Equine
Equine
When our equine friends were free to roam the vast acres of pasture land they would instinctively know where to find the necessary plants for health, vitamins and minerals. Nowadays we have taken away much of their natural habitat and fenced them into small paddocks or we have to keep them stabled for many hours removing the opportunity for the horse to browse for plants. Even with moving horses around the world and selecting equines from different countries for breeding programs has changed their lives and access to many plants. Please note that none of this documentation is intended to be used as advice or in the place of veterinary expertise and care. If your animal is suffering any symptoms that indicate it is not in the best of health please consult a veterinary practitioner.
If you are using any supplements or natural products with your horse always remember to give your veterinary practitioner all the details of their use so they may have a full picture of your horse's situation.
If you choose to introduce herbs back into yours and your animals’ lives, then there are many sources of information available today. There are a number of good books available. They are useful references to have around for the day when a new problem arises and you would like to consider supporting the healing naturally. They often also provide nutritional information on the herbs. There are also growing lists of websites offering information. Bear in mind when using the internet that the information is not always of the best quality and it is a good idea to verify it with your vet or by further reading.
Perhaps your horse has a chronic problem you could support by finding out which would be the most appropriate herbs to try. There are often several different herbs suitable to supporting a horse with a particular problem, you may find your horse favours one more than another e.g. one horse may favour devils claw while another chooses liquorice to cope with inflammation. The horse may choose to change his herbs as his healing progresses or as the seasons change and with them his nutritional requirements. Keeping a journal or a log is a good way to learn from your experience.
What do I need to consider when harvesting or buying herbs?
Part of the success lies not only in matching the herb to the ailment and the particular individual, but also in the quality of the plant material offered. Finding a good supplier takes the headache out of sourcing the material yourself. A good supplier who will supply small quantities makes trying out a variety of plants more viable financially. A good supplier will also ensure the source of the material is sustainably harvested. The freshness of the product is important and best before dates are useful to ensure you are using fresh material. If you keep a range of a few herbs then try to store them carefully. They keep best in opaque airtight containers and stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Don’t be tempted to buy up more than you may use in a year. Liquids such as macerates and carrier oils are best kept in dark glass bottles in the fridge. Check the best before dates to have an idea how long each oil’s life is. Poor storage conditions shorten the shelf life on all these products.
Safety Considerations
Please remember that 'natural' does not always mean safe. Any natural product if abused can be unsafe.
Please consult a holistic or medical practitioner if you need any diagnosis or advice.
Care should be taken with any plastic bags or plastic packaging that it cannot cause accidental suffocation.
Great care should be used with vulnerable people and animals as in the very ill, elderly, very young, or pregnant. Consideration should be given to any illness or condition where medication is being taken, first consult a medical or veterinary practitioner. If you are using any natural product you should make anyone giving you treatment aware of this.
Natural products are not suitable replacements for drugs to be used to gain advantage in competition. Many drugs are derived from natural products. Many natural products do contain the components that are tested for these days in competition. The list of components that are tested for are continuously being updated and the testing is becoming more and more sophisticated. We suggest that natural products should be treated with the same respect as drugs with regards to their use if you or your animal are participating in performance competition.
