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
Senior
Should my horse be retired?
If you have an older horse, there may come a point when your horse is no longer suitable for riding. But when exactly is that? How do you know? And what can you still do then?. The decision of when to retire a horse depends entirely on the individual animal. Many factors determine whether a horse is still suitable for sports, recreation, walks, groundwork, or other activities. In many cases, a horse that can no longer perform in competitive sports may still be fit for lighter work and thrive in that capacity. However, it is also possible that an older horse develops ailments that make it unsuitable for any kind of work, although it may still be able to enjoy a pain-fre...
Joints
Minerals
Feeding
Senior
Nine tips for keeping older horses at weight in winter
For older horses, winter is always a somewhat difficult period. They lose weight quickly and are sometimes a bit stiff. As an owner, you do not want your horse to become too thin. That is why it is wise to start taking measures in time. After all, it is much harder to fatten up an older horse once it has lost weight. We give you nine top tips to keep your older horse at weight this winter.. At what age a horse is considered a “golden oldie” depends on the individual animal. Generally, you can assume that from around 15 years of age, you should start paying more attention. However, some horses only show their first signs of aging after the age of 20, and for ponies, it often takes even longer before they can be considered elderly. Why Older Horses Lose Weight There are several reasons why older horses are often harder to keep at a healthy weight: Food absorption becomes less efficie...
Joints
Minerals
Silicon
Healthy joints in growing horses
When you have young horses, you want them to grow up healthy. So that as an adult horse they are strong enough to do fun things with you and have a long and healthy life. Healthy joints are essential for this, but not always obvious. How do you make sure your young horse develops healthy joints?. Whether your young horse is being raised in a rearing facility or at home, the most important things it needs for healthy joints are good roughage and plenty of free movement. A lot of free movement. In addition, minerals also play a crucial role. Preventing OC(D) Two major causes of joint problems in horses are OC (Osteochondrosis) and OCD (Osteochondrosis Dissecans). OC involves flattening or malformation of parts of the joints, while OCD also includes loose fragments of bone (chips) in a join...
Joints
Silicon
Neck Osteoarthritis in Horses: Genetic or Not?
The long neck of horses plays an important role in movement and balance. Abnormalities and pain in the neck can therefore have significant consequences for the function of a (sport) horse. The movement from back to front over the topline is essentially interrupted when there is a problem in the neck.. Often, the neck is the first thing people look at in a dressage horse. For jumping horses, the neck is an essential instrument for basculing over the jump. But the neck is not an isolated area. When there is a blockage in the neck, a horse cannot move fluidly as a whole. Osteoarthritis in Horses Osteoarthritis is a condition affecting cartilage in the joints. Cartilage wears down over time, but this process can accelerate with crooked or incorrect movement patterns or due to overloading. Injurie...
Joints
Clove
Silicon
.png)
Why do horses with osteoarthritis have a harder time in winter?
In winter, some horses get off to a harder start, needing more time to warm up for training and sometimes walking stiffly in the paddock or when coming out of the stable. What causes this? And what can you do to support your stiff horse in winter?. Stiffness and ‘difficulty getting started’ are often caused by osteoarthritis, especially in older horses. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in your horse’s joints is damaged. This can be due to ‘normal’ wear and tear but may also result from abnormal movement patterns as the horse compensates for pain elsewhere, or from excessive or one-sided training. Injuries or falls can also cause cartilage wear. Cartilage is slow to heal, and when the cartilage pads become too thin, the cushioning function...
Joints
Clove
Silicon
.png)
What is the SI joint and why do you often hear about SI problems in horses?
You regularly hear that horses have a problem with their SI joint. This joint lies deep inside the body and thus cannot be seen. The associated symptoms are regularly somewhat vague and sometimes difficult to treat. So what exactly is the SI joint? And why do we often see complaints in this region?. The SI joint is the connection between the sacrum (Sacrum) and the ilium (part of the hip). Technically, it isn’t a real joint in the usual sense of the word, as there is no cartilage or joint fluid present. This means: no cushioning and no lubricant. Transmitting Forces S and I, sacrum and ilium, are connected by a ligament. The SI joint connects your horse’s back to its pelvis. The SI transfers forces from the engine, the hind legs, to the torso and the rest of the horse's body. The SI is thus...
Joints
Silicon
Did you know that silicon stimulates glucosamine production in horses?
