Horse Care Plus

05/07/2026

04/18/2026

A great read for all us equestrian enthusiasts and facilities here in Alberta🤠

04/16/2026

03/22/2026

I believe in truly understanding how to improve the lives and quality of life for our domestic equines to bring them as close to a holistic and natural lifestyle as possible in the environment in which we keep them❤️🐴

03/21/2026

💯 percent!!!! Be the change ❤️🐴❤️

What horse people are impressed by according to social media algorithms…

Fancy barns ✅

Jumping big jumps ✅

High level competition ✅

Fancy riding outfits ✅

Expensive tack ✅

Shiny and clean horses ✅

The “equestrian aesthetic” (money) ✅

Quick and explosive training sessions ✅

What horse people are less impressed by

Horses who have the ability to get muddy in turnout ❌

The importance of herd socialization ❌

Slow and steady training that values relaxation ❌

The “barn rat” aesthetic of doing your own horse chores ❌

Loving horses for more than just competition ❌

Clicker training ❌

Functional but less attractive tack ❌

It is sad because a lot of posts that show high-end barns and expensive horses get a lot more views and likes than posts that are actually depicting ethical Horse care.

Barn tours go viral on a regular basis with people being entertained by these beautiful facilities, even when they are devoid of turnout.

Videos of horses being ridden by people in fancy and expensive outfits, with beautiful custom boots and expensive tack go viral, even when the horse has a miserable expression and is swishing their tail the entire way around.

The algorithm shows us that many people are more entertained by the idea of the Equestrian aesthetic than they are by the actual demonstration of ethical Horse care and handling.

The idea of being an equestrian is more favourable than actually following through and being the type of horse person that provides the basic needs of the horse.

People turn up their noses at horses who get dirty in turn out in the winter.

Even when those horses are happier than the ones who are rugged up in their “cozy” stalls 22 hours a day and who never get to experience the sensation of close interaction with other horses.

At the end of the day, I think people need to remember that horses are farm animals.

Yet, they are one of few farm animals that are often kept alone and indoors for a lot of their lives.

We keep them in lifestyles that are closer aligned to high-end vehicles than the animals that they are.

And these types of lifestyles are the ones that are getting the most views and reward through the algorithm.

We need to value more than just the idea of having a horse.

More than just the prestige. The aesthetic.

Because, social media paints are pretty good picture of how many people are only invested in horses because of the high-end lifestyle and the status symbol.

Until that shifts, we can’t really expect to see Horse centred care and training because so many people are more into horses for the ego boost that they got then they are for the actual presence of the horse.

02/21/2026

A must for all horse owners💕🔥🐴

Free MasterclassHow to Trust Your Horse Instincts with ConfidenceStart making decisions that you feel good about (even when everyone else disagrees) Free MasterclassHow to Trust Your Horse Instincts with ConfidenceStart making decisions that you feel good about (even when everyone else disagrees) In...

02/15/2026

12/21/2025

I appreciate David Landreville- On the Vertical explanation of the proper way to shorten the toes by building the hoof and digital cushion. This is how I approach my trims each time and the changes I get are amazing in the hoof concavity and digital cushion. Love his video library too!

12/21/2025

I posted this in a comment yesterday, but I wanted to post it here too as it’s great info!

Before and after of the angle of the dorsal wall. This angle is important for a few reasons.

The more upright angle is in alignment with the dorsal surface of the coffin bone and reduces leverage on the lamellar attachment to allow the new growth to come in more connected.

The steeper angle also means that the bottom of the coffin bone will have a more positive angle in relation to the ground. In the before photo the bottom of the coffin bone is likely ground parallel, and negative at peak impact. In the after photo it is likely closer to 3-5 degrees positive. This means at peak impact it will become ground parallel.

Did we thin the hoof wall? Yes, but it’s no thinner then it would be if it were connected. When the wall flares and pulls away from the coffin bone, the white line stretches to fill the expanded space, resulting in a thicker structure from the coffin bone to the surface, so rasping the flare does thin the wall, but not overly so in this case.

How do we determine the angle of the coffin bone without radiographs? An educated guess based on the angle of the connected growth under the hairline, as well as the angle of the bottom of the collateral grooves. While radiographs would be ideal for cases like these, often we have to learn to read the hoof and identify where the internal structures are based on external markers. And ultimately in this case, a radiograph likely wouldn’t change my trim plan, it would just give me absolute data to assess the improvements made during the trim as opposed to just visually comparing them.

12/19/2025

As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to reach out and share my deepest gratitude for trusting me with the care of each of your horses.

There is no greater privilege than being entrusted with the well-being of a horse. I have cherished every moment spent with each of your horses. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey and for being such a wonderful part of my equestrian community.

I look forward to all that 2026 has in store. Wishing you and your family a season of peace and a very Happy New Year.

Warmly,
Michelle