1. Inheritance of a genetic code that is flawed and produces a weakened constitution that may lead to impaired organ function, poor immune response or coping with stress.
   
   
2. Yes, horses suffer illnesses due to stress as we do, probably more so because they are creatures of speed and reaction. Reacting quickly to danger has been survival for the horse in its evolution but now we restrict his movements to small stalls, corrals and or pastures and demand he conform to our standards of his living.
   
   
3. Environmental toxins- chemicals in the food, water and air that is foreign to the metabolism of the body. To this I add the toxic affects of drugs, wormers, and vaccines.
   
   
4. Trauma to any part of the body but especially the head, which deranges the natural flow of Chi or Life Force. This touches every cell in the body depriving it of the needed energy for health.
   
   
5. Noxious energy fields where we work and live. These are EMF’s of the earth known as "geopathic" forces and man-made noxious EMF’s. Geopathic forces are produced where two underground streams of water intersect, giving up a ray of energy. Any horse confined over this point for a period of time will develop painful arthritis, malfunction of the internal organs and impairment of the immune system. Man-made noxious energies are becoming more important because of its omnipresence on this planet: electrification of every building, corral and fenced pasture. Telecommunication of every nature from telephones, computers, radios, television (how about those TV monitors in every stall?), military and commercial satellites in the stratosphere, which circle the globe, and are becoming increasingly more in number everyday. Progress at a price. When man-made noxious energy fields are superimposed over geopathics, the destructive affect on one’s health is malignatized 1000 % I have seen horses develop incessant, unexplained nervous pacing up and down, have increased susceptibility to colic, allergies, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, a mare and stallion’s ability to produce offspring diminish, and increased numbers of stillbirths and weak newborn. I have seen tumors and cancer develop in these areas.
   
   
6. The increasing pervasion of heavy metals in our water and food. These are aluminum, mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, zinc, iron copper and arsenic. Every sick dog, cat, and horse I have examined has had heavy metals in their hair analysis with the concurrent derangement of the essential vitamin, mineral and electrolyte balance in the body. The most prevalent has been aluminum, which goes to the brain and nervous system and touches every cell in the body with a destructive energy. These patients did not get well until along with the detoxification of drugs, and vaccines, the heavy metals had to be eliminated from the body too. Our ground waters and food plants are contaminated by pollution in two ways, directly from improper disposal by households and commerce, and by polluted air emissions from burning fossil fuels forming acid rain that falls on clay soils, releasing the bound aluminum as a free agent to enter the underground aquifers and plants growing in the area. Aluminum is particularly concentrated by cereal grains and alfalfa, (a horse’s diet!) There is much research evidence proving aluminum’s role in neurological dysfunction, premature aging, infertility, and depression of the immune system with increased allergy, tumor and cancer developing. To learn more of these dangers and reference reading refer to the section on Noxious Energy Fields in my web page, and my newsletter # 1 Heavy Metal Contamination of Food and Water.
   
   "Feeding alfalfa can cause:hypothyroidism high calcium causes lower absorption of iodine which causes lower thyroid function. (Cresty necks) Tying up- feeding higher then what a horse needs in protein decreases the thyroid function. Too much calcium causes magnesium levels to decrease which leads to lactic acid build up in muscles. kidney problems - ammonia smell from urine is not good. excess protein from alfalfa can clog the kidneys over time. The calcium can turn into kidney stones. Lowers the immune system- too much protein and low in fiber diets lead stressed horses to get sick easier. Enteroliths- this is more common in CA and other western states where diets are high in alfalfa. Excessive protein in alfalfa causes ammonium, magnesium, and phosphate to come together to form enteroliths. Changes the development of bones- too much calcium throws off the absorption of copper and zinc. Copper and zinc are very important for healthy bones. Colic- alfalfa is too low in fiber to keep the digestive system happy. Arthritis- protein digestion causes acid. feeding alfalfa causes more acid in the stomach. The body pulls minerals from muscle and bones to help get the acid levels down. This causes build up of calcium on joints which leads to arthritis."
   http://www.easyhorsesearch.com/db-horse-feeding.html
   http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/horse_column/alfalfa.html

Colorado State University, Wells, LeRoy and Ralston have made a study of the heavy metal content in the hair of 391 horses. These horses varied by breed, age, coat color, and sex. The study analyzed correlations of copper, lead, chromium, mercury, aluminum and nickel with these horses’ mineral content, (both in feed and hair), age differences, sex, color hair coat and eleven different breeds. Pathologies, electrolyte imbalances and toxicities were noted.

Other references are: