For those of us who appreciate the value of herbs, the next question is which horse herbs are safe for our animals. Experience has shown that there are several that are beneficial. There are also a few that are fine for humans but not fine for horses.

Our first experience involved a horse with colic. After the vet had treated the horse, there were a few residual symptoms. One of them was a sore throat from the tube used to empty the horse’s stomach. The other was some serious anxiety… on both human and horse.

The second experience involved an infected fly bite. Horses and flies are nothing new. Neither are infections at the place where the horse is bitten. It can be a rather costly vet bill and in some areas it could be a life or death situation. Again, herbs provided an answer.

Not all experiences were positive, at least as far as the horse was concerned. An example of what one should *not* give a horse would be flash strips. Most people have forgotten these breath fresheners, but our horse won’t be one of them. Someone gave her a Listerine flash strip. If horses could spit, she’d have spit it out.

Here are some of the herbs and preparations we used to help care for our equine family member:

DGL: This is actually licorice root with the sugar pulled out of it. That makes it safer for diabetics, and it being in a pill form makes taking it easier. We ground up several tablets (after checking with the vet) and mixed it with her feed.

To our surprise, Mear actually worked her tongue around the feed to get to the DGL. After she’d consumed all of that, she was willing to eat her feed. If her throat had stayed sore, we might have had to call the vet back for another round.

Horse herbs – Lavender: We used this as aromatherapy. All of us… horse included… were stressed by the events of the day. I gathered four or five handfuls of lavender off of our shrub. We rubbed some on Mear and spread some in her stall. The scent was as soothing for the horse as it was for us.

Olive oil: I use this to make some infusions. Different plant chemicals can be extracted using different methods, and olive oil has its own healing properties. According to PubMed, the United States National Library of Medicine website, there are considerable antibiotic properties to be found in the oil.

There are a lot of benefits to using olive oil topically, just as there are for humans to use it in our diets. Studies show that it is helpful in wound healing, and not just because of its antibiotic properties. It reduced inflammation and helps provide a barrier to prevent anything from getting into the healing wound.

Lemon balm: Folk medicine holds that this herb is a good antihistamine, although research doesn’t yet agree. However, it is also good for some types of skin infections. The scent is soothing, much like lavender, and it made a good herb to include in the oil infusion.

Horse herbs -Sage: While most of us think of sage when planning Thanksgiving dinner, it is one of the most useful culinary herbs when it comes to herbal remedies. Crushed sage leaves are considered antiseptic and have shown some benefits against bacteria. This, too, was added to the olive oil.

Rosemary: There are a lot of benefits to rosemary for humans, and at least two of them can apply to horses as well. One is that of an antimicrobial. This helps to prevent wounds such as fly bites from becoming infected as well as helping to deal with an infection.

The second is something anyone who works around horses can appreciate… it’s insecticidal. That can help prevent further fly bites in the area it is applied.

Comfrey: There are two schools of thought on the use of this herb, and you should be knowledgeable about both. It has been used since before recorded history, especially for healing tissue injuries. It used to be a specific for broken bones, although in the case of horses, let the vet handle those.

That said, it may also cause damage to the kidneys and liver. It is unclear if that damage is caused when it is applied externally, although it is possible. Used sparingly, it shouldn’t be a problem but again, talk to your vet before using it.

All of the herbs listed below olive oil we used topically. The following herbs will be listed with how to use them.

Horse herbs – Arnica: While a lot of folks into homeopathic remedies approve of oral arnica, it is a bad plan… especially for horses. However, it can be used topically, especially in the form of a cream. It is thought to increase white blood cells and improve circulation. It should help heal bruises, wounds and other problems.

Oral arnica is toxic even for humans. It can cause a drastic increase in blood pressure. It’s also somewhat caustic, therefore be sure to use properly prepared arnica topical treatments. This will prevent burns.

Aloe vera: Ingestion isn’t wise, but many racehorse trainers actually use the gel on minor skin problems. Burns, abrasions and other minor wounds may heal up to thirty five percent faster with the use of the gel. It can also help prevent the wound from granulizing.

Chamomile flowers: Actually, the flower is what is used for people as well. The horse can eat it, or you can use equine supplements of this flowering, apple smelling herb. It has similar effects on horses as it does on humans, gently calming. Horses enjoy the somewhat sweet flavor.

Horse herbs – Dandelion: For most folks, this is a noxious weed. For herbalists and those who enjoy both raw and cooked greens, it’s a wonderful plant. There are a lot of vitamins in it, and the horses will eat the entire thing. The roots are used in herbal remedies, mostly to increase urine flow.

Dill: Many members of the carrot family (though not all) are good for horses. Dill is nontoxic to horses, although some may have problems with contact dermatitis. It is thought that dill is good for the digestion and may help soothe a nervous horse.

Echinacea: Horses can have Echinacea, but as with humans some cautions need to be observed. It may help improve immune function both for equines and humans. That doesn’t mean it can be a daily use herb. It can be used up to two weeks straight, but then must be stopped for at least one week.

The reason for doing this is to keep the immune system from becoming dependent on the herb. Taking it on a regular basis can decrease immunity, particularly when it’s needed the most. Ask your vet for amounts and if it is a good thing for the horse to take.

Garlic: Please don’t feed your horse garlic. A lot of websites swear it’s safe, but the research tends to point otherwise. It can cause a condition called Heinz-body anemia. This can be a low level problem, if the supplements are given in low, daily doses. It can also be life threatening. The same goes for any other member of the allium family.

Horse herbs – Linden: The flowers of the linden tree give off a heady perfume. They are also very sweet. Both the leaves and the flowers can be eaten by horses. The benefits may include soothing mild digestive issues and helping to calm a nervous horse.

