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.
Joints
Magnesium
Minerals
Silicon
Feeding
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How can you strengthen the physique of your young horse?
Horse owners are always looking for what is best for their horse. Often this concerns adult horses or even seniors. The young horse is often "forgotten", while with the right guidance it can make an extra good start. Therefore, read in this blog how you can support the physique of your young horse.. What is a young horse? Actually, horses are late bloomers, all growth plates are only fully closed around the age of 6/8 years. Therefore, you can say that up to the age of 7 years, the horse can be considered young. Especially the first 5 years are important for the development of the physique. The horse then goes through many growth spurts, which challenges the skeleton. But even after this age, horses continue to grow. Many horses are only fully grown around their 7th year. Movement, movement...
Joints
Others
Silicon
Feeding
From what age can a young horse start working?
There are few topics that spark as much debate among horse lovers as starting with young horses. From what age can a horse start working? How do you actually define work? And how can you ensure a healthy start to the 'working life' of your young horse in general?. As an owner and trainer of a young horse, your most important task is to ensure that the animal is physically and mentally prepared for its life as a riding horse. You want to give the horse a solid foundation and ensure that it develops trust in humans. The horse should be physically capable of functioning as a riding horse in the future, and it should continue to enjoy the work and be mentally capable of handling it. That's quite a laundry list and a responsible task, indeed. When do horses' g...
Joints
Stress
Crystallization of uric acid: painful joint problem for sport horses
If your horse is highly worked or experiences a lot of stress, a painful problem can occur: crystallization in the joints. In humans, we call it 'gout,' and horses can also get it. Especially for sport horses, it is important to pay attention to this. Is your horse a bit stiff? Then uric acid crystals could be the cause. Herbs can help solve this problem, but prevention is always best.. Most horse owners are familiar with common joint and muscle issues that can lead to stiffness. For example, arthritis in older horses. Or a deficiency in vitamin E when the horse is not on fresh grass. But apart from these well-known causes of stiffness, there is also a relatively unknown one: uric acid crystallization. What is uric acid? Uric acid is produced during physical exertion and stress. It is a breakdown product of protein metabolism. Under normal circumstances, this acid is absorbed i...
Joints
Others
Feeding
How can you support the aging horse?
From the age of 15, horses are considered "older." This is a point where many horses start to experience joint difficulties and the first signs of aging. However, every horse is different. Some horses still happily trot around at 25, while others may experience some discomfort at 15. Therefore, we will provide you with guidelines for caring for your aging horse.. Check the teeth of an aging horse Horses' teeth wear down over their lifetime. As a horse ages, more dental problems may arise, causing them to have difficulty chewing and therefore lose weight. It is important for all horses to have their teeth checked annually, but especially for older horses. Loose teeth, excessive tartar, diastemas (spaces between the teeth), or the condition EOTRH can cause discomfort, leading to decreased food intake by the horse. In some cases, it may be necessary to adju...
Joints
Silicon
The differences between biotin and silicon in horses
To improve the quality of your horse's hooves and coat, you can choose from several supplements. At Ask HELTIE, we received the question about the difference in effectiveness between biotin and silicon. Both products improve your horse's hooves in the long term. But there are also important differences between silicon and biotin. Let's break it down for you.. Both biotin and hydrolyzed silicon should be given for the long term. Studies on biotin indicate that it takes between eight and ten months before you see a real effect on the hooves. Silicon also needs some time, although you may expect a clear effect on hooves and coat a bit earlier, around four to five months. Silicon: essential mineral for skin and coat Silicon is an important mineral for your horse. It allows the body to produce the necessary building blocks for hair, hooves, tendons, ligam...
Joints
Silicon
Silicon stimulates the body's own production of glucosamine in horses
Joint problems such as arthritis are common in horses. As a result of aging, but also due to intensive use. Especially the joints in the legs are vulnerable, fetlock and hock injuries are common problems. Many people feed a glucosamine supplement to make their horse more flexible. But research shows that giving silicon is a much better way to help your horse get moving again. What's the reason behind this?. In human medicine, glucosamine, with or without chondroitin, is viewed with some skepticism. There are no conclusive studies showing an effect of glucosamine supplements in people with arthritis. It probably only has a small anti-inflammatory effect, which you mainly see in the beginning. Many doctors see the use of these supplements at most as a form of 'if it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt'. When you add glucosamine to your horse's feed, only a very small portion is absorbed by the intestines....
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Joint Problems in Horses: Which Supplements for Which Problem?
Joint problems in horses: Which supplements for which problems? If your horse is suffering from joint problems, there is a range of supplements available. But which product does exactly what? What are the mechanisms of action? And how do you make the right choice for your horse? Broadly speaking, there are three types of joint supplements for joint problems. The supplement - or combination of supplements - you choose depends on your horse's symptoms. You can choose from herbs, silicon, and canna...
Joints
Silicon
Six important differences between glucosamine and silicon
For horses suffering from stiffness or joint pain, there are many products on the market. Glucosamine products and silicon are the two main options. But which product should you use when? What are the differences? And which supplement works best? We list the information for you.. For joint problems, such as osteoarthritis or reduction of joint fluid, you can choose from glucosamine-based supplements (often combined with chondroitin and msm) or liquid silicon-based supplements. There are also some pain-relieving products on the market, such as the plant-based devil's claw. However, this herb is not suitable for competition horses as it is on the doping list. Cannabinoids extracted from clove plants, by the way, also have a positive effect on joints and are analgesic, but...