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
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...
First Aid
Salmon oil
Salmon oil stimulates wound healing in horses.
There are many types of wound ointments for horses available on the market that contribute effectively to wound healing. Especially with relatively small wounds, these ointments work well. But did you know that omega 3 fatty acids also stimulate wound healing? You can also stimulate a wound to heal from the inside. Therefore, salmon oil is also very effective for (large) wounds. Read more about this in this blog.. Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation With (large) wounds, there is always a risk of infections. It is very difficult to keep wounds clean in horses. Especially on the legs, the risk of inflammation is high. Salmon oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and these fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. By adding omega 3 fatty acids to the diet, you reduce the risk of infections. How do omega 3 fatty acids help in wound healing? Wound healing is a complex system in the body,...
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....
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...
Others
Feeding
Pasture
Are you already prepared for the grazing season?
Spring has sprung and you can almost see the grass growing. That means the horses can almost go back out to pasture! Wonderful of course, but there are a few things to keep in mind when transitioning from stable to pasture. How do you ensure a smooth start to the grazing season and a healthy horse?. To start with, make sure the pasture is ready. Check the fencing for holes and sharp protrusions. Make sure the electric fence is working everywhere and that the gates open and, especially, close smoothly. The water supply is also important. Clean water troughs and ensure automatic waterers are functioning. Check the pasture for weeds that may be toxic to horses, such as seedlings of the Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). These seedlings sprout in the spring, especially if there are sycamore...
Skin
Insulin resistance
Sweet itch
Do fewer horses have sweet itch than we think?
When horses are scratching in the summer months, it is often quickly assumed that a horse has summer eczema (SME). However, there are many more causes of scratching in the summer months. This leads to many horses being treated as if they have summer eczema, without results. Therefore, it is very important to determine the cause of the scratching in the summer months. A horse may react to sugars in the diet, be sensitive to insect bites, be overweight, or have itching for other reasons during the summer period. There are also horses that scratch from grassland treated with artificial fertilizers. So, a horse scratching in the summer months does not always have sweet itch. Below is an overview of possible causes of itching in the summer and what measures you can take.. Itching Due to Overweight Most horses in the Netherlands carry a very generous amount of weight. Just like with humans, we all know that being overweight is not healthy for horses. But did you know that overweight can cause itching in horses? Fat deposits cause small inflammatory reactions under the skin, especially around the mane. These inflammations cause irritation, leading the horse to scratch. Scratching creates wounds that cause further inflammatory reactions at those spots, and this cycl...
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...
Detox
Sweet itch
Step 1 approach to summer eczema: detox!
Do you have a horse with sweet itch? A detox is the first step in the total approach to summer eczema. It ensures that the body has more capacity to process the saliva of the culicoides. This is because all accumulated waste products are cleared during a detox. How exactly this works and what is important to read can be found in this article.. Why detox? It is inevitable that horses ingest toxins in their bodies. Through drinking water, food, medication, vaccination, radiation, and deworming, these toxins enter the body. The body will eliminate most of these toxins through the liver and kidneys. However, some of these toxins cannot be processed by the body and are stored in the body. You can think of it as the filter of a car. This too will eventually become full and need to be cleaned. If this does not happen, the car will not be abl...
Cannabinoids
Hooves
Clove
Laminitis in horses: how cannabinoids can contribute
Laminitis is a painful condition in horses that unfortunately occurs quite frequently. Inflammations in the horse's hoof wall cause swelling, fever, and pain. Various measures are necessary to prevent and treat laminitis. Did you know that cannabinoids can also help your horse with laminitis? These natural substances have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects and also support your horse's immune system, reducing the chance of recurrence.. That's why in this blog we would like to explain how cannabidiol can contribute to addressing laminitis. How does laminitis develop? The University of Utrecht names three causes for the development of laminitis. Firstly, a disease or inflammation elsewhere in the body. Such inflammation or disease causes an accumulation of toxins in the blood. These toxins will lead to changes in blood flow in the hoof, resulting in laminitis. The second reason is overloading of the foot, for example due to an i...
Salmon oil
Sweet itch
Salmon oil has a positive effect on sweet itch.
Mosquito bites cause allergic reactions in horses with sweet itch. These allergic reactions are actually all small inflammations under the skin that cause extreme itching. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for sweet itch, but you can control the itching. Salmon oil can contribute to this. Read in this blog what positive effect salmon oil has on sweet itch.. Salmon oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. This means that the horse needs to get them through its diet because the horse cannot produce them in the body. There are 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): plant-based Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): found almost exclusively in fatty fish Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): found almost exclusively in fatty fish Horses that have access to fresh grass get omega-3 (ALA) this way. The amount of o...
Insulin resistance
Salmon oil
Salmon oil for Insulin Resistance (IR)
In previous blogs, we have indicated what insulin resistance is and that this is often the cause of rubbing in horses and ponies. For horses and ponies with Insulin Resistance, the most important thing is to adjust the ration to a limited intake of sugars. But did you know that salmon oil can also have a positive effect on insulin resistance?. Salmon oil lowers the glucose level in the blood American researchers have discovered that horses fed salmon oil not only have a lower heart rate during exercise, but that the cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood were also lower than in horses that did not receive salmon oil. Because salmon oil has a positive effect on the glucose level, salmon oil is very suitable for horses with Insulin Resistance. Salmon oil reduces inflammation A horse with Insulin Resistance often rubs the mane as a...
Others
Pasture
9 Tips against flies in the pasture
Spring has started with radiant, dry weather. Unfortunately, flies also love this weather, as they are now present in large numbers. That's why in this blog tips to reduce flies in the pasture so that your horse can graze in peace and enjoy the weather.. Clean the pasture regularly By cleaning the pasture daily (preferably multiple times a day) you attract fewer flies to the land. Flies like to gather in large numbers on a pile of manure and linger around it. The more manure you leave on the land, the more flies you attract. Keep the pasture clean by cleaning it out regularly. And another benefit: you get a workout! Don't place manure heap directly next to your pasture Of course, it's ideal if you don't have to walk far with the wheelbarrow when...