Hedgewitch Essentials

06/03/2025

Out comes the sun, and here are the biting Black flies!
We often talk about midges causing sweet itch but black flies are also a part of the problem. Unlike midges, black flies like the sun so just when you think it's safe in early spring, the black flies turn up, and they're already really active in this gorgeously sunny spell we've been having.

If you've ever been bitten by a Blanford fly, you'll know just how horrid these black fly bites can be. On horses, black flies get inside the ears, on the chest and ventral line and they're nasty little blood feeders.

My go-to's to keep them at bay are a coating of horse oil with sweet orange and peppermint inside the ears and a spritz on the chest and tummy. Itchy Gel is also another great product for ear protection.

So, don't forget black flies when managing for sweet itch—fly masks with ears are another great tool! And for those that aren't hypersensitive to their bites, they still leave crusty, itchy lumps if you don't guard against them.

If you or your horse get bitten, Itchy Gel is the absolute best for this particular fly's bite. Because they often get slightly infected, the little bit of neem in Itchy Gel works wonders with the sweet orange & peppermint in soothing aloe vera gel🌿

05/03/2025

Don't wait until your horses tail looks like this!

Did you know that 5% of horses in the UK have insect bite hypersensitivity or sweet itch? As well as those with an actual allergy to midge bites, other horses itch because of other environmental allergens. This also makes them less tolerant of insect bits.

Now is the time to start a preventative strategy. Please get in touch for advice and we can help you formulate an approach using our all-natural products for an itch-free summer. 🌿

04/03/2025

Coats are changing, leaving many horses itchy. The horse in the picture has dreadlocks and probably needs a good wash! But with cold nights (and perhaps days) still ahead, washing natural oils from the coat isn't a good idea. This is where horse oil can work wonders. A light spray and detangling becomes easy, while the oils it contains support the skin and calm any itching.
It really is the natural product that is a tack room staple because it can help with so many things and smells gr...eat! 🌿🍊

26/02/2025

Sweet Itch Strategy
As the weather starts to warm up, if you haven't already started taking measures to protect horses with sweet itch, then it's time to think midges. It may seem early, but as soon as the itch-scratch cycle is set off, it can be an uphill battle for the rest of the season.
It's important that you maintain an integrated strategy, combining different measures, as there is no silver bullet for sweet itch management. Our Hedgewitch strategy is the three Ps: Protect, Prevent, and Pamper

PROTECT: The first stage in reducing the severity of sweet itch is to try to protect your horse from midge bites. A sweet itch rug is one measure that helps immensely and can be boosted with the use of an insect repellent with good activity on midges. Efficacy of insect repellents on midges varies between active ingredients and horses, so try and find out the results of efficacy trials on midges, in particular. That way you'll know the best-case scenario for the percentage protection from bites that you can reasonably expect (any repellent manufacturer should be able to tell you this info if it is a label claim for horses) and the likely duration of control. Even with these measures in place, horses will still get bitten. If your measures are 90% effective, that's 10 bites likely for every 100 midges, enough to set off the itch-scratch cycle. On top of that, insect repellents can struggle to maintain activity throughout the long period when midges may be most active—dusk and dawn.

PREVENT the Itch-Scratch cycle from becoming established—because bites will happen even with the best preventative measures in place. If the Itch-Scratch cycle becomes established, the constant itching causes skin trauma, increases irritation and inflammation, causing more itching and so it goes on. Our magic gels combine oils that kill the itch and have a soothing effect on the skin.

Which one do you need?
ITCHY GEL: is the backbone of most programmes, most cost-effective for larger areas and suitable for most cases
SOOTHE & REPAIR: where skin is inflammed or rubbed
CALENDULA & YARROW: for where the skin is BROKEN

PAMPER: An accumulation of dirt exacerbates itching, so keeping itchy areas clean and free from topical residues is an important part of any strategy. All Hedgewitch shampoos are high-quality and natural, without unnecessary additives that can further irritate the skin, such as sodium lauryl sulphate. They are mild, pH-balanced, with a therapeutic amount of essential oils added.

Which one?
German chamomile (anti-itch) shampoo for when the itch-scratch cycle has got slightly out of control or before using Hedgewitch topical gels or oils for the first time.
Peppermint or Lavender shampoo, depending on which your horse prefers, peppermint has the edge for itchy or dry skin.

