Anyone use Termeric in their feed?

[Victoria25]

Anyone else use this in their feed along with cracked black pepper?

My friend has an old arthritic horse who would hack out one day only to be very stiff the next day. She was recommended Termeric by a friend and months on she's now riding him every day and she swears he's back to his usual energetic self and showing no signs of stiffness (she's a good friend too so know this isn't made up!) and this is the only thing that has changed in his day to day routine. So thought I'd give it a go ...

I asked my vet is I could try it on one of mine (TB) who is currently on box rest (with daily walking) for slight suspensory ligament damage - he's agreed that it wouldn't do her any harm so she's been on it for the past two months. I must admit she's on a few other supplements and she's also had her catrofen injections so cant say if the turmeric has played any part in how well shes progressing but just wondered if anyone else used it and if it made a difference to their horse?

 

[Zuzzie]

Yes, I have used Turmeric & Black pepper for my horse who has coffin joint arthritis. However, I can't say it made any difference but lots of people swear by it. There was a very useful Turmeric User Group on Facebook which was brilliant but I think it has now closed. One word of caution, you need to make sure you buy top quality turmeric with all the circumin still in it and not extracted. I used to add micronised linseed as this helps the absorption. When I first started my horse on it he hated the taste so I literally added a pinch to his feed and then over the following weeks increased the amount until he got used to it.

 

[Victoria25]

Hi – yes, Im on the turmeric group on fb – its still going! Yes Im aware of the whole curcumin importance so only get the best I can (we have a good indian supermarket near us) – she's been on it for about 2 months now - my vet said he’s heard really good reports on it but nothing to prove if its works etc. Worth a shot! x

 

[paulineh]

I have used it on my mare who has Navicular and have to say I have not seen any improvement at all. She still remains lame and stiff.

The only time she is not lame is when she is on Danilon. Although she is happy ambling around the field and going out for walks ,in her boots with gel pads in them, in hand. I have just started her on the "Equine America" Buteless to see if that helps.

 

[JillA]

I have a big horse who was 1/10 lame in front from DJD - done too much too young - and he had been like that for the 4 years since he came here. Turmeric + freshly ground black pepper + micronized linseed daily has him sound now. It doesn't happen overnight IME - it took Alf several weeks to improve once we started him on it.

 

[Birker2020]

I was using it on my horse but when the tub ran out decided against buying another until I'd spoken to my vet as I had heard that it could cause gastric ulcers. When I asked him when he came out to my horse for reassessment last week, he seemed to have the impression that it was the 'latest fad' and said that he has seen a lot of orange horses lately. When I asked him what he meant by that, he said that people were painting tumeric on their horses sarcoids!!

Given that sarcoids are in fact a skin cancer I was quite shocked! I thought that the toothpaste fad was bad enough!

At the end of the day he said that you would have to do a case study involving a large number of horses and test to see if giving them tumeric would cause gastric ulcers and as he hadn't done that or knew anyone that had, he couldn't give me an answer either way.

Both my friend and I were using it on our horses - I don't know quite what I expected to find as my horse was sound at the time anyway, but my friend noticed no visible difference to her horse.

I remember my other vet (the one I normally use who was away on holiday) taking the mickey out of me because I was giving my horse slippery elm. He called it sticky oak! I was using it to coat the lining of the stomach to prevent any acid splashback and as its a powder when its mixed with water it forms a gel like consistency (called a mucilage) and it prevents acid splash. I think what he was trying to say was that in the event of gastric ulcers slippery elm would be as useful as fighting a forest fire with a watering can.

These herbs/spices/plants have been around for generations and imho people should really give them the credence they deserve.

You should go on the Tumeric Users FB page for assistance and further information.