Self medicating horses

[Tiddlypom]

Two creaky mature ladies self medicating on the overhanging willow leaves .

The youngest mare would like a nibble too, but she’s not got such a long reach, so she doesn’t get much chance.

Yes, it is July and yes, they’re in their 100g turnouts, it‘s been miserable here this morning ?.

 

[Auslander]

Same here - Alf decided to finish off the last bit of this particular willow while I was trying to teach someone - over the poles you can see in the pic!

 

[J&S]

My ponies chewed all the bark off the willow which was in the field, now no willow! Have planted another couple and fenced them well.

 

[SEL]

Farmer pointed out all the trees in my field has been pruned to appaloosa giraffe head height. Now I know why she's fat....

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Jacob always munches on cleavers whenever we pass some and I let him stop - it's supposed to be a diuretic and good for their lymphatic system, and he is prone to lymphangits.. I also now supplement him with a dried version, it's so interesting!

 

[Pippity]

My first share horse used to like to grab a thistle or two. I always figured that if she wanted a thistle enough to eat a thistle, then I'd let her!

The other day, while I was chatting with my instructor mid-lesson, Blue stuck her head through the arena fence and started munching on some horsetail. She's got the self-preservation instincts of a lemming at times.

 

[ycbm]

I've had two horses had operations, one GA and one heavy sedation and after both of them they made a beeline for dandelion and plantain for a couple of weeks.

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[DirectorFury]

The other day, while I was chatting with my instructor mid-lesson, Blue stuck her head through the arena fence and started munching on some horsetail. She's got the self-preservation instincts of a lemming at times.

I've got a garden full of the stuff here, shame it's toxic to animals or I'd offer Blue a holiday!

 

[Chinchilla]

I've had two horses had operations, one GA and one heavy sedation and after both of them they made a beeline for dandelion and plantain for a couple of weeks.

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Why would that be? Dandelion is diuretic, plaintain (esp. broadleaf) has ulcer preventative properties and the seeds are a bulking agent but curious as to why they'd seek it out after ops, if you know?

 

[buddylove]

My daughter's pony has just had an eye removed, and on his in hand walks he was actively foraging in the hedges for Clivers.
He knows best!

 

[ycbm]

Why would that be? Dandelion is diuretic, plaintain (esp. broadleaf) has ulcer preventative properties and the seeds are a bulking agent but curious as to why they'd seek it out after ops, if you know?

Plantain is also a diuretic. I assumed it was to flush out toxins. They knew what they wanted, I was hand grazing on the verges and I saw them pick out the individual plants.

 

[Chinchilla]

Plantain is also a diuretic. I assumed it was to flush out toxins. They knew what they wanted, I was hand grazing on the verges and I saw them pick out the individual pants.

Oh I didn't know that - thank you ? what breeds were they out of interest? I've always hypothesised, based on what I've seen in my own horses over the years, that it tends to be just native /cob sorts that do it rather than more highly bred ones but it's a fairly small sample size ?

 

[ycbm]

They were both highly bred warmbloods ?

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[Chinchilla]

They were both highly bred warmbloods ?

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Well that's that little theory out the window ?? oh well....? In my defense it's a sample size of six ?