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.
Skin
What is the difference between mud fever and scratches?
When horses have itching and spots on their legs, the terms ‘mud fever’ and ‘scratches’ are often used interchangeably. What is the actual difference? And what can you do if your horse has mud fever or scratches?. Actually, the difference between mud fever and scratches is not so much about what they are, but where they occur. Mud fever is located at the lower parts of the legs, in the pastern area or around the fetlock and cannon bone. Scratches are higher up, usually on the hind legs, often at the front of the hock, and sometimes even higher. However, mud fever and scratches often have the same causes. Collective Term Mud fever is a kind of collective term. It refers to an irritation or inflammation of...
Lymphatic system
Mites
Why mites and CPL are especially common in cold-blooded horses
Itching, scratching, stamping, rubbing, and scratching: horses with thick stockings seem to suffer more often from parasites on their legs, such as mites. The resulting skin problems, mud fever, and sometimes even CPL are also more common in cold-blooded horses. Why is this? And what can you do about these annoying conditions?. Most draft horses and also Friesians have substantial feathering on their legs. This doesn't have to be a problem in itself, and feathering can actually be protective for the underlying skin. However, sometimes all that hair has a concealing effect. You don't notice skin issues as easily when there is a thick coat of hair covering it. Additionally, feathers are warm and provide a good hiding place for parasites. As a result, you might only notice conditions like mud fever or a mite infection whe...
Joints
Silicon
Did you know that silicon stimulates glucosamine production in horses?
Horses with joint issues such as early-stage arthritis or insufficient joint fluid often receive supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. These are substances that the body uses to build things like cartilage and joint fluid. But did you know that the body also produces these substances on its own? And that this is much more effective than glucosamine or chondroitin absorbed through diet? We explain how it works and how you can stimulate the body's own production of glucosamine for a smoother horse.. Many horse owners give glucosamine as a supplement for joint issues or to make their horses more supple and help them get 'up and running' faster. However, scientific research shows that supplementing with glucosamine has minimal effects. The glucosamine from the supplement must travel through the intestines to reach its destination in the joints, and this absorption process is poor. The mineral silicon, given in a well-absorbed hydrolyzed form, is a much more effective supplement. Silicon stimu...
Skin
Lymphatic system
Mites
What skin problems occur on horses' legs?
Scabs, spots, wounds and flakes: horses regularly have itchy legs. The question is then: what could it be? And above all: what can you do about it? An overview.. Whether you have a KWPN horse with white legs or a Clydesdale with thick socks, every horse can have some spots on its legs. There can be several causes for itching, scabs, and wounds on horse legs: Mud Fever Mites Rain Rot Fungal and Bacterial Infections Mud Fever Mud fever is a general term for skin irritation or inflammation, usually in the pastern area or lower legs. Symptoms include redness, flakes, wounds, scabs, swelling, itching, and/or pain. Mud fever can be caused by bacteria and fungi...
Hooves
Silicon
Silicon as Internal Support for Thrush and Laminitis
Hoof problems are common in horses. For example, thrush can be a persistent issue in wet weather or when horses spend many hours in the stable. Many people treat hoof problems from the outside with sprays, pastes, or oils. However, it is often also wise to support your horse from the inside. This is especially true for thrush and brittle hooves, as well as for laminitis.. Laminitis is a metabolic disease that can have a severe impact on the quality of the hooves. The laminae in the hoof wall can detach, which is very painful for the horse. In the early stages of laminitis, the horse may be slightly sensitive or stumble, and if it progresses, you often see the typical stance with extended front legs to relieve the hooves. Hoof Health from Within For healthy hooves, building materials are necessary. Your horse obtains the building materials for all hoof tissue from...
Hooves
Skin
Tendons
Silicon
In Which Conditions Should You Provide Extra Silicon?
Silicon is one of the essential minerals for your horse's health. This mineral is important for a wide range of bodily processes, from bone formation to skin health and from tendon repair to joint lubrication. In which conditions and problems do we recommend a silicon supplement?. The mineral silicon is a sort of jack-of-all-trades. This can sometimes make it a bit confusing to determine when to use silicon for your horse. In principle, silicon is a basic necessity for your horse, meaning it is always needed. However, the question is whether you need to supplement it, or if your horse is already getting enough from its diet. Silicon is found in various plants, such as nettles. In this article, we briefly outline the conditions in which silicon can be an effective suppleme...
Insulin resistance
Feeding
Apples, pears, and carrots are also suitable for sugar-sensitive horses and ponies.
