There are potentially hundreds of herbs and spices that might be useful for your horse's health, but not that many are affordable in dosages that will make a difference.
Let's take chamomile. It's a great herb with calming effects, but a useful dose for a horse is around 1 cup per day. At about $40/kg, that's a very expensive supplement for the results you can expect. You can buy dandelion for around the same price - but why would you when it's probably growing abundantly in your paddock? There are also natural supplements on the market that you should avoid. Garlic, for example, is also commonly fed, despite the fact that we have known since 1972 that garlic is poisonous to horses in doses as low as 5mg per kilo of bodyweight. Read more about that here.
Wild horses can forage seasonal herbs as a natural part of their diet, but domestic horses are eating mostly manufactured pastures designed to fatten cattle and other ruminants, which leads to nutritional deficiencies.
Here at Sound Advice, we only stock herbs and spices that are useful, in doses that are affordable. Here are 5 you should consider if you are looking for a natural bang-for-buck.
Chaste Tree Berry
Vitex agnus-castus or 'monk's pepper', has been used for centuries for various medicinal purposes. In horses, chaste tree berry is primarily used to support hormonal balance and reproductive health in mares. It’s also a natural option for horses with PPID (Cushings), prior to commencing pharmaceutical options such as Pergolide
There was a field trial in 1999 showing positive results for Cushings:
The 11-month field trial involved 10 horses and ponies with clinically obvious PPID, laminitis, long coats, and depression, using standardized liquid extract of Vitex. All horses showed improvement in coat shedding, increased energy, more activity, and possibly improvement in laminitis pain. Although it was difficult to differentiate between increased energy and decreased pain, Vitex agnus-castus also has a morphine-like effect in the brain, making decreased pain likely.
By Fall it was obvious that there was improvement in the early PPID horses. Advanced PPID horses at that time were beginning to get a return of clinical signs with the seasonal rise. The trial was stopped at that point, and any horse that looked like advanced PPID was started on pergolide. The conclusion was that Vitex agnus-castus was not a substitute for pergolide, but could provide symptomatic relief in mild cases of PPID.
Although anecdotal, the majority of our clients purchasing CTB are doing so to manage the symptoms of Cushings. With no side effects, it’s probably worth a trial for your horse or pony, prior to commencing Pergolide, which has reported negative side effects.
The active compounds in chaste tree berry impact the endocrine system, particularly the pituitary gland, which plays a significant role in regulating hormone production. Here are some potential benefits of chaste tree berry for horses:
Hormonal regulation: Chaste tree berry regulates hormonal imbalances, particularly in mares experiencing irregular estrus cycles or hormonal disturbances related to their reproductive cycle.
Behavior management: Chaste tree berry may have a calming effect on mares with behavioral issues related to their reproductive cycle, such as mood swings or irritability.
Support for horses with Cushing's syndrome (PPID): Chaste tree berry is sometimes used as part of a holistic approach to support horses diagnosed with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) or equine Cushing's syndrome.
Potential for reducing unwanted behaviors in stallions: Some horse owners and handlers have used chaste tree berry to help manage unwanted behaviors in stallions, such as aggressive or overly dominant behavior.
Applied topically, chaste tree berry has been shown to prevent insect bites, making it particularly useful for horses with Itch. We have been trialing this. We'll let you know how it goes.
Dosage on chaste tree berry is only 10g per day (a teaspoon), making it great bang-for-buck (around 26 cents per day) for a range of hormone-related symptoms.
If you are wanting to manage hormonal symptoms in mares, we combine CTB with magnesium in our "Moody Mare Combo".
Turmeric (Sold as Turmeric Joint Mix)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a herb known for its vibrant yellow-orange color and is commonly used as a spice in cooking. It contains an active compound called curcumin, which has been studied for its potential health benefits, and is gaining popularity as a herbal supplement for horses:
Anti-inflammatory properties: Curcumin is known for its potent anti-inflammatory effects. It may help reduce inflammation in horses, making it potentially beneficial for those with joint issues, arthritis, or other inflammatory conditions.
Antioxidant support: Turmeric has antioxidant properties, which means it can help neutralise free radicals and protect the horse's cells from oxidative damage.
Digestive health: Turmeric is believed to have positive effects on equine digestion. It may help support gastrointestinal health and improve nutrient absorption.
Immune system support: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric may also contribute to supporting the horse's immune system, helping them to fend off infections and illnesses.
Coat and skin health: improving the horse's coat color and skin condition due to its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Pain management: Turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate pain and discomfort in horses, which can be especially beneficial for senior horses or those with chronic pain issues.
A study from 2018 concluded that:
Both quantitative and qualitative results strongly suggest that turmeric containing curcumin, is an effective and easily administered phytopharmaceutical which reduces inflammation and improves mobility and mood in horses with fetlock joint inflammation.
