Equine Herbalist

26/03/2026

Skin issues, itching, dull coats… let’s talk about what’s really going on 👇

If your horse is itchy, scratching, has a dull coat or ongoing skin issues
it is very easy to think it is a skin problem. But more often than not
it is coming from inside the horse.

✨Very commonly we are looking at mineral imbalances
🌿Ideally we would test forage to know exactly what is going on but in reality
👉hay changes
👉grazing changes
👉and not everyone can test

So we go back to what we do know
Most forage, especially in Ireland and the UK, tends to be low in certain vitamins and minerals including copper, zinc and high in iron and that is important because high iron can block copper and zinc absorption.

🐴So even if you are feeding a good diet
your horse may still be low in the minerals that support skin coat and immunity.
👀What does that look like?
You might see
• Itching and rubbing
• Dull or bleached coat
• Sensitive skin
• Poor hoof quality
• Lower immune resilience

👉So what can we do?
Start simple
Add salt daily
Support with copper and zinc
Be mindful of excess iron
Then we can layer in whole foods to gently support things further

♥️Whole food ways to support copper and zinc
• Soaked pumpkin seeds for zinc
• Soaked sunflower seeds for copper support
• Nettle for overall nourishment
• H**p seeds for minerals and healthy fats
• Linseed for skin and coat

You can also bring in sprouted seeds,
sprouting helps make minerals more available to the horse even a small handful daily can make a difference over time.

✨Keep it simple
✨A small handful of seeds
✨A scoop of nettle
✨Optional small pinch of kelp a few times a week.

That is a really nice supportive base
It is not about throwing everything at the horse It is about understanding what is missing and gently bringing the body back into balance 🌿

05/03/2026

7 year old back cohosh roots, this is root medicine at its best. These roots will dry and then be stored for 1 year before use.

08/01/2026

❄️ Top 10 Natural Winter Care Tips for Your Horse 🐎🌿

As the colder months set in, now is the time to support your horse naturally — from digestion and immunity to warmth and joint health.

Here are my Top 10 Winter Tips to help your horse thrive through winter:

1️⃣ Weigh check before winter
A simple weight check helps you keep an eye on hard keepers and older horses as the seasons change.

2️⃣ Forage, forage, forage
Your horse should have access to forage 24/7. Digesting fibre generates heat, helping maintain body temperature far better than grain. Aim for 1–2% of body weight daily.

3️⃣ Avoid digestive shock
Introduce all feed changes slowly — grass to hay, hay to grass. A probiotic can be helpful during transitions.

4️⃣ Replace lost nutrients
Winter pasture and hay lack essential fatty acids and vitamin E.
✔️ Chia seeds (1–2 oz daily)
✔️ Wheatgrass fodder
✔️ Soaked or sprouted oats
✔️ Soaked almonds

5️⃣ Add live nutrition
Sprouted seeds are a brilliant way to boost antioxidants and enzymes during winter months.

6️⃣ Support hydration naturally
Offer free-choice natural salt in a dry area. This supports thirst response and hydration.
💡 Tip: Warm water or heated buckets can make a big difference.

7️⃣ Choose fats wisely
Opt for quality fat sources such as soaked seeds, soaked nuts, coconut meal/flax or cold-pressed h**p oil. Quality matters when it comes to supporting energy, coat condition, and overall health.

8️⃣ Keep them moving
Movement supports circulation and joints. If exercise is limited, warming herbs and foods can help:
🌿 Ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, nettle, rosehips, chia seeds
Plenty of herbal options for joint comfort if needed.

9️⃣ Blanket or not?
That’s up to you — but always assess body condition and hooves regularly rather than following the calendar.

🔟 Prepare your winter apothecary
Stock up now! Check your equine first-aid kit and consider making a winter tonic using raw apple cider vinegar infused with supportive herbs.

🌿 A little preparation now can make all the difference through winter.

Rachel
Equine Herbalist 💚

Picture from skygreencanada.com

05/01/2026

🧐Did you know warmth starts in the gut.

Good forage = steady fermentation = natural internal heat 🔥

Photo taken from the horse.com

28/12/2025

Herbal dewormer.
One ball daily for 5 to 7 days depending on the f***l count. (The other lad had already got a ball and wanted more).

27/11/2025

I have made a beautiful herbal blend for this gorgeous little pudding. The herbal blend I made specifically for Casper is called "Safe and sound".

If you'd like to know what herbs I have used and why drop "Casper" into the comments.

1115 likes, 51 comments. “Replying to As we continue to take stock of the situation and devise a plan to make sure our pony Casper is happy and comfortable now he is losing his eyesight we want to say a big thank you to EVERYONE who offered their words of encouragement and perspective. Espe...

24/11/2025

🌿 Why I’d Choose Herbs Over Another “Gastric Support” Pellet

I came across a new gastric support product today.
Looked at the label… and straight away I saw:

• Magnesium oxide (cheap, poorly absorbed)
• Buffers that only work for minutes
• Binders and fillers
• Artificial flavouring
• Pellet carriers with no nutritional value

👉Nothing in it actually heals the stomach.
It just buffers acid temporarily and masks symptoms.

