Equine Herbalist

19/04/2025

GO WILD🌿☘️🥬
Green juice made with celery, cucumber, dandelion leaf, cleavers, nettle and plantain.

16/04/2025

HEALTHY H**P.

🥰One of my all time favorite seeds to soak for my horse's is H**P.. of course you can feed it without soaking it.

👉You can grind it up into a meal if you have older horses who struggle to chew add in a splash of herbal tea to make a high nutritious mash.

What's so good about H**p?

👉It's a complete protein with all essential amino acids.
👉Excellent essential fatty acid content.
👉Rich in antioxiadants including vitamin E.
👉Excellent alternative to soy.
👉100% safe.
👉 Excellent for hay only diets as it adds so much.
👉Great for old horses
👉Safe for metabolic horses
👉can help with joint pain and inflammation
👉 Excellent for gut issues
👉 Considered a superfood for hoof and coat

🐴How to feed- depending on what else you are feeding you can just add in 4 tbsp of seeds or hearts straight into your original feed as a top dressing. I recommend soaking the seeds overnight h**p hearts do not need to be soaked.

👌 If you want to feed more h**p- Soak quarter to half a cup of seed in cold water over night (this will depend on the size of the horse and how much you want to feed) the next morning strain the seeds, rinse and feed. Soaked h**p must be used within the day, like I said above you don't have to soak it but you get more out of the seed by soaking it.

🐎For older horses it can be whizzed up in a blender to make a wet feed.

You can source h**p seeds or hearts which ever is easier and cheaper for you to feed.

🛑 I don't like soy for many reasons- it's mostly GMO, can cause inflammation, high in phytoestrogens which can cause behavioural issues, can disrupt the gut bacteria due to pesticide levels.

For everything you want to know about sprouting seeds for your horse my ebook "seeds to feed" is available from me now, just message me 🙏 price €14.99.

Visit my blog at www.equineherbalist.ie for lots more articles.

Rachel Kelly Irish master herbalist who specialise's in treating all horse conditions with herbs, my formula's are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of your horse. I do not do ready made herbal products for horses. Equine Herbalist Ireland

24/03/2025

🌱🌱You might be thinking about growing some medicinal herbs for your horse? 🌱🌱

Here are some tips and tricks to help you with you're growing journey.

Please feel free to ask any questions you like.

Planning an herb garden.   Heres how to start and what you need to keep in mind.   So you want to grow herbs for your horse or better still you want to grow herbs so your horse will self medicate!! Sounds like a fabulous idea doesn’t it?? I’m afraid the stark reality of this is herbs growing (...

05/03/2025

🌱Spring is Springing🌱

How will you manage your horse's grazing to prevent weight gain, digestive issues or metabolic flare ups?

26/02/2025

But we love them really 😁

19/02/2025

Can Equine Joint Supplements Replace Bute?

👉When it comes to managing joint pain and inflammation in horses, many owners find themselves asking whether equine joint supplements can replace bute. While they both have their place in equine care they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits.

⚡Pros of bute- fast effective pain relief, reduces inflammation, only for short term use.

⚡Cons of bute- not suitable for longer term use, risk of ulcers, kidney issues, requires veterinary guidance.

👉Equine joint supplements are nutritional products designed to help support joint health over the long term they contain ingredients such as Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, Hyaluronic acid, omega 3fatty acids and herbal ingredients like turmeric, devils claw, willow, and boswellia.

👉Don’t forget about foods like flaxseed, chia seeds, ginger that can be very helpful.

⚡Pros of joint supplements- promote long term joint health, safe for daily use, may reduce the need for pain medication.

⚡Cons of joint support- do not provide immediate pain relief, results will take longer, not a replacement for acute situations.

🌱Incorporating herbs for joint health and pain relief, herbs can play a valuable role in managing equine joint health, offering natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving.

🌿Herbs that help- Turmeric, Boswellia, devils claw, Yucca, Ginger, white willow.

✨Can herbs and joint supplements the answer depends on your horse’s specific needs:

👉For chronic joint conditions- a combination of joint supplements and herbs can reduce inflammation and support joint health, lowering the need for bute.

✨For acute pain & inflammation- bute may be necessary in certain situations but herbs can be very helpful.

✨A Holistic Approach- use joint supports along with anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric & boswellia, don’t forget about omega 3 fatty acids and other whole foods that can help.

⚡Natural pain relief- consider devils claw or yucca as gentle alternatives to NSAIDS for mild discomfort.

✨Final note- every horse is unique, by combining the benefits of conventional and natural support from herbs, supplements you can maintain your horses comfort.

13/02/2025

Is flaxseed better than flax oil ❓

Personally I think it is, and here is why.
(But like I always say feed what you like)

✔️ There is more nutrients available in flax seed it contains -protein fiber and natural antioxidants

✔️ Flax seeds are more stable than oil, oil can turn rancid quickly.

✔️ Flax seed support the gut with fiber which helps digestion and support a healthy microbiome.

✔️ Flax seeds naturally are slow release fat, since fat is within the seed it's released more gradually making it easier to digest and pure oil.

Let's look at the different flax seed options.

