Riva's Remedies

03/29/2026

03/26/2026

A horse's liver has a substantial capacity for regenerating itself and can even continue to function after it has been severely damaged. The liver will only fail when the damage and loss to hepatic cells exceed their regenerative capacity.

But here's the thing. Many horses won't show clinical symptoms until the liver is only functioning at 20-30 percent. And the liver enzymes in the blood tests often don't elevate until then either. This makes it difficult to catch the liver when it is already in trouble.

And this is where we need to be observant and mindful of sub-clinical symptoms so we can tell when our horses need liver support long before the clinical symptoms show up. Clinical symptoms include fatigue, photosensitivity, poor appetite, weight loss, and yellowing of the eyes. Horses don't want to wait until then before they get help.

Sub-clinical symptoms to watch for are chronic allergies, immune dysfunction, vision problems, finicky appetite, inflammation, itching, skin issues, and poor digestion. And so it is at this time that doing a liver cleanse/ detoxification can go a long way to preventing further health problems. Horses with a history of viral infections or anemia is a strong sign too that the liver is involved.

How can you help?

*Manage weight gain, obesity, and Insulin Resistance.
*Treat for parasites if there is an overload.
*Treat for anemia if present.
Then add the following:

*Equi-Cleanse Herbal Blend: Cleansing and detoxification

*Vitamin B12: Liver support, carbohydrate metabolism, and anemia.

*Vitamin C: Supports the liver in horses with viral issues: Promotes healthy liver cells.

*Selenium, organic: Maintains healthy liver function and protects liver cells from damage and oxidative stress.

03/25/2026

Beautiful nurturing, protection, care, and love from the entire community. Just what every baby needs! 🩷💙

03/20/2026

The spring melt is here in full force! The fields are overflowing with creeks, water is puddling all around the barn yard, and rain is in the forecast.

As I watch the farmland and all the grass and vegetation being cleansed by Mother Nature's running water I am reminded why spring is such a good time for cleansing our animals (and ourselves!). Horses are naturally in harmony with the seasons and are not only able to predict the weather but given that they live outside 24/7 (or should), their internal biology, is closely connected with their external environment.

Thus, their elimination organs – intestines, skin, liver, and kidneys, just like the Earth that they are so connected to, are preparing to detoxify all of the harmful substances that they have acquired over the winter, or maybe even a lifetime, from the feed, soil, water, and air. And we can help them do the job with our plant-based herbal blends which naturally support the Spring Cleanse.

Equi-Cleanse Herbal Blend: Supports the cleansing and detoxification of the liver and blood. Chemicals, drug residue, heavy metals, and toxins.

Kidney Care Herbal Blend: Get the urinary flow moving to eliminate toxins, acids, sediment, and debris.

Pro-Dygest Herbal Blend: Promotes intestinal detoxification, a balanced microbiome, and optimum digestion. Bacteria, yeast, and metabolic by-products.

Purchase separately or as a Product Bundle Special.

Celebrate your horses' health in the spring!

03/18/2026

Why do horse folks prefer herbs and botanical medicines over using drugs?

Plant medicine addresses root causes.
Herbs have detoxification properties and provide natural nutrition. Drugs deplete nutrition and cause nutritional deficiencies.

Plants are synergistic, meaning that they have hundreds of other components that work together to restore balance. Only Mother Nature knows how to do this.

Approximately 25% of drugs are derived from plants. Drugs use one single isolated extract for one property to resolve one symptom. That's how toxic side effects are caused - they have lost the protective effects of the rest of the plant. The processing drugs also limits any original benefits.

In most cases herbs have rare, mild, and temporary side effects. As opposed to common, serious, and sometimes permanent.

Horses understand and know how to naturally utilize medicinal plants of all kinds.

03/14/2026

It may not look like it in some parts of the world right now, but spring is right around the corner! Believe it! The horses do. I know that my horses are often better at predicting the weather than the forecast.

They are so attuned and connected to nature that I can see their behaviour change before the weather shifts or even before the next season here.

Where they stand, how much they run, whether or not they seek shelter, or how restless they seem are often big clues to a shift in the weather. Sometimes they get more stiff or sluggish. Other times they grow more hair, or less hair. Or eat more or eat less.

The wind speed or temperatures of the winds can make them more alert, or more anxious. Their sensitivity levels also allow them to pick up on the air pressure before storms. I always wondered how they know to dive into their shelters or come out of their shelters ten minutes or more before the storms begin or end.

I'm still not ready to ditch the thermometer but I'm not spending as much time on the weather app.

03/13/2026

What's the difference between horses picking out their own "fresh" herbs and plants on the lawn or in the field, and feeding them dry herbs.

First off, most horses don't have access to the fresh herbs and plants that they may need because us humans have most of them confined to small areas. And even if they are on bigger areas or are on the range the plants that they need for specific health situations may not be there. Every environment is hugely different.

The best scenario is horses that have access to native gardens, shrubs, fruit trees, flowers, leaves, and a variety of plants and forage. This is one of the main reasons that I let my horses wander into the garden areas and on the lawn. It's fascinating to see what they pick out as they know exactly what they need and what is good for them.

