The Vital Horse Podcast

In this episode, I talk about posture as both an indicator and an influencer of health and wellbeing. I cover which body areas to observe and which body areas have particular influence in governing posture, and how lifestyle and management can affect posture and the physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of our horses.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement...

In this episode, I talked to Dr Daniella Vansteenkiste of VSK Veterinary Neurology. We looked at neurology, the importance of a thorough and focused physical examination when investigating for possible pain and dysfunction, and at pain physiology in a way that will help you as an owner to get the help your horse needs.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement, and...

In this episode, I talk with Yasmin Stuart, equine physiotherapist and trauma informed horse trainer, about our approach to horses, both philosophical and practical. We talk about our expectations of our horses and about having both an evidence base and intuition as to what we can ask of them and do for them, and reflect on some important lessons some very special horses have taught both of us. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation, and I think we have room for much more!

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon...

I wanted to spend an episode talking about some very special horses to me, and how they have led me to the work I am doing now. There have been several very significant horses in my life, who have been my teachers, and most importantly my friends. I felt I needed to honour their part in the work that I do now, because it really wouldn’t have happened without them.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a tr...

In this episode, I talk about how investigating and addressing healthcare concerns is an opportunity for improving our relationship with our horses. Aspects of husbandry or veterinary procedures that our horses find difficult can be indicators of underlying physical, mental, and emotional factors that will be helpful for us to address. And acknowledging and honouring their signals to us that this is the case builds connection and a more rewarding relationship.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a...

In this episode, I talk about interpreting signs that your horse is showing. Do certain signs lead us to certain interpretations? Sometimes, but more often than not, we need to do a bit more detective work than that. This detective work includes figuring out the underlying processes that makes the signs come about, exploring which parts are relevant when, and checking back in over time to see what is changing. To avoid tunnel vision, it is often helpful to view the investigative or diagnostic process as more of an untangling work in progress than a linear check-box-exercise.

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In this episode, I talk about coping and thriving. My aim is vitality as opposed to simply health as the absence of disease. In this episode, I talk through my thoughts on horses' ability to cope with the inevitable stressors that are a part of life, and how their capacity for doing this is the key, with building this capacity opening the door to thriving.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and...

In this episode, I talk about what we can learn about our horses by observing signs as diverse as their body and hoof shape, behavioural responses, facial expressions, and movement. We can gather information that can help us answer questions about their underlying health, any pain, how they sense and learn, and what they need.

About the host:

Dr Lily Wilson is a veterinary surgeon practicing in the UK. She runs a veterinary rehabilitation facility on a track system in West Sussex and has particular interest and expertise in species-appropriate lifestyles, postural improvement...

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Schlote, psychotherapist, counsellor, and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner with extensive training and experience in a number of trauma treatment approaches. We talk about attunement in relationship, and trauma as applied to veterinary and husbandry procedures in horses, and what we can do to both help minimise this and recover from it.

In this episode, I discuss the question “Have we really ruled out pain?” when it comes to the veterinary investigation of behaviours like bucking under sadlle, girthiness, or other signs that there might be an underlying health problem, pain or discomfort. Quite often we are left unsure as to how far we have answered this question - we might find obvious reasons for the behaviour and treat them but be unsure whether we have successfully resolved them or the pain associated with them, or we might not find obvious reasons and be left scratching our head as to why the...

In this episode, I am joined by Peggy Hogan and Anat Shalev, from whom I have learned so much about ethical and effective training. They are both pioneers in the field of cooperative care, where you can train horses for medical and husbandry procedures, and they employ the use of choice and control on the part of the horse to create amazing wholehearted behaviour offerings from horses.

In this episode, I explain my approach to helping needle shy horses ethically, yet effectively. The basis of this is two-fold - address the underlying causes for the individual horse's needle shyness, and teach cooperative care behaviours that allow for two-way communication, giving the horse choice and a voice in the process.

In this episode, I am joined by Karen Rohlf of Dressage Naturally to talk about the interconnectedness of horse health and happiness and the role our relationship with them also plays in this. We discuss the three pillars and four deep roots of my approach, which Karen helped me to identify, and definitely practices herself.

In this episode, I explain why I named this The Vital Horse Podcast and my business Nurturing Nature Equine. I outline and explain the three pillars and four deep roots of my approach. The three pillars I call Attuned Assessment, Wholehearted Decision-Making, and Compassionate Implementation. The four deep roots are Husbandry for Happiness, Movement Medicine, Cultivating Comfort, and Communication, Compassion, and Consent.