A horse's coat has three parts – medulla, cortex, cuticle. The coat of a horse is like our skin and hair - internal health shines through!
Show horse owners are always looking for the perfect coat when showing their animals but this comes from the inside, as well as the outside...
We all agree that a glossy coat is a sign that your horse is healthy! On the other hand, we often used a 'dry, dull coat' as a marker for ill health.
Signs of poor health;
- Itching, scratching thinning and worn patches from rubbing
- A change in hair color
- Doesn't lose winter coat or it appears 'curly'
- Scaling, crusting, clumps of oily skin
- Lack of shine or a 'staring' coat
Why wholefoods and herbs?
Herbs are distinctly different to vitamin and mineral supplements. Herbs aren't manufactured or articficial and can form part of the forage for your horse.
One of our biggest concern is 'over-mineralising'. There are so many feed and supplment companies out there claiming that their products achieve balance.
McDowells Products
Equisite
This blend is formulated mane to tail shine, with herbs traditionally known to improve skin, coat and hair condition. This combination of 100% natural plant powders is an excellent addition to your horse’s diet for promoting healthy skin, a glossy coat and long and luxurious mane and tails.
It adds nutritional diversity to the diet and is safe to give long term. It contains aloe vera powder, equisetum, fenugreek seeds, kelp, linseed meal, nettle, rosemary and coconut meal.
Equihemp
Highly digestible and safe protein source with all the essential amino and fatty acids required for a healthy diet. Hemp protein is gluten free and a good source of cool energy and with its unique combination of essential amino and fatty acids is a super food that can ease joint pain and inflammation, support cardiovascular health, improve the condition of the skin, coat, hooves, and tail, and act as a digestive aid. Hemp is high in fibre and vitamin C, vitamin E, and chlorophyll, and is highly palatable. Unlike soy and other legumes, hemp does not contain trypsin inhibitors and oligosaccharides, which can cause stomach and gastric upsets.
Show Pony
This blend works by tuning up the whole metabolism, while at the same time helping to boost the horses general health and acting as a preventative for most common illnesses. Working from the inside out, the mix will create a lustrous glossy shine which will ensure your horse stands out in the crowd. This Blend includes Borage, Chamomile, Nettle, Dandelion Leaves, Kelp and Vervain.
One cup of this herbal formulation is added to feed twice per day when you first start and replaces most of your other supplements. After about three weeks it may be reduced to once per day.
Hemp oil
This optimum plant-based hemp nutrition is easy to digest, leading to elevated health in your animal. Customers report a dramatic effect on the coats of their horses. Hemp Seed Oil is much better than fish oil because it naturally has the perfect Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio (3:1) of essential fatty acids (EFAs) which animals need just the same as humans do.
Hemp Seed Oil moisturises skin and hair better than any other substance because it’s herbal and has virtually no side effects. It prevents skin disorders such as dryness, eczema, rashes and dandruff. It can thicken fur texture and lessen shedding, so they'll look their best!