What else can I do?
Horse oil with sweet orange & peppermint is proving a useful addition to the sweet itch armory—best applied as a mist using a trigger spray. Horse oil creates an environment where midges don’t want to land, as well as offering some added relief from itching. Apply as a top-up to insect repellent in vulnerable areas, such as the base of the mane, the top of the tail, behind shoulders and around the sheath/udder.
© Hedgewitch Essentials Ltd, 2025

25/02/2025

12/02/2025

If you want to learn more about feet and trimming, Holistic Equine is an amazing resource. You may not want to learn to trim but improving your knowledge can really help with chatting through concerns with your hoofcare professional. Feet affect the body and the body affects the feet. Often its difficult to unravel where the root cause of problems is and by improving our own eye, we can all better advocate for our horses and find them the help they deserve.

Join Beccy Smith's 2.5-hour webinar on hoof trimming for horses with long toe, low heel issues. Discover expert hoof trimming techniques.

09/02/2025

There is just something special about Exmoors... 🐎 Look at that beautiful mane 🍊&🍃

Just look at how lovely Bertie's mane is. Since using the sweet orange and peppermint spray it's become soft and glossy; with a bonus of a sweet smell

02/02/2025

Our ethos at Hedgewitch is to make products that can change horses lives. That's a lofty ambition but is why we get up everyday, not to sell products but to help our customers manage sometimes difficult problems using sustainably sourced, plant-based ingredients. We set out to make sure our products work but also that they are loved by horses. Their agency over what we put on them is important so that's why we base our formulations around the oils horses often select themselves.
We don't usually big ourselves up but someone mentioned these awards today. So if you like what we do and we've helped you or your horse, please consider nominating us.
https://www.equestrianbusinessawards.co.uk/nominate

31/01/2025

Looking for strong hoof walls with just the right amount of flex? Healthy hooves starts with meeting the nutritional but our novel hoof dressing helps hooves deal with environmental changes, plasticising the keratin when conditions become dry to prevent the hoof from becoming brittle and helpint to prevent waterlogging when conditions become too wet.
We use a zero-waste oil base because sustainability is a core part of the Hedgewitch ethos. Grapeseed oil is pressed from grapeseeds that are a byproduct of the wine industry and is packed with beneficial constituents. Due to its high Linoleic acid value, this oil is highly moisturising and conditioning. Unlike the oils used in most hoof dressings, grape seed is non-comedogenic, so allows the hoof to breathe. It's very light, so absorbs quickly - so rather than staying on the surface, it sinks into the hoof wall which is why hooves still look moisturised the day after application. It's also packed with antiooxidants.
Carrot seed essential oil for encourages strong growth and together with laurel leaf, eucalyptus and oregano essential oils, maintains a healthy environment.
Our Healthy Hooves dressing smells so lovely your horse will want to lick it but that's okay because it's💯% plant magic inside ♥️🌿

28/01/2025

Understanding skin reactions

Skin reactions can be genetic or the result of its response to a foreign substance, which may be microbes or a substance that comes into contact with the skin.

To understand skin reactions, we need to dive into the structure of the skin; the largest organ in the body and an organ of elimination. The outer layer of skin is known as the epidermis and contains Langerhans cells; these are star-shaped, with long tentacle-like projections (called dendrites) extending outwards between and around surrounding cells (keratinocytes). And it's these cells that are at the centre of the skin's immune defence system.

When foreign materials or microorganisms cross the skin’s upper layers, Langerhans cells pick them up with their dendrites. They process these materials and migrate towards regional lymph nodes, where they come in contact with the adjacent T-cells (that form part of the immune system). If they are an antigen, the T-cells initiate an immune response, triggering cytokines to be released, producing inflamation.

When this happens, antigen-specific T-cells are created. These lymphocytes may then travel through the blood and into the epidermis. This process is known as sensitisation. The 'memory' of the T-cells means they are primed to respond more quickly the next time the skin encounters that same sensitiser, producing a local inflammatory response (allergic reaction).

Many topically applied plant oils are generally better tolerated by the skin than synthetic ingredients, such as mineral oil. Plant oils contain a lipid composition closer to animal skin, so they are more readily metabolised by the body. However, sensitive reactions can still occur, just as they can to human cosmetics. If your horse has sensitive skin, it's always advisable to patch test ANY topically applied lotion or potion before application.

