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We feed our domesticated horses the same standard diet, grass and hay, day in and day out. This will generally cover the vitamin needs provided plenty of quality hay is fed, which allows the intestinal biome to manufacture the body's own vitamin production, which means we don't have to intervene too much.
However, during winter, or if horses are on restricted summer grazing, or if we have a prolonged hot, dry summer, the natural vitamin sources may become insufficient.
Our WildVits adds important natural diversity and valuable vitamins and bioflavons, via wild berries, back into the horse's diet, just as nature intended. They're also a delicious treat!
Please note this is a nutritional, functional food supplement and not veterinary medicine.
See Dr Kellon's Horse Sense - 'Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy.
Image - our Kelso having a good old rootle in the bushes.
The gut system of our modern-day domesticated horse is no different to that of the wild horse from millions of years ago, their digestion being based on the utilisation of different plants, and their natural diet including much more than just grasses - watch any horse enjoying a happy nibble on leaves and branches of various trees.
This not only gives them raw fibre roughage but also important minerals and phytonutrients to naturally support the body's optimal functions, especially detoxification of toxic waste.
By feeding only grass and hay, maybe a bit of roughage and a mineral balancer, we're providing the basics, but we're not giving our horse enough plant diversity for their internal engine to fulfill the necessary actions that the body needs to do.
When it comes to their vitamins, we don't usually have to feed them - their grass forage either provides them (vit.A/E), or they produce them themselves via the microbiome (vit.K/the B-vits) and the liver (vit.C).
However, the drying/curing process of grass to hay depletes vit.A and E, and the nutrient value in our winter grass is also depleted; equally a long, dry summer can reduce the natural vitamin supply due to the lack of rain.
Thing is, most vitamin supplements are made-in-a-lab synthetic, but there is another way - natural wild fruits and berries.
Our WildVits
adds important natural diversity and valuable, healthy vitamins and bioflavons, via wild berries, back into the horse's diet, just as nature intended.
Produced to ecological standards and free from agro-chemicals. See our Quality page for for Organic Certification Documents.
Blackcurrants, Blackberries,
Blueberries,
Cranberries,
Hawthorn Berries,
Juniper Berries, Rosehips & Sea Buckthorn berries
Please ensure that if you're not going to be in to receive your delivery, you let us know of your preferred safe place, i.e. 'Leave in porch', or preferably to leave with a neighbour who you know will be in. There's a dedicated field during the Checkout for you to do this.
Please note that if you're not there to receive delivery, EquiNatural cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
Supplements of any kind should be fed with caution to the pregnant mare so always seek veterinary advice.
The content in this website is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from our own research over many years, together with clients' experiences and our own personal experience over 5-decades of horse care. This website is about enlightening towards a more naturopathic approach to support a healthy lifestyle for our horses. Any information contained within is not intended as a substitute or replacement of veterinary or other professional advice, and we would encourage everyone to make their own equine healthcare decisions based upon their own research.
* Trading Standards EC Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005), Registration No. GB280/4203
* HACCP certified facility (an international standard that ensures we meet food safety standards)
* Registered in England. Company Number 11075894, Reg'd Office: Unit 4 Rookery Farm, Radstock BA3 4UL
* VAT No. GB 310214964