The Horse's Advocate Podcast

The Horse's Advocate Podcast is about helping horse owners find the missing horse owner's manual for owning and caring for horses. Geoff Tucker, DVM (aka, "Doc T"), brings you wisdom from over 50 years with horses. But beware - some of this stuff is NOT what you might expect. When the "box to think outside of" was built, he was never included and remained outside! This show aims to Help Horses Thrive In A Human World™.

The Key To Reducing Excess Body Fat In Horses - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #149 03/11/2025

The Key To Reducing Excess Body Fat In Horses - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #149 There are two reasons for horses to become obese. The first reason is that they eat more calories daily than they use. The intake of calories is in the form of excess starch from hay and grains and excess fat from the digestion of cellulose in the hindgut. The second reason is often misunderstood. There must be a demand for the fat stored in the body fat; otherwise, it will remain or even increase body fat. The demand is created when muscle cells are used to the point of exhaustion, which, in terms of metabolism, means the lactate and glycogen are nearly all consumed within the muscle cells. This exhaustion of glucose and lactate forces the cell to use the fat stored within the cell, thus creating a demand for replacement of cell fat from body fat stores. Horses with limited exercise ability (lameness, age) should still be encouraged to move, but they will need less food. However, remember that calorie restriction signals the horse to maintain or increase body fat because it will believe there is little food available, so it needs to conserve energy. Increasing exercise allows for adequate calorie consumption due to its effect of lowering hunger. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/35600140

Attracting Good Horse Veterinarians - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #148 03/03/2025

Attracting Good Horse Veterinarians - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #148 In South Dakota, the legislature is working on a bill making it legal for non-veterinarians to float horses' teeth by hand or with power and possibly using sedation. The same is happening in Oregon, with the addition of non-vets pregnancy-checking livestock. In Colorado, a mid-level veterinary practitioner has been established, helping fill the void where veterinarians are not filling the need. Eleven new veterinary colleges are being developed in the US, yet there is a shortage of horse vets. This podcast looks at the situation from two very different points of view: the veterinarian's and the horse owner's. There is a decrease in the number of horse vets available for rural horse owners. The competency of the new vets is in question because the schools are becoming factories. There is a lack of mentors for these new vets. Most vets today lack the foundation of horsemanship and rely on sedation to account for the lack of these skills. Horse owners are unsure whether the task has been completed to an acceptable level. Horse owners are uncertain whether the care offered by the vet is required or not. Many rural vets are overworked or no longer make farm calls to reduce road time. My conclusion is based on hearing these points and on my experience. Horse owners need to do things that attract vets to their areas. In other words, horse owners’ frustration with the current situation in veterinary care is driving any remaining vets away. A paradigm shift is needed from the horse owners to attract new veterinarians to rural areas. Here are some considerations: Prepare your horses for any visit through the training of the horses. Respect the veterinarian’s time by having the horses ready in the stall (halters on and presented to the vet with a lead). A clean and dry working environment is always good. Remember, the vet has driven through traffic with insane drivers and often over long distances, and usually has other visits scheduled. Veterinarians are people with families and a life away from the practice. They need time off, and this requires practices to hire several vets. Training a veterinarian is expensive – between $250,00 and $350,000 in America. Multiply this by the number of vets in a practice. Add the costs of transportation, equipment, maintenance, insurance, supplies, and support staff, and the price per person becomes very high. The cost of veterinary care is high, and if you cannot pay the vet, they will leave to find another opportunity, such as a small animal practice. Many never follow their ambitions of veterinary medicine but find more profitable work elsewhere. To summarize, horse owners need to create a better opportunity and environment for people making a living working with horses to attract and keep more qualified people. Unfortunately, the veterinary colleges have focused on stamping out small animal veterinarians, offering little mentorship in the foundation of horsemanship. The lack of quality mentorship outside the universities in the horsemanship world worsens things. The publications, products, and advertising are included, driving horse owners to offer inflammatory foods that create ill, lame, and misbehaving horses. Without a significant shift in horse care, the future of people owning horses, at least in countries where they are recreational, is dire. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/35504060

Confidence Versus Arrogance In Horses - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #147 01/29/2025

Confidence Versus Arrogance In Horses - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #147 Uncertain people do uncertain things. This uncertainty affects everything, including people and horses, and not necessarily in good ways. Most people have addressed the quest to conquer their inner self, but few become successful. Our horses know this. This podcast looks at the essence of all horsemanship, or, in other words, leadership, because horsemanship IS leadership. It comes from within us, but most people react to things in our lives. To improve your poor relationship with your horse (or any human), you must look inward and improve your view of life as a whole. Brain Health, by Christopher Palmer, MD Whole Brain Living, by Jill Bolte-Taylor , by Geoff Tucker, DVM ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/35064265

To Fix The Hoof, You Need To Feed The Hoof - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #146 01/22/2025

Constant Hunger In Horses - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #145 01/15/2025

Should We Listen To Horse Education? - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #144 12/11/2024

Should We Listen To Horse Education? - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #144 Who do you believe? Is it the person with credentials or the person with experience? Maybe neither, because whenever anyone says something, there is an agenda. The need to talk is to communicate with someone to gain a response. Here are examples: "What is your name?" is a question wanting an answer. "The sunset is beautiful!" encourages others to look up and share what I see. "Feed your horse with my grains and supplements, and they will win the championship." solves the desire of sport horse owners. Attending meetings is a grand example of communication on several levels. The presenting organization uses its associates to orchestrate an assembly of speakers and audience. The goal for most is to make money, primarily if sponsors are used to finance everything. Last week, I attended six lectures presented by an animal feed ingredient maker and sponsored by several horse feed manufacturers. I report on my experience, which was mostly a waste of my time. Luckily, it was free and online. However, it is essential to report on this because I need to know how they manipulate horse owners. Bamboozling, deceiving, and misleading are all words I would use to describe what marketing does, and unfortunately, our horses suffer. Not all marketing bamboozles. All businesses need to make money to remain in existence. However, integrity must be addressed when a need to return a profit at the expense of those supporting a business is compromised. Most lectures should have addressed the overarching problem in equine nutrition; what they say about feeding horses is not helping them. The same was true at the AAEP meeting in Orlando this year. Again, medicine wants to explore ways to fix things rather than prevent them. Several of the presenters of scientific papers said from the stage that their studies were underpowered or didn't last long enough to show causation. In other words, what we say here may or may not help horses, but we won't study anything that will prevent illness and lameness. How can veterinarians offer help when preventive strategies are never mentioned? Just take a look at the sponsors down on the trade show floor. After all, they are the driving force behind what is said from the podium. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/34367020

