If you’ve ever wondered about whether garlic for horses works well, or is a bad idea, today’s post and all the comments should help.
Got this in from… well, they didn’t leave their name. So let’s call him or her the horse whisperer for the moment:
“This herb has amazing healing qualities and a wonderful additive to most diets. However, as with everything, a little goes a long way and there are times you must be cautious with garlic for horses and watch carefully how your horse behaves.
Garlic is universal in all streams of herbalism.
Traditional indications for garlic in Western herbalism as an expectorant and for worm infestation. In addition to these garlic has been used in Chinese medicine for indigestion and in Ayurvedic for fevers and debilitated conditions.
It is commonly used to repel flies and insects as it promotes sweating and in doing so is excreted through skin to repel these bugs.
This makes this herb a valuable additive all year round, providing you vary from it occasionally to give your horse’s gut a rest now and then. Overall it can be a very special tonic to help tune up many of your horse’s body systems.
Garlic for horses
Now for the Cautions.
Firstly, if you need to have your veterinarian assist your horse after an injury, to investigate a loss of condition, any vascular issues or skin problems, gestation, or perform surgery (and there are possibly other conditions I may not have thought of), please be responsible and inform them that you supplement garlic. It is now in common use so it has been investigated more than most herbs so your veterinarian does have access to information that it is documented in trials in peer journals they can reference if there is a possibility that garlic could be a contributing factor to the clinical signs they are assisting you with, or if it is contraindicated for your horse.
Garlic for horses – Key information
If you who are giving garlic daily be aware of its antiplatelet activity and that it is very important to discontinue the use of garlic 10 days before surgery.
With pregnant mares consider the allicin-releasing action and its altering of the amniotic fluid, this suggests garlic should not be given during pregnancy.
There are many common pharmaceutical drugs that garlic is not to be given at the same time. If your veterinarian prescribes any medication please remove garlic from your horse’s feed.
Garlic for horses – general awareness
Garlic is not suited to every horse, and some may have their own quirky sensitivities so the following warnings are more for your awareness. You do not need to get paranoid with your use of garlic, but if one of your horses is sensitive to this herb, it may be worth ceasing giving it to your horse for 3 to 6 weeks to assess if it is contributing to any low grade irritating conditions like inflamed skin or puffy legs.
Garlic overdoses can inflame kidneys and in some cases damage kidneys, so if your horse has a kidney imbalance or being treated by your veterinarian for issues relating back to the kidneys or on drugs that have an action on the kidneys and related body processes, he must be informed about any historical or current long term garlic use.
If you have a new horse and are having trouble getting condition on him, consider addressing the health of his gut before adding garlic to his diet. This is important with horses that stress easily, once the gut is balanced it can then make the most of this herb without fear of irritation.
Raw garlic can irritant the mucosal layers and many garlic powders are not pure garlic. The garlic granules sold by Country Park Animal Herbs (Australian Company) but I am sure if u r overseas you can hunt down an appropriate garlic granule) are the best to work with when you choose to give garlic to your horse.
Garlic for horses – how much?
There is a lot of discussion about how much garlic to give your horses. The amount often depends on the reason you are giving garlic, but generally I find the least amount of adverse reactions while consistently achieving desired results is one tablespoon of GRANULES every SECOND day. If you have a condition you wish to address with garlic, please consult a herbalist to help you determine the best dose size and length of use.”
A big thank you to whoever left this – questions about garlic for horses does come up every now and then on the blog.
Now for some more of your tips. Hope you like them. Please keep them coming!
Got this one in from Caroline, after the last lot:
“I liked these tips. EXCEPT -that – when pulling horse’s forelegs out – do NOT do it TOO vigorously – cos you could tweak a muscle and cause worse problems.
ALSO – if you have a “Traditional” cob or Heavy Horse with VERY long feathers and he/she keeps tripping -they are prob treading on feathers. Suggest cut/clip/somehow shorten feathers – and then problem may be solved.
Caroline”
“It’s the release from reigns horses learn from, not pressure. Release brings relief – horses remember what the did to earn it. That’s why soft hands work. But give a horse release at the wrong time, and he’ll remember the wrong things 🙁
Claire”
“Easy way to bond is steer no handed. Try just with your body and voice in a big open area. Aim for somewhere – no reigns. It’s amazing how quick they pick up where you want to go, when they want to too!!
Emily”
“Hay string can kill your horse. Always get rid of it afterwards
Tom”
“Big clumps of mud come of easy with a rasp without damaging the coat, then you can brush.
Roz”
“I use a spoonful of applesauce to help medicine go down.It’s great for pills too and if your’re using garlic for horses.
Kerry.”
“This is great for a shiny coat. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Spray this on to the coat. I can’t understand why anyone pays for the expensive stuff.
Kate”
That’s all for today folks. Please do leave a comment below if you can add anything to the ‘garlic for horses’ info!
And don’t forget, there are hundreds of posts on the blog like this, but the only way you can see them all is jump onto the newsletter.
Best
I’m going to try this next fly season: Avon Skin so soft bath oil diluted with water. Sounds good to me
I have used Avon Skin so soft and diluted with water. just be careful. some horses have a reaction to the product. one of my horse’s hair shedded. but all in all it is a good product.
I have used Skin so soft for 20yrs,rub into the ears,flies stay away and it keeps the inside of the ears soft and crust free.
THIS IS NOT FOR HORSES, its for human skin. Her horses hair fell out!!! If you are going to buy Skin So Soft then go buy a horse product. Always do a test patch! Skin So Soft is a greasy product and horses lick themselves remember. There are more natural methods of insect repellent for horses. Garlic powder is excellent for keeping away insects. Mixed into feed it repells insects from the skin. Dont burn your horses skin.
Hi! How much garlic do I need for an 1100, 1200 lb horse?
1tablespoon
This herb has amazing healing qualities and a wonderful additive to most diets. However, as with everything, a little goes a long way and there are times you must be cautious with the ingestion of garlic.
Garlic is universal in all streams of herbalism
Traditional indications for garlic in Western herbalism as an expectorant and for worm infestation. In addition to these garlic has been used in Chinese medicine for indigestion and in Ayurvedic for fevers and debilitated conditions.
It is commonly used to repel flies and insects as it promotes sweating and in doing so is excreted through skin to repel these bugs.
This makes this herb a valuable additive all year round, providing you vary from it occasionally to give your horse’s gut a rest now and then. Overall it can be a very special tonic to help tune up many of your horse’s body systems.
Now for the Cautions
Firstly, if you need to have your veterinarian assist your horse after an injury, to investigate a loss of condition, any vascular issues or skin problems, gestation, or perform surgery (and there are possibly other conditions I may not have thought of), please be responsible and inform them that you supplement garlic. It is now in common use so it has been investigated more than most herbs so your veterinarian does have access to information that it is documented in trials in peer journals they can reference if there is a possibility that garlic could be a contributing factor to the clinical signs they are assisting you with, or if it is contraindicated for your horse.
Key Information for All Horse Owners:
If you who are giving garlic daily be aware of its antiplatelet activity and that it is very important to discontinue the use of garlic 10 days before surgery.
With pregnant mares consider the allicin-releasing action and its altering of the amniotic fluid, this suggests garlic should not be given during pregnancy.
There are many common pharmaceutical drugs that garlic is not to be given at the same time. If your veterinarian prescribes any medication please remove garlic from your horse’s feed.
General Awareness
Garlic is not suited to every horse, and some may have their own quirky sensitivities so the following warnings are more for your awareness. You do not need to get paranoid with your use of garlic, but if one of your horses is sensitive to this herb, it may be worth ceasing giving it to your horse for 3 to 6 weeks to assess if it is contributing to any low grade irritating conditions like inflamed skin or puffy legs.
