Garlic is part of the onion family and has been used for thousands of years both to enhance taste in cooking and, more interestingly in this case, garlic for horses is used as a medicine.

It is a bulbous plant growing in a number of different types, which can be divided into hard and soft-neck varieties.

The majority of produced garlic comes from China, it is easy to grow where the climate is relatively mild and is quite resistant to pests.

Its medicinal use has been for a wide range of ills, as well as a means to prevent disease in Chinese, Indian, Egyptian and European medicine from the renaissance period.

The active chemical in garlic is Allicin and it is this that gives the distinctive smell.

What Type Of Garlic Is Best For Horses?

There are odourless garlic products, but these are not as effective as the odour is lost by ageing the garlic, with a fairly obvious effect on quality, from a medicinal perspective.

The ageing process consists of storing garlic in ethanol for over a year, which must clearly have an impact on its active ingredients and their efficacy.

So, good, unprocessed, smelly garlic is the best type to buy.

Given that there are risks in over-feeding garlic (see cautionary notes below), we recommend using a trusted brand where the amount of effective ingredients are controlled and therefore you can be confident of administering the correct dose.

Medicinal Uses Of Garlic For Horses

Garlic contains the trace elements Selenium and Sulphur. Selenium is an antioxidant known to support the immune system and Sulphur to have blood cleansing properties.

Its medicinal benefits are wide any many. Garlic uses are as follows:

• Antiseptic
• Antibiotic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Fly repellant
• Improve appetite
• Respiration – as both expectorant and antibiotic. Can be used to build up antioxidant levels to prevent COPD
• Reduce blood pressure.

It is also fed as a preventative measure and to promote overall wellbeing and support the body’s natural defences.

It can also be used to help increase a horses appetite and make any other feed/supplement more palatable. Garlic supports the good bacteria in your horse’s stomach.

It is also fed, by some owners, to repel flies. The idea is that the horse sweats out garlic smell which flies find unattractive. This can be a key measure, alongside physical barriers, to prevent fly related complaints such as sweet itch.

Feeding Garlic

Typically, a daily feed would be between 14mg to 35 mg per day, depending upon the size of the animal, however, this could differ if the product being used was in any way concentrated.

Please refer closely to suppliers instructions, noting points below.

Note Of Caution

Care must be taken as overfeeding can cause anaemia.

A 2005 study (W. Pearson) conducted regarding the toxicity of garlic for horses fed large amounts of garlic (125g day for 5 weeks) and noted at the end of the study the subjects suffered anaemia thought to be caused by N-propyl disulfide changing enzymes in the red blood cells. The anaemia was reversible.

An important point to note from the study is that horses will voluntarily consume amounts of garlic sufficient to cause anaemia – they will not self-regulate

As with all herbal remedies, care must be taken regarding both dosage and the length of time the herb is administered. Most things are toxic in the wrong quantities or chronic feed.

There have also been anecdotal reports of stomach issues caused by garlic killing off good bugs in the stomach.

In Conclusion

However, the overall consensus from hundreds of years is that using garlic for horses is highly beneficial if administered correctly.

The Stinging Nettle

A plant so common that it is found on nearly every piece of waste ground, yet a nettle supplement for horses can be really helpful, as it has been for humans since anglo saxon times.

Nettles (Urtica dioica) accumulate large quantities of nitrogen, calcium, silica, iron, phosphates and vitamins B, C & K.

This explains their reputation in reducing painful inflammation as seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in humans.

Despite their vicious sting from the formic acid on the leaves when growing (easily relieved with the juice of a dock or plantain leaf crushed in the hand, or a drop or two of pure Lavender essential oil), they are one of our most valuable mineral herbs.

When cut and dried, the nettle loses its sting and becomes a really useful feed supplement.

If you look at a horse grazing, it will not eat live nettles but once cut will quickly hoover them up.

Benefits of Nettles

Containing healthy amounts of iron, vitamin C (an anti-oxidant), chlorophyll and histamine, nettles are primarily diuretic and blood cleansing agents, eliminating uric acid from the body. 

A nettle supplement for horses also acts as an overall tonic, containing essential minerals such as calcium and potassium, typically fed in the springtime to support the horse after a hard winter, especially if living out, and to prepare for the usual increased use and competition in the summer.

Overall benefits are:

• Overall Tonic
• Improved Blood Supply
• Support Healthy Coat
• Kidneys And Urinary Tract
• Allery Resistance

Blood Supply

Nettles compared weight for weight with spinach are far richer in iron and used to alleviate anaemia.

