The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Shaylee (Adelaide, Australia) on 03/28/2008
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My horse has just been diagnosed with Cushings disease... i amn thinking of putting him on ACV to help him as well. he is 32...
Reader Feedback
Posted by Minna (E.Burg, Pa) on 10/08/2008
Hi,
I am wondering if anyone has tried ACV or any other remedy for Cushings Disease. My 13 year old Wire hair fox terrier has it and even though the Vet has him on meds, he still has some accidents in the house. Shaylee mentioned about trying her horse on ACV and I would like to know if there were any good results.
thanks,
Minna
Broad Benefits
Posted by Abbey (Coffs Harbour, Australia) on 03/17/2008
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I used ACV on my horses for many years, along with dolomite, seaweed meal, sulphur, occasional garlic, occasional dose of copper sulphate as an additional worming, a little molasses, sometimes a few drops of cod liver oil for extra vitamin A when needed, mixed in with a small amount of slightly moist lucerne chaff. The horses loved it, it got them through a drought when there was not much to eat and not a lot of goodness in what there was. They never lost condition, always bright, shiny coats, healthy feet and when tested for worms - no worms and I did not give them anything commercial for worming accept what I have listed previous. When I bought an old horse home, wormy, in poor condition and a coat that was coming away in handfuls, I gave her a diluted apple cider wash and within days her coat stopped falling out and within weeks was growing a beautiful new coat.
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Posted by Abbey (Coffs Harbour, Australia) on 03/08/2011
I used Pat Coleby information from her book and the amounts for each horse were different according to their weight. Sorry for the very late reply, looking through this page and discovered my comment, oops.
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Posted by Lynn Seward (San Bernardino, Ca) on 09/18/2015
I believe Apple Cider Vinegar would help my neighbors horse with the painful colic. Am I right? I add it to all my pets water occasionally. Goats, chickens, ducks and dogs and us. It gives fast relief with stomach problems. So why not in horses with digestion issues.
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Posted by Julie (Rockhampton, QLD.Australia) on 05/28/2008
Hi Abbey , I have heard of people using these types of remedy before and got positive results. But can you please specify in what quantities each product is used to make up the mix. many thanks, Julie.
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Posted by Sabina (Toronto, Ontario) on 06/08/2009
I know this was posted ages ago, but I still felt the need to post a reply. Laminitis is an inflammation of the lamina caused by too much sugar/carbs. Sugar is digested in the small intestine, and when there is too much of it (ie. in grain, which is much richer in sugars than in protein) it overflows and ends up in the large intestine. When this happens, it causes to bacteria there to die and release endotoxins. These toxins wind up in the feet via the ematic torrent (blood) and the living tissue there. This causes the tissue that holds the bone to the hoof wall to become inflamed and eventually dead. Basically there is nothing holding the bone and hoof together and so the pedal bone starts to rotate. You can even see it poking through the sole if the horse is left without treatment for long enough. Another type of laminitis is caused by a blow (or more) to the hoof with much the same results.
There is no reason why ACV should help with laminitis. The best cure is prevention. Don't feed too much grain and don't overwork horses on hard surfaces (whether they are shod or not)
If your horse already has laminitis, a good farrier is a must. There are numerous dependable sites for the barefoot crowd (which I am completely for), so I'm not going to get into that. If you like the idea, go do some research.
Too much protein is bad for the kidneys, but it is in no way linked to laminitis.
flies
Posted by Donna (Sparta, Illinois) on 04/26/2007
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I first started feeding my horses organic acv last summer. I have already started them on it for this summer. Not only does it repel flies it worked wonders on my older horse's arthritis. Make sure it's the organic acv.
Flies
Posted by Donna (Millsap, TX) on 04/23/2007
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I was looking for something to helkp cut back on fly attacks and ran across a page with information on acv. it was suppose to help with numerous things and i am sure it does. i wound up giving it to all three of our horses. after about two weeks i noticed that all three were losing weight. one more so than the others. how could i benefit from its good without it causing weight loss. i was feeding 1/4 cup 2x a day, they all seemed to love it and it really slowed the eating down. they really seemed to take their time eating instead of just gobbling it up. and their coats are beautiful. i can even see the dapples on my palomino this spring and my sorrels just shine. any advice would be great.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jane (Macarthur, Victoria) on 01/08/2007
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Apple Cider Vinegar with added garlic certainly helped my older horses coat and skin disorder (together with a little Yellow Sulphur) and also helped with joints. 'I have had a bottle of acv (with garlic added) in the tack room for a while but didn't think my horses needed it. I had an aged pony with a horrible skin problem and thought I would try it on her. Her skin was heaps better (and sooo shiny) after a few weeks. Just 30mls in her feed each evening was enough. I ran out a few weeks ago and forgot to get more each time I went to town. I rode her tonight and she was a bit funny in the joints and her skin didn't seem as shiny as it was. Now I know why, I haven't been feeding her the acv. Tomorrow I am going to find some. I believe it is great stuff. I will never run out again.
Calms Horses
Posted by Pat (Oakville, Ontario) on 11/16/2006
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I use 1/4 cup of acv in grain everyday. Was told by Pat Carter it would calm a nervous horse and it sure did. My horse loves acv and is so much calmer now, it's amazing.
