Do you offer your horses herbs?

Jackson

Jackson

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Just curious, because I grow my own and my horse loves the ocasional bit of parsely or mint before his dinner.

I actually really like the idea of planting a mini 'herb garden' in his new field so that he can selectively graze what he wants, is there anything else that I can include besides parsley and mint?

Because my garden is a little.. over run with mint, I am also drying some out for use in the winter...
 
I have wild garlic planted in my field and the horses eat however much they like, I love the idea of planting herbs for them, and I might plant some more :)
 
I worried about that too, but the horses only eat what they think, and usually there is loads left. Im hoping to be moving fields, and when i start to tidy the field up by removing nettles etc I am definatley gong to plant someherbs for them. I think it allows them to choose what they eat when they want it :)
 
Oh yeah, comfrey is another one, thanks!

Yeah, people are always going on about horses self medicating so I would love to actually put it in to practice! Mine is a greedy one though, he would probably eat it all any way!
 
That's a brilliant idea :)
Although I think mine would probably just eat the whole plant!!
She gets mint, garlic and seaweed in her feed as supplements though :)
K x
 
Willow, goldenrod (although be careful, it spreads like stink)

I don't offer mine anything, they have acres of brush to grub through, they just help themselves, they especially like willow bark, bits of pine, nettles, brambles, raspberries, blackberries.
 
We have lots of camomile around the field where my gelding is. He loves it and I often pick it and add it to his feed.
Re Comfrey, I read somewhere that it is known as knitbone due to its healing properties for bones and muscles - but that it should not be fed for longer than 12 months.
 
Omg, I have to clear a load of nettles, might just leave them lying around and see if they get eaten :p
 
I dont offer them but mine have a variety of grasses and hedges to graze/browse on. Love watching them and seeing what they choose next when browsingthe hedgeline.
how do they know? always intrigues me. My yearling mashes thistles with her front feet before eating them lol.
Feel sorry for ponies in a fenced off grass paddock with just grass to eat.
 
If I was not on livery I would definitely do that.

Luckily our fields are not just grass but have a variety of plants and shrubs.
 
Mine love cut nettles too. I give them a sprig of mint every night too and they love blackberries, won't be long until they're out in the field!!
 
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