Iron is important for the production of red blood cells and the transportation of oxygen through the body via haemoglobin. 

The presence of vitamin K also gives nettles anti-haemorrhagic qualities. Nettle root contains sitosterols useful in controlling benign prostate hyperplasia.

Nettles also can be used as a sugar balancer to prevent sugar highs and lows, which horses are prone to at certain times of the year, for example, as fructose level in grass increases in the springtime.

Coat

Linked to issues of blood supply, nettles are often used to promote a healthy dappled coat.

Kidneys And Urinary Tract

Nettles are a mild diuretic and can help maintain regulation and loss of body fluids, which can include flushing through toxins.

The diuretics effect can also be of use when reducing inflammation.

Resistance To Allergy

What Is The Best Nettle Supplement For Horses?

Dried nettles are best for horses

The sting in the leaves is due to histamine that can be easily destroyed with drying.

Feeding Nettles As A Supplement

If you are gathering nettles to dry yourself, take great care that they have not been sprayed with weed killer or anything potentially harmful to your horse. Also, of course, take care that you haven’t gathered up any other plant that could be harmful to your horse such as ragwort and groundsel.

Nettles can be cut, spread out on a baking tray and dried in the oven at 70 0 C for an hour or so. Keep the dried nettles in an airtight tin and add to your horse’s mash feed.

Typically one might feed 10g /day to a pony and twice that (20g) to a horse, according to body weight.

Allergies

Any nettle allergy is most likely to be related to the live plant ( i.e. being stung!), however, there have been some cases reported where horses have come up in hives. Also, constipation has been reported as a side-effect.

As with all dietary changes, introduce carefully and monitor closely.

Calendula (Marigold)

Calendula is an annual herb native to southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, naturalised in many parts of the United States. The uses of Calendula for horses are set out below.

A fast-growing bushy annual with an angular branched stem and a pithy hollow core 30 –60cm high. The leaves are pale green, lance-shaped, sticky and strongly aromatic. The plant has single daisy-like flowerheads, bright orange in colour with ligulate florets 13 – 25mm long and about 3mm broad.

So named from Latin Calends, meaning the first day of the month, because it flowers continuously from May to October. 

It is believed that it originated in Egypt and was used as a rejuvenating herb. 

During the American Civil War, field doctors used Calendula leaves to dress surgical wounds with documented success.

A Word Of Caution

Do not confuse Pot marigold (Calendula species) with the French marigold (Tagetes patula) or the African marigold (Tagetes erecta).

Both species of Tagetes are used as insecticides and weed killers.

Medicinal Uses of Calendula for Horses

For medicinal purposes, the leaves, whole flower heads or petals alone are used. Only the deep orange varieties have the carotenoid lutein present in the petals, giving antioxidant and tissue forming medicinal qualities. 

Calendula is the herb of choice for wounds and bruising.

Calendula for horses is often combined with Clivers (Marigold) as a tonic and to support the lymphatic system.

Traditionally known as ‘the homoeopathic antiseptic’, wounds treated with calendula extracts healed cleanly and rapidly without one drop of pus.his has been recently backed up by research confirming

Calendula’s anti-bacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis both commonly found on the skin and in the nares and throat, using a dry hydroethanolic extract.

It has the following properties:

How to Apply Calendual To Wounds and Bruises

As with all natural herbs, care must be taken when using Calendula for horses, with any change administered slowly. Its use for various applications are set out below

Further Information

[1] Dumenil G et al., Evaluation of antibacterial properties of marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis) and other homeopathic tinctures of Calendula officinalis Re: Annual Pharm French 1980
[2] The anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in two studies of mice Akihisa et al., 1996 Triterpene alcohols from the flowers of Compositae and their anti-inflammatory effects.
[3] Zitter-Eglseer et al., 1997 Anti-oedematous activities of the main trierpenoid esters of marigold ( Calendula officinalis)
[4] Surgically induced wounds treated with an ointment containing 5% calendula extract showed marked physiological regeneration and epithelialization Klouchek-Popova et al., 1982 Influence on Physiological Regeneration and Epithelization Using Fractions Isolated from Calendula Officinalis

Reference

British Herbal Compedium Vol 2 – 2006

Professional Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines – Charles Feltrow, Pharm D Juan R.Avila, PharmD

The Dandelion

The Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinalis) is very common in Europe, North America and Asia, where it grows quite prolifically.

