DePaolo Equine Concepts & Horse Hair Analysis

06/15/2026

Thoughts from the haystack this morning 🐎

Do y'all remember the old movie Miracle on 34th Street?🎄

A child is sitting on Santa's lap at Macy's, asking for a toy. Macy's doesn't have the toy as good or as cheap as Gimbels, so Santa tells the mother to go buy it from Gimbels instead.

I never imagined a movie scene would influence the way I run a business, but it absolutely did.

Years ago, I made a commitment to myself that I would never create or sell a product unless it met three standards:

✅ There isn't already a product like it on the market.

✅ I can offer it better than my competitors.

✅ I can offer it at a better value than my competitors.

It's easy to say those things in theory. It's much harder to actually live by them.

Many of you know I'm currently developing my own horse feed line: organic, soy-free, filler-free, and sugar-free. But it's not ready yet.

And yet I've sent thousands of clients and horse owners a list of feeds that I do approve of. I don't make a penny in commission when I send someone to a competitor's product, and I never will.

Why?

Because I care more about the health of your horse than I do about making a sale.

I'm not going to keep a horse on a feed I don't believe in simply because my own feed isn't available yet. And yes, I could release a feed tomorrow that doesn't meet all of my standards. Plenty of companies would.

But that would violate the very reason I started this business in the first place.

If I'm going to put my name on something, it has to be something I truly believe improves the lives of horses and the people who love them.

Just a couple of thoughts from the barn this morning.

06/13/2026

Current status report: 🚨

Somehow there are 147 emails, 67 text messages, 6 "quick questions," 3 urgent projects, 2 fires to put out, and somehow a partridge in a pear tree.

At this point, my to-do list has developed its own zip code.

If anyone needs me, I'll be under a mountain of paperwork, surviving on caffeine, determination, and the false belief that "I'll be caught up"

Send snacks. Or a clone. Preferably both. 😂📚☕️

06/11/2026

🪱 SCREWWORMS: What Horse Owners Need to Know 🪱

These definitely aren't the cute caterpillars of spring. Screwworms are a serious parasite capable of causing devastating damage to livestock and wildlife.

The good news? Don't panic.

Most horses are at relatively low risk because they're housed in barns, receive regular care, and are closely monitored by attentive owners. That said, there are some important steps you can take during an outbreak:

✅ 1. Check your horse daily for wounds. Inspect your horse for any cuts, scrapes, sores, or areas of irritated skin, especially where hair is thin or absent. Screwworm flies are attracted to open wounds and lay eggs that hatch into larvae, which then burrow into living tissue.

✅ 2. Support the immune system and skin health. A strong immune system and healthy skin barrier are your horse's first line of defense. Good nutrition and proper supplementation can help maintain healthy skin and support the body's natural protective mechanisms.

✅ 3. Practice aggressive fly control. Reducing fly populations reduces risk. I recommend using cedar oil spray as a natural fly deterrent and feeding garlic as a feed-through fly preventative to help keep flies away.

✅ 4. Don't reach for ivermectin "just in case." While ivermectin can be effective against screwworms in their earliest stages, prophylactically treating every horse is not the answer. Most horses will never develop a screwworm infestation, and unnecessary medications can create other issues. Treat the horse in front of you.......not the fear.

Take care of your horses, stay observant, and remember: the United States has successfully eradicated screwworms before, and I have every confidence we can do it again.

We'll get through this together. ❤️🐴

Do you feed garlic as a fly preventative?

06/11/2026

Watch a veterinarian transform after cutting out caffeine... ☕➡️😴

😂😂😂

To all the people who say, "You don't need caffeine, just get more sleep"...

Respectfully, that's not how this works, I bleed coffee at this point. ☕

Tag the coffee addict in your life who would look exactly like this after 24 hours without caffeine. 👇☕

06/10/2026

🎬 My Top 5 Horror Movies 🎬

Y'all knew this trend was coming... and if you've followed me for any length of time, these answers probably won't surprise you.

🥇 #1: Big Pharma Because nothing is scarier than a system that profits more from managing disease than preventing it. Healthy patients don't buy nearly as many products as chronically sick ones.

🥈 #2: Soy Because I see the effects of inflammatory diets every single day. Metabolic issues, gut problems, hormone disruption, chronic inflammation, it's become one of the biggest nutritional concerns I encounter in horses.

🥉 #3: EPM Because this disease can mimic almost anything. One day your horse seems a little off, the next you're dealing with neurological symptoms that can be life-changing if not caught early.

🏅 #4: Yearly Vaccines Because medicine should be individualized. Every horse is different, every risk level is different, and the idea that every horse needs the exact same schedule year after year doesn't sit well with me.

🎖️ #5: Vets Who Refuse to Treat Without Updated Vaccines Because when an owner is facing an emergency, the focus should be on helping the animal in front of us. Education is important. Vaccination discussions are important. But compassionate care should always come first.

Now it's your turn...

🎬 What are YOUR Top 5 Horror Movies?

Drop them in the comments. 👇😆

06/03/2026

Alright, it's time to talk about vaccines during pregnancy.🐎

Back when I was breeding Arabian horses, I followed the standard vaccination protocols for pregnant mares because that's what I was taught to do. But over time, I started noticing something that made me ask questions. In my own program, I seemed to see more pregnancy complications and foal abnormalities during the years I vaccinated pregnant mares than during the years I chose not to.

