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.
Rosehip
The healing power of rosehip
Rosehip is known among horse people as a healthy treat that you can pick straight from the bush. Rosehip contains a lot of vitamin C in a very readily absorbable form. Your horse can easily use it in his body. However, you need to pick a lot of rosehips to get some effect. That's why it's handy to use a liquid tincture of rosehip.. In a rosehip tincture (extract), all the healthy substances from the rosehip are in a concentrated and liquid form. This makes absorption even easier. Plus, your horse gets a lot more than when you pick a few loose rosehips from the bush. What does rosehip do? Rosehips are full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight so-called 'free radicals' in the body. This helps prevent and resolve diseases. That's why people often eat oranges or mandarins when they have a cold. Ro...
Guest blog
Stress
Guest blog Miranda Hoogenberg from HOPE for Horses: Mental well-being of horses
Not a small topic, but often overlooked! The number of times I see a horse looking unhappy is too many to count. It can be quite difficult for an owner to spot. Your horse eats, drinks, poops, and pees. Done.... right? Or is it?. There are so many factors that play a role in the mental health of your horse. At least 85% of all health issues in horses stem from mental well-being, or rather, the absence of a happy and stable horse. Stress from a young age Last summer, we expanded our herd with two young boys, one a Groninger and the other a very well-bred (on paper at least) KWPN. One just turned five and the other just turned four. I heard about the history of the Groninger. Castrated at one year old, put into a group for...
Nettle
Detox
Detox + nettle: ideal combination for keeping the horse's body clean
Each horse accumulates waste products in its body. Not only through nutrition, but also through the environment and as the body renews its cells. These waste products will accumulate in the body, causing it to become "full" over time. This can lead to ailments (itching, mud fever, decreased resistance, etc.) and the proper nutrients may be less well absorbed. So it is important to clean up these waste products. But what do you choose? A detox or nettle? In our opinion: choose both!. Detox supports liver and kidneys We recommend doing a detox for your horse twice a year, but only if it is responsible! In wild horses, detox also occurs, but of course not through a supplement. Horses seek out herbs that aid in the removal of waste products. And at the end of winter, wild horses lose weight drastically due to food scarcity. Because waste products are stored in the fat tissue, they are released and the waste products are removed. So it is not strange to give our modern horse a d...
Nettle
Detox
Digestion
Feeding
Transition from grass to hay: take it easy!
The days are getting shorter and although the grass still grows a little, the nutritional value decreases in the autumn. It's time to supplement feed, and in many cases horses also move to the stable and paddock. This transition can be difficult for horses because they have a very sensitive digestive system. What can you do to make this transition easier?. In the spring, when horses go from hay to grass, many horse owners are cautious. Most people know that you need to gradually increase grass consumption to prevent problems like diarrhea or laminitis. In the autumn, the transition in the diet is also significant, although not everyone realizes that. It is wise to also switch slowly in the autumn. Autumn grass and hay Grass can still contain quite a bit of sugar in the autumn, especially if the nights are cold and the days are sunny. But grass con...
Others
Stress
Feeding
# A happy horse: what do we, as owners, need to take care of?
Horse welfare is very important to many horse owners and fortunately also to more and more institutions. We at HELTIE horse believe that a happy horse is extremely important! It is therefore our goal to bring horses closer to nature, with optimal health and well-being for all horses. But as a horse owner, what should we actually pay attention to and take care of?. Good and proper nutrition Many horse owners depend on their boarding stables when it comes to feeding their horse. But as horse owners, we have the responsibility for our horse's health and therefore also their nutrition. Horses should have access to sufficient high-quality forage. Our preference always goes to unpackaged hay as packaged hay has several health disadvantages. Additionally, we prefer to see horses have unlimited access to forage, but no more than 3 hours without. Nowadays, forage/...
Behaviour
Magnesium
Stress
Vitamin E
How do you prevent mental overload in a young horse in training?
When a horse comes out of rearing and starts working, it brings a lot of changes. Not only because suddenly everything is expected of him, but also because the circumstances in which the animal lives change. The horse often spends fewer hours in the herd, sometimes in a stall at night, and comes into contact with people and 'strange' situations much more than before.. Most people know that in the training of a young horse, you should take it easy to allow the tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints to adapt to the work. Short training sessions and sufficient (active) rest days in between are important to start a horse in work properly. Mental burden Training a young horse is not only about physical challenges. There is also a lot happening mentally. It's like a toddler going to school for the first time, they receive a lot of impressions which can be exhausti...