Horses don’t need more processed pellets,
they need to be fed like horses.

Forage first. Fibre first.
The stomach should never be empty, or left empty for long.

And when a horse truly needs gastric support, you can do so much more with real herbs:

🌿 Marshmallow leaf/root – coats & soothes
🌿 Plantain leaf – heals the gut lining
🌿 Meadowsweet – natural anti-acid
🌿 Chamomile – settles nerves + digestion
🌿 Linseed (soaked) – forms a protective gel for the gut
🌿 Liquorice root (cycled) – supports mucosa & adrenals
🌿 Fennel / Mint – ease gas & tension
🌿 Psyllium husk – gentle hindgut support

Correct feeding + herbs = long-term gastric health.
A bucket of fillers will never replace a forage-based diet and real plant medicine.

Herbs work with the horse’s body.
Pellets just try to imitate what nature already does.

21/11/2025

🌱 Sprouted Seeds: The Easiest Nutrition Boost for Your Horse 🌱

Most horses eat the same grasses and hay every day, which means very little variety. Sprouted seeds are a simple way to bring in real wholefood nutrition, live enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and natural cofactors that synthetic supplements can’t match.

Sprouts are alkaline, easy to digest and highly bioavailable. Even adding a handful can support digestion, immunity and overall vitality.

✨ How to sprout:
Soak your seeds overnight, drain, rinse daily and feed fresh.

Great seeds to start with include quinoa, sesame, alfalfa, fenugreek, mung beans, lentils and millet.

🐴 Want more variety in your horse’s diet?
Grow a few herbs, plant hedgerows, reseed with native grasses, forage by the barrow, take forage walks — and add sprouted seeds for easy daily biodiversity.

Small changes make a big difference.
Equine Herbalist 🌿💚

For more information check out my blog at www.equineherbalist.ie

21/11/2025

🔥Rugs don't create heat, they only trap
what is already there.

🔥So where does heat actually
come from? F O R A G E.

🔥Fermenting fibre= constant internal heat

🔥More hay = a warmer horse

🔥Warmth the comes from the inside out not the rug. There is a time and a place for a rug especially with senior your horses.

20/11/2025

🧂 Salt for Horses in Winter — Don’t Skip It! ❄️🐴

As the colder months arrive, many horses drink less, their gut slows down, and the risk of impaction colic increases.
One of the easiest ways to support them is daily salt.

⭐ Why salt is essential:

Encourages regular drinking

Supports hydration, gut motility, muscle & nerve function

Helps prevent impaction colic

Balances electrolytes when on hay

🧂 How much salt?

For a 500kg horse:

1–2 tablespoons (15–30g) per day

Light work → ~15g

Moderate work → ~30g

Heavy sweat → add an electrolyte mix on top.

👉 This is in addition to free-choice access to a salt lick (horses rarely lick enough to meet needs) or free choice loose salt can work if you can keep it dry.

🧊 Winter hydration tip:

Salt + slightly warmed water = a big increase in drinking.
Most horses drink 30–40% more when water isn’t icy cold.

⭐ What type of salt? (Here’s the truth, simple & final!)

Honestly?
Use whatever salt your horse will reliably eat.
The body only cares about the sodium + chloride, not the colour of the rock.

Plain table salt → perfect, affordable, consistent.

Sea salt / Himalayan → also fine, but the “extra minerals” are minor and don’t replace a balancer.

Loose salt works better than blocks for accurate intake.

Avoid flavoured salts or low-sodium salts.

👉 The main thing is consistency, not brand, colour, or marketing.

17/11/2025

🌿 Are You Giving Your Horse Too Many Herbs & Supplements?

It’s so easy to keep adding things to your horse’s routine… a scoop for joints, a scoop for digestion, something for calming, something “just in case.”
But sometimes the best thing you can do is pause and take stock.

👉 Ask yourself:

Why is my horse on each herb or supplement?

Has the original symptom changed? Improved? Gotten worse?

Am I doubling up on actions (e.g., multiple anti-inflammatories or calming herbs)?

Is this still the right herb for this season of your horse’s life?

✨Horses change. Their needs change.
Herbs aren't meant to be used endlessly without review.

A simple reset — even just one week off non-essential herbs — can tell you a lot.
Then reintroduce only what truly supports your horse right now.

Your horse’s body will thank you.
Less clutter. More clarity. Better results.

Picture taken from excel supplements.ca

12/11/2025

🐴 Horses eating poo? Let’s talk about it! 💩
It might look gross, but it’s often their body’s way of sending a message 👇

🦠 Rebalancing gut bacteria.
🥕 Missing minerals or protein.
😔 Stress, boredom, or too much stable time.
👶 Foals do it — part of early gut development.

✨ Support the gut, balance the diet, and the habit often fades.



Photo taken from Reddit.com