The Science Behind The Connection With Horses. An Interview With Dr. Maria Katsamanis - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #143 12/04/2024

The Science Behind The Connection With Horses. An Interview With Dr. Maria Katsamanis - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #143 Dr. Maria Katsamanis (Dr. Maria) joins me on this podcast to discuss how science can help us create better connections with our horses. I do these things every day, but I need the science or research behind why I do what I do. She delivers on this and more! Dr. Maria will be delighted if you learn something from listening that helps you connect better on a molecular level. Her life's work is to scientifically understand and improve on why we would rather be in a barn asking horses to help us face the world and heal our minds. Some philosophies of Dr. Maria as stated on her website: "Horsemanship is more than the horse. Horses are brought to us and challenge us to reconnect with ourselves. This reciprocal "helping" —helping of the horse, helping of the human often challenges people to find training methods that will help them grow with their equine mate." "Committed to studying human and equine physiology, her training focuses on the self-carriage of the horse and rider. Only in balance and relaxation can the correct muscle formation occur, physical blocks be dissipated, and mental communication be facilitated." "It is always very important to remember that each horse is an individual and with Dr. Maria they are treated as such and their education is tailored to their personality and physical profile—all with a solid foundation in a classical French recipe." Dr. Maria Katsamanis is an author, educator, and advocate for horses. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and maintains an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers Medical School. Her background in biofeedback and psychophysiology is central to her training approach, dubbed "molecular equitation," which examines the connection between horse and rider on a molecular level. Dr. Maria has co-authored "" and authored her latest book, "." Dr. Maria is very busy with several endeavors: She offers to help improve your connection with horses. She trains and boards horses in New Jersey at her . She has a to help riders connect with their horses better. She advocates for , a rare breed in India. Dr. Maria has also founded the non-profit organization , whose mission is to promote a better understanding of equine wellness through the rehabilitation and transformation of horses who need a second chance. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/34261720

Dr Belden Returns For Our Annual Thanksgiving Interview - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #142 11/24/2024

Dr Belden Returns For Our Annual Thanksgiving Interview - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #142 This podcast is a special Rounds With Doc T with my friend and colleague, Dr James Belden. Usually, Rounds are for members of The Horse's Advocate, but as an annual Thanksgiving treat, it is available for everyone to watch or listen to. Dr Belden graduated from Cornell's veterinary school in 1964. He has worked on horses in 30 countries, many Triple Crown winners in the Thoroughbred racing world, and many elite show horses in Wellington, FL. He has also competed with his reining horses. His knowledge comes from working on hundreds of thousands of horses in all sports categories. Dr Belden tells stories of his work with horses, blending his experience into impactful ideas for all to use with their horses today. Practical advice sparkles throughout as he also answers questions from the audience. I hope you enjoy and learn from this veterinary treasure. Timestamps: 0:53:14 - A question about equine sarcoid treatment. 0:58:59 - "What forgotten treatments or old timely treatments and remedies are as effective or maybe more effective than newer advanced treatments and pharmaceuticals and supplements used? What things do you wish people would do instead of spend money, and aggressively go after things that, you know, like when is ice better, for instance? And what are the simple things that still really, really work?" 1:08:22 - "Would you guys say that there's a difference in the growth or maturity rate between a filly and a colt?" 1:11:23 - "Do you see the difference in the maturity if you leave a male horse intact longer, say maybe 4 to 5 years old, or rather than cut them at a long yearling or a two-year-old, do they mature any differently?" 1:18:32 - "A pre-purchase exam. What were they like in the 60s, 70s, the 80s? And do you think they actually help buyers? Obviously, there's obvious things that you can find, like a blind horse, things like that. But yeah, people are looking for such subtle changes. What's your whole thought on this? Give us a little bit of history of pre-purchase exams and what you think of them now." 1:32:34 - "Any suggestions for non sweater?" ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/34124141

The Crisis In Veterinary Medicine Worsens - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #141 11/13/2024

The Crisis In Veterinary Medicine Worsens - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #141 Three articles from the AVMA arrived in my inbox this week: These articles drove me to make this podcast, the third in a series, about horse veterinary care. It emphasizes the need to prevent illness and injuries. In summary, new vet graduates' mean starting salary (adjusted for inflation) has steadily risen since 2000, while the income of established veterinarians (adjusted for inflation) has not. The educational debt to become a veterinarian has also risen, but the ratio between debt and income on average has fallen due to increasing salaries. However, after removing the 17% with no debt, the debt-to-income ratio is higher and less sustainable. All veterinarians are young, with 8% older than 65. Thus, the pool of experienced veterinarians to mentor graduates is shrinking. Colorado approved the development of a midlevel practitioner to "fill the gap" between technician and veterinarian. Almost all veterinary organizations opposed this; however, the voters accepted this idea. Is this different from non-veterinarians already diagnosing and prescribing (dentists, farriers, bodyworkers)? Will this become available in other states? How will this affect the safety and cost of care for our horses? Texas accused a retired veterinarian of offering advice to a patient via email without first establishing a VCPR (veterinary-client-patient relationship) in person. The federal court overturned the lower court's guilty decision, saying that offering advice by email without a VCPR is a right under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. How will veterinarians and state boards use this decision? ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33877792

