Rosa rugosa, one of many rose species, is not only the rose most commonly used for rose hedges in England, but it is also a favourite on many horses’ menus. A good nurseryman should be able to help you locate these roses, despite them having been declared a noxious weed in South Africa. Good-quality rose hips can be found in Lesotho, north Eastern Cape and the high-lying areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Another species, Rosa canina, also called the wild dog rose, was believed to cure a bite from a mad dog. Both Rosa rugosa and Rosa canina have special qualities that could benefit your horse. The cherry-like rose hips of these species contain vitamin C, E and K, as well as nicotinamide.
Hoof growth
Rose hips are often fed to horses with hoof growth problems, being high in biotin which promotes healthy growth. The problem with hoof growth supplements is that the result can only be seen a while later, due to the tempo at which the hoof grows.
Rose hips are invaluable for horses recovering from an illness, as the antioxidants they contain help maintain the health of an already healthy cell. The rose hip oil pressed from the rose hip has wonderful healing properties for any scar or healing wound. In Chinese herbal medicine, rose hips are used as a liver tonic. It is a wonderful remedy to use for horses with a liver-based disease such as laminitis. It is a good idea to feed horses 35g of dried minces or ground hips once a day. – Kim Dyson
Contact Kim Dyson on 082 888 6511. |fw