Marshmallow: This isn’t referring to the items used to make s’mores; the original marshmallow was sap from the plant of the same name. This plant is very sweet… as are all members of the mallow family. I once watched a squirrel strip branch after branch of my mallow tree for the sweet flavor.

Marshmallow can help with coughs and with some digestive issues. It contains a substance called mucilage and is used much the same for horses as it is for humans. The root is the part used for medicinal purposes.

Meadowsweet: While aspirin, in small amounts, can be safely used on some horses, using something such as meadowsweet might be a better option. It contains salicylates, the part of aspirin that does the job, but it is in a more natural form.

There are caveats, both to the use of aspirin or meadowsweet. While it is often used to counteract the pain that comes from age or injury, it should not be used in horses with bleeding problems, digestive issues or with kidney or liver problems. It may cause some bleeding in the intestinal tract. Large amounts are toxic.

Marjoram: In this case, I mean sweet marjoram rather than wild marjoram. Wild marjoram is actually oregano which is not good for horses. This herb has a lot of nutrients, including vitamins A and C. It has some antimicrobial properties and most importantly it makes the sweat of those who consume it too spicy for flies. Marjoram can be given dry or fresh. There are capsules and tea available as well.

Horse herbs – Oregon grape: This plant doesn’t produce grapes, but it does have some uses. It isn’t toxic to horses, and may help with inflammation. It can also be used topically, either for that purpose or to make use of its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

Parsley: Despite there being many websites that expound on the benefits of parsley for horses, it is unwise to feed it to them. There is a chemical that causes photosensitivity in parsley, especially if large amounts have been eaten.

This includes most of the familiar types of parsley, especially for cooking in the United States of America. It also includes parsley root. Small amounts probably won’t cause a problem, but regular feeding of it could cause some serious problems.

Peppermint: This is another herb to avoid in large amounts. Many of the mints, especially peppermint and spearmint, can cause digestive disturbances in horses. As digestion problems can lead to very expensive vet bills, it is best to leave it out of your horse’s diet.

Plantain: This is not the banana variety but the oval leafed plant that sometimes grows in pastures and paddocks. It is all right to eat in relatively small amounts for most horses. However, large amounts can cause colic and/or laminitis.

Horses that are on a restrictive diet for any reason should not be allowed to eat the plant. It isn’t poisonous, but it does have a lot of sugars and starches. That is also why it should be eaten only in small amounts.

Raspberry leaves: Horses actually like eating the leaves of this plant, and it is good for them. There are a lot of benefits, from nutrition to mental health. It also is useful for mares, especially in the hopes of an easy delivery of a foal.

Horse herbs – Raspberry leaves can be eaten fresh… usually right off the plant… or dried. Several companies sell the dried leaves with a scoop to give the right amount. It can be put right in with the feed.

Stevia: Forget the sugar and its empty carbs. Horses can eat stevia and actually enjoy it. As with other sweet plants, moderation is the key. Check with the vet if the horse is insulin resistant.

Strawberries: Technically this isn’t an herb, although the leaves are and may be useful to the horse as well. Strawberries have a lot of nutritional benefits, as well as a sweet flavor that horses enjoy. They may also help prevent certain cancers.

The amount of strawberries that a horse can consume depends on several factors, including size and overall health. A vet should help decide if and how many strawberries horses with insulin resistance or other health issues may have.

Yarrow: While horses will eat this plant, it should be avoided where possible. Small amounts may not harm the horse, but regularly eating it or large amounts definitely will. Yarrow has a number of constituents that can cause serious problems, including colic. It can also cause photosensitivity.

Yellow star thistle: Most horse owners already know this; those who don’t should. It isn’t so much an herb as a toxic, horse killing weed. Horses usually won’t eat it unless there is nothing else for them to chew on. Once they start, they become addicted.

Yellow star thistle causes a problem with swallowing. The horse loses its ability to swallow anything. Most are put down, as otherwise they will slowly starve to death. There was one horse owner who nursed the animal through the problem to recovery. That is the exception, not the rule.

There are plenty of other plants that horses can eat and even more that they can’t. The ASPCA has a list of both categories that is fairly extensive. When it doubt, check the list. You can also use PubMed to look up various herbs and plants, although the information is largely for the human population.

Necessary information: Always check with your horse’s vet before adding an herb to the horse’s diet. The vet will know about the horse’s condition, what (if any) medications the horse takes and what tis safe for horses to take.

This article is meant for your information only. The USFDA has not approved any herbs for medicinal purposes. They get very snippy with herbalists who don’t add this disclaimer.

Some states require pasture owners to go over the pastures carefully to make sure there aren’t any toxic plants in the field. It is wise to look around the outside of the pasture as well. Some trees may drop leaves into the pasture that are toxic to horses. Walnut and red maple are two major problems.

If you use wood for your fencing, avoid locust, walnut and any other wood that is toxic to horses. You can check the ASPCA list for that information. Horses can and will eat the wood of the fence, especially if there’s nothing else for them to chew on.

Trail riding may pose some problems for horses, though it’s doubtful. Going off trail would be more likely to cause them. However, horse owners don’t have to worry about horses and poison ivy, or any of its cousins. On the other hand, most humans are susceptible to the plants…

Using herbs for horses can be a good way to improve both their physical health and their mental health. Choosing which to use and finding the right amounts should be a collaboration between a knowledgeable practitioner, your vet and you. Be sure to track your horses feed & health in an equestrian journal to keep track of everything. Do you feed your horse herbs? Let me know in the comments!