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.

Guest blog

Stress

I had to laugh a little at this title myself! Anyone who owns horses knows that keeping them is, or can be, quite an investment. As long as your horse is healthy, it’s all manageable, but when health issues arise, the costs can really add up.

Guest blog HOPE for Horses: Sometimes you have to invest first!

I had to laugh a little at this title myself! Anyone who owns horses knows that keeping them is, or can be, quite an investment. As long as your horse is healthy, it’s all manageable, but when health issues arise, the costs can really add up.. I often hear, "My horse doesn't have that," or "My horse doesn't do that," or "My horse isn't bothered by that..." Well, great! Keep it that way! Horses are puzzles When I look at a horse, I actually see puzzle pieces. Either they fit perfectly together, or a few pieces are missing. Sometimes the puzzle has been forced together in a way that it might need to be taken apart first. Many of my clients have horses like this. The pieces have been forced together—at all c...

Skin

Stress

Feeding

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?

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...

Behaviour

Guest blog

Stress

*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.

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

Stress

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.

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...

Cannabinoids

Clove

Stress

Triphala

If your horse is stressed, you would like to do something about it. Stress is not fun for your horse and can even lead to dangerous situations. But... there are many remedies and supplements available. Which one should you choose? The answer depends on your horse and your situation!

Horse Stress: Choose your clove, triphala or a stress product?

If your horse is stressed, you would like to do something about it. Stress is not fun for your horse and can even lead to dangerous situations. But... there are many remedies and supplements available. Which one should you choose? The answer depends on your horse and your situation!. Every horse experiences tension from time to time. Sometimes it is short-lived, but sometimes it is truly chronic. If you want to help a horse with stress, it is important to first investigate where the stress is coming from and what type of stress it is. This way, you can better assess what you need to do. Circumstances Horses are herd animals that require social contact and free movement. If they do not (or insufficiently) receive this, it can lead to prolonged, chronic stress. A lack of rough...

Guest blog

Stress

The science has discovered that when a body is experiencing stress, cell division occurs differently than when there is no stress. This is the reason why a body becomes "sick". The stress remains in your cell, so every cell that divides afterwards carries the information of the stress again. Only when this stress is released can the next cell division take place without the information from the stress! It's pretty cool how something like this works, right?! But then, the question may arise: How do you relieve the stress?

Guest blog HOPE for Horses: Stress in horses

The science has discovered that when a body is experiencing stress, cell division occurs differently than when there is no stress. This is the reason why a body becomes "sick". The stress remains in your cell, so every cell that divides afterwards carries the information of the stress again. Only when this stress is released can the next cell division take place without the information from the stress! It's pretty cool how something like this works, right?! But then, the question may arise: How do you relieve the stress?. Learning to release stress I think we all know that being exposed to stress for a long time or frequently is not beneficial for health. Unfortunately, you cannot escape stress, it is a given that you will have to deal with stress in your life. The good news is that you can learn how to deal with it and how to release stress. This varies from person to person and certainly also from horse to horse! Knowing that avoiding stress is impossible, how can we help release the stress? From well-behaved t...

Behaviour

Stress

Feeding

Do you ever observe your horse in the pasture, paddock, or in the stable? What do you look for? And what stands out to you? Do you know what is 'normal' for your horse? Small deviations in a horse's behavior can be signs of early discomfort, illness, or social issues. Therefore, make it a habit to regularly observe your horse.

Is your horse acting normal?

Do you ever observe your horse in the pasture, paddock, or in the stable? What do you look for? And what stands out to you? Do you know what is 'normal' for your horse? Small deviations in a horse's behavior can be signs of early discomfort, illness, or social issues. Therefore, make it a habit to regularly observe your horse.. As a horse owner, you want the best for your animal. Therefore, it is important to have an idea of what behavior is 'normal' for your horse. Is the animal dominant or lower in rank? Does it like to play, have friends, sleep often in the paddock or stable? Eating behavior and how often your horse drinks are also interesting facts to know. And of course, it is important to see if your horse eats sand or digs holes. Herd Behavior How a horse behaves within the herd is a crucial indication of how it...

Behaviour

Hormones

Stress

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.

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...

Cannabinoids

Behaviour

Clove

Stress

The end of the year is approaching and in many places in the country that means: fireworks! This can cause stress, for horses and their owners. Can a horse get used to fireworks? And how can you make the New Year's Eve and the days leading up to it as stress-free as possible for your horse?

