Home Remedies for Horses
Horses suffer from many of the same problems we do, such as scrapes and bruises, but also have to contend with problems such as horse flies that can irritate their skin. There are several home remedies for horses that can help you take care of your horse without costly trips to the veterinarian for minor problems.
Flies are irritating for horses and can lead to insect-born illnesses or hot spots where bug bites have festered. There are a few different home remedy sprays that will keep flies and bugs away from your horses. Either one can be mixed in a large batch and kept in a spray bottle for daily use.
The first fly repellant is made by combining two cups of white vinegar, one cup of Skin-So-Soft oil (available from any Avon dealer), one cup of water and a tablespoon of eucalyptus oil. Shake the ingredients together thoroughly and spray a light mist of it over your horse’s coat daily. For the nose and lips, spray the solution on your hands and rub a light film of it over the area.
Another fly repellent for horses should be mixed in a quart container. Put one inch of vinegar and one inch of dish washing soap (one with a grease cutter, such as Dawn) in the bottle, then fill with water and shake. This can also be applied daily to keep flies away.
Cuts and scrapes on a horse can be slow to heal, so adding a poultice of sugar and iodine in a thick paste is always a good idea. This home remedy for horses speeds healing and keeps infection at bay. Honey is also a natural antiseptic, but don’t use it in the summer, as it will draw flies.
One of the most serious problems you can face with your horse is thrush, which can eat away at the hoof and cause considerable discomfort. Before treating the thrush, be sure to clean and pick the hoof completely. After the hoof is clean, carefully apply regular household bleach to the affected area, being careful not to get on your horse’s sensitive skin. If you apply this daily, hoof thrush should clear up quickly. To prevent its return, rub each hoof with bleach twice a week.
Fistula refers to the chronic inflammation of a horse’s withers. This can be very uncomfortable for you horse, but there is a simply solution that will alleviate the pain and reduce the swelling. Combine one half-gallon of Milk of Magnesia with a bottle of mercurochrome and slather over the withers generously each day.
To help prevent common horse ailments such as stones and gastric distress from affecting your horse, be conscious of his or her diet. Adding a cup of apple cider vinegar to your horse’s food is a great home remedy to prevent problems and make digestion more comfortable and complete.
When your horse has been exercising to much or has stumbled and fallen, sore or stiff muscles can be the result. Fortunately, you can make an inexpensive muscle liniment by combining two cups each of clear and wintergreen alcohol with two pints of witch hazel and about a half cup of traditional bottled liniment. This home remedy for horses costs far less than the store-bought solutions and is every bit as effective.