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.
Hormones
Others
# Why there are so many 'early' foals
In recent years, it is becoming more common to see foals born in March, February, or even January. For some breeders, it seems like a competition. In nature, the period between April and June is the best time for a foal to be born. It is warmer and there is plenty of spring grass for the mare to make nutrient-rich milk. So why are there so many early foals?. As the days get longer and the grass starts to grow, the mare's hormone system kicks in. Although the first heat cycle often occurs in February, there is usually a higher chance of conception in April, May, and June. This is the natural breeding season. The horses have shed their winter coat, their immune system is in order, and there is plenty of nutritious grass available. Shift A mare is usually pregnant for over 11 months. After the foal is born, it takes about a week for the first heat cycl...
Behaviour
Others
Feeding
Natural horse keeping is the goal, but look at your horse!
Our goal is to bring horses closer to nature. Therefore, our aim is that horses are kept as naturally as possible. Of course, it is important to consider your horse and its specific needs. Not all horses thrive on being outside 24/7, just like not all horses can handle being in a stall for a few hours.. So, don't focus solely on the idea that your horse must live naturally, but pay close attention to your horse. Here are some tips to keep your horse natural. Tip 1: Thin/poor quality roughage to allow for unlimited feeding Horses naturally eat sparse. Not grass that is fertilized multiple times a year with artificial fertilizers, but grass that is juicy for a short period and then becomes fibrous and withered. Lots of herbs, twigs, tree bark, and bushes. And this for about 20 hours a day, taking...
First Aid
Others
Feeding
What are the basic values of your horse?
How well do you know your horse? Every horse has its own 'normal' values. For example, how much he eats and how much he defecates, but also what his body temperature, resting heart rate, and respiration rate are. As an owner, it is useful to know these basic values. This way, you can more easily determine if something is wrong. Because horses cannot speak, as owners, we sometimes have to guess if something is wrong with them, if they are sick or experiencing discomfort. It is important not to dismiss abnormal behavior as 'trying it out', 'not in the mood', 'rebellious' or 'messing around'. A horse does not make plans to annoy you. If it exhibits abnormal behavior, there is probably something wrong somewhere. In its body, its head, or its environment. Measuring and writing down basic values To get to know the basic valu...
Others
Feeding
Am I giving my horse too many supplements?
Am I not giving my horse too many supplements? If I add this or that, is that okay, or will it be too much? These are questions that we regularly receive from horse owners, and understandably so! We have customers who give only 1 product, but sometimes we also hear that a large number of products are being given. Sometimes the question is indeed; are you perhaps giving your horse too many supplements? In this blog, we will explain what you need to consider.. If it's not beneficial? Then it can be harmful! You will never hear us say "if it's not beneficial, then it doesn't harm". Because even natural products can have a negative influence on the body if they are used incorrectly. Therefore, never just give a supplement to your horse, but always use it for a reason. And of course, there are also products that you can give without any problems, but why give something if it's not necessary? Our advice is always: use a supplement for the period...
Skin
Others
Why we are not anti-rugs with horses
Rain rugs and winter rugs for horses are a much-discussed topic in the horse world. There are people staunchly against rugs because they believe that every horse should be able to be in the Netherlands without a rug. That every horse naturally grows enough coat and that the winters in the Netherlands are not so extremely cold that a rug is not necessary. To some extent, that is true, but it is a bit more nuanced. Here is our view on rugs!. Point 1: every horse is different! Some horses thrive in the winter, are completely in their element and enjoy the cold and the season. Some horses stand under the shelter at the first drop of rain, with their heads down feeling miserable. And that is not because they are spoiled by the owner, but because the horse prefers a certain type of weather. They are sometimes just like people 😉. Why wouldn't you provide a rug for the horse that is unhappy in the rain, so that its mood improves and it c...
Others
Stress
Feeding
# A happy horse: what do we, as owners, need to take care of?
Horse welfare is very important to many horse owners and fortunately also to more and more institutions. We at HELTIE horse believe that a happy horse is extremely important! It is therefore our goal to bring horses closer to nature, with optimal health and well-being for all horses. But as a horse owner, what should we actually pay attention to and take care of?. Good and proper nutrition Many horse owners depend on their boarding stables when it comes to feeding their horse. But as horse owners, we have the responsibility for our horse's health and therefore also their nutrition. Horses should have access to sufficient high-quality forage. Our preference always goes to unpackaged hay as packaged hay has several health disadvantages. Additionally, we prefer to see horses have unlimited access to forage, but no more than 3 hours without. Nowadays, forage/...