Garlic overdoses can inflame kidneys and in some cases damage kidneys, so if your horse has a kidney imbalance or being treated by your veterinarian for issues relating back to the kidneys or on drugs that have an action on the kidneys and related body processes, he must be informed about any historical or current long term garlic use.
If you have a new horse and are having trouble getting condition on him, consider addressing the health of his gut before adding garlic to his diet. This is important with horses that stress easily, once the gut is balanced it can then make the most of this herb without fear of irritation.
Raw garlic can irritant the mucosal layers and many garlic powders are not pure garlic. The garlic granules sold by Country Park Animal Herbs (Australian Company) but I am sure if u r overseas you can hunt down an appropriate garlic granule) are the best to work with when you choose to give garlic to your horse.
How Much?
There is a lot of discussion about how much garlic to give your horses. The amount often depends on the reason you are giving garlic, but generally I find the least amount of adverse reactions while consistently achieving desired results is one tablespoon of GRANULES every SECOND day. If you have a condition you wish to address with garlic, please consult a herbalist to help you determine the best dose size and length of use.
Garlic is toxic to horses, that is why you get a adverse reaction. Allums should be removed from your pasture as well. While garlic sounds like a nice homeopathic solution, your horse may pay the price.
I have used it for years. I mix it with vinegar and a good fly spray. It helps with keeping most of the tiny critters away that the fly spray might not along with the vinegar. I have never had a reaction happen on any of my horses. 🙂
thank you horse whisperer for a detailed account of garlic for horses. My horse absolutely HATES it. I first tried the garlic and apple cidar vinegar in his water. Wouldn’t touch it. Then months later, I put the smallest amount in his “hard food” ( chaff etc) . Normally he loves it and stands impatiently at the gate and i’ve had to train him to wait for me to put it down. The morning I put the garlic in, he looked at it and me with such an expression of “what have you done to my food?” and wouldn’t touch it. Finally he ate some of it but was not happy. I discontinued it but he was suspicious of the hard food for days afterwards. And he loooves his food. Very lively 3 yr old so maybe he just hates the taste?
Garlic is not good for horses! It is not their natural food anyway.
you are so right, carol! 🙄
I tried a mixture of diluted skin so soft and it burnt. My horse’s skin. It made him peel and the fur fell out on his belly. The skin between his legs blistered and shed. Everything eventually healed. I recommend products inteded for horses only.
A great way to remove pine sap from the horse’s coat is to use rubbing alcohol.
Peanut butter works too!
Try some essential oils (rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, cedar oils just to name a few) mixed with apple cider vinegar and water. It does help. The more you can get in on the skin to where their body temp makes it more aromatic (like a perfume) the better.
what can i use to help keep the white hair on my horse white
The best way I have found to keep the white parts white is sauve coconut shampoo very gentle to the skin.He has 4 white legs and I shave those so there’s hair for dirt to get stuck to. 😆
another horseshow trick for white hair is to make a paste with baking soda and apply to the sock. Let dry and brush out.
Hi,
I have been told by the vet that using Skin So Soft on animals is not good. It will dry out their skin. It is great for humans but not for our loving pets. Every horse or dog is different, but do you want to take the chance of harming your animals. Just Sayin. Thanks
I have a hard time. Getting my horse, to getting her
hoof up. to cleaning them out. need so help.
Why dont you get a farriery to do it?.
Tap the horses leg gently until he picks it up. Increase the taps intensity if he doesn’t respond. As soon as he unweights the leg, stop. Let him relax. Start again and he should respond more quickly this time, Eventually keep tapping until he actually lifts his foot. Use your finger first, then, the hoof pick if he is ignoring you. Build on the response until he picks it up when you tap once.
Never get angry or let the horse become upset.
My horses hand me their foot when I am in the hoof cleaning position.
This is key for a broke horse.
Push behind her knee gently with your elbow while squeezing the back of the pasturn lightly with your thumb. You hand should be wrapped around the pasturn at this time. Lean into the horse slightly and lift. This won’t force her to pick up that hoof, but will encourage her to do so.
