Garlic, is it really that bad!!!

[RutlandH2O]

Several years ago, there was an article in H&H, I think (it might have been the Horse.com) which described a taste test for horses. Apparently, garlic was one of the flavours least favoured by horses. Their preferred tastes came from bananas and fenugreek. Considering the number of feeds employing garlic in their formulas, it is such a shame horses can't speak.

 

[eventer13]

Garlic is fantastic. It's great for the respiratory system so is great for the lungs, coughs & anything wind related. It has great healing properties being an anti-septic & anti-inflammatory. It helps deter worms, is a natural fly repellent.

The only danger is caused by over feeding it. If you over do it, it can cause anemia in horses. But then again you can cause problems by over feeding a lot of things .....

I completely agree with this -I have an ex-racer who sounded hoarse in his breathing at a decent canter when he came to me despite being kept on dust-free shavings and haylage. I added a little Bailey's dried garlic to his food and within a few months his breathing became completely normal. We did the same when I bought my first pony and he developed a cough when stabled -the cough went soon enough.

It is excellent for their respiratory system; just, as with every supplement, don't over feed it! It is worth checking your feed, especially if you feed mixes, to see if it already contains garlic (alongside anything else you are supplementing) to make sure you aren't over-doing it. All mine have a little garlic and I've never had any adverse reactions (they are all fit and well with shiny coats and compete up to Intermediate BE and Medium BD...).

I'm glad this has been bought up though -I hadn't made the link between garlic boosting the immune system and sweet-itch being due to the immune system over-reacting so I'll certainly be taking my mare off it over the summer when they are turned out more. Thanks for that!

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Garlic is anti-bacterial, so it can upset the digestive system. It can also boost the immune system, so shouldn't be used for sweet itch sufferers because their immune system is already working in over drive due to the midge saliva, so it can make sweet itch worse.
If feeding garlic, it is most effective in cycles of approx 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off (according to a qualified herbalist)

This. I stopped feed it because my lad has stomach issues.
FDC

 

[LaurenBay]

I feed garlic, I feed it to keep the flies away in the summer and also to help with her breathing. She had a cough a while back. started feeding Garlic and soaking hay. Cough went and hasn't returned. I will continue to feed it, although I might put half a scoop in, instead of a scoop in each feed.

 

[Persephone]

I stopped feeding it several years ago after a link was found with Anaemia.

 

[dalidaydream]

I started feeding my pony garlic a couple of years ago to try to deter flies. I didn't find it helped with this at all but did find his droppings to be much improved which seems to be the complete opposite of what most people are saying.

I do remember seeing some research about garlic being bad for horses but they were feeding something like 9 mugs a day (can't rememer exact amount but it was something ridiculous). I think the conclusion was that in moderation it did no harm but I stand to be corrected.

 

[Mlini]

Thanks for this - I never knew garlic was bad for them! When I was younger, I worked on a livery yard that put garlic in every horses feed - they said it was to deter flies, so I always believed this.

I don't feed garlic myself, but know quite a few on my yard that do - Garlic is a pretty popular supplement!

 

[cremedemonthe]

garlic is toxic, it's actually toxic for quite a few species and if you google, there's alot of info that can lead you to make your own mind up.not enough (if anything!) is known about the toxicity of garlic when fed in small amounts.

for starters

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/nutrition/feeds/eqgarlic528/

good article, thanks

 

[Lexie81]

Always used to feed it in summer as I was always told it was a good fly repellent. A couple of years ago a horse I had dropped condition terribly her coat was dull and no matter what I fed her and how much grass she had she wouldn't pick up. Called the vets who took blood and said she was very anaemic. He asked if I fed garlic and advised me to stop, he said some horses can't tolerate it hence the anaemia. Had a large vets bill as she needed hemo 15 jabs and 2 visits so not feeding it to any of mine any more!!

 

[Lotty]

I stopped feeding it several years ago after a link was found with Anaemia.

I stopped feeding it after I read this too.