Organs
Others
Stress
What do the eyes of your horse say?
As horse owners, we would like to know if our horses are feeling good. And if they might want to tell us something. One of the ways to 'listen' to horses is by looking closely at their eyes. Do you know what each look of your horse says? And what should you pay attention to?. The eyes of horses are located on the sides of their heads. This allows a horse to see almost all around itself; it can't see directly behind itself. Such wide vision is very useful for a flight animal, as it can scan the entire surroundings even while grazing. It can quickly run away if a predator approaches. However, this good vision is not always practical for riding with horses, as a scary object or bush monster is quickly spotted... Beautiful horse eyes Horse eyes can provide us as owners w...
Others
Stress
Why social contact is so important for horses
Horses are herd animals. They are naturally made to live in groups and need social contact to remain physically and mentally healthy. In densely populated Netherlands, it is not always possible to meet all the needs of your horse. How important is social contact actually for your horse, what exactly is social contact, and how can you help your horse when (temporarily) less social contact is possible?. Over the years, the thinking on animal welfare has changed. For a long time, the 'five freedoms' were leading. It described that an animal, for example, has the right to be free from hunger and thirst and to be free from physical discomfort. According to this theory, animals must also be free to express normal behavior. This means: sufficient space, good amenities, and the companionship of conspecifics. Nowadays, many experts and animal keepers believe that it is no longer sufficient to only pro...
Others
# The benefits of training your horse on a trail ride
When training horses, there is a lot to consider. Whether you are working on basic exercises or training at the highest level. All levels have their challenges. In addition to those challenges, you can also choose different forms of training and decide whether to do this indoors, outdoors, in an arena, or maybe even during a trail ride.. Despite the preference of most riders still going to a closed arena, training your horse on a trail ride is extremely valuable. Why train in an arena? When you actually start training with your horse and focus on improvement or learning something new, it is important to choose where you will train. An enclosed space is ideal when you want to train your horse loose for the first time, for example. In addition, a closed arena often gives a "safe" feeling, allowing many people, and theref...
Others
Feeding
Seven tips to make your horse drink on unfamiliar terrain
If you are competing in shows, going on a multi-day trek, doing endurance, or planning long trail rides, it's important to keep your horse hydrated. A horse that doesn't drink enough not only loses fluids, but also a lot of energy. Moreover, the risk of colic increases when a horse doesn't drink enough. That's why we give you seven tips to make your horse drink when you are on the go.. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink is a well-known English proverb. Figuratively, it means that you can't force someone to do something they don't want to do, but as a horse owner, you can also take this proverb quite literally. However, there are some things you can do to make your horse drink (better) when you are away from home. When should a horse drink? Just like people, some horses drink more than others. Horses can also go without water for a few hours. But when...
Others
Tendon Protectors and Heat? Is that a correct combination?
Leg wraps, you can get them in the cutest colors, patterns, sizes, and all with different underlying techniques to protect your horse's tendons. But are leg wraps really a protection for tendons? And what about warm weather? In this blog, we provide more background on the sensitivity of tendons in combination with heat!. What are the tendons in the lower legs? The tendons in the lower legs consist of tendon tissue, which are all individual cells that lie in line with each other and are held together by small bands. This provides the strength and elasticity of tendons. Tendons are located on the surface, are not surrounded by muscle tissue, and are always "on". The horse uses these tendons both at rest and in motion. They have a function of stretching and pulling, which actually means that they can stre...
Skin
Others
Three tips to quickly and safely cool down your horse
Summer has begun! Wonderful of course, but it also means that your horse can get quite hot during training. Horses heat up faster than humans and have a harder time getting rid of that heat. Properly cooling down after work is therefore very important. How do you do this best? We give you three tips.. Tip 1: Cool water over the entire body The most important way to quickly and effectively cool down your horse is with cool or cold water. Eventers/endurance riders throw buckets of ice water over their horses when they come out of the cross-country/ride, but you don't have to go that far. You can start by spraying cool water over the entire body. In the second round you can maybe continue with cold water. It is important to make as much of your horse wet as possible. This gives the fastest resul...