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.
Behaviour
Magnesium
Others
Silicon
Is rearing the best place for foals to grow up?
Most foals go to a special place for rearing after weaning. Here they usually spend about two to two and a half years. But does a foal actually have to be in rearing? What does good rearing look like? And what are the alternatives?. Because we don't have a lot of space everywhere in the Netherlands, you often find affordable rearing locations for foals in the more rural provinces, or even abroad. As the owner of a young horse, you usually don't have daily visibility. This makes choosing a good rearing location quite difficult. Important aspects to consider in your choice are herd composition, feeding policy, and exercise. Behavior specialist chooses mixed herd Dr. Machteld van Dierendonck of the Faculty of Veterinary Medici...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
How do I help my horse with joint problems?
There are many horses with joint problems. This can be due to wear and tear, injuries, their build, or less than optimal conditions when they were young. Whatever the cause, as a horse owner, you have to deal with it! And so does your horse. What can you do for your horse with joint problems, such as arthritis, OCD, and kissing spines?. Joint problems come in different shapes and sizes. An older horse that is a bit slow to get going may have a mild form of arthritis in some areas of its legs. There's nothing unusual about that, as we humans often face this as we age. But a young horse with joint problems is less common. In that case, you might think of OC, overloading, or an injury. Arthritis in horses Arthritis is a condition that affects the cartilage in the joints and is also referred to as joint wear and tear. Arthritis can...
Magnesium
Silicon
Vitamin E
Which supplement is suitable for muscle building in horses?
Many horse owners would like to help their horse build muscle. For example, with young horses or animals that have been out of training for a while. Others are mainly looking to prevent muscle breakdown. This is more common with older horses or horses that have a condition or injury. How do you support your horse's muscles?. Muscles consist of muscle fibers, which are fed and maintained by the body. You can build and grow muscles through targeted training and providing the right nutrition and supplements. Both of these factors are important! One cannot do without the other. Vitamins and minerals Some vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy muscle tissue. If your horse doesn't get enough of these minerals and vitamins, it can lead to stiffness or a less effective training effect. Magnesium ensures a good tran...
Behaviour
Minerals
Silicon
Digestion
Feeding
Help, my horse is eating sand! What should I do now?
Two times a year we see a peak in questions about horses eating sand. Typically around February/March and usually around September/October. This is quite logical, as these are periods when the molting process is in full swing and the nutritional needs of horses are changing due to a seasonal shift. But what should you do if your horse starts eating sand? Should you just let it happen or should you intervene?. Sand-eating is a natural phenomenon All horses eat sand, this is a natural phenomenon and wild horses do this as well. Sand, or rather soil, is a rich source of minerals. From white sand, horses cannot extract much, as it mainly consists of silicon in a form that is not absorbable. Black soil, on the other hand, is richer in minerals, contains more types of minerals, and in forms that the horse can make better use of. If you see your horse eating black soil, don't panic immediately. It is a sign...
Magnesium
Silicon
Vitamin E
How do you support a horse with muscle binding?
Muscle binding, also called 'tying up' or Monday disease, is a disease. It is not just a bit of stiffness. The muscle metabolism of the horse is out of control with muscle binding. You must treat muscle binding immediately. How do you recognize muscle binding, what can you do about it, and how do you prevent this serious condition?. Muscle binding usually occurs about ten to fifteen minutes after a horse has been in motion. It is a total acidification of the muscles, especially the muscles of the topline (back, loins, buttocks). The symptoms sometimes resemble colic. Muscle binding is not always easy to recognize. An important indication is that muscle binding mainly occurs after a heavy effort, preceded by several days of rest during which the same feed was given. Muscle binding starts with stiffness, hard muscles, and not...
Minerals
Silicon
Feeding
Does your horse eat sand? And do you know why?
In winter, horses can sometimes have problems with sand in their intestines. This can lead to diarrhea or even painful sand colic. Of course, it is important to treat a horse that has sand in its belly, but it is even better to address the cause. Do you know why your horse eats sand?. Eating sand and sand colic seem to occur particularly in autumn and winter. One reason for this is that horses sometimes graze on short or bare pastures, bringing a lot of sand with the grass roots. The transition from pasture to stable and (boring) paddock can also lead to increased sand intake. Six reasons for sand licking If your horse is consciously licking sand, there can be six possible reasons: Silicon deficiency Deficiencies in other minerals Boredom Worms Insufficient roughage throughou...