Integrity In Veterinary Medicine - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #140 11/06/2024

Integrity In Veterinary Medicine - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #140 Forgive me as I rant about veterinary care. This week, I experienced or heard of four events between veterinarians and their owners that have me asking: Are the schools teaching integrity along with veterinary medicine? There are 13 new vet schools in America, spawning 55,000 more veterinarians in the next decade. Most will go into small animal practice. Driving this growth is a demand for pet owners to access care everywhere and corporate strategies to use more veterinarians at higher salaries to remain competitive. In essence, the forecast is for ample demand for services and a need for more veterinarians to meet this need. Stepping away from this "supply and demand" model, I now see evidence that integrity is being replaced with a "fix-it" mentality. New veterinary graduates are well-trained in the science of "fixing" an animal's problem; however, are they also advocating for the animal and, importantly, the owner? Regrettably, the era of the "country vet," who took the time to educate, advise, and console the owner, seems to be fading. The high cost of training and the standardization of care have led to a "cookie-cutter" approach to animal care. This approach, while efficient, may seem superficial to older vets who, though impressed with the knowledge young vets bring to the practice, miss the days of explaining how to prevent problems and advocating for the animal above all else. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33752822

More New Vets But Less Horse Vets - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #139 10/31/2024

More New Vets But Less Horse Vets - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #139 Over the next ten years, thirteen new vet schools will be built and accredited by the AVMA to teach and add 55,000 more veterinarians to the existing veterinary colleges and new veterinary graduates. The expansion of the profession is driven by the growth of corporate-owned veterinary clinics and the aspirations of new veterinary graduates to enhance their quality of life. However, this trend may lead to a twofold outcome: increased cost and decreased quality of veterinary care. The impact is particularly felt by owners of animals other than dogs and cats, who may face more significant challenges in accessing quality care. 80% of new graduates are predicted to enter small animal practice, leaving only 20% for all other animals. Cattle, small ruminants, swine, aquatic animals, zoos, research, government roles, and our horses are left with too few new graduates to replace the steady loss of veterinarians leaving equine practices. However, the ratio of new veterinarians per horse practice diminishes this number, as practices need to employ more veterinarians to meet young professionals' social and financial needs. For example, to cover a large geographic area with 24-hour care, two to four veterinarians need to be available to allow time off when, in the past, one or two covered it. Additionally, non-veterinary owned (corporate) small animal veterinary clinics offer high salaries that horse practices need to match to retain young employees with high student loans. The mission of The Horse's Advocate is to help horse owners prevent unnecessary veterinary visits by improving farm and barn safety, improving nutrition, and teaching horsemanship skills. The goal is not to replace veterinarians but to enhance their efficiency so they can attend to horses needing urgent attention. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33727117

Horses And Perception Management - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #138 10/09/2024

Horses And Perception Management - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #138 Perception management is a real industry that affects everyone in every aspect of our lives and our horses. In a spy thriller I'm reading, one man hires a perception management team to turn the world against Russia, causing everyone to purchase more weapons from his arms company while almost ending the world. It's scary stuff but relatable in the news today. Can someone manipulate our perceptions of horse care for their advantage? Absolutely. The critical question to ask is, "How effective are your current horse care practices?" If the answer is a disappointing "They're not," it's crucial to reconsider your approach and critically evaluate who truly benefits from your methods. This process of critical evaluation is not just necessary, but it's empowering. It will engage you in thoughtful consideration of your horse care practices and a purpose and willingness to change them. However, effort is needed to distinguish good information from bad. This podcast provides two relatable examples of perception management in horse care: Is 24-hour access to hay good, and should you feed processed foods? By listening to this, you can empower yourself to ask questions and build new strategies to improve your horse care practices. The knowledge you gain from doing so will give you a sense of control over your horse's well-being. I also provide a simple image to illustrate how life is fueled, with advice on managing food intake with energy output. This image of energy flow will help you focus on where change is needed: diet, exercise, or both. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33385522

The Advanced Equine Nutrition Course Overview - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #137 10/02/2024

The Advanced Equine Nutrition Course Overview - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #137 Horse owners are being told to purchase feed and supplements with the promise of improving everything with their horses. They do this by confusing you, forcing unproven marketing on you, wasting money, and harming horses. This course will empower you to understand more fully what goes on inside the horse, helping you make informed decisions for their care. I launch the Advanced Equine Nutrition course this month and wanted to give everyone a preview of its content. Chapter 1 - Energy Balance Chapter 2 - DNA and Protein Synthesis Chapter 3 - Determine How Much To Feed Horses Chapter 4 - Proteins As An Essential Nutrient Chapter 5 - Fats and Carbohydrates As Non-Essential Nutrients Chapter 6 - Cell Metabolism Of Glucose And Fatty Acids Chapter 7 - Lactate As The Universal Fuel Chapter 8 - Fructose and Its Master Effect On Survival Chapter 9 - The Addiction Of Sugar Chapter 10 - Unraveling The Complexities of Stress and Its Impact On Horses ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33292387

Fructose Is Damaging Our Horses - Part 2 - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #136 09/25/2024