This study from 2019 found that polyphenols including curcumin reduced inflammation as effectively as common NSAIDs.
We blend turmeric with glucosamine, MSM and chia seeds, which have fantastic health benefits on their own, in our 'Turmeric Joint Mix'.
We have fed this long-term for our geriatric horses (30 years and over) and have seen fantastic results in their mobility, mood and overall condition. Dosage on Turmeric Joint Mix is around 25g per day. None of these ingredients are swabbable making it an excellent choice for teen horses in work and competition. Available in 1kg and 3kg.
There is good data on turmeric. Read more here.
Rosehip +
Rosehip, the fruit of the wild rose (Rosa canina), is often used as an herbal supplement with health benefits for horses, being rich in various nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Here are some potential benefits of rosehip for horses:
Immune system support: Rosehip is known for its immune-boosting properties, making them better equipped to fight off infections and illnesses.
Joint health: Rosehip contains anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants, which may help support joint health and reduce inflammation for horses that are prone to joint stiffness or discomfort, such as older horses or those with joint-related issues.
Skin and coat health: The high vitamin A and essential fatty acid content in rosehip can contribute to healthy skin and a glossy coat, reducing dry skin and supporting overall skin condition.
Antioxidant properties: Rosehip is rich in antioxidants, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which can help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, protecting the horse's cells from oxidative stress and potential damage.
General well-being: The vitamins and nutrients in rosehip can contribute to the overall health and well-being of the horse.
We have blended it with magnesium in our Rosehip + mix. Magnesium has many benefits, but we love it for muscle health and mood/temperament. Dosage on Rosehip + is around 20g per day (a tablespoon)
Rosehip + is both a joint and calming supplement, and a great option for young, working horses in place of much more expensive supplements.
Fenugreek
Sounds Yummier - Fenugreek
NEW!
None of the Sound Advice supplements contain any fillers or flavours - only active ingredients. This can be problematic for owners of fussy-eaters - particularly horses with a history of gastric ulcers. Now you can include an active ingredient that is also the favourite flavouring for horses.
Dosage: start with a scoop of Sounds Yummier and a half scoop (or less) of the other supplement your horse is sifting out. Gradually increase the unfavoured supplement until you reach a full dose.
Many horse owners know that a picky eater can be worrisome. Horses need sufficient energy to perform and thrive, and inadequate intake or poor condition can significantly impact their health - aside from the frustration of having to throw out feed you paid good money for!
Research shows that fenugreek is one of the most favoured flavourings for horses. This has been backed up by additional studies showing that fenugreek was the most preferred flavouring, further highlighting its benefit as an appetite stimulant for horses.
Fenugreek seeds, long used by humans, offer numerous health benefits. They are known for their antioxidant properties, can act as a digestive stimulant, and have been used in poultices to help clear infections and reduce inflammation.
Benefits of fenugreek:
Highly palatable.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Soothes the digestive tract
Reduces complications associated with gastric ulcers
Contains antioxidants that support the immune system
Helps control blood sugar levels.
Increases milk production in lactating mares.
Devil’s Claw (sold as Relief Mix +)
Harpagophytum procumbens, or Devil’s Claw has long been used as a traditional treatment for arthritis. Devil’s Claw is a plant from South Africa. The root is extracted and used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. One of the best things about Devil’s Claw is that it has similar efficacy and fewer side effects than conventional treatments for arthritis, like NSAIDs that can, among other side effects, cause or worsen gastric ulcers.
One study compared the level of pain improvement in participants randomly selected to receive devil’s claw with that of participants assigned to take phenylbutazone (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Participants taking devil’s claw reported fewer side-effects and had slightly better pain improvement.
Another study compared the overall disease-related symptoms in two groups of participants who were randomly assigned to take either devil’s claw or diacerhein, a conventional therapy for osteoarthritis. Improvements were similar in both groups following treatment, but participants given devil’s claw experienced fewer side-effects.
A Harpagophytum procumbens preparation was tested with degeneration of the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal, and tarsometatarsal (hock) joints in 10 horses; treatment was compared with phenylbutazone given to a control group of 10 horses. Treatment was carried out for 90 days, and animals were regularly monitored for soundness for 120 days. Investigators concluded that the H. procumbens preparation is an effective alternative to phenylbutazone for the treatment of horses with bone spavin (Montavon, 1994).
We blend devils claw with glucosamine and MSM, which have anti-inflammtory benefits of their own. Best of all, you don’t need to book an expensive vet call out to offer pain relief for your horse. You can have our Relief Mix ready in your pantry, for when you need it, just like you would keep panadol on-hand for yourself and your children.
Available in 1kg and 3kg pouches.
Comentários