✨WHOLE FLAX
It is more stable but harder to digest, it can be fed whole as most horses do digest the whole flax seed well or it can be soaked for 10 minutes in cold water before feeding or it can be ground freshly daily.

✨GROUND FLAX
It is more digestible, easier to absorb the nutrients but it needs to be stored correctly to prevent it going rancid it needs to be used up quickly.

✨STABILISED GROUND FLAX
It is processed to prevent rancidity low heat is used to deactivate it and added antioxidants slow down the oxidisation there is a longer shelf life on it 6 to 12 weeks and more. Compared to one to two weeks for freshly ground flax. Stabilised flax is easy to store and there's no grinding needed.

👉Whichever flax you decide to use let's look at the benefits.

*Antiinflammatory
*Coat and hoof health
*Helps to balance a high omega 6 intake
*Support healthy weight gain
*Support energy requirements

Daily feeding is recommended as omega trees are not stored in the body long term.

🚨All new foods need to be introduced slowly gradually over 7-10.

👉Amounts to be fed
For coat and hoof support 2 to 4 ounces daily.

For anti-inflammatory purposes 4 to 8 ounces daily.

For weight gain 8 to 6 ounces daily.

From metabolic support 4 to 6 ounces daily.

No need to boil flax seed research shows cyanide compounds are not a concern in reasonable feeding amounts.

If you are concerned about your horses health always contact your vet.

R. Kelly Equine Herbalist
Keep it real.

12/02/2025

✨Calmers- -They come in every shape and form.

✨Of course I am going to be up for using herbs and wholefoods to do this job for me so here are a few things you can try.

1. Look at your horses diet is there high sugar and starch causing issues.

2. Remember diets that are higher in energy than your horse needs can often cause your horse to become a bit "hotter".

3. Magnesium is probably the most commonly used ingredient in horse calming supplements. By all means use what ever magnesium supplement you like always look for a chelated mineral supplement. Personally I like things to be from wholefoods or herbs.

Pumpkin seeds 1200mg
Flax or chia 660mg
Sesame seeds 500mg
Almonds 400mg

✨Herbs that help calm and relax.
Lemon balm
Chamomile
Vervain
Passion flower

These can be used as strong infusions and are a great way to dampen down your horses feed.

✨I have a full infusion guide with over 20 pages of information with benefits of infusions, uses, how to, the importance of infusions message me for details.

Remember if you are concerned about your horses health contact your vet.

Picture taken from devlantart.com

06/02/2025

🌾🌱🌿🍓🍒🍎🍉🍑🍊🍌🫐🥬🥕🌶️🫚

🐴FOOD SENSITIVITY IN HORSES🐴

👉This is definitely a hot topic especially over the last few years and rightly so. We know with horses and humans gut health is so important looking after our microbiome plays a role in our overall health.

"The internal environment of the horse is a reflection of the external environmental stimulus"

👉Equine inflammatory small bowel disease is on the rise (IBD) this describes various types of intestinal disease in which inflammatory cells infiltrate the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

👉Clinical signs~ on explained weight loss, diarrhoea sensitive abdomen and swelling, reoccurring colic, reduce performance.

👉 Working with your vet is very important as they will diagnosis and help with treatment.

👉 Things that may help,

✨ Feed your horse like a horse✨

*Elimination diet
*Add in digestive system support
*Provide adequate FORAGE
*No sudden feed/ forage changes
*Feed little and often
*Turn out with company
*Address any mineral deficiencies
*Clean up manure
*Isolate sick animals
*General cleansiness of tack, feeding troughs and water buckets
*Add free choice salt
*Look at how inflammatory your horses diet maybe? Is your horse consuming a lot of oil or an overload of sugar in the diet.
* Could Glyphosate exposure via feed or in the environment be at play.

23/01/2025

Sprouting seeds for horses can offer several benefits, including:

1. Improved Digestibility: Sprouted seeds are easier to digest than dry seeds, which allows horses to absorb more nutrients efficiently. Sprouting breaks down complex carbohydrates and makes vitamins and minerals more bioavailable.

2. Higher Nutrient Density: The sprouting process increases the concentration of essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, along with enzymes, antioxidants, and amino acids that can enhance overall health and vitality.

3. Better Hydration: Sprouts have a higher moisture content, which can help in keeping horses hydrated, especially during hot weather or when consuming dry feeds.

4. Enhanced Gut Health: The live enzymes in sprouts can support a healthy gut microbiome, improving digestion and reducing issues like colic or bloating.

5. Cost-Effective Feed: Growing your own sprouts can be a more economical way to provide nutrient-rich feed compared to purchasing commercial grain-based feed.

6. Lower Risk of Mold and Dust: Sprouting reduces the risk of mold and dust contamination found in some dry feeds or hay, which can irritate horses’ respiratory systems.

7. Natural Forage Behavior: Sprouted seeds mimic the natural grazing behavior of horses, offering them a more instinctive and enjoyable way to eat.

This can be especially useful for horses with metabolic issues or those who need lower-starch diets.

For all you need to know about spouting seeds my ebook is available at www.equineherbalist.ie

Click below for more information.

