While there are a lot of different supplements on the market for horses, sometimes going back to natural, herbal remedies is best. There are so many herbs that can help boost your horse’s health and wellbeing, we have picked a few of our favourites.
Arnica
This should be an essential in any equestrian’s first aid kit. Arnica is great to help reduce bruising, swelling and can also be used to treat wounds. Mixed with witch hazel, Arnica is perfect for applying after heavy exercise to aid recovery of tired muscles.
Dandelion
Both the root and the leaves of a dandelion are beneficial to horses. The root specifically helps stimulate a horse’s liver function, so it provides a diuretic effect. Dandelion is also great for cleansing the blood, so in horses where there are high levels of inflammation (laminitics, arthritis sufferers), this can really help provide relief. Dandelion is also an appetite stimulant, containing high levels of vitamins A, B, C and D.
Garlic
Most people associate garlic with the summer months as it can help ward off flies due to its insect repellent properties. However, garlic is also incredibly good for maintaining healthy blood flow in horses. The juice from the garlic bulbs can also be used to clean bites, stings and cuts. A very multipurpose herb!
Lavender
Just like with humans, lavender oil can act as a relaxant when used externally on a horse. Lavender oil is often added to horse shampoos for a calming effect, and also helps to stimulate the circulation. If you are leading a particularly stressed horse, try adding some lavender oil to your own wrists and you will notice the difference.
Stinging Nettle
Nettles are rich in Vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium and dietary fibre! You may be thinking, but my field is full of nettles so why is my horse not eating them?! Due to the sting in the nettle, horses won’t eat them while they are growing, so allow them to wilt, then chop them and add to your horse’s feed.
Tea Tree
Again, another must-have on the yard. Tea tree oil is great as an antiseptic mild disinfectant and even a fungicide (if you have a horse that suffers badly from thrush, regular dosing of tea tree oil in their hooves will soon solve the problem). As well as accelerating healing, tea tree oil can strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Aloe Vera
You probably know that aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory, but it also contains Vitamins C, E and B12 along with calcium and potassium too. Aloe vera can be applied to broken skin unlike most natural herbal remedies, and is useful for fly bites, bruising and swelling on the horse.
So next time your horse needs a little extra support internally, why not try adding some herbs to their diet first before going down the expensive medication route? (Of course we would always advise if your horse needs veterinary care then please speak to the experts!)
View our full range of beneficial herbs for horses online today.