In addition to providing honest advice, we at AskHELTIE believe it's important to have a wealth of information available for horse owners. This way, you can expand your knowledge and help your horse to the best of your ability. Together, we ensure that horses come a little closer to nature.
Behaviour
Guest blog
Guest blog HOPE for Horses: what are we doing?
Heady title of this blog huh? I agree, but it should perhaps be discussed at some point. Because, what are we doing in horse country?. Not too long ago, I helped an incredibly sweet girl with her horse (and they're not alone). The first time I saw them, a few things about this horse caught my attention. Thick neck, little muscle on the neck, no muscles on the back. So, a very thick neck, but the muscles elsewhere on his neck were simply gone. Not every horse has a nice "fat neck," but you can see when the balance is off in the horse's body. Additionally, sensitive all over the back. Barely able to walk "normally&...
Behaviour
Guest blog
Stress
The introverts, it's not about what you see!
*Written from personal experience by Marjolijn.* "People often say "What a calm horse you have", "She doesn't seem to startle easily", "How nice to have such a cool cucumber". These are a few comments I regularly hear about my mare Floxely. And yes, from the outside she does appear calm, and in daily interaction she is quiet and composed. She is not a horse that immediately freaks out when she sees or hears something strange, or at least... you don't see it, but internally there's a lot going on. And that's where the "danger" lies with introverted horses/introverts.. Looks can be deceiving You often see Floxely passing by on social media and she is also depicted on the label of our dandelion tincture. She is a Friesian x Tinker mare who has been with me her entire life. A big, tough mare with an imposing presence and everyone who sees her in person finds her beautiful. And she is, she is fantastic, both in appearance and character. But she always gets labeled: calm, cool, easy, and relaxed. But looks can be deceiving! Floxely is an incredibly sensitive mare,...
Behaviour
Guest blog
# HOPE for Horses: Respect always pays back
So, "the suffering caused by fireworks" is behind us for a while. No matter how well you prepare your horses, it's not their favorite day.. Respect for the leader Since the former leader is no longer around, the new leader (Trustful) is insecure during New Year's Eve. He runs back and forth, wanting to keep everyone together. When another horse experiences stress, he wants to be there. Because it's not practical for us to leave all horses outside, this is the only time of the year when a door is placed in the stable. Not all horses are inside, some trust in the new leader's abilities. They are just as calm as Trustful used to be. Th...
Behaviour
Guest blog
Stress
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HOPE for Horses: Training with a traumatized horse.
Sometimes you buy/receive a horse of which you already know that it comes with some baggage. And sometimes a horse comes into your life of which you suspect that there are already some items in the baggage, but it is not clear at first.. Most traumas are not physical Traumas are definitely not always just physical. No, most of the traumas our horses experience are of a different nature, namely: Often moved Overwhelmed Constant pain Stress from a changing herd Stress from improper housing Low-quality roughage Poor quality of the ground. Just a few possibilities where stress can come from, but the list is much longer. Feeling safe on the ground One of our horses had enormous stress from the ground. As soon as it rained for a longe...
Behaviour
Hormones
Feeding
Why we do not have supplements for heat cycles in our assortment
Mares and heat cycles, some have no problems with it while others may struggle with it extensively. It is common for us to receive inquiries about whether we have anything to offer for mares experiencing heat cycles. And our answer is simple and straightforward: 'No!'. In this blog, we will explain why we are not fans of supplements for mares in heat. Heat cycles in mares are natural! Every mare is expected to go through heat cycles if she is not pregnant. Heat cycles typically occur from around March to October. If the fall season is long, heat cycles may start a bit later, while a long summer may extend the duration. Generally, there are no heat cycles during the winter months. A mare's cycle lasts an average of 21 days, meaning you will witness heat cycles...
Behaviour
Others
Should a sports horse be kept differently than a recreational horse?
Regularly the question arises whether a certain advice also applies to a sports horse. Because a sports horse is different, right? Or not? Are there things you should think about extra when it comes to a sports horse, or can you keep a sports horse the same as a recreational horse?. What is a sports horse? Horses are natural athletes with good fitness levels and they cover an average of 15-18 km per day. And they also graze in the meantime, which means they have to cover large distances at a trot/canter to achieve these distances. Many horses are labeled as sports horses, while in reality they are trained for 4-5 times a week for an hour or two. But to be honest, this is not very intensive for a horse. A sports horse is seen as a horse that is trained/performed at a high le...
