Advantages of herbs for horses

One of the great advantages of using herbs to treat, or prevent, a number of equine health conditions is that there is a complete absence of serious side-effects in all but a few herbs.

Buying from reputable and knowledgeable suppliers will ensure that you are feeding only the safe herbs to your horse which will have a positive effect on his health and wellbeing.

It is also worth remembering that horses are herbivores and it was a natural instinct for them to eat herbs they found growing among grass and pasture when they were wild animals.

Feeding more than one type of herb to your horse is also possible. Herbs do have a medicinal effect but many can safely be taken together if you stick to the recommended doses.

Dry or liquid herb supplements?

Herbs for horses can be bought and administered in dry or liquid form.

Horses can be fed herbs in their dried form but this does mean that their effect can take longer to be seen.

An alternative to buying herbs in liquid form is to make your own infusion. This allows the active ingredients to be more easily and quickly absorbed by the horse.

To make an infusion, add the daily dose of herbs to half a litre of boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool and then mix it in with the horseís feed.

Instead of boiling water, you can also soak the herbs in cold water overnight and this will have the same effect.

If you buy herbs supplied in a liquid extract form they are easy to administer, easy to absorb and quick acting. They take up less space and have a longer shelf life than dried herbs.

Buy from reputable suppliers

To ensure the best for your horse, do buy herbs from a supplier who can offer a guarantee that they supply top-quality herbs harvested at the optimum point in the growing cycle as this will ensure that the required constituents are at their most effective.

Choose herbs that are manufactured to the highest quality standards. The popularity and success of treatment with herbs means that new suppliers are entering the market all the time.

All Pegasus Health's cut herbs are carefully cleaned and tested. Stones and dirt are removed before a process of compressed air and sieving removes unwanted stalks. Magnets remove any metal fragments and if the herbs test positive for Salmonella or E.coli then they are subjected to a high temperature steam-cleaning process which removes all contaminants without damaging the nutritional benefits of the herbs. 

Storage of dried herbs

It is very important to store dried herbs correctly to prevent them deteriorating and becoming less effective. Dry herbs will start to deteriorate in as little as six months if they are kept at room temperature. It is recommended to store herbs for horses at about five degrees or lower.

Strength of liquid herb extracts

If you are feeding liquid herbal extracts, it is important to know the strength of the herbs you are administering to your horse.

This table shows cost comparisons between different extract strengths you will find available for sale.

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