Old and Proven remedies / recipes requested

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epona-kath

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Hi,
I am currently writing a book which will include recipe's and remedies, both old and new for use on our horses and around the yard.

I have many I have collected and made up myself over the years, but would love to include any tried and tested you clever bunch may have... A ode or story to accompany the remedy or recipe would be great too..................

many thanks in advance.................

kath:)
 
Recipe for homemade fly spray - I don't do measurements hehe
Tea tree oil
Citronella oil
Vinegar
Avon Skin So Soft
Water

Furniture polish for mane and tail spray
Nizerol shampoo for treating mudfever
 
Melting a bar of saddle soap and adding a pint of milk?
I'm sure someone will have some brilliant pig oil recipes!

Of course my fave recipe is a CB mare and TB stallion! ;)

Ill be watching with interest! :)
 
Nettles are brilliant source of iron for horses. Pull them up and leave them in the middle of the field and once the sting has gone from them the horse will tuck in.
 
haven't got a lot to add... but I'll be watching with interest.

putting st Johns wort in a compress to reduce soft tissue inflammation (not on broken skin) is quite effective
putting yarrow and a kettle of boiling water over a slice of hay to help soothe coughs and colds.
 
Happy Hunter said:
Melting a bar of saddle soap and adding a pint of milk?
I'm sure someone will have some brilliant pig oil recipes!

Of course my fave recipe is a CB mare and TB stallion! ;)

Ill be watching with interest! :)
Click to expand...

Add to this mix, a few drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil and it will stop your tack from getting mouldy if it has to be stored
 
Fly spray 50/50 dettol and vinegar. (Can cause scaly skin on sensitive horses).

Epsom salts for laminitis (contains magnesium now known assist in regulating insulin which is often gone haywire in lami horses)

Dolomite for horses on acid ground. Magnesium again, in short supply in plants on acid soils. Known also as calcined magnesite and calmag.

"Chuck it out for three months with its shoes off" - cures most lamenesses and was normal treatment before expensive diagnostics were available.
 
I make ice lolly type treats in large flat plastic containers, add a load of mint leaves to water and freeze. My horses love to lick these when its really hot!

We also grow cracked willow as hedges which they pick and browse on when they fancy.

Ash leaves give them a lovely dapple in the spring.

They also love nettles as posted earlier.

Blackberries. My bunch luv 'em!!

Oh also use very small nappies as a poultice on hoof abscess. Really easy to apply and work a treat and extra bonus much much cheaper than the real thing......
 
An old "remedy" for anything that reared: and what we always were advised to do at pony club with anything that went up on its back legs even if only the once:-

Three things basically: "Get off, stay off, and ring kennels". Sad but true. That was the way it was without any fancy horsemanship and/or psychoanalysing the situation.

Also, for improving condition and toning muscles: the old fashioned "banging" i.e. twist some hay/straw together into a hard woven pad and then basically swing the thing at the horse! An old ostler's skill which has now fallen into disuse; I doubt if many people nowadays have ever heard of it let alone ever done it, but it was common practice say 40 years ago in hunting or professional yards and again is something we were taught how to do at pony club.
 
Bitter Apples spray (put on mane and tails, stops other horses chewing )

Andrews Liver salts/ Epsom salts
( Lami )
 
Yeah, banging or strapping! Definitely works!
Chickens running around nervous horses also works and calms them down. The horses that is
Baking soda to whiten socks, saddle cloth, bandages
 
I have a series of books published in 1906 and also Black's Veterinary Dictionary from 1928

What is amusing is how so many of the 'old' remedies are returning today.

Comfrey root and leaf used for mending broken bones. (Known as 'bone knit' )

Purging horses was the norm and a variety of herbs and medicines used.
 
I still use Guiness for a touch of mild colic,like if horse stamping,or looking at stomach. Was told it was to do with the hops used. It works! Wouldn't use if horse rolling,get vet then.
 
Kind of bush, with red berrys that we use for our horses that are laminitic, cant remember the name of it to save myself!! And we use sudocreme for cuts, straighteners on manes and tails before weekend shows on the showjumpers so they look tidy, make up feeds in advance in plastic bags to save time and only need to add pulp/molasses before being fed. Putting baler twine through the hole in the end of your hoofpick which can also be used as a twitch. Were a very oldschool yard, give me a message if you need anymore! Got loads!
 
cptrayes said:
Epsom salts for laminitis (contains magnesium now known assist in regulating insulin which is often gone haywire in lami horses)
Click to expand...

Epsom Salts is magnesium sulfate, a very strong laxative and purgative and harsh on the gut, also potentially harmful to the muscles in long term use (including the heart). Chelated magnesium for top efficiency and no side effects is better
 
Some old remedies that my great grandfather used (but I wouldn't recommend!) were to give a bucket of sugary water to get rid of worms, apparently worked but I can't imagine the effect on the gut :eek: He bought a horse from auction that was riddled apparently and this did the job.

Stockholm tar on cuts and hoof conditions. (a carcinogenic I believe)

Paraffin on the coat for shine, my grandad was showing his gleaming horse and was asked jokingly by the judge to "Tak it away lad, afore it catches fire!"

Gorse in the stable for a broken winded horse.

Eggs and stout as a tonic. (My grandfather was apparently cursing the chickens he's bought as guaranteed layers without realising dad was stealing the eggs for the horses)


Bread and bran as a poultice.

Goose grease for harness sores.

Mustard as a blister.
 
"Paraffin on the coat for shine, my grandad was showing his gleaming horse and was asked jokingly by the judge to "Tak it away lad, afore it catches fire!"

Love this story!!
 
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