The Holistic Horse: Recent Episodes
Keira Byrnes
This is a podcast exploring the whole horse, and how to integrate body, mind and soul into our horse care and horse riding so that our equine friends can live the best lives possible, and so we can enjoy the ride!
This episode takes a look at what’s involved in rehab for injuries- specifically how we can rehab the horse in a way that not only heals the injury, but also decreases the chances of it recurring.
As a side note, apologies for my speaking so fast, I have no idea why I suddenly turned into a speed talker! Also the dog background sounds part way through!
Follow my work @synergyandfreedom or go to www.synergyandfreedom.com
A discussion about the problems with future thinking.. and a good old maths analogy, because why not?!
Follow me @synergyandfreedom on Facebook, instagram and the occasional TikTok
Otherwise at www.synergyandfreedom.com
It’s never a pleasant topic, but it is worth knowing what is involved when it comes to the end of a horse’s life.
Having a plan at least means you are not trying to make logistical decisions on the day where you are already making the most difficult decision you can make.
Find me @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.synergyandfreedom.com
Hear why motivation is no longer getting a vote in my life! Where does it have too much say in what you do?!
Follow me @synergyandfreedom on Facebook or Instagram and www.synergyandfreedom.com.au
To get in touch, keira.byrnes88@gmail.com
Are you frustrated with your current circle of friends (or lack thereof) or coworkers, or just general people in the world?!
This is how I am making a change in the relationships in my life, and I hope that if you answered yes, that you make some changes yourself!
To join the 10 month group mentorship programme, get in touch at keira.byrnes88@gmail.com, or 0421324863
And as usual you can follow me @synergyandfreedom on Facebook or Instagram or check out www.synergyandfreedom.com.au
This practice is the single, most powerful, one I have ever found for letting go of past fears, issues, roadblocks, you name it. If you’ve ever wanted a clean slate… This might be the practice for you!
If you want to really get into gear in 2024, if you’re craving an empathetic and supportive community, if you want to be able to ask me questions, be mentored by me and have that solid foundation… I am running a 10 month online group mentorship programme this year. Early bird (to 31st of Jan) is only $120 for the whole 10 months.
Check out @synergyandfreedom on Facebook or Instagram for the post with all the details, or get in touch; +61 421313863 or keira.byrnes88@gmail.com to find out more or jump on in!
Here’s one of the practices I love to set myself up to have the best year I can… and it works even if you don’t enjoy traditional goal setting!
Follow me on @synergyandfreedom, or go to www.synergyandfreedom.com.au or www.retrainingracehorses.com.au
If you want to sign up for the goal setting session on the 28th of December, or grab the recording, email me at keira.byrnes88@gmail.com
When is it ethical to ride a horse with physical limitations? When are our expectations realistic? When do we need to change our expectations?
This episode is all about looking at our horse’s capabilities and making the best plans we can for them.
You can find me @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram or www.synergyandfreedom.com.au AND now at www.retrainingracehorses.com.au 😁
Another weird opinion of mine about why I love working with “old” racehorses - those ones that raced until they were 7, 8, older… and what gifts I think they have!
As usual I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram, AND watch this space, because my Retraining Racehorses website is going live this week, which will be the new home for my OTTB Retraining Programme!
When is Balance the simple solution to what seems like complex problems?
Find me @synergyandfreedom on social media
When is sharing, taking or asking for an opinion helpful? With sooo many in the horse industry, it’s something worth considering!!
To follow my work on social media, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
To join the upcoming training on kissing spine and equine back pain, get in touch asap at keira.byrnes88@gmail.com
A theory of mine on kissing spine!
If you want to join my online training on rehabilitating kissing spine or equine backpain, email me on keira.byrnes88@gmail.com
Find me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @synergyandfreedom
Last episode was a bit of a rant about not tying your horses head down… So here is an episode about what we can do instead!
If you’d like the PDF I mentioned in the episode, please email me at keira.byrnes88@gmail.com
As usual, if you want to follow my work, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!
PS I’m adding this note as of 27 September to apologise for missing a whole month! Clearly something went awry in my scheduling!
This episode is something that comes up a lot, in barns, on social media, in coaching… etc!
It’s also not my best work 😉 so I apologise for the lack of voice and the lack of memory, but hey, it’s there! Next week will be proper!
To follow my work, go to www.synergyandfreedom.com or @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
It’s no secret that I love off the track thoroughbreds, do I think they suit everyone? No! But do I think far more people are capable of training them than we often think? YES!
This episode looks at the stereotypes we apply to the Thoroughbred and discusses where they are true and where the myths creep in.
If you are looking at taking on an OTTB, I have a crazy in depth online course at www.synergyandfreedom.com
Want to find me on socials? @synergyandfreedom
Does your horse “hate the arena”? Do they “refuse to go forward” as soon as they get in there? Do they avoid work? Are they “arena sour”?
For whatever reason I seem to have people come to me as a last resort when they’re struggling to get their horse to move once they’re in an arena. This episode goes through how I personally address this and what you can do to either fix, or ideally avoid, this with your own horse.
It’s a bit woo woo, and a bit outside my comfort zone sharing… but I’m so excited about the difference this has made for horses and their humans, so here goes…
Operant conditioning is, to my mind, the easiest way to make your training, more efficient, effective, and ethical! Regardless of what you want to teach your horse (or your other animals, family, members, whatever!) Understanding these principles will help you do it!