Fructose Is Damaging Our Horses - Part 2 - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #136 Understanding glucose and fructose metabolism within the cell and the effect each substrate has on ATP, the energy currency, is not just for advanced horse owners. This knowledge is crucial to anyone caring for horses as it explains why Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin resistance or dysregulation, misbehaving issues, and a generalized unwillingness are prevalent in every aspect of the horse industry. Fructose is not just a dietary component but also produced in mammals through the Polyol Pathway. Its purpose is to prepare the horse for challenging times like winter. However, when produced throughout the year, fructose metabolism leads to depleted energy within the cell, increased cellular and body inflammation, body fat production, and heightened hunger and aggressive behavior. These are serious issues that every horse owner should be aware of and motivated to address. Exercise is a key player in reducing the effects of fructose metabolism, but it's not always feasible for many horses. However, controlling fructose intake and the triggers that convert glucose into fructose are practical, effective solutions that every horse owner can and should implement, empowering them to take control of their horse's health. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/33162837

Bit Fitting With Stephanie Brown-Beamer - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #135 09/11/2024

Bit Fitting With Stephanie Brown-Beamer - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #135 Stephanie Brown-Beamer is a horse trainer on Long Island, NY, who discovered firsthand ten years ago that a properly fitted bit could resolve horse training problems. This experience motivated her to become trained in fitting a bit to the horse. No, it's not all about math and physics; it's about finding what bit suits the individual horse. This podcast delves into how Stephanie assesses the horse under saddle, determines the rider's purpose and skill, and then uses her extensive knowledge of science and experience to match that horse to a perfect bit style, shape, and material so that the horse becomes comfortable with it. She also uses science to counter claims that all bits should be avoided; instead, she discusses how a bit can help frame horses to improve their performance while removing pain from improper bits. From her website: "I strive to always share my in-depth knowledge of bits, bridles and the latest research with each rider with whom I connect, for the betterment of the horse. This is what you can always count on from me." Stephanie’s website: ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32983572

Unlocking Your Full Potential With Horses - A Transformative Interview with Master Mentor And Horsemanship Coach Merja Sumiloff - #134 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 08/28/2024

Unlocking Your Full Potential With Horses - A Transformative Interview with Master Mentor And Horsemanship Coach Merja Sumiloff - #134 The Horse's Advocate Podcast During my insightful conversation with Merja Sumiloff, we delved into the common thread of emotional blocks from our past that hinder our ability to form meaningful connections with ourselves and our horses. While our experiences may differ, the impact of trauma is a shared human experience. Whether it's a challenging childhood or a difficult relationship, these traumas can create emotional barriers that impede our potential for personal growth and healing. For instance, my academic journey could have been smoother—I was a mediocre student in high school and a three-time college dropout. However, my experience as a member of our high school football team, which never lost a game, may have instilled in me a determination to succeed. Could these seemingly unrelated events have influenced my eventual graduation from Cornell's vet school? Merja, with her diverse background, embodies the spirit of self-discovery. Born in Finland, she honed her skills with horses in Ireland and now resides in Australia. She conducts clinics in Finnish and English in person and online, guiding individuals to unearth their horses' hidden strengths and transcend the fear and doubt that often plague horse owners. The Sumiloff Academy: Coaching and mentoring: Her book called “Safe Spaces:” ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32769262

Horses Teaching Leadership with Kerry Hayes - #133 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 08/22/2024

Horses Teaching Leadership with Kerry Hayes - #133 The Horse's Advocate Podcast Kerry Hayes, a life and business leadership coach, is here with us today. She harnesses the unique power of horses to catalyze personal growth and confidence. Even those with no prior knowledge of horses can embark on a transformative journey with Kerry. The results are not just magical, but also deeply revealing and life-changing. Kerry generously shares a wealth of insights to help anyone working with horses foster stronger connections with their equine companions and those in their lives. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone who feels stuck or out of sync with their horse, business, or life. And if you're ready to take the next step, you can go to Kerry's farm, where she can guide you through a session. Kerry's website is: The article she mentions about heart rate variability (HRV) is: She also recommends this article: ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32687337

The Flow Of Energy In Horses - #132 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 08/14/2024

The Flow Of Energy In Horses - #132 The Horse's Advocate Podcast I take a quick break from discussing fructose to return to the metabolism of glucose. There is a concept of flow (or flux) that, when understood, helps us feed our horses better. When energy flows in and out of a cell, everything works well. But when flow becomes restricted or stops, horses become unhealthy. Using a product of glucose metabolism called lactate, I show how this movement moves throughout the horse with few borders to stop it. The muscles, brain, liver, and all organs love lactate, and as long as it is kept moving, the horse thrives. However, with decreased exercise and continuous eating of sugar beyond daily needs, the flow of this substrate slows and even stops. The horse suffers at the cell level and becomes unhealthy. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32757727

Fructose Is Damaging Our Horses - Part 1 - #131 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 08/08/2024

Fructose Is Damaging Our Horses - Part 1 - #131 The Horse's Advocate Podcast Welcome to this crucial podcast, where I introduce a concept that is not just limited to humans but also affects animals: the ability to convert glucose into fructose within the body. This process is significant as it can have detrimental effects on cells, leading to a range of health and behavioral issues in animals, including horses. While the chronic metabolic effects of fructose may seem negative (obesity, cognitive decline, inflammation, decreased cell metabolism, and cell death), they serve a survival purpose for animals during times of food scarcity, such as winter. However, in today's world, where sweet-tasting foods rich in fructose are readily available to horses year-round, these effects can lead to serious health issues, including obesity, behavioral problems, illness, and lameness. The goal of upcoming podcasts is to break up the information on fructose production and metabolism into small, digestible chunks so that all of you listening will quickly understand why fructose, fed or made year-round, causes many problems in our horses. Part 1 introduces the novel thought that horses can make fructose. In the upcoming episodes, I will delve deeper into how glucose becomes fructose, the triggers causing it, and how fructose metabolism lowers energy and drives the degradation of the body. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32493137

An Interview With Linda Parelli Of Happy Horse, Happy Life - #130 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 07/31/2024

