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Optim Equine

Horse health challenges? Optim Equine provides unique, holistic solutions to all your equine health concerns.

Using Western Herbal Medicine, nutritional supplementation and dietary and management strategies. Optim Equine is a unique provider of equine naturopathic services, delivered by fully qualified naturopath Camilla Whishaw. Camilla aims to facilitate optimal health, wellbeing and performance of all equine patients through the use of human therapeutic grade medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements

, combined with nutritional and management advice. Optim Equine's services are fully independent (not aligned with any feed, supplement or pharmaceutical companies), with treatment plans customised to each individual horse. Camilla provides naturopathic strategies for a wide range of cases, working in conjunction with vets and other equine practitioners where appropriate, or as a stand alone therapy.

23/12/2025

𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙨: 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨?🥕🐴

Most of us love to give our horses and ponies treats, whether as a reward or simply as a way to interact with them.

However, it’s important to recognise that not all treats are appropriate, particularly for horses affected by laminitis, insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), or other metabolic conditions.

The good news is there is a commonly fed treat that is suitable for the majority of horses and ponies and as a bonus, it is also widely available, cheap and has several health benefits. What is that treat?

CARROTS!

Fresh carrots are low in energy and sugar, unlike many commercial treats and most horses and ponies love them.

Carrots are all natural, unprocessed and do not contain artificial ingredients and fillers which can have detrimental health effects to horses and ponies. Unfortunately, the same isn’t true of many types of treats marketed for horses and ponies.

From a nutritional perspective, carrots provide beta-carotene, an antioxidant that horses and ponies can convert to vitamin A, supporting immune health, gastrointestinal health and eye function.

When feeding horses and ponies carrots it is important to take into consideration that they should be fed in moderation.

For horses or ponies that eat quickly, have dental issues or are at risk of choke, carrots should be cut into small pieces or grated before feeding.

When used appropriately, carrots can be a simple, nutritious treat option that fits well within many feeding programs.

💬 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

12/12/2025

Off the track thoroughbreds (OTTBs) make remarkable partners: they are athletic, intelligent, and willing.

But like any athlete, they need the right support to thrive in a new discipline. And knowing where to start can be overwhelming.

Our article walks through key health insights and considerations to help set OTTBs up for success.

👉 If you’re thinking about taking on an OTTB, or are already on the journey with one, the article below is a must read:

https://optimequine.com/thoroughbreds/

05/12/2025

Did you know that the gut microbiota of foals significantly impacts their health later in life and that the use of antibiotics in foals may negatively impact long-term health and athletic performance?

The composition of a foal’s gut microbiota (the community of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in their digestive tract) has been shown to influence the likelihood of respiratory illness and disease, orthopaedic injuries and athletic performance later in life.

Antibiotic use in foals is one of the many factors which can disrupt a healthy microflora balance and the effects of this are likely to persist later into life.

Research has demonstrated that foals who receive antibiotic treatment in their first month of life have a significantly higher risk of respiratory disease later in life. These same horses also had poorer athletic performance later in life, comparative to foals who didn’t receive antibiotics.

28/11/2025

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙧𝙚?

Eating manure (also known as coprophagy), is a common, yet transient phenomenon in foals.

Coprophagy is thought to potentially offer multiple health benefits in foals.

Foals will generally start consuming manure from about five days old. This habit may continue up until approximately three months of age, before gradually declining. By 19 weeks of age, the habit generally stops in most foals.

By consuming manure, foals are populating their digestive system with a variety of microbes: bacteria, protozoa, archea and fungi.

This habit is thought to be an important part of healthy gastrointestinal and immune system development: foals are born with a relatively ‘immature’ microbiome which is influenced by multiple factors in their early stages of life.

It is worth keeping in mind however, that if a foal is consuming manure from a horse with poor digestive health and/or a horse with a poor balance of microflora and/or a horse with a high parasite burden then this may potentially have adverse health effects in the foal.

Research suggests that a mare’s faeces may contain a pheromone known as deoxycholic acid.

This pheromone encourages the foal to consume the mare’s manure.

Deoxycholic acid is an important byproduct of intestinal bacteria which supports digestive system immunity (helping to protect against enteritis).

Interestingly, deoxycholic acid may also facilitate normal neurological development in foals through promoting myelination of nerves.

Good overall health really does start with a healthy gut!

27/11/2025

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮

If you’re based in Hobart, Kingston, Cambridge, Acton Park, Bruny Island (Tas) and surrounding areas and you’re interested in a consultation for your horse or pony, I’ll be consulting in these areas on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th December.

There is an opportunity for reduced travel fees to these areas, but I only have a limited number of appointment times remaining.

This will be my last visit to southern Tasmania for consultations this year.

If you’re struggling with health, nutrition, behaviour or performance issues with your horse or pony, then don’t miss out on the opportunity to help them.

Long summer days spent riding or enjoying time with your horse or pony are so much more enjoyable when they are happy and healthy!

If you would like to book a consultation or find out more about what a consultation involves and how I may best be able to help your horse or pony, please reach out via:

email: [email protected]

DM through Facebook or Instagram (Optim Equine)

or send an inquiry through the website www.optimequine.com

21/11/2025

Did you know that foals born to overweight or obese mares have a significantly higher risk of suffering from developmental orthopaedic disease, including osteochondrosis and osteochondritis dissecans (OCDs), even later in life?

