At 09:08:57 on 08.06.11, Dazzle wrote:
I was reading an advert for joint supplement and feeling guilty because I don't feed anything like this to my horses. I asked a friend if she used these supplements and she said that as most of them are sulphur based she had bought a tub of yellow sulphur and feeds a scoop to her horses as MSM is really only sulphur based. I would be interested to know your opinion and if you ever recommend a natural joint supplement.

At 09:11:32 on 11.06.11, Part Arab wrote:
I feed my mares garlic (a clove, crushed) and a dash of apple cider vinegar in their evening feed, which is in fact only a handful (250g) of barley. Garlic and apple cider vinegar both contain sulphur and other useful vitamins, minerals and enzymes (including potassium, magnesium and copper I think). My horses are out 24/7 on good grass and I find that this combination keeps skin, coat and joints healthy as well as controlling parasites both inside (worms) and outside (flies, tics and biting insects). I have a friend who has just started supplementing her horses feed with a spoonful of yellow sulphur and one of blue copper sulphate... apparently some of them are not too keen on the taste :)

At 17:13:47 on 24.08.11, HorseVet wrote:
I wouldn't recommend feeding yellow sulphur or copper sulphate unless you're trying to poison your horse. Certain amino acids have sulphur within their structure that forms cross-bonds with adjacent protein chains that helps keep the protein keratin (that makes up the hoof) strong. Feeding minerals in the wrong form and out of balance is far more likely to create problems than stop them. Saving a few ££s on a proper supplement is a false economy if it causes vet bills. Best wishes Roger
http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk

At 16:09:34 on 07.02.12, luckylucy wrote:
The hedgerows along roads abound with just about all a horse need to boost their diets at different times of year. One year I made a note of what they sought in their nibblings. Cow parsley before in full flower, sticky willy, dandilions, etc, rosehips and blackberries in autumn and dried nettles. Your ride might take a considerably longer and less disciplined time but he knows what he needs and it is an opportunity to forge a deeper relationship. Modern pastures are devoid of the small flowers and herbs that you would find in natural pasture, the hedgerows are fenced. If horses had access to ancient unsprayed land supplements would not be needed. I have been told that modern pasture is woefully short of selenium due to spraying and fertilizers, but who knows its all a soup of information, take your pick or give them a pick!