An Interview With Linda Parelli Of Happy Horse, Happy Life - #130 The Horse's Advocate Podcast On this podcast, Linda and I discussed the basis of all dealings between horses and humans, emphasizing connection at the core, followed by communication and leadership. She also described the other seven parts of her curriculum, which she calls "The World's Best Horse Training Program for You and Your Horse!" From the website's about page - : "Linda Parelli is co-founder of Happy Horse Happy Life, Parelli Natural Horsemanship and Pegasus Personal Growth, a dynamic public speaker, and the author of numerous articles, books, courses, DVDs, self-development and equestrian programs including her new Happy Horse training program, How to Talk Horse." "She is considered the leading female expert on horse psychology based training and mindful riding, empowering her students to be better leaders, riders and communicators with her unique approach to teaching." When you spend decades working on tens of thousands of different horses, you will eventually learn to connect almost immediately. However, because Linda is a teacher, the path to creating a willing partnership with horses can be shortened through her teachings. As soon as you finish this podcast and get back to your horses, you can use several of the points made in our conversation. So, take some notes as a pro opens up about her life teaching horse owners to find the true meaning of horsemanship. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/32323742

An Interview With Horse Trainer Geoff Teall - #129 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 06/12/2024

An Interview With Horse Trainer Geoff Teall - #129 The Horse's Advocate Podcast Geoff Teall, a seasoned horse trainer with an impressive 60 years of experience, has been a client of mine for over half of that time. His expertise is widely recognized in the show jumping community, and if you're not familiar with him, you should be. This discussion is not about the sport of jumping horses but about horsemanship, training, philosophy, and the crucial aspect of feeding horses (hint - he soaks the pony hay for 12 hours). One thing I know about Geoff is that he genuinely advocates for the horse above all else. There are several reasons why Geoff joined me for a discussion on horses. In no particular order: Placing the horse's health is a primary focus of owning and training horses. Competing with horses should be fun, not an obsession with winning. Hard work and discipline are the only ways to succeed. Mastering the fundamentals is required before advancing. Become confident through mastering the basic skills. Sugar creates problems in horses, especially ponies. Keep things simple in training and caring for horses. The following are his credentials: United States Huter Jumper Association (USHJA) Board of Directors USHJA Judges Committee Chairman USHJA Officials Education Committee Chairman USHJA Trainer's Committee Co-Chairman USHJA Trainer's Certification Committee Member American Hunter Jumper Foundation President and C0-Founder He is an R-rated judge for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), judging for prestigious events, including the Pony Finals, the Pony Medal Finals, the National Horse Show (N.J.), and the Washington International Horse Show (D.C.). The horses Geoff has trained have achieved remarkable success, winning championships at all the major horse shows. He has shared his knowledge through clinics and judged horse shows both domestically and internationally. Despite his achievements, he remains humble, a quality that is truly admirable. Geoff is also the author of "Geoff Teall On Riding Hunters, Jumpers And Equitation: Develop A Winning Style." ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31670902

Memorial Day, Klotho, And The Future Of Our Horses - #128 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 05/29/2024

Memorial Day, Klotho, And The Future Of Our Horses - #128 The Horse's Advocate Podcast I start this podcast by describing Memorial Day in America, then tie this idea into what is happening in the equine veterinary profession. I only dwell on this briefly because there are more upbeat things to discuss, such as the Klotho protein. The Klotho protein was discovered from an experimental failure and found in all animals. This protein, made up of one thousand amino acids, is primarily produced by the kidneys. A portion of it is then released from the cell, acting as a hormone that can influence cells in distant locations, including the brain. Klotho affects platelets, causing them to release PF4, one of many platelet factors. PF4 stimulates the brain's synapses in 4 hours, causing a profound increase in cognitive functions lasting for 19 days or more after administering it to mice and primates. The hope is that giving this protein will reduce or eliminate cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in humans. An even more exciting result is the reduction of "all-cause mortality" in mice and primates after raising the amounts of Klotho. Could this also be true in horses? The best way to increase Klotho is exercise, which causes a 30% increase. Feeding adequate amounts of high-quality protein may also help increase Klotho. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31507652

Building Muscle In Horses With Protein - #127 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 05/22/2024

Building Muscle In Horses With Protein - #127 The Horse's Advocate Podcast Building muscle in horses is a two-stage process. Many horse owners expect results when applying only one factor. This podcast shows that ignoring one of these factors results in poor muscle formation. In the first stage, the key is to prioritize protein in the horse's diet, particularly the amino acid leucine. Leucine, a branch-chain amino acid, plays a pivotal role as a signaling molecule when it attaches to the mTOR receptor on muscle cells. This crucial process alerts the muscle that the necessary materials for muscle building are available. Understanding this, horse owners can better cater to their horse's nutritional needs, knowing that the right protein, high in leucine, is essential for effective muscle formation. Step two is to add exercise to the horse to build muscle fibers. More importantly, this also consumes the excess glucose in the diet. Exercise decreases the need to convert the free amino acids into glucose, thus preserving the pool of recycled amino acids. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31417282

Should Non-veterinarians Be Allowed To Float Horse Teeth? - #126 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 05/15/2024

