So recently I’ve been made aware of the area of zoopharmacognosy. As with most things for this horse obsessed person, I got to thinking how it could relate to horses. Zoopharmacognosy and the equine species!

So what is this mouthful of a word? The section of the word pharm may have you thinking about pharmacies, pharmaceuticals and medication. Zoo relates to animals. Generally speaking, this term relates to animals self medicating on plants in their environment. They are able to choose to eat what they need to assist with particular maladies.

Like other animals, horses can do this if appropriate plants are available to them in their environment. Horses are typically seen as grazers – eating little and often in the form of grasses. They are also browsers and will eat various shrubs in their environment if these are palatable to them.

Zoopharmacognosy and the Equine Species

Equus Education has recently profiled Beth Chamberlin in this unique horse career area.  Why not read the profile to find out how she has turned equinepharmacognosy into a horse career?  As it states on her website:

‘Equinepharmacognosy is a hollistic approach to health and well being based on Applied Zoopharmacognosy.  The practice of animals self selecting plant extracts for environmental enrichment and homeostatic behaviour.  Unlock your horse’s innate ability by giving the choice to self select natural remedies.’

Reading how Beth offers horses the chance to choose between various herbal products, has me questioning if we can take this a step further.  What it we could put particular plants into our horses’ environment to allow them to eat these when needed?  I love the fact that as horse owners, we could potentially provide things in our horses’ environments to assist their health, naturally.

Surely we can specifically plant things, knowing that if a horse needs to ingest this plant, it can choose to do so!  Brilliant.  If not, being able to employ someone to provide various plant products to ailing horses so they can choose what they need is great.

A Chance to Come True is the first book in the Copperhead Creek series.  In this, Caity Jones finds herself chasing a sea change. With a job that is stressful and unenjoyable and an ex-boyfriend who refused to commit to marriage and a family, Caity purchases a small acreage in country Australia and moves from her busy life in Werribee.

Willows is a tiny town, but it seems perfect for Caity. She can pursue her dream to write, have her horse on her property and enjoy the company of her cats. Dropping into the local feed store in preparation for her gelding’s arrival, she meets the owner Tom. The attraction is instant, but Caity isn’t sure it’s reciprocated. And besides, she moved to Willows to get away from men and to focus on writing.

In time Caity learns about Tom’s children and realises that he’s a married man. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with his eldest son, Porter and is soon giving him the chance to ride her horse Rocky. As Caity meets the rest of Tom’s children, she comes to develop a friendship with them and enjoys their company. Her interest in Tom doesn’t wane. In fact, it grows as she learns of his availability. It seems the attraction isn’t one-sided, also.

A Chance to Come True is an entertaining romance set in rural Australia. The characters are realistic and battling typical issues – insecurities about themselves and life. One aspect of the story I struggled with was Caity’s ex-boyfriend. At one point, his behaviour was incredibly inappropriate and it amazed me that she would allow him to leave without having to account for his actions. The topic of spousal abuse is touched on and I felt shouldn’t be left without police intervention. Otherwise the story is a nice romance with realistic issues in life.

Author – S M Spencer
Fiction – Adult
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.