The Problem with Sweet Feed

Brought to you by Silver Lining Herbs

     As we endeavor to become acquainted with the use of the healing herbs there are a few things we need to understand. One of the most important aspects to keep in mind is, a clean body works better than a dirty or congested body does. You must first stop putting pollutants into the system you want to clean. 

    The most abused equine food source is the much-publicized sweet feed, or feed with molasses additives. I believe that peoples’ addiction to sugar leads to wanting to feed more sugar to their horses. It is, however, quite the opposite. The more we feed these sweet feeds to our horses the better their chances of developing feet and leg problems, intestinal disorders, kidney problems and most all of the other unhealthy conditions. Let me put these conditions in a more recognizable light. Navicular, ring bone, Laminitis, arthritis, colic, tying-up, glandular obstructions, blood disorders, weak lungs, infertility, infections, liver problems, bone and teeth deterioration, are all nutritionally related. The reasons these feeds are so tough on the body is that the system finds them very difficult to assimilate. They are also acid builders which is highly detrimental to the entire equine system. Therefore, they tend to cause an unnecessary toxic buildup, which needs to be broken down and evacuated from the body. The first matter of good health is to clean these unwanted and unneeded toxins out of the body. The way these toxins evacuate is through the urinary tract, colon, or skin, via the lymphatic system.

     If you are ever in the situation where you can sit and watch your horse graze in a natural environment, take note of the way he does this. You will note variety is of utmost importance to him. The reason for this is he needs certain ingredients from multiple plants. Remember, each plant gleans different vitamins and minerals from the ground and each one affects the horse’s system in a different way. I will add that in addition to variety, these vitamins and minerals are in their purest and easiest assimilated form when they are being picked by the horse in his natural setting. The closest second we know of is when we harvest the plant and make it into a powder form to feed directly to the horse as a top dressing on his feed. 

     Healing takes patience. It has taken some time for the condition to degenerate to the point where we recognize the horse has a problem, or is showing outward symptoms. A good rule of thumb for healing is to allow one month for each year the horse has had the problem, with a minimum of three months.

     This is a short overview of the reason why it is a good policy to feed the feeds that are best for your horse. Good health is not an accident. It is my desire to be able to help you, the horse owner, better understand some of these natural laws that have real consequences if broken.

– Mickey Young

Author

Email comments or questions to [email protected]

Write A Comment