~ Theresa ~
I am a Certified Equine Sports Massage and Rehabilitation therapist, and I have ridden horses since before I could walk. I have been competing in endurance for 23 years. The sport of endurance tends to force you to learn about nutrition, hydration, electrolytes, musculature and more in order for you and your horse to survive the rigors of the long miles required in the sport. However, seeing Amber’s knowledge as she revamped my feeding program made me realize just how much I didn’t know.
Amber and I have been friends for almost 19 years and our friendship was forged by a mutual love of horses. I have a 20 year old Arabian gelding who is my competition horse, and until recently I had an aged TB gelding named Beau who perpetuated the typical TB stereotype of being a hard keeper. He was diagnosed with cushings at age 26. Amber had seen me struggling with his weight, skin infections, general decline and asked if she could evaluate his feeding program. She made suggestions based on his age, health issues, bcs, workload, and pasture quality.
This is a horse who was already on a quality senior feed and supplements, but her recommendations and changes to his feed program made a huge difference. His previously dull coat was shiny, his constant skin infections were gone, he was gaining weight, his topline was improving, and best of all, at 29 years young, you could tell he felt better than he had in a very long time. Amber was constantly using my feedback and evaluating him personally to ensure we were on the right track and make changes if necessary.
Sadly, I lost him to colic recently, but I am forever thankful that his last year was truly his best in a large part because of Amber’s help with his nutrition. Amber has a true passion for helping horses, and that combined with her nutrition knowledge is an asset for all horses as well as their owners.