Behaviour
Organs
Digestion
Feeding
How to prevent stomach ulcers in sport horses?
Unfortunately, many horses suffer from stomach ulcers. This problem occurs in recreational horses, but many sport horses also experience it. It is often thought that sport horses are "different" and should be kept and fed differently. But is that really the case? And how can you prevent stomach ulcers in sport horses?. What are stomach ulcers? A stomach ulcer is an irritation or wound in the stomach caused by damage to the stomach lining. This results in inflammatory reactions to the stomach wall. The stomach of a horse has a capacity of about 10 liters and can be seen as a bag. The lower part continuously produces stomach acid, and the lining in the lower part is more resistant to this acid. The upper part of the stomach has a different lining and is less tolerant to stomach acid. Due to various circumstances...
Behaviour
Magnesium
Others
Silicon
Is rearing the best place for foals to grow up?
Most foals go to a special place for rearing after weaning. Here they usually spend about two to two and a half years. But does a foal actually have to be in rearing? What does good rearing look like? And what are the alternatives?. Because we don't have a lot of space everywhere in the Netherlands, you often find affordable rearing locations for foals in the more rural provinces, or even abroad. As the owner of a young horse, you usually don't have daily visibility. This makes choosing a good rearing location quite difficult. Important aspects to consider in your choice are herd composition, feeding policy, and exercise. Behavior specialist chooses mixed herd Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck of the Faculty of Veterinary Medici...
Behaviour
Guest blog
Guest blog Miranda Hoogenberg from HOPE for Horses: from HARD to HEART
Having and training a (young) horse can be so much fun, if you have the right horse... or the right help with training..... but..... having a (young) horse can be hard work...... I see them all pass by in my work and yet I agree with: “Having a (young) horse is Fun!!!” A perfect match! The road to riding is truly one of the most beautiful moments for building a bond with your horse and it doesn't always require (a lot of) stress. We bought a young horse for my daughter last summer, they fell for each other instantly, so it was a clear case. As a mother, I would have preferred to see a slightly older horse for my daughter (almost 15), but well, I know better than anyone t...
Behaviour
Minerals
Silicon
Digestion
Feeding
Help, my horse is eating sand! What should I do now?
Two times a year we see a peak in questions about horses eating sand. Typically around February/March and usually around September/October. This is quite logical, as these are periods when the molting process is in full swing and the nutritional needs of horses are changing due to a seasonal shift. But what should you do if your horse starts eating sand? Should you just let it happen or should you intervene?. Sand-eating is a natural phenomenon All horses eat sand, this is a natural phenomenon and wild horses do this as well. Sand, or rather soil, is a rich source of minerals. From white sand, horses cannot extract much, as it mainly consists of silicon in a form that is not absorbable. Black soil, on the other hand, is richer in minerals, contains more types of minerals, and in forms that the horse can make better use of. If you see your horse eating black soil, don't panic immediately. It is a sign...
Behaviour
Guest blog
Guest blog Growth Factory: Using a horse as a therapy horse? Is that weird?
Using a horse for the learning goals of your client? Is that strange, airy-fairy, or actually just day-care instead of working concretely on learning goals? Almost everyone has heard at some point that working with animals, horses in particular, could have a healing effect. 'Very nice' I always thought, 'but that's all in your head'.. Written for Marjolein from @Dutch_Draft_Astor (@groeifabriek) Horse coaching not the suitable term Yet it did trigger something in me, I have been crazy about horses for years myself, and how cool would it be if I could combine my care work with my passion? But, being critical as I am, if I were to use horses for my clients, it had to make a very concrete contribution to their learning process. After a lot of searching on the internet, visiting open days, and gathering information from training...
Behaviour
Hormones
Stress
Many changes of horses in the herd cause stress and reduced immunity!
Horses in a boarding stable don't always have it easy. Turnover in boarding stables is generally higher than in private ownership. And as horse owners, we all know that horses are herd animals. But did you also know that changes in the group cause stress and therefore a decreased immunity? Read in this blog how this works.. Stable herd = safety and security Horses naturally live in herds, with a clear leader and mutual friendships and relationships. Each horse holds a certain place in the hierarchy in relation to another horse. They make way for one horse and not for another. This creates a balance in the herd. And this balance is important for overall safety and feelings of security. The herd can then peacefully graze, rest, play, groom, and relax. Stress only occurs when there is danger, but once the danger is go...