Should Non-veterinarians Be Allowed To Float Horse Teeth? - #126 The Horse's Advocate Podcast There is a turf war between veterinarians and non-veterinarians, both wanting to provide horses with preventive dental care. It started in the late 1990s and has gained protection behind laws meant to protect horse owners. But is there proof that any approach to floating is better than another? Or is it just positioning based on territorialism? I used the following script to make this podcast, but I also added to it freely to emphasize several points. This podcast is more formal than usual because I am reading a script I wrote in response to a graduate of my dentistry school challenged by the Veterinary Medical Association of her area. She is a non-veterinarian working in equine dentistry. Most of the United States allows individual states to determine what a profession is, and most states broadly state that veterinarians are the ones to perform medicine, surgery, and dentistry on any animal. This statement includes fish, reptiles, birds, and any other animal other than humans. It is the prerogative of the veterinary board to investigate anyone who does any work on any animal in their state. However, routine care of animals, including preventive medicine, is usually avoided. You can purchase and administer vaccines and dewormers, adjust angles on hooves, apply therapeutic shoes, prepare any mixture of medicinal supplements, breed horses, deliver foals, apply linaments, clip the hair of horses not shedding, splint crooked legs of foals, adjust bones, massage muscles, use red light, PEMF, and a dozen more things to a horse without being a veterinarian. But you cannot remove the unworn parts of the cheek teeth in horses, digging their sharp edges into the tongue and cheeks and causing pain with every movement of their jaw and tongue. I have been training veterinarians and non-veterinarians in the technique of Horsemanship Dentistry. My definition of this form of working on the teeth of horses is as follows: 1) Removing sharp points from horses' cheek teeth by filing them to a smooth edge is commonly called "floating teeth" but is also known as odontoplasty. The root cause of most dental problems is pain in the tongue and cheeks caused by sharp enamel points. Therefore, routine maintenance of the horse's teeth removes pain from these sharp points. Secondary to the removal of sharp points is finding pathology and addressing this. 2) Administering sedatives to horses for routine floating is unnecessary; instead, horsemanship skills are used for 97% of horses (from annual data consistent over the past decade). The remaining 3% are horses that are reactive to pain, fear the process, or have a painful procedure done, such as extracting a fractured cheek tooth. With those, I administer pain and anxiolytic medications. My name is Geoff Tucker, and I am a veterinarian who graduated from The New York State College of Veterinary Medicine (Cornell) in 1984. I have worked professionally with horses since 1973, starting on a Saddlebred farm in Ohio and moving to a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm in New York that same year. I completed my undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 1979 and graduated from veterinary school in 1984. In my autobiography, I tell my story: "Since The Days Of The Romans; My Journey Of Discovering A Life With Horses." It's available on Amazon, and I have also read it here on "The Horse's Advocate Podcast." While in veterinary school, my mentor told me the importance of maintaining horses' teeth. With him, I floated my first horse in 1983 and made this a part of my practice in 1984. Since then, I have logged the number of horses I have worked on or who I have taught. In February 2024, I recorded my 80,000th horse. But I always continued learning about horses' teeth and oral cavities. I have attended many continuing education courses offered by veterinary professional organizations in person or online. The New York State Equine Practice Committee invited me to join them in 1996. The reason for this invitation to the board, they told me, was because I performed more dental care on horses in NY than any other vet at that time, and veterinarians were becoming interested in claiming this aspect of horse care for themselves. Non-veterinarians did much more, including all the racehorses at Belmont, Aqueduct, and Saratoga. As one board member stated, this discrepancy between veterinarians and non-veterinarians floating horses was because no good horse vet has time to add floating teeth to their busy schedule. There was one practitioner on the board who, at that time, was stating that only veterinarians should be floating horse teeth. I and the others were somewhere in the middle of these two thoughts. We could not reach a consensus, and we dropped the discussion, knowing it would require much more work than anyone wanted to do for an issue being done well by non-veterinarians. The interest of the practice committee and the NY veterinary board came from the introduction of sedation and power floating equipment, and veterinarians started claiming their position from the non-veterinarians to broaden their base. There was no discussion that a non-veterinarian was less able to float teeth, nor were non-veterinary dentists cheating owners with poor quality of service. Cases of lapses in integrity came from both sides, mainly because floating horse teeth is hard work and requires horsemanship skills, and visualization of the finished float by the horse owner is within the depths of the mouth. In 1999, I attended the Ocala Equine Conference, where a non-veterinarian spoke about filling cavities in horses' cheek teeth. I was shocked when he stated, without any evidence, that horses would live, on average, five years longer if we all started performing this procedure. This same man was later banned from working on horses in several states, became the president of the IAED (International Association of Equine Dentistry), and became the director of equine dentistry at the University of California - Davis veterinary school. While this non-veterinarian was working at this vet school teaching veterinary students, he caused injury to a client's horse. According to her (she emailed and called me all of this information), the man was sued, and then he and the director of the veterinary hospital who had hired him were fired from the school. On another front, a non-veterinary equine dentist taught non-veterinarians how to float teeth in South Dakota in the late 1980s and 1990s. He was vocal that veterinarians should not be allowed in the horse's mouth because they had no training. His voraciousness upset the veterinary board, forcing him to leave the state and reestablish his school in Idaho. Throughout the turf battle of who should be allowed to float teeth, I continued to apply and improve my skills throughout New York. In 1984, no textbooks on equine dentistry were available except one written by a non-veterinarian: "Sound Mouth, Sound Horse," by Ed Gager (published in 1983). Toward the end of the century, more veterinarians started to stand for horse owners' protection by demanding that only veterinarians work on horses' teeth. More textbooks by veterinarians came in 1998 through 2011, but few have come since. In the United Kingdom, veterinarians and non-veterinarians made up an exam so that non-veterinarians passing the exam would be listed officially and allowed to float horse teeth. In 2002, I flew to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the annual BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association) conference, which focused on horse dentistry. I attended because of this subject, but I was one of only two veterinarians interested in equine dentistry traveling from the United States to attend. When the conference coordinator heard about my presence, she arranged for me to have a one-on-one lunch with Professor Paddy Dixon of the Veterinary College at Edinborough, Scotland. He has authored or co-authored more published papers and textbooks on Equine Dentistry and the teeth of horses than anyone. He presented the Frank J Milne State Of The Art lecture to the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), the highly prestigious, invitation-only lecture, where he discussed the evolution of the horse and equine dentistry. The interest could have been better, as seen by the mostly empty seats in the 1000+ seat lecture hall. The following day, he joined a panel discussing equine dentistry, which maybe had 80 people attending. Only the best get invited to give this talk at the AAEP conference, yet very few attended. This is because (then and now) only a few equine veterinarians are interested in equine dentistry. Let me address this. There is a crisis in equine veterinary medicine, where only 1.4% of all veterinary graduates in the United States (58 out of 4000 in 2023) go into a practice limited to horses. Of these, 50% quit within five years (these statistics are found on the AAEP and the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) websites. The number of new veterinarians entering horse practices is less than those leaving, and the AAEP and the AVMA are moving fast to entice new graduates to join our ranks and, more importantly, stay. They do this by increasing the starting salaries, among other incentives. The cost of employing veterinarians or maintaining the horse practice places more pressure on owners to generate an income. Some look to dentistry to help with their profits, which is a good plan, but there are drawbacks. One of the first hurdles to becoming good at equine dentistry is becoming good at doing this. It is a skill that takes time to improve and becomes more challenging when the patient moves or objects. The solution for many is to sedate the horse automatically, doing nothing for the pain they are experiencing. Is this the best option for the horse? How does any medication affect horses that are healthy or who have underlying conditions, such as metabolic syndrome or gut ulcers? All medicines, such as antibiotics, antiinflammatories, and sedatives, cause a change in the gut microbiome (dysbiosis), leading to malabsorption and even ulceration. Would a technique that floats the horse while minimizing their pain without medication be better? Another hurdle is the lack of scientific evidence proving the causation between any dental disease espoused by the American Veterinary Dental College—Equine and their solution. For example, recently, a board-certified veterinary equine dentist suggested that removing all incisor teeth is an acceptable treatment for a disease (EOTRH) they don't have a cause for, nor any proof that tooth removal is more than palliative. Worse, alternative options with a history of helping these horses are not only not mentioned but laughed at publically, as I heard several times at the AAEP meeting with Dr Dixon—laughed at! An even more complex problem exists in areas where only veterinarians are allowed to float teeth. This limitation prevents horse owners from choosing what is best for their horses without evidence of a superior technique (hand floating without medication versus power equipment on restrained and sedated horses). Many owners do not want their horses automatically drugged, often to the point that they fall to the ground. They don't want their horses immobilized through medications, speculums, braces, stocks, and helpers holding their heads. However, with the restrictions imposed by government regulations, the horse owners have only three choices: They don't have their horses' teeth maintained. Suffer through a technique they don't like. Ship their horses to a place where floating is legal. This last choice places a financial and time burden on the horse owner and increases the horse's risk. The first choice neglects the pain the horse suffers from sharp teeth but addresses the suffering the owner goes through as their horse becomes an object. Further, what if the horse owner feels that the veterinarian isn't good at this job? They can't mention this observation because there are too few veterinarians willing to come to their farm as it is without offending the floating veterinarian with their concern about their competency. Worse, many veterinarians include dentistry in their annual wellness visit, forcing the techniques veterinarians use on the horse and owner because of the discount given for the wellness visit package. In other words, forcing horse owners to use a veterinarian for routine dental maintenance performed for over 100 years by non-veterinarians is unfair to owners wanting to use a time-tested approach to dentistry for their horses. But let's look at time-tested, observational, anecdotal evidence and ask if it is better or worse than peer-reviewed, randomized, controlled trials (RCT). The first thing to do is find quality RCT papers in equine dentistry; none are available. Quality comes from various factors including, but not limited to, confounding variables, the power of the study (how many horses), the statistical analysis (significance), and bias of the subjects and the study in general. The papers and texts I read on dentistry in horses published in veterinary journals or presented at veterinary conferences are mostly case reports or collections of case reports to establish a pattern. These collections often have dozens to hundreds of horses nicely grouped by age, breed, or pathology. Occasionally, an RCT appears with 10 to 20 horses selected due to age or breed, and an attempt to show causality made using poorly formed statistics for all horses on the planet. It is ridiculous to think that a dental disease studied in Thoroughbreds stabled at a race track eating pounds (kilos) of grain will have any association with the outcome of horses living in another country fed differently with a different use. No RCTs determine the long-term outcomes of floating teeth using any technique. This statement means no person can accurately say what is best for horses regarding their dental care. All there is is anecdotal evidence and observational studies. Yet, in the past 25 years, no governing body has asked me to contribute my accumulated knowledge from 41 years of looking at 80,000+ horses. Instead, they say I do not "fit the standard of practice," according to a handful of people unwilling to find the answers needed to help the horse. These same few people determine the laws based on no scientific evidence of what they say. There are good and bad equine dentists, regardless of having a degree in veterinary medicine. What counts is experience, but more importantly, sharing this experience. I have done so since 2007 on all social media platforms, several websites, and my podcast. Horse owners know there are other approaches to dentistry, but because of laws, they cannot use them. Veterinarians are worried about their practice, either in the solvency or their credibility, if non-veterinarians float teeth. However, we became horse vets to help horses, and we can do this by using non-veterinarians to be our eyes on the dental issues of the horses we care for. Legislation in the US states where non-veterinarians are allowed to work on horses' teeth states that they only use hand floats and do not give any medications. Allowing them to work frees up the veterinarian's time. They can even be part of the practice, bringing in a portion of that income without the time needed to perform the routine float. With training, non-veterinarians are sentinels for further problems, and the veterinarian can apply the training and skills required to address the pathology. This approach of working together becomes a win-win for the horse, the horse owner, the non-veterinary floater, and the veterinarian. Further, in an age where the supply of equine veterinarians is shrinking, and their location of care is focused on urban areas, the following can occur: Horse owners will be more willing to provide their horses with the necessary routine care, which is a win for horses. More people can make a living income in the horse industry by providing horse maintenance, which farriers have done. The vet can employ a non-veterinarian to increase their income by offering floating through their practice. The owner can choose between the non-veterinarian's hand floating or the veterinarian's "advanced" approach. The horse owner can feel confident that if pathology is discovered by the routine floating, the veterinarian can follow up. After 51 years of working with horses and 41 years of floating their teeth, it is becoming evident that the turf battle between the veterinarian and the non-veterinarian over who should be floating horses is doing nothing but making it difficult for horse owners to get the routine care they need. We can create a better solution for our horses if we all start working together. More horse vets are needed, especially in rural areas, to provide basic care, but the number of them is growing smaller. Owners cannot afford the time or money to ship their horses to a clinic for this routine care, and they don't have the skills, and possibly the physical ability, to float horses. Horsemanship dentistry is teachable and can be done effectively without medication. I know this because of my experience with the number of horses I have floated and the success of students learning this technique. A simple fact about horses' teeth remains: If a horse is chewing, the teeth need doing (floating). With the decline in available horse vets in rural areas, their work is spread thin among the horse population. Non-veterinarians are performing a needed service, and veterinarians can learn to work with them as they have with other non-veterinary horse professionals. They are not there to diagnose, but as primary service providers with eyes and ears, they can help promote the local veterinarian for things they are well trained for. /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31298942

