Have you tried Thalassotherapy with your horse?

In case you've not heard of it, it's the therapeutic use of seawater. In the form of marine products like algae, seaweed, and marine mud.

Thalassotherapy aims to promote health and wellbeing. By helping restore the body’s natural chemical balance. The skin's importance is often overlooked. It enables absorption of trace elements. With Thalasootherapy this is magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and iodide. All helpful for health.

This therapy originates from France, where many people enjoy the benefits. France has many thalassotherapy spas, to help provide a medical cure.

In 2009 Equine Osteopath and Masseur Bénédicte Lucazeau developed EQUITHALASSO®. Many veterinary surgeons in France now approve of and recommend it for their equine clients.

So Why Should EQUITHALASSO® Be Helpful For Your Horse?

Your horse whether in the field, hacking out, schooling or competing, will have his or her body exerted. This means that therapies are helpful to restore the balance. This is important to avoid pain and improve performance. Or to maintain existing health and happiness.

Use EQUITHALASSO® to:

1. Soothe your horse's legs - joints and tendons.
2. Relieve muscle tension with the known properties of algae
3. Use before heavy work/competition or after as a recovery aid
4. Relieve arthritis
5. If your horse is recovering from an ailment, it can help with the healing process.

Many famous equestrians use or have used the EQUITHALASSO® concept. Including:

William Fox Pitt, Chester Weber, Roger Yves Bost for the physical recovery of some of his clients’ horses …

So How Does EQUITHALASSO® work?

Use Equine Algotherapy or seaweed wraps with EquiThalasso products. Made exclusively from natural raw materials extracted from the sea. Not only high quality, but also lab-certified. And tailored to your horse’s specific needs.

The products have a high concentration of mineral salts. This means they have excellent antiseptic and anti-viral properties. The trace elements contained also are helpful. These include:

• Copper – conditions the development and resistance of bone. Stimulating the formation of collagen fibres and bone metabolism
• Manganese – essential for bone development
• Calcium – a well-developed, strong skeleton is necessary for any physical performance, and for the duration of a sports career
• Iodine – to fix the iron and vitamins.

How To Get The Best Benefits from EQUITHALASSO®?

Add to a stretching massage session or an osteopathic treatment. A professional trained therapist will wrap your horse with a seaweed poultice. Cover with a starch sheet and a fleece (when it is cold).

Cleaning your horse with warm water after treatment is essential. And they need covering with a fleece to dry them up in winter (takes about 1 hour).

What Next?

You can find Equithalasso practitioners in many places in Europe and North America.

In the UK, Jennifer Postollec at https://equinemanualtherapist.com/ is a qualified Equithalasso therapist.

About The Author
This is a guest post by Jennifer Postollec at Equine Manual Therapist. Jennifer not only offers Equithalasso but also Osteopathy and Massage in the southeast of England. Email jennifer@equinemanualtherapist.com

Find out more about dozens of natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

Will Your Horse Or Dog Love Chamomile's Healthy Benefits?

Sitting down with a cup of chamomile tea, for soothing and relaxing. Have you done this? This is how many people use chamomile, to help destress. But have you ever tried it to help your horse or dog?

Yes chamomile is a herb that’s not only helpful for human wellbeing. But can be used to help our horses and dogs too!

The benefits of chamomile have been known for thousands of years. As the ancient Egyptians are believed to have used it. It’s important to remember that before the development of synthetic medicines, and the rise of the pharmaceutical industry. People and veterinarians used herbs to help with health. That’s virtually all there was.

Chamomile was and continues to be used to help with:

• Soothing eyes
• Relieving stress and anxiety
• Soothing skin irritations
• Relieving digestive complaints

So how should you use chamomile with your horse or dog?

1. Supplement

You can buy it as a herb to add to your animal’s feed. Many equine supplement producers, and also horse feed companies have chamomile as a herb to buy.

Taking the herb in feed, will enable the benefits to help your horse or dog, ‘from the inside out’. Even if your animal has a skin complaint taking it internally can help promote health from the inside.

Your dog can enjoy a variety of supplements and treats which contain chamomile. For instance my dog’s favourite ‘bedtime biscuits’ from Lilys Kitchen, contain chamomile. They do what they say - are for bedtime and to promote relaxation for the night.

