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Feeding dried herbs
Not all herbs are tasty to your horse
in their raw, living state. Some need to
be dried before their pungent aromas
or bitter flavors become palatable. To
create tasty stands of dried herbs for
your horse to forage among during the
winter months, sow the following in
small areas of the pasture that you can
leave un-mowed:
 • Stinging nettle (Urtica diotica) is
an important source of iron, calcium,
vitamin K, and countless other vitamins.
This folk remedy for arthritis is
highly anti-inflammatory and clears out
respiratory congestion.
 • Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is both
calming and invigorating. It rejuvenates
the system while taking the edge off
stress and nervousness. This herb is a
winter must-have for colic-prone horses,
because it helps normalize digestion.
 • Sage is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial,
and encourages healthy coats.
 • Yarrow (Achillea millefollium) leaves
(fresh) can be used as a poultice on
wounds to stop bleeding quickly and
effectively; ingested, they will help stop
internal bleeding. Horses love the taste
of dried yarrow flowers and leaves,
which are a general tonic and a boon to
the immune system.
 • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a strong
anti-inflammatory that can clear out head colds and stop aches and pains
in their tracks. Use it to keep fungal
and parasitic infections at bay.
Herbs tend to grow quickly so
soon after you sow, your horse will
have a well-rounded pharmacopoeia
literally at his feet. With the right
herbs in his pasture, he’ll have
access to better nutrition and healthy
treats, and will become a calmer,
happier horse.
Maya Cointreau is an herbalist,
shamanic energy healer and Reiki
master. She co-founded and runs
Earth Lodge Herbals
(wWw.earthlodgeherbals.com), a
company that formulates herbal
remedies for animals, as well as
Hyge ia, a Holistic Health & Metaphysical
Store (www .hyge iaonline.com) in New
Milford, Connec ticut. She has written
two books on healing and spirituality:
Equine Herbs & Healing: An Earth
Lodge Guide to Horse Wellness and To
the Temples: 14 Meditations for Healing& Guidance. Contact her at info@earthlodgeherbals.com.
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Published in the January/February 2008 issue of Equine Wellness Magazine |
