46. Horse Depression, Behaviour and Nutrition with Joanna Lepiarczyk

In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida is joined by Joanna Lepiarczyk from Horses Explained for a fascinating and deeply important conversation about horse mental health, equine behaviour, and the role that nutrition and feeding systems play in shaping a horse’s emotional wellbeing.

We explore why behaviour is so often a form of communication, why a quiet compliant horse is not always a happy horse, and how chronic stress can affect a horse far more profoundly than many owners realise. Joanna shares her perspective on horse depression, the emotional cost of restricted forage and limited choice, and why the foundations of a good horse life are surprisingly simple: forage, freedom, and friends.

We also talk about the importance of constant access to something to chew, forage variety, movement, predictability, agency, and why these are not “nice extras” but core building blocks for a horse’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

This is a thoughtful, compassionate, and at times confronting conversation that will encourage you to look beyond behaviour and think more deeply about how your horse is actually experiencing daily life.

If you care about horse welfare, equine mental and emotional health, feeding management, and giving horses the conditions they need to truly thrive, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 🐴

🌟 Joanna Lepiarczyk is an equine behaviour expert, classical riding coach, and the author of Understanding Horse Depression, with a focus on equine mental health, horse personality, and helping riders understand horses more deeply.

🧡 You can connect with Joanna at https://www.horsesexplained.com and follow Joanna’s work @horsesexplained

Joanna’s favourite book is ‘Training Showjumpers’ by Anthony Paalman

📲 To find out more about what we do here at MyHappy.Horse you can go to https://www.myhappy.horse or download the app (7-day free trial availabile): https://apps.apple.com/app/myhappy-horse/id6633422324

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(67)

67. Laminitis & Spring Grass: How to Keep Your Horse Safe

Managing a laminitis-prone horse through spring can feel like a full-time job! Especially when pasture non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels can change dramatically with the weather.In this episode...

25 Aug 42min

66. Horses, Laminitis & Hoof Health with Dr Luke Wells-Smith

In this episode, Dr Nerida is joined by Dr Luke Wells-Smith, dual qualified equine veterinarian and farrier, for a unique perspective on laminitis.Dr Luke unpacks what’s happening inside the hoof dur...

18 Aug 1h 23min

65. My Favourite 5 Weight Gain Ingredients for Horses

What are the best ingredients for helping a horse gain weight safely?In this episode, PhD equine nutritionist Dr Nerida explains why lucerne (alfalfa), full-fat soybean, lupins, sugar beet pulp and co...

11 Aug 43min

64. Horse Nutrition Q&A: Insulin Sensitivity, Muscle Building and Misleading Feed Labels

Join Dr Nerida and Orla as they discuss how exercise can improve insulin sensitivity. Plus they talk feeding for muscle development, and how whey protein, soybean and leucine play a role.They also div...

4 Aug 46min

63. Preventing Gastric Ulcers in Horses: Nutrition Strategies Beyond Forage

Preventing squamous gastric ulcers takes more than just feeding enough forage. In this episode, Dr Nerida explains four additional nutrition strategies: feeding a balanced diet, controlling grain and ...

28 Juli 42min

62. Preventing gastric ulcers: The top 3 things you must do for your horse

Gastric ulcers are incredibly common in horses, but before changing feeds or reaching for an ulcer supplement, there are three far more important foundations to get right.In this episode, Dr Nerida ex...

21 Juli 38min

61. Horse Nutrition Q&A: Gravel in the Gut, Lucerne Myths and Haynets

Orla is back on the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, and this time she and Dr Nerida are answering listener questions, sharing stories from the behind the gastroscope, and chat themselves down a number ...

14 Juli 37min

60. Rebuilding a Horse’s Gut After Racing - Allay's Story

What really happens inside an off-the-track’s gut when you take away the racing diet and start to rebuild the horse from the hindgut up?In this episode of the Happy Horse Nutrition Podcast, Dr Nerida ...

7 Juli 1h 22min