Useful Herbs, Ingredients and Spices!
Horses love herbs and spices, and really relish the flavour sensations they provide. If you want to use herbs as a support to existing veterinary treatment then it is recommended to discuss what would work best for your horse with a qualified veterinary herbalist.
A number of herbs and other ingredients are useful for supporting the horse and the list below is for guidance only and is by no means comprehensive or authoratative - it's just what I have found to be useful. This does not constitute a qualified recommendation, and may not work for all horses.
Remember that dry herbs take longer to work (perhaps 3 weeks) than a liquid extract (perhaps 5 days), but soaking dry herbs for 24 hours before use can increase the effectiveness.
Aniseed: A great treat, always appreciated. Digestive tonic, also helps clear airways and can be useful for chesty horses.
Cider Vinegar: Provides Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulphur, silicon, and trace elements. Use also for supporting joint health and as a spray for keeping feet thrush free. Use externally as an antiseptic and astringent – useful for sweet itch as a wash, and can be used in a mane and tail rinse (1tbsp/2pt). Can also be used as a tubbing solution.
Buckwheat: contains rutin which can stimulate capilaries - suitable for laminitic ponies and arthritic ponies.
Nettle: provides iodine, iron, potassium, sulphur, Vitamins A, C. Nettles stimulate the circulation which makes them useful for conditions such as laminitis, rheumatism and arthritis. Cut them and allow them to wilt. Cleavers: (“sticky willie”, “goose grass”) provides calcium, copper, iodine and silica. Good for relieving windgalls, filled legs, soft swellings and fluid retentions. Mildly diuretic. Horses really love this plant.
Chamomile: A lovely relaxing herb that is soothing to the digestive tract. Horses love chamomile and will appreciate it in their feed. Relaxant for all cases of tension, stress and irritability – but the relaxing effect also extends to the digestive tract and mucous membranes where it has a carminative and antispasmodic effect. A soothing lotion for irritated eyes is made by brewing a handful of the flowers in 2 pints of boiling water – allow to cool, and use on eyes and skin.
Cinnamon: Some horses like it and some horses don't. It is said to help with metabolic issues and calms the digestive tract.
Dandelion: A tonic and diuretic. Dandelions are rich in vitamins A,B,C and D. Dandelion root contains more Vitamin A than carrots!
Fennel Seeds: Can be used as a safe “treat” as an alternative to succulents and sweets. Is known to be soothing for the stomach and supportive of clear breathing. I buy it from my local Indian grocery store and it costs about £1 per Kilo so it's economical too.
Fenugreek: fenugreek is similar in chemical composition to cod liver oil – so feeding fenugreek seeds may get round the aversions to feeding fish to herbivores! Rich in calcium, but also provides Vitamins A, B and C. Helps to put on condition and tempt fussy feeders.
Neem Leaf: Consider this as an alternative fly repellent to garlic or spray on repellants. Neem is one of the adaptogens and can do different things depending on need. We have used Neem leaf on a pony with persisitent sinus infections and it cleared it completely within a few days. I use Neem at a tablespoon a day to deter biting flies - one of my ponies has very sensitive skin and does not tollerate fly sprays - but the neem leaf seems to deter the biting insects.
Garlic: Some sources do not recommend long term garlic supplementation for horses as there has been some research that shows it can cause Heinz body anaemia.
RoseHip: provides Vitamin A, C, K and thiamine and riboflavin. Horses love the sweet tanginess of rosehips. Feed the shells, not the seeds which can cause irritation.
Agnus Castus: Useful for horses that are rigs, false rigs, or temperamental mares. It’s a hormonal normaliser. Agnus Castus, or chaste berry, can be useful for metabolic horses. We use it for short periods with our lads.
Cloves: useful for breathing and congestion, offer from your hand and they will take as much as they need - often only a few cloves.
Seaweed provides: calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, sulphur, zinc, Vitamin A, B, B12, C, D, E. Superb supplement for building feet and improving coats. It is by far the best all round supplement I have found and is readily eaten with relish.
Mint: Horses love it, tempts fussy eaters, it has a relaxing and soothing effect on the digestive tract.