Magnesium
Stress
To compete or not when your horse finds it stressful?
If you ride dressage or show jumping with your horse, it can be quite enjoyable to compete. At least, for you as a rider. Competitions are a good opportunity to see where you are in your training and to compete against other combinations. But does your horse enjoy it as much? And what can you do to make the experience as positive as possible for him? A few tips and tricks, even if your horse may not enjoy it that much yet.. Resilient horse Before competing, it is important that your horse can handle everything that will come his way. In other words, your horse must be resilient enough. There are several things you can do to increase the chances of your horse being mentally prepared for a competition. Firstly, make sure that not everything is unfamiliar to him. Do you braid your horse's mane often? Practice that and then ride in your own familiar arena. Without stress. Make sure that other preparations for a competi...
Organs
Others
Stress
What do the eyes of your horse say?
As horse owners, we would like to know if our horses are feeling good. And if they might want to tell us something. One of the ways to 'listen' to horses is by looking closely at their eyes. Do you know what each look of your horse says? And what should you pay attention to?. The eyes of horses are located on the sides of their heads. This allows a horse to see almost all around itself; it can't see directly behind itself. Such wide vision is very useful for a flight animal, as it can scan the entire surroundings even while grazing. It can quickly run away if a predator approaches. However, this good vision is not always practical for riding with horses, as a scary object or bush monster is quickly spotted... Beautiful horse eyes Horse eyes can provide us as owners w...
Others
Stress
Why social contact is so important for horses
Horses are herd animals. They are naturally made to live in groups and need social contact to remain physically and mentally healthy. In densely populated Netherlands, it is not always possible to meet all the needs of your horse. How important is social contact actually for your horse, what exactly is social contact, and how can you help your horse when (temporarily) less social contact is possible?. Over the years, the thinking on animal welfare has changed. For a long time, the 'five freedoms' were leading. It described that an animal, for example, has the right to be free from hunger and thirst and to be free from physical discomfort. According to this theory, animals must also be free to express normal behavior. This means: sufficient space, good amenities, and the companionship of conspecifics. Nowadays, many experts and animal keepers believe that it is no longer sufficient to only pro...
Cannabinoids
Behaviour
Clove
Magnesium
Stress
Black cumin
Do you know if your horse is in pain?
If only they could talk" is something that horse owners often say to each other. Because sometimes there is something wrong with your horse, but it is not immediately clear what exactly. Is he just having a bad day? Or is there something more going on? How easy would it be sometimes to just ask! Horses don't talk, but they do give off signals about how they feel. We humans just have to learn to understand those signals.... Researchers have been studying for years to find out what signals can be read in different animal species, such as behavior, eyes, and facial muscles. They have discovered that horses in pain tighten certain facial muscles. You can see if there is discomfort or pain in six areas on the horse's head. If your horse shows one of these signs, it might not be a big deal. But if he tightens the facial muscles in four or more places, then you really need to investigate further. In addition to his facia...
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Salmon oil
Smooth joints? Combination of housing, nutrition, and exercise!
Older horses often experience muscle stiffness or rigidity due to early osteoarthritis. It is important for horses to keep moving in order to remain flexible. But are there also nutrients that help keep your horse more supple? How do you feed your horse to keep his joints healthy for as long as possible?. Stiffness in (older) horses is often caused by osteoarthritis. This is a condition where (chronic) inflammation occurs in the joints. Cartilage loss occurs, leading to a reduction in joint cushioning. This often makes movement initially painful, and a horse with osteoarthritis needs to 'warm up'. Only after a longer and cautious warm-up do the joints have enough lubrication to move smoothly. Osteoarthritis can also cause changes in bone structure in a more advanced stage. How does osteoarthritis...
Weight
Hormones
Feeding
Salmon oil
How to prevent muscle breakdown in the aging horse?
As horses age, they may suffer from muscle breakdown. This is a natural process. In humans, as well, more muscle tissue is broken down as the years go by. This is due to changes in hormone levels, decreased nerve stimulation to the muscles, and a decline in protein metabolism in an older horse or human.. Maintaining muscles requires a lot of energy. However, a horse also needs them. It is important that an older horse, even in winter, receives enough energy to maintain its muscles. Unlimited roughage is always the best foundation. Additionally, it is wise to add healthy fats to the diet, such as salmon oil. This provides a lot of energy and the appropriate omega-3 fatty acids for horses, namely EPA and DHA. This way, a horse has the necessary fatty acids readily available through the oil without...