The Vital Horse Podcast

In this episode, I have guest Penny Thorpe, Advanced Applied Equine Podiatrist, with me to talk about hooves and trimming. We answer some questions sent in by listeners about how to recognise and nurture healthy and functional feet, and some general principles we find helpful in guiding decision-making. We had lots more excellent questions submitted than we had time to get to in this episode, so Penny will be back for another episode in future. We are running an in-person workshop on hooves and trimming at my track system rehabilitation yard in West Sussex, UK, on 12th July - learn more here or sign up by emailing lily@nurturingnatureequine.co.uk

About the host:
Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and ethical behaviour modification. She also offers a whole horse review and reset either via a home visit or bringing your horse to her facility, and runs online courses and one-to-one online consult calls.
Lily’s passion is helping people and animals to live their best life together by nurturing their all-round wellbeing and unique partnership. She is fascinated by all aspects of wellbeing from how the body functions in health and disease to how we all learn, think and feel, and how all of this is intertwined. She wants to help people on their journeys of discovering how to keep horses’ bodies and minds healthy, comfortable, active and engaged and to explore the integral role of both the horse’s and our emotions in all of this.

About the guest:
Penny Thorpe AEP has thirteen years experience as an Applied Equine Podiatrist covering the south east of the UK. She has a BA Hons, PGCE, Advanced level DAEP, Level 2 Photonic Red Light Therapy, and animal Reiki Level 2. She is also solo mumma to a 10 and 12 year old, and servant to two cats!

Relevant links:
Hooves and trimming in-person workshop
Whole horse review and reset
Whole horse rehab boarding
Husbandry for Happiness online course (coming soon)

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In this episode, I talk about sleep and rest, and how these affect the body, mind, and emotions. I cover why horses might have reduced sleep and rest amount or quality, and the toll this can take on them. I give you some things to observe in your own horse and their lifestyle to help them to get better sleep and rest.

About the host:
Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and ethical behaviour modification. She also offers a whole horse review and reset either via a home visit or bringing your horse to her facility, and runs online courses and one-to-one online consult calls.
Lily’s passion is helping people and animals to live their best life together by nurturing their all-round wellbeing and unique partnership. She is fascinated by all aspects of wellbeing from how the body functions in health and disease to how we all learn, think and feel, and how all of this is intertwined. She wants to help people on their journeys of discovering how to keep horses’ bodies and minds healthy, comfortable, active and engaged and to explore the integral role of both the horse’s and our emotions in all of this.

Relevant links:
Attuned Assessment Membership
Whole horse review and reset
Whole horse rehab boarding
Husbandry for Happiness online course (coming soon)

Please do subscribe and share this podcast where you think others also need to hear it.

In this episode, I talk about posture as both an indicator and an influencer of health and wellbeing. I cover which body areas to observe and which body areas have particular influence in governing posture, and how lifestyle and management can affect posture and the physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of our horses.

About the host:
Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and ethical behaviour modification. She also does home visits for whole horse evaluations and dentistry, and runs online courses, consultations, and coaching calls.
Lily’s passion is helping people and animals to live their best life together by nurturing their all-round wellbeing and unique partnership. She is fascinated by all aspects of wellbeing from how the body functions in health and disease to how we all learn, think and feel, and how all of this is intertwined. She wants to help people on their journeys of discovering how to keep horses’ bodies and minds healthy, comfortable, active and engaged and to explore the integral role of both the horse’s and our emotions in all of this.

Relevant links:
Attuned Assessment online workshop
Attuned Assessment in person workshop
Whole horse rehab boarding

Please do subscribe and share this podcast where you think others also need to hear it.

In this episode, I talked to Dr Daniella Vansteenkiste of VSK Veterinary Neurology. We looked at neurology, the importance of a thorough and focused physical examination when investigating for possible pain and dysfunction, and at pain physiology in a way that will help you as an owner to get the help your horse needs.

About the host:
Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and ethical behaviour modification. She also does home visits for whole horse evaluations and dentistry, and runs online courses, consultations, and coaching calls.
Lily’s passion is helping people and animals to live their best life together by nurturing their all-round wellbeing and unique partnership. She is fascinated by all aspects of wellbeing from how the body functions in health and disease to how we all learn, think and feel, and how all of this is intertwined. She wants to help people on their journeys of discovering how to keep horses’ bodies and minds healthy, comfortable, active and engaged and to explore the integral role of both the horse’s and our emotions in all of this.

About the guest:
Dr. Daniella Vansteenkiste is a board-certified veterinary neurologist with a lifelong passion for horses. With a strong international background, she offers expert consultations in equine neurology to support owners, veterinarians, and trainers seeking answers to complex neurological cases.

Dr. V earned her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London 2014. She then completed a small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey, followed by a research fellowship at the University of Missouri.

She completed her neurology and neurosurgery residency at The Ohio State University, where she also earned a master’s degree. Her thesis focused on cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM, also known as Wobbler’s Syndrome). Dr. V also completed her neurosurgery certificate and continues to invest time in learning new surgical techniques.

Dr. V sees small animal patients at Metropolitan Veterinary Associates, in Norristown, Pennsylvania where she sees a wide array of patients with both medical and neurosurgical problems. She is starting up a consulting service that she tells us more about in the episode itself, called VSK Veterinary Neurology.

In her spare time, Dr. V loves to work with her horses Zookie and Sesame. She strives to combine species appropriate care, good horsemanship and performance. At home, Dr. V loves to spend time with her husband and their pets, Victor (dachshund) and Marty (cat). If Dr. V wasn’t focusing all her time on her patients then she would probably open up a sourdough bakery!

Relevant links:
VSK Veterinary Neurology
Attuned Assessment
Whole horse rehab boarding

Please do subscribe and share this podcast where you think others also need to hear it.

In this episode, I talk with Yasmin Stuart, equine physiotherapist and trauma informed horse trainer, about our approach to horses, both philosophical and practical. We talk about our expectations of our horses and about having both an evidence base and intuition as to what we can ask of them and do for them, and reflect on some important lessons some very special horses have taught both of us. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation, and I think we have room for much more!

About the host:
Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and ethical behaviour modification. She also does home visits for whole horse evaluations and dentistry, and runs online courses, consultations, and coaching calls.
Lily’s passion is helping people and animals to live their best life together by nurturing their all-round wellbeing and unique partnership. She is fascinated by all aspects of wellbeing from how the body functions in health and disease to how we all learn, think and feel, and how all of this is intertwined. She wants to help people on their journeys of discovering how to keep horses’ bodies and minds healthy, comfortable, active and engaged and to explore the integral role of both the horse’s and our emotions in all of this.

About the guest:
Yasmin Stuart is an Equine Physiotherapist & Trauma Informed Horse Trainer who practices in the UK.
She combines evidence informed practice with philosophy and intuition to create positive changes in the horse industry by empowering horse guardians to make informed choices for their horse as a unique individual collaborating as an even more unique partnership.
Yasmin's approach combines behavioural assessment, manual therapy and movement therapy to support postural restoration and overall horse wellbeing.

Relevant links:
Yasmin Stuart Equine Physio
Yasmin on Facebook
Yasmin on Instagram
Attuned Assessment
Whole horse rehab boarding

Please do subscribe and share this podcast where you think others also need to hear it.