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.
Algae
Feeding
What is the difference between spirulina and DHA algae for horses?
There are several types of algae supplements available for horses nowadays. Spirulina and DHA algae are well-known examples. What is the difference between these two types of algae? And can they be easily swapped for each other?. Algae are very healthy for horses. They contain proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Make sure to select an algae product specifically made for horses, as there are algae species that are toxic to horses! Spirulina as a protein source for horses Spirulina is a blue-green saltwater algae, known as a cyanobacterium. This is a very ancient life form. Spirulina is naturally very rich in proteins, and also contains vitamin B12, essential amino acids, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spiruli...
Digestion
Feeding
Psyllium cure for sand colic: often dosed much too low in horses!
Psyllium, or flea seed, is a good way to remove sand from the intestines of your horse. If your horse regularly ingests some sand, in the paddock or on a short pasture, it is good to give a course of flea seed every month or six weeks. But beware: the dose stated on the packaging of many psyllium products is too low. A sand cure works best when short, but powerful. Read on to find out what the correct dosage is.. A horse ingests sand while grazing, by eating hay from a bare ground, or by intentionally licking sand in the paddock. Dust in hay can also cause the absorption of sand or clay. A little sand in your horse's intestines is normal, and small amounts are simply excreted by your horse. What you want to prevent is the sand accumulating. This sometimes happens if a lot goes in and little comes out. This can lead to sand colic, a painful and sometimes even deadly form of colic. The most risky period fo...
Digestion
Stress
Feeding
Horse with gastric ulcer? Use psyllium seeds for relief.
Unfortunately, many horses suffer from gastric issues to some extent. Gastric ulcers are common and can quickly develop. Any form of stress (due to incorrect nutrition, housing, or work) can quickly lead to irritation and result in gastric ulcers. While there are many supplements available for sensitive stomachs/gastric ulcers, did you know that the "simple" psyllium seeds can also provide relief? Of course, this is not a miracle cure. But it certainly helps in addressing gastric issues. Read more about this in this blog.. Always limit stress with your horse Giving supplements against gastric ulcers for an extended period is not recommended. There may still be details in the overall approach that work against this, such as grains in the diet. Always ensure that the basic conditions for your horse are good. Every horse is different and has individual needs. Limiting stress is a big part of this, and it varies for each horse. Some horses get stressed if they have to stay outside 24/7, while others get stressed if th...
Feeding
Why is sunflower oil not suitable for horses?
For sober horses that lack energy for their work, giving oil can be a convenient solution. The horses get more energy from it without getting fat or suffering from sugar cravings or insulin resistance. Many people choose sunflower oil because it is easy to obtain and cheap. But unfortunately, sunflower oil is not suitable for your horse! In this article, you will learn why.. Many horse owners like to give their horse some oil. The horse's coat will shine, and oil is a good energy source for horses that easily become overweight from sugars and grains. Or for horses that suffer from metabolic diseases like insulin resistance. Flaxseed oil and sunflower oil are therefore often on the horse menu and are even often recommended by veterinarians. This while sunflower oil is actually not recommended at all. Fatty acids: important nutrients for your horse It is important for...
Feeding
Salmon oil
Which oils are suitable for horses?
Our customer service regularly receives questions about which oil is best to give to their horse. There are many different types of oils such as linseed oil, olive oil, salmon oil, and sunflower oil. But do you know which oil is best to choose in which situation for your horse? Unfortunately, we still often hear that sunflower oil is recommended for horses, but this form is very unsuitable as you could read in our previous blog. But which oils are healthy for a horse? Read more about this in this blog. Oil for horses only healthy in small amounts In nature, horses do not consume large amounts of oil. There is a small amount of oil in plant material, but it is very minimal. A horse is not built to process large amounts of oil. Bile is needed to digest fat. But a horse does not have a gall bladder, so bile is not readily available in large quantities for the digestion process. In horses, bile comes directly from the liver, but in small amounts. That's why large amounts of oil cannot be well dige...
Nettle
Feeding
Which vegetables, fruits, and plants can I give my horse as a treat?
Variety is healthy and tasty! This applies not only to us humans but also to our horses. Especially horses that spend more time in the stable during winter will appreciate a healthy treat now and then. It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive, often you can just feed them some vegetable scraps from your own kitchen. Or pick from the local roadside.. Variety is not the only reason to give your horse some vegetables occasionally. Vegetables - and the leafy parts of them - often contain lots of fiber. Super healthy for your horse! Therefore, give the vegetables with stems and leaves, because horses eat that in the winter too. But be careful: not all types of vegetables and fruits are suitable, and some types are better given in small quantities. Healthy vegetables for your horse What vegetables can your horse eat? Of course winter carrots, but...