So I did what I always do.......I started digging deeper, studying, researching, and evaluating my own results.

After years of observation and continuing education, I personally became more comfortable not vaccinating pregnant mares during gestation. In my breeding program, I felt like I saw healthier pregnancies and healthier foals when I took that approach.

One thing to remember is that a mother's body is incredibly efficient at passing antibodies and immune protection to her offspring. That's one of the many amazing jobs nature designed her to do.

❓️Here's a question worth thinking about:

When a woman becomes pregnant, do doctors routinely restart all of her childhood vaccinations simply because she's pregnant?

What are your thoughts? Did you vaccinate your pregnant mares, or did you choose a different path?

06/02/2026

🔥 Apparently y'all like Spicy Mark... so here you go.

One of the things I hear all the time is:

"I tried Horse Hair Analysis before and it didn't do anything."

Then I start digging into the program they used and... whew.

Somebody waving a silver coin on a string. Dipping hair into a mystery solution. Praying over it. Reading energy fields. Trust me, after 30 years in this industry, I've seen it all.

Now, by this point, you all know me. I believe in looking deeper. I believe in finding root causes instead of just masking symptoms. I believe in alternative therapies when they work.

But I also believe in science.

I'm not interested in guesswork. I'm a veterinarian, and I want data.

That's why our Horse Hair Analysis program partners with one of the foremost laboratories in the country. Your horse's hair is analyzed using a million-dollar mass spectrometer that measures the nutritional and mineral profile contained within the sample.

When you get your results back, you're not getting someone's opinion. You're getting real laboratory data that allows us to identify deficiencies, imbalances, and toxicities that may be affecting your horse's health and performance.

And here's where we do things differently.

Most companies hand you a list of 6, 8, or even 10 supplements to buy.

Not me.

I formulate ONE custom supplement specifically for your horse based on their results.

One supplement.
One feeding program.
Six-month supply.
Less than $1 per day.

I've now run nearly 20,000 Horse Hair Analyses, creating what is likely one of the largest databases of equine nutritional testing results in the country.

So if you're going to invest in testing, make sure you're getting science not superstition.

Your horse deserves better than guesswork.

👇 Have you ever had a Horse Hair Analysis performed? Tell me about your experience in the comments.

06/01/2026

📣 Calling All DePaolo Equine Concepts Fans! 🐴

We're coming to a feed store near you!

If you're in the Lansing, Kansas area, be sure to stop by and stock up on all your DePaolo Equine Concepts favorites. From gut health and immune support to performance and recovery, we're excited to make it even easier for you to get the products your horses love.

Whether you're already part of the DEC family or you've been curious about what makes our supplements different, now is the perfect time to stop in, say hello, and see what everyone is talking about.

✅ Soy-Free Formulas
✅ Human-Grade Ingredients
✅ Veterinarian Designed
✅ Focused on True Health, Not Just Masking Symptoms

Lansing, we can't wait to meet you and your horses! Let us know in the comments if you'll be stopping by. 👇🐎

DePaolo Equine Concepts INSTOCK
ESSENTIALS vitamins and minerals
OZACTIN extreme wellness
EXCEL digestive health

We can DROP ship ALSO
Lansing Lumber Farm & Feed

06/01/2026

📦 Another day, another full barn order headed out the door!

This barn keeps every horse on a daily foundation of Essential and Excel because they understand that peak performance starts long before you enter the arena. The healthiest horses are built from the inside out.

Too often, horse owners are forced into a cycle of chasing symptoms. But what if instead of constantly reacting to problems, you focused on supporting the body, the immune system, and the digestive tract so your horse could perform at its best every day?

A strong immune system, proper nutrition, and a healthy gut are the foundation of soundness, recovery, and longevity.

So here's the question:

❓ What is your horse's daily supplement program?

Are you masking symptoms... or are you feeding the body what it needs to thrive?

Tell us what's in your feed room below! ⬇️🐴💪

05/31/2026

We at DePaolo Equine Concepts are absolutely devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the Las Vegas barrel racing event. My heart go out to every athlete, horse owner, family member, and member of the equestrian community affected by this senseless act.

The bond between a horse and rider is unlike any other. These horses are not simply competitors they are trusted partners, beloved companions, and cherished members of the family. The pain and heartbreak being experienced by those affected is difficult to put into words, and we extend our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this tragedy.

We are also profoundly grateful for the veterinarians, event staff, first responders, and volunteers who stepped forward in an unimaginable situation to provide care, comfort, and support to both horses and people. Their dedication in the face of such a heartbreaking event deserves our deepest respect and appreciation.

To our equestrian community, we encourage you to take care of yourselves and one another. Hold your horses a little closer. Reach out to your friends, your fellow competitors, and your loved ones. Check on those who may be struggling. In times like these, community matters more than ever.

We also want to acknowledge the importance of mental health. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, depression, or thoughts of harming themselves or others, please seek help. There are resources, professionals, and support systems available. No one should have to face those challenges alone.

As the investigation continues, We encourage everyone to rely on verified information and allow law enforcement to do their work. We hope the individual responsible is brought to justice and receives any evaluation and treatment deemed necessary by the appropriate professionals.

The equestrian community has always been defined by resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to one another. I have no doubt that same spirit will help carry those affected through the difficult days ahead.

Our thoughts, prayers, and support remain with the victims, their families, and the entire barrel racing community.

With deepest sympathy,

DePaolo Equine Concepts

Mark DePaolo DVM