This week, we are exploring sweet itch, also known as summer eczema.

This condition usually affects horses with hypersensitivity to insect bites and often occurs from bites from flies, mosquitoes, and especially biting midges, commonly called no-see-ums.

The occurrence and severity of sweet itch largely depend on environmental factors and the individual immune system of each horse.

Susceptibility to Sweet Itch

Black horses and those with weakened immunity are more susceptible to sweet itch. Bugs target weaker horses, causing severe allergic reactions. Those reactions manifest as itching, rubbing, and discomfort, often leading to hair loss, sores, and bleeding. The immune response to these bites results in inflammation and welts, similar to how mosquito bites affect humans.

Impact of Diet and Environment

Diet and environmental factors significantly influence the susceptibility of each horse to sweet itch, and the condition can become exacerbated by high sugar intake, inappropriate grains, and poor-quality fats. Horses with compromised immune systems due to ulcers, metabolic issues, or nutrient deficiencies are more prone to severe reactions.

The Acid Mantle

The acid mantle is a protective layer of the skin. It is crucial in defending against insect bites and infections. However, it can get damaged by a poor diet and toxins.

Holistic Approach to Management

A holistic approach to managing sweet itch involves strengthening the immune system and overall health. That includes addressing underlying conditions such as ulcers, metabolic issues, and nutrient deficiencies. Natural remedies, dietary adjustments, and supportive supplements play a vital role. An example is vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps maintain skin health.

Natural Remedies and Supplements

Natural fly sprays and topical applications, like Riva's Herbal Skin Oil, can relieve itching and prevent infections. Holistic treatments, such as the Summer Tincture containing calendula, echinacea, linden, and milk thistle, help neutralize allergic reactions and support overall immune health. When you combine the use of those remedies with a clean diet and toxin elimination, it can significantly improve the condition of your horse.

Conclusion

Sweet itch is a challenging condition that requires a comprehensive approach to manage effectively. By addressing diet, immune health, and environmental factors, horse owners can help their horses overcome this uncomfortable ailment. Natural remedies and supportive supplements can offer significant relief and lead to long-term health.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

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Riva’s Remedies

This week, we are covering how long owners must continue supplementing their horses.

In my courses, on my Facebook groups, and even via emails, horse owners often want to know how long they should supplement their horses after addressing their imbalances with feed programs and which steps they should take next. 

Stay tuned as I share my advice on this topic.

Initial Check-In

One of my key recommendations is to check in on how your horse has progressed four to six weeks after starting a new supplement program. It is not the end of the supplementation program, but to ensure you are on the right track. Without doing that, you could continue an ineffective program for months, wasting time and resources with no improvement.

A Six-Week Check-In

After six weeks, you should see a general improvement in the horse's health. If you see no improvement, it could mean you have missed an underlying issue or the problem is not nutritional. 

Ongoing Supplementation

For horses on hay diets, continuous supplementation is crucial. Continuous supplementation is essential for supporting the health and longevity of those horses, as domestic environments cannot replicate the variety found in a natural lifestyle.

Bioavailability and Absorption

The health of many horses declines despite being on multivitamins because they require specific nutrients to address their health concerns effectively. So, it is not only about providing supplements but ensuring they are in bioavailable forms that the horse can absorb. 

Six-Week Check-In Scenarios

When you check in at six weeks, you may encounter two scenarios:

1. No Change: If there is no improvement, you may need to investigate further, considering factors like health problems that already exist, medications, or stress.
2. Improvement: If your horse shows signs of improvement, you can continue with the program. Only consider adjustments once you have hit a plateau or after a significant improvement.

Adjusting Supplement Programs

After seeing a significant improvement, you can start phasing out certain supplements to see if the horse maintains its health without them. The gradual reduction helps you determine which supplements are essential in the long term.

Variety in Diet

Horses naturally need variety in their diets, so you must avoid becoming too routine with supplements. Changing feed programs and adding nutrient-dense foods can enhance their nutrition better than synthetic supplements alone.

