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.
Nettle
Detox
Organs
Did you know that it is not always wise to give a detox to your horse?
In spring and autumn you hear and read a lot about detoxing horses. We also participate in this, because detoxing is a natural phenomenon in horses and has health benefits. But detoxing is not without risks and should always be given with careful consideration. In this blog, we want to tell you why detoxing is not always wise. If you want to detox your horse, always consult with us first or do it after consulting with a therapist.. Wild horses detox too Wild horses also detox when they live in natural conditions. These horses live according to the rhythm of nature, which means they gain a lot of weight in the summer, but lose a lot of weight in the winter due to scarcity. Toxins are stored in the body in fat tissue, and as the horse loses weight, it slowly gets rid of these toxins throughout the winter. In the wild, horses do not only eat high quality hay or fresh grass, they eat whatever they can find. During certain peri...
Nettle
Detox
Organs
What does urine say about the health of your horse?
You may not always pay attention to it, but your horse's urine can say a lot about its health. Are the kidneys and bladder functioning properly and are they actually removing what needs to be expelled from the body? Do you see or smell strange things in the urine that could indicate problems in other organs? It's not strange at all to take a look occasionally when your horse needs to urinate!. Urine, you probably don't think about it very often... But it is very important that all waste products from the body find their way out in a proper manner. Healthy kidneys and a healthy bladder are essential for your horse. How much does a horse urinate? How much a horse urinates and the color of the urine mainly depends on how much it drinks. A healthy horse that receives enough fresh drinking water from a clean trough drinks about 35 liters of water per day. On hot days, this can increase to...
Nettle
Detox
Organs
Does your horse pee or drink more than usual?
If you notice that your horse's stall is wetter or that the water bucket is emptying faster, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your horse's drinking and peeing behavior. It doesn't necessarily mean that there's something wrong with your horse's kidneys, but it's important to monitor it if there's a sudden change.. A horse pees almost as much as it drinks Horses typically drink around 35 liters per day and produce around 20-30 liters of urine per day. In higher temperatures, water intake can easily increase to about 50 liters per day. So, a horse pees almost as much as it drinks. What does increased peeing mean? If you notice that your horse is peeing more than usual, it's a good idea to monitor this. It could be that the liver or kidneys are struggling a bit, causing the horse to drink more and therefore...
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...
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...
Nettle
Detox
When do you choose nettle and when for a detox for horses?
A horse in nature cleanses its body twice a year through a period of scarcity (winter) and by seeking out cleansing plants and herbs. Did you know that waste products are stored in fat tissue? In winter, when there is a scarcity of food, horses in nature lose weight, causing the fat tissue containing the waste products to break down. A very natural process through which the horse cleanses its body throughout the year. In summer, horses in nature are very capable of eating herbs and plants that support the body in cleansing. Our horses do not have this option, so what then? And do you choose liquid nettle or a detox for your horse?. What are the benefits of liquid nettle for your horse? We humans often see nettle as a weed that causes itching if touched incorrectly. But horses see nettle as normal food. Some horses eat them fresh, but most horses prefer them dried and without the "sting". Nettles are extremely healthy for horses, rich in minerals, and have an alkaline effect. But most importantly, they purify the blood! And it is this blood-purifying property that makes nettle a nice herb for horses. Ideal for hor...
Detox
Mites
Mite season approaching: do a detox!
Mites are troublesome insects that can cause a lot of itching and misery. Horses with thick socks, such as draft horses and Friesians, can suffer greatly from these pests. In the fall, mites start to emerge. Want to prevent crusts and itching as much as possible? Give your horse a detox before the mite season begins!. Mites become active when the temperature drops and horses start to grow their winter hair. They then crawl into the socks and thicker hair to keep warm. Mites usually start their activities in early October, when the temperature drops below 15 degrees. To ensure that your horse suffers as little as possible from itching, irritation, wounds, and crusts, give your horse a detox. Do this in time, before autumn begins. If the mites are already active, then you are too late. Prevention is the key wor...
Detox
Is it justified to be afraid of doing a detox for the horse?
Many people are hesitant to do a detox for their horse. They are often afraid that the horse will suddenly develop all kinds of ailments or that a detox is very intense. But is this justified? And what should you pay attention to if you decide to give your horse a detox? Read more about this in this blog.. What is a detox? Detoxifying, detoxing, cleansing, and purifying. All terms that have the same goal in mind, namely to cleanse the body (liver and kidneys) of accumulated toxins. In nature, horses regulate this themselves by seeking out certain plants that help with the removal of toxins. Unfortunately, horses in the Netherlands do not have this free choice enough, so toxins are not expelled and the body's natural filters become clogged. You can compare it to a filter in your car. Throughout the...
Detox
Sweet itch
Step 1 approach to summer eczema: detox!
Do you have a horse with sweet itch? A detox is the first step in the total approach to summer eczema. It ensures that the body has more capacity to process the saliva of the culicoides. This is because all accumulated waste products are cleared during a detox. How exactly this works and what is important to read can be found in this article.. Why detox? It is inevitable that horses ingest toxins in their bodies. Through drinking water, food, medication, vaccination, radiation, and deworming, these toxins enter the body. The body will eliminate most of these toxins through the liver and kidneys. However, some of these toxins cannot be processed by the body and are stored in the body. You can think of it as the filter of a car. This too will eventually become full and need to be cleaned. If this does not happen, the car will not be abl...