Natural supplements- Cider Vinegar, Kelp, Chamomile, etc.

[KarinUS]

I can't wait for the kids to come home!

Only 96 days until the horses move in.
And then I will be able to feed them what I choose, the hay I want them to have, the feed I want them to have (of course I know we will need to switch gradually).
Currently they are on Smartpaks to ensure they are actually getting their supplements but once they move home I can also change their supplements.

I'd really like to go natural. Have read good things about cider vinegar and kelp. But also chamomile and clivers.

Is anybody alredy supplementing with herbs and plants and do you feel it makes a difference?

[virtuallyhorses]

Do be a little cautious with Kelp. Kelp's no1 component is Iodine which is fine in small quantities but can be overdosed causing hyperthyroidism and it also has an inhibiting influence on several of the other major minerals. There is much said about the fine qualities of kelp and how it contains "all the minerals required' but most of the others are in tiny amounts in comparison to Iodine and therefore could easily be got elsewhere. :)

[Bebe]

I'd avoid kelp/seaweed based supplements too, for the reasons that Virtuallyhorses posted.

Bebe has apple cider vinegar. It aids digestion, increases appetite, can help prevent calcification of the joints, ease inflammation and stiffness (good for arthritis), is supposed to help ward off flies (bit like garlic I think, works through the blood/pores) and Bebe thinks it tastes really nice

I've also just started her on Linseed (Flax) oil, it's supposed to be good for the coat aswell as having similar benefits to apple cider vinegar. I like to give her body a break from the vinegar so my plan is to switch it for Linseed over winter when the extra calories won't be a problem.

I've fed Rosehips before to aid hoof quality but didn't find it had a noticeable effect so don't bother anymore.

I let Bebe pick and choose herbs from the hedgerows, she likes cleavers, thistles, dandelion leaves, milk thistle if and when she can find it. If she was ill I'd probably look into getting dried herbs to aid recovery, but they'd be specific to any problems.

[Ipsa]

I went to a seminar last week given by one of the nutritionists from Kentucky Equine Research and her biggest bugbears of things people add to feed were kelp, copper sulphate, sulfur and dolomite although she did say that dolomite was the least harmful.
There may be some useful articles on their web site that might help.
:)

[KarinUS]

You are kidding!
I got that info about Kelp being so wonderful out of the Modern Horse Herbal book.
How disappointing! I definitely will need to look up the Equine Research website.

Thanks for the replies!

[cvb]

We currently feed as additives: garlic (powder), salt (in feed and as lick), oil

and have fed cider vinegar previously. As well as a herbal mix for respiration. Oh - and pre/pro-biotics

The probiotics definitely helped our old chap. The rest - not so sure about.

The biggest difference for our Fell - who had all sorts of stuff for his laminitis - was just to put him on a feed balancer. He has a great coat and great feet now :D

Ours also seem to "self-select" when given the choice. i.e. they will hunt out - nettles, cleavers, blackberries - and the most recent one was fennel (over the fence into the veggie garden :rolleyes: ).