Skin Conditions
Posted by Beverly (Oregon) on 04/24/2006
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I tried the acv, flaxmeal, and at first corn oil, but found canola was better. The combo cured my horse from scratching himself until his skin was oozing and crusty. Then his hair would fall out in patches. I have been using the 1/4 acv twice a day, 1/2 cup flaxmeal twice a day and 1/4 canola oil twice a day for about 2 months. Buddy eats better, He not scratching at all and his hips seem to be doing much better. His scratching has been a problem for year, the last two owner gave up on trying to cure him because they tried everything, and he still scratched. Hot wire was the only thing that kept him safe. Now I can let him out and not worry about him. also his whole well being seems great.
Digestive Problems
Posted by Tina (Hot Springs, AR) on 04/10/2006
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I have a 27 year old quarter horse that went through Marqui treatment for EPM last August. It was a slow hard recovery. About two months ago I noticed that his stools were very loose, but not watery. I was very concerned as horses have fragile digestive systems. I tried ACV 3 ounces everyday for about 1 week now. I noticed after about 3 days they had firmed up but were unusually dark. Today I went to clean his stall and I saw the first normal looking stool I've seen in a long time. He seems to be moving better and I'm not hearing his joints 'crack' as much. Good stuff!
Arthritis
Posted by Elaine (UK) on 02/04/2006
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i brought my daughters welsh section a pony about 5 months ago and when she came she was really stiff in the hind,someone suggested that i use acv and the results are amazing,within just a week there was a big difference when she was walking and trotting around her field like a youngster.
Flies
Posted by Leah (Perkinston MS) on 01/27/2006
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After Hurricane Katrina blew through here flies were every where. I tried the fly collars , fly spray and nothing seem to keep the abundance of flies away from my horses. I went on line when power was restored looking for a answer I came across this forum and I tried ACV and in a matter of two weeks I could see the difference . Flies were still in abundance but left the horses alone more and bothered us more. We were using off spray every night and my son suffers from eczema ( a skin rash disorder) the off irritated him until he started bleeding in areas. I said what the heck and I sprayed it on us.. okay it dried my skin out a little but over all it help us out as well. Thanks to this forum we are not bothered by pesky flies anymore.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Robyn (Werribee, Victoria, Australia) on 01/26/2006
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I have 2 Standardbred geldings and they have been getting 1/4 cup acv daily since I got them, which is 4 years. I combine it with 1 tbls garlic, 1 tbls dolomite, 1 tsp seaweed meal, 1 tsp yellow sulphur and 1/4 tsp copper sulphate, which by the way is what Pat Colby recommends. The combination keeps my boys healthy and I find that I don't need to worm them as often. They love the taste and lick their bowls clean every night. Their coats are shiny and they keep their weight on throughout the year. I have also found that if they get a scratch or nick it heals in no time flat and flies don't bother them as much as the other horses on the property. I recommend acv to everyone with horses!
How to Make Big Batches for Horses
Posted by Wendy (Bishop CA) on 01/01/2006
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To save money what I do is take a 5 gallon bucket, empty one jar of unpasteurized ACV along with 2 large pasteurized ACV, then poor them into the 5 gallon bucket. Wait about 4 weeks (this is the time it takes for the culture to grow). What I do is create a cycle, so I never run out.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Melissa (Whittier, CA) on 12/18/2005
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I have fed 2 ounces of acv 5 times per week to my horses for two years now. ACV in combination with a joint supplement keeps my horses feeling good all the time! They are both shiny, happy and healthy. They don't seem to itch. During the worst of the fly season, they didn't seem horribly bothered by flies as were there neighbors. I also combine 1/3 water, 1/3 Avon SSS and 1/3 ACV for fly spray which worked well. I am very pleased with the health of my horses and attribute much of that to the ACV. I buy a gallon at a time from Smart and Final for under $4. I have persuaded my barn buddies to feed as well... all are happy
Broad Benefits
Posted by Nickkie (USA)
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I feed my horse Apple Cider Vinegar every day and he loves the taste. I like it because he has a healthier coat, better appetite, less smelly urine, less fly bites, less need for worming, and better feed efficiency. I also put it in the water buckets to keep algae from growing and to keep the flies out.
The vet recently told me to up his ACV to 2 cups per day to help prevent kidney and intestinal stones. I have also started giving it to my dogs, and I am also mixing a little in with my tea. The stuff is great!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Cindy (Newville PA)
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I discovered how wonderful apple cider vinegar was for my horse about 3 years ago. I had to give him supplements that he absolutely refused to eat. I read somewhere to mix some acv in with his feed, and it would mask the taste & smell of the supplements. He loves it! I just keep it in a spray bottle, and after top dressing his grain with supplements, I just spray about 6 good sprays of acv then shake it all together. He is never bothered by flies in the summer either. If I feel the need to apply fly spray, I mix equal parts of acv, water, and Avon skin so soft. I find that this makes an exceptional coat conditioner as well. I make sure to NEVER run out of acv around the barn- my horses would just not tolerate it. They literally lick their feed tubs when the grain is gone!
