Feeding oily herbs (Oregano, Rosemary and Thyme)

[GrassChop]

Hello,

I wanted to try my horse on the oily herbs for her hind gut after reading the thread on here about them being a recommendation from Equibiome as a good bacteria source.

It's possibly a silly question but those of you that do feed these herbs, did they find their horse's temperament change at all? As I don't want something that might make her see monsters!

Thank you.

 

[PurBee]

I haven’t tried many herbs on my horses - yet i have fresh oregano big plant growing by their loafing area which they can reach through the fence, but they never eat it!
Also, i’ve got an abundance of wild mint growing in the damper parts of fields, which they also dont eat ? i’ve watched them purposefully graze around it - weird theyre not interested in fresh mint.

They both do, however, absolutely love love love fresh parsley! (I do too, and grow huge amounts as its one of the most nutrient dense herbs)

However, I bet i could add these oily dried herbs to their mash and they’d eat it. Maybe the fresh herbs are just too pungent smelling to them?

 

[SEL]

I only saw a temperament change for the better when I added them in. This was when the Equibiome reports first came out and I was a bit sceptical - but I did see an improvement

Can't get them to eat fresh rosemary and oregano though which is annoying as they grow like weeds in my garden.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My 3 are all on them, as you probably know if you've been reading back on other threads.

No crazy behaviour, in fact the contrary. But, as ever, introduce them gradually.

Mine get 20ml of an oregano/thyme/rosemary mix twice daily, plus 150ml twice daily of a homemade mix based on Feedmark's No Fill, which adds more herbs.

 

[dorsetladette]

https://www.horseherbs.co.uk/collections/all-herbs-a-z?gf_277449=Herbal Blends

I feed the daily boost and joint relief from horse herbs. His dinner smells like bolognaise lol. The only change in behaviour I've noticed is a sense of calm. It's like he's taken a deep breath and relaxed.

FYI - I own a welsh cob who spooks at his own farts!!

 

[GrassChop]

I haven’t tried many herbs on my horses - yet i have fresh oregano big plant growing by their loafing area which they can reach through the fence, but they never eat it!
Also, i’ve got an abundance of wild mint growing in the damper parts of fields, which they also dont eat ? i’ve watched them purposefully graze around it - weird theyre not interested in fresh mint.

They both do, however, absolutely love love love fresh parsley! (I do too, and grow huge amounts as its one of the most nutrient dense herbs)

However, I bet i could add these oily dried herbs to their mash and they’d eat it. Maybe the fresh herbs are just too pungent smelling to them?

Interesting! I thought they'd love fresh mint too!

 

[GrassChop]

https://www.horseherbs.co.uk/collections/all-herbs-a-z?gf_277449=Herbal Blends

I feed the daily boost and joint relief from horse herbs. His dinner smells like bolognaise lol. The only change in behaviour I've noticed is a sense of calm. It's like he's taken a deep breath and relaxed.

FYI - I own a welsh cob who spooks at his own farts!!

Thank you, this is great to know. Mine is prone to a good spook at times too!

 

[GrassChop]

My 3 are all on them, as you probably know if you've been reading back on other threads.

No crazy behaviour, in fact the contrary. But, as ever, introduce them gradually.

Mine get 20ml of an oregano/thyme/rosemary mix twice daily, plus 150ml twice daily of a homemade mix based on Feedmark's No Fill, which adds more herbs.

This is really reassuring, thank you.
Is it a 20ml scoop you are using? If so, do you know how much that weighs please? I've bought 250g of each and plan to mix it all together but I wasn't sure how much needs to be fed. I was thinking of using a 50ml scoop for it once graduated on so around maybe 10g each within a scoop as a rough estimate!

 

[GrassChop]

I only saw a temperament change for the better when I added them in. This was when the Equibiome reports first came out and I was a bit sceptical - but I did see an improvement

Can't get them to eat fresh rosemary and oregano though which is annoying as they grow like weeds in my garden.

Thank you, this is good to know. How much do you/did you feed please?

 

[Tiddlypom]

This is really reassuring, thank you.
Is it a 20ml scoop you are using? If so, do you know how much that weighs please? I've bought 250g of each and plan to mix it all together but I wasn't sure how much needs to be fed. I was thinking of using a 50ml scoop for it once graduated on so around maybe 10g each within a scoop as a rough estimate!

Yes, I use a 20 ml scoop twice daily. I'm sorry, but I don't know how much that volume of dried herbs weighs, but not a lot.

I buy the herbs in bulk in 1 kg bags and mix a bag each of oregano, thyme and rosemary together at once. Repurposed old supplement tubs are useful containers to keep the mixed herbs in. Come to think of it, that's how I got the 20ml scoop.

This is where I buy the herbs.

https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co....mEa6vSUfm2BQ82_V_sSy2SnovLvfaQ9xoCjOEQAvD_BwE

 

[GrassChop]

Yes, I use a 20 ml scoop twice daily. I'm sorry, but I don't know how much that volume of dried herbs weighs, but not a lot.

I buy the herbs in bulk in 1 kg bags and mix a bag each of oregano, thyme and rosemary together at once. Repurposed old supplement tubs are useful containers to keep the mixed herbs in. Come to think of it, that's how I got the 20ml scoop.