Fresh herbs are more potent in volatile oils - the chemical that gives the plant it's fragrance. And they have a more vibrant flavour. They also have a higher level of nutrients but compared to dry herbs you need to feed three times the amount as dried herbs. Fresh herbs, once picked spoil more easily and should be kept refrigerated. And of course fresh medicine herbs are not readily available, especially in the winter.

Dried herbs are easier to store, measure, and have a very long shelf life but must be stored in a cool, dark place. Drying concentrates some of the medicinal properties as well but the oils usually fade with time. Dried herbs also have more concentrated flavours. The drying process might result in the loss of some nutrients compared to fresh herbs, but all in all they are still a valuable source of nutrition.

Give your horses the benefit of as many herbs, weeds, and plants as you can.

03/08/2026

Horses are highly refined, sensitive, and sentient beings that have very specific needs for optimizing and maintaining good health.

First of all, it's about providing them with the 3 F's: Forage, Freedom, and Friendship. It's not a lot to ask but too many horses are deprived of these basic lifestyle requirements. And these practices go a long way to keeping our horses healthy, physically and mentally.

And secondly when they are in need of nutritional therapy or supplements they require blends, formulations, and dosages that are specific to their needs, not the needs of the industry. For that reason we keep our product formulations simple, the dosages are always reasonable, and we rely on the horses for the feedback we need to validate their effectiveness.

Horses Know Best!

03/02/2026

Our probiotics require refrigeration in order to maximize and guarantee potency. But sometimes people inadvertently leave out the Pro-Colon before it makes it into the fridge. Or they forget to bring it in from the barn or leave it in the truck or... wherever else us busy horse people might forget it.

The bacteria in the blend will remain intact for 2-3 weeks at 18C or cooler. If it's warmer than 18C then the bacteria will be more likely to deteriorate within a week. At higher temperatures warmer than 25C it will only last a few days.

So hopefully, this will help you make the decision if you need to replace it or not.

We have three different sizes: 50 g, 100 g, and 250 g for multiple horses. And a 50 g will last up to two months at 1/4 tsp per day. Our dosages are small because there are absolutely no fillers, preservatives, or binders.

02/27/2026

Thank you Tamara for sharing this! And yes, homeopathic remedies are fast-acting. And are therefore very good First Aid Remedies.

“We had a scare with our gelding, Red, last night. He was eating his soaked cubes with oats and herbs. It was watery and I could see him sucking up the liquid from the bottom of the pail. After he ate nearly his full pail, he suddenly stopped eating and was acting strange.

He stood still with his nostrils wide open, and he was hot under his coat. We took it off and walked him out to the pasture. He did have a p**p, but when we opened the gate, he laid down with his head up. Not normal for our boy to do this. And he was gassy and bloated.

So, I got the homeopathic Gastricol colic spray which he really wanted and was licking away at it! After he stood up we brought him back up to the barn and within twenty minutes the gas was gone and the bloating went down. We kept walking him and he came right around!!! I was telling everyone about the Gastricol but we didn't think it would work that quick?! I have never had this scare before in the five years that we have owned him. I will never go without the colic spray Gastricol now!!!"

….Tamara Lee S. (Ontario)

02/26/2026

Are you in the Franklin, Tennessee area this weekend? If you are, you may want to take in this colic and digestion presentation.

Our very own Karen Mena, a Natural Horse Health Practitioner and Distributor for Riva's Remedies will be teaching horse people about the prevention and treatment of equine digestive issues including colic.

Learn how herbal blends, homeopathic remedies, and specialized nutrients can benefit your horses' health in many different situations.

Join her for a relaxed, casual, and informative evening.
Saturday, February 28th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Email Karen directly to reserve your spot and get directions.
[email protected]

02/23/2026

If you have a horse with Mallenders (crusts on the front of the hocks) or Sallenders (crusts on the crease of the knee) check that your supplements don't contain any biotin.

it is thought that these crusts, which resemble mud fever, are caused by the over-production of keratin. And biotin increases the production of keratin. Keratin is the fibrous protein that builds hair, skin, and hooves.

These conditions can also result in chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) which inflames the lymph drainage system causing swelling and tenderness.

1. Maintain regular exercise
2. Eliminate all grain and high sugar feeds
3. Add essential fatty acids: crushed flax seeds, h**p seeds, or Riva's Borage Seed Oil (which can also be applied topically).
4. Equi-Derm Herbal Blend to support healthy skin and for the detoxification of the liver and blood.
5. Equi-Immune Herbal Blend to cleanse the lymph system and support the immune system.

Good topicals for any kind of dry, cracked skin include:

Coconut oil: Prevents cracking and dryness. Natural anti-inflammatory.
Zinc Ointment: Zinc helpful for skin repair. Also, provides a good barrier to keep the area dry and protected from dust, dirt, and bacteria.
Calendula Cream: Natural antibacterial and anti-fungal. Heals dry, cracking skin.