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

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?

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....

First Aid

Salmon oil

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.

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

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.

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...

Salmon oil

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 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

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 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

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.

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...

Weight

Your horse is probably already enjoying the grass. Unfortunately, the pounds are already piling on rapidly. How can you ensure that your horse stays at a healthy weight in the summer while still being able to enjoy the fresh grass?

How to prevent overweight in horses?

Your horse is probably already enjoying the grass. Unfortunately, the pounds are already piling on rapidly. How can you ensure that your horse stays at a healthy weight in the summer while still being able to enjoy the fresh grass?. In this blog, we want to provide you with tips on how to keep your horse at a healthy weight during the summer months. Weight gain in summer is a natural phenomenon Wild horses lose weight (drastically) in winter due to food scarcity and fewer nutrients in the grass. During that time, horses use their fat reserves to get through the winter. These fat reserves are built up by horses in the summer when the grass is abundant and rich in nutrients. Wild horses are often very fat after the summer per...

Cannabinoids

Clove

Magnesium

Stress

Almost every horse is startled by an unexpected situation or a strange object at some point. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because a horse is a flight animal. Being startled occasionally is just part of a horse's nature. But if your horse startles often, jumps away at every little thing, or develops chronic stress, then you probably want to do something about it. However, there are plenty of supplements and remedies available to help with stress. How do you make a good choice? And where do you start?

Choice overload due to stress supplements in horses?

Almost every horse is startled by an unexpected situation or a strange object at some point. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because a horse is a flight animal. Being startled occasionally is just part of a horse's nature. But if your horse startles often, jumps away at every little thing, or develops chronic stress, then you probably want to do something about it. However, there are plenty of supplements and remedies available to help with stress. How do you make a good choice? And where do you start?. To be able to help a stressed horse effectively, you first need to determine what kind of stress your horse is experiencing. Acute stress occurs when a horse startles briefly, jumps away, has an increased heart rate and breathing, and may need to defecate more. After the 'scary situation' is over, the horse goes back to its normal stress-free behavior. However, if a horse frequently experiences acute stress, or if its living conditions are not ideal, the animal can develop chronic stress. This h...

Cannabinoids

Clove

Black cumin

How the endocannabinoid system of horses works

How the endocannabinoid system (ECS system) of horses works Scientists discovered in the early 1990s that humans and animals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS system). This system is the 'signaler' in the body. It checks at the cellular level if there is a problem. Then the system sends a signal to the brain, so that the brain can send the right substances to the respective cell. In this way, the endocannabinoid system regulates certain processes in the body, such as pain, inflammation, and th...

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