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.
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Is 24/7 outdoor suitable for all horses?
Paddock Paradises, Active stable systems, Browsing Paddocks, Tracks and other methods are all the rage nowadays. And logically so, because more and more horse owners realize that spending a lot of time outdoors is beneficial for the health and mental well-being of horses. However, there are often sounds of "my horse doesn't want to be outside" or "my horse enjoys being in the stable". Is 24/7 outdoor living suitable for all horses? In this blog, we will give our perspective on this.. Yes, 24/7 outdoor living is suitable for all horses, as long as... Horses are still very close to nature and in their genes, little to nothing has changed compared to the primal horse. We have bred horses to be suitable for sport or for a special color. However, little to nothing has changed in terms of the needs of the horse. A horse still needs to spend the vast majority of the day eating and searching for food. For this, the horse needs to cover many kilometers per day and take step by step....
Organs
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Oh dear, my horse has something wrong with his eye!
Horses have beautiful, large, and expressive eyes. With those eyes, they can almost see all around them. They can perceive any enemy or gnome, often long before their human has seen anything. But those beautiful horse eyes are also vulnerable. Here is an overview of the most common eye problems in horses.. Because horses have large protruding eyes, it is relatively easy for something to get in them. Sand, bacteria, branches, another horse's tail... In general, eye problems in your horse should not be ignored or 'waited out'. Always consult your veterinarian. Sometimes it is harmless and easy to treat, but often you need to intervene in time to prevent worse. So do not try to doctor it yourself or endlessly use boiled water! Eye inflammation: conjunctivitis A common problem is inflammation of the e...
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Silicon
Feeding
Can I prepare containers with liquid supplements for my horse?
Many horse owners whose horses are at a boarding stable do not always have the opportunity to be with their horse daily. Additionally, feeding is often centrally organized at fixed times in many stables. This can make administering supplements a challenge. Can you prepare containers in advance with supplements included? And if so, how far in advance can you do this without losing effectiveness? Keep reading, we'll explain it to you!. Preferably not set up in advance Liquid supplements are ideal to use because they are so easy to dose over the feed. For example, horses don't blow them out of the bucket, so you have minimal waste. However, liquid supplements can dry out, which can potentially decrease their effectiveness. It is therefore always preferred to add supplements to the feed at the last moment. We understand that it is not possible for all horse owners to arrange this daily. Boarding stable owners also do not want to...
Joints
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Feeding
From what age can a young horse start working?
There are few topics that spark as much debate among horse lovers as starting with young horses. From what age can a horse start working? How do you actually define work? And how can you ensure a healthy start to the 'working life' of your young horse in general?. As an owner and trainer of a young horse, your most important task is to ensure that the animal is physically and mentally prepared for its life as a riding horse. You want to give the horse a solid foundation and ensure that it develops trust in humans. The horse should be physically capable of functioning as a riding horse in the future, and it should continue to enjoy the work and be mentally capable of handling it. That's quite a laundry list and a responsible task, indeed. When do horses' g...
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Feeding
# Why you should never train a horse on an empty stomach
Horses have a unique digestive system, which cannot be compared to that of humans. Horses continuously produce stomach acid because they naturally eat for about sixteen hours a day. If a horse hasn't eaten anything for a few hours, the stomach can contain a lot of stomach acid. When you then start training, you risk the development of painful stomach ulcers.. Stomach ulcers are still common in horses. They are usually caused by horses being without forage for too long, being stressed, or having to train on an empty stomach. Or by a combination of these three causes. Saliva neutralizes horse stomach acid Horses continuously produce stomach acid because they are made to eat almost constantly small amounts of forage. A horse produces a lot of saliva when chewing. Especially when eating fibrous forage, such as well-unpacked hay. All that saliva then neut...
Skin
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Why you better not use detangler and shine spray on horses without a blanket
Are you a fan of detangler products and shine sprays? They are ideal for keeping your horse's tail and mane tangle-free and easily combable. But did you know that you should be careful when using them on horses that live without a blanket? Read more about this in this blog.. Skin oil important for horses Do your hands also have a white/grey layer after you've cuddled your horse? That is the skin oil that is on and between the fur. Especially in periods when the temperature drops or during shedding, there is extra skin oil. Many owners then recognize the dust on the horse that brushes off when grooming. Sometimes it is thought that the horse has dandruff, but it is actually very important skin oil. In certain periods, horses can even have a dull appearance due to all...
Nettle
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Horse 24/7 outside and still stiff legs?
