EquiKare, LLC

02/21/2026

02/21/2026

We have received so many messages about Ziggy’s rehab and recovery—and we are so grateful for the support. 💛

Ziggy came to us as a post-surgical intake due to a fractured elbow, and every step forward truly matters.

In this video, you’ll see part of his current physical therapy session. We’ve integrated alternating ground poles with slight elevation to help:

• Encourage correct limb loading
• Improve proprioception
• Build strength and coordination
• Restore balance throughout his whole body

You’ll notice it’s still difficult for him to confidently lead with his left leg… but he’s trying. And that effort? That’s everything.

Rehab after a fracture isn’t just about bone healing — it’s about retraining the entire neuromuscular system, rebuilding muscle, and restoring symmetry. These small, intentional exercises help us challenge him safely while supporting long-term soundness.

And the best part?

HE’S GETTING THERE!! 🙌

Thank you for cheering Ziggy on. Your encouragement truly means the world to him — and to us. 💚

02/20/2026

At Equikare, many people know us for injury rehab — but that’s only part of what we do.

Our true specialty is traditional medical care for horses:
• Advanced wound care
• Post-surgical recovery
• Post-hospitalization support
• Medically managed and diet-specific patients

Equikare was founded on a simple but powerful idea:

✨ To be the bridge between hospitalization and home. ✨

Not every horse is ready to go straight from the clinic back to a busy boarding barn — and not every owner has the time, setup, or medical background to manage intensive aftercare alone.

That’s where we come in.

We provide structured, attentive, medically minded care in a calm environment — supporting healing while keeping the whole horse in mind. From bandage changes and medication schedules to nutritional management and careful monitoring, we work closely with your veterinarian to ensure continuity of care.

Rehabilitation matters.
But so does the critical in-between stage.

If your horse needs a step-down level of care after surgery or hospitalization, Equikare is here to help.

Whole horse. Thoughtful recovery. Seamless transition.

02/18/2026

Stall Rest.
It’s often necessary after injury… but what does it mean for the rest of the horse?

When a horse is prescribed stall rest, we’re limiting movement to allow tissue healing — whether it’s a tendon, ligament, bone, or joint. But horses are designed to move 16–18 hours a day. So when movement is restricted, the entire body and mind are affected.

Here’s what can begin to happen:

🔹 Muscle atrophy – Muscles begin to lose strength and size within weeks, especially through the topline and hindquarters.
🔹 Compensatory patterns – Even while resting, horses shift weight off the injured limb, creating asymmetry and overloading the opposite side.
🔹 Reduced circulation & lymphatic flow – Movement is essential for healthy blood flow and fluid exchange. Limited motion can slow healing and create stiffness.
🔹 Joint stiffness & decreased range of motion
🔹 Mental stress – Confinement can lead to anxiety, frustration, depression, or stereotypic behaviors.

The injury may be localized…
But the impact is whole-body.

Without a strategic plan, stall rest can result in long-term imbalance, weakness, and forced laterality that persists long after the original injury has healed.

At Equikare, we take a whole horse approach to rehabilitation.

✔ We monitor muscle tone and symmetry
✔ Support circulation
✔ Help maintain comfort through bodywork
✔ Track compensatory patterns
✔ Integrate progressive, structured reintroduction to movement
✔ Support the horse’s mental well-being

Rehabilitation isn’t just about protecting the injury.
It’s about protecting the entire horse — body and mind — so when they return to work, they return balanced, strong, and confident.

If your horse is facing stall rest, let’s talk about how to support them through it.

02/17/2026

✨ PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT + REMINDER ✨

A friendly reminder that I am an authorized reseller of EspanaSilk Grooming Products!

If you’re looking to elevate your horse’s grooming routine with high-quality, effective products designed to support healthy skin and a beautiful coat — I’ve got you covered.

Why I love EspanaSilk:

✔️ Supports skin health
✔️ Enhances coat shine naturally
✔️ Gentle, effective formulas
✔️ Trusted in performance and everyday barns alike
✔️Safe for humans and dogs too

As someone who takes a whole-horse approach to care — from rehab to performance support — I’m very intentional about the products I recommend. What you put on your horse matters just as much as the bodywork, nutrition, and conditioning you provide.

