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.
Algae
Skin
Clove
Salmon oil
Sweet itch
Black cumin
Allergic reactions in horses: How do they occur and what can you do about them?
Does your horse ever have itching, a runny nose, or a slight cough? And do you actually know what causes it? Many horses are allergic to things like dust, pollen, or an ingredient in their feed. How does an allergic reaction occur? And more importantly: what can you do about it?. Here is the English translation: An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the immune system. The defense system of your horse reacts strongly to substances in the environment that are actually harmless. This disturbed reaction of the immune system can result in itching, eczema, hay fever, coughing, or bumps. Often, you’ll see horses suffering from an allergic reaction scratch, lick, bite, and rub themselves. Congenital or Slowly Developed Allergies are sometimes congenital. For instance, summer...
Skin
Stress
Feeding
Persistent Mud Fever: Have You Considered Mental Issues?
Nearly all horses encounter mud fever at some point in their lives. Usually, it's a small spot that disappears in a few days. Sometimes, it takes longer, and more spots appear on the legs. But what if you’ve tried almost everything and the mud fever just won’t go away? What if you have everything in order regarding housing and nutrition? What else can you do about mud fever?. Mud Fever Is a Collective Term When people think of mud fever, they often assume it’s caused by wet paddocks, mites, sunburn, or by horse owners who don’t take proper care of their horses. There is often a stigma attached to mud fever, which is completely unjustified! Mud fever is not breed-specific, age-specific, or related to weather conditions. Mud fever is a collective term for sores on the lower half of horses' legs. It’s a term used for wet sores but also for dry, crusty spots. As a horse...
Skin
Mud Fever in Horses: Should You Remove Crusts or Not?
When your horse has mud fever, you might get varying advice. Whether to wash or not, whether to remove crusts or not. How to handle it? It depends on the type of mud fever! We explain it in this article.. Mud fever is a term that can refer to several different skin conditions. It’s often a bacterial infection, but fungi and parasites like mites can also cause skin flakes, inflammation, itching, and spots. Cracks or wounds can also occur with mud fever. To treat mud fever properly, you need to look at the form it takes: Is it ‘dry’ mud fever or ‘wet’ mud fever? Wet Mud Fever If the skin in the coronet and around the mud fever spots is wet from wound fluid or if you see blisters or open inflammatio...
Skin
What is the difference between mud fever and scratches?
When horses have itching and spots on their legs, the terms ‘mud fever’ and ‘scratches’ are often used interchangeably. What is the actual difference? And what can you do if your horse has mud fever or scratches?. Actually, the difference between mud fever and scratches is not so much about what they are, but where they occur. Mud fever is located at the lower parts of the legs, in the pastern area or around the fetlock and cannon bone. Scratches are higher up, usually on the hind legs, often at the front of the hock, and sometimes even higher. However, mud fever and scratches often have the same causes. Collective Term Mud fever is a kind of collective term. It refers to an irritation or inflammation of...
Skin
Lymphatic system
Mites
What skin problems occur on horses' legs?
Scabs, spots, wounds and flakes: horses regularly have itchy legs. The question is then: what could it be? And above all: what can you do about it? An overview.. Whether you have a KWPN horse with white legs or a Clydesdale with thick socks, every horse can have some spots on its legs. There can be several causes for itching, scabs, and wounds on horse legs: Mud Fever Mites Rain Rot Fungal and Bacterial Infections Mud Fever Mud fever is a general term for skin irritation or inflammation, usually in the pastern area or lower legs. Symptoms include redness, flakes, wounds, scabs, swelling, itching, and/or pain. Mud fever can be caused by bacteria and fungi...
Hooves
Skin
Tendons
Silicon
In Which Conditions Should You Provide Extra Silicon?
Silicon is one of the essential minerals for your horse's health. This mineral is important for a wide range of bodily processes, from bone formation to skin health and from tendon repair to joint lubrication. In which conditions and problems do we recommend a silicon supplement?. The mineral silicon is a sort of jack-of-all-trades. This can sometimes make it a bit confusing to determine when to use silicon for your horse. In principle, silicon is a basic necessity for your horse, meaning it is always needed. However, the question is whether you need to supplement it, or if your horse is already getting enough from its diet. Silicon is found in various plants, such as nettles. In this article, we briefly outline the conditions in which silicon can be an effective suppleme...
