THRIVE FEED BLOGS

In the horse world, people often separate the mind from the body. Behavior is treated as training, and digestion is treated as feeding. But the horse does not live in compartments. A horse’s demeanor is frequently an outward expression of its internal comfort. Before a horse can focus, it must first feel physiologically settled. The Digestive System Is Central to Regulation The horse’s digestive tract is one of the most sensitive systems in the entire animal. It is designed f

One of the most misunderstood concepts in horse training is the idea that behavior exists separately from physiology. In reality, the nervous system and the metabolic system are inseparable. A horse does not learn with its brain alone. It learns with its entire internal state. When trainers describe a horse as reactive, distracted, or unable to settle, the first instinct is often to focus only on training methods. But a more complete view asks a deeper question: Is the horse’

When people talk about a horse being “calm,” they often think they are describing temperament. In reality, calm is frequently a reflection of neurological safety. A horse that can stand quietly, focus, and learn is not necessarily born different, that horse is often simply living in a state of internal predictability. For the horse, routine is not boring. Routine is security. Horses Are Wired for Pattern and Predictability The horse is a prey animal, and prey animals survive

Every trainer wants the same outcome, a horse that can think, learn, remember, and respond with confidence. We often describe this as “calm,” but calm is not laziness, and it is not sedation. Calm is neurological organization. It is the horse’s ability to remain present, process information, and adapt without being overwhelmed by internal stress. That state does not come from a single ingredient or a shortcut product. It comes from a system, and two of the most powerful influ

In the modern horse world, people are understandably cautious about any product that sounds like it promises behavior change. They should be. The responsible truth is this, good nutrition supports the body’s normal systems, and when those systems are supported, the horse may be better positioned to focus and learn. That is not sedation. That is not treatment. That is simply biology working as intended. Horses thrive on diets that respect their evolutionary design, steady fora

A horse’s stress response is whole body. When a horse is suddenly confined, separated from herd structure, or transported into an unfamiliar barn environment, the response is not just behavioral. The gut feels it. The feet can feel it. The immune system feels it. The entire animal shifts into heightened vigilance. That is why experienced horsemen so often see digestive upset, changes in manure quality, loss of condition, unpredictable behavior, or metabolic vulnerability duri

Every trainer wants the same thing, a horse that can think, learn, remember, and respond with confidence. These qualities are not just personality traits, they are deeply connected to neurobiology. The hippocampus plays a critical role in memory formation, emotional association, and cognition. It is also rich in receptors for cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. During acute stress, cortisol rises appropriately. But when stress becomes chronic or unpredictable, learni

People often ask about “calming feeds,” but the truth is far more meaningful. Calm is rarely something you add. Calm is something you build. Horses become unsettled for rational reasons. New environments, isolation from herd mates, confinement, transport, and unfamiliar routines are some of the strongest triggers for behavioral tension. The horse’s body responds predictably, with changes in cortisol rhythm, digestive motility, and alertness. In these moments, the solution is

One of the most underestimated moments in a horse’s life is the transition into a new environment. A horse may be moved away from its familiar herd, transported to an unfamiliar location, placed among strange horses, handled by new people, and confined in ways it has never experienced before. None of this is subtle to a prey animal. It is immediate, and it is biological. The horse’s stress response is designed for survival. When routines shift suddenly, cortisol naturally ris

Blankets have become a normal part of modern horse care. And they can absolutely be useful. They protect from wind. They reduce rain chill. They help certain horses conserve body heat. But there is a deeper truth that is often missed: Blanketing is not a substitute for hindgut warmth. Because horses are not warmed primarily from the outside. They are warmed from within. The Horse’s True Heater Is Internal Horses are hindgut fermenters. Their caecum and large colon function as

