Lee (Salt Lake City, Ut) on 03/23/2012:

Apple cider vinegar and my herd.....

I have had my herd of horses on apple cider vinegar for over a year now and I have to say hands down that it is one of the best 'natural' products out there for a number of reasons.

Horses who have apple cider vinegar in their water drink way more of it. This is a fact with my herd. I go into the barn each morning and find that my stalled horses go through '2' full water buckets each and every night.

An added benefit to adding it to their water is if the horse is travelling, he will never shy away from 'new' water as the ACV hides any taste of a new environment. I know a few show people who swear by adding it to water when they go to shows and they have had no issues with them refusing water.

ACV works wonders on cracked hooves as well as improving the quality of new growth in the foot. It can be sprayed directly on the hoof as well as the frog and it has the added benefit of acting as a hostile environment for thrush and fungus to live in as well.

***The vinegar is high in potassium and horses which are low in potassium will seek out wood to chew on which is also high in potassium for horses.

I met an old cowboy the other day that has used ACV mixed with crushed garlic daily in horse feed to prevent ulcers in race horses. I am not sure if it's a cure-all or not but I have found that adding the ACV to the water in the stall of Bliss has made him really pack on the pounds.

ACV can be used as a natural fly spray and I have read wonders about using it as such. I will be using it on my horses this summer and I will advise what I find out although I have read glowing recommendations about it on-line. (ACV mixed equal parts with Avon skin so soft and citronella. )

My research on-line also showed that ACV can help with arthritis in horses and although I cannot say that it was either the herbs or the ACV dosage for Bliss in his water, he's way more spry as of late and I'm convinced that if it can work on arthritis in humans, it should work equally well in our equine friends.

I know from experience that ACV mixed with black pepper works wonders on proud-flesh. I used the combination with ichthamol on Maverick when he came as a rescue and the results were amazing. My vet was even impressed.

The race track here keeps ACV on hand always for horses that colic. They shoot it into the mouths of horses in a syringe and it helps with the pain. They also soak standing bandages in it before wrapping to bring down swelling in the legs of worked horses.

Finally, ACV added to pasture water helps reduce algae and keeps flies and mosquitoes from hanging out by it.

Hands down, ACV is one of the best natural products that can be used on horses. I have used it for a long time and the lists of things that it can do is extensive and really quite impressive.

It has worked wonders with my herd and I thought it a great idea to put the 'research' out there that I have done on using ACV on horses and the results of doing so.

03/19/2010: Stu from Cambridge, New Zealand: "Hi, Im a racehorse trainer and have fed my horses apple cider/garlic and honey for over 30 years about 20 mils in their feed every night. I have trained major stakes winners in both nz and australia, and at this time im the leading trainer in Oman [middle east] my horses are the healthiest here and I get so many comments on how they look.

I would not do without this secret and we do not give injectables. Stu"

01/13/2011: Skipper523 from Las Vegas, Nv, Usa replies: "I place apple cidar vinegar in our horses water. We have 3 horses, and one of them had a bad skin condition all over her neck when we first got her. It was either hives or some type of allergic reaction. In a fresh full bucket of water (our water buckets are 18 gallons in size), I use about 2 cups of ACV. I pour a little more in when filling it up again.. A dash here and a dash there. This past summer she had no irritations or hives!! I also find the horses drink more water when the ACV is in it! I would never not give it to the horses!! "

02/20/2009: Cheri from Gentry, AR, USA: "I have a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse whose joints would pop a lot when he moved. I started him up on 1/2 cup of ACV in his feed, twice a day, and within 3 days - no more popping! I also noticed that his attitude was brighter, he had more range of motion, his coat took on a darker richer tone, and his new hoof growth was smoother. I won't be changing his diet any time soon. Also used it as a spray for his coat with about a teaspoon of tea-tree oil. It really glossed up his coat."

11/21/2008: C Alesi from Lake Mathews, California USA: "I have been putting a cup of ACV in my horses water barrel since last spring. I noticed my gelding was drinking alot more water with ACV. A few weeks of ACV, my gelding peed out a calcium deposits the size of a walnut. It also helped with the biting flies. One of our mares would get terrible fly bites, but this year she was scab free."

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