Doc's Haven Farm, LLC

05/19/2026

05/09/2026

04/14/2026

03/30/2026

“What happens if you’re the one that goes down?”

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

Not in a dramatic way… just in a real, honest way that I think most of us avoid.

Because the truth is—
in this job, we are the product.

Our body.
Our timing.
Our feel.
Our ability to make the right call in a split second.

And if that starts to slip… everything else follows.

The horses feel it.
The clients feel it.
The results show it.

So I’ve gotten really clear on what I will and won’t compromise on:

1. Safety is non-negotiable.
I don’t just hop on and hope for the best.
I take my time. I watch. I feel it out from the ground first.
I want the pieces there before I ever “try it.”
That’s not being slow… that’s being responsible.

2. I take days off.
Not because I don’t love the work—
but because I do.
Burnout doesn’t make you tougher, it makes you sloppy.
And sloppy is where bad decisions happen.

3. I train my own body.
Lifting, Pilates, yoga… whatever keeps me balanced and strong.
Because if I’m crooked, tight, or tired—
I bring that into every ride.

4. I’m mindful of how I fuel myself.
You can’t run at this level on empty.
And you can’t expect your body to show up if you’re not taking care of it.

This life we’ve chosen… it asks a lot.

And I think a lot of us were taught that the answer is to just push harder.

But I don’t believe that anymore.

I think the real discipline is in taking care of yourself
when no one’s watching.

Because at the end of the day—
it’s not just about you.

It’s about every horse that has to trust you.
And every client that’s counting on you to show up at your best.

Take care of yourself like it matters.

Because it does.

Photo by; S.M.B Photography

03/08/2026

It’s beginning to feel like spring

02/04/2026

This is the most accurate statement

FIT(ISH).

Which is not a lie.
It’s a lifestyle category.

I do a lot of walking.
Long walks.
Purposeful walks.
Mostly to and from fields.

I lift things too.
Buckets.
Haynets.
My own expectations.

This is not gym fitness.
This is yard fitness.

Steps: ✔️
Upper body strength: ✔️
Cardio: chasing a horse who has decided today is “catch me if you can” day ✔️

And then ....as with all elite athletes .... I refuel accordingly.
Coffee.
Chocolate.
Whatever is emotionally supportive at the time.

So yes, I am FIT(ISH).
Strong where it counts.
Soft where it matters.
Powered by horses and snacks. 🐴🍫☕️

01/18/2026

01/13/2026

Yes

01/05/2026

Okay — breaking down one of my most common reasons for physiotherapy treatments.

Often times, owners or riders will say “I feel they’re tight on the left side of their body”. When I ask why, the response is usually “they really struggle on the left rein”.

When a horse struggles to bend either way, it is usually because the side of the horse’s body on the outside of the bend is experiencing dysfunction and tightness.

The outside of the body is then “shortened”, meaning the horse will fall in on turns, &/ find one rein significantly easier than the other. Other symptoms are; difficulty cantering one way, feeling like one of the riders legs is pushed out, poking of the jaw, asymmetrical hoof shape and more.

An important note here is that neither bend will be correct until your horse is symmetrical to bend each way. Just because they’re easier to bend one way, doesn’t mean that the body is actually functional; it will be likely due to the inside of the horse being more contracted and therefore positioned for “bend”.

Skipping over how I treat these cases (I will return at a later time with a post on this!), a few points on how exercises can help horses that experience one sided stiffness (of course after the cause has been investigated, identified and treated!!):

🐴 Instead of forcing the bend, counter flex your horse on their easier rein and yield the ribs inwards. This will help mobilise the ribs on the outside of the body, increasing flexibility and improving straightness.

🐴 Mobilise the pelvis — so many people reach for the neck, but if the pelvis can mobilise symmetrically to each side in quick succession, it can provide a basis for straightness and suppleness. Use transitions & & renvers on a figure of eight, progressing to counterflexing in each transition.

By trying to ask the horse to bend more, you will often be met with more bracing, so instead use gentle mobilisation work to loosen up and improve symmetry and function to both sides of the body.

12/31/2025

12/16/2025

Did You Know?
• A growing body of research shows that inadequate hydration increases cortisol spikes in response to stress
• In cold weather, horses naturally drink less, even when water is readily available
• Horses drank 40% more water when it was offered at 66°F compared to 32–38°F
• 82% of daily water intake occurs within the first 3 hours after feeding
• This makes feed time the most critical window for providing fresh, warm water

Why This Matters

Reduced water intake quietly increases:
• physiological stress
• digestive strain
• risk of impactions
• muscle and fascial stiffness

Winter Hydration, Stress, and Electrolytes in Horses

Cold weather naturally reduces a horse’s thirst — but hydration is just as critical in winter as in summer. When water intake drops, stress hormones rise, digestion slows, and muscles and fascia lose elasticity.

Most winter dehydration happens quietly. If water is too cold or not refreshed at feeding time, horses simply don’t drink enough.

Cold Weather Hydration Basics

Horses that drink less water are more prone to:
• dehydration
• dry manure and impaction colic
• poor digestion
• muscle stiffness and slower warm-ups

Practical tip:
Refill buckets with fresh, warm water at feeding time, when horses are most likely to drink.

Even small daily water deficits add up over time, increasing colic risk and physical stress.

Salt and Electrolytes Still Matter in Winter

Electrolytes aren’t just a summer concern. Cold weather creates its own hydration challenges.

Salt keeps horses drinking.
Cold temperatures blunt thirst, and many horses drink only 50–80% of their normal intake in winter. Salt stimulates thirst and supports circulation and digestion.

Salt helps the body retain water.
Salt doesn’t just increase drinking — it helps the body hold onto and properly distribute water. Without enough salt, water passes through too quickly and tissues remain dehydrated.

Why this matters:
Water alone doesn’t equal hydration. Salt allows water to actually hydrate tissues.

Winter Dehydration Is Often Missed

Cold-weather dehydration contributes to:
• impaction colic
• reduced performance
• muscle tightness
• poor circulation

Horses also lose electrolytes through urine, manure, normal metabolism, and moisture lost from the respiratory tract — even without visible sweat.

A horse can be dehydrated without ever looking sweaty.

Cold Stress Increases Daily Needs

To stay warm, horses burn more calories and rely on sodium and chloride for normal muscle and nerve function. Adequate hydration supports muscle firing, coordination, circulation, and heat production.

Blankets can further hide sweat and salt loss, allowing dehydration to build unnoticed.

What to Feed in Winter

Plain salt (daily):
Most horses need 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 g) of plain salt year-round. Salt blocks and licks are rarely sufficient.

Electrolytes:
Consider adding when the horse is in work, water intake drops, manure becomes drier, weather is cold and dry, or the horse sweats under blankets.
Choose salt-based, not sugar-based products.

In Essence
• Salt keeps horses drinking and helps retain water
• Electrolytes keep muscles and nerves functioning
• Hydration keeps the gut moving and tissues healthy

Winter hydration isn’t optional — it’s foundational to health, movement, and performance.

Learn more about it here -
https://koperequine.com/?s=Salt