Hi I’m liz, about fly spray, a good Amish freind let me in on their secret, they take simple veg oil, vinegar, water. Use it as a spray or a wipe. All natural bug spray. But for myself Avon skin so soft is great, use to put it in my hair go riding here in MN keeps dear and any other flying pests away and gives u a hotoil treatment to boot. 🙂
Hi there, my horse nods. It is not for flies but looks like a compulsion. Even when just standing and not after a ride. Any ideas are most welcome . Tks Lisa
Could be the way your horse moves. Many gaited horses nod their heads when moving. It is also a sign of lameness. Have a trainer, vet, or other experienced horseperson take a look.
attention seeking. 😀
Hi Lisa, Have your horse’s teeth checked.
Marilyn hoof up problems.
1. Try a treat each time she picks it up then keep it up longer and longer and still reward. Over time remove the treats, use a clicker if that helps to signal treat time.
or 2. in an arena type area, pick up hoof whilst on a lunge rein, if refuses send horsey into 2 -3 laps of working trot. Bring back to stand and try again and repeat. Horse soon gets message!
Good luck! 🙂
These are great suggestions! I can’t wait to try them. Missy hates holding her feet up for hoof cleaning and it’s a struggle every time. But she WILL work for treats!
In UK a product called Dettol antiseptic solution used very very dilute is a great fly deterrent, as we use it with babies its great on the geegees!
and very cheap 🙂
If a wet muddy day is looming, coat horses legs in baby oil, when you bring them in to dry, just throw them in with mud on and the mud simply drops off as it dries. 😀
When washing horses don’t buy expensive horse shampoo uses baby shampoo! Cheap and just as gentle , Have always used this on all of mine 🙂
I get gel baby oil and rub it into their ears and around their junk.That skin is very delicate it keeps gnats, no seeums and mosquitoes away and keeps them soft.The gel prevents anything from running into their ears. 🙄
NOMS by ADvanved BIoligical COncepts. It is tested for horses. Its giod forvthem. Its good for their insides. I’ve used it for 20 years. Follow directions but the equivallent of a tbls a day. No flies on your entire property. I live in florida so we have flies year round.
Never heard of this before, and would like to give it a try. Where might I get it, and what’s it actually for if other than flies? Thanks.
i just wanted to say thank you for all the tips & honest opinions either way. i just brought my horse Bubba home almost 3 months ago, i boarded my whole life so these horsey worries that were always someone elses worries are now mine & i just want to do right by my Bubba. parts of my paddock are wet & Bubba crosses a small stream to get to his pasture. im closing off the stream & pasture for winter & when i read about putting baby oil on a horses legs or in my case from the ankle area down is this okay to do in winter?
The most important thing you can do for his welfare is to get him a companion.
Horse, burro, donkey, goat– no horse should be alone.
Loving this site and all the tips, thank you!
To Carolyn,
What a delight to read your post. To ask the questions you ask, simply means that you “will” do
your very best that you can for Bubba,and that you and he will learn from each other every day you are together. He has as much to learn about you as you have to have to learn about him. I am 66 years old and have been around horses almost all my life, and what I have learned about new caregivers of horses, is when they care enough to ask why, they will always find out how. It seems that Bubba has a very good friend in you. I have read the posts that the gentleman “horse whisper” has posted and I think you have found a good place to receive positive advice.
As you go along your path with “Bubba” you will learn the difference between what you feel is right and what you do not feel is right., and never experiment with Bubba. He will not understand why.
Good luck to you, and enjoy every moment you spend with him. That he will understand.
personally I cannot stand the smell of skin so soft ,mixed with vinegar or water so I guess I’ll try some of the other remedies ,and see which one works and which ones I can stand the smell of.( sensitive smeller 🙂 I cook a lot , so maybe I’ll try the garlic, that always smells good to me. maybe some baby oil around the eyes and ears, as extra help.
Thank you!
Avon skin so soft oil pink bottle is ace ….
I just put Vaseline with aloe vera on the hair outside my horses ears this keeps flies about