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.
Detox
Organs
Horse with liver problems? Then don't do a detox!
We notice that many horse owners perform a detox on horses with liver problems. With good intentions, of course, but not actually very wise. They want to support the horse and the liver so that they are back in order as soon as possible. But a detox is not suitable for that, we are happy to explain to you!. A detox stimulates the liver Every form of detox (herbal combination or, for example, pure milk thistle) has the function of putting the liver to work extra and stimulating it to clean the body. It is a semi-annual cleansing for horses that are healthy and feeling well. Firstly, a detox should never be applied to a horse with reduced health, because a detox is intense and can also cause problems. We therefore always recommend contacting us or a therapist before applying a detox to your horse. An...
Nettle
Detox
Digestion
Feeding
How do you support a horse with sensitive intestines?
Horses have a unique digestive system, which is sensitive to changes in feed, poor quality forage, too much sugar, weather changes, and stress. What can you do as a horse owner if your horse has sensitive intestines and regularly suffers from cramps, mild colic, or diarrhea?. Actually, all horses have a sensitive digestive system, but it is more pronounced in some animals than in others. Horses need a lot of fiber to optimize their digestion. Fiber is the basis of a horse's diet. Sufficient forage, with plenty of fiber and of good quality, is therefore the first requirement for horses with sensitive intestines. Check for mold in the forage and supplement any shortage of good forage with high-quality forage substitutes. For example, alfalfa, (soaked) grass pellets, or...
Digestion
Feeding
# The difference between hay, pre-cut, and silage
Roughage for horses comes in different forms. From small bales of dry herbal hay to large packages of plastic-wrapped silage or pre-cut silage. What are actually the differences in nutritional value between these various types of 'packaged grass'? And: what is the best for your horse?. Roughage is vital for horses. The fibers from roughage are the main source of energy for the digestive system. In the large intestine of your horse, a wide range of microorganisms convert the fibers into volatile fatty acids. These are then absorbed by the intestines and used for energy supply, heat production, building materials, and vitamins. Fiber-rich roughage is therefore super important for the health of a horse. From ryegrass to natural hay Most of the roughage we give to horses in the Ne...
Guest blog
Digestion
Guest blog Janneke from Worm & Co: To deworm preventively in winter or not?
Janneke van der Wal from Worm&Co advocates for customized worm management for each horse. Many people give a heavier deworming treatment with Moxidectine at the beginning of winter each year – against redworms, tapeworms, and bots among others. We asked Janneke if this is actually necessary and how you can know.. "Routine deworming every few months throughout the year is really unnecessary," Janneke explains. "About 74% of horses in the Netherlands are dewormed unnecessarily. And every unnecessary deworming treatment leads to resistance in worms." That's why Worm&Co uses fecal egg counts and a detailed questionnaire, so that each individual horse can be dewormed accordingly. Only deworm when it is truly necessary. Janneke says, "Every horse carries gastrointestinal worms. Tha...
Rosehip
Feeding
Rosehip, beautiful addition to the mineral buffet!
More and more horse owners are creating a mineral buffet for their horse and this can be as extensive as you want. Green clay, nettle tincture, minerals from the Bering Sea, Celtic sea salt, and so on! Nowadays, there are a lot of products that you can add to your horse's water. And from now on, you can also add rosehip tincture!. Healthy extra for horses Many horses love rosehips and they are also extremely healthy for horses. You can give them fresh, in dried form, but nowadays rosehips are also available in tincture form. The advantage of a tincture is that you can extract a greater medicinal effect from the rosehips, it is a more concentrated form. Suitable for all horses and a tasty, healthy addition. Rosehip to mix with feed A tincture of rosehip can be given to horses in various ways. The easiest way is through the...
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...