Rural Roots Ranch - Equine Bodywork

06/25/2026

It is vital that the St. Louis and surrounding area of equestrians come together to help save the NEC which is so vital to our community.

Preface: We are not a political organization nor do we desire to take sides or become embroiled in any political drama. Due to the critical nature of potentially losing the National Equestrian Center, we have been forced to become involved and help coordinate the community effort.

It’s 10:16pm and we just returned to Eureka from a meeting with elected officials and candidates that included Bill Eigel. It was a long meeting with lots of conversation, data points and a fair amount of emotion, including my own.

Mr. Eigel is running for St Charles County Executive and previously came out in favor of selling the National Equestrian Center. We were led to believe he had changed that stance and wanted to hear directly from him about his views. More on that tomorrow.

While it’s too early to have processed much about what I heard, felt and frankly said, I did come away with some thoughts and concerns:

- Now is the time to engage on this subject and save this very special facility.

- It’s time for the equestrian community to put aside our differences to join into a unified effort as a part of our collective sport/hobby/livelihood/passion is threatened.

- There are many passionate, driven, intelligent people who care about the equestrian community and the impact horses have on each of us and society.

- This can be the spark that creates a fire to continue lifting up our community beyond the work that is ahead to support the NEC.

As this effort moves forward, there will be lots more to tell, learn and do. Please join in the conversation and work if you feel compelled. It’s a way of life that is under threat more and more each day. This is simply one segment of that threat and we are all needed to overcome the challenges.

Thank you to everyone who engaged this evening. A very special thank you to Kim, Valerie and the team at Stonebridge Stables for coordinating and hosting this meeting!

~ Barn Dad

06/05/2026

Hay nets are your friend, especially if you have one of those “easy keepers”!

The horse pictured here is genetically predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and was given free choice, unlimited access to hay. He developed obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and ultimately insulin-induced laminitis. When he could no longer stand, hay was kept in front of him 24/7.

After getting a hay analysis, the owner was advised how much to feed based on actual energy requirements (calories consumed vs. calories expended), to weigh the hay, and to use slow feeders. When the horse was sound, the owner scattered the hay over several acres. The horse made a full recovery and achieved his ideal weight in 9 months.

For weight loss, a good rule of thumb is to feed 1.5% of current weight, or 2.0% of ideal body weight in hay (lbs/day), whichever is more. Example: Overweight horse of 1200 lbs, ideal weight is 1000 lbs. [1200 lbs x 0.015 = 18 lbs/day; 1000 lbs x 0.02 = 20 lbs/day]. Use of slow feeders or small hole hay nets will slow consumption. More information here: https://bit.ly/3Cmh50L

05/22/2026

Looking for some great exercises for your horse? Jec is a great resource!

One of my favorite exercises for waking up a horse’s nervous system is Zig Zag Poles. The goal is proprioceptive activity, meaning your horse has to constantly adjust his balance and stride to navigate variable gaps between poles. I call it nervous system training, and it works.

Set up your poles with different widths at each point of the zig zag, and experiment with raising some poles or leaving them flat. There’s no one right way, the variation is the work.

This exercise is one of 55 in my book 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses, available on my website. If you don’t have a copy yet, grab one. Your horse will thank you.

05/19/2026

“Girthy” is not a personality trait! Far too often, we dismiss a horse’s silent plea for help.

Some horses are labeled “girthy,” like it’s just part of who they are. But pinning ears, biting, kicking, swishing the tail, holding their breath, dancing away from the saddle, or acting suddenly resentful when the girth is tightened can be your horse’s way of saying: something hurts.

