THE POWER OF BITTER HERBS: SOLVING & PREVENTING DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
The way we keep horses today is far from natural. Even though we do our best to keep them healthy and happy, there is still much to improve regarding their nutrition.
Horses are originally steppe animals, and their bodies have not evolved away from that lifestyle. While wild horses consume up to 80–85 different plants, grasses, twigs, and mosses every day, we often feed our horses the same diet throughout their entire lives. In the wild, horses move for up to 20 hours a day, whereas domesticated horses are often confined for far too long.
To keep digestion healthy and active, horses need more than just pellets or muesli. A warmblood horse does not require more than 1–1.5 kg of pellets or muesli per day; feeding more than this can place unnecessary strain on the body. Horses should have constant access to hay and benefit significantly from the inclusion of bitter herbs in their diet.
Signs that may indicate digestive issues include frequent cramps or colic, soft manure, discomfort when tacking up, riding problems (especially difficulty bending or moving to the right), itchy skin, poor hoof quality, tail swishing, and mud fever.
The horse’s pancreas is relatively “lazy” by nature and requires stimulation to function optimally. It must release digestive enzymes to properly break down food. If this process is insufficient, food can become acidic in the body, causing an overall acidic imbalance. This can lead to swelling in the intestines or cecum, bloating, or a horse appearing overweight due to abdominal distension rather than actual fat.
In the wild, horses instinctively consume mildly toxic plants to stimulate pancreatic activity. Horses naturally know what their bodies need. Instead of using toxic plants, we developed a supplement containing bitter herbs. These bitter substances stimulate the pancreas, encouraging the release of digestive enzymes.
A perfect example of this transformation is Obelix (seen in the picture), a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Dreamboy x Sir. Obelix struggled with persistent digestive problems that affected his overall well-being and performance. However, after his owner implemented a 12-week Equiherbs Remedies diet tailoured to his needs, the results were remarkable. Today, Obelix is in top shape, demonstrating just how powerful the right nutritional support can be.
Once digestion improves, the body’s natural self-healing capacity ensures that continuous supplementation is not always necessary. Many riders choose to use Digestive Ease twice a year—typically in spring and autumn—for maintenance, or whenever a horse shows signs of needing support.
When the body becomes too acidic, the muscles and tendons often follow suit. This is why Muscle Ease was developed—to help restore the pH balance to a healthy, normal level. Muscle Ease can be used for horses without underlying issues to help prevent muscle soreness after training or competition. If a horse already has digestive issues, Muscle Ease can be used alongside Digestive Ease.
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