Tracy Equus Maximus

Some of the best learning I have ever done has been from standing next to someone with a different skill set, looking at the same horse, and comparing notes.

That is the idea behind the clinic I'll be co-hosting in Ohio.

From October 2 to 4, I will be at Creekside Eventing Complex in Brunswick for a joint clinic with Celeste-Leilani Lazaris, trainer, educator, and creator of the Balance Through Movement Method. Two different disciplines, one horse, working the same issues together. Some of you will already know Celeste from our webinars together. This time, we are bringing that collaboration into a venue, in person, over three days.

Mornings will be lecture-based. We are going to dig into the relationship between posture and hoof balance, how ground reaction force travels up through the hoof and into the body, and how the way a horse organises itself against gravity determines the load that comes back down through the foot. Two directions of the same loop.

Afternoons move onto demo horses. Celeste working with the body, me working with the feet, together, so everyone in the room can see what happens when both ends of the system are addressed together instead of in isolation.

This clinic is for anyone who works with horses. Farriers, trimmers, bodyworkers, physios, and other equine professionals who put their hands on horses, as well as trainers and educated owners who want to understand their horse as a whole system.

To secure your spot, contact Kate at [email protected].

See you in Ohio.

USA tour 2026

All the dates are set!

These are the confirmed dates and venues for the 2026 tour. I will tag all of the hosts in the comments and hopefully they can each post their respective ticket links, event pages, and booking information under this post.

A special mention also goes to the Ohio clinic at Creekside Eventing Complex, which will be a joint event with Celeste-Leilani Lazaris from Balance Through Movement. This one is shaping up to be something very special with lectures, practical demonstrations, treatments, and a real crossover between our respective fields.

I genuinely love online education, webinars, and social media because they allow ideas to spread globally. But there is still something different about live clinics.

You simply cannot beat being in a room together. The discussions over coffee. The debates that happen around horses. The questions that come up unexpectedly. The conversations after the lecture ends. The practical demonstrations where everyone suddenly sees the same thing from a different perspective.

Some of the best ideas I have ever had did not happen on stage. They happened in those conversations around the edges.

Really looking forward to seeing everyone and continuing to push the science, challenge ideas, and learn together.

See you on tour 🇺🇸🇨🇷🐴📚

If at all possible, go to this! It will change your life, and your horse will thank you for it in many, many ways. ❤️

No one plans to fail, but if you don't have a plan, you will fail in some respect. Creating a Fitness Plan is one of the best things you can do for your horse. This plan includes a lot more than just teaching them their job and working on skills. I've spent the past few months laying out a detailed, itemized frame work that will help you and your horse advances to the next level. 😊

It's bug season again, let's try and make our equine partners as comfortable as possible.

Practical environmental management steps can make a big dent in insect populations around horse farms, often without needing pesticides. 🪰🦟

🦟 REDUCE MOSQUITO BREEDING
• Dump standing water routinely.
- Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. Empty water that collects in flowerpots, buckets, barrels, etc.
- Drill drainage holes in tire swings and keep children’s wading pools empty and stored on their side when not in use.
• Refresh water troughs frequently. Change water troughs at least twice weekly to discourage mosquito breeding.
• Mosquito-proof barns and stables:
- Install and maintain secure screens on windows and doors.
- Use fans (mosquitoes/flies avoid strong air movement because they can’t control flight well).
- Consider lighting choices. In barns, swapping incandescent bulbs for fluorescent-type fixtures can make the area less attractive to mosquitoes.

🪰 SANITATION & FACILITY MANAGEMENT
• Manure and waste handling (sanitation) is foundational. Remove stall and paddock litter and dispose of it properly.
• Stacking manure to reduce surface area is recommended; for small facilities, covering stacks with plastic film can help reduce fly breeding.
• If hay is fed in paddocks, avoid allowing hay to get trampled into the footing/substrate near feeders—flies can develop in that material, sometimes even beneath the soil surface.

⚠️ REMEMBER: not all flies come from your manure pile. “Feed-through” fly products are only potentially helpful if the flies are actually breeding in manure from horses on-site; in contrast, face flies, horn flies, and tabanids do not breed in horse manure, while house flies and stable flies can.

