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.
Weight
Hormones
Insulin resistance
Feeding
Sweet itch
My horse is already getting fat from a single blade of grass! How is that possible?
Many horses quickly become overweight when put in the pasture. It seems like they gain weight from just a single blade of grass. These horses are often referred to as 'easy keepers' because they don't require much feed. However, managing these types of horses is often not easy for owners. How is it possible that your horse gains weight so quickly? And what can you do about it?. The answer is not so much in the grass itself, but in your horse. Many horses consume too many sugars, for example in the form of concentrate or rich hay. Due to the dry summers of the past year, the hay is much higher in sugars than usual. Concentrate feed often contains a lot of sugar and starch, which are easily absorbed and lead to a higher blood sugar level. Not designed for fast sugars In the wild, horses eat a lot more cellulose from coarse plant stems. This cellulose is converted by the...
Algae
Insulin resistance
Salmon oil
Sweet itch
Insulin resistant horse: choose for directly absorbable EPA and DHA omega-3
Omega 3 fatty acids are always lumped together under the characteristic "anti-inflammatory". But there are different types of omega 3 fatty acids: ALA, EPA, and DHA. EPA and DHA are the most important for the body. However, these are not found in plant oils such as flaxseed and olive oil. The horse's body still has to convert ALA to EPA and DHA on its own. And in horses with Insulin Resistance (but also summer eczema and overweight), ALA can actually be pro-inflammatory if the body cannot convert them properly. That's why in many cases, it is better to choose directly absorbable EPA and DHA. Read in this blog how that works.. Omega 3 fatty acids in horses There are three types of omega 3 fatty acids: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Horses get ALA through fresh grass, but it cannot be utilized directly in the horse's body. ALA needs to be converted to EPA and DHA, which is a very inefficient process, but for healthy horses, no problem at all. ALA is also found in plant oils (e.g. flaxseed oil and olive oil). The horse produces EPA and DHA through the conversion of ALA. But it can also be provided through fish oil, salmon oil, or a...
Feeding
What building blocks does a mare need for a foal?
When breeding a foal, you obviously choose a fantastic stallion that matches your mare perfectly. However, whether those fantastic genes also result in the perfect foal largely depends on the mare and the conditions during gestation. The right housing, nutrition, and supplements for your mare are crucial for the development of a healthy and strong foal.. Without the right building blocks, it is impossible to create a quality foal. Even if you have chosen a fantastic mare and the most beautiful stallion from the book. It is in the womb where it is determined whether a healthy, strong, and vital quality foal will come out of your mare. No matter how good the stallion's lineage is, if the mare does not receive the proper nutrition and exercise during gestation, then your foal is already at a disadvantage that can never be overcome. Is mare feed nec...
Behaviour
Hormones
# Mares are allowed to be temperamental, it is nature
Mares do not have a very good reputation in the horse world. They are often immediately associated with bad behaviors, annoying temperaments, and being witches of horses. But the majority of mares have a normal temperament and are not at all difficult, so the reputation is not fair. Besides, temperamental behavior is simply a part of nature. In many cases, we therefore do not recommend trying to change this. Read more about mare temperament in this blog.. What is mare temperamental behavior exactly? During the temperamental phase, the mare shows her fertile period, as ovulation occurs at the end of the temperamental phase and there is the greatest chance of fertilization. Mares typically have a cycle of 21 days (some slightly shorter, some slightly longer) and the temperamental phase lasts about 5 days. During the temperamental phase, mares urinate more, the urine is often different and smells stronger. Some mares are a bit dreamy during these da...
Cannabinoids
Clove
Respiratory
Can horses have hay fever or a pollen allergy?
Does your horse cough and sneeze a lot in the spring and summer? A pollen allergy, also known as hay fever, could be the cause. Pollen allergy is irritating for your horse, causing itching, coughing, a runny nose, and some horses may shake their heads when affected by pollen. We were asked if our product Healthie Horse Respiratory, which supports the respiratory system in cases of dust-related issues, could also help with a pollen allergy. The answer is: Yes!. Headshaking and coughing in horses Coughing and a runny nose can have multiple causes such as a cold or dust. Headshaking can also result from problems with the cervical vertebrae or teeth. However, if the symptoms occur in the spring and summer and disappear after the pollen season, when it rains, or when the horse is in the stable, then a pollen allergy is likely the culprit. Does my horse have hay fever or a pollen allergy? If you are not sure whether your horse has hay fever or a pollen alle...
Guest blog
Feeding
Good idea: A nice herbal field for your horse!
Did you know that horses in the wild eat a wide variety of plants, herbs, and trees? In a study of Konik horses in Belgium, researchers counted as many as 80 different species of plants on the horse's menu. Variety in roughage is very important for your horse. It is tasty and healthy.. Unfortunately, many pastures do not have as many different types of grass and herbs. The biodiversity of the average horse pasture has decreased significantly in recent years. While all these different plants are so healthy. A wild horse chooses the herbs that it needs, for example because they contain many vitamins or minerals. Create your own herbal field for your horse A fun way to offer your horse some more variety in roughage is by creating an herb garden. It can be done in or next to the p...
