by Diana De Rosa

In 2005, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and like any devoted daughter who was devastated by the thought of losing her “rock,” I went in search of answers. I came up with Hippocrates, a hidden treasure of health and wellness located in West Palm Beach, FL. While for my mom, going to their three-week Life Transformation Program didn’t happen, I never forgot what I heard in the orientation session we attended.

Since then, I have devoted a large portion of my life to learning about alternative methods of health. I’ve delved into healthy eating habits, essential oils, detoxification, pH balancing and so much more.

Because of the knowledge gained over the years, often people will come to me for advice for simple things like a cold or more complex issues like cancer. Together we discuss things they should consider to help strengthen their mind, body, soul, spirit and their immune system. My consistent answer to everyone is, “if I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is go and take the three-week Life Transformation Program offered by Hippocrates.”

Now 12 years later, I still make the same suggestion but when people started to ask very specific questions, it became clear that if I wanted to give them answers, I needed to test the waters. While three weeks would be my ideal, a busy lifestyle allowed me one week to see what Hippocrates is all about. Now as I look back on that experience it’s my goal to share what I call the “gift of health” to others, especially those involved with horses.

Hippocrates Can Also Help Horses

Florida in the winter is an area that has a host of horses in every breed and discipline including dressage, show jumping, reining, racing, polo, and so much more. So, it only makes sense that Hippocrates is a place for the horse people who love and care for them.

Read more: Health, Horses, Healing and Hippocrates

With a rapidly growing unborn foal, the transition time from mid- to late-gestation can pose nutritional challenges for pregnant mares.

Up to 60 percent of an unborn foal’s growth happens during the last three months of pregnancy. As such, late gestation can pose nutritional challenges for pregnant mares.

Comparatively, unborn foals grow very slowly (approximately 0.2 pounds per day) during the first seven to eight months of gestation, causing very little nutritional stress on the mare.

“Dry mares in early gestation can be fed like a mature, idle horse,” says Karen Davison, Ph.D., Director and Nutritionist for Equine Technical Solutions at Purina Animal Nutrition. “Good quality pasture or hay along with a ration balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement may be all that is necessary to meet the mare’s nutritional requirements.”

However, during the last 90 days of pregnancy, the fetus gains approximately 1 pound per day and has a significant impact on the mare’s nutritional requirements for protein, vitamins and minerals.

Read more: Broodmare Nutrition During Late Gestation