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.
Skin
Sweet itch
Is itching in spring or summer always caused by sweet itch?
Spring has begun. Time for longer evenings and higher temperatures. Unfortunately, this also means that the midges that cause summer eczema become active again. However, if your horse is itching, rubbing its tail, or scratching its mane, it doesn't always mean that it has summer eczema. Itching in spring or summer can have various causes.. When you see a horse scratching, stamping, or rubbing, two things are often considered: mites or sweet itch. Mites are mainly a problem in the winter months (although they can persist) and are mainly found on the legs. But when itching occurs on the mane and tail, especially in spring and summer, most people often think primarily of sweet itch, especially in horses of more robust breeds. Causes of Itching in Horses Let's list the possible causes of itching in horses - especially on the tail and...
Weight
Skin
Mites
Sweet itch
Oh no, my horse is rubbing!
As the weather gets warmer, the horses are out in the grass and the insects are emerging from their eggs, the headache for many horse owners resurfaces. Especially Friesians and draft horses are affected: rubbing and damaging the mane and tail. What can you do to prevent this? Itching is of course very annoying. And it is not fun to watch as your horse feels so uncomfortable that he constantly wants to scratch at fences, stall doors, water buckets, or even at you as the owner. Especially when th...
Nettle
Skin
Sweet itch
How do I support my horse with sweet itch?
When your horse has sweet itch, it is important to constantly monitor the itching in the summer months to prevent it from getting out of hand. A total approach works best in this situation, which means combining multiple measures. You may have already put a rug on your horse and applied soothing cream to the affected areas. What else can you do to support your itchy horse and prevent it from rubbing its mane and tail raw?. First of all, it is important to make sure that your horse indeed has sweet itch, as horses can experience itching in the summer months due to other causes as well. For example, excessive sugars in their diet or allergies can also cause itching. Overweight horses are more prone to itchiness, and some horses may itch if their pasture has been spread with fertilizers. Total approach important Sweet itch is a challenging issue. The best way to combat it is by implementing a range of measures. This...
Nettle
Cannabinoids
Skin
Clove
Sweet itch
Itchiness? These herbs help support your horse!
The summer is the season of itchiness in horses. Insects, heat, grass, fertilizer, and many other reasons can cause horses to itch. Itchiness is not only extremely annoying for the horse, but also for us as horse owners. How can you support your horse so that it has less itchiness?. There is no miracle cure Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure that can eliminate all itchiness in all horses, if only it were that easy! Each horse is different and each horse reacts differently to herbs. What works perfectly for your horse may not work at all for your neighbor's horse. The effectiveness of the herbs also greatly depends on your horse's diet. Therefore, do not expect miracles from the herbs below, but see them as an additional support. Don't forget to examine the diet! You ca...
Cannabinoids
Skin
Insulin resistance
Clove
Sweet itch
Summer Itching: Why does my horse have itch?
The sun is shining, the grass is green, and the evenings are long. A delightful time. But spring and summer are also the time when some horses get a lot of itching. Often this is immediately thought of as sweet itch: an allergic reaction to the bite of small midges. But there can also be other causes for itching. Why does your horse have itching? And what can you do about it?. During the transition from winter to spring and summer, many horses spend more time outside. Typically, the diet also changes from hay to (partially) fresh grass. With the higher temperatures, insects also become active again: flies, mosquitoes, midges, horseflies, and ticks can be troublesome for your horse. Not all itching is sweet itch! It is important to find out why your horse is scratching in the summer months. The reason is not always sweet itch. A horse can also get itchy as a reaction t...
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...
Insulin resistance
Sweet itch
Did you know that a horse with summer eczema receives less vitamin D?
Full summer, nice sunshine. For most horses, lovely weather, but for horses with summer eczema, unfortunately, this is the moment when they have to be fully covered to avoid itching. But did you know that the blanket influences the amount of vitamin D the horse receives? Read more about this in this blog.. Two forms of vitamin D Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that occurs in 2 forms. There is a plant-based form (D2 - ergocalciferol) and an animal-based form (D3 - cholecalciferol). The plant-based form D2 is obtained by the horse from roughage (grass, hay, and straw). The animal-based form D3 can be produced by the horse itself, but for that, the horse needs UV radiation (sunlight) on its skin. Horses need both forms to meet their vitamin D requirements. Functions of vitamin D in horses Vitamin...
Insulin resistance
Vitamin E
Feeding
Sweet itch
Horse not on the grass? Provide extra vitamin E.
