’m so proud to be a sponsor of this incredible event that celebrates the heart, grit, and partnership of horse and rider.

Wishing all competitors safe, successful, and connected rides this weekend—I’ll be cheering you on! 🖤💛

The program for the Summer Horse Trial can be found on our website,http://ottercreekfarm.com/index_htm_files/ProgramSummerHT_2025.pdf

Photo By:

08/04/2025

There’s an energy in the quiet moments—the kind you don’t force, only feel.

This weekend was full of them. From bodywork sessions where horses leaned into stillness, to one who stood just behind me, gently resting his head on my back—offering a kind of wordless companionship that said, “I feel that, too.” Even the wonderful updates from clients on horses making strides in their recovery journey.

Bodywork is more than muscles and motion. It’s presence. It’s resonance. It’s creating space for the nervous system to soften—for trust to unfold between horses, between humans, and often between both.

Grateful for a weekend spent in good company, supported by amazing clients and soulful horses. From hands-on healing to time in the saddle, these moments are a reminder of why I do what I do.

The energy in a session doesn’t just come from what’s being done—it comes from how it’s held. And this weekend, it was held with intention, connection, and care. 🖤

07/25/2025

🌿 FAQ Friday with MDR

Q: How do you handle horses that are nervous, shut down, or don’t like being touched?

A: Great question—and one that gets to the heart of our horse-first approach. Every horse has their own story, and not all are immediately comfortable with hands-on work. Some are hyper-aware, some guarded, and others may appear “quiet” but are actually shut down.

At MDR, we start by listening before touching. That means observing body language, offering choice, and adjusting our approach based on how the horse responds—sometimes that means working at a distance, using energy-based or indirect techniques, or just spending quiet time together until trust builds. This also means speaking with the owner to get as much of the horses history as possible, as well as any triggers, they may have. Owners know their horse best and can help with these areas.

We never force touch. In fact, some of the most profound shifts come when a horse realizes they have a say. That’s where healing begins.

Because consent, communication, and comfort aren’t just buzzwords here—they’re the foundation of everything we do.

⸻

07/22/2025

🌿 Tidbit Tuesday with MDR 🌿

Did you know… PEMF therapy helps your horse’s cells produce more energy?

When cells are injured or under stress, their ability to function—and heal—slows down. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has been shown to enhance mitochondrial activity, helping cells generate more ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy source that fuels repair and regeneration.

✨ This leads to improved circulation, reduced inflammation, and faster tissue healing.

📚 Fact-backed: Research by Markov (2007) demonstrated that PEMF increases ATP production by improving mitochondrial efficiency—supporting recovery at the cellular level.

07/21/2025

🧠📚

📚 Equine Anatomy Basics : Directional Terms
Whether you’re a rider, groom, vet tech, or bodyworker, understanding these terms is key to clear communication and proper horse care.

Medial = Toward the midline of the body
Lateral = Away from the midline, toward the side

Dorsal = Toward the back

Cranial = Toward the head
Caudal = Toward the tail

👆 Proximal = Closer to the point of origin (usually the body)
👇 Distal = Farther from the point of origin

Ventral = Toward the underside or belly

Palmar = The back (caudal surface) of the forelimb, below the carpus (knee)
Plantar = The back (caudal surface) of the hindlimb, below the tarsus (hock)

These terms aren’t just science, they’re practical tools for every horseperson.
Mastering anatomical language improves communication with your vet, farrier, and trainer.
👉 Drop a 🐴 if you want more anatomy content!

07/16/2025

❤️

"The bond you create with your horse is foundation of everything. Without that, all the technique in the world don't matter." - Ariat Athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson

07/15/2025

🌡️🔥 Hot weather can significantly increase the risk of heat stress in horses. Knowing what's normal for your horse — like their typical temperature, heart rate, and behavior — can help you spot early warning signs and take action before things get serious.

Help your horse beat the heat by:
💧 Providing free access to fresh, cool (45 to 65 degrees F) water.
🌳 Making sure horses have access to shade throughout the day.
🧂 Providing free access to salt to promote drinking.
💦 Rapidly cooling hot horses by applying continuous cool water over them.
❌ Limiting trailering or exercising horses if possible.

ℹ https://z.umn.edu/heatandhorses