Oily herbs for horses

[Tiddlypom]

Following my mare's equibiome test results, I've been advised to add fresh oily herbs (amongst other things) to her diet to aid her gut flora, which is way out of kilter at the moment .

Anyone got any suggestions of easy to source fresh oily herbs? Must be fresh, not dried.

Maybe oregano, rosemary, mint? Wilted nettles have been suggested, that would be useful as I have a ready supply of nettles growing in one area.

I'm not really up on these things, so any help would be gratefully received. I have asked the equibiome peeps as well, but I'm impatient .

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Peppermint, spearmint, geranium and yarrow are some that I can think of, don't pine needles contain oil too?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thanks, TFF .

What sort of mint is garden mint? That's very easy to grow.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Thanks, TFF .

What sort of mint is garden mint? That's very easy to grow.

Ooh dont ask me! I'm rubbish at growing, I just steal from family and friends gardens! ?

 

[dixie]

Are cleavers oily? There is a lot in the hedges atm.

 

[Frano]

What is meant by oily herbs? Did they suggest anything? Oil can be distilled from most herbs.Perhaps offer different fresh herbs and see what your horse chooses. They can self medicate and choose what they need if offered a choice.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Fresh herbs, amongst other things, have been recommended for their high polyphenol content, to help kick start her gut biome. Tbf, they've been very helpful and I'm sure they will get back to me tomorrow morning with suggestions.

Cleavers is a good call, I'm not sure if it's oily but it's very beneficial. I don't think its growing here yet, but we do get a lot in season. 'Sticky willy '. Hedgerow browsing is much encouraged.

It might sound wacky, but it was a vet who recommended that I went down this route. Her clients' horses have improved hugely when following the suggested post test diet tweaks.

 

[DabDab]

For polyphenol I found peppermint, flaxseeds and black currents gave the biggest bang per easy-to-mix-in-a-feed serving.

 

[bouncing_ball]

My friend who was following the equibiome recommendations was feeding oregano, rosemary and thyme dried. But I think was something to do with being a good food source for beneficial gut bacteria, rather than for polyphenols, as far as I understood.

 

[SEL]

They used to recommend oregano, rosemary and thyme. The first 2 grow madly in my garden but my horses look like I am trying to poison them if added fresh to their feed. Oregano in small amounts tolerated but rosemary has such a strong smell I was adding a tiny bit only. I bought dried thyme. Equinatural will blend the 3 for you.

Mint, basil, fenugreek all accepted. Branches of young hawthorn, cleavers, chopped nettles very popular .

 

[maddielove]

My friend who was following the equibiome recommendations was feeding oregano, rosemary and thyme dried. But I think was something to do with being a good food source for beneficial gut bacteria, rather than for polyphenols, as far as I understood.

I piled a mix of these herbs into my mares feed tonight on the advice of the equibiome report too, didn't see anywhere stipulating it needed to be fresh for her though, now worried I've misread things!

For what it's worth, they went down very well if you do choose to feed these fresh!

 

[Shooting Star]

I piled a mix of these herbs into my mares feed tonight on the advice of the equibiome report too, didn't see anywhere stipulating it needed to be fresh for her though, now worried I've misread things!

For what it's worth, they went down very well if you do choose to feed these fresh!

My report didn’t state fresh either, I just used the biome 2 supplement which supplies the oily herbs required. Results for me were very noticeable within 10 days and we just use the maintenance one now more than a year on. I do know other people though who have had the reports, followed the advice and seen no improvement.

 

[PurBee]

Oregano is easy to grow as it does well with neglect! Grows well in uk climate - various soil types, cloudy, cool, rainy conditions does it good...perennial, it self-expands too so youll end up with very mature mini bushes of it.

My horses didnt want to eat it fresh weirdly_probably too strong smelling - havent tried them on it dried.
they love parsley though!

The oiliest herbs are the strongest smelling ones when leaves are rubbed slightly.

How about melissa/lemon balm? Is that good for horses?

 

[bouncing_ball]

I piled a mix of these herbs into my mares feed tonight on the advice of the equibiome report too, didn't see anywhere stipulating it needed to be fresh for her though, now worried I've misread things!

For what it's worth, they went down very well if you do choose to feed these fresh!

I wonder if it might be an error on Tiddlypom’s part or not getting all the message.

Ive checked and a number of people have been asked to add dried oregano, basil and rosemary by equibiome.

 

[cauda equina]

So basically Schwartz Italian Seasoning

 

[Tiddlypom]

I wonder if it might be an error on Tiddlypom’s part or not getting all the message.

Ive checked and a number of people have been asked to add dried oregano, basil and rosemary by equibiome.

I am an idiot , on p 21 of 32 of the report it does does list oregano, rosemary and thyme as being suitable herbs, and nowhere does it say that they must be fresh, doh.

I piled a mix of these herbs into my mares feed tonight on the advice of the equibiome report too, didn't see anywhere stipulating it needed to be fresh for her though, now worried I've misread things!

For what it's worth, they went down very well if you do choose to feed these fresh!

That's good to hear! Hopefully my mare will be as keen.

She is already much more settled and relaxed than she was in early March, when I started her on the equibiome prebiotic. It took about a fortnight to kick in. I was beginning to wonder if it was fair to keep her going, so this was her last chance, really. She's a homebred, so I knew the grumpy behaviour was not normal for her.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I am an idiot , on p 21 of 32 of the report it does does list oregano, rosemary and thyme as being suitable herbs, and nowhere does it say that they must be fresh, doh.

