Herbs for Horses (Threshold Picture Guide)

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All of the herbs listed below olive oil we used topically. The following herbs will be listed with how to use them. Milk thistle seeds and leaves – Said to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties. It has also been suggested that it is good for the liver, and those with laminitis and EMS 12 Not all experiences were positive, at least as far as the horse was concerned. An example of what one should *not* give a horse would be flash strips. Most people have forgotten these breath fresheners, but our horse won’t be one of them. Someone gave her a Listerine flash strip. If horses could spit, she’d have spit it out. Spearmint – For both the respiratory and digestive systems. It also disguises the taste of less palatable additions to your horses feed 18 Yarrow – In small amounts yarrow can be beneficial. However, too much can be toxic so care should be taken to ensure that your horse does not consume too much 20

The amount of strawberries that a horse can consume depends on several factors, including size and overall health. A vet should help decide if and how many strawberries horses with insulin resistance or other health issues may have. This article is meant for your information only. The USFDA has not approved any herbs for medicinal purposes. They get very snippy with herbalists who don’t add this disclaimer. Peppermint ( Mentha piperata) and Spearmint ( Mentha spicata) help relax the muscles of the digestive tract. You can grow mint very easily and offer your horse fresh leaves. Lemon balm: Folk medicine holds that this herb is a good antihistamine, although research doesn’t yet agree. However, it is also good for some types of skin infections. The scent is soothing, much like lavender, and it made a good herb to include in the oil infusion. This eventually leads to chronic, systemic inflammation, which means the body's army of immune cells and its natural, and very sophisticated detox system - the liver/kidneys/lymph nodes - will struggle to do its job. And so begins dis-ease , meaning that the body is 'ill at ease', making getting better that much harder.Marshmallow leaf – An all round useful herb. Not only is it beneficial for those with respiratory concerns, it is also known to improve urinary health, and digestive systems 11 There are herbs that will help the digestive system, the lymph system, and the respiratory system. Other herbs can help with joints and general health. What herbs can horses eat Marshmallow: This isn’t referring to the items used to make s’mores; the original marshmallow was sap from the plant of the same name. This plant is very sweet… as are all members of the mallow family. I once watched a squirrel strip branch after branch of my mallow tree for the sweet flavor. Sage – Another herb to avoid with pregnant mares. Sage should be used sparingly. However, it is well known for the treatment of coughs and respiratory problems 17

Allowing horses to self-select is always best. I. too, go the “dried herbs in feed by intuition” route, because I know my horses pretty well. However, allowing them to self-select single, unblended, herbs is still the best way, I believe, and within reason, allowing them to determine the amount they want to consume, and for how many days, is also helpful, particularly if you are offering herbs in an effort to sort out an illness/imbalance. A horse may eat a surprisingly large (or small) amount of something for only one or two days, and then they are done, whereas we humans tend to go for the “little and often” approach. Dandelions are a good source of potassium, calcium, iron and beta-carotene. Efficient at relieving oedema, the herb can also aid kidney and liver complaints, including jaundice, and it can stimulate appetite and boost digestion. Digest Plus by Hilton contains Fenugreek, Slippery Elm, Marshmellow, and billions of equine gut bacteria. This product is considered a probiotic. Old Timer by Wendals Herbs , another source of natural herbs for horses, contains Dandelion, Fenugreek Seed, Garlic, Marshmellow, Mint, Nettles, Oregano, Seaweed, and Thyme. This product is especially good for the older horse.

Tea Tree

Works as a relaxant – rub some oil in your hands when handling a nervous horse – an antispasmodic and antidepressant. Dr. Carol Michael PhD in the UK recommends making these plants (which contain antimicrobials, saponins, antioxidants, Vitamin E, C, anti-obesity compounds etc.) available to your horse – either in their fields, or gather them and put a selection in their stalls. All these plants grow in rainy climates like the UK and the Pacific Northwest: Stimulates the circulation, which in turn improves horn growth. (NB essential oils are powerful and should never be used neat on the horse’s skin, particularly around the nostrils.)

Comfrey’s healing qualities also extend to repairing damage to lungs and the respiratory system when a horse ‘bleeds’ or ‘bursts’. Rosemary: There are a lot of benefits to rosemary for humans, and at least two of them can apply to horses as well. One is that of an antimicrobial. This helps to prevent wounds such as fly bites from becoming infected as well as helping to deal with an infection. You can apply arnica to treat wounds, bruises and muscle pain. It is only for external use and acts as an anti-inflammatory and stimulant. Arnica mixed with water or witch hazel is also a good wash down lotion for tired muscles. Dandelion Garlic is one of the most popular herbs, whose most common uses are repelling flies, relieving sweet itch symptoms, aiding digestion, preventing coughs and worms and maintaining all-round good health, as it is an excellent antioxidant.Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale) helps digestive conditions and are a great source of potassium. You can grow dandelions and offer your horse a few fresh leaves every day. Self-heal (also called Prunella) – it’s quite bitter so only feed the leaves when first introducing. Herbal remedies for horses have been around for a long time. The most used herbs to relax and calm nervous horses are generally thought to be:

Natural herbs for horses are often beneficial and preferable to synthetic medicines. The herbs most often used for liver health include: I hope the following links are useful. The first list is for seeds that you can plant yourself, the second is for ready mixed supplements:

The EquiNatural Mission To proactively help you support the healthy equilibrium, the functioning integrity, and the vitality - the 'vital force' - of your horse, Raspberry leaves: Horses actually like eating the leaves of this plant, and it is good for them. There are a lot of benefits, from nutrition to mental health. It also is useful for mares, especially in the hopes of an easy delivery of a foal. There are a number of herbs that act on the respiratory system in a beneficial way. The main ones are: