The Centaur Podcast

Episode: Integrative Equine Health with Joyce Harman
Host: Camron Adibi
Guest: Dr. Joyce Harman
Date: July 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Camron Adibi interviews Dr. Joyce Harman, a pioneering holistic and integrative veterinarian for horses. The conversation explores Dr. Harman’s journey from conventional to integrative medicine, the current state and misconceptions of holistic equine care, core principles of equine health (including nutrition, stress, and environmental factors), and practical insights for horse owners and caretakers. Dr. Harman also discusses the complex topic of vaccinations, her perspectives on the future of holistic equine health, and educational resources such as her Horse Healthmanship course.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Joyce Harman’s Journey to Integrative Equine Care

• Dr. Harman became interested in acupuncture even before vet school, despite needing to train through conventional channels ([02:03]).
• After graduating in 1984 from the inaugural class at Virginia-Maryland Regional College, she quickly realized conventional practice wasn’t fulfilling her purpose and pivoted to alternative therapies ([03:14]–[04:14]).
  • Quote:
    "I just always felt like I wasn't really doing what I was meant to be doing."
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [02:03]
• Early days of acupuncture and holistic care in the U.S. involved small, pioneering groups ([05:14]).
• She built Harmony Equine Clinic, offering 100% integrative care, and became a leader in the field.

Evolution & Current State of Integrative Equine Medicine

• The stigma around alternative care has decreased; now most major practices employ integrative specialists, but holistic care remains a niche ([07:04]).
  • Quote:
    "I was the shadow vet for quite a while, and that's pretty much gone. Most of the big practices now have an acupuncturist or a chiropractor on the staff, but it isn't all of what they do."
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [07:04]
• Despite greater awareness, integrative medicine’s mainstream adoption has stagnated in the horse world:
  • Owners who are interested are highly dedicated, but general uptake is limited ([08:50]).
  • Small animal (dog/cat) fields are more progressive in incorporating advanced integrative techniques ([08:23]–[09:18]).

Approaching New Clients and Horses

• Each horse and owner is unique; consultation starts by clarifying goals (Olympic-level performance vs. comfortable retirement, etc.) ([11:27]–[12:45]).
  • Quote:
    "The real key is to find out what's going on, what their goals are. Because everybody has different goals."
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [11:27]
• Owners deeply love their horses, but may project their own ideas (like dietary fads) onto equine needs ([13:18]).
• The process involves holistic assessment: physical, emotional, environmental, and sometimes diving deep into nutrition and herbal medicine ([12:45]–[13:15]).

Foundations of Equine Health: Nutrition, Stress, and Environment

• Nutrition:
  • Consistency, forage-based diets, and an awareness of the artificiality of green grass pastures and modern hay ([15:07], [21:08]).
  • Many feeds are genetically modified, processed, and unsuitable for low-activity horses.
  • Obesity in horses mirrors patterns in humans, largely due to modern lifestyles and overfeeding ([19:54]).
• Stress:
  • Stress is a fundamental but overlooked factor, stemming from confinement, herd dynamics, lack of natural movement, and routine disruptions ([15:07]–[19:20]).
    • Quote:
      "Confinement is a huge issue that just adds that little bit of underlying stress. And then on top of that... the stress of herd mates..."
      — Dr. Joyce Harman [16:00]
• Mineral Deficiencies:
  • Most soils and therefore forages are low in trace minerals due to industrial agriculture ([25:15]).
  • Supplements are often necessary, but should be specific and clearly justified ([25:15]–[26:21]).

Practical Approaches to Feeding and Supplementation

• Keep feeding simple and tailored to each horse's needs, life stage, and workload ([30:09]).
  • Quote:
    "Keep it simple, don't overcomplicate it. But also, it depends, you know, you gotta really listen to what that horse needs."
    — Interviewer [30:00]
• The true foundation is high-quality forage, with minerals supplemented as needed ([29:29]).
• Horses in boarding situations may face extra challenges as owners have less control over feed and management ([27:30]).
• Avoid unnecessary supplements; focus instead on balancing minerals and meeting basic nutritional needs ([29:29]–[31:23]).

Education & Horse Healthmanship

• Dr. Harman’s "Horse Healthmanship" online course teaches natural nutrition in manageable, actionable lessons ([31:45]–[33:42]).
  • Quote:
    "I've tried to break down the whole concept of natural nutrition... into bite-sized pieces... a seven to ten minute session is one lesson and then you have an exercise to do with that lesson."
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [31:46]
• The course emphasizes practical knowledge and incremental learning, matching real-world horse care needs.

