Equine Herbalist

11/06/2025

Summer Itch & Sweet Relief: Herbs, Foods & Holistic Tips for Horses with Sweet Itch 🌿

Is your horse rubbing their tail, mane, or belly raw this summer? You’re not alone—many horses struggle with sweet itch. But before you reach for harsh chemicals, let’s explore the soothing power of herbs, food, and nature-based care.

✨ Herbs That Help from the Inside Out:

🟢 Nettle – Rich in silica and antihistamine properties, nettle helps modulate allergic reactions and supports skin repair.
🌼 Chamomile – A gentle anti-inflammatory and nervine that calms both the skin and the spirit.
🟡 Turmeric – Known for its anti-inflammatory compounds (like curcumin), turmeric may ease the itch and swelling.
🟣 Milk Thistle – Supports the liver, which is key in processing allergens and skin toxins.
🌿 Cleavers – Excellent for lymphatic drainage and skin detox.

✨ Topical Helpers:

💧 Calendula-infused oil – Soothes raw skin and promotes healing.
🌾 Aloe Vera gel – Cooling, calming, and anti-itch.
🌸 Lavender hydrosol – A natural fly repellent and gentle skin soother.

🧴 Try creating a gentle herbal rinse or oil blend to apply directly to irritated areas—just be sure to patch test first.

🥕 Skin-Friendly Foods & Supplements:

🌱 Omega-3s (from linseed/flaxseed, h**p hearts, or chia seeds) – These anti-inflammatory oils help calm allergic skin responses and promote healthy coat condition.
💚 Spirulina – A blue-green algae rich in protein, antioxidants, and immune-modulating compounds. It can help regulate histamine levels and reduce itchiness.
🍀 Brewer’s yeast – A great source of B-vitamins and minerals that support skin, nerve, and liver health.
🦴 Seaweed (like kelp) – Provides trace minerals that support skin structure and resilience.
🥬 Fresh herbs like dandelion leaf or cleavers added to the feed can gently support lymph and detox processes.

🚫 Things That May Worsen Sweet Itch:

❌ High-sugar feeds – Molassed feeds and rich grass can spike inflammation and itching. Opt for low-sugar, high-fibre alternatives. I'd also be cautious about using certain oils in the diet.
❌ Stagnant water nearby – These attract midges.
❌ Synthetic fly sprays – Some contain irritants that make skin more reactive. Choose herbal or essential-oil based options.
❌ Tight, non-breathable rugs – These can trap heat and sweat, aggravating the skin. Use lightweight, breathable fly sheets if needed.

✨ Holistic Tip: Think inside and out. By combining internal herbs and nourishing foods with topical care and environmental support, you help your horse’s body truly rebalance—not just suppress symptoms.

🐴 Has your horse ever suffered from sweet itch? What has worked best for them?
👇 Share your story or ask questions—we’re all learning together.

04/06/2025

As the summer sun fuels lush grass growth, many horses are suddenly faced with richer pasture — and that means potential challenges for digestion, hooves, and metabolism. In this post, let’s look at a few herbs that can help ease this transition and keep horses balanced and well.

🌾 Why Summer Grass Can Be a Shock

💥High sugar content

💥Sudden change from winter forage

💥Risk of laminitis or digestive upset

🌿 Top Herbs to Support the Summer Shift

✨Nettle – mineral-rich and supportive for skin and kidneys

✨Milk Thistle – helps the liver manage metabolic load

✨Cleavers – lymphatic drainer, helpful for stocking up

✨Chamomile – soothes nervous tummies and anxious minds

👍I recommend making an infusion of some or all of the herbs about and using that to dampen down feed. Milk thistle seed is best used as a powder which can be added to feed.
Herbal infusion stations can be set up for your horse to choose for him self, making sure that fresh drinking water is always available.

👉What herbs are you giving your horse at the moment??

If you are concerned about your horse's health always speak to a vet.

31/05/2025

Horse life logic

22/05/2025

Thirsty Thursday – Herbal Teas for Horses

Every Thursday, I’ll be sharing simple, nourishing herbal infusions that horses enjoy – and that naturally support their health and wellbeing.

This week’s reminder: Herbal teas (aka infusions) aren’t just for humans – horses can benefit too! Think nettle for mineral burst, chamomile for calm, or plantain for digestion.

🦄Want to learn more?
I’ve created a Herbal Infusions Booklet that covers:

✨An introduction to herbal infusions

✨Benefits and popular uses

✨How to prepare them

✨Herbs for different body systems

✨A list of 12 popular herbs and their actions

✨Measurement and storage tips

✨Two easy infusion recipes

✨23 pages of great information

🤗For thirsty Thursday it's at a reduced price of €5.99 it's delivered by email and payment is made via PayPal to [email protected]
👉Message me to grab your copy.

21/05/2025

W**d Wednesday: Plantain – The Healing Hoof Herb!

This “weed” is everywhere… but did you know plantain is a herbal powerhouse for horses?

Top Benefits for Horses:
– Soothes coughs & allergies
– Calms itchy skin & bites
– Helps gut health & mild diarrhoea
– Speeds up wound healing
– Supports hooves & joints (hello, silica!)

Use it fresh or dried – your horse will thank you!

Remember only use small amounts a few leaves daily is perfect. There are two types of plantain and both of them are perfectly safe for horses use whichever one is growing near you, and always pick herbs that you know are not sprayed and never overpick herbs that you are foraging.

