The Herbal Horse

09/04/2025

Agnus castus studies in equines are rare. But this elegant humn study tells us what we need to know.

In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 128 women who suffered from PMS were evaluated (active 62, placebo 66). All patients answered a self assessment questionnaire about their headache, anger, irritability, depression, breast fullness, bloating and tympani during the premenstrual period before the study. Forty drops of Vitex agnus extract or matching placebo, were administrated for 6 days before me**es for 6 consecutive cycles. Patients answered the self-assessment questionnaires rating each item using a visual analogue scale (VAS).

There was a significant improvement in all symptoms in the Agnus castus group compared to placebo.

This is why we use Agnus castus in our Mare mix.

07/04/2025

🌟 At both The Herbal Horse & Herbal Pet, one of our proudest claims to fame is staying up to date when it comes to the latest scientific research! 🧬🔍 We pride ourselves on integrating cutting-edge findings into our products and services, ensuring that our awesome customers always have the best available. This means every now and then we need to make a few changes to our existing products! 💡✨

Can you guess what products are being spruced up?

26/03/2025

In these scary days of peak AHS season, it can be tempting to throw all available remedies at our horses. And the grapevine tells me that a lot of people are giving massive doses of garlic.

Garlic contains compounds that can damage horses' red blood cells, potentially leading to a condition called hemolytic anemia, which can lead to damaged red blood cells. Symptoms may include weakness, lethargy, pale gums, and reduced performance.

But it is not all bad news. The dose that triggers these problems is quite large.

Research suggests that horses can start experiencing adverse effects at approximately 15 grams of garlic per 45 kg of body weight per day. For an average 450 kg horse, this means 150 grams of garlic could trigger health problems.

To be safe, if you are feeding garlic daily, keep the amount down to less than 50 grams per horse per day (average horse).

19/03/2025

Unlike many animals, horses can't produce vitamin C in their bodies - they need it from their diet. And in times like these, when we read about daily deaths from AHS, they need it even more.

Here's why:
🌿 Vitamin C boosts your horse's immune system by:
- Fighting harmful free radicals (ie acts as an anti-oxidant)
- Helping white blood cells work better to fight infections
- Supporting healthy skin and tissue barriers against infection
- Reducing the inflammation response in infection

This is why we use Vitamin C in our Immune mix.

18/03/2025

🌟 Testimonial Tuesday 🌟

We love hearing from our amazing customers! 💬 Here's what one of them had to say:

“The Mare Mix has helped with both my easily distracted OTTB mare and helped my rescue mare settle better in my care... Beryl is always just a message away for either advice or emergency supplies. In the past 3 years of being a loyal customer, I am always quick to recommend Herbal Horse to anyone for supplementation – be it competition or happy hacker horses.” - Renice De Groot

Thank you for your kind words! Your feedback motivates us to keep delivering our best.

Share your own experience in the comments below! ⬇️

12/03/2025

Recent scientific research has highlighted the potential immune-boosting properties of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) in equine health. Several studies have examined how this adaptogenic herb may support horses' natural defense systems.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science found that horses supplemented with Siberian ginseng showed increased production of natural killer cells and enhanced lymphocyte activity compared to control groups. These changes were associated with fewer respiratory infections during the winter training season.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Equine Research Center documented that Siberian ginseng's active compounds, particularly eleutherosides, appear to stimulate macrophage (white blood cells that fight infection) activity in equine subjects. Their controlled trial demonstrated that performance horses receiving the supplement maintained more stable white blood cell counts during periods of intense training.

What makes Siberian ginseng particularly valuable for equine health is its apparent ability to modulate stress responses. As we all know only too well, competition and transport can significantly suppress immune function in horses. The adaptogenic properties of this herb may help maintain immunological balance during these challenging periods.

This is why we use Siberian Ginseng in our Immune mix and (because our oldies need this boost) in our Rejuven mix.

Because we are a relatively small company, we are agile and quick to respond to changes. If there is new research, we will be reading it and, if we think it is worth it, updating our product. We really do want to be the best and we work very hard towards this.

11/03/2025

Do herbs work against AHS? Find out here:

How AHS works and how best to fight it, using the best of both science and nature.

08/03/2025

Do you have an itchy scratchy horse?
Itch mix works as an immune modulator, decreasing allergic reactions.
More info here: https://bit.ly/3HfjE66

08/03/2025

Every mom's favourite horse supplement.
More info here: https://www.horseandpethealth.com/product/calm-mix-uk/.

08/03/2025

A while ago, we had to change the formulation of our Calm mix. For a while, I was flummoxed. Then...this happened:

07/03/2025

Mare mix can turn your 'mean girl' into a 'lovely lass'.

02/03/2025

01/03/2025

Just saying....
https://www.horseandpethealth.com/product/ultimate-mix/

01/03/2025

We forgot to give Rina her scoop of Itch mix on Wednesday night. It as immediately obvious in the head shaking and yanking, she was just SO uncomfortable. So I decided to film her and personally add her Itch mix to her feed that evening and the next morning. You can see the huge difference right away.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3HfjE66

27/02/2025

Can what we feed our horses influence how sound they are? You'd be surprised at just how much this can be true.

A horse’s diet definitely influences his chances of staying sound. And, as in most things to do with horses, the answer to a healthy horse is a delicate balance between performance, condition and soundness. One major way we can easily influence all three of these variables is by feeding for soundn...

26/02/2025

I was reminded of this conundrum when chatting to a customer this morning abut giving her dog one of the horse products. Dose adjustments across species can be tricky.

When giving medicine to different animals, you can't just adjust the dose based on weight alone. A mouse weighing 30 grams doesn't need exactly 1/2000th of what a 60kg human needs. This thinking is too simple.

Animals process drugs differently based on their size. Smaller animals typically have faster metabolisms for their weight compared to larger animals. Scientists use special formulas that account for these differences, often using body surface area instead of just weight.

Also, different species have unique biological systems. Some animals lack certain enzymes that others have. For example, cats can't safely process Paracetomol that humans take regularly. No math formula can account for these fundamental differences in biology.

That's why veterinarians and researchers need special training and careful testing to determine safe doses across different animal species - it's never just a simple calculation.

A bit of a different today.

22/02/2025

Look after the feet, always.
More information here: https://bit.ly/42kTOYl.