Rethinking Vaccines in Equine Health

• The culture of blanket annual vaccinations is outdated; consider:
  • What diseases are present in the region?
  • What is the horse’s exposure risk, travel habits, and titer status? ([35:14]–[38:38])
  • Quote:
    "What we need to do instead of automatically vaccinate for everything under the sun is step back. What is present in your area?"
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [35:14]
• Vets and owners should focus more on risk assessment and titers, and less on a one-size-fits-all annual protocol ([38:38]–[40:12]).
• The veterinary profession has "created this vaccine culture," often emphasizing vaccinations over physical exams and tailored care ([39:10]–[40:12]).

Metabolic Disorders and Minis

• Miniature horses are especially prone to obesity and related metabolic conditions, often described as "easy keepers" ([41:09]).
• "Cushing’s Disease" (better labeled as PPID) isn’t a death sentence and can sometimes be managed holistically, often with herbal support ([42:26]–[44:25]).
  • Quote:
    "It's not a death sentence. Conventionally, the drug that's used doesn't correct the problem. So eventually it just continues to get worse. You're just maintaining..."
    — Dr. Joyce Harman [44:25]

Future of Integrative Equine Health

• Growth in the field is likely to stay static; as pioneering practitioners retire, it’s hard to nurture a new generation of holistic vets ([45:21]).
• Holistic approaches will be increasingly driven by horse owners seeking answers and demanding better for their animals ([46:45]).
  • Quote:
    "I think it'll just be a piece of it. Acupuncture and chiropractic (are) getting a lot of press... but the holistic approach to health... it's going to be driven by the horse owners."
    — Dr. Joyce Harmon [46:45]

Notable Quotes

• “I just always felt like I wasn't really doing what I was meant to be doing.”
  — Dr. Joyce Harmon [02:03]

• “I was the shadow vet for quite a while, and that's pretty much gone. Most of the big practices now have an acupuncturist or a chiropractor on the staff, but it isn't all of what they do.”
  — Dr. Joyce Harmon [07:04]

• “Confinement is a huge issue that just adds that little bit of underlying stress. And then on top of that... the stress of herd mates...”
  — Dr. Joyce Harmon [16:00]

• “Keep it simple, don't overcomplicate it. But also, it depends, you know, you gotta really listen to what that horse needs.”
  — Interviewer [30:00]

• “What we need to do instead of automatically vaccinate for everything under the sun is step back. What is present in your area?”
  — Dr. Joyce Harmon [35:14]

• “It's not a death sentence. Conventionally, the drug that's used doesn't correct the problem. So eventually it just continues to get worse. You're just maintaining...”
  — Dr. Joyce Harmon [44:25]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dr. Harman’s Background, Early Career: [02:03]–[04:14]
• Shifts in Integrative Medicine Acceptance: [05:14]–[09:38]
• How Dr. Harman Approaches New Clients/Horses: [11:27]–[13:15]
• Key Issues: Nutrition, Stress, Confinement: [15:07]–[19:54]
• Obesity, Feeding Practices, and Food Quality: [19:54]–[25:15]
• Mineral Deficiencies & Supplementation: [25:15]–[29:42]
• Practical Feeding Recommendations: [30:09]–[31:46]
• Horse Healthmanship Course Discussion: [31:45]–[33:42]
• Vaccines: Culture, Risks, and Better Practices: [35:14]–[40:12]
• Metabolic Disorders and Miniature Horses Discussion: [41:09]–[44:25]
• Outlook for the Field’s Future: [45:21]–[46:45]

Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Harman’s Website: Harmony Equine
• Online Course: Horse Healthmanship
• Conference: Equine Vaccine and Holistic Care Conferences

Summary

This episode delivers a rich, nuanced exploration of integrative equine health through the lens of Dr. Joyce Harman—a true pioneer of holistic veterinary medicine. The conversation is an essential listen (or read) for anyone eager to understand the interconnectedness of diet, stress, environment, and meaningful care in horses. Dr. Harman urges both owners and practitioners to stay curious, keep it simple yet individualized, and to respectfully ask questions—especially when it comes to entrenched practices like vaccination protocols and feeding. Ultimately, she reminds us that the future of holistic equine care depends not only on practitioners, but on empowered, educated horse owners dedicated to truly listening to their animals.