There is no miracle cure

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure that can eliminate all itchiness in all horses, if only it were that easy! Each horse is different and each horse reacts differently to herbs. What works perfectly for your horse may not work at all for your neighbor's horse. The effectiveness of the herbs also greatly depends on your horse's diet. Therefore, do not expect miracles from the herbs below, but see them as an additional support.

Don't forget to examine the diet!

You can give all kinds of supplements (with the best intentions), but if the diet is not correct, a supplement, unfortunately, will make little difference. Horses (and ponies) with itchiness are generally more sensitive in terms of skin and digestion. It is therefore extremely important to provide a correct diet for these horses. Therefore, be critical of your forage:

• Thin hay (low in sugars)

• Coarse and stemmy so that it contains a lot of fibers

• No packaged pre-cut hay!

The concentrate feed is also an important part, as you can unwittingly provide the wrong nutrients to your horse through this route:

• Avoid grains (starch), as these are treated as sugars in the body

• Avoid sugars

• Provide enough vitamins and minerals! Feeding sparingly is allowed, but a horse with skin problems needs enough minerals for the skin to heal.

And in the summer, there is often grass, the main food source for some horses, but:

• Pay attention to fructan, as it can be very high in dry periods!

• Avoid fertilizer, as many horses react very allergic to it and will start scratching (head/ears etc).

• Do not let your horse become too fat, consider strip grazing if needed.

We have now mentioned 3 important points to consider in the diet. Our experience is that some horses can be itch-free as soon as these conditions are met. Many itching complaints are really related to nutrition. If your horse continues to itch after adjusting the diet, then support it with herbal supplements. It often involves a combination of herbs, but some individual herbs also provide supportive effects.

Clove Extract

Most people know cloves as a spice, but in the past, it was also a well-known remedy for toothaches. Clove was then pushed into the tooth and had a pain-relieving effect. Over the years, it was discovered that the medicinal effect of cloves is much greater than just pain relief. Clove contains cannabinoids that play an extremely important role in the body's self-healing ability. Cannabinoids in cloves are not only pain-relieving, but also anti-inflammatory and help balance the body and mind. Do not grind cloves from the supermarket for the good medicinal effect, the entire clove plant is necessary. Therefore, choose a clove extract!

The anti-inflammatory effect of clove extract is especially important for itchiness. Itchiness is caused by small inflammations under the skin, causing the horse to scratch. Scratching causes wounds, which in turn cause inflammatory reactions, creating a cycle that the horse gets stuck in. Clove extract helps to clear up these inflammations faster, allowing you to break this cycle. In addition, the horse's body becomes more balanced, allowing all processes in the body to function better.

Nettle

Nettles can grow wildly and many people consider them weeds. But did you know that nettle may be the most useful plant in the pasture? Some horses eat nettles fresh, some prefer them dried, and most horses really enjoy liquid nettle tincture. And it is also very healthy! Not only for horses with itchiness, but really for all horses.

Nettle purifies the blood, so you can see it as a mild detox. These blood purifying properties make nettle very suitable for horses with itching problems. The cleaner the blood, the less attractive to insects and the better nutrients can be absorbed. Nettle is also a huge boost for the immune system, and the better the immune system, the more resilient the horse is against external influences.

Therefore, give your horse a course of nettle regularly, preferably liquid as it has the most powerful effect.

Combination of (Echinacea, astragalus, uncaria, gentiana, thymus, fenugreek)

There are more herbs that have a positive influence on the horse. These are a combination of herbs because the interaction of these herbs ensures that the whole horse is taken care of. A bit of resistance, digestion, skin, and making it unattractive for insects. Therefore, choose a supplement that combines these herbs, along with citronellol and citronellal. These essential oils ensure that the horse's blood becomes unattractive and indigestible for insects and parasites.

• Echinacea: supports overall resistance.

• Astragalus: Supports the immune system and provides energy.

• Uncaria: Also known as cat's claw, improves resistance and works against viruses and bacteria.

• Gentiana: Yellow gentian, supports digestion, purifies the blood, and supports liver function.

• Thymus: To support digestion and the respiratory system.

• Fenugreek: For overall resistance and is also used as a flavor enhancer in supplements.

• Citronellol and Citronellal: Make blood indigestible for parasites and ensure that the horse emits a smell that makes it less attractive to insects.

Conclusion: apply different supplements and see what works for you

As indicated, each horse is different. Therefore, it may take some time to find out which supplement or combination of supplements is best for your horse. Not all supplements need to be given as standard. For example, you give nettle best in a course and repeat it every 2 months in the summer period.

It is especially important to look at the diet and make adjustments, extra support can then be provided with supplements. Can't figure it out? Feel free to contact us! We are happy to help and assist you in finding the best solution.