Horse owners are increasingly turning to Turmeric for horse health. This natural remedy is beneficial to humans and can help with various health issues in horses, including joint stiffness and skin irritations. It is even said to help horses with Sarcoids.
What’s the deal with Turmeric for horses? Many think Turmeric is just a bright, peppery spice that is added to Asian cuisines for colour and flavour. Turmeric has been used for centuries in Chinese and Indian medicine as an Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant. It is often used by people with various conditions, including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, dermatitis, and even cancerous tumours.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient of Turmeric. This compound has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory properties in humans. It’s also an antioxidant that can be used to soothe stiffness and pain, maintain good digestion, and treat skin conditions.
Many horse owners are now using Turmeric or turmeric supplement for their horses. This natural remedy is beneficial to humans and can help with various health issues in horses, including joint stiffness and skin irritations. It is even said to help horses with Sarcoids.
How can Turmeric improve your horse’s health?
Clinical trials and lab tests have shown promising results of Turmeric for equine benefits. There is also prevalent anecdotal evidence suggesting Turmeric’s effectiveness in improving horse health and treating a wide range of equine conditions.
Turmeric’s most critical and relevant benefit for horses is its incredible anti-inflammatory properties for better joint health in horses. When added to your horse’s diet, Turmeric substantially reduces inflammation and the associated pain. Additionally, one of the main reasons Turmeric is popularly used to cure digestive ailments is its efficiency in supporting the microbiome to improve digestibility.
In addition to joint health, Turmeric has been proven to be effective in treating many other equine ailments, including Joint conditions that are often chronic and therefore become challenging for Horse owners to manage effectively without causing severe side effects. The problems associated with the long-term use of NSAIDs in horses are well known, particularly the side effects it poses on the digestive tract.
Turmeric doesn’t interact with gut enzymes like a pharmaceutical non-steroidal inflammatory does because it allows the gut-protecting enzyme (COX-2) to be maintained. In conclusion, Turmeric is found to give similar benefits as pharmaceutical solutions to joint pain, but without the associated stress on the gut and other side effects.
Potential benefits of Turmeric for Horses
Recent studies on Turmeric and its role in the nutrition of domestic animals, including horses, and has shown its importance in helping support the inflammation cycle, antioxidative processes, immune function, and supporting the gut’s role in maintaining the microbiome. From muscle recovery through joint function to insulin sensitivity, the various ingredients in Turmeric, including its most active component, Curcumin, can help improve metabolism and general health and well-being over the horse’s lifetime.
Some potential benefits are listed below:
- Fights Inflammation and Joint stiffness
- Prevents/Cures Gastric ulcers
- Cures Melanomas / Equine Sarcoids
- Cures Allergies
- Assists recovery from viruses and infections
- Helps in Wound healing
- Prevents/ Cures Skin conditions
- Stabilises metabolic issues
- Improves liver function by providing a detoxifying effect
Please note: Turmeric should be avoided if your horse is currently being administered NSAIDs or blood-thinning medications. It is important to consult your veterinarian before you start Turmeric in your horse’s diet.
How can the bioavailability of Turmeric be improved?
Turmeric standalone has poor bioavailability (i.e. it is not readily absorbed from the small intestine); it is necessary to combine other ingredients, such as Piperine (an alkaloid in black pepper) can extend the activity of Curcumin through a process that involves glucuronidation and enhance absorption dramatically. You can also increase absorption by adding oil to Turmeric. You’re likely to get the best results using high-quality oils, such as linseed oil, coconut oil or chia oil.
Earth Signature Turmeric Blend, through extensive research, has put together a blend of ingredients that further improve bioavailability and is packed with 7 natural herbs and spices with many health benefits. The mix contains Black Pepper, which enhances the bioavailability.
Feeding Turmeric for Horses: Dosage/ Serving Suggestions
Start small; no need to rush! Feeding little and often is best since Turmeric does not stay in the body past several hours, and it is a gentle way to introduce it and get a feel for the effects. It is recommended to Observe how your horse responds and adjust the dose up or down accordingly.
Standard Dosage:
- Larger Horses: Use 3-4 Tablespoons (1 Tablespoon = 15ml / ~7.5g) of Earth Signature Complete Formula.
- Smaller Horses & Ponies: Use 2 Teaspoons (1 Teaspoon = 5ml / ~3.2g) of Earth Signature Complete Formula.
Start with 1/3 of the dosage and increase to the recommended guideline within 1-2 weeks.
Pregnancy & Lactation: You should speak to your Vet before administering to pregnant or lactating mares.
How to make Turmeric Paste?
The ratio to maintain is:
- 10ml / 2 Teaspoon of Earth Signature Complete Formula
- 5-10ml of oil (Coconut oil, Olive oil or Linseed oil)
Preparation:
- Take 2 Teaspoon full of Earth Signature Complete Formula
- Add 5-10 ml. of Oil (Coconut, Olive or Linseed) to your Earth Signature Complete Formula Turmeric powder.
- Add some water and blend into a paste which can be mixed through the bulk of your horse’s feed.
Horses seem to accept the Turmeric mix better. Remember – little and often is more beneficial, so split the dose and feed at least twice daily. Once a day is still helpful if that’s what you can manage.