Are we giving our horses too many supplements?
Over recent years, the equine industry has seen a significant rise in the use of dietary supplements for horses. While most horse owners aim to optimise their horses' health and performance, it’s crucial to understand when and why to incorporate these supplements into their diets. Over-supplementation can lead to adverse effects so we need to understand the implications of this trend. The Rise of Supplements in Equine Nutrition The popularity of supplements in horse care has skyrocketed, with a vast array of products available from all over the world on the market. Particularly concerning is the multitudes of products aimed at supporting the gastrointestinal
The Use of Omeprazole in Horses (gastric & duodenal ulcers)
Omeprazole is used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers. Omeprazole brands include: Ulcerguard, Omeguard, Gastroguard, Gastropell, Equesta Equine Granules and more. ALWAYS check the ingredients list of any supplements you are buying for your horse. Gastric ulcers (EGUS) in the nonglandular squamous mucosa and glandular mucosa are common in horses involved in competition. Risk factors include intense exercise and dietary factors, such as high concentrate diets and periods of food restriction. Gastric ulcers should be suspected if the horse shows one or more of the following signs: Unwillingness to perform as usual, including resistance to riding aids. Picky appetite. Transient colic signs directly after feeding,
Help your Horse Beat the Heat
With record breaking temperatures all over Australia and the Climate Crisis increasing, we need to know all the ways we can keep our horses as cool as possible: HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT: Ensure there is good shade and airflow available throughout the day, whether natural or manufactured. Tarps and shade sails can offer respite - whether strung up or draped. If the horses are in stables or barns, use misters or fans. Work as early in the day as possible or later in the evening if the temperature has dropped. After work, or if the horse is hot in the paddock, hose down with
Laminitis – Be Prepared & Act Fast!
Laminitis or Founder is the most cruel of conditions sustained by some unfortunate horses and ponies. Imagine the pain if your feet were disintegrating so you were forced to walk on your ankle bones. There are many easily accessible articles on the physiology of laminitis, the healing power of ice and what to feed a Laminitic horse - like Dr Jennifer Stewart’s brilliant article here, originally published in Hoofbeats Magazine. Despite the dry winter in many parts of the country, there will be flushes of new Spring growth in the paddocks or you may have short frosted grasses, which are also high in fructans.
Horses are Herbivores (what’s in your feed?)
Horses are herbivores, aren’t they? So why are we feeding products and supplements which go against the Law of Nature? Horses are pure herbivores – their bodies are designed to eat plant material only. The herbivore species have flat grinding teeth and a very long digestive system specifically designed to break down tough cellulose fibre in plants. Horses have jaws which move sideways enabling grinding of plant material in the oral cavity – digestion begins here. Once the food is reduced in size and thoroughly mixed with saliva it’s swallowed, travels down the oesophagus into the stomach. Horses are ill equipped to cope with the
Crofton Weed kills Horses
Crofton weed - ( Ageratina adenophora) is beating the cane toads in it’s march south down the East Coast of Australia. It’s also now prevalent in all other states of Australia. This plant, a native of Mexico, loves conditions in Australia and like the cane toad it has no natural predators here. Biological controls have had limited success to date and funding for research is minimal. Crofton weed is an erect, multi stemmed perennial plant which grows to 150cm in height. It’s extremely hardly, it layers itself and will sprout from any tiny piece of root left in the ground. It relishes poor soil
Why Worm?
I recently came across this excellent newsletter from Victoria Ferguson, and asked to share it here as you should all have a read as it contains such important information for you. Victoria has been researching herbal worming programs for many years so it’s exciting that the resulting information is now available to all horse owners. Thankyou to Victoria for giving me permission to share her information here as a guest blog post. - Angela. Kim Dawson is an expert on equine worms. We are now offering worming programs with faecal counts and advice on treatment. In this newsletter.TEST BEFORE YOU TREAT –
Equine Herbal Blends for Humans too!
The Horse Herbalist uses human grade ingredients for all our blends and treatments, which means you can take them too! They may taste foul to our human tongues, but by golly they work! Bug Buster - use as soon as you suspect ANY infection or dose for a couple of days if you have been in contact with infectious people. - boosts immune system, fights infection of any sort. Cough it Up - cold and flu. - use as soon as you suspect cold or flu or have been around people with same, dose for a couple of days. If you already have symptoms then dose as directed on
Great Results from Hair Testing
April Leggett asked Angela to do a Hair Testing consult on her competition horses recently, and has been very pleased with the results. Here's what April has to say: "Hi Angela, I just wanted to personally thank you and your team for their help with TANZA over the past couple of years. I am pretty certain I have my old horse back and I could not be happier. I have just returned from a Nationals Training weekend and she went awesome. On her toes, electric and wanting to run for the first time in years.. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I even got my Chiropractor
In a Smoke Affected Area? Read this.
My heart goes out to all those who continue to be affected by fire and smoke across the country right now. We all know smoke can be toxic and affect the lungs and respiratory tract. Smoke affects every living being, it can do damage before you realise it. Horses should not be worked in smokey conditions, if they must work then keep it to low exertion over minimal time. If they’re worked hard then they may do irreparable damage to the lungs. I see many horses with breathing problems when we have little air pollution so please keep this in mind. Quite a number of