TRAPS & NON-CHEMICAL TOOLS
• Use traps to monitor and help manage flies. Traps can be useful to track fly numbers, but placement matters.
- Put traps where flies are numerous, and for stable flies, as close to the animals as possible.
• Use fans inside barns as pesticide-free protection. This is one of the simplest, most effective barn strategies for flies that enter.
• UV light traps can help indoors. If used, they’re recommended inside barns; avoid placing them outside or running them after dark.

WHAT IS CELLULITIS? 🔎

Cellulitis is a common condition in horses where there is infection/inflammation in the tissues of the limb, most often the distal limb.

WHAT MIGHT YOU NOTICE?
Owners often first notice a leg that suddenly looks and feels “not right.” While the exact signs can vary case to case, rapid-onset limb swelling is a classic sign. Fever is also a sign to watch for with cellulitis. If your horse's temperature is elevated, contact your vet.

DIAGNOSIS:
Because a swollen, painful leg can have different causes, your veterinarian may use a combination of:
• Physical exam and patient history
• Imaging, including ultrasound, to help assess what’s happening in the tissues and whether there are complicating factors.

HOW IS IT TREATED?
There is limited scientific evidence that definitively tells us the single “best” treatment plan for every horse, and more research is needed (especially to support responsible antibiotic use). Your vet may tailor the plan to your horse’s severity, comfort, and response to therapy.

QUICK ACTION MATTERS:
• Cellulitis can be more than “just swelling.” It can become serious, and in rare severe scenarios, cellulitis/lymphangitis has been reported to progress to distal limb ischemia (loss of blood supply) with catastrophic tissue damage.
• Cellulitis can also lead to a condition called lymphangitis where the lymphatic system is affected, so resolution becomes more difficult. Multiple episodes of cellulitis/lymphangitis in the same leg can cause scarring, which makes recurrence more likely and recovery more difficult.

⚠️Cellulitis needs individualized diagnosis and treatment:
• Call your veterinarian promptly if your horse develops sudden, significant lower-leg swelling, heat, pain, or lameness.
• Don’t self-treat with leftover antibiotics. The evidence base is limited, and appropriate antibiotic choices/duration matter for both patient outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship.

Massage, stretching and ground work all help horses to recover faster after a competition or training. I have openings, schedule an appointment for your horses by messaging or texting me today. 😊

Help the American Horse Council shape the future of equine care with Their Euthanasia Survey!

The purpose of The American Horse Council euthanasia and disposal survey is to evaluate the accessibility, cost, and availability of end-of-life services for horses across the United States. They aim to bridge gaps surrounding this issue and to generate insights that will inform important decisions. As this topic tends to be complex, it is crucial to gather information from a wide range of individuals in order to ensure that all perspectives and experiences are represented.

⚠️The survey DEADLINE is Wednesday, April 29th. The survey is anonymous, and participants can enter to win a $100 Visa gift card.

We greatly appreciate your consideration in helping us advance this important initiative.

Complete the survey here: https://bit.ly/EuthandDisp

https://www.facebook.com/100063526195836/posts/1587441926716665/

🐴 Glandular vs. Squamous Ulcers: What’s the Difference?

Gastric ulcers are one of the most common health concerns in horses, affecting up to 93% of some populations. However, not all ulcers develop the same way.

Squamous ulcers form in the upper portion of the stomach, which has limited protection against acid. These ulcers are often associated with management factors such as high grain intake, low forage availability, and periods without feed. 🌾

Glandular ulcers occur in the lower portion of the stomach, where protective mechanisms normally defend against acid. These ulcers are more complex and are often linked to breakdowns in these defenses, with risk factors including stress, illness, NSAID use, and disruptions to normal gastric function.

Because these ulcer types have different causes, they may also require different management and treatment approaches. Supporting stomach health starts with:
• Consistent access to forage
• Minimizing starch and large concentrate meals
• Reducing stress and supporting routine
• Working with your veterinarian for proper diagnosis

Signs such as poor performance, weight loss, changes in behavior, or mild recurrent colic should be evaluated to determine the underlying cause.

📖 Learn more here:
🇺🇸 https://madbarn.com/squamous-vs-glandular-ulcers-in-horses/
🇨🇦 https://madbarn.ca/squamous-vs-glandular-ulcers-in-horses/