When it comes to enhancing the health and happiness of our equine companions through diet, herbs, and spices can play a surprisingly pivotal role.
Even though horses have a relatively simple diet. They mostly eat grass, hay, and grains. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot infuse their diet with certain spices and herbs that will bring many healthy benefits.
Horses can also eat apples, apricots, bananas, pears, grapes, celery, corn, oranges, and even green beans. However, some expert horse nutritionists infuse their diet with certain herbs that will help their digestive system, mood, and overall health.
That’s why in today’s article we’ve decided to highlight some of the herbs and spices that might be perfect for your equestrian companion. These botanical additions are more than just garnish on the feed bucket, as they come with many health benefits for horses.
But you have to do this carefully. Horses are not the type of animals you want to experiment with, especially not when it comes to food. So, make sure you follow this guide as we explain why certain spices and herbs are good for horses and how to actually incorporate them into their diet.
Best Herbs for Horses
Stinging Nettle
Imagine a plant so packed with nutrients that it could be considered the Swiss Army knife of the equine herbal world.
Rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, stinging nettle is a powerhouse for supporting blood health and skin conditions. However, don’t just toss a bunch into the stable; moderation and preparation are key to avoiding any adverse reactions.
You should use this spice in small amounts and make sure to pause after a couple of days.
Comfrey
Known as the equine super healer, comfrey is the go-to herb for bone and tissue repair. Its reputation for mending sore shins and relieving arthritis is well-deserved, though it’s wise to use it judiciously due to concerns about long-term liver impact.
Comfrey is also great for their digestive and respiratory health. It comes with many health benefits for horses, which is why most racehorse trainers give comfrey to horses, especially after an exhausting event.
This herb will help horses recover faster from a race. This means that the horse would perform better in an upcoming race. Handicappers should observe a horse’s diet in order to choose horse racing best bets before an event.
With that said, comfrey should be given in moderation and should not be fed long-term.
Evening Primrose
Not just a pretty flower, evening primrose oil is fantastic for minor wound care and its leaves aid in digestive health and sore throats. This plant embodies the phrase “a little goes a long way,” especially to prevent digestive upset.
Most horse owners use evening primrose oil, which is rich with Omega 6 fatty acids that support the skin, coat, and hooves of horses.
Garlic
Now let’s observe an ingredient that most of us have in our backyard. Garlic. Garlic is definitely one of the most used herbs in the horse industry just because it contains the most effective natural healing substances.
The ultimate pest repellant and immune booster, garlic is a staple in the equine diet for good reasons. It’s beneficial for circulation, pest control, and overall health, but it’s crucial to balance the dose to avoid complications like Heinz’s body anemia.
Spices
Cinnamon and Ginger
These spices are not just for human holiday treats. They serve as warming agents, helping to regulate insulin, lower blood sugar, and improve circulation.
Cinnamon is a great spice for digestive problems and can help balance blood sugar levels. But it should be given in moderation. Most professionals give 2g of cinnamon per 100kg of body weight, per day.
Ginger on the other hand has similar health benefits to cinnamon. It is also very effective in digestive aid, especially for horses that have problems such as a colic attack.
Ideal for the colder months, they bring warmth from the inside out but should be used in moderation to avoid any adverse effects.
Kelp
A sea vegetable that brings warmth and a host of micronutrients. It’s particularly beneficial during the winter for its warming properties and thyroid support.
Kelp is a common ingredient found in a horse’s diet, and most professionals give horses 5-20 grams of kelp per day.
Kelp has iodine, which will help your horse balance their body minerals.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another great spice that horses love, especially for maintaining healthy skin and minimizing infections or other skin irritations during summer. This is a plant from the ginger family and contains a compound called Curcumin.
This is also great for horses suffering from stiff joints and itchy skin conditions.
Final Words
So, that’s our spice and herbs guide for horses. All of these can bring many health benefits for horses, but it is really important how you use these ingredients.
Therefore, before changing your horse’s diet, make sure you consult with an equine nutritionist or do some research in order to know the proper amount you should give your horse.
