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.
Cannabinoids
Clove
Organs
Stress
What do cannabinoids actually do at the cellular level?
We always advise that cannabinoids help the body return to balance and improve signal transmission. But how exactly does this work? In this article, we want to provide more explanation on how cannabinoids work at the cellular level. Did you know that there are more than 125 different types of cannabinoids? And that the body also produces them itself? Read on to learn more!. What are cannabinoids? Cannabinoids are a group of chemical substances with many properties. Plants naturally contain chemical compounds, the cannabinoids, but these are also found in the human body and most animals. There are actually 3 types of cannabinoids to distinguish: Phytocannabinoids (plant-based) Endocannabinoids (endogenous) Synthetic cannabinoids (manufactured in a laboratory) In total, there are over 125 different cannabinoids, each with its own function. CBD may be the most well-kn...
Feeding
Go on a snack walk with your horse and stimulate his natural instinct
From their genes, horses know very well which foods are good for them and which plants are toxic. Each season, there are certain plants available, each with their own healing properties. However, the monotonous diet that horses receive nowadays no longer allows horses to truly follow this instinct. Natural detoxing therefore occurs much less. But there is a solution! Go on a fun snack walk with your horse!. Why go on a snack walk with your horse? Many plants, herbs, and trees are incredibly healthy for horses. In nature, horses don't just eat grass, they also eat herbs, leaves, twigs, bushes, and even a bit of soil from time to time. And from their genes, a horse still knows all of this, but as humans, we have pressed the pause button by bringing the food to the horse. Often, a very monotonous diet of mainly English ryegrass and sometimes a bit of other grasses. But did you know that eating differe...
Hormones
Stress
Feeding
Horse isolates itself: stress at the cellular level?
Stress at the cellular level is not a well-known phenomenon, but all horses (and humans) actually deal with it. It is a natural defense mechanism. The cells in the body respond to threats from the environment, with the goal of restoring balance as quickly as possible. However, if the cause of stress persists, these biological reactions can become chronic. A horse will often withdraw into itself and isolate itself from people and stimuli. It may seem like a bombproof animal, very calm, but often it is a sign of discomfort.. The balance in the body can be disrupted by factors such as nutrition, contaminants, or molds, but also by danger, improper training, or stable management that does not suit a horse's nature. The cells of a horse respond to such disruptions, often with a general response that is the same for any type of disturbance, and also a specific response to each type of disruption. This 'cellular stress' is a universal defense mechanism that is very important for the psychological and physical health of a...
First Aid
Hooves
Frogshoe horse? Use frog gel with EM (effective microorganisms)!
Frogshoe is a well-known problem for many horse owners. In frogshoe, the frog grooves in the soft part of the hoof rot. This smells immensely. Frogshoe is caused by fungi and anaerobic bacteria. A gel with effective microorganisms helps strengthen and maintain the hoof microflora healthy by 'happy bacteria'. The rotting process is then stopped by the good bacteria that become dominant over the unfavorable bacteria.. Although frogshoe occurs quite often, you should not underestimate it. The infection can penetrate deep into the hoof and cause temporary or even permanent lameness. You need to treat frogshoe both externally and internally. Good hygiene and prevention are important to keep the condition at bay. But what can you do if your horse already has frogshoe? Effective microorganisms or 'happy bacteria' Microorganisms are everywhere and play an important role in many biological processes. There are favor...
Others
Feeding
How to prevent algae growth in your horse's drinking water
Temperatures are rising, the sun is shining more often. Lovely! But.. the algae are also growing rapidly, causing your horse's water troughs to turn green in no time. Even if you change the water daily, sometimes green residue still appears. Read in this blog how you can prevent this.. Why does the drinking trough turn green? Algae thrive best in stagnant water. Algae naturally occur in water, but especially when using rainwater/groundwater, the quantity is higher. Due to the relatively small surface area of a drinking trough, the water heats up quickly and receives a large amount of sunlight, allowing the algae to grow well. But how do you prevent algae? There are a few things you can do to prevent your horse's water trough from getting covered in algae residue in a day or pr...
Nettle
Minerals
Feeding
Healthy horse? Don't forget water quality!
We all want the best for our horses. That's why most horse owners ensure that their horses are kept in good conditions, have plenty of exercise, and are fed well with enough fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Sometimes we forget that water quality is also important. It needs to be safe, tasty, clean, and sufficient to keep your horse healthy and fit.. Horses drink an average of about 30 liters of water per day, and in warm periods this can even increase to 50 liters per day. Water therefore makes up a large part of the horse's total nutrition. Be critical about the water you provide to your horse. If a horse drinks too little, various problems can arise. It can develop stomach problems, dry manure, or even eat too little. If a horse doesn't consume enough water, it also has a negative impact on its athletic performance. Therefore, your horse...
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...