Often considered a weed by gardeners, dandelion for horses can be a valuable resource.

Sometimes called horse lettuce, dandelion comes into flower in Spring, flowering from April to November.

It is a storehouse of minerals especially rich in iron, copper and potash (potassium) and magnesium.

Benefits Of Dandelion For Horses

Dandelion for horses is a real treat.

It contains many vitamins (A to E and K) and contains more vitamin A and C than most other vegetables and fruit.

The leaves have a proven reputation in relieving fluid retention whether due to heart oedema or an excess of sodium and, therefore, can help to relieve high blood pressure.

The copper content in dandelion is essential for horses because it activates zinc in the body. This naturally occurring zinc then helps heal wounds, support fertility, and stimulates white blood cell production.

It contains antioxidants, which is good for overall wellbeing and promotes healthy liver

Medical Use Of Dandelions For Horses

Dandelion is a diuretic and can be used to “flush” the system.

They can also be used to sooth some stomach complaints, but please read the cautionary note below.

The high iron content of both leaves and root helps to combat anaemia. The root is used as a liver remedy especially useful in relieving bilious disorders.

Gut health may also be improved as dandelion stimulates movement of the gastrointestinal tract, hence helping digestion.

It is also used for its vitamin C content in supplements used to treat COPD.

Traditionally in Spring, the young leaves have been used in salads to stimulate and cleanse the digestive system, the blood and the kidneys. 

Equally, they can be used as an overall well being enhancing supplement, especially if only feeding hay or natural grazing is very limited.

A Word Of Caution

Dandelions have high levels of Fructan, a polymer of the sugar Fructose, making them unsuitable for horses sensitive to sugar such as lamanitics or those will stomach ulcers

Dandelion should not be fed to mares in foal.

Feeding Dandelion

Encourage the dandelion to flourish in your pastures; it is non-poisonous and entirely beneficial. A few leaves shredded into a mash feed can only improve your horse’s health.

Typically one would feed approx. 40g to a 500kg horse, but as always please consult the product supplier

Clivers and Marigold are discussed together on this page as they are often combined both for the best effect and in commercial products. Calendula (Pot Marigold) alone is discussed elsewhere.

Clivers (Cleavers) – Galium Aparine

The Clivers plant, sometimes written as Cleavers, and colloquially knows as Goosegrass, grows abundantly on hedgebanks, waste ground, cornfields and shingle.

It is found throughout the cold temperate regions of Northern Europe and Northern America.

The Anglo Saxon called Clivers, ‘hedgerife’, meaning a tax-gatherer or robber due to the fine bristles catching onto clothes, as you pass by. This sticky annual has straggling soft growth up to 2ft tall, covered in fine bristles to catch onto passers-by. The leaves are lanceolate about ½ inch long and ¼ inch broad, arranged in whorls of six or eight together. The flowers in small stalked clusters of two or three spring from the axils of the leaves, they are small star-like, white or greenish-white in colour. 

What Are The Medical Benefits Of Clivers And Marigold?

Clivers and Marigold help both the lymphatic and the digestive systems.

Clivers is an excellent lymphatic tonic and detoxifier, diuretic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory due to its gallon content, and as a mild astringent. It is rich in minerals especially calcium, sodium, iodine, and copper. Further details of its constituents can be found here.

Think of Clivers as green iodine for all lymphatic swelling, lymphangitis, suppressed urine, or as part of an overall Detox formula.

It improves lymphatic drainage so is used to reduce fluid in the legs, and the associated swelling. Clivers and Marigold are often used for horses on box rest or requiring restricted grazing.

Lymphatic improvements can also improve hoof health.

Compression bandages are also used in conjunction with the nutritional support from Clivers and Marigold herbs to reduce swelling.

It has also been reported to have been effective on windgalls and lymphangitis, along with the appropriate veterinary treatment.

Feeding Clivers and Marigold

For those busy horse owners without access, or time to gather fresh Clivers,. There are horse supplements containing Cleavers available. These are often combined with Marigold, which are regarded as complementary herbs.

There is a general assumption that Clivers and Marigold will be fed together, given that they are complementary herbs.

Typically one would feed approx 30g/day to a 500kg horse.

A Word Of Caution

Clivers is a potent diuretic and should not be used for horses suffering from insulin resistance or laminitis due to excessive sugars in the blood, as this will cause a higher concentration of sugar in the blood and worsen the condition.

