With a $100 or more donation, choose your HOME STUDY COURSE and learn in the comfort of your own home! Just go here: www.thepenzanchorse.com and make a donation then shoot me a PM to tell me what course you’d like to study. 🙂 Any questions, just holler at me! 🙂
What a funny word. Puts me in mind of tiny little cartoon buggies running around our guts.
Actually, did you know that we are MORE “buggies” (bacterial cells) than we are human cells?
The same applies to our horses.
So what, you ask?
I’ll tell you what — those microbiome buggies are the little critters that keep us healthy!
Over 80% of the immune system lies in the gut … in these little gut buggies. And THAT is a HUGE deal!
Our bodies and our horses’ bodies are full of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi. They are collectively known as the microbiome.
Some of the bacteria is related to diseases while others are extremely important to the immune system and overall health.
In fact, there are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells. There are roughly 40 trillion bacterial cells in your body and only 30 trillion human cells. That means you are more bacteria than human (1, 2).
In fact, there are up to 1,000 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiome, and each of them plays a different role in your body. Most of them are extremely important for your health, while others can and do cause disease.
In the hindgut of a horse, changes in the bacteria levels through dietary disruption, seasonal changes, stress, or age can lead to colic and laminitis, causing lameness or even death in severe cases. In this study, we profiled bacterial communities from fecal samples collected and submitted by horse-owners participating in the Equine Microbiome Project (EMP) and correlated differences in community structure with feed type, specifically horses eating exclusively hay, pasture, a hay-concentrate mix, or a combination of pasture, hay, and concentrate as reported in EMP metadata surveys. –https://www.j-evs.com/article/S0737-0806(17)30256-3/abstract
So, I ask you – which kind of bacteria are you feeding YOUR HORSE? (Well, and yourself, too — after all, our horses needs their humans to be healthy in order to take care of them, right?)
A very wise man once stated, “All disease begins in the gut.” — Hippocrates
Well, that doesn’t include genetic diseases but we’re talking metabolics here.
Think of Cushings, Insulin Resistance, EMS, Auto-immune, Leaky Gut, and so many more chronic nasties. THESE are the types of diseases with which our domestic horses are challenged more and more each day.
This has a lot to do with the different gut bacteria residing in the digestive tracts, as well as the integrity of the gut lining (1).
According to numerous studies, unwanted bacterial products called endotoxins can sometimes “leak” through and enter the bloodstream (2).
When this happens, the immune system recognizes these foreign molecules and mounts an attack against them, resulting in a chronic inflammatory response (3).
Inflammation is the response of the immune system to foreign invaders, toxins or cell injury.
Suffice to say, diet-induced inflammation has been shown to trigger insulin resistance, leptin resistance (causing obesity), fatty liver disease, and has been strongly linked to many of the world’s most serious diseases (4, 5, 6)
Without going into much more detail and totally bogging down our minds, suffice to say that, once again, Hippocrates was right when he said,
“Let thy medicine be thy food and thy food be thy medicine.”
So now, you know what MICROBIOMES are, how they affect your horses’ overall health (and your own). I guess the question now arises as to … do you want to learn more?
The key questions being … What are you gonna do now that you know this?
Ask me about my WHOLE HEALTH for the WHOLE HORSE protocol.
Don’t be shy. Email to me: gwen.santagate@gmail.com or even call me on the phone +1 860.556.9199 Let’s set up some time to chat further.
Many horse owners have been frightened into putting their horses into dry lots, keeping them off grass and feeding expensive, ‘specially formulated’ feeds and supplements to ‘manage’ their horses’ dis-eases. From arthritis to Cushings to EMS and IR, COPD, Allergies, Ulcers, HOOF ISSUES, and more …
Over the years I have had veterinarians, trainers, owners, professionals tell me that I was killing my horses and my clients horses by advocating for, recommending and feeding a raw organic “Salad” diet to the horses. Even telling me/us that the improvement in their horses’ health was a “Placebo” effect!
HOW RIDICULOUS!
And, as I’ve been harping on ORGANIC foods, for both horses AND humans (and other critters, too), I’ve gotten poo-poo’d and ridiculed and called names, even.
I’ve SEEN the results of the WHOLE HEALTH FOR THE WHOLE HORSE diet in my own horses AND in my clients’ horses!
It’s NOT a ‘placebo’ effect any more than the moon is made of swiss cheese.
It’s real.
And here’s WHY … MUST WATCH!!!
EPA limits for glyphosate residues as published in the Federal Register.
180.364 Glyphosate tolerances for residues.
(a) General. (1) Tolerances are established for residues of glyphosate, including its metabolites and degradates, in or on the commodities listed below resulting from the application of glyphosate, the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, the ethanolamine salt of glyphosate, the dimethylamine salt of glyphosate, the ammonium salt of glyphosate, and the potassium salt of glyphosate. Compliance with the following tolerance levels is to be determined by measuring only glyphosate ( N- (phosphonomethyl)glycine).
| Commodity | Parts per million |
| Acerola | 0.2 |
| Alfalfa, seed | 0.5 |
| Almond, hulls | 25 |
| Aloe vera | 0.5 |
| Ambarella | 0.2 |
| Animal feed, nongrass, group 18 | 400 |
| Artichoke, globe | 0.2 |
| Asparagus | 0.5 |
| Atemoya | 0.2 |
| Avocado | 0.2 |
| Bamboo, shoots | 0.2 |
| Banana | 0.2 |
| Barley, bran | 30 |
| Beet, sugar, dried pulp | 25 |
| Beet, sugar, roots | 10 |
| Beet, sugar, tops | 10 |
| Berry and small fruit, group 13-07 | 0.20 |
| Betelnut | 1.0 |
| Biriba | 0.2 |
| Blimbe | 0.2 |
| Breadfruit | 0.2 |
| Cacao bean, bean | 0.2 |
| Cactus, fruit | 0.5 |
| Cactus, pads | 0.5 |
| Canistel | 0.2 |
| Canola, seed | 20 |
| Carrot | 5.0 |
| Chaya | 1.0 |
| Cherimoya | 0.2 |
| Citrus, dried pulp | 1.5 |
| Coconut | 0.1 |
| Coffee, bean, green | 1.0 |
| Corn, pop, grain | 0.1 |
| Corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husk removed | 3.5 |
| Cotton, gin byproducts | 210 |
| Custard apple | 0.2 |
| Date, dried fruit | 0.2 |
| Dokudami | 2.0 |
| Durian | 0.2 |
| Epazote | 1.3 |
| Feijoa | 0.2 |
| Fig | 0.2 |
| Fish | 0.25 |
| Fruit, citrus, group 10-10 | 0.50 |
| Fruit, pome, group 11-10 | 0.20 |
| Fruit, stone, group 12 | 0.2 |
| Galangal, roots | 0.2 |
| Ginger, white, flower | 0.2 |
| Gourd, buffalo, seed | 0.1 |
| Governor’s plum | 0.2 |
| Gow kee, leaves | 0.2 |
| Grain, cereal, forage, fodder and straw, group 16, except field corn, forage and field corn, stover | 100 |
| Grain, cereal, group 15 except field corn, popcorn, rice, sweet corn, and wild rice | 30 |
| Grass, forage, fodder and hay, group 17 | 300 |
| Guava | 0.2 |
| Herbs subgroup 19A | 0.2 |
| Hop, dried cones | 7.0 |
| Ilama | 0.2 |
| Imbe | 0.2 |
| Imbu | 0.2 |
| Jaboticaba | 0.2 |
| Jackfruit | 0.2 |
| Kava, roots | 0.2 |
| Kenaf, forage | 200 |
| Leucaena, forage | 200 |
| Longan | 0.2 |
| Lychee | 0.2 |
| Mamey apple | 0.2 |
| Mango | 0.2 |
| Mangosteen | 0.2 |
| Marmaladebox | 0.2 |
| Mioga, flower | 0.2 |
| Noni | 0.20 |
| Nut, pine | 1.0 |
| Nut, tree, group 14 | 1.0 |
| Oilseeds, group 20, except canola | 40 |
| Okra | 0.5 |
| Olive | 0.2 |
| Oregano, Mexican, leaves | 2.0 |
| Palm heart | 0.2 |
| Palm heart, leaves | 0.2 |
| Palm, oil | 0.1 |
| Papaya | 0.2 |
| Papaya, mountain | 0.2 |
| Passionfruit | 0.2 |
| Pawpaw | 0.2 |
| Pea, dry | 8.0 |
| Peanut | 0.1 |
| Peanut, hay | 0.5 |
| Pepper leaf, fresh leaves | 0.2 |
| Peppermint, tops | 200 |
| Perilla, tops | 1.8 |
| Persimmon | 0.2 |
| Pineapple | 0.1 |
| Pistachio | 1.0 |
| Pomegranate | 0.2 |
| Pulasan | 0.2 |
| Quinoa, grain | 5.0 |
| Rambutan | 0.2 |
| Rice, grain | 0.1 |
| Rice, wild, grain | 0.1 |
| Rose apple | 0.2 |
| Sapodilla | 0.2 |
| Sapote, black | 0.2 |
| Sapote, mamey | 0.2 |
| Sapote, white | 0.2 |
| Shellfish | 3.0 |
| Soursop | 0.2 |
| Spanish lime | 0.2 |
| Spearmint, tops | 200 |
| Spice subgroup 19B | 7.0 |
| Star apple | 0.2 |
| Starfruit | 0.2 |
| Stevia, dried leaves | 1.0 |
| Sugar apple | 0.2 |
| Sugarcane, cane | 2.0 |
| Sugarcane, molasses | 30 |
| Surinam cherry | 0.2 |