Others
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...
Weight
Feeding
My horse is losing weight in the winter - where does that come from?
Summer is over, horses are growing their winter coats again, and the first rain blankets are being put on. Many horses spend more time in the stable during the autumn and winter months, especially horses that are kept outside a lot, will lose some weight in the coming months. How does a horse stay warm in the winter? Do you need to feed them extra to prevent this weight loss? Or is that weight loss not actually a bad thing?. Horses do not hibernate like squirrels or hedgehogs, but they do have a metabolism that is adapted to the seasons. Research shows that the body temperature and heart rate of horses drop in the winter, especially when there is less food available. When it's cold, horses that are kept outdoors also move less to conserve energy. Summer metabolism and winter metabolism All our horses still have a seasonal clock, inherited from the time when they lived in the wild. In the summer, the 'summer metaboli...
Detox
Feeding
Why you don't need to feed your horse extra in the winter
Most horses have been able to graze on the pasture this past summer. A period where they had access to plenty of food. In nature, every period of abundance is followed by a period of scarcity. This is a very natural process and allows horses, for example, to release fat tissue with accumulated waste products. This principle applies to our horses in the Netherlands as well. Our horses also naturally require a difference in diet between summer and winter. As owners, we are tempted to feed extra during the winter. But did you know that the body then cannot switch to its 'winter mode'? Read in this blog how this works exactly!. Summer and winter metabolism of horses Horses have a winter mode and a summer mode, also known as summer and winter metabolism. From their genes, horses know that summer means plenty of food and nutrients. The summer is the period to build up fat reserves, which can then be used up in the winter. This metabolism process is controlled by hormones that are also involved in the growth of winter/summer coats. But even in the winter, the horse's system works differently. There is scarcity, periods wh...
Vitamin E
Feeding
Pasture
# 'You can't go against the pasture': These nutrients are found in grass, but not in hay
If your horse has plenty of grazing in the summer and is stabled in the winter, you may be familiar with this old wisdom: "You can't go against the pasture." A horse is almost never as shiny, vital, and energetic as when he is in the pasture. Why is that? What nutrients are present in grass but not in hay? And how can you - even in the winter - get as close as possible to the fantastic effects of grass with your feeding policy?. Hay is nothing more than dried grass, but unfortunately, during the drying process, some things are lost. Especially vitamins and fatty acids. If your horse is on pasture for less than four hours a day, or wears a grazing mask, it is necessary to supplement with some nutrients. For example, with a supplement or a balancer. Hay alone is really not enough, not even for hardy breeds! Vitamin A for the eyes, growth and fertility Vitamin A and vitamin E are the most important vitamins to consider whe...
Insulin resistance
Vitamin E
Feeding
Sweet itch
5 nutrition tips for horses without access to pasture (fresh grass)
Not all horses are able to be on pasture every day throughout the year. Sometimes because of the horse's health, sometimes because of limitations in stabling, space, or type of ground. Especially in the winter period, many horses are kept in a paddock because the grass is gone or the fields are too wet. But what should you take into account in the nutrition of horses that are not on grass? Not all the nutrients found in fresh grass are also present in hay. That's why we have put together five tips for you. Keep reading!. Horses primarily get Vitamin E from fresh greens Vitamin E is essential in a horse's diet, you could say it is one of the most important vitamins. Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant and essential for muscles and the nervous system. Vitamin E helps repair damage to muscles and remove waste products from the muscles. This helps keep muscles supple and promotes faster recovery after training. A deficiency in vitamin E can make horses stiff, increase the risk of tying-up and lead to muscle lo...
Guest blog
Organs
Digestion
Feeding
Natascha Bos: 'Disturbed pH value in horses often not recognized'
The pH value, we have all heard of it before. Something to do with chemistry and that little piece of paper that changes color, right? What many people do not know is that the pH value, or acidity, plays a very important role in the health of our horses. An imbalance in pH can lead to various symptoms. Natascha Bos from Blauwe Hengst discusses the influence of acids and bases in the horse's body, how to recognize acidification, and how to prevent it. What is the pH value and how does it work in horse nutrition? The pH is the degree of acidity, or acidity levels. You may have had to measure this in a liquid using litmus paper in high school. The pH can vary from 0 to 14. A pH of about 7 is considered neutral. In nutrition – for humans and for horses – we talk about acidic and alkaline foods. Natascha explains: "Humans naturally consume acidic and alkaline foods. For example, animal products and grains are acidifying, while leafy greens a...