109: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop - Why Your Horse's Recovery Can Feel So Hard to Trust

Last week, we explored how to tell whether your horse is on the right track, why the original symptom often lasts the longest, and how looking at the whole horse lets you see real changes long before that one symptom catches up. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you listen first, because today’s episode picks up right where we left off.Stay tuned to find out why, even after you start noticing changes, it can still be so hard to trust what you’re seeing.Past DisappointmentsRepeated attempts that fail—supplements, feed, restriction plans, or other approaches—can leave you emotionally, financially, and physically depleted. You may then protect yourself from further disappointment by refusing to believe something is actually working. That could lead you to change a plan just as your horse begins to respond.The Last Thing to ChangeWeight tape and blood work measure specific things at a specific point in time. Your horse can have better energy, digestion, swelling, or movement even when the weight tape hasn’t changed. The most important symptom is often the last thing to change.DoubtInformation from the internet or AI should not override what you observe in your horse. Searching for answers can expose you to stories about horses that failed to improve or had negative outcomes, and those stories might make you question the positive changes you see in your horse.Previous DecisionsMany owners believe they should have recognized their horse’s problems sooner. That can make it difficult to trust their judgment when the horse starts improving.Remember that you did the best you could with what you knew at the time. The instinct that told you something was wrong is the same instinct that helps you recognize improvement.Beliefs Affect DecisionsYou can make changes that support your horse while still believing that recovery is impossible without medication. That belief can move you toward medication.A medication-free approach requires you to trust your decisions, your intuition, and your horse to heal.How to Measure ProgressHorses don’t heal in a straight line, and one rough day does not necessarily mean a setback.So, instead of comparing how the horse was yesterday, compare your horse with its baseline, where it was a month ago or three months ago. That is where real change becomes easier to see.Keep NotesRecord a few observations several times a week. Note changes such as meeting you at the gate, trotting to the water, improved digestion, or changes in movement. Your notes will give you evidence to return to when doubt appears.Patterns MatterPatterns help you distinguish noise from information. A single good day may be a fluke, and a single bad day may not mean anything significant. Consistent changes over several weeks provide a far more useful measure of progress.Your ObservationsKnowing your horse and documenting what you see makes you a better advocate for them. Mention your observations to others involved in your horse’s care rather than relying entirely on their opinions. Your notes can also give your veterinarian information they cannot get from a short appointment.Visible SymptomsYour horse’s energy, demeanor, digestion, swelling, and movement may improve while the most visible symptom remains unchanged. That can make you think you need to do more when the horse’s overall picture is actually improving. Remember that the goal is progress, not immediate resolution of every symptom.Staying the CourseChanging the plan too soon could undo any progress already made.Some parts of recovery take longer than others. In Skip’s case, his hooves recovered the slowest because hoof growth, strengthening, and improvement in laminar integrity take time.Building TrustTrust develops through observations and patterns over longer periods, not just one good day. Look at your horse’s progress over one to three months rather than expecting immediate change.Remember, no two horses are the same, so no two programs should be either—and no one knows your horse the way you do.Links and resources:Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website.Your Horse's Root Cause Reset: Join the waitlistJoin my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.