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.
Magnesium
Does my horse have a magnesium deficiency?
Magnesium is an incredibly important mineral for horses. It is essential for muscles, bones, and the nervous system. Owners often only notice a magnesium deficiency quite late. While a magnesium deficiency is quite common and can have a significant impact on the mood and performance of horses.. How do you know if your horse has a magnesium deficiency? And what can you do about it? Signs of a magnesium deficiency Sometimes the symptoms of a lack of magnesium fall into the category of 'vague complaints'. They usually only become apparent when your horse has been receiving insufficient magnesium for a while. So, a deficiency is easy to overlook. Signs of a magnesium deficiency include: Fatigue, poor sleep Stress, nervousness Muscle cramps or twitches Stiff muscles, muscle pain Difficulty...
Behaviour
Minerals
Silicon
Do horses lick sand because of the mineral silicon it contains?
Especially in the autumn and winter, you see it regularly: horses licking sand and sometimes even digging pits in the paddock. Often this is a sign of a mineral deficiency, especially the mineral silicon. Could it be that horses lick sand because of the mineral silicon in it? Why is silicon so important for horses? And what can you do to stop the sand licking?. The main cause of sand eating in horses is a mineral deficiency. Sand consists largely of silicon, a mineral that plays a major role in the building of tendons, ligaments, cartilage, collagen, joint fluid, and even in bone formation. Silicon is an essential mineral for horses and other mammals. Horses try to intake this important substance by licking sand. Eating sand is dangerous But… eating sand is of course not good for your horse. The sand can accumulate in the cecum and colon and cause coli...
Behaviour
Minerals
Silicon
Digestion
Feeding
6 causes why horses lick sand
Mainly in the winter you see more horses licking sand. The shortage of the mineral silicon is one of the most common causes, but of course there are more. We have listed six causes of sand eating in horses. If you see your horse licking sand, do not ignore this, because licking sand provides information that something is not right in the diet or management. In addition, too much sand in the intestines can have unpleasant consequences such as colic. Read the six reasons below!. Sand eating is part of nature Naturally, horses also eat sand, or at least soil. Black soil is rich in various minerals and also contains the roots of many plants. Actually a very nutritious addition to the diet if you purely look at the minerals in black soil. It is therefore not strange that horses lick/eat soil, it is a natural need. Often you see that this need increases during the shedding period, in this period horses have an increased need for minerals to be able to make the new coat. Of...
Nettle
Others
Horse 24/7 outside and still stiff legs?
Last year we already talked about stiff legs. Naturally, the most mentioned response was that the solution is to not stable a horse, but to put it outside 24/7 with a shelter. And for most horses with stiff legs, this is indeed the best solution. But from some responses it appeared that this is not always the solution. Horses that do not come inside can still develop stiff legs. What can you do to ensure that a horse with 24/7 free movement no longer gets stiff legs? Read the tips further in this blog!. What are stiff legs? Due to reduced blood circulation, fluid accumulates in the legs. This causes the legs to swell and the horses to become stiff. This often occurs due to prolonged standing in a small environment, such as in a stable. Movement helps to get the blood circulation going again and the fluid to drain. This is why you see that as soon as horses come out of the stable, the stiff legs quickly disappear through movement. Stiff legs usually occur only in the hind legs, but they can also...
Joints
Stress
Crystallization of uric acid: painful joint problem for sport horses
If your horse is highly worked or experiences a lot of stress, a painful problem can occur: crystallization in the joints. In humans, we call it 'gout,' and horses can also get it. Especially for sport horses, it is important to pay attention to this. Is your horse a bit stiff? Then uric acid crystals could be the cause. Herbs can help solve this problem, but prevention is always best.. Most horse owners are familiar with common joint and muscle issues that can lead to stiffness. For example, arthritis in older horses. Or a deficiency in vitamin E when the horse is not on fresh grass. But apart from these well-known causes of stiffness, there is also a relatively unknown one: uric acid crystallization. What is uric acid? Uric acid is produced during physical exertion and stress. It is a breakdown product of protein metabolism. Under normal circumstances, this acid is absorbed i...
Others
When does a horse really get cold?
Every winter there is a discussion among horse owners. Some horse owners blanket their horse, while others believe that the horse can do without a blanket. But is it so black and white? Do horses without a blanket really not get cold? And when does a horse actually get cold? Read more in this blog.. Horse comfort temperature Horses have a comfort temperature ranging between -5 and 10 degrees. This is the temperature at which horses feel most comfortable. And that is much lower than for humans, as the temperature for humans is around 20 degrees. Horses can usually handle the cold better than the heat. But it is important to remember to see the horse as an individual. Just like with humans, one person may walk around in a t-shirt at 15 degrees while another may need a thick jacket. The comfor...
