2. Flax seed or flax seed oil, added to the feed, is an excellent source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 (fatty acids). Flax also has anti-inflammatory properties. I give Chilli approx. 1/2 Cup of seeds a day, spilt into 1/4 C every meal because she doesn't like the taste. Make sure if you use flax seeds thay you crush or grind them because they can get caught in a horse's teeth!
3. Pumpkin seeds are another great, natural way to help your horse. Horses seem to love them AND they are toxic to tapeworms, which is a great bonus. They can be fed whole or ground. I give Chilli a small handful of ground seeds a day. Make sure that if you ever give your horse something new, to start slowly and make sure your horse does NOT have an allergic reactions.
4. Garlic, with its strong smell and strong taste, makes an excellent natural fly repeller. Just feed a bit to your horse daily. Watch for reactions and start with small amounts. Chilli, unfortunately, is allergic to garlic and gets hives if fed too much.
5. Vinegar is another fly repeller and can also be used as a fly spray. It's cheap and simple; add some to your horse's feed or spray it on them. It's completly safe for the udder/sheath and face and you can reapply it as often as you want. Just don't get it into their eyes or cuts, cause it stings like crazy! Chilli won't eat vinegar, but she'll tolerate being sprayed.
6. Grooming! Yes, grooming. Daily grooming keeps your horse's coat shiny and clean and healthy. It also discourages skin problem. Bathing horses once in a while doesn't hurt either, but make sure you rinse all the soap out! And don't go overboard with grooming/bathing because the horse will start to loose the natural oils in his coat!
7. Knowing your horse. The more you know your horse, the faster you'll be able to spot a problem. Watch for nasal discharge, unusual coughing, fever, swelling, listlessness, weakness, etc. The faster you spot a problem, the faster you can help your horse get better.
8. Good food. The quality of the grain you feed is important. Look at the ingredients, read about the product, and visit a website to see if the grain will work for your horse. Make sure you feed the right amount. Too much can cause colic or hyperness. Too little can cause a lack of energy, though many horses don't even need grain. Make sure the grain contains no animal by-products.
9. EXERCISE!!!!!! Exercise is GOOOOOODDD!!!!! Even an older horse needs a walk every once in a while. A fit horse is a healthy horse. See here for gymnastic exercises for your horse.
10. Finally, here's a personal recipe for a healthy treat that will make your horse's mouth water and your wallet sigh in relief, lol.
- 2 cups uncooked oats
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 cups peeled carrots or apples
- 1/4 apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup ground flax seed
- 1/4 apple sauce
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tbsp. salt
- brown paper bag
Preheat oven to 350 C. Mix all dry ingredients together until uniform and then add all wet ingredients, one at a time. Use your hands and mix everything together as best you can (I reccomend getting your pans ready beforehand!). Make small balls, flattening them as you place them on your pan. The beauty of these treats is that they don't rise so you can squish them close together. Explore with different shapes (I made Chilli heart shaped ones on Valentine's Day, lol). Stick 'em in the oven and cook them for 15 minutes. Let them cool, then place them in the paper bag (helps to harden them) and place them in a fridge. Feed any time :). NOTE: Flax can be expensive so if you don't want to go buy some, just subsitute more flour (so then you would have 2 cups).
