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.
Cannabinoids
Black cumin
The healing power of thymoquinone (black cumin) for horses
Black cumin has been known for its medicinal properties since ancient Egyptians. Thymoquinone is the main active ingredient of the black cumin plant (Nigella Sativa). Black cumin grows in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and Asia, and is mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran as a powerful medicine.. Recent scientific research in humans and animals shows that thymoquinone indeed has many beneficial effects, including on high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, asthma, bacterial and viral infections, skin conditions, and even neurological problems. It is therefore one of the most promising plant substances we know. Thymoquinone can be used for a wide range of issues. Thymoquinone works directly Oil is often pressed from black cumin seeds, containing besides thymoquinone, several other...
Nettle
In which situations do you give (liquid) nettle to your horse?
Nettle is more than just a healthy treat for your horse, it actually has a natural healing effect. But do you know in which situations you can use nettle for your horse? It is not for nothing that it is one of our most recommended supplements during advisory consultations. We recommend giving your horse nettle for 10 to 14 days every quarter. This is a healthy but also very tasty treat for all horses. Read in this blog for which horses/situations it is extra recommended!. Nettle is very healing Nettle is much more than a simple "weed" that grows everywhere and itches a lot. Horse people love nettle and that's not without reason. Nettle has multiple healing effects and is healthy for every horse. This makes it useful as both a 'healthy treat' and therapeutically. The healing effects of nettle for horses are: Blood purifying Detoxifying Supporting intestinal flora and metabolism Boosting overall resistance Anti-histamine effect Anti-inflammatory Reducing...
Silicon
Which form of silicon is the best choice: hydrolyzed, orthosilicic acid, or diatomaceous earth?
Silicon is a mineral that is becoming increasingly well-known. It is essential for maintaining collagen and for bone formation, among other things. Silicon also helps prevent eating sand. Unfortunately, not all forms of silicon are easily absorbed by horses. There is a difference in absorbability between orthosilicic acid, diatomaceous earth, and hydrolyzed silicon. The most effective form of silicon for horses is in hydrolyzed form: liquid and with tiny molecules. Only very small molecules can pass through the intestinal wall.. Almost all naturally occurring silicon in nature is 'locked' in very stable mineral compounds such as silicates and silicon oxide (sand). These minerals are so stable that they can hardly dissolve into a form that is absorbable in the digestive system of mammals. The silicon in these minerals is therefore not available as a supplement for humans and animals. Before it can be absorbed, the molecule must first be detached from these compounds. Difficult to obtain There are few minerals or metals t...
Digestion
Feeding
Psyllium cure for sand colic: often dosed much too low in horses!
Psyllium, or flea seed, is a good way to remove sand from the intestines of your horse. If your horse regularly ingests some sand, in the paddock or on a short pasture, it is good to give a course of flea seed every month or six weeks. But beware: the dose stated on the packaging of many psyllium products is too low. A sand cure works best when short, but powerful. Read on to find out what the correct dosage is.. A horse ingests sand while grazing, by eating hay from a bare ground, or by intentionally licking sand in the paddock. Dust in hay can also cause the absorption of sand or clay. A little sand in your horse's intestines is normal, and small amounts are simply excreted by your horse. What you want to prevent is the sand accumulating. This sometimes happens if a lot goes in and little comes out. This can lead to sand colic, a painful and sometimes even deadly form of colic. The most risky period fo...
Digestion
Stress
Feeding
Horse with gastric ulcer? Use psyllium seeds for relief.
Unfortunately, many horses suffer from gastric issues to some extent. Gastric ulcers are common and can quickly develop. Any form of stress (due to incorrect nutrition, housing, or work) can quickly lead to irritation and result in gastric ulcers. While there are many supplements available for sensitive stomachs/gastric ulcers, did you know that the "simple" psyllium seeds can also provide relief? Of course, this is not a miracle cure. But it certainly helps in addressing gastric issues. Read more about this in this blog.. Always limit stress with your horse Giving supplements against gastric ulcers for an extended period is not recommended. There may still be details in the overall approach that work against this, such as grains in the diet. Always ensure that the basic conditions for your horse are good. Every horse is different and has individual needs. Limiting stress is a big part of this, and it varies for each horse. Some horses get stressed if they have to stay outside 24/7, while others get stressed if th...
Feeding
Why is sunflower oil not suitable for horses?
For sober horses that lack energy for their work, giving oil can be a convenient solution. The horses get more energy from it without getting fat or suffering from sugar cravings or insulin resistance. Many people choose sunflower oil because it is easy to obtain and cheap. But unfortunately, sunflower oil is not suitable for your horse! In this article, you will learn why.. Many horse owners like to give their horse some oil. The horse's coat will shine, and oil is a good energy source for horses that easily become overweight from sugars and grains. Or for horses that suffer from metabolic diseases like insulin resistance. Flaxseed oil and sunflower oil are therefore often on the horse menu and are even often recommended by veterinarians. This while sunflower oil is actually not recommended at all. Fatty acids: important nutrients for your horse It is important for...