Selenium Supplementation

Regular selenium supplementation can significantly benefit the health of your horse. Selenium is an essential mineral often deficient in horses. It is critical for thyroid health, immunity, and detoxification. 

Personalized Supplement Programs

Tailoring the supplement program to the horse's specific needs and continuously evaluating its effectiveness is essential because sometimes, despite implementing a well-rounded supplement program, other health factors may also need to be addressed.

Importance of Professional Help

The type of healing and health transformation required for each horse is unique. Given the complexity of horses' health issues and their unique nutritional requirements, seeking professional guidance may be essential for formulating an effective supplementation strategy.

Conclusion

Determining how long to supplement your horse requires regular check-ins. Focus on bioavailable nutrients, adjust your program based on the horse's progress, and seek professional guidance for tailoring the supplementation to the specific needs of each horse. 

This week, we are exploring the benefits of journaling for improving equine health.

Journaling is invaluable for anyone facing health issues with their horses or those who want to ensure they are doing all the right things for their horses' wellbeing.

Whether dealing with a challenging health condition or rehabbing a horse, stay tuned to learn how journaling will give you a deeper understanding of your horse and help you keep track of its health.

Holistic Approach to Horse Care

When working with horses from a holistic perspective, I look for everything they are sensitive to, correlate their health with events, check their supplements, and examine their diet to put all those pieces together, whether they have health challenges or not.

Tracking Progress

Journaling helps you track how your horse progresses, especially when working on rehab or recovery, as working toward health is not always a straight line and can be confusing while you figure things out.

Keeping a Positive Attitude

Keep a positive attitude, as your horse will draw energy from you. Journaling helpsyou stay positive as it reminds you of the progress made.

Eliminating Confusion

Journaling eliminates confusion. Writing down all facts and dates gives you a clear record of all that has happened and helps identify any patterns that may be crucial for managing horse health.

Tracking Patterns and Causes

Record all the symptoms and changes. That allows you to retain valuable information that you may need to prevent future issues. It is also helpful for managing chronic problems without relying on memory alone.

Allowing the Horse to Guide Recovery

Allowing the horse to guide the recovery process means recognizing improvements and setbacks as part of the healing journey. By documenting everything, you can better understand what the horse is expressing and make more informed decisions.

What to Journal

If you are new to journaling, start with all the essential information, like age, symptom profile, living conditions, hay changes, supplement changes, and lifestyle factors at the onset of any condition. Also, record the bloodwork and diagnoses to establish a baseline, always including dates, as health profiles can vary seasonally.

Recording Health Events and Symptoms

Record any significant health events, like trims, vaccinations, deworming, and dental work, as that helps you identify the correlations between those events and symptom changes.

Weight and Picture Tracking

For conditions like equine metabolic syndrome, keep track of weight and take pictures. Seeing your horse every day can make it hard to notice changes, but photos provide clear evidence of progress or lack thereof. That also applies to conditions affecting specific areas like eyes, feet, or coat.

Shedding Patterns

Comparing the shedding patterns of a horse to the rest of the herd and recording dates helps you track any improvements over time. Photos can help you keep track of any year-to-year changes.

Identifying Triggers and Patterns

Journaling helps you identify triggers for issues like infections. Record food, supplement changes, and lifestyle factors, and note environmental factors like weather to gain more insight into issues like thrush infections.

Recognizing Stagnation

Journaling helps you recognize what has not changed if symptoms persist. If a condition remains unchanged despite various adjustments, it might highlight a specific supplement or diet item you need to re-evaluate. Documenting any changes makes it far easier to identify and address those sticking points.

Links and resources:

Connect with Elisha Edwards on her website 

Join my email list to be notified about new podcast releases and upcoming webinars.

Free Webinar Masterclass: Four Steps to Solving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally

Register for Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally, now