This is where I buy the herbs.

https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co....mEa6vSUfm2BQ82_V_sSy2SnovLvfaQ9xoCjOEQAvD_BwE

Thank you, I got them from Real Foods in the end as they were slightly less. I have a spare supplement tub ready with millions of scoops of all sizes! I'll give a 50ml scoop a weigh tonight.

Does it say anywhere how much Equibiome recommend? Sorry for the questions!

 

[coblets]

Also, i’ve got an abundance of wild mint growing in the damper parts of fields, which they also dont eat ? i’ve watched them purposefully graze around it - weird theyre not interested in fresh mint.

I wonder if it's a self medication/zoopharmocognosy thing. Maybe they don't need the nutrients from wild mint? I know horses can be picky with lemon balm depending on their emotions.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Thank you, I got them from Real Foods in the end as they were slightly less. I have a spare supplement tub ready with millions of scoops of all sizes! I'll give a 50ml scoop a weigh tonight.

Does it say anywhere how much Equibiome recommend? Sorry for the questions!

25-60g is the recommendation. I feed 50-75ml but no idea of the weight. Be interested in how much 50ml weighs.

oregano, thyme and Rosemary are quite different volumes per kg.

 

[GrassChop]

25-60g is the recommendation. I feed 50-75ml but no idea of the weight. Be interested in how much 50ml weighs.

oregano, thyme and Rosemary are quite different volumes per kg.

Perfect, thank you!

The 50ml of all herbs mixed was approx 25g.

 

[PurBee]

I wonder if it's a self medication/zoopharmocognosy thing. Maybe they don't need the nutrients from wild mint? I know horses can be picky with lemon balm depending on their emotions.

I think you’re right, i’ve observed then gorge on willow leaves and fine twigs sometimes but they never eat them daily, regularly during growing season.

 

[Zuzan]

I'm feeding a couple of scoops of Dodson and Horrell hedgerow herbs .. it hasn't got rosemary in but does have other goodies like nettle and dandelion. Think it's quite a nice broad spectrum / diverse addition. I seasonally / periodically do another combo (home made) of Milk Thistle Seeds, Dandelion and Burdock root. In spring, I pick clivers and hawthorn .. .. sorry that's a bit all off topic.

 

[Antw23uk]

Love this thread and the links. I like to try and forage for my horse with willow/ nettles, herbs and berries but having something to add to his feed which i can buy is a great idea

 

[GrassChop]

Love this thread and the links. I like to try and forage for my horse with willow/ nettles, herbs and berries but having something to add to his feed which i can buy is a great idea

Me too, I love collecting buckets of cleavers, hawthorn berries, drying nettles etc for them and being able to give them herbs they can't get themselves.

My horse loved the herbs in her feed last night!

 

[onemoretime]

Sorry to drag up this old thread but just wanted to ask is it ok to feed Protexin gut balancer and the Rosemary Thyme and Oregano dried mix at the same time. Thks

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sorry to drag up this old thread but just wanted to ask is it ok to feed Protexin gut balancer and the Rosemary Thyme and Oregano dried mix at the same time. Thks

Yes, that is ok, they are fully compatible and do not have adverse interactions .

Protexin gut balancer is Alfalfa meal, Preplex® prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Brewer's yeast.

 

[onemoretime]

Yes, that is ok, they are fully compatible and do not have adverse interactions .

Protexin gut balancer is Alfalfa meal, Preplex® prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Brewer's yeast.

Many thanks TP.

 

[Dexter]

Yes, that is ok, they are fully compatible and do not have adverse interactions .

Protexin gut balancer is Alfalfa meal, Preplex® prebiotic (Fructo-oligosaccharide), Brewer's yeast.

Do they know that? I wasnt aware of any research in horses about how/if they do actually work or not and why

 

[Tiddlypom]

Two experienced equine vets have separately recommended to me the Equibiome protocol, which involves (amongst other things) feeding oily herbs such as rosemary. thyme and oregano. It's about getting a wider variety of plant species in the diet to boost hind gut health.

Also they recommend Protexin gut balancer.

https://www.equibiome.org/post/manage-your-blog-from-your-live-site

 

[GrassChop]

I have to say, I've been feeding these herbs since I started the thread and the difference has been amazing. She is so relaxed all the time, no seeing monsters anymore.

 

[onemoretime]

I have to say, I've been feeding these herbs since I started the thread and the difference has been amazing. She is so relaxed all the time, no seeing monsters anymore.

That's really good to hear Grasschop many thanks. I started my mare on a small amount and have built her up to a 25mil scoop once a day. I will go to twice a day with this amount. How much do you feed please, just out of interest and do you feed once a day or twice a day?

 

[GrassChop]

That's really good to hear Grasschop many thanks. I started my mare on a small amount and have built her up to a 25mil scoop once a day. I will go to twice a day with this amount. How much do you feed please, just out of interest and do you feed once a day or twice a day?

I feed a heaped 50ml scoop once a day.

It's amazing how you have all these expensive supplements out there yet the only thing that worked was 3 basic herbs!

 

[onemoretime]

I feed a heaped 50ml scoop once a day.

It's amazing how you have all these expensive supplements out there yet the only thing that worked was 3 basic herbs!

Yes agree. I thinkits all down to clever marketing.