That's good to hear! Hopefully my mare will be as keen.

She is already much more settled and relaxed than she was in early March, when I started her on the equibiome prebiotic. It took about a fortnight to kick in. I was beginning to wonder if it was fair to keep her going, so this was her last chance, really. She's a homebred, so I knew the grumpy behaviour was not normal for her.

great, thats good to know we are all on same page.

You can buy oregano / rosemary / thyme in bulk from catering companies.

Most horses seem to quite like taste.

I tend to feed 60ml of mixed oregano / rosemary / thyme as general good gut bacteria support.

 

[Frumpoon]

This forum continues to be an education. ?

Were quantities mentioned? Grams per kilo of horse or similar?

 

[GinaGeo]

I've been feeding dried Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary off the back of Equibiome report which had identical recommendations as yours TP.

I’m buying in bulk from Wholefoods Online. Mine are getting 40ml a day as that seemed about in the middle for the suggestions.

I also give them some dried rose hips, cut them branches from suitable trees, and chop and wilt nettles.

I also started my ‘special’ on the Equibiome Prebiotic and it’s the only thing that helped us get his allergies under control. He’s currently on Biome 5 and the oily herbs. I must say his skin has never looked better.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I've been feeding dried Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary off the back of Equibiome report which had identical recommendations as yours TP.

I’m buying in bulk from Wholefoods Online. Mine are getting 40ml a day as that seemed about in the middle for the suggestions.

I also give them some dried rose hips, cut them branches from suitable trees, and chop and wilt nettles.

I also started my ‘special’ on the Equibiome Prebiotic and it’s the only thing that helped us get his allergies under control. He’s currently on Biome 5 and the oily herbs. I must say his skin has never looked better.

40ml of each? Or 40ml in total?

 

[GinaGeo]

40ml of each? Or 40ml in total?

I’ve mixed them altogether in a bag. They’re getting a heaped 20ml scoop twice a day.

So in total ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’m buying in bulk from Wholefoods Online. Mine are getting 40ml a day as that seemed about in the middle for the suggestions.

I also give them some dried rose hips, cut them branches from suitable trees, and chop and wilt nettles.

Those are good prices, thanks for the heads up. I was planning on feeding dried rose hips, too. Like minds .

I've decided to give the oily herbs to all 3 neds, I've started them on 5ml twice daily, all hoovered. I'll gradually build up the quantity, it smells yum!

I'll be starting the hind gut acidosis mare on Biome food no 5 as soon as it arrives.

 

[Dexter]

Has anyone had any success with spooky horses? no health issues at all but hes always ready to spook and over react. It makes me wonder if theres something else going on that I just havent found yet

 

[Tiddlypom]

If the horse is in a constant low level of discomfort, then that can make them generally more reactive.

There is no reliable test for hind gut issues, it's more a case of diagnosis by elimination of other issues, such as foregut ulcers.

My mare has always had a 'lazy' right hind, which is consistent with hind gut discomfort. She was formerly a decent teenagers eventer, aiming for BE100s.

On my regular vet's advice she been on Succeed supplement for 18 months, which has helped a lot but it does not seem to have addressed the issue of her very unbalanced gut flora. Though maybe it was even worse before she went on it.

 

[cauda equina]

If the horse is in a constant low level of discomfort, then that can make them generally more reactive.

There is no reliable test for hind gut issues, it's more a case of diagnosis by elimination of other issues, such as foregut ulcers.

My mare has always had a 'lazy' right hind, which is consistent with hind gut discomfort. She was formerly a decent teenagers eventer, aiming for BE100s.

On my regular vet's advice she been on Succeed supplement for 18 months, which has helped a lot but it does not seem to have addressed the issue of her very unbalanced gut flora. Though maybe it was even worse before she went on it.

How does the 'lazy' RH present?
My peculiar laminitic has an odd RH; he's funny about holding it up for the farrier and at times goes on 3 tracks with his quarters to the right
I'm suspicious about the state of his hindgut but have never investigated it

 

[Tiddlypom]

How does the 'lazy' RH present?
My peculiar laminitic has an odd RH; he's funny about holding it up for the farrier and at times goes on 3 tracks with his quarters to the right
I'm suspicious about the state of his hindgut but have never investigated it

Could be. IMHO it would be worth looking into. My mare has always been a bit snatchy with her right hind, and found it difficult to work straight. A dressage trainer thought she was lame on it, but the vet thought she was sound.

She was still competing, jumping and going clear XC at BE, with good dressage marks.

Looking back, I think this had been troubling her for a long while.

ETA I believe, though I haven't looked into it much, that an unbalanced hind gut flora can make a horse more predisposed to get laminitis.

 

[cauda equina]

Thanks for that.
The unbalanced hind gut/laminitis thing makes complete sense to me but I haven't been able to find many references

 

[Frumpoon]

Question - if we accept that management methods disrupt the gut environment [and I do] and offering hedgerow herbs/oily herbs/other stuff will help here in the UK.....how does this rationale apply to other countries?

I'm thinking of warmer climates such as Spain and Italy where the turnout and grazing is far different to ours being more along the lines of corralling horses and providing a very different kind of roughage