Herbal Enrichment For Horses | Equine Science Matters™

One of the best things we can do for our horses’ gut health is provide a range of different plants for them to eat. Each type of bacteria that make up the microbiota of the hind gut prefer to feed on a different type of prebiotic fibre, and while the research into the health-promoting benefits of different types of bacteria is still in its infancy, we do know that a diverse range of bacteria is important for health and wellbeing. Providing different types of plants for your horse to nibble on promotes a wider range of beneficial bacteria and greater microbial diversity.

While it does sound idyllic to re-sow all your horse’s fields with different types of grasses and include some herbs, for most of us, this isn’t realistic. However, we could plant a few different species, most of which are very easy to grow and flourish in wild meadows and hedges in the UK, around the edges of the fields or in hedges bordering the fields.

While the plants in the table below are often referred to as weeds, many horses really enjoy them, and they can provide a simple and cheap way to enrich your horses’ diet. The downside of their low-maintenance and easy-growing nature is that they can sometimes proliferate a little more than we might intend, so do keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not getting out of control if your horse’s appetites aren’t quite keeping up with how quickly they grow!

Hedgerow Herbs

Name	When to Sow	How to Sow	Preferred Location	Notes
Clivers	August - September Or February -March	Gather the sticky little burr-like seeds from existing plants, scatter over the soil, and push in by 0.5-1cm.	Shaded, largely undisturbed areas such as under hedgerows.
Cow Parsley	August - September Or February -March	Loosen the soil to a depth of about 15cm, then scatter the seeds. Lightly press into the soil, but don't cover as the seeds require light to germinate.	Moist but well-draining soils in partial to full sun.	Close resemblance to hemlock, hemlock water dropwort and giant hogweed, which are poisonous. If gathering wildflower seeds, be sure they are correctly identified, or if in any doubt, buy seeds from a shop.
Dandelion	Sow directly into soil 6 weeks before the last spring frost.	Loosen soil, then press seeds in but don't cover, as the seeds require light to germinate. If planting from wildflowers, place the whole seed head on the soil and gently scatter a little loose soil over the top.	Full sun to partial shade. If grown in slightly shadier locations, the leaves tend to be more palatable.	There are two types of dandelion commonly found in the UK, true and false. The true dandelion has only one flower per stem and deep teeth on the leaves. False dandelions can have several flowers per stem. Leaves have rounded edges and are slightly furry, hence their nickname, cat's ear. False dandelions can cause nerve damage and stringhalt-type symptoms if consumed in large quantities.
Milk Thistle	July - Sept or March - April	Cover seeds lightly with soil as they require light to germinate, spaced 12-15 inches apart. Water regularly until they germinate after 10-20 days and while young.	Well-drained soil in full sun, although they can handle partial shade.	Not to be confused with other types of thistle. If gathering seeds from wild flowers, look for the distinctive white marbling pattern on dark green leaves.

Another, possibly slightly prettier option could be to plant some herbs in a few tubs or troughs placed around the yard. Providing pretty flowers and foliage, the following herbs have been used for horses for centuries for their purported health benefits. If planted in tubs around the yard, your horse could be allowed to access them for a little while each day or when hand-grazing to provide some extra variety to their diets. Securing some welded mesh over the tops of the tubs or troughs allows the plants to grow enough to stay strong, and prevents the horses from pulling them out by the roots, but still allows them to nibble on the tops of the plants as they grow up through the mesh.

Tub Herbs

Name	When to Sow	How to Sow	Preferred Location	Notes
Marigold	Sow in early March indoors and plant out after the last frost date once it has several well-established leaves, or sow outside after mid-April.	Sow seeds to a depth of 0.5-1.5cm, ensuring the seeds are completely covered as light exposure reduces germination. Keep the soil moist until the seeds have sprouted.	Well-drained, ideally neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Use peat-free, multi-purpose potting compost for pots. They flower better in moderately fertile rather than overly rich soil. Full sun position, but sheltered from wind	There are several types of Marigolds; the one most commonly fed to horses is Pot Marigold or Calendula Officinalis.
Chamomile	Sow directly into a prepared seedbed in autumn, or indoors in March.	Seeds need light to germinate, so press lightly onto the prepared soil	Well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade	Two main types: German and Roman Chamomile. Both are suitable for horses, although the German variety produces more flowers and has a sweeter taste.
Mint	Sow indoors in early spring, 8-10 weeks before the last frost date.	Scatter onto damp, free-ranging compost. Press gently into the soil, but do not cover as they need light to germinate. Keep moist and warm (20 degrees C) until seedlings appear in 10-15 days. When seedlings have several leaves, they can be moved into their own pots.	Happy in full sun or partial shade. Can tolerate a wide variety of soil types. If planting in pots, use soil-based peat-free compost.	There are many different varieties of mint, with the most commonly used for culinary purposes being Garden mint or Mentha spicata. It can spread quickly through its roots, so it might be an idea to plant it in a pot inside the enrichment trough to stop it taking over.
Rosemary	It can take several years for plants grown from seed to be large enough to harvest leaves from.	Cuttings can be grown from the young shoots of established plants in spring, or you can buy rosemary shrubs from most garden centres that are already established.	Prefers warm, sunny areas with free-draining peat-free soil.	Rosemary really hates having wet roots, so if there is a period of prolonged rain, consider moving to a sheltered spot, such as the lee of a wall or porch. Can be damaged by harsh winds or hard frosts in winter so consider temporarily covering with biodegradable fleece during cold spells in winter.
Lemon Balm	Sow indoors in spring, or outside from late spring into early summer.	Light aids germination, so sow into peat-free compost and cover with only a very fine layer of compost. Keep moist and cover with clear plastic until seedlings appear. If planting straight outside, break up the soil or add a layer of well-rotted fine organic matter and sow directly into the mulch.	Does well in warm, sunny or partial shade areas. Tolerates most soil types but avoids waterlogged areas.	Lemon Balm freely self-seeds, so to avoid it spreading too much cut it back after flowering, and grow it in pots.

As with introducing any new feeds to your horses, start gradually, allowing a short amount of time with the new plants before increasing.