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.
Guest blog
Feeding
Guest blog Agrobs - Grains: horse feed or not?
You hear more and more that people prefer to feed their horses as much grain-free as possible. However, the practice of giving concentrate feed based on grains is very old. Why would it suddenly not be good for a horse anymore? What do grains do in the horse's body? And: which horses can benefit from some grains?. Grains, nowadays often hidden in muesli or pellets, have long been an important part of horses' diets. When horses used to work in the fields, they expended much more energy than our current sport and leisure horses. They often worked hard all day and had few breaks to replenish their reserves. They had to eat while the farmworker had his sandwich. Grains can be eaten quickly, contain a lot of energy, and are also easy to transport and do not spoil as quickly. Thus, grains became an important co...
Cannabinoids
Guest blog
Clove
Guestblog HOPE for horses: ‘Cannabinoids good for the entire system in horses’
Clove cannabinoids are very versatile in horses. This is because they support the ECS system. This is a system that takes care of different processes in the body. We have asked Miranda Hoogenberg about her experiences. She has used cannabinoids in various situations such as stress, inflammation, and pain, but also in grief and stress when the leader of the herd died. But first, who is Miranda?. Who is Miranda Hoogenberg Miranda Hoogenberg from HOPE for Horses helps people and horses come together in riding and in their general cooperation. "I teach horseback riding from dressage, jumping, and cross-country to coaching. I always try to look and feel what is suitable for both horse and rider. What is really important for the horse and for the human? That is really my passion," says Miranda. "Working on strengthening the inner, emotional, and spiritual aspect of the interac...
Guest blog
Feeding
7 top tips for enriching your horse paddock
In the wild, horses cover long distances daily, eat a variety of plants, and move through diverse terrain. Naturally, you also want to offer your horse(s) as much variety and challenge as possible. This can be achieved by 'enriching' your pasture or paddock (paradise). Marloes Vogel from Ukie's Paddock Paradise gives us her six top tips and we added one more ourselves.. "By enrichment, we mean: improving the quality of life for animals that do not live in the wild. Enrichment helps stimulate natural behavior," explains Marloes. By making your horse's living environment as natural and interesting as possible, you prevent boredom and encourage movement. Enrichment can also be done if you don't have a paddock paradise, but another form of housing. Tip 1 - Hide treats "One way to keep your horse busy and get them moving in the paddock is by hiding he...
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...
Guest blog
Lymphatic system
Natascha Bos: 'Lymphatic drainage improves recovery after injuries'
In the Netherlands, Natascha Bos is the founder of manual lymphatic drainage for horses. She works as a therapist herself and trains others through her company De Blauwe Hengst. We spoke to Natascha about what lymphatic drainage can mean for horses, especially after an injury. Her advice: "The lymphatic system is crucial for the recovery of your horse. Don't wait too long to provide support!. Natascha: "The lymphatic system is very important for the horse's body. The lymphatic vessel system transports, from different tissues, joints, and organs, all substances that are no longer useful. Through lymph fluid, these waste products come to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes have multiple tasks including filtering. Ultimately, the lymph flow drains into the blood." Lymphatic system important for immunity "The lymphatic system is a kind of separate department of the immune sys...
Guest blog
Guest blog Lion van den Hoek: Blockages in nerve pathways: common but often ignored
For an animal that relies on movement like a horse, a healthy nervous system is crucial. When something is wrong with a (sport) horse, it often manifests as underperformance or lameness. Many of these symptoms can have their origin in problems with the nervous system. This is not always considered, but it is quite common. We spoke with horsetherapist Lion van den Hoek, who specializes in PEMF, or Pulse Electro-Magnetic Field therapy. This therapy focuses on removing blockages in the nerve pathways and allowing energy to flow freely through the horse's body.. Lion van den Hoek has been working in the international show jumping sector for 13 years, as a groom, sports masseur, and trainer. Since 2016, he has been working with NES Health Equine, which he now does from his company Equine Dreams. Van den Hoek's mission is to work from a place of calm and give horses the opportunity to develop themselves. What does the nervous system do? "The nervous system is a communication network that regulates contact between all parts of the body. Signals are se...