Under natural circumstances, horses obtain their required vitamin E from fresh grass. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is crucial for muscles, prevents stiffness, and supports a healthy nervous system. Sport horses have a higher need for vitamin E, but this also applies to horses sensitive to sugar and horses with PSSM. If your horse doesn't have access to fresh grass, you need to ensure a good supplementation!. Horses that are sensitive to sugars, such as horses that gain weight quickly, have had laminitis, or horses that suffer from sweet itch], cannot graze unlimited. Therefore, these horses are often kept in a paddock and given hay as roughage along with a mineral and vitamin pellet. This is wise and healthy for these horses. But you need to pay close attention. Vitamin E in case of insulin resistance There is a lot of vitamin E in fresh grass, so you don't have to worry about vitamin E for horses t...
Electrolytes
Insulin resistance
Minerals
Sweet itch
Which electrolytes are ideal for sugar-sensitive horses?
Warm weather and more sweating, a typical summer for both humans and horses. Horses that are sensitive to sugars also sweat and lose electrolytes in that way. It is therefore important to provide horses with insulin resistance with extra sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride. These minerals, known as electrolytes, are often only available with the addition of a form of sugar. In this blog, you can read how to provide electrolytes to sugar-sensitive horses without sugar.. What are electrolytes and what do they do? Electrolytes are necessary for the functioning of the nervous system, for smooth muscles, and for recovery after exercise. They prevent the "cramping" feeling and acidosis after training. Electrolytes are a number of minerals: Sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Each of these minerals has its own function in the body. But in hot weather, a horse can lose about 10-15 liters of sweat and therefore a large amount of electrolytes....
Weight
Hormones
Insulin resistance
Feeding
Sweet itch
My horse is already getting fat from a single blade of grass! How is that possible?
Many horses quickly become overweight when put in the pasture. It seems like they gain weight from just a single blade of grass. These horses are often referred to as 'easy keepers' because they don't require much feed. However, managing these types of horses is often not easy for owners. How is it possible that your horse gains weight so quickly? And what can you do about it?. The answer is not so much in the grass itself, but in your horse. Many horses consume too many sugars, for example in the form of concentrate or rich hay. Due to the dry summers of the past year, the hay is much higher in sugars than usual. Concentrate feed often contains a lot of sugar and starch, which are easily absorbed and lead to a higher blood sugar level. Not designed for fast sugars In the wild, horses eat a lot more cellulose from coarse plant stems. This cellulose is converted by the...
Algae
Insulin resistance
Salmon oil
Sweet itch
Insulin resistant horse: choose for directly absorbable EPA and DHA omega-3
Omega 3 fatty acids are always lumped together under the characteristic "anti-inflammatory". But there are different types of omega 3 fatty acids: ALA, EPA, and DHA. EPA and DHA are the most important for the body. However, these are not found in plant oils such as flaxseed and olive oil. The horse's body still has to convert ALA to EPA and DHA on its own. And in horses with Insulin Resistance (but also summer eczema and overweight), ALA can actually be pro-inflammatory if the body cannot convert them properly. That's why in many cases, it is better to choose directly absorbable EPA and DHA. Read in this blog how that works.. Omega 3 fatty acids in horses There are three types of omega 3 fatty acids: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Horses get ALA through fresh grass, but it cannot be utilized directly in the horse's body. ALA needs to be converted to EPA and DHA, which is a very inefficient process, but for healthy horses, no problem at all. ALA is also found in plant oils (e.g. flaxseed oil and olive oil). The horse produces EPA and DHA through the conversion of ALA. But it can also be provided through fish oil, salmon oil, or a...
Skin
Sweet itch
Note: this is why summer eczema often has a resurgence in September!
The end of the summer eczema season is finally in sight. The temperatures are starting to drop and the days are getting shorter. Many horse owners think they can stop treating summer eczema. However, they are often in for a surprise. Because horses often experience a resurgence of itching in September and October. Keep reading for the cause and tips to alleviate a resurgence.. Mosquitoes in moist grass Mosquitoes lay eggs in water or in moist soil. In September and October, the nights are much more humid, which is ideal for mosquitoes to lay eggs. When the temperature rises, these eggs hatch en masse. That is also the reason why you can still see swarms of mosquitoes in September and October. If summer eczema horses no longer have a blanket on and no other precautions have been taken, you will see the itching resurface. Change in diet Did you know that far fewer horse...