| Sweet potato | 3.0 |
| Tamarind | 0.2 |
| Tea, dried | 1.0 |
| Tea, instant | 7.0 |
| Teff, forage | 100 |
| Teff, grain | 5.0 |
| Teff, hay | 100 |
| Ti, leaves | 0.2 |
| Ti, roots | 0.2 |
| Ugli fruit | 0.5 |
| Vegetable, bulb, group 3-07 | 0.20 |
| Vegetable, cucurbit, group 9 | 0.5 |
| Vegetable, foliage of legume, subgroup 7A, except soybean | 0.2 |
| Vegetable, fruiting, group 8-10 (except okra) | 0.10 |
| Vegetable, leafy, brassica, group 5 | 0.2 |
| Vegetable, leafy, except brassica, group 4 | 0.2 |
| Vegetable, leaves of root and tuber, group 2, except sugar beet tops | 0.2 |
| Vegetable, legume, group 6 except soybean and dry pea | 5.0 |
| Vegetables, root and tuber, group 1, except carrot, sweet potato, and sugar beet | 0.20 |
| Wasabi, roots | 0.2 |
| Water spinach, tops | 0.2 |
| Watercress, upland | 0.2 |
| Wax jambu | 0.2 |
| Yacon, tuber | 0.2 |
(2) Tolerances are established for residues of glyphosate, including its metabolites and degradates, in or on the commodities listed below resulting from the application of glyphosate, the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, the ethanolamine salt of glyphosate, the dimethylamine salt of glyphosate, the ammonium salt of glyphosate, and the potassium salt of glyphosate. Compliance with the following tolerance levels is to be determined by measuring only glyphosate ( N- (phosphonomethyl)glycine) and its metabolite N- acetyl-glyphosate ( N- acetyl- N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine; calculated as the stoichiometric equivalent of glyphosate).
| Commodity | Parts per Million |
| Cattle, meat byproducts | 5.0 |
| Corn, field, forage | 13 |
| Corn, field, grain | 5.0 |
| Corn, field, stover | 100 |
| Egg | 0.05 |
| Goat, meat byproducts | 5.0 |
| Grain aspirated fractions | 310.0 |
| Hog, meat byproducts | 5.0 |
| Horse, meat byproducts | 5.0 |
| Poultry, meat | 0.10 |
| Poultry, meat byproducts | 1.0 |
| Sheep, meat byproducts | 5.0 |
| Soybean, forage | 100.0 |
| Soybean, hay | 200.0 |
| Soybean, hulls | 120.0 |
| Soybean, seed | 20.0 |
(b) Section 18 emergency exemptions. [Reserved]
(c) Tolerances with regional registrations. [Reserved]
(d) Indirect or inadvertent residues. [Reserved]
[45 FR 64911, Oct. 1, 1980]
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 180.364, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.fdsys.gov .
This is a LIVE Q&A (well recorded live) session that I did in SW FL. Part of the plans for PENZANCE now is to be offering regular Q&A sessions again. This one goes over some of the Essential Oils that we use here on the farm as well as a brief, overall synopsis of what our WHOLE HEALTH FOR THE WHOLE HORSE protocol is.
ENJOY!
The following is a note that I received from a client last night. It just made my heart sing! THIS is why I do this! THIS is why I continue to advocate for feeding horses and keeping horses like … well, horses!
Welp. I just got disowned by my first mentor who certified me in trimming. Not for changing the way i trim a bit, but because my horses are out on pasture and I’m feeding them a whole foods diet. In her words, “its irresponsible and she cannot condone such misguided advice for horses, let alone cushings/ir type.”
But i wanted to thank you again, because buck is better than he has ever been and he is so much happier. Fabio is doing great, he can run on gravel even though his hooves are not even close to being good. And my new girl is already debloating and I think her eyes are even less swollen today and its only been three days since i brought her home.