2. Skin lotions and balms.

You can get these which contain chamomile. Often they may include other herbs too, but these are ideal for soothing skin irritations. Many companies who produce natural horse and dog products do include chamomile within their ranges.

3. Zoopharmacognosy. Or animal aromatherapy.

Chamomile is used as an essential oil, and can help skin health and anxiety as well as digestive health in this form too. If your horse or dog has a health or wellbeing issue and you'd like help to know more about using essential oils. You can find zoopharmacognosy practitioners in many areas. Need help finding one? Please email me at info @ taranet.co.uk

Or why not take a course? Caroline Ingraham is an internationally renowned zoopharmacognosy practitioner and educator, who has many courses. Visit her website at https://www.carolineingraham.com

Research Proving Benefits of Chamomile?

Some scientific research has taken place to prove its benefits, with people. Veterinary research is limited. But it does exist! E.g. Tresch, M., Mevissen, M., Ayrle, H. et al. Medicinal plants as therapeutic options for topical treatment in canine dermatology? A systematic review. BMC Vet Res 15, 174 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-1854-4

How much chamomile should you use?

As with any product, don’t use too much! Just because chamomile is a natural herb, doesn’t mean you can use lots of it. Use within the guidelines of the product.

It’s also believed to not be suitable for cats.

Lastly, do remember to get chamomile products where you know the source. Organic is great. Sustainability is important as is not buying products which have had pesticides or are grown in polluted areas. Not sure where a product is from and the producer isn’t clear? Then find a product from somewhere else!

As with all therapies and treatments - use only those that your Veterinary Surgeon approves. Whilst herbal medicine is generally very safe, there maybe some reasons why it won't be suitable for your horse, dog or other animal. It may not even work properly if your animal is on other medication, so do get your Veterinary Surgeon's permission first.

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author

Suzanne Harris is founder of this Taranet website at www.taranet.co.uk, and also provides business coaching to horse and dog care and veterinary professionals.

How To Meet Your Donkey's Needs In The Winter?

So what does your donkey want this winter?
Do they have different needs in the winter, compared to the summer?

Silly question..? Of course all year around our donkeys want love, care and attention. Feet picked out. A cuddle. Some treats. Kind words and company. They're just a few things donkeys love!

But they do have seasonal needs. And there's a role for complementary therapies too to help.

Here are my top 3 tips for keeping my donkeys happy in the winter.

And I hope these are useful for you and your donkeys too:

1. Plenty of clean water. Now you may think keeping your donkey hydrated is an issue in the summer, but not so much in the winter?

Although the grass may seem wet from the rain, it's not the same as a bucket of clean water. Donkeys can get dehydrated in the winter, as much as the summer. You need to make sure water buckets are clean. With autumnal leaves flying off the trees and hedges, it's easy for water buckets to get dirty. Donkeys like clean water.

2. Shelter. In the cooler months of the year, there'll be more wind and rain and donkeys hate standing out in the elements. Well for too long anyway.

So a good field shelter or a good hedge that your donkey can access in the field are useful. Also, let your donkeys have access to a stable too. A stable with clean shavings or thick deep straw. Donkeys love a good roll and sit down. Let your donkey have the freedom to be in the stable or outside, (even if on a yard area). Donkeys love flexibility!

3. Massage. Massaging donkeys? Has your donkey enjoyed a massage lately? If not, then do take an equine massage course for horse-owners. You'll find many day or weekend courses to help you learn the basics to help your donkey.

Now these are usually aimed at horses - but the principles of massaging donkeys is the same. Why bother? Massage helps circulation and relieves tension. When the weather is cooler, then your donkey may stand around more. Muscles then become more tense and the body's not circulating as much.

Please remember that if your donkey is unwell. Or on any kind of medication or other supplement. Then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon first before using any supplement or therapy. Even natural ones. To avoid any possible issues.

Like help finding a veterinary surgeon or therapist for your donkey?
Please email me at info at taranet . co. uk

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About the Author

Suzanne Harris is founder of this Taranet website at www.taranet.co.uk, and also provides business coaching to horse and dog care and veterinary professionals.