Dr. Ward has over 40 years of experience in both conventional and holistic horse care.
After graduating from Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980, she worked in conventional equine practice for several years. During that time, she remained frustrated about many aspects of Western medicine. Despite regularly attending conferences, consulting with experts, and reading all the latest literature, she was still not curing many chronic conditions. And she found many standard conventional practices very invasive and unappreciated by her patients. She wanted her patients to live happier as well as healthier lives.
In 1989, Madalyn began seeking out training in alternative healing methods and was amazed at the wealth of knowledge that exists about true healing – knowledge largely ignored by conventional teaching institutions. She trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, veterinary homeopathy, acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, Network Chiropractic, equine osteopathy, and functional nutrition.
Madalyn has authored three books – Holistic Horsekeeping, Horse Harmony – Understanding Horse Types and Temperaments, and Horse Harmony Five Element Feeding Guide – and is a frequent speaker at veterinary meetings on topics related to holistic horse care.
She is the current president of the World Alliance of Equine Osteopaths (WAEO).
Madalyn loves empowering horse owners through her learning hub where she guides them through a step-by-step journey towards a more holistically-minded horse care program. Her mission is to make holistic horse care the primary way for as many horses as possible, thereby decreasing the need for emergency care and lowering the incidence of chronic, debilitating health issues. She considers conventional veterinary medicine to be an important modality when the horse’s own healing powers are not adequate. Conventional medicine also offers important diagnostic capabilities that can be invaluable when dealing with a sick or injured horse. Conventional medicine and holistic care can be used synergistically.
A horse owner and rider herself, she constantly strives to improve her own horsemanship and horse management skills through clinics, advanced studies on horse-related topics, conferences and seminars.
Madalyn lives in New Mexico.