Because Clivers is a potent diuretic exceeding the recommended dose could cause dehydration. Yes, your horse can have too much Clivers.

Feeding Clivers to Your Horse

Below is some further information if you need to feed Clivers alone, and particularly if there is an abundant natural supply locally.

However, it has to be said that most busy horse owner might find the “DIY” approach too much hassle. Also, there is comfort in using a commercially prepared product with clear feeding instructions, and sometimes some telephone support if you are uncertain.

Grow Your Own?

Horses instinctively seek this herb out, eagerly devouring the young shoots so you could consider planting Clivers along the hedge line.

To establish Clivers in a new or established hedgerow, harvest the wild seeds in September and plant along the hedge line for early spring growth. Cleavers once established will be there forever!

Clivers can be harvested from the onset of flowering in May through to September. Medicinally only the aerial parts (everything above ground), not the roots are used. In Europe, Cleavers is wild harvested for medicinal purposes.

Clivers As A Tonic

Clivers alone makes an excellent tonic for all lymphatic problems especially following viral infections such as strangles. Combine with other lymphatic and detoxifying herbs as a lymph cleanser.

Juice: Liquidize or pulp the fresh plant into juice. Give 30 mls of juice per 100kgs, 150mls per 500kgs. Twice daily over feed or dilute with an equal amount of (previously boiled) cooled water and syringe down throat.

Dried: Use dried Cleavers 5 to 10 grams per 75 kilos body weight. Not as strong as the fresh juice or tincture, but can be used to good effect for urinary problems.

We have said this above, but again please note that you should not overfeed Clivers.

Chamomile, sometimes written Camomile, is the name given to various members of the daisy family of flowers used for many purposes. Chamomile for horses is often used as a natural calmer.

Of this family, it is German Matricaria Chamomilla and Roman Chamaemelum Nobile Chamomile that is used both in herbal tea and in alternative treatments.

Used in medicines now for thousands of years, it is an annual flowering plant containing magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate and potassium phosphates. It has been called the European Ginseng. Dried Chamomile flowers contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, which give it some of its natural therapeutic properties.

As with many natural supplements, demand for Chamomile products is increasing and is therefore cultivated in Europe. It grows well in most soils, with the exception of heavy, damp soils.

It has traditionally been used to treat muscle and gastric problems, as well as treating insomnia.

Chamomile for horses is essentially the same as that used for humans – noting increased hygiene stands required for human food consumption.

Benefits Of Chamomile For Horses

Chamomile is a mild relaxant, with the additional benefits of having anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal qualities.

Its relaxant properties are primarily used for calming excitable horses. However, it is also good for digestive problems that are anxiety-based.

Chamomile’s high magnesium levels will have a beneficial impact on taught muscles

Camomile can, therefore, be used as a horse calmer to help with difficult to handle or anxious horses or to calm a nervous gut.

A Word Of Caution When Using Chamomile For Horses

It is not a “cure-all” for a difficult or flighty horse but used as one key element of a holistic assessment of any behavioural problem.

The possibility of pain should be eliminated before pursuing any herbal remedy. This is discussed further in this article.

However, it must be realised that Chamomile is a mild calmer and issues such as colic should be immediately referred to a qualified veterinary practitioner.

Some people feeding Chamomile have reported that it creates itchy skin.

Given it is a mild sedative, if competing, you should always check current in force rules, although a horse could naturally ingest Chamomile as part of normal grazing.

There are internet discussions where people have added Chamomile tea to horse feed. However, using this approach, the dose cannot be measured. Anecdotal reports have been that in some cases the horse turned into a “complete plod”, or conversely had little effect. The overall consensus seems to be that Chamomile for horses actually works, which corroborates man’s collective experience over thousands of years.

Feeding Chamomile

Typically, a handful/cupful is added to feed, typically 30g and 50g of the herb a day will help a horse that is prone to loose manure – an indicator of anxiety.

Long term use should be avoided, as Chamomile has toxicity issues for long term use.

As with all natural remedies, care must be taken about doses and administration, and any change introduced gradually

Horse Calmer Products

There are a number of commercial supplements additives that include Chamomile that have been formulated for specific animals, e.g. geldings and stallions, mares.

These can be in pellet or powder format and easily administered. Commercially prepared horse calmer additives also have the benefit of having detailed dosage and feeding instructions.