Feeding
Salmon oil
Which oils are suitable for horses?
Our customer service regularly receives questions about which oil is best to give to their horse. There are many different types of oils such as linseed oil, olive oil, salmon oil, and sunflower oil. But do you know which oil is best to choose in which situation for your horse? Unfortunately, we still often hear that sunflower oil is recommended for horses, but this form is very unsuitable as you could read in our previous blog. But which oils are healthy for a horse? Read more about this in this blog. Oil for horses only healthy in small amounts In nature, horses do not consume large amounts of oil. There is a small amount of oil in plant material, but it is very minimal. A horse is not built to process large amounts of oil. Bile is needed to digest fat. But a horse does not have a gall bladder, so bile is not readily available in large quantities for the digestion process. In horses, bile comes directly from the liver, but in small amounts. That's why large amounts of oil cannot be well dige...
First Aid
Hooves
6 Tips to Prevent Thrush in Your Horse
In the autumn and winter, many horses suffer from thrush. It is often thought that this is only caused by wet pastures and paddocks. But how is it possible that there are also horses that stand all day in the mud without any problems? The resistance of the horse is also very decisive in whether your horse gets thrush. In this blog, we give you some useful tips to prevent thrush in your horse.. Tip 1: Treat internally with silicon Silicon mineral has a positive effect on hoof quality. However, it takes a minimum of 4-6 months for it to work properly and before you start seeing results. Therefore, start giving silicon in a timely manner, always choose a well-absorbable form of silicon. Preferably in liquid, hydrolyzed form. This has very small molecules that can pass through the intestinal wall and can be utilized. Silicon is a product that you use preventively and start on time. In the...
Nettle
Feeding
Which vegetables, fruits, and plants can I give my horse as a treat?
Variety is healthy and tasty! This applies not only to us humans but also to our horses. Especially horses that spend more time in the stable during winter will appreciate a healthy treat now and then. It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive, often you can just feed them some vegetable scraps from your own kitchen. Or pick from the local roadside.. Variety is not the only reason to give your horse some vegetables occasionally. Vegetables - and the leafy parts of them - often contain lots of fiber. Super healthy for your horse! Therefore, give the vegetables with stems and leaves, because horses eat that in the winter too. But be careful: not all types of vegetables and fruits are suitable, and some types are better given in small quantities. Healthy vegetables for your horse What vegetables can your horse eat? Of course winter carrots, but...
Weight
Feeding
My horse is losing weight in the winter - where does that come from?
Summer is over, horses are growing their winter coats again, and the first rain blankets are being put on. Many horses spend more time in the stable during the autumn and winter months, especially horses that are kept outside a lot, will lose some weight in the coming months. How does a horse stay warm in the winter? Do you need to feed them extra to prevent this weight loss? Or is that weight loss not actually a bad thing?. Horses do not hibernate like squirrels or hedgehogs, but they do have a metabolism that is adapted to the seasons. Research shows that the body temperature and heart rate of horses drop in the winter, especially when there is less food available. When it's cold, horses that are kept outdoors also move less to conserve energy. Summer metabolism and winter metabolism All our horses still have a seasonal clock, inherited from the time when they lived in the wild. In the summer, the 'summer metaboli...
Others
Feeding
8 DIY tips for a livery horse
Is your horse kept on a pension where the horses are stabled at night? Horses do not sleep through the night like humans do. They stand a lot and like to eat small amounts throughout the night with the occasional nap. Many horses spend a long time standing in their stall. That's why we have put together eight tips to make stall time more enjoyable for your horse. Which tips will you apply? Keep reading!. Tip 1: Prune! Many bushes and trees are very healthy and tasty for horses. Go out and prune the trees and bushes in your garden or at friends/family. Weave these branches through the bars of your horse's stall or hang them in the box in a different way. Your horse can then enjoy eating the leaves and gnawing on the branches. A healthy, time-consuming treat for your horse. Healthy bushes and trees include: Willow Black/White Alder Birch Beech Rosehip Blackberries Raspberry Tip 2: Hide food A few...
Detox
Feeding
Why you don't need to feed your horse extra in the winter
Most horses have been able to graze on the pasture this past summer. A period where they had access to plenty of food. In nature, every period of abundance is followed by a period of scarcity. This is a very natural process and allows horses, for example, to release fat tissue with accumulated waste products. This principle applies to our horses in the Netherlands as well. Our horses also naturally require a difference in diet between summer and winter. As owners, we are tempted to feed extra during the winter. But did you know that the body then cannot switch to its 'winter mode'? Read in this blog how this works exactly!. Summer and winter metabolism of horses Horses have a winter mode and a summer mode, also known as summer and winter metabolism. From their genes, horses know that summer means plenty of food and nutrients. The summer is the period to build up fat reserves, which can then be used up in the winter. This metabolism process is controlled by hormones that are also involved in the growth of winter/summer coats. But even in the winter, the horse's system works differently. There is scarcity, periods wh...