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
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 co...
Weight
Digestion
Feeding
# Nutrition for the older horse: choose a customized ration!
Older horses often need customized nutrition. Most horse owners are aware of that. However, it is not as simple as buying a bag of senior feed on your four-legged friend's 18th birthday and then calling it a day. One senior horse is not the same as the other, so always pay close attention to your horse. When dealing with aging horses, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the teeth wear down, causing chewing problems. Therefore, a good equine dentist who regularly checks the teeth is crucial for an older horse. In addition, the digestion of an older horse changes. From around the age of 20, the processing of food becomes less efficient. Also, organs such as the liver and kidneys start to function less effectively. Older horses may struggle to extract energy, protein, vitamins, and minera...
Weight
Insulin resistance
Digestion
Triphala
Ancient herb Triphala supports weight loss and metabolism of horses
Triphala is an herbal mixture that has been used in India for centuries as a natural medicine. It is used for digestive complaints, stress, and to stabilize blood sugar levels. Research has shown that Triphala has strong medicinal properties in humans and rodents. This traditional supplement can also be used in horses, especially for insulin resistance.. What is Triphala? Triphala is a powder made from three different (dried) fruits from the Himalayan region. It is a well-known herbal medicine from the Aryuvedic tradition. The fruits in Triphala are: Amalaki or Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). Research in recent years has shown that Triphala is effective in treating various conditions. Indian gooseberry stimulates digestion, acts as a laxative, and has anti-inflammatory...
Weight
Hooves
Insulin resistance
Organs
Digestion
Feeding
Why can horses get laminitis from grass?
In spring, at the beginning of the grazing season, it is always advisable to start slowly with grazing. Your horse's intestines and digestion need to adapt to eating grass before your horse can spend whole days in the pasture. In addition, there is the risk of laminitis. For some horses, this danger remains present throughout the entire grazing season. How does this actually happen? What does grass do in your horse's body? And which horses are at increased risk of laminitis?. Grass is the most delicious thing for most horses. 'Nibble-step' all day through the pasture; there is no greater pleasure for them. However, it is not always healthy. This is due to the way in which sugars from grass are processed in the horse's body. Sugar metabolism: fast and complex carbohydrates During the grazing season, grass is the main source of carbohydrates for many horses. Carbohydrates can be divided into complex carbohydrates and water-soluble carbohydrates. The latter are the 'fas...
Digestion
Did you know that the esophagus of horses has the diameter of a felt-tip pen?
The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach. In horses, which have long necks, the esophagus is about 1.20m long and flexible, but also very thin. It's like a flexible tube, the thickness of a felt-tip pen, that transports food to the stomach after chewing. The horse's esophagus can stretch to about 3 cm in diameter, but that's about it. Large pieces of food cannot pass through.. A horse continuously produces saliva and chews its food very well. This is necessary because otherwise it won't pass through that thin esophagus. Chewing well is also important for digestion, as it makes the food a smooth mass that can be digested more easily. Function of the esophagus After food is chewed and swallowed, it is transported by the esophagus to the stomach. Small muscles around the esophagus contract and push the food towards the stomach. This is called peristaltic movement. Esopha...
Nettle
Digestion
Feeding
How do you prevent disruptions in the horse's intestinal system?
Slack manure, diarrhea, gas formation, esophageal obstruction, stomach ulcers, or other digestive complaints. Perhaps the most common problems in horses are related to the stomach and intestinal system. The intestinal system of horses is very complex and also extremely sensitive. Read in this blog how you can prevent disturbances in the intestinal system.. Digestion = resistance The intestines can be seen as the most important part of the horse. If the intestines/digestive system are in order, then the resistance will also be in order. The resistance and the intestines are closely linked. That is why you often see that when horses have a resistance problem, it also affects the digestion. A well-functioning intestinal system will optimize the resistance of the horse. It is therefore extremely important to carefully deal with the stomach and intesti...
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...
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...
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...
Guest blog
Digestion
Guest blog Janneke from Worm&Co: 'A horse's body is never completely free of worms'
Proper worm management is important for keeping your horse healthy. But what does that involve and how can you use fecal testing to monitor your horse as effectively as possible? And why can a horse never actually be completely free of worms? We discuss this with Janneke van der Wal from Worm&Co: "It's not a problem if you occasionally see a worm in your horse's manure.. Janneke van der Wal founded Worm & Co in 2016. "I noticed that many horse owners were still choosing to deworm their horses routinely. This was often not out of ignorance, but due to a lack of information." Why fecal testing? "Until 13 years ago, you could simply get a dewormer for your horse anywhere. The legislation changed because research showed that gastrointestinal worms were starting to become resistant to the existing active ingredients in those dewormers. Since no new...
Digestion
Why is one horse more susceptible to worms than the other?
Your horse always has a positive fecal test, but your friend's horse always tests negative. Same conditions and yet one horse is affected by worms and the other is not. How can this be and what exactly does this have to do with? This mainly has to do with the immunity and the early years of your horse. We explain it in this blog. Keep reading!. Rearing period of young horses sets the basis for worm susceptibility The influence of the rearing period is extremely important for the susceptibility to worms. Foals from mares who have had worm problems during and after pregnancy automatically face a higher level of worm infestation. Foals eat their mother's feces to build their intestinal flora, if this feces is infected with a higher amount of worms, the foal is immediately exposed to an infection. It is therefore extremely important to be...