Those who make their own herbal mixes

[lynz88]

For those that make your own herbal/hedgerow mixes, how did you decide which herbs to give and do you change up your herbs according to the seasons?

I'm keen to add herbs as suggested by the equibiome report. It was suggested adding any herbs/hedgerow so long as he gets high amounts of polyphenol (outside of the Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary I've been giving) but not sure which herbs to add - there's almost too much choice. Not only do we have gut issues but we also have arthritis so feel like that means adding all herbs under the sun? jk!!

I am thinking meadowsweet, cleavers, marigold, fenugreek, hawthorn, and dandelion but not sure!! Nettles is another one I keep tossing about but I've read it is high in iron and I'm trying to keep that down as I've already got hair/coat issues that is indicative of high iron (though after reading the equibiome report I do wonder if it's more or less because a general extreme imbalance in gut bacteria).

 

[SEL]

Have to confess I usually just ask Carol at Equinatural!!

 

[lynz88]

Ohh thank you SEL. I had a look and they have a mix to be hand fed every couple of days as well that fits the bill but am also going to drop them an email!!

 

[Pokitren]

For those that make your own herbal/hedgerow mixes, how did you decide which herbs to give and do you change up your herbs according to the seasons?

I'm keen to add herbs as suggested by the equibiome report. It was suggested adding any herbs/hedgerow so long as he gets high amounts of polyphenol (outside of the Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary I've been giving) but not sure which herbs to add - there's almost too much choice. Not only do we have gut issues but we also have arthritis so feel like that means adding all herbs under the sun? jk!!

I am thinking meadowsweet, cleavers, marigold, fenugreek, hawthorn, and dandelion but not sure!! Nettles is another one I keep tossing about but I've read it is high in iron and I'm trying to keep that down as I've already got hair/coat issues that is indicative of high iron (though after reading the equibiome report I do wonder if it's more or less because a general extreme imbalance in gut bacteria).

If you said gut in humans, I would very likely assume an imbalance of gut bacteria. In horses, I don't know. But if you write a letter to a specialist, ask about chamomile. What would they say about it?

 

[lynz88]

Pokitren, I had the equibiome test done upon reading similar clinical signs as someone else on this forum and suspected the gut was way out of whack. I wasn't wrong when I got my results back! I have dropped Carol at Equinatural an email with more specific details and she said she will get back to me shortly with some suggestions although their multivit mix with various fruits is definitely on my list as it fits part of the recommendations made by equibiome.

 

[Green Bean]

Look up what each herb is useful for and in what concentration. For example, you would have to feed a huge amount of kelp for it to be beneficial. I tend to stick to what is available in 'the wild' of paddocks and trails. Nettle, dandelion, thistle etc. What I did try and didn't work was picking and drying hawthorn and rose hips. I mixed them in with my bought herbs and horse refused to eat the whole lot so that was a waste. What would work is cutting and wilting nettles and thistles to where they are almost dry but still green - that my horse will eat!

 

[lynz88]

thanks GB. I feel like over the past few days (it's been slow at work....what can I say?!) I've created a bit of a bible of herbs, how much to feed of which, etc. I've gone with quite a mix but used the microbiome mix as a base from Animal Aromatics (who were extremely helpful!!) and then added a few more. I also emailed Carol from EquiNatural and it seemed that she was mostly just interested in scare-selling than giving any meaningful advice which was annoying although I did purchase their WildVits phytonutrient mix to be handfed every couple of days or so as well as it fit the bill from my report.

I am lucky that my horse is a secret pig and will eat literally anything you put in front of him!!

 

[stangs]

Apologises for bumping an older thread, but which herbs did you end up using alongside the microbiome mix and did you feel that they worked?

I've recently started trying to develop my own bible of herbs in trying to decide what's best for horse, but am struggling to find any reliable information more detailed "X herb is good for your horse in lots of ways".

 

[lynz88]

I went back to just the oily herbs as he ended up losing weight and becoming sticky again (I think I read somewhere that cleavers can cause weight loss. He also didn't like the marigolds (he would eat them but not on their own). And not sure the microbiome mix from animal aromatics was good for his tummy either as I added it back in as a single additive and he went a bit backwards). 2 weeks back on the straight oily herbs he gained weight and became unsticky again. I did just feed another herbal mix which was supposed to be good for the gut but I can say that while it did perk him up and he did have some freer movement, his hind gut looked very uncomfortable. It did have turmeric and rosehips in it and he is very arthritic so wonder if either of those helped his pain levels.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I went back to just the oily herbs as he ended up losing weight and becoming sticky again (I think I read somewhere that cleavers can cause weight loss. He also didn't like the marigolds (he would eat them but not on their own). And not sure the microbiome mix from animal aromatics was good for his tummy either as I added it back in as a single additive and he went a bit backwards). 2 weeks back on the straight oily herbs he gained weight and became unsticky again. I did just feed another herbal mix which was supposed to be good for the gut but I can say that while it did perk him up and he did have some freer movement, his hind gut looked very uncomfortable. It did have turmeric and rosehips in it and he is very arthritic so wonder if either of those helped his pain levels.

Turmeric upset one of my horses his droppings became really loose so it doesn't agree with all horses.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

For anyone interested in herbs and natural hedgerow plants for horses there is a very good book called Herbal Horsekeeping. It’s written by Robert McDowell and Di Rowling and covers subjects such as understanding herbs, how they work, which ones you need, how to grow and prepare them. Herbs for general health, for the performance horse, breeding and also talks about specific conditions and what to use. It is a hardback and cost £25 but it is a very useful resource.

 

[stangs]

I went back to just the oily herbs as he ended up losing weight and becoming sticky again (I think I read somewhere that cleavers can cause weight loss. He also didn't like the marigolds (he would eat them but not on their own). And not sure the microbiome mix from animal aromatics was good for his tummy either as I added it back in as a single additive and he went a bit backwards). 2 weeks back on the straight oily herbs he gained weight and became unsticky again. I did just feed another herbal mix which was supposed to be good for the gut but I can say that while it did perk him up and he did have some freer movement, his hind gut looked very uncomfortable. It did have turmeric and rosehips in it and he is very arthritic so wonder if either of those helped his pain levels.

Thank you. That’s interesting re the cleavers; I’ve only ever heard of them being used for reducing swelling, but weight loss would be an added bonus in my boy’s case.

 

[lynz88]

I think it is the combo of cleavers and marigold flowers that promote weight loss as well as reducing swelling. I can't find my little book of research so can't double check but am fairly certain it was those!

 

[lynz88]

Turmeric upset one of my horses his droppings became really loose so it doesn't agree with all horses.

Tbh turmeric does the same for me as a human so can only tolerate in very low amounts and strangely is what has kept me from feeding it to said horse (not that it will necessarily have the same effect between horse and human). But actually I wonder if that was what wasn't helping him in the mix....!

 

[cauda equina]

I took turmeric capsules for a painful hip
The recommended dose had no effects at all either good or bad, doubling the dose helped the pain but gave me indigestion

 

[Pinkvboots]

Tbh turmeric does the same for me as a human so can only tolerate in very low amounts and strangely is what has kept me from feeding it to said horse (not that it will necessarily have the same effect between horse and human). But actually I wonder if that was what wasn't helping him in the mix....!

It is quite a strong thing and I can imagine having it everyday could upset human or horse quite easily, my one that is sensitive to it will often just suddenly stop eating his feed so I have to change it, he also never used to be that bothered about bucket feed and would often leeve a bit recently I went back to adding unmolassed sugar beet to chaff and added the oily herbs, rosemary, oregano, thyme and spearmint and he loves his feed now and eats it all straight away now.