**dWednesday **ds

14/05/2025

Nettles, Natures Powerhouse.

Lovely young nettles are every where at the moment. Nettles are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, Vitamin B and much more they are a wonderful tonic for cleansing the blood gently.

Most horses do not eat nettles until they are cut & dried (the sting will be gone). I just cut them and let them wilt for a day or 2 and then offer them to my horses

You can dry your fresh picked nettles by hanging them or lying them flat in a dry and airy place dry them very well so they won't go mouldy, this will insure a supply for months on end, then store them in paper bags.

Feed a handful of dried nettles daily added to feed or make nettle infusions (tea) which can be added to drinking water.

Nettles are wonderful for horses with arthritis or which are stiff they will also give a shine to the coat and are very good for blood vessel health.

19/04/2025

GO WILD🌿☘️🥬
Green juice made with celery, cucumber, dandelion leaf, cleavers, nettle and plantain.

16/04/2025

HEALTHY H**P.

🥰One of my all time favorite seeds to soak for my horse's is H**P.. of course you can feed it without soaking it.

👉You can grind it up into a meal if you have older horses who struggle to chew add in a splash of herbal tea to make a high nutritious mash.

What's so good about H**p?

👉It's a complete protein with all essential amino acids.
👉Excellent essential fatty acid content.
👉Rich in antioxiadants including vitamin E.
👉Excellent alternative to soy.
👉100% safe.
👉 Excellent for hay only diets as it adds so much.
👉Great for old horses
👉Safe for metabolic horses
👉can help with joint pain and inflammation
👉 Excellent for gut issues
👉 Considered a superfood for hoof and coat

🐴How to feed- depending on what else you are feeding you can just add in 4 tbsp of seeds or hearts straight into your original feed as a top dressing. I recommend soaking the seeds overnight h**p hearts do not need to be soaked.

👌 If you want to feed more h**p- Soak quarter to half a cup of seed in cold water over night (this will depend on the size of the horse and how much you want to feed) the next morning strain the seeds, rinse and feed. Soaked h**p must be used within the day, like I said above you don't have to soak it but you get more out of the seed by soaking it.

🐎For older horses it can be whizzed up in a blender to make a wet feed.

You can source h**p seeds or hearts which ever is easier and cheaper for you to feed.

🛑 I don't like soy for many reasons- it's mostly GMO, can cause inflammation, high in phytoestrogens which can cause behavioural issues, can disrupt the gut bacteria due to pesticide levels.

For everything you want to know about sprouting seeds for your horse my ebook "seeds to feed" is available from me now, just message me 🙏 price €14.99.

Visit my blog at www.equineherbalist.ie for lots more articles.

Rachel Kelly Irish master herbalist who specialise's in treating all horse conditions with herbs, my formula's are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of your horse. I do not do ready made herbal products for horses. Equine Herbalist Ireland

24/03/2025

🌱🌱You might be thinking about growing some medicinal herbs for your horse? 🌱🌱

Here are some tips and tricks to help you with you're growing journey.

Please feel free to ask any questions you like.

Planning an herb garden.   Heres how to start and what you need to keep in mind.   So you want to grow herbs for your horse or better still you want to grow herbs so your horse will self medicate!! Sounds like a fabulous idea doesn’t it?? I’m afraid the stark reality of this is herbs growing (...

05/03/2025

🌱Spring is Springing🌱

How will you manage your horse's grazing to prevent weight gain, digestive issues or metabolic flare ups?

26/02/2025

But we love them really 😁

19/02/2025

Can Equine Joint Supplements Replace Bute?

👉When it comes to managing joint pain and inflammation in horses, many owners find themselves asking whether equine joint supplements can replace bute. While they both have their place in equine care they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits.

⚡Pros of bute- fast effective pain relief, reduces inflammation, only for short term use.

⚡Cons of bute- not suitable for longer term use, risk of ulcers, kidney issues, requires veterinary guidance.

👉Equine joint supplements are nutritional products designed to help support joint health over the long term they contain ingredients such as Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, Hyaluronic acid, omega 3fatty acids and herbal ingredients like turmeric, devils claw, willow, and boswellia.

👉Don’t forget about foods like flaxseed, chia seeds, ginger that can be very helpful.

⚡Pros of joint supplements- promote long term joint health, safe for daily use, may reduce the need for pain medication.

⚡Cons of joint support- do not provide immediate pain relief, results will take longer, not a replacement for acute situations.

🌱Incorporating herbs for joint health and pain relief, herbs can play a valuable role in managing equine joint health, offering natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving.

🌿Herbs that help- Turmeric, Boswellia, devils claw, Yucca, Ginger, white willow.

✨Can herbs and joint supplements the answer depends on your horse’s specific needs:

👉For chronic joint conditions- a combination of joint supplements and herbs can reduce inflammation and support joint health, lowering the need for bute.

✨For acute pain & inflammation- bute may be necessary in certain situations but herbs can be very helpful.

✨A Holistic Approach- use joint supports along with anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric & boswellia, don’t forget about omega 3 fatty acids and other whole foods that can help.

⚡Natural pain relief- consider devils claw or yucca as gentle alternatives to NSAIDS for mild discomfort.

✨Final note- every horse is unique, by combining the benefits of conventional and natural support from herbs, supplements you can maintain your horses comfort.