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.
Digestion
Feeding
How do you keep the pH value of the horse's stomach balanced?
Horses have much more stomach problems than people. Stress, heavy work, and a less adequate feed policy can contribute to this. But also, for example, after a move or illness, stomach problems can occur. What can you do about this and how do you keep the pH of the horse's stomach under control?. In the lower part of the horse's stomach, gastric juice is released, which contains a lot of hydrochloric acid. This acid kills harmful bacteria, fungi, and yeasts that may be present in the feed. If the stomach is too empty or if there are other disruptions, the acid can 'splash' up to the upper half of the stomach and damage the gastric mucosa there. Many stomach problems A 2000 American study showed that about 60% of the horses in the study had stomach problems. This increased to as much as 9...
Others
Digestion
Feeding
# The ideal feeding schedule for horses with limited hay
Giving limited or unlimited roughage to your horse is still a topic of much debate. Some horses do fine on unlimited roughage, but there are also horses that become way too fat. Often, this is not due to the amount of roughage, but to the nutritional value of the roughage. As a horse owner, you cannot always change this and have to deal with the feed that is available (at the boarding stable).. Hay high in sugars In recent years, we are seeing more and more issues with feeding unlimited roughage. The hay in the Netherlands is very high in sugar due to the dry/warm summers, with percentages around 15% becoming almost normal, whereas it is preferred to have them under 8% and even under 5% for horses sensitive to sugars. Due to the high sugar percentages, horses easily gain weight, develop health issues, and unlimited feeding becomes a risk. Of course, roughage is more than just hay! Roug...
Digestion
Feeding
Why you should always give roughage before concentrate
Traditionally, it has always been said: first give roughage and then concentrate to a horse. But why is this actually the case? What is the effect if you give your horse concentrate first? We are happy to tell you in this blog!. Ideal horse never without roughage In the ideal scenario, this issue would not even be a concern, because we prefer to see horses have roughage available 24/7 and never have an empty stomach. However, this is not possible for all horses and on all farms. In many boarding stables, there are still separate times for roughage and concentrate feeding. In this case, it is important to give the roughage first. Roughage stimulates saliva production While we humans produce saliva continuously, it works...
Guest blog
Feeding
Guest blog Vitalbix: How to choose a good balancer?
A balancer is meant to restore the balance in your horse's diet. This means: replenishing the vitamins and minerals that are not present in the roughage or grass, tailored to your horse's needs. Madelief from Vitalbix tells AskHeltie how to make a good choice for your horse. "If you only feed your horse roughage, there is a high chance of deficiencies," says Madelief. "The soil is poor in minerals such as copper, zinc, and selenium. Horses that are not out on pasture also usually...
Dandelion
Feeding
Dandelion as an addition to a mineral buffet
The mineral buffet is becoming more and more popular in the horse world, and it's no wonder. It's ideal to provide your horse with an extra choice in the nutrients it wants/can take in, and it stimulates their self-selection ability. Of course, it's important that we help our horses a bit and not continuously give them the same options, but vary them. This way, we can ensure that we continue to stimulate the intuition of the horse, as not every plant is available all year round. Dandelion is one...
Guest blog
Feeding
What nutrition and supplements does Floxely, the horse of our colleague Marjolijn, receive?
What does Floxely, the horse of our colleague Marjolijn, eat in terms of nutrition and supplements? At HELTIE horse, we are all horse girls and each have our own horse. Talking about horses, horse health, and horse nutrition fits perfectly within our interests. We always discuss healthy food, natural food, grain-free, low in sugar, etc. But how do we apply this to our own horses? What do we feed them? In this section, Marjolijn will explain what she feeds her mare, Floxely. Getting to know Floxe...
Digestion
Feeding
Why a horse's health starts with the intestinal flora
Horses are very sensitive to digestive problems. The gastrointestinal tract of an adult horse can be as long as 40 meters, with a capacity of up to 200 liters! Along this entire tract, various problems can arise. The health of a horse is therefore largely dependent on the health of its digestive system. Especially in winter. One of the most important ways to maintain your horse's immunity is to ensure a well-functioning gastrointestinal tract. This is literally the foundation of your horse's hea...
Digestion
Feeding
What is the difference between pro- and prebiotics? And does it have an effect on the gut health of horses?
What is the difference between pro- and prebiotics? And does it affect the gut health of horses? Probably you have not previously considered the difference between pro- and prebiotics. Often pro- and prebiotics are mentioned together, but the difference between the two is significant. It is good to know exactly what this difference is and how both work on the gut flora of horses (but also humans). What is the difference between pre- and probiotics A probiotic is officially defined as a living mi...
Minerals
Vitamin E
Feeding
# Why roughage alone is not enough for horses
Why roughage alone is not enough for horses If you ask non-horse people: 'what does a horse eat?' then the chances are high that they will answer 'grass'. But that certainly does not apply to all of our horses! Especially not in a cold winter, or a dry summer. What is true, however, is that horses mainly eat roughage, from grass to hay. But unfortunately, roughage alone is not sufficient to keep your horse healthy. Roughage is obviously the basis for a healthy horse. Horses depend on fibers for...
Others
Feeding
Do you need to give pellets, or are loose herbs sufficient for your horse?
Many people are afraid that their horse will lack something if they don't give pellets. Is that justified? Or can your horse also get by with only roughage and loose herbs? That is quite a difficult question and very much dependent on your horse and the circumstances under which he is kept. To start with: it depends on what you mean by 'pellets'. Regular pellets or feed, grains or muesli, are usually not necessary. Many types of concentrate feeds contain all sorts of sugars and fillers that your...
Electrolytes
Minerals
Feeding
Extra minerals for your horse: When is that necessary?
Minerals are essential building blocks for bones, muscle tissue, organs, and the nervous system. Therefore, your horse needs to be able to absorb enough minerals with its food and water. But minerals are complex, sometimes work together, and occasionally interfere with each other. How do you know if your horse is getting enough minerals or needs extra? Minerals are important for the skeleton, nervous system, and digestion. Horses require a large number of minerals, sometimes in very small amount...
Behaviour
Hormones
Feeding
Why we do not have supplements for heat cycles in our assortment
Why we do not have supplements for heat in our assortment Mares and heat cycles, some have no problems with it while others may struggle with it extensively. It is common for us to receive inquiries about whether we have anything to offer for mares experiencing heat cycles. And our answer is simple and straightforward: 'No!' In this blog, we will explain why we are not fans of supplements for mares in heat. Heat cycles in mares are natural! Every mare is expected to go through heat cycles if she...