Pain Checklist: Signs Your Horse May Be Girthy

Watch for:
✅ Ears pinned when the saddle or girth comes out
✅ Biting, kicking, stomping, or swinging the head during tacking
✅ Flinching when touched around the girth, sternum, back, ribs, or shoulder
✅ Tail swishing, bracing, hollowing the back, or holding their breath
✅ Moving away, walking off, or acting anxious while being saddled
✅ Bucking, resistance, short-striding, or reluctance to move forward under saddle
✅ Sudden behavior change in a horse who used to tack up quietly
✅ Poor appetite, weight loss, dullness, attitude changes, or low-grade colic signs

What Could “Girthy” Mean?
Girthiness is not a diagnosis. It is a signal. It may point to:

• Gastric ulcers
• Back or pelvic pain
• Orthopedic soreness
• Poor saddle or girth fit
• Wither, rib, sternum, shoulder, or soft tissue pain
• Skin irritation, rubs, swelling, or sensitivity
• Abdominal discomfort
• A learned defensive response from previous pain

The big takeaway: don’t write it off as attitude.

If your horse is suddenly girthy, increasingly reactive, or showing other changes in performance or behavior, it’s worth talking with your veterinarian and checking saddle fit. Your horse may not be “being dramatic.” They may be asking for help.

05/15/2026

Facts matter. Science matters.
Please take a moment to read this important statement.

The mission of the ECIR Group Inc. is to improve the welfare of equines with metabolic disorders. A primary objective of the ECIR Group Inc. is education through outreach (https://ecir.groups.io/g/main), the NO! Laminitis Conference (https://www.nolaminitis.org/), webinars, our website (https://www.ecirhorse.org/) and social media via Facebook and Instagram. We are an evidence-based organization, meaning that protocols, advice, and recommendations are rooted in science. We believe real-life clinical experience should drive research, both in generating hypotheses and in the evaluation of treatment. As a non-profit organization, donations are used to further science related to equine metabolic disorders and to support various media to advance the group mission. Free support is provided by vetted and trained volunteers.

Our posts on Facebook are increasingly being dominated by people linked to a group of hoof care providers that push an opinion that laminitis is due to hoof imbalances, claiming that “diet doesn’t cause laminitis.” This oversimplified and naïve statement is steeped in ignorance, highlighting a complete lack of understanding of the physiology behind equine metabolic disorders and effect on the foot. It is well established scientifically, clinically, and through the personal experience of literally thousands of ECIR members that hyperinsulinemia is the direct cause of endocrinopathic laminitis. Exercise and dietary control of hydrolyzable carbohydrates (simple sugars and starch) are the most effective methods to reduce insulin and thereby prevent laminitis. Trimming the hoof capsule correctly to realign the boney column and soft tissue structure is critical to facilitate recovery.

We promote scientific discussion and debate when there is equal sharing of evidence-based facts. When commenters deviate from discussion and use our site to advance their unproven and unsupported theories, especially those that may cause harm, it gives the appearance that the ECIR Group supports their position.

We do not.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that there will always be equine marketers who are not giving you the best information to guide you through your journey to help your equine. We hope followers continue to benefit from what ECIR members have learned from 25 years of experience with equine metabolic disorders.

Kathleen Gustafson, PhD
President and Research Advisor

Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Veterinary Advisor

Cindy McGinley
Vice-President

Nancy Collins
Executive Director

Jodie Jensen
Treasurer

Jannalee Smithey
Secretary

Fran Metzger
Director

Ulrike Gast
Director

Sherry Morse
Director

05/14/2026

For anyone wanting to learn how to trim horses, this is a great deal from the fabulous Ida Hammer!

Please use coupon code NS to avoid shipping charges on classes All classes must be paid in full 14 days prior to class. Unfortunately class payments are non refundable. If for any reason you have...

05/09/2026

I highly recommend this testing. PPID can be subtle, so early detection is key.
I had Axel tested again this year (hooray for a negative test!). Testing in the spring will yield more accurate results than the STIM test.

Is your horse showing signs of PPID? Many horses go undiagnosed because early signs can be subtle.

Early detection is 🔑! Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your horse has PPID.

04/18/2026

Find your peace and your horse will follow. 🙌🏻🫶🏻

04/15/2026

How healthy is your horses hoof?