Fireworks! Nine tips for a stress-free New Year's Eve for your horse

The end of the year is approaching and in many places in the country that means: fireworks! This can cause stress, for horses and their owners. Can a horse get used to fireworks? And how can you make the New Year's Eve and the days leading up to it as stress-free as possible for your horse?. Horses are flight animals, who naturally prefer to run first before they look to see what is going on. It is therefore to be expected that horses are afraid of fireworks. Also carbide shooting will not be very funny for most horses, if they hear it for the first time. But... police horses can handle all those bangs. And some other horses don't seem to care much. They are apparently used to it. Start on time Below are some tips to help your horse get through New Year's Eve more easily. It is usef...

Behaviour

Stress

Stable vices arise from stress. A stressed horse will exhibit stereotypic behavior more often than a horse that is comfortable in its own skin. Behaviors such as weaving and crib biting are soothing and addictive for a horse. But as an owner, if your horse has a stable vice, you naturally want your horse to stop this behavior. Unlearning is actually not possible, due to the addictive nature of these behaviors. What can you do instead? Address the underlying reasons for the stress.

Can a horse unlearn a stable vice?

Stable vices arise from stress. A stressed horse will exhibit stereotypic behavior more often than a horse that is comfortable in its own skin. Behaviors such as weaving and crib biting are soothing and addictive for a horse. But as an owner, if your horse has a stable vice, you naturally want your horse to stop this behavior. Unlearning is actually not possible, due to the addictive nature of these behaviors. What can you do instead? Address the underlying reasons for the stress.. A stable vice, also known as 'stereotypic behavior', occurs when a horse experiences stress, often for an extended period of time. Performing repetitive behavior, such as crib biting, helps the horse release a bit of the 'happiness hormone' endorphin into its bloodstream. This makes the horse feel better and endorphin also has a numbing and calming effect. Unfortunately, this substance is also addictive. A horse will therefore be inclined to engage in this behavior repeatedly. Crib biting, weavi...

Cannabinoids

Clove

Magnesium

Stress

Horses can experience stress for various reasons. This can be due to moving, incorrect (feeding) management or a traumatic experience, for example. Some horses are more sensitive to stress than others. There are also horses who are a bit spooky during work and often struggle with the so-called "arena ghosts". Many horse owners then turn to a magnesium supplement, as this is believed to be the solution. But is it really? Is magnesium the miracle cure for stress?

Is magnesium the miracle cure for horses with stress?

Horses can experience stress for various reasons. This can be due to moving, incorrect (feeding) management or a traumatic experience, for example. Some horses are more sensitive to stress than others. There are also horses who are a bit spooky during work and often struggle with the so-called "arena ghosts". Many horse owners then turn to a magnesium supplement, as this is believed to be the solution. But is it really? Is magnesium the miracle cure for stress?. Different types of stress Horses can experience different types of stress. These forms can be divided into 2 groups: acute stress & chronic stress. If the horse is startled by an unexpected situation, found a trailer ride stressful, or was tense during a competition, then it is acute stress. The horse has experienced stress, but can quickly let it flow away and continue with "normal" life without long-lasting effects. In chronic stress, the body experiences prolonged stress causing...

Stress

‘Stable vice’ may sound harmless, but the associated behavior certainly is not. Cribbing, weaving, box-walking are all the result of significant stress and arise when a horse is restricted in its natural behavior for too long. Usually because they are kept alone in a box for too long. How do you prevent stable vices? And what if your horse already exhibits this kind of behavior?

Preventing and managing stable vices in horses

‘Stable vice’ may sound harmless, but the associated behavior certainly is not. Cribbing, weaving, box-walking are all the result of significant stress and arise when a horse is restricted in its natural behavior for too long. Usually because they are kept alone in a box for too long. How do you prevent stable vices? And what if your horse already exhibits this kind of behavior?. A stable vice is a form of repetitive behavior that was originally developed to relieve stress. By performing the repetitive behavior, such as cribbing, the horse releases a dose of endorphins into its blood. Endorphins are hormones that make the horse feel better, this substance has a numbing and calming effect. Endorphins are also addictive. A horse will therefore tend to repeat this behavior over and over again to get another 'hit.' What stable vices are there? The most well-known stable vice...

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