One of the most overlooked truths in horse care is that fibre is not simply food. Fibre is not filler. Fibre is not “roughage.” Fibre is warmth. In the horse, fibre is part of thermoregulation, the horse’s ability to stay warm from the inside out. The Horse Has an Internal Heater Horses are hindgut fermenters. The caecum and large colon are not just digestive chambers, they are fermentation engines. Microbial fermentation breaks down fibrous plant material, extracting usable

One of the most extraordinary things about horses is that they are not warmed primarily from the outside. They are warmed from within. A horse carries an internal furnace, the hindgut. The caecum and large colon are not simply digestive chambers. They are fermentation engines. And in many ways, they act as a natural heater built into the horse’s design. The Hindgut Is a Fermentation System Horses are hindgut fermenters. They do not digest fibre the way humans do. Instead, gra

Horses do not ask for complicated things. They do not ask for luxury. They do not ask for perfection. But they do ask for one thing, quietly and constantly: Predictability. In many ways, the kindest thing you can do for a horse is make life predictable. Horses Live Through Routine A horse is a prey animal. Safety is not an idea, it is a nervous system state. Predictable routines tell the horse: Nothing sudden is coming. My needs will be met. I can relax. Routine is emotional

A substantial misunderstanding in the horse world is the way people think about hooves. Most people see the hoof as a shape. An angle. A static structure. But a hoof is not a shape. A hoof is a motion. And when you understand that, everything about trimming, soundness, and comfort becomes clearer. The Hoof Exists to Move A hoof is not a block of horn. It is a dynamic interface between the horse and the ground. Every stride involves: Landing Loading Expansion Breakover Release

The modern horse world often chases excitement. More energy. More expression. More sparkle. More forward. More intensity. But horses do not thrive on excitement. Horses thrive on safety. Excitement Is Often Just Stress Wearing a Costume Many horses that look “full of energy” are not powerful. They are activated. They are vigilant. They are carrying nervous system load. A horse that cannot stand quietly is not always enthusiastic. It is often unsettled. Excitement can masquera

Horse owners spend a lot of time looking at their horses. Coats. Feet. Body condition. Behaviour. But one of the most honest health signals is often ignored until something goes wrong. Manure. If you want to understand a horse quickly, become a quiet observer of the manure pile. Because manure tells the truth in five seconds. Manure Is the Digestive Report Card A horse is a hindgut fermenter. The entire system depends on fibre fermentation. What comes out the back end is not

Many horses are beautifully cared for. Clean stalls. Good feed. Regular exercise. Attentive owners. And yet, there is a quiet truth that is rarely spoken plainly: Stabling creates stress, even when everything looks fine. Not always dramatic stress. Often invisible stress. Horses Were Not Designed for Confinement The horse evolved for: Movement Grazing Herd presence Open space Continuous sensory scanning A stable is safe from weather and injury risks. But biologically, it is s

One of the simplest behaviours a horse performs is also one of the most powerful: Chewing. Most people think chewing is just how horses eat. But chewing is far more than a mechanical act. Chewing is regulation. Chewing is digestion. Chewing is wellbeing. In many ways, horses need to chew to heal. Chewing Is What the Horse Was Designed to Do The horse evolved as a grazing animal. Its natural state is slow, steady chewing across the day. That constant chewing is not incidental.

If you ask horse owners what nutrients matter most, you will hear about protein, vitamins, minerals, and energy. But one of the most important nutrients in a horse’s life is often overlooked completely. Salt. After fibre, salt may be one of the most essential and underappreciated nutritional foundations for the modern horse. Salt Drives Thirst, and Thirst Drives Health Water is life. But horses do not always drink enough unless the thirst mechanism is properly supported. Salt

A very common thing people say about horses is: “He’s lazy.” “She just doesn’t want to work.” “He’s stubborn.” But in my experience, the truly lazy horse is rare. Most horses are not lazy. Most horses are coping. The myth of the lazy horse has caused more misunderstanding than almost any other label. Horses Are Designed to Move The horse is not an animal built for idleness. Horses evolved to walk, graze, travel, and respond. Movement is part of their biology. So when a horse