Despite the sun’s persistent efforts, the scorching summer has come to an end, and autumn’s long fingers are already reaching out to us. Horses respond by shedding their coats, ensuring they don’t shiver in the cooler nights.
The autumn moult always puts a strain on the kidneys and liver. Consequently, many horses tend to develop lymphatic swellings, their coats appear unkempt, some experience itching, and their hoof horn quality leaves much to be desired.
In such cases, it is beneficial to support the horses’ metabolism with herbs. When they have the opportunity to graze in nature – if there’s still something growing that hasn’t dried up or been mowed yet – they eagerly seek out nettles, pluck the last green birch leaves, deliberately search for field horsetail, chew on thorny thistles, and occasionally indulge in bitter yarrow.
Many of the plants chosen by horses during this time naturally support the liver and kidney functions, easing the moulting process.
Moulting support herbs
If you don’t have the chance to go herb hunting with your horse every day, you can also provide herbal mixtures as feed. For instance, the “Moulting Support” herb blend from OKAPI’s four season program, which we have developed in collaboration with the OKAPI team, is ideal in these cases.
Specifically formulated to support horses during September, it aids them in developing a healthy winter coat and going into autumn healthily. If there are clear early indications of kidney issues, such as significant problems with the moulting, poor coat quality, severe hoof horn problems (thrush, abscesses, white line disease, laminitis), general skin and coat issues (sweet itch, lice, fungal infections), compromised immune function (susceptibility to infections, slow wound healing), or notable lymphatic accumulation (pseudo-EMS), it is more appropriate to administer detox herbs as a treatment. They are concentrated much higher to have a powerful stimulating effect on the kidneys, thereby activating the metabolism.
Moulting support herbs, on the other hand, have a milder impact and, thanks to their diverse herbal composition, work on multiple organ levels. They provide subtle support for kidney function rather than acting as a therapeutic intervention.
If your horse already exhibits significant health limitations and may be experiencing conditions like laminitis, sweet itch, or similar symptoms, we recommend consulting a qualified therapist to develop a suitable treatment plan.