Skin
Sweet itch
Is itching in spring or summer always caused by sweet itch?
Spring has begun. Time for longer evenings and higher temperatures. Unfortunately, this also means that the midges that cause summer eczema become active again. However, if your horse is itching, rubbing its tail, or scratching its mane, it doesn't always mean that it has summer eczema. Itching in spring or summer can have various causes.. When you see a horse scratching, stamping, or rubbing, two things are often considered: mites or sweet itch. Mites are mainly a problem in the winter months (although they can persist) and are mainly found on the legs. But when itching occurs on the mane and tail, especially in spring and summer, most people often think primarily of sweet itch, especially in horses of more robust breeds. Causes of Itching in Horses Let's list the possible causes of itching in horses - especially on the tail and...
Weight
Skin
Obesity as a cause of itching in horses
Many Dutch horses could afford to be a bit slimmer. Overweight can cause various problems. Not only joint overload or laminitis, but also itching! How is that?. It may sound a bit strange, but fat accumulations in the body can more or less take on a life of their own. Fat reserves indeed influence hormone levels. When an animal has a lot of adipose tissue, quite a few hormones are released as well. Research in humans has shown that these extra hormones are the cause of high blood pressure, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Fat reserves also often spontaneously become inflamed. This happens, for example, in horses with fat accumulations in the crest of...
Nettle
Skin
Dandelion
To wash or not to wash horses with mud fever?
Everywhere you see shampoo bars and other shampoos being promoted a lot for mud fever, wounds, and other skin conditions. And then with the advice to wash daily, for example. But is that really wise for mud fever? Do you want the legs to be washed daily or are you perhaps doing more harm with that?. Washing disrupts the skin balance Shampoo bars are all the rage, not only for yourself but also for horses. And yes, generally these are "healthier" than a shampoo from a bottle, but these shampoo bars also have disadvantages. Shampoo bars degrease extremely, if you have ever used such a bar yourself then you notice that your scalp feels extremely clean and your hair becomes a bit stiff. This means that all skin oil is removed and thus also the protection of the skin. The skin balance...
Nettle
Skin
Lymphatic system
Dandelion
What is the difference between CPL and einschuss in horses?
Einschuss (elephant foot) and CPL (Chronic Progressive Lymphoedema) are conditions affecting the legs of a horse. In both cases, the lymphatic system plays a crucial role. Fluid accumulates and the horse develops swellings in the legs. What is the difference between these two leg problems and how can you help your horse?. What is einschuss? Einschuss usually occurs due to a small wound on the horse's leg, which may sometimes be hard to find. An inflammation of the lymphatic vessels occurs, which can spread to the blood vessels. Einschuss is recognizable by the fact that it always occurs on one leg. Swelling in einschuss often starts at the base of the leg and rapidly expands. A minor injury can lead to a severe acute inflammation, resulting in a swollen and warm leg. The horse may also have a fever and feel letha...
Skin
Mites
Does my horse have mud fever or mites?
Your horse is stamping its feet, has crusts in the fetlock pits, or keeps rubbing its legs... What could be the issue? Some say: mud fever! Others call out: mites! But what's actually the difference? And what should you do if your horse has mud fever and/or mites?. Mud fever is a collective term for various skin conditions above the hoof, in the fetlock pit, and on the lower legs. You may see crusts or small wounds and your horse often has itching. Although itching is not always present. Mites are parasites that reside in the socks and complete their entire life cycle, from egg to adult mite, there. Mud Fever and CPL The term mud fever is used for different conditions and does not provide much information about the cause and severity of the ailment. Mud fe...
Weight
Skin
Mites
Sweet itch
Oh no, my horse is rubbing!
As the weather gets warmer, the horses are out in the grass and the insects are emerging from their eggs, the headache for many horse owners resurfaces. Especially Friesians and draft horses are affected: rubbing and damaging the mane and tail. What can you do to prevent this?. Itching is of course very annoying. And it is not fun to watch as your horse feels so uncomfortable that he constantly wants to scratch at fences, stall doors, water buckets, or even at you as the owner. Especially when that lush mane or beautiful full tail starts falling out or your horse injures himself to the point of bleeding. Itch course There are several causes of itching and rubbing. From sweet itch caused by midges, to too much sugar in the diet and skin conditions. We will go through th...