To followOperant conditioning is, to my mind, the easiest way to make your training, more efficient, effective, and ethical! Regardless of what you want to teach your horse (or your other animals, family, members, whatever!) Understanding these principles will help you do it!
To follow any of my work I am @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
One of my memories of having impostor syndrome, and how the kindness of a stranger not only snapped me out of it, but change to I want to be, and how I want to be!
For more of my work, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
Rider biomechanics is a massive buzz phrase at the moment… But what does it actually mean and how can we work on it?
For access to The Holistic Horse learning platform, go to www.patreon.com/synergyandfreedom
To follow my work, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
Here is a funny little analogy about how to stay out of the drama vortex by being a planet! Confused? Listen to the episode and see if it makes more sense for you!
Ashere is a funny little analogy about how to stay out of the drama vortex by being a planet! Confused? Listen to the episode and see if it makes more sense for you!
As usual you can follow me on social media @synergyandfreedom
Karly is the first ever guest on The Holistic Horse Podcast, and what a guest!!! I LOVED our chat about all things equine nutrition. Karly is a wealth of knowledge and just such a beautiful person! I hope you get as much out of this chat as I did!
About Karly:
Karly Eldridge is an independent Equine Nutrition Consultant and the founder of Stable-Ised Equine. She services all of Australia with external Equine Nutrition Consultations and offers individualised dietary plans for horses from all walks of life.
Karly has a keen interest in horses grazing on tropical and high oxalate pastures, and also specialises in nutrition for young and developing horses. Her most recent development is PractiCAL; a calcium-rich balancer pellet that is specifically formulated for horses who are grazing on high oxalate pastures and therefore have an increased requirement for specific nutrients.
Karly has worked in many areas of the equine industry; including working alongside and consulting for feed and supplement companies, working with veterinarians to manage health issues, diseases, and illnesses in horses, hosting seminars and nutrition talks, developing and formulating products, and finally settling fulltime as a nutrition advisor and educator within her own business as an independent Equine Nutrition Consultant.
You can follow Karly on Facebook and Instagram at Stable-Ised Equine or visit her website at www.stsbleisedequine.com.au
I am one of those weirdos who finds horse shopping fun rather than stressful! Have a listen to find out the things I do that (I believe) have made this so!
As usual, I’d love if you’d rate, review and share the podcast so more people can have a great experience buying their next horse!
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @synergyandfreedom
Let’s address some myths when it comes to riding and fear, shall we?!
Myth 1. The fear will disappear one day
Myth 2. That rider over there doesn’t feel afraid
Myth 3. Fear is the reason you’re not doing the thing you want with your horse
Also, I sincerely apologise for the background noise through some parts… my dog thought a shoe was going to eat him, and that was him attempting to hide by jumping on my face. Speaking of fears…
As usual, I’d love if you’d rate and review the podcast, and even more if you’d share it with a takeaway or something!
If you want to tag me, or follow me on socials, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook, Instagram and (newly!) TikTok
We all want our horses to have good experiences and good lives, but sometimes focusing on that can actually have the opposite effect!
What are your thoughts? How do you set goals for yourself and your horse?
To follow my work on social media, I’m @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
What would happen if you let your inner kid ride your horse? How does that even work?! Let's see!
To follow me and my work, I'm @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram.
For those on Spotify, to find earlier episodes, go to www.theholistichorse.podbean.com
To sign up for the Equine Communication and Connection programme, please text me on 0421313863 ASAP! We start on the 13th of September!
I personally believe that the only way we can truly improve the wellbeing of horses is to improve the wellbeing of the humans around them. This episode is about why I believe that, but also some of the things we can do to improve the wellbeing of horses, humans and ourselves.
I'd love to hear what you think of this topic, and the podcast! I would love it even more if you would rate, review and even share the podcast!
If you want to follow my work, I'm on Facebook and Instagram @synergyandfreedom.
For those listening on Spotify, you can find the first five episodes on the podcast website; www.theholistichorse.podbean.com
Thanks for listening!
How do you decide whether to keep going with your current horse, or cut your losses?
So often we get stuck in this limbo with a horse that we love, but is just costing us so much time and money and heart ache that we’re not really sure it’s worth it…
This is how I deal with that…
How do you decide? I’d love to know!
My socials are @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
There are always 1000 different ways to do anything with horses… and everyone thinks their way is best. So how do you choose? How do you know what to do?
This is my lesson from my first job as a working pupil, and it’s changed my life!
As usual, you can follow me and my work @synergyandfreedom on Facebook
It’s an analogy that I use a lot for determining how a horse feels about any given situation. For me, the traffic light system tells me when they are open to learning, it keeps me safe and it builds trust and boundaries.
I’d love to hear what you think of it!
For more of my work, follow @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and
We say that when people are influenced by money, their choices around equine welfare and wellbeing are less ethical… is that true? Is money the root of all evil?
Some of my thoughts on this topic… what are yours?
For more about me and my work, follow @synergyandfreedom on Facebook or Instagram
A quick introduction to who I am, and why I love talking about the holistic management of horses!
For more information about me and my work, go to @synergyandfreedom on Facebook and Instagram
Woohoo! This is the beginning of my podcast journey! Follow along for discussions on all things holistic and horse!
If you would subscribe to the podcast, that would mean the world to me and help me get these discussions out to so many more people and their horses!