Why Is Sugar Toxic For Horses? - #125 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 05/08/2024

Why Is Sugar Toxic For Horses? - #125 The Horse's Advocate Podcast This podcast is about sugar as a fuel for our horses to use when it's needed to run away from danger. However, I also tell the story of the risks of eating more sugar daily than is required to fuel the body. The first thing to know is that the body can make all the sugar needed to make it through the day. Adding sugar to food is required for only two things: replenishing stored sugar as glycogen for the next emergency and storing it as body fat for future use. Think of it as cash that you have either quick access to on a bank debit card (glycogen) or cash stored in a long-term asset requiring time to get, such as stocks or property (body fat). Further, think of using fat as fuel steadily released from body fat into the cell, like dividends automatically deposited into your bank. When sugar is released freely into the blood or cells, it sticks to proteins, preventing them from doing their jobs and causing damage. Over time, this damage will cause the demise of the cell and the horse. So why are you still feeding grain and giving hay 24/7? ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag (). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31123358

The Five Rules To Feeding Horses - #124 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 05/01/2024

The Five Rules To Feeding Horses - #124 The Horse's Advocate Podcast This podcast breaks down how to feed horses into five simple rules based on what the food does, good and bad, within the horse. It is a short discussion that avoids a deep dive into science. Instead, it is a to-the-point instruction set for those wondering why their horses are falling apart in front of their eyes and what they can do to help the horse survive. There are no gimmicks or supplements. If your horse is sick or lame, there is a strong chance it has been caused by the food they eat. I tell you in the first part my five rules for feeding horses. After this, if you want to understand why I made these rules, I lightly go into the science. Future podcasts will go deeper into details to strengthen your ability to share what works for your horses with those still feeding the foods that make them unsound, unhealthy, or both. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag (). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/31079298

A Deep Look At EOTRH of Horse Teeth - #123 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 04/24/2024

A Deep Look At EOTRH of Horse Teeth - #123 The Horse's Advocate Podcast This podcast provides an alternative perspective to an interview published in an equine veterinary magazine with a board-certified veterinary equine dentist about EOTRH (Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis). I am troubled by what was said. Professionals are skipping to conclusions in a world demanding scientific evidence for decision-making on health issues. Worse, their focus is on treating this disease while saying multiple times that the cause is still unknown. In addition, alternative views are ignored and never mentioned, while there is good anecdotal evidence of many more cases of this disease. I hold nothing back but often become speechless. After 41 years of working on horse teeth, I have some thoughts that need airing, and I do so here. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag (). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/30944323

The Basics Of Breeding Mares And Delivering Foals - #122 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 04/17/2024

The Basics Of Breeding Mares And Delivering Foals - #122 The Horse's Advocate Podcast This podcast discusses the basics of breeding the mare and delivering the newborn foal. The number one rule of getting your mare bred is to develop good daily observational skills and record what you observe. This will show the subtle signs needed to get your mare bred successfully. The next most important thing to do is to create a good working relationship with a veterinarian skilled in reproduction. Delivering mares requires no intervention 90% of the time. However, you should still attend because they will need help for the remaining 10%. Of these problematic births, one will be life-threatening for the mare, foal, or both. I discuss how and when to intervene and when you need to call your veterinarian. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag (). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/30844883

The Two Responsibilities Of Horse Owners - #121 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 04/10/2024

When Making Decisions About Feeding Horses, Choose Your Battles Wisely - #120 The Horse's Advocate Podcast 04/03/2024

When Making Decisions About Feeding Horses, Choose Your Battles Wisely - #120 The Horse's Advocate Podcast This podcast discusses a comment by a listener who likes what I'm saying but doesn't like to feed herself or her horses anything genetically modified or treated with chemicals. All of us will agree with her. But is it possible in today's world? Is avoiding these two criteria (GMOs and chemicals) important relative to other factors, such as chronic protein deficiency? What can we control with the care of horses, and what is beyond our control? Most horse foods are altered and treated worldwide, keeping production costs low, yields high, and making horse food affordable. However, removing processed food with multiple ingredients from your horses' diet decreases exposure to GMOs and chemicals and removes their inflammatory effects. We need to work with what is given to us to make choices about feeding horses. Realize what is in our control and exclude things beyond it. Evolution perfected horses, but not for today's world. If you can find and afford organically grown food or turn them out on chemically free and ancient seeded pasture, then do so. But if you cannot, remove what you can from your horses' diet to reduce inflammation and add high-quality protein. The benefits of feeding to follow their evolution outweigh the effects of feeding imperfect food. ********** is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag (). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World." /episode/index/show/thehorsesadvocate/id/30659188

The Horse's Advocate Podcast

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