Horses with joint issues such as early-stage arthritis or insufficient joint fluid often receive supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. These are substances that the body uses to build things like cartilage and joint fluid. But did you know that the body also produces these substances on its own? And that this is much more effective than glucosamine or chondroitin absorbed through diet? We explain how it works and how you can stimulate the body's own production of glucosamine for a smoother horse.. Many horse owners give glucosamine as a supplement for joint issues or to make their horses more supple and help them get 'up and running' faster. However, scientific research shows that supplementing with glucosamine has minimal effects. The glucosamine from the supplement must travel through the intestines to reach its destination in the joints, and this absorption process is poor. The mineral silicon, given in a well-absorbed hydrolyzed form, is a much more effective supplement. Silicon stimu...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
Horse with joint problems? What is the best thing to use in that case?
Joint problems in horses are very common. It can range from a minor deviation to severe lameness. After visiting a veterinarian, horse owners often look for something to support the horse's joints. But what should you choose? Given that there are so many options on the market? How do you make the right choice?. Is there pain or discomfort? A horse that is lame (or not completely sound) does not necessarily experience unbearable pain. An abnormal gait can also result from incorrect posture or stance. Of course, pain or discomfort can still be present. Your veterinarian can often rule this out and provide a diagnosis. Based on this information, you can look for a supportive supplement that offers mild pain relief. For arthritis and age-related issues, clove extract works very well. Clove is both pain-rel...
Joints
Magnesium
Silicon
Supporting Joints: continuous supplementation or as a short course?
When your horse comes out of a heavy competition season or has just been broken in, you may want to provide some extra support for his joints. Even if your horse is a bit older and sometimes stiffer, it can be a good idea. When do you use which supplement and do you continue to give it or opt for a short course? We will explain it to you!. To combat stiffness and joint pain in a horse, there are various supplements available. It depends on the horse and the situation what you can give and how to best use these supplements. Magnesium: important ingredient A sport horse needs magnesium. This mineral is essential for the nervous system, bones, and muscles. A horse that performs a lot of work and experiences above-average stress needs extra magnesium. Because Dutch roughage contains relatively little magnesium, it is good for most hor...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Which herbs are suitable for the joints of horses?
Is your horse a bit stiff when starting out, or is he stiff after training? The cause for this may lie in the joints. For example, when your horse is a bit older and has developed some arthritis. Or because you have trained heavily and uric acid crystals have accumulated in the joints. Herbs can help to make your horse more supple and relieve joint pain.. As a horse ages, changes in the cartilage can occur. This falls under the umbrella of arthritis. Also, wear and tear of the joints, a lower production of joint fluid (lubricant), or local inflammation in the joints can cause pain and reduced mobility. Herbs for arthritis and joint inflammation There are several herbs that can be used for conditions such as arthritis and arthritis. A well-known one is devil's claw, for example. This herb should not be used in pregnant horses and horses in competi...
Cannabinoids
Joints
Clove
Silicon
How do I help my horse with joint problems?
There are many horses with joint problems. This can be due to wear and tear, injuries, their build, or less than optimal conditions when they were young. Whatever the cause, as a horse owner, you have to deal with it! And so does your horse. What can you do for your horse with joint problems, such as arthritis, OCD, and kissing spines?. Joint problems come in different shapes and sizes. An older horse that is a bit slow to get going may have a mild form of arthritis in some areas of its legs. There's nothing unusual about that, as we humans often face this as we age. But a young horse with joint problems is less common. In that case, you might think of OC, overloading, or an injury. Arthritis in horses Arthritis is a condition that affects the cartilage in the joints and is also referred to as joint wear and tear. Arthritis can...
Joints
Magnesium
Vitamin E
Why is my horse stiff?
A healthy horse, without problems in the joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments, moves rhythmically, regularly, smoothly, and with body usage. If you let such a horse move freely or lunge it, you will see ample steps of equal size, a pulsating rhythm in the movement, and swaying muscles throughout the body, including the topline. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality and horses are sometimes stiff, short in movement, irregular, or lock up their back. The question then is: why?. There are many possible causes of stiffness in horses. Older horses often take a little longer to get going, and a heavy training session and the accompanying muscle soreness from the day before can result in it taking a while before your horse warms up. This type of stiffness is relatively easy to remedy by warming up properly, providing some extra supplements, or adjusting your training schedule a bit. It becomes more troublesome if the cause of the stiffness is not so easily determined. Evalu...