We often associate fat or overly well conditioned mares with being ‘healthy’ or fertile, yet this is misleading.

Paradoxically, undernutrition in broodmares, particularly in relation to certain minerals, can also increase the risk of OCDs and developmental orthopaedic issues in her offspring.

Restricting a pregnant mare’s feed intake can have irreversible effects on her foal’s health and development, which can persist much later into her offspring’s life.

There is a fine balance to ensure a broodmare’s nutritional requirements are met and keeping her in healthy body condition. Doing so not only supports her own health and fertility, but plays a critical role in helping establish her offspring’s skeletal development and health for life.

14/11/2025

Did you know that the average gestation period in a broodmare is 11months (340 days)?

This however, can vary significantly, ranging from 320 days to 370 days.

Factors which influence gestation length include nutrition, breed, age of mare, breeding history of mare and her overall health.

There is some evidence to suggest that the gestation period of colts may be slightly longer than that of fillies

10/11/2025

🌟 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞! 🌟

Some stories are extra special — and this one belongs to Epic and her incredible owner Brittany .

Epic was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (lymphocytic plasmacytic enterocolitis), a serious condition in horses that often carries a poor prognosis. But Britt never gave up. Her love, dedication, and attention to every detail have been nothing short of inspiring.

When we first connected late last year, Epic had already undergone extensive veterinary diagnostics, medication (including corticosteroids), and multiple dietary changes.

Together, we developed a new plan — carefully weaning her off the corticosteroids, systematically adjusting her diet, and introducing targeted herbal medicine and nutraceutical support.

This past weekend was incredibly special: Britt and Epic competed in their first competition together in two years - and they placed! 🎉

Seeing Epic healthy, strong, and doing what she loves and excels at is a testament to perseverance, hope, and the power of compassionate, integrative care.

Next stop for Epic and Britt is the Australian Barrel Horse Association National Finals later this month! 🐎💪

Huge thanks to Maree for capturing this incredible moment so beautifully 💕

07/11/2025

Did you know, when a foal is born its legs are already approximately 80-90% of their adult length?!

31/10/2025

Foals born to overweight or obese mares have an increased risk of developing osteochrondrosis (OCD).

Maternal obesity is linked to insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, and other metabolic issues in both the mare and the foal, which can negatively impact a foal’s skeletal development and long-term health.

Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that the additional body weight which obese and overweight broodmares carry does not result in an increase in postnatal foal growth.

Having an overly fat pregnant mare not only poses an increased risk of orthopaedic issues in her offspring, but it also does not necessarily produce a better growing foal.

24/10/2025

During the first two weeks of life, foals tend to stay within one metre of their mothers 85% of the time.

During this period, they rarely venture more than five metres away from their dam.

23/10/2025

𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨…𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚 (𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙖), 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨

Photosensitization (also known as photodermatitis) is light-induced inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) caused by a heightened sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.

This condition is non-contagious and often looks like sunburnt skin on our horses and ponies, and can often be difficult to diagnose or distinguish from sunburn.

It occurs in susceptible horses and ponies when phototoxic or photoactive substances accumulate in the skin and interact with sunlight.

This can result in severe itchy, crusty and often painful dermatitis. It generally occurs in non-pigmented (i.e. white) skin and skin with little hair cover (such as the muzzle, eyelids, ears and coronary bands).

Equine photosensitivity may be caused by the ingestion of plant or fungal products, chlorophyll metabolites, or other chemicals. It can also occur in conjunction with the use of some medications.

Effects of ingestion of the offending substance may be cumulative and a horse may not develop signs of photodermatitis immediately.

Using lucerne/alfalfa or clover as an example, horses may not develop any clinical signs of photosensitisation until weeks after initially consuming the hay, chaff or pasture which is causing the reaction. We can be feeding our horses this feedstuff for quite some time without any issues, before seemingly all of a sudden, photodermatitis occurs.

This can be difficult and confusing, as we often expect clinical signs to appear immediately or very soon after consumption of the offending feed.

This can lead to constantly changing our horse’s feed, in attempt to identify the culprit. As a result, this may significantly increase a horse’s risk of developing colic or laminitis.

Other recognised potential causes of photosensitisation include gluten sensitivity; reactions to drugs such as tetracycline antibiotics and phenothiazine tranquillisers; exposure to certain chemicals; and consumption of pastures rich in phosphorus fertilisers.

These are commonly overlooked, but in the author’s experience, generally contribute to photosensitivity reactions more commonly than consumption of lucerne/alfalfa and clover alone, which are often thought to be culprits.

Photosensitisation may also occur as a result of impaired liver function in a horse (known as secondary photosensitivity/photosensitisation).

For these reasons, the effective prevention and treatment of photosensitisation should involve thorough analysis of diet, management, pasture, supplement and medication use in susceptible horses.

In many cases, there may be more than one factor contributing to photosensitisation.

The complexity of the condition can also help to explain why simply applying topical creams or lotions and/or simply removing lucerne/alfalfa from the diet or adding a mycotoxin binder to our horse or pony’s feed often doesn’t provide a long-term or effective solution.

Removing certain feeds from a diet can also contribute to nutritional insufficiencies or deficiencies, which can sometimes further compound the problem.

It is critically important to address the underlying cause(s) of the photosensitivity if we want treatment to be effective and to prevent recurrence.

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