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Salmon oil
Smooth joints? Combination of housing, nutrition, and exercise!
Older horses often experience muscle stiffness or rigidity due to early osteoarthritis. It is important for horses to keep moving in order to remain flexible. But are there also nutrients that help keep your horse more supple? How do you feed your horse to keep his joints healthy for as long as possible?. Stiffness in (older) horses is often caused by osteoarthritis. This is a condition where (chronic) inflammation occurs in the joints. Cartilage loss occurs, leading to a reduction in joint cushioning. This often makes movement initially painful, and a horse with osteoarthritis needs to 'warm up'. Only after a longer and cautious warm-up do the joints have enough lubrication to move smoothly. Osteoarthritis can also cause changes in bone structure in a more advanced stage. How does osteoarthritis...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Vitamin E
Black cumin
Osteoarthritis and dental problems: support your horse as it ages
The age at which a horse becomes a "senior" can vary depending on the breed and the individual horse. In general, we are talking about horses around 18 to 20 years old. This is when the first signs of aging start to appear. Joints: Stiffness and Osteoarthritis Older horses often experience joint wear and tear. The production of cartilage slows down in older horses, leading to the gradual thinning of the 'cushioning' cartilage between joints. Cartilage and synovial fluid work together t...
Tendons
Silicon
What does silicon do for the tendons of a horse?
Silicon! That is usually our first answer when customers contact us about their horse with a tendon problem. But why do we insist on silicon, because it is not a supplement that works directly? We are happy to explain it to you in this blog.. What is silicon? Silicon is a trace element that has always been very underrated. However, we have known better for a number of years now. It is a mineral that is involved in a huge number of processes in the body and has a much greater influence than was thought. Silicon is found in very limited quantities in the feed of horses, and often in a form that is not easily absorbed. That is the extremely tricky thing about silicon, almost no form is easily absorbable for horses. Sand, for example, is...
First Aid
Tendons
Silicon
Black cumin
Recognizing, treating, and preventing tendon injuries in horses
Many horse owners have to deal with them: tendon injuries. Difficult, unpleasant, and sometimes even the end of your horse's sporting career. How does a tendon injury occur? What should you do if you think your horse has a tendon injury? How can you support an injured horse? And how can you reduce the risk of a tendon injury?. Horses have relatively thin legs, with tendons close to the surface. An injury to the tendons is therefore always looming. Tendon injuries come in many different forms. Sometimes a horse is very lame, sometimes not at all. Sometimes it is a very serious problem, in other cases, the horse only needs to train a little less intensively. How does a tendon injury occur? There can be several causes for tendon injuries: Too intense training Too much of the same / repetitive training Training on poor su...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Minerals
Silicon
Black cumin
Can you prevent/reduce injuries in your horse?
Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure that can prevent injuries. Sometimes horses seem to be born to make things as difficult as possible for themselves or to damage themselves. Every horse can have a little accident, stumble, or just be plain unlucky. Preventing an injury is therefore not possible. However, you can reduce the chances of injuries by providing the right guidance and support!. Provide enough building materials from a young age. For a strong physique, horses need building materials in the form of minerals ( silicon, calcium, magnesium etc). This starts in the womb. During pregnancy, the mare must receive enough building materials so that the unborn foal can absorb and use them. If pregnant mares have insufficient building materials, the foal will already start with a disadvantage. As a result, the entire physique will be weaker and more prone to injuries. It is therefo...
Others
Silicon
Feeding
Can I prepare containers with liquid supplements for my horse?
Many horse owners whose horses are at a boarding stable do not always have the opportunity to be with their horse daily. Additionally, feeding is often centrally organized at fixed times in many stables. This can make administering supplements a challenge. Can you prepare containers in advance with supplements included? And if so, how far in advance can you do this without losing effectiveness? Keep reading, we'll explain it to you!. Preferably not set up in advance Liquid supplements are ideal to use because they are so easy to dose over the feed. For example, horses don't blow them out of the bucket, so you have minimal waste. However, liquid supplements can dry out, which can potentially decrease their effectiveness. It is therefore always preferred to add supplements to the feed at the last moment. We understand that it is not possible for all horse owners to arrange this daily. Boarding stable owners also do not want to...