We don't have any hidden ingredients in our products and label them to cosmetic standards - that means we also declare naturally occurring allergens on the label and safely formulate to dermal limits. Essential oils contain so many different constituents that it can be hard to understand what these sensitisers actually mean. As an example, many horses have experienced reactions to citronella essential oil and if that's happened to your horse, there's a high possibility that other oils containing citronellol, such as lemongrass or geranium, will also cause a hypersensitive reaction. We're always here to ask if you're not sure.

Essential oils must always be respected as they are very potent. This is why we are so passionate that any product containing them should be safely formulated and all the ingredients declared on the label so that you can make informed choices.

There are also other golden common sense rules that you should always follow when using products containing essential oils:
🌿 don't apply to wounds or broken skin (unless it's yarrow)
🌿 don't apply before exercise or immediately after exercise if your horse is hot
🌿 take extra care if your horse is suffering an immune-mediated condition
🌿 take extra care and patch test if you have a horse that has had previous
sensitivities
🌿 never apply immediately following a course of topical steriods
🌿 be aware of environmental conditions that may weaken the skin barrier

The therapeutic benefits of plant and essential oils are enormous and they are generally well tolerated when used to support the skin. But natural products aren't chemical-free (nothing on earth is); they contain naturally occurring chemicals.

22/01/2025

Soft soles, thrushy frogs, white line problems, Frog & Sole is your saviour! Contains 100% plant oils.

17/01/2025

If you own a cob, Hedgewitch has you covered! As well as making thise gorgeous manes, tails and feathers manageable, we can help with mallanders and mites too 😊🌿

16/01/2025

In holistic modalities, the skin and the gut are always closely related. Diet is an incredibly important part of maintaining healthy skin, particularly where omega fatty acids are concerned because the horse can't make its own. When grass is growing, omega 3 and 6 are in good supply but during winter, omega-3 is likely to be in short supply. Why is this important?

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for a horse's skin health. They help maintain skin structure, reduce inflammation, and by helping to maintain the skin's barrier function, they protect against infection and allergies.

What can happen if a horse is deficient in omega-3? Itchy, inflamed, and overly sensitive skin. But getting the balance right is also important, as too much omega-6 can result in increased inflammation, which some believe can compromise skin health. There is a lot of conflicting opinion on this, so if you're interested, I'll pop a link in the comments for further reading.

Good balanced sources of omega-3 include micronised linseed and chia seeds. My personal favourite source is seabuckthorn pulp, which supplies omegas-3, 6, and 9 and doesn't seem to have the spicing-up effects that fatty seeds can have on some horses.

Some plant oils are also a good source of omega-3 and 6, with both providing an anti-inflammatory effect when applied topically.

14/01/2025

Mud fever
If there's one thing about winter that I really don't like other than being cold, then it's mud. Having survived the frost, mud is reappearing! Urgh 🫨. Where there's mud and wet, mud fever often follows. So what do we recommend?
The Hedgewitch strategy is very simple but very effective. It doesn't involve washing legs or picking scabs at all, instead, it's just ONE step! We've developed a blend of plant oils called Easy Lift. You simply drip it liberally onto any mud fever scabs for a couple of days until they release from the skin and lift - hence the imaginative name 🙂 Usually this takes just 2-3 days.
The scab can then be worked painlessly to the end of the hair or will crumble away when rubbed. The skin underneath will be healthy and no other treatment is usually required. However, pink-skinned horses may have inflamed skin where the scab has come off, but all this needs is a couple of applications of Soothe & Repair gel to settle down.
A great preventative measure is to use Horse oil with Bay laurel and Lemongrass a couple of times a week. This combination of oils is very effective against mud fever bugs and the fractionated coconut helps support the skin, keeping it supple.
All natural, painless and no hassle - what's not to love! 🌿🙂

10/01/2025

The kettle has been busy at Hedgewitch HQ and not for making the tea! How are you coping with the freeze? 🥶❄️

