Apple Cider Vinegar (also known as ACV) is economical and has many uses in and around the stable!
Benefits of adding ACV to your horse’s diet include:
- Promotes healthy joints
- Enhances skin and coat health
- Balances the horse’s pH
- Boosts immune system health
- Helps to dissolve calcium deposits
- Improves urinary tract health
- Stimulates proper digestion
- Helps horse to resist internal and external parasites
- Contains beneficial enzymes
- Flushes the body of toxins.
In addition to that impressive list, apple cider vinegar has natural antibiotic properties. Anecdotally, apple cider vinegar (or ACV for short) can help calm a nervous horse. Many people find that it seems to make horse blood less attractive to insects and therefore acts as a repellent. As well, ACV may help improve and relieve arthritis.
Taken orally, ACV has many healing and detoxifying properties with no negative side effects. You could mix ACV with your horse’s grain, or add it to their water. Two – three ounces a day per horse is usually sufficient. Remember that when changing anything in a horse’s diet you must do it gradually to prevent digestive upsets. Begin with a low dose of ACV and increase it over a few days to the full amount.
I have also heard people say that giving two cups of ACV to a colicking horse will help stimulate internal movement and aid the animal.
Uses of ACV Around the Stable
*Fly Spray: A great tried, tested and true recipe for ACV fly spray is mixing equal parts water, ACV and Avon Skin-So-Soft. Black tea has also been mixed in with success. This fly spray is safe and gentle for your horses, children and yourself. You’ll find that your horse’s coat is softer than ever!
*Topically: ACV helps to reduce swelling. Take care not to put in an open wound. It also has antifungal properties and can be used to treat ringworm. Apple cider vinegar and water can also be used as a daily soak until a hoof abscess fully drains and heals.
*Thrush Buster: Spray ACV on your horse’s soles and frog to prevent or treat thrush. Much more gentle than bleach and cheaper than other remedies!
*ACV and Water: Adding ACV to your horse’s fresh water supply is easy and an efficient way of making sure your horse is consuming ACV. Add a cup or so of ACV into your water tank. (Less if in a bucket). Remember, start with a little and work up to the full dose over several days. This will help keep the water tanks and buckets free of bacteria and build up. (Do not use ACV in metal buckets or tanks!) If all your horses are taking ACV, you’ll be amazed to notice less flies around your stable general. ACV makes a horse’s blood unsuitable for flies and pests.
As you can see, ACV is a must have at the stable! I keep a full jug handy at all times. Get organic and unpasteurized ACV if you can (pasteurization kills the important enzymes).