If you’d like to place an order, learn more about specific products, or add EspanaSilk to your barn routine, send me a message!

Healthy skin. Healthy coat. Healthy horse. 💛
̃a

02/17/2026

Slow feed hay nets represent a simple and affordable way to extend foraging time when meal feeding horses.

ℹ️ https://extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/using-slow-feed-hay-nets

02/14/2026

Don't forget, you can chat with us tomorrow at St. Croix Saddlery 's Membership Day. And take advantage of their great sale and offers!

Tomorrow's the day (2/14)! Join us and 20 horsey groups for Equine Membership Day! Sponsored by Equinavia!

-Meet and explore 20 horse-centered organizations!
-Save 10% OFF storewide!
-Treat your horse to our FREE HORSE TREAT BUFFET!
-GET FIRST DIBS on winter clearance!!

Plus! Enter to win a $250 shopping spree to Equinavia!

We hope to see you tomorrow! Equine Membership Day kicks off at 12PM!

02/14/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support surrounding the expansion of Equikare. Your encouragement, shared posts, kind messages, and belief in what we’re building truly mean more than we can put into words.

This growth isn’t just about adding services — it’s about deepening our commitment to a whole horse approach and to our horse community. Every horse is an interconnected system, and true healing happens when we look at the full picture: body, mind, management, movement, and environment.

We also deeply value collaboration. Your veterinarian, farrier, trainer, chiropractor, dentist, saddle fitter, and YOU all play vital roles in your horse’s success. We are proud to work alongside your horse’s care team to create thoughtful, individualized plans that support long-term soundness and performance.

If your horse needs support — whether rehabilitation, bodywork, performance maintenance, or guidance navigating the next step — please reach out. We are here, and we are honored to be part of your horse’s journey.

Thank you for believing in Equikare. The best is yet to come. 🐴

02/11/2026

Orthopedic injuries don’t just heal — they reshape movement.

As in humans, when a horse experiences an orthopedic injury, it often leads to one-sided weakness. Even after the primary injury has stabilized, the body remembers. Horses will naturally offload pain, shift weight, and protect the affected limb — and over time, this compensation becomes a pattern.

Without proper rehabilitation, these protective patterns can turn into:

• Chronic asymmetry
• Forced laterality
• Muscle atrophy on one side
• Overloading of the opposite limb
• Secondary soft tissue strain
• Decreased performance longevity

Healing the injury is only step one.
Restoring correct biomechanics is step two.

Targeted physical therapy helps:
✔ Rebuild strength evenly
✔ Re-educate neuromuscular pathways
✔ Restore joint stability
✔ Improve proprioception
✔ Prevent future breakdown

Rehabilitation isn’t just about recovery — it’s about protecting the horse’s long-term soundness and athletic future.

At Equikare, we focus on rebuilding balanced movement so horses don’t just return to work — they return stronger and more symmetrical.

If you’re navigating an orthopedic recovery, let’s talk about a structured rehab plan tailored to your horse.

02/10/2026

🧠 Why the Poll Matters & How Red Light Therapy Helps
The poll—located between the ears at the top of the neck—is a critical junction where muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the upper cervical vertebrae all come together. Tension in this area can influence the entire topline and often contributes to issues such as stiffness, resistance to contact, head tossing, difficulty flexing, or reluctance to work through the back.
🔴 Red light therapy works at a cellular level by delivering specific wavelengths of light that pe*****te soft tissue. These wavelengths stimulate the mitochondria within cells, increasing ATP (cellular energy) production and improving tissue function.
At the poll, red light therapy can help:
• Increase local circulation and oxygen delivery
• Reduce inflammation in muscles and surrounding soft tissue
• Calm overactive nerve input
• Encourage muscle relaxation and improved range of motion
Because the poll is neurologically and biomechanically connected to the rest of the body, improving comfort in this area often results in better overall movement, improved posture, and a more relaxed, willing horse.
Red light therapy is a valuable, non-invasive tool that pairs well with bodywork, rehabilitation, and veterinary care to support long-term soundness and comfort.
📩 Reach out to learn how red light therapy may benefit your horse.

02/10/2026

Stop by our table at St. Croix Saddlery this weekend and learn about our expansion into inpatient rehab!