“My horse/pony absolutely cannot have apples, carrots, or other fruits because it is insulin resistant.” Or “carrots are sugar bombs, unhealthy for horses.” We hear this quite often and it does surprise us. Because fruit is more than just sugars and carrots contain more nutrients. With this blog, we want to inform you about the nutritional value of various fruits and carrots. And show you that it is not harmful to occasionally give your horse fruit or carrots!. Apples: Rich Source of Antioxidants A medium-sized apple weighs around 182 grams. If you compare that to the amount of roughage your horse eats, it is of course negligible. But first, the facts about the apple: Nutrients in a medium-sized apple: 95 kcal 0.5 grams of protein 0.3 grams of fat 19 grams of sugar 4 grams of fiber Vitamins and Minerals: 8.4 mg vitamin C 98 IU vitamin A 195 mg potassium 11 mg calcium 0.22 mg iron Antioxidants: quercetin, catechin, and chlorogenic acid Polyphenols So ap...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Horse with joint problems? What is the best thing to use in that case?
Joint problems in horses are very common. It can range from a minor deviation to severe lameness. After visiting a veterinarian, horse owners often look for something to support the horse's joints. But what should you choose? Given that there are so many options on the market? How do you make the right choice?. Is there pain or discomfort? A horse that is lame (or not completely sound) does not necessarily experience unbearable pain. An abnormal gait can also result from incorrect posture or stance. Of course, pain or discomfort can still be present. Your veterinarian can often rule this out and provide a diagnosis. Based on this information, you can look for a supportive supplement that offers mild pain relief. For arthritis and age-related issues, clove extract works very well. Clove is both pain-rel...
Minerals
Feeding
Additional minerals healthy for many horses
Minerals are of great importance for all horses. And when a horse sweats a lot, exercises, grows, or has a foal at its side, additional minerals are often needed. Dutch roughage has become increasingly poor in minerals over the last few decades. A horse that only gets hay or hay and a little concentrated feed can therefore develop a deficiency in essential minerals.. Minerals Are Important for Horses Minerals are crucial for the skeleton, nervous system, and digestion of horses. All mammals require various minerals, even if sometimes only in tiny amounts. Sport horses that use their bodies more intensively and sweat more have a higher mineral requirement than horses that only perform light work. They especially need more sodium, chloride, and often potassium. These minerals can be found in electrolyte products. Growing horses and lactating mares also have ab...
Feeding
Why it is best to switch balancers every six months
Many horse owners feed their horses roughage and a balancer pellet. This is an excellent choice for most horses that are ridden recreationally or in basic sports. Roughage is the foundation, and a balancer ensures that your horse gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs daily. However, we do recommend changing the brand every six months!. English: It's obviously very convenient to always use the same balancer. You already know that your horse likes this product and you see that it looks healthy. Nothing more to do, right? It's a bit more nuanced than that… Different Compositions There are many different balancers on the market. Most of them adequately meet your horse's actual daily needs. So, that's not the issue. However, each balancer has a slightly different composition and different ingredients. This depends on the choices ma...
Feeding
Starch: is it the same as sugar for a horse?
You often hear or read that it's not good for horses to consume a lot of sugars. This also applies to sugars from concentrated feed with a lot of grains. The digestive system and metabolism of horses are not well adapted to this. But what about starch? Is it different in this case?. The short answer is "no," it's not different. Starch is essentially viewed by the horse's body as sugar and is therefore just as bad. When looking at the ingredient list of a bag of concentrated feed, it's important to consider both the sugar content and the starch content. For a more detailed answer, let's delve deeper into what "sugar" actually is and how a horse processes it. All Carbohydrates Sugar, starch, and glucose are all forms of carbohydrates. Here's a brief explan...
Others
Are you already taking into account the VAT increase in the Netherlands in 2025?
What a strange topic for us, isn't it? But we still want to pay some attention to this as it will affect many horse owners. Starting January 1, 2025, the reduced VAT rate (9%) on agricultural products not intended for human consumption will be abolished. There is little mention of this in the media, but for us as horse owners, this means a significant increase starting January 1, 2025! Therefore, in this article, we want to draw your attention to the upcoming change.. Still a low VAT rate Currently, the low VAT rate is still applied to agricultural products, which means that bedding, roughage, concentrated feed, and supplements for horses have a VAT rate of 9%. But unfortunately, this is going to change in the Netherlands! Increase of 12%! All roughage, all concentrated feed, all bedding, and all supplements will see a 12% increase! Currently, these products have a VAT rate of 9%, but from January 1, 2025, this rate will go up to 21%. As a result, keeping hor...