Last year we already talked about stiff legs. Naturally, the most mentioned response was that the solution is to not stable a horse, but to put it outside 24/7 with a shelter. And for most horses with stiff legs, this is indeed the best solution. But from some responses it appeared that this is not always the solution. Horses that do not come inside can still develop stiff legs. What can you do to ensure that a horse with 24/7 free movement no longer gets stiff legs? Read the tips further in this blog!. What are stiff legs? Due to reduced blood circulation, fluid accumulates in the legs. This causes the legs to swell and the horses to become stiff. This often occurs due to prolonged standing in a small environment, such as in a stable. Movement helps to get the blood circulation going again and the fluid to drain. This is why you see that as soon as horses come out of the stable, the stiff legs quickly disappear through movement. Stiff legs usually occur only in the hind legs, but they can also...
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When does a horse really get cold?
Every winter there is a discussion among horse owners. Some horse owners blanket their horse, while others believe that the horse can do without a blanket. But is it so black and white? Do horses without a blanket really not get cold? And when does a horse actually get cold? Read more in this blog.. Horse comfort temperature Horses have a comfort temperature ranging between -5 and 10 degrees. This is the temperature at which horses feel most comfortable. And that is much lower than for humans, as the temperature for humans is around 20 degrees. Horses can usually handle the cold better than the heat. But it is important to remember to see the horse as an individual. Just like with humans, one person may walk around in a t-shirt at 15 degrees while another may need a thick jacket. The comfor...
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Feeding
8 DIY tips for a livery horse
Is your horse kept on a pension where the horses are stabled at night? Horses do not sleep through the night like humans do. They stand a lot and like to eat small amounts throughout the night with the occasional nap. Many horses spend a long time standing in their stall. That's why we have put together eight tips to make stall time more enjoyable for your horse. Which tips will you apply? Keep reading!. Tip 1: Prune! Many bushes and trees are very healthy and tasty for horses. Go out and prune the trees and bushes in your garden or at friends/family. Weave these branches through the bars of your horse's stall or hang them in the box in a different way. Your horse can then enjoy eating the leaves and gnawing on the branches. A healthy, time-consuming treat for your horse. Healthy bushes and trees include: Willow Black/White Alder Birch Beech Rosehip Blackberries Raspberry Tip 2: Hide food A few...
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Feeding
Do you have a `sour` horse?
We are not talking about a sour mare in terms of behavior, but literally a horse with a high acidity level in the body. Did you know that an acidic horse will eventually experience physical complaints? And that you can prevent acidification of the body by ensuring the base is good? Read in this blog what we mean by a sour horse, how to recognize it, and also how to prevent it.. Everything depends on the right pH value Acidity is expressed in pH. A high acidity level, so sour, is a low pH. A low acidity level, so basic, is a high pH. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The lower the number, the more acidic it is, where 7 is neutral. Every cell and organ in the body has a specific pH value at which the cell functions optimally. For example, the stomach has a lower pH value to kill pathogens, while other organs may require a higher pH. However, the pH of the blood is crucia...
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Feeding
How about vitamin D in horses?
Not much is heard about vitamin D in horses. Usually it is assumed that horses can produce this vitamin themselves under the influence of sunlight. But what about horses that always wear a blanket? Or horses that spend a lot of time in the stable? What not everyone knows is that many horses have an extra need for vitamin D. For example, due to heavy training, old age, or summer eczema. We will give you an overview of everything about vitamin D in horses.. Vitamin D is important for: Bone formation and bone strength (a deficiency can lead to bone loss and rickets) Liver function and liver health Insulin sensitivity and preventing metabolic syndrome (EMS) A strong immune system Energy in muscles (a deficiency can lead to muscle weakness) Problems in the body - of people and horses - often result in an increased use of vitamin D. In those cases, a horse also needs more vitamin D. Your horse has a higher need for vitamin D when: Allergies and immune...
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# Why do mushrooms grow on the manure heap of horses?
Have you ever spotted mushrooms on the manure heap of your horses? This is not a problem at all and very normal. It means that your manure heap is full of nutrients for growth. Horse manure is not for nothing a popular fertilizer used by mushroom growers. Did you know that there are mushroom species that only grow in manure? These species mainly or exclusively grow on manure and do not occur in other places. But how is this possible and why do mushrooms like to grow on the manure heap? Read more about that in this blog.. Mushrooms are fungi A mushroom is a fruiting body of a fungus. And did you know that they contribute to the decomposition of organic residues? With their fungal threads they clean up organic material. For every type of waste, there is a mushroom. They are very picky, so there are mushrooms that only grow on a specific tree species but also mushrooms that grow on the manure heap. But why mushrooms on the manure pile? In the forest, you often come across mushrooms on moist, warm ground. On the dec...