November 2014 – Mid Month Update
Holistic Horsekeeping
How to have a healthy happy horse
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In This Issue:
Horse Temperament: 3 Top Supplements for an Earth Horse
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Horse Temperament: 3 Top Supplements for an Earth Horse
Feeding horses according to their Five Element type is a new, but valuable, concept. In addition to a low starch feed and quality grass hay, the 3 top supplements for an Earth horse temperament are digestive enzymes, chia seeds and AFA (Aph. flos-aquae) blue green algae. Let’s look at the reasons these products work so well for the Earth horse.
Digestive enzymes – According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the organs associated with the Earth element are the Spleen and Stomach. The pancreas is also considered to be associated with the Earth element. These organs will be the weak link for the Earth horse that is not in optimum health. In the same vein, extra support for these organs will help the Earth horse stay healthy. In TCM, the Spleen helps the Stomach with digestion. The Spleen, Stomach and Pancreas are responsible for the initial breakdown of food.
Digestive enzymes assist with breaking down food, therefore by adding them to the diet we are helping assist the organs associated with digestion. This is especially important when a horse is not able to eat fresh pasture grass. Fresh foods contain natural food enzymes that help them break down during digestion. Processed foods take more energy from the body to be digested.
Chia seeds – Earth horses love to eat and given the opportunity they will over consume and get fat. Feeding a quality source of fat can help curb the appetite of an Earth horse. Chia seeds are a great source of fat because they have a desirable ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and plenty of minerals and proteins. They are a nutrient rich source of fat, unlike vegetable oils which are packed with calories but nutrient poor. Chia seeds supply quality fat needed by the Earth horse but they are needed in smaller quantities than other fat sources so they are less likely to make a horse fatter.
AFA blue green algae – The climate type that is most challenging for the Earth horse is dampness. Muscle soreness, lethargy, stocking up and sheath swelling can all be related to dampness effecting the Earth horse in a negative way. Unlike other fresh water and marine algae, AFA blue green algae has a drying effect in the body. AFA blue green algae is also packed full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytonutrients which are very easy for the Earth horse to digest. Because AFA blue green algae is a whole food, even amounts as small as a 1/2 tsp a day can make a difference. AFA algae can be fed by itself or combined with probiotics, digestive enzymes and sprouted grains.
Digestive enzymes, chia seeds and AFA blue green algae – These 3 supplements can make a huge difference in the overall health of your Earth horse.
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