Her and two others like her were saved and are happy and galloping around because of youi told my friend we could take a chance on this gelding who was dry lotted, fat, super lame, in shoes and worsening rotation. We took him and turned him out to pasture, did some very specific, barely noticeable trimming and in 6 weeks he was galloping around the pasture. Once that barn learned we fixed him another lady asked us to take her two who had the exact same problems. So we now have three registered rocky mountain horses for free who are sound and no longer in pain. These two we just got we had her farrier not touch since the last trim and they came sound a few weeks ago without her trimming, but they still had them locked up in small dry lots with alfalfa and salt blocks. And both have huge cresty necks, bulging eyes and those weird fat deposits in the shoulders and rump. The first one did too but not as bad and he looks amazing now.
Thanks to you, I now know the truth behind truly healthy, happy horses. It was hard for me to let go and feed Buck all these things that logically seem healthy and good, but had been brainwashed into believing they were culprits… how silly!
Anywho, thank you for being you and for standing up for the truth. –Lacelynn, Peoria, IL
I and PENZANCE Partners are now in the planning stages for 2019 Workshops and Clinics.
and more … STAY TUNED!
If you would like to be kept informed as to the happenings here on PENZANCE for 2019, please email to: gwen.santagate@gmail.com and your name and contact information will be recorded for future announcements.
Thank you!
🙂 — We are EXCITED to begin this new journey with PENZANCE Equine Integrative Solutions!
PENZANCE Equine Integrative Solutions is now nestled in the “Quiet Corner” of CT.
A move from Douglas, MA to SW Florida did not pan out the way it was expected. Many factors played into the decision to move back to New England from FL but mostly health reasons for the horses and humans alike.
It was a good move.
PENZANCE now has the room to offer clinics and workshops covering WHOLE HEALTH for the WHOLE HORSE. Equine Natural Nutrition, Natural Balanced Hoofcare, Clicker Training, Faith-based Equine Assisted Personal Development as well as general Equine Connections are all part of what is to come in the spring of 2019. Plans are being put into place to host Guest Experts in the Equine Natural Care, as well. Stay Tuned!
In the meantime, while you are waiting for the exciting new events in 2019, Gwenyth Santagate, founder and owner of PENZANCE Equine Integrative Solutions, offers private and semi-private sessions in all of the above mentioned areas. If you would like to talk with Gwenyth or schedule an introductory appointment (or regular appoinment) please feel free to email to her: gwen.santagate@gmail.com or call her (860) 556-9199.
You are invited to also connect with Gwenyth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwenyth.santagate as well as through a number of PENZANCE Equine groups and pages.
Please — if you have particular workshops or clinics that you would like to see offered here in “The Quiet Corner” of CT, jot them down below in the comments and we’ll see what we can do.
Be blessed.
Just wanted to share this. Received today .. just moments ago. It truly does warm my heart! …
ME: The BEST supplement for hooves is 1. as much movement the horse can get in a 24/7 period of time and 2. RAW FORAGE … supplement 24/7 hay/grazing with fresh veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds. THAT feeds the immune system and will strengthen new hoof growth like you’ve never seen before!
LAURA O: I learned this from you 20 years ago, Gwen and since then I’ve grown a garden just for them every year. Also, as part of the movement plan/rehab, we go for walks or I gather things to feed them. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence and have realized that horses really do love new ground! It’s done wonders for Promenade Walks as well. I’ll start off with coaxing and discomfort and I’ll be thinking enough, maybe we should go back, but then I get 200’ down the road, the ears prick forward, the heel first landings begin and suddenly I’m being dragged forward. With a balanced diet, the trees are no longer getting chewed on any more either. No composting bin needed either. The veggie trimmings that are safe, go straight to the barn. I’ll do a hay test every year, but that’s just a small part of it. What I don’t know, they tell me
“Horses, as with humans, have preferences and it is best to allow your horse to choose their essential oil; they will generally indicate to you what they need if you listen and observe. Offer the essential oil to them to smell. “If the horse has an imbalance in the physical sense, it will probably use its right nostril first. If the problem is more emotionally based, the horse will use its left nostril first. The right nostril is linked to the side of the brain, which governs the horse’s functions. The left nostril is linked to the right side of the brain, which governs the intuitive side. When we are working with horses we want them in their left-brain where they will be thinking not reacting instinctively, which they do if in their right-brain. If the horse is interested it will move the required nostril over the oil and inhale. If it is not interested the horse will move away.” Any essential oils that your horse turns away from put aside for that day. When using aromatherapy with animals or people it is always best to respect and trust the individuals desires and inner wisdom.”
–Judy Andrews
Read more: http://www.equineherbalist.ie/blog/87-food-therapy-for-a-healthy-horse.html
Gwen can help you personally tailor a diet for YOUR HORSE, individually, to address whatever health challenges your horse might be having. Please email to: gwen.santagate@gmail.com to inquire.