Sprouts are the ultimate in home-grown foods. Sprouted seeds are nothing more than germinated seeds which are feed raw. Sprouts are also among the least expensive foods you can buy or grow. sprouts are so inexpensive, there's really no excuse for not adding them into your horses diet. One of the mos...

22/01/2025

HEALTHY H**P.

🥰One of my all time favorite seeds to soak for my horse's is H**P.. of course you can feed it without soaking it.

👉You can grind it up into a meal if you have older horses who struggle to chew add in a splash of herbal tea to make a high nutritious mash.

What's so good about H**p?

👉It's a complete protein with all essential amino acids.
👉Excellent essential fatty acid content.
👉Rich in antioxiadants including vitamin E.
👉Excellent alternative to soy.
👉100% safe.
👉 Excellent for hay only diets as it adds so much.
👉Great for old horses
👉Safe for metabolic horses
👉can help with joint pain and inflammation
👉 Excellent for gut issues
👉 Considered a superfood for hoof and coat

🐴How to feed- depending on what else you are feeding you can just add in 4 tbsp of seeds or hearts straight into your original feed as a top dressing. I recommend soaking the seeds overnight h**p hearts do not need to be soaked.

👌 If you want to feed more h**p- Soak quarter to half a cup of seed in cold water over night (this will depend on the size of the horse and how much you want to feed) the next morning strain the seeds, rinse and feed. Soaked h**p must be used within the day, like I said above you don't have to soak it but you get more out of the seed by soaking it.

🐎For older horses with dental issues it can be whizzed up in a blender to make a wet feed.

You can source h**p seeds or hearts whichever is easier & cheaper for you to feed.

For everything you want to know about sprouting seeds for your horse my ebook "seeds to feed" is available from me now, just message me 🙏 price €14.99.

Visit my blog at www.equineherbalist.ie for lots more articles.

15/01/2025

✨We are what we eat and so are our horses.

👉Before reaching for a probiotic make sure you're prebiotics have been doing their job.

I get a lot of questions about probiotics but never about prebiotics. Everyone wants to know the best probiotic to feed. I also get asked about feeding yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut to horses which I don't advocate.

Firstly horses who live out in groups are less likely to need probiotics except maybe after antibiotics.

*Probiotics - live bacterial and yeast strains that help populate the gut with good bacteria.

* Prebiotics- found in food like complex carbohydrates or soluble fibre which cannot be digested in the small intestine they are fermented in the cecum and colon, they feed the beneficial gut microorganisms.

✨Billions of bacteria are involved in digestion, these microorganisms breakdown fibre and starches into into molecules that the horse can absorb and use.
These bacteria are also responsible for many other important jobs in the horses body including gut PH, natural antibiotics and antibacterial support, immune system health, antiinflammatory support, help.older horses hold weight just to mention a few.

✨When might you use a probiotic.
After antibiotics
Stressful times
Weight loss
Season change-moving on to different feed.
Excessive gas and GI issues

Things to remember- not all these issues will be helped by a probiotic as each horse is so unique and so is their microorganisms. I would certainly rule out other things first before reaching for a probiotic.

Prebiotics before probiotics.
✨What about prebiotics
Remember these are foods that feed the gut bacteria. Every horse should have forage as the foundation of their diet and as diverse as possible I love hay especially long stemy stuff this is where the magic is. I also love bark, leaves and berries (All new food needs to be introduced slowly and must be fed continuously).
👉Personally I think feeding a simple natural diet it key.
Feed as organic as possible which means less toxic chemicals.
✨And again forage is the foundation of your horses diet.

10/01/2025

An unhealthy hindgut will show in the hoof?
Do you agree

06/01/2025

With this cold snap and freezing temperatures remember the best way to warm your horse is with forage preferably hay or haylage.

The ceacum acts like the boiler for the heating system and (forage) hay is the fuel.

14/12/2024

💥Click like if your horse has experienced any kind of lameness over the last few years.

💥Please feel free to comment if you found out why, or what the solution was, or is it still happening?

Ps the picture is only for visual purposes

11/12/2024

Winter Colic

Did you know that colic can be more common in the winter months.

Let's talk about some steps that could help prevent colic.

1. Water intake, make sure your horse is drinking enough. Most horses will happily drink cold water. You can use heated water buckets etc you can also add salt into feed or leave loose salt in a dry area.

2. No harsh diet changes. Everything with your horses diet needs to be done over a period of time especially if you are changing forage. For seniors you can use wet mashes wet feeds are easier to digest but don't do a sudden food change.

3. Exercise is a great way to keep the gut moving, walk your horse in hand, plenty of turnout time with friends.

4. Forage, make sure your horse has plenty of forage to nibble on. Slow feeders/ small mesh hay nets are brilliant for slowing down consumption. Or spread hay out over a large area in your field so your horse has to move and work for his supper.

5. Of course I'm going to mention herbs for digestion support that can be used on a continuous basis. Herbs like fennel, peppermint, chamomile, meadowsweet, these can be used as herbal infusions to dampen down feed.

21/11/2024

We are having a cold snap at the moment here in Ireland.
Here are 2 things you can do to help your horse.