Herbs for Horses Archives - The Horse Herbalist

Are we giving our horses too many supplements?

Sophie — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 01:52:28 +0000

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 tract, joint support and calming agents, not to mention vitamins and minerals. Horse owners are increasingly influenced by expensive marketing campaigns that capitalise on our love for our horses. But most people don’t read labels or if they do, don’t understand the effects of the ingredients, which means that they can inadvertently give horses double doses of some ingredients, and can sometimes cause more harm than good.

These supplements may look and sound harmless but anything we ingest has an impact on both short and long term health. This includes various ‘natural products’ that promise to help.What might work for one horse might not suit another, highlighting the importance of individualised care.

The Benefits of Supplements

There are scenarios where supplements can play a vital role in a horse’s diet. For instance, older horses may require joint support, while performance horses might need additional electrolytes after rigorous training. Certain supplements can address specific deficiencies—like vitamin E in horses with limited access to fresh forage. Research and expert opinions often support the judicious use of these products when warranted.

Potential Risks of Over-Supplementation

However, giving too many supplements can be detrimental. Over-supplementation may lead to nutrient imbalances or toxicity. For example, excess vitamin A can cause serious health issues, while high levels of certain minerals can interfere with absorption. Additionally, many horses may not need supplements at all if their diet is already balanced and nutritious. It’s also essential to remember that the horse’s gut still has to absorb and metabolise everything in their feed, which can put added strain on their system. Our good intentions can cause harm.

Recognising Nutritional Needs

To determine whether supplements are needed, it’s essential for horse owners to evaluate their horses’ individual nutritional needs. Regular veterinary check-ups and consultations with independent equine nutritionists can help identify any deficiencies or specific dietary requirements. Professional equine herbalists can also provide valuable insights into natural supplementation options, ensuring that any herbal products used are appropriate for the horse’s specific condition.

Practical Tips for Horse Owners

Here are some practical tips for evaluating the need for supplements:

Assess Diet: Regularly review your horse’s diet to ensure it meets their nutritional needs.
Monitor Health and Performance: Keep an eye on your horse’s condition, energy levels, and performance. Changes may indicate nutritional needs.
Consult Professionals: Work with veterinarians, independent equine nutritionists, or professional equine herbalists before adding the latest ‘on trend’ product to your feeding regime.
Choose Wisely: If supplementation is necessary, select high-quality products and adhere to recommended dosages.

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 label.
– Whilst this mixture also boosts the immune system it has been specifically formulated to help ease and move respiratory symptoms, as in, lungs, airways, sore throat, cough, sinus.

Settle Petal

For anxiety, nerves, sleeplessness, stress and both long and short term situations where calm is required

Rule of thumb: The quicker dis-ease is treated the quicker the body recovers.

Angela Davison

The post Equine Herbal Blends for Humans too! appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.

Great Results from Hair Testing

Angela Davison — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 13:08:14 +0000

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 to look at Tanza after the weekend and he said this mare is fine, perfect, nothing at all wrong with her.. He could not believe it was the same horse he used to work on week in, week out.

I feed her the pilules after she exerts herself (for her tying up) and I really think they help.

I actually passed on a few of them to a friend whose horse tied up after chukkas yesterday. Her horse was really bad could hardly get on the truck to go home and when she got home (only half an hour away) her horse got off fine, running around in the paddock. She could not believe it…

I have also used your Sport Support on my mare “Ola” who got a knock on her pastern, was struggling to walk one day and then walking fine the next. I also had a fall at practice two weeks ago, fell hard on my shoulder, struggled to move it and took the sport support myself and by the next day it was almost as good as new.

I am so glad I found you and your awesome products Angela.. I am not sure what I would have done without you. I would be still lost.

Thank you”

Angela Davison

The post Great Results from Hair Testing appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.

Whisky’s Story- Surgery, Infections but a Happy Ending.

Sophie — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 01:11:20 +0000

Here’s the story of Whisky, all the way from the USA, told by his carer, Rolanda:

“We purchased Whisky May 2018, and he was already trained to pull a cart. Our trainer, Roger, worked with him for a couple of weeks and I was able to drive him happily enough before he came down with pneumonia.

“After several weeks hospitalized, bottles of medication and months of rest, he then contracted sinusitis. Back to the vets for surgery and more bottles of pills. Two months passed, and he seemed to getting back to normal before he again contacted sinusitis once again. Back to the vet, yet another surgery and yet more pills.

“The prognosis was not promising for poor Whisky. The hundreds of antibiotic pills were literally destroying his liver and preventing him for fighting any bacteria.

“Out of sheer frustration for the health and well being of Whisky, I looked elsewhere for treatment to be proactive and not reactive. I found an amazing herbalist, Angela Davison in Australia. She first analyzed a hair sample of Whisky then created a formula specific to his issues.

“Under Angela’s treatment program, along with chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and thyme/sage tea 3 times a week, Whisky is doing spectacularly. After two months of building his stamina and doing stretch exercises daily, he is ready to pull the cart and looks amazing I might add. It’s not over for Whisky! We will continue with at least 14 more weeks of formula and herbal teas plus months of regular chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture.”

Here he is, after months of herbal treatments-

Sophie

The post Whisky’s Story- Surgery, Infections but a Happy Ending. appeared first on The Horse Herbalist.

Herbs for Horses Archives - The Horse Herbalist

Are we giving our horses too many supplements?

Assess Diet: Regularly review your horse’s diet to ensure it meets their nutritional needs.

Monitor Health and Performance: Keep an eye on your horse’s condition, energy levels, and performance. Changes may indicate nutritional needs.

Consult Professionals: Work with veterinarians, independent equine nutritionists, or professional equine herbalists before adding the latest ‘on trend’ product to your feeding regime.

Choose Wisely: If supplementation is necessary, select high-quality products and adhere to recommended dosages.

Get Liver Smart – it’s the unsung hero of the body

Tone the liver, change everything!

The magic of Aloe Vera

Managing the Health of the Whole Horse

Managing the Health of the Whole Horse

How to build Super Immunity

Herbs that boost immune function & keep you strong

Settle Petal! The Nervous Horse

Managing the Nervous Horse with Angela Davison

Horses are Herbivores

Equine Herbal Blends for Humans too!

Great Results from Hair Testing

Whisky’s Story- Surgery, Infections but a Happy Ending.