Wild horses detox too

Wild horses also detox when they live in natural conditions. These horses live according to the rhythm of nature, which means they gain a lot of weight in the summer, but lose a lot of weight in the winter due to scarcity. Toxins are stored in the body in fat tissue, and as the horse loses weight, it slowly gets rid of these toxins throughout the winter. In the wild, horses do not only eat high quality hay or fresh grass, they eat whatever they can find. During certain periods, this includes herbs with a cleansing effect. These herbs are only available for a short period of time, so they only have a brief cleansing effect. A wild horse naturally ensures that its body is regularly cleansed.

Detoxing is not without risks

As horse owners, we want the best for our horses, and we know that a clean body is the healthiest and allows nutrients to be absorbed better. Especially horses with summer eczema, mites, or other conditions benefit greatly from having a clean body. Therefore, it is recommended to detox in the spring (March/April) and in the fall (September/October). But what happens during a detox? During a detox, stored toxins are released so that the liver and kidneys can eliminate them. This means that the toxins enter the blood and travel throughout the body. If a horse has a lot of toxins in the body, it can be harmful when a large amount of toxins are suddenly released. Detoxing is intense for every horse and it requires energy, as the blood is then full of toxins that the body needs to process. Therefore, always adjust the workload when detoxing your horse. If there are an excessive amount of toxins, they can accumulate in, for example, the hooves, resulting in laminitis. Additionally, other conditions can manifest as a result of detoxing. Therefore, never give a detox blindly, but carefully consider whether your horse can handle it.

In these situations, NEVER give a detox

There are situations where we always advise against detoxing, as a detox can be too intense in these cases and may exacerbate symptoms or trigger conditions. Therefore, do not give a detox to your horse if:

• It is overweight

• It is susceptible to laminitis

• It is susceptible to tying up (muscle disorders)

• It has a weakened immune system (due to illness)

• It is sick

• It has recently been operated on, vaccinated, or dewormed

If you are unsure whether your horse can handle a detox, consult with us or your therapist. But when it comes to detoxing, we always say "when in doubt, don't do it". If you want to detox after a vaccination or deworming, wait at least 4 weeks so that the horse's immune system can recover on its own.

Liquid nettle tincture as an alternative to detox

Some horses really need a cleansing because toxins are hindering recovery or because a condition cannot be properly addressed. In that case, choose liquid nettle tincture. This tincture purifies the blood and can be seen as a mild detox, without the risk of being too intense. An additional benefit is that it also provides a tremendous boost to the immune system.