09/01/2025

What's the difference?
Mineral oil, or liquid paraffin, is found in cosmetics, baby oil, Vaseline, and plenty of products sold for application to horses. It comes from the petroleum industry and is available in different grades, some more refined than others. It's also cheap. It is used because of its barrier function, which limits water evaporation when put on the skin, improving its flexibility and softness. Apart from this physical function, mineral oils have a simple long-chain hydrocarbon structure and have no therapeutic properties.
Plant oils are the complete opposite. They are incredibly complex and varied, containing many different constituents that have incredible properties. The very best plant oils are cold-pressed (think extra virgin olive oil), usually edible, and preferably organically certified. These contain the widest spectrum of constituents and haven't been subjected to heat, which can damage some heat-sensitive molecules, or had chemicals added during the refining process.
Many oils are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins, and many more constituents that have therapeutic value. This is why there's so much growth in natural cosmetic products, with Indy and Green beauty brands leading the way!
Essential oils are particularly potent forms of plant oils. They are about so much more than their smell! They are already our area of expertise. I'm currently learning all about natural human cosmetic formulation and I'm beyond certain that other incredible plant oils will be finding their way into horse and doggie products too! Can't wait to bring these to you all 🙂🌿

07/01/2025

Myth 1: Your horse has thrush because you've neglected your stable management.

Yes, horses' feet should be picked out daily to remove any packed material and, most importantly, to check on the health of the frog and sole. However, some horses are more susceptible to developing thrush than others. Some of the factors predisposing horses to thrush include wet or muddy conditions, standing in poo, a lowered immune system, foot confirmation and circulatory health, and sugars from grass. Picking out feet regularly means you can pick up any infection in its early stages and will allow air to reach the hoof tissues, but may not prevent thrush if conditions are favourable.

Myth 2: Salt water is all you need to get rid of thrush.

Only if you're very lucky and the infection is superficial, with no saline-resistant microbes present!
Thrush is often caused by a complex of microbes: bacteria, fungi and sometimes yeasts. Fusobacterium necrophorum is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium most often associated with thrush infections. This particular bacteria is present in sheep and cattle poo, so horses grazing land that has been previously grazing by ruminants will be at a higher risk of succumbing to thrush.

Myth 3: Horses get thrush because they are shod.

Like most myths, there's an element of thrush behind the statement that becomes misconstrued. One of the factors predisposing horses to thrush is poor blood flow to their feet. It's well established that shoes decrease blood perfusion in the foot. However, another significant influence on blood flow is the amount a horse moves around. Stabled horses lack movement, horses in a field eating hay don't move as much as they do when grazing; whatever the regime, stimulating movement is key to horse's health on many levels. But blood flow is just one of the many factors that can make thrush a threat - barefoot horse can and do get thrushy feet.

Myth 4: The old ways are the best ways to get rid of thrush.

This is one of the comments we get at regular intervals on our Frog & Sole ads.
If it's working for you, crack on, but many traditional treatments have limitations or drawbacks, which is why they are not necessarily the solution.
Hydrogen peroxide can kill healthy cells and tissues as well as being an irritant, so has no place in foot care. Iodine is an excellent antimicrobial; the downside is that it kills friendly bacteria too. It should always be used in its safened form, eg betadine, to avoid harming healthy tissues. Most iodine you buy in stores is the iodine used to treat lamb and calf navels and has a profound drying effect—don't use this on feet. Iodine also lacks the ability to pe*****te tissues.
Terramycin spray is often recommended but will only kill bacteria, so is useless in a mixed infection. It has a single mode of action and will kill a broad spectrum of bacteria but has limited ability to pe*****te.
The advantages of Frog and Sole are that it acts against bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Essential oils contain the molecules that plants use to fight diseases, and these work in different ways, providing multiple modes of action. Because plants have evolved to form very close relationships with some microorganisms for essential functions such as nutrition and root hair development, their defence molecules are selective—they only want to kill the bad guys! The essential oils we use in Frog and Sole have been selected from peer-reviewed research where they have been screened and found to inhibit the growth of thrush-causing organisms at the concentrations we use them at. This selective action means that the friendly bacteria aren't wiped out when Frog & Sole is applied, which is important because they remain to compete with the bad guys that are ever-present in the environment and looking to gain a foothold in your horse's frog.
Frog & Sole also pe*****tes well; the essential oil molecules are tiny and find there way to where they're needed. This is another of its key strengths over more traditional remedies.
I'd also argue that essential oils are simply traditional remedies that we've forgotten about and have a long history of healing 😉🌿

06/01/2025

Do you have a mud monster?
You need some plant magic! Our Horse Oil could be what you're looking for 🌿
We love getting your feedback. Thanks .cook.102 for the review and picture.