Howdy Friends!P All things for a horse are better with an immune system firing on all cylinders. Protecting our horse’s healthy immune system is one of the most important things we can, and indeed should do, in my opinion.
The thoughts I’m about to share are mine, you may take them into account, or disregard.
I believe rain rot, inside ear rash, scratches, and even thrush are signs of a weakened immune system. I also believe they must be most effectively cured from the “inside out.” I subscribe to the theory that topical treatments treat the symptom, not the root cause.
Less than a glowing, shining coat, and any skin condition always, for me, points to the immune system. I think of it as the earliest warning sign. That if not heeded, many things can go wrong leading to more significant disorders.
What can we do to be sure our horses have the most powerful immune system possible?
There are many products available; supplements, vitamins, herbs, immune boosters.
For a long time I researched many, and indeed used many different approaches. Thanks to the blessing of being allowed to write for several equine magazines over the years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of interviewing some of this country’s most knowledgeable and respected holistic doctors, and veterinarians. Also animal health care providers, herbalists, acupuncture practitioners, trainers and more.
Among those I’ve met is Dr. Joseph Thomas, the world’s foremost Chinese Herbalist.
Founder of “For Love of the Horse.” Like others I’ve written about we’ve become friends.
Having been convinced that the best long term defense/maintenance for the battle against Lyme disease is in fact the horse’s own immune system. I had for several years worked to build my mare Kessy’s. As she had chronic Lyme.
I knew that Dr. Thomas had a proprietary blend of pharmaceutical grade herbs, “Total Immune Health.” Therefore I asked him about using it to help my mare.
Dr. Thomas assured me it would. And explained his blend, after years of research, is designed to, and proven to, boost the immune system at its very core. In the bone marrow. Which he has many times proven, with before and after blood work showing the increased white blood cells.
As Dr. Thomas explained, because Total Immune Health works in the bone morrow to build white blood cells to the proper level. It does not matter what Lyme or any other attacker tries the horse’s own immune system can handle it.
I put Kessy on it and indeed within the first week saw results. Even though I believed she had started at a good place, by my efforts up to that point.
Management plays a huge, perhaps the biggest role, in protecting a horse’s immune system.
Another thing I do as Dr. Thomas recommended, is a treatment of Total Immune Health each spring getting ready for summer insects, ticks etc. And while I totally believe Dr. Thomas’ products are the very best available to us today, and indeed are scientifically backed up; they can only be part of the whole.
Many things we do can to help – or detract from our horse’s immune system.
Things to do
• Diet, proper all forage diet
• Housing that encourages plenty of movement
• Stress free environment
Things to avoid
All things I’m about to list we no longer need to guess about the fact that they do indeed damage, or confuse, or in some cases shut down immune operations. This is my philosophy on these matters.
• Once a lifetime vaccinations are enough for everything except tetanus.
• No, or very limited, chemical wormers, herbal is best. Horses have a struggle eliminating toxic chemicals
• Only natural fly sprays. No chemicals, or very limited .Most fly sprays don’t work very well anyway.
• No, or very limited, blanketing. This one is confusing, but it matters.
• No confinement to stall ever. Understanding there may be cause as in rehabilitation, injury or other limited reasons.
• Feed no grain. Horses are designed for forage, digesting grain is difficult, sometimes dangerous.
Some of these are difficult to agree with, believe, believe in, buy into, or even want to accept and I understand that.
And, I understand peer pressure, habits, lifestyles etc, but there ya have it.
I was not always a believer either.
But I’ve seen with my own experiences, and research, the truth behind the practices I try hard to promote – For the horses.
We must always remember, horses have a strangely fragile immune system. Especially when it comes to man-made interference.
To learn more about this, and more of what we should do for our horses immune system buy my book “It’s For The Horses”.
~ Gitty Up, Dutch.
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