Behaviour
Clove
Stress
How to prevent box walking in your horse?
In the winter period, many horses are back in the stables. The pastures/paddocks are too wet to keep horses outside all the time, but it may also be necessary to stall horses individually in the winter due to supplemental feeding. During this period, we receive many questions on customer service about box walking/restless horses in the stable. Do we have a supplement that can help with this? Let's start by saying that horses need as much free movement as possible and that stable time should always be kept to a minimum. In this blog, we want to explain why a horse may box walk and whether it can be remedied/prevented.. Box walking happens for a reason Most horse stables are 3m x 3m. This is a relatively small space for horses, especially if horses were used to staying outside 24/7 in the summer and having plenty of room. Additionally, the feed suddenly changes from grass to hay, the horse no longer has a choice in what it eats, everything is wet, and there may be a horse next to them that they wouldn't choose to be with in the pasture. These are all reasons why a horse can feel overwhelmed and stressed. The tr...
Vitamin E
Feeding
How much vitamin E is in hay?
Horses that spend many hours in the pasture get enough vitamin E from fresh grass. But in the winter, most horses are hardly on the pasture anymore, or the pasture is bare. They mainly eat dry forage, such as hay. There is much less vitamin E in hay, especially when it has been sitting for a while. In storage, vitamin E disappears from the hay.. The degradation of vitamin E from drying hay is very rapid. Often half of it has disappeared after two weeks. You can imagine that the vitamin E content has become very low by the end of winter. Your horse cannot meet its vitamin E needs in that period with just hay. Why is vitamin E important for horses? Horses need vitamin E as an antioxidant, for the proper function of their muscles, and for the immune system. Vitamin E is also important for the nervous system. All horses need daily vitamin E...
Skin
Silicon
Feeding
A shiny coat says nothing about the health of the horse
'My horse is perfectly healthy because he shines' you have probably heard a horse lover say. But is that true? Is a horse that shines always healthy? We as horse owners like to see a horse that shines like a mirror. But making a horse shine is not an art, it says less about the actual health of the horse than is thought. Read on below!. Oil and silicon make a horse shine Did you know that when horses shine from being given oil, it is because their body cannot get rid of the excess fat and it will secrete it through the skin as a temporary solution? Therefore, never give more than 50-75 ml of oil per day, divided into multiple portions. Horses that are fed oil will automatically shine more. The fats ensure a more oily skin, which makes the coat slightly oilier and shiny. The shine a horse gets from being fed oil does not come fr...
Nettle
Detox
Feeding
8 tips to prevent stable legs in your horse
Unfortunately, in winter many horses get less exercise. They spend more time in the stable and especially during the holidays, they train less. This can cause stable legs: thicker, swollen (hind) legs, which do not feel warm. What exactly is this, is it harmful and what can you do about it? We give you eight useful tips!. Horses are naturally made to be slightly active all day. When the heart pumps harder during this movement, the circulation in the legs also improves. This is partly due to the hoof mechanism: the expansion of the hoof with each step, pumping the blood through the lower leg and hoof. What are stable legs? By 'stable legs' we mean: fluid in the lower legs because the horse stands in the stable for a longer period of time. When a horse stands still for a long time, the circulation in the legs decre...
Guest blog
Digestion
Feeding
Guest Blog Ellen Wijnands - Manure Water in Horses: from Nutritional Advice to Supplements
Ellen Wijnands is a natural nutritionist and uses bioresonance to measure and treat energetic disturbances and blockages, even in horses. In this way, she can offer support for various ailments and issues through a holistic approach. We asked Ellen what issues she encounters in her practice and how she proceeds. Manure water turns out to be a common problem. Ellen: "Manure water is not normal, it is not something that 'belongs to your horse'. A multi-faceted approach gives the highest chance of success. Keep in mind: every horse is different.". Ellen explains: "Especially at the beginning of winter, I often see digestive problems. I also frequently encounter horses with manure water. Manure water arises from changes in the diet. Especially when horses transition from pasture to a diet of only dried roughage." Cause of manure water With manure water, your horse has relatively firm to quite soft manure balls, but a significant amount of liquid is also expelled. This manure water indicates that the digestive juices are not prope...
Algae
Feeding
What is the difference between spirulina and DHA algae for horses?
There are several types of algae supplements available for horses nowadays. Spirulina and DHA algae are well-known examples. What is the difference between these two types of algae? And can they be easily swapped for each other?. Algae are very healthy for horses. They contain proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Make sure to select an algae product specifically made for horses, as there are algae species that are toxic to horses! Spirulina as a protein source for horses Spirulina is a blue-green saltwater algae, known as a cyanobacterium. This is a very ancient life form. Spirulina is naturally very rich in proteins, and also contains vitamin B12, essential amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spiruli...