The Balanced Equine, LLC

08/22/2025

OTTB’s don’t have to be difficult!! Just sayin’ 🤷‍♀️

Check out Meagan | The Farm Life’s post.

08/14/2025

I’ve decided to open up a few equine massage slots on a limited basis.

⏰ One hour massage per horse
💰 80 per session (limited time discount!!)
📍 New Hampshire*

Please send a message or comment to secure your spot!

*A small travel fee may apply depending on location. Servicing horses in NH only.

07/11/2025

For my OTTB Gang 🩷

☀️🍉🏝️ ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT! 🏝️🍉☀️ -- Our Saddle Up for Summer Adoption Special is coming to an end! Adopt a retired racehorse from New Vocations by July 14 and take 50% off their adoption fee.

⏩ Become an approved adopter: newvocations.org/adopt
⏩ View all adoptable horses: newvocations.org/horses

*Horses must trailer to their new home by July 28, 2025.

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07/11/2025

It’s Freebie Friday!

My friend texted me the other day:
“My horse’s p**p looks different. Help?!”
⠀
We’ve all done it. Sent a photo of our horse’s p**p to a friend: Does this look weird to you? 💩

Honestly? I love these kinds of questions.
Because when we pay attention to small things like changes in manure, appetite, and behavior… we can catch problems before they become emergencies.
⠀
Gut health affects everything — energy, weight, mood, even how your horse moves.
⠀
That’s why I made a super simple Gut Health Guide for horse owners who want to be proactive. Let me know if you want it! 🖤

07/09/2025

We spend so much time trying to fix the horse, spurring them forward, fiddling with the bit, asking for softness, “more forward,” “more round”…
But what if the real fix starts with you?

Small rider imbalances like a heel lifting in the rise, or a pelvis that tips incorrectly in the canter send big signals to the horse. Signals that say:
⚠️ “Slow down.”
⚠️ “Brace.”
⚠️ “Something’s not right.”

It’s no wonder so many horses disconnect, resist, or struggle to “come onto the bit.”
They’re just trying to cope.

When we shift our focus inward on how we move, how we feel, and how we influence the transformation in our horses is undeniable.
💡 Riding becomes clearer.
💡 Communication becomes lighter.
💡 And the horse finally has space to move with freedom.

It’s not just better for their welfare it makes the whole process of riding so much more enjoyable.

07/08/2025

It’s hay cutting season — which means we are now making decisions that can impact your horse’s health all winter long.

✨ Here’s what I’m watching for when stocking up hay for the year:

✅ Clean, soft hay with minimal stems or seed heads — especially important for thoroughbreds prone to ulcers or picky eating (and cat naps!)
✅ Consistent quality — switching batches frequently can cause digestive upsets
✅ Storage space & airflow — mold can set in fast if hay is packed too tightly or stored in a humid barn
✅ Weight over flakes — buying by the ton vs. the bale often gets you more for your money (and a more accurate feeding plan)

💡 Pro Tip: A 1,000 lb OTTB will usually need 20–25 lbs of hay per day just for maintenance — more if they’re in work or struggling to hold weight. Likewise, just 4 hours without hay can be enough for the onset of ulcers (and boredom). We love slow feed nets for this reason.

❓Are you stocking up hay this season? What do you look for in a good bale?

07/02/2025

🩷

Happy Friesians Enjoying Their Dinner

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing these Friesians happily munching away on their dinner. After everything they’ve been through, moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Their contentment and joy are truly heartwarming. 💗

06/27/2025

🐴 HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Heres a wellness tip for you to take into the weekend.

Don’t underestimate the power of free choice hay—especially for anxious horses. Their digestive systems were created to graze consistently.

Happy gut = happy horse!

Constant access to forage supports:
✔️ Gut health
✔️ Metabolism
✔️ A calmer mind
✔️ Less boredom, less pacing, less anxiety

A slow feed hay net can be your best friend.
Let them munch. Their nervous system will thank you!

06/24/2025

🔥 IT’S HOT OUT THERE! 🔥
Here are a few ways to help your horse stay cool and comfortable during this heat wave:

💦 Fresh, Clean Water
Always make sure they have access to cool, clean water. You can also offer an extra bucket with electrolytes or a splash of Gatorade for variety and a hydration boost.

🧽 Hose or Sponge, Then Scrape
Rinse or sponge them down to cool their body — but don’t forget to scrape the excess water off. Leaving them wet can actually trap heat, especially if they’re going back into direct sun.

💨 Shade + Airflow
If they’re turned out, make sure they have access to shade. If they’re stalled, use fans to help circulate air and keep them from overheating.

🪮 Braid the Mane for Airflow
Braiding your horse’s mane can help increase airflow around their neck and make them feel a little cooler. Plus, it keeps sweat and tangles under control.

🪰 Flies Love Sweat
Hot, sweaty horses attract more flies and mosquitoes — make sure to apply fly spray or salves to keep them comfortable and protected.

⸻

Drop a 🧊 if your horse is melting today too — we’re in this together!

06/24/2025

Mares 🩷

“Ugh, she’s such a mare! So moody.”

Such a mare.

So, she’s communicative.

She’s emotionally intelligent.

She’s equipped with the evolutionary purpose and ability of teaching younger generations of horses how to be a horse.

Of course she doesn’t hide her feelings, she is supposed to be clear in her communication for a reason.

Of course she has times where she may be a little more sensitive, she has hormonal cycles and can likely have cramps and discomfort just like many of us may experience.

If your perspective on mares is that they’re difficult, moody and unpleasant, maybe you should ask yourself why you’re bringing out the worst of her communication.

Did you ignore her earlier attempts to communicate? Probably.

Are your demands unfair? Possibly.

Are you expecting her to work through pain without batting an eye? Possibly.

Mares are some of the most balanced and kind horses that I have ever worked with.

The stereotypes against them are created by impatient people who get frustrated when their horse tells them no.

The problem is the people, not mares.

So, if you’ve found yourself consistently getting “terrible” mares, the common denominator is you.

06/20/2025

Horses are suffering—and we need to talk about it.

If you haven’t heard, over 30 horses were seized from a Vermont facility this week. 🚫 Emaciated. Wounded. Starving. 🚫 This is the fourth time this has happened there. Yet, it continues.

I’ve reported neglect before personally. When I contacted the state of New Hampshire about an emaciated OTTB, I was told: “Thoroughbreds are supposed to be skinny.”

No, that’s not normal. That’s neglect. That’s lack of education.

As an equine wellness advocate, I believe education is our strongest weapon.
Too many people don’t know what signs to look for.
Too many well-meaning new owners and riders are misled.
👉 And too many horses pay the price in silence. 👈

This is the tale of a failed system.
Not enough people know how to recognize red flags, speak up, or access the resources they need.

I’m here to change that.

I’m committed to helping owners, riders, and horse lovers learn what true equine wellness looks like—and how to know when something is off.

As an equine community, we can do better. We have to do better.

Together, we can raise the standard.

🖤 Let’s take a stand—just like Marigold below.
🖤 Let’s be their voice.

10/01/2024

Opening up some more massage slots! It’s time to prepare for winter and begin recovery from show season!

Mostly afternoon slots and Saturday mornings are open currently. I’ll be in Gilford, NH on the 16th if anyone in that area wants to tack onto that afternoon!

This month marks 6 years practicing equine massage! I specialize in thoroughbreds and am familiar with the many “ailments” of OTTBs. Though I am happy to work on other horses as well.

A comfortable horse is a happy horse!