Feeding
5 Tips for optimizing biodiversity in your horse's pasture
Unfortunately, biodiversity has drastically decreased in the Dutch meadows. There is very little variation in grass species, herbs, and other plants. This not only provides a more one-sided food source for your horse, but also leads to a decrease in insects such as bees and bumblebees, which are important for pollinating plants. It's a shame! Because the balance in all of this is important for a healthy environment and therefore a healthy horse.. Read in this blog how you can optimize biodiversity yourself with these five tips! Tip 1: Mow later Insects like to live in taller grass, but birds and other small animals also seek shelter in tall grass. By mowing your pasture later, you help increase the population of insects which then serve as food for birds and other animals. And for example, mow the side of the ditch less often! Another advantage of mowing later: more structured hay for your horse! Tip 2: Natural fertilization instead of c...
First Aid
Skin
Wounds in horses close quickly with Effective Microorganisms (EM) spray
Every horse occasionally gets a small wound. A nip in the paddock, a bump, or an annoying insect often lead to minor skin damage. Unfortunately, horses can be very sensitive to this and such a wound can lead to unpleasant infections. Sometimes even resulting in blood poisoning or a swollen leg (Einschuss). So you want wounds to be cleaned and closed as quickly as possible!. On the skin of your horse (and yours!), there is a wide biodiversity of microorganisms. It is a whole web of microscopic life. An interesting way to support the natural healing process of the skin is by using Effective Microorganisms. These are 'happy' or 'good' bacteria and other microorganisms that initiate the healing process and help prevent infections. What are Effective Microorganisms? The term 'Effective Microorganisms' refers to a mixture of active bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. These tiny...
Feeding
Pasture
Grass: the biggest sugar bomb for your horse
It's spring, and soon most horses will be allowed back into the pasture. Hooray! But not for all horses is grazing a delight. Especially for hardy breeds and sensitive horses, the pasture can be a dangerous place. Grass can (sometimes) be packed with sugars, especially in the spring and fall after cold nights. However, with proper management, these horses can also enjoy grazing.. Grass and hay contain varying amounts of carbohydrates such as sugars, starch, and fructan. The amount of sugars in the grass depends on the time of day and the season. The type of grass in the pasture also has an influence. Excessive intake of sugars, starch, and fructan is associated with digestive issues and metabolic diseases such as laminitis, insulin resistance, and EMS in horses. Horses with summer eczema or those sensitive to mites also benefit from a low-sugar diet. Tip: Pay attention t...
Feeding
Pasture
Only a meadow with English Ryegrass? With these tips you create more variety for your horse!
Grass is the basis of a horse's diet. This can be in the form of grazing in the pasture, or dried in the form of hay. But did you know that you can improve this basic diet of your horse to make it even more nutritious for your horse? Read in this blog how to do that.. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of their own piece of pasture, but you may be able to take tips from this blog to make adjustments for your horse so that it gets more variety! Choose multiple types of grass Most pastures consist of English Ryegrass. A grass species that thrives in the Dutch climate, provides good yield, and creates a dense sod. However, it is very one-sided for horses and often too high in nutritional value for almost all horses. Many horses can therefore only graze limit...
Minerals
Feeding
When is an extra supplement of minerals in concentrate feed for horses necessary?
Many people think that horses receiving (twice daily) concentrate feed do not need extra minerals. However, that is not entirely true. Much depends on the type of concentrate feed, the quality of hay or pasture, the efforts a horse makes, and the health of the horse. Are there disadvantages to concentrate feed? And when should you supplement with extra minerals?. Traditionally, it is common to give all horses concentrate feed (pellets). However, in recent years, you can see that the science is shifting. If your horse is not in a pasture 24 hours a day, then good hay (unpacked), that is not dusty or moldy, is the basis of the diet in combination with a concentrated mineral pellet. All horses need roughage, in ample quantities, spread throughout the day. Your horse's digestive system cannot function without it. Hay lacks sufficient minerals Minerals are es...
Electrolytes
Insulin resistance
Minerals
Insulin resistant horse? Choose concentrated Bering Sea water as electrolytes!
Horses and ponies that are insulin resistant benefit from receiving as little sugars as possible in any form (carbohydrates, starch, dextrose, etc). However, these horses do need extra minerals, especially if they sweat a lot. But how do you manage this since most electrolytes contain some form of sugar? Choose concentrated Bering Sea water. 1 liter of concentrated Bering Sea water is equivalent to 100 liters of seawater. Seawater contains 20 to 28% table salt, which is filtered out. You can imagine that there are a huge amount of minerals in 100 liters of seawater.. Why are electrolytes necessary? Horses that sweat lose electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium) through sweat in addition to fluids. These minerals are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system, but also aid in recovery after exertion and promote muscle flexibility. An electrolyte deficiency can lead to issues like cramping. Horses can lose 10-15 liters of sweat in hot weather or during intense exercise, resulting in a loss of electrolytes. To ensure th...