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The GREEN HORSE - sustainable horsekeeping

Vol 28-1

In the June/July 2006 Issue of The Green Horse you will find the following articles:

Talking Point and Information Exchange
Lucyvale Dungbeetle Project by Sharon Roberts
PVC Fencing
Grazing Management Systems - Dunging Behaviour by Jane Myers
Deeds, Steeds and Weeds
WEED WATCH - Honeysuckle by Nicola Field
Basic Fencing - Strainer Assemblies by Pam Brookman
Growing Your Own Equine Herbs - Making Herbal Ointments by Fiona Adams
Property Vegetation Plans
Machines For Maintenance by Karina Thullesen
Fury Over Park
Dams - Construction by Chris Ferreira and Tracey Bell

GROWING EQUINE HERBS

Making Ointments and Salves

by Fiona Adams

Many horse owners are growing a few herbs and becoming comfortable with feeding them to their horses, so now it is time to look at using herbs in ointments or salves.


Herbs have therapeutic value both internally and topically (externally), however we need to be very careful, as what we put on our skin and our horse’s skin is absorbed into the bloodstream. More is not always better in the case of herbs, so always seek advice first.

Ointments have been used for centuries to help with many problems, including wounds, skin afflictions, arthritis and most topical problems. They are usually made using a base such as beeswax, emulsifying wax or paraffin to help the ointment stick together, along with an oil or fat with the herbs infused into it. Some herbalists may use a tincture of a herb in the ointment. An easy ointment to use is sorbelene cream with a tincture of the desired herb put into it. Tinctures are usually for use by qualified herbal practitioners only.

Years ago, ointments were often made using animal fats such as lard and tallow from sheep or pig fat. Some purists prefer not to use animal fat in their ointments although some don’t mind using a little lanolin. It is really up to the individual to decide. We should use only the best ingredients for our horses, preferably organic or free from pesticides and other chemicals. Personally, I like to use natural beeswax.

Making ointments:
Begin by infusing your herb into your selection of oil. This can be done by lightly simmering the oil in a saucepan, preferably an enamel one. You need to make sure all the moisture is out of the fresh herb. Some people infuse the oil by leaving it with the herbs in it in a glass jar on a window sill, straining after two weeks then adding more herbs and leaving again for another two weeks. When your herbs are infused enough, strain the oil through muslin cloth. The infused oil can then be added to the beeswax or emulsifying wax.

Use a double boiler for melting the wax then add the infused oil to the melted wax. Pour into jars (glass is best) and allow to set. Vitamin E can be added to the ointment to help preserve it. The ointment needs to be a soft enough consistency that it can be easily applied.

Deciding which herbs to use will depend on their medicinal properties and the use intended. Some research is needed if you don’t have an herbal background. Calendula and lavender are very popular herbs to make into ointments. Calendula is used where there is inflammation of the skin and for any bleeding, wounds, bruising, burns, fungal problems, muscle strains, insect stings and bites. Lavender is very antiseptic and useful for wounds. It may also be used to repel flies and help with skin itches and irritations.

CALENDULA and LAVENDER OINTMENT.
First make a strong infusion of about 35 grams of fresh calendula and lavender flowers with about 350 millilitres of water. Allow the infusion to cool before straining. Put 65 grams of emulsifying ointment and 20 grams of glycerine in a double boiler and stir until melted. Remove and mix 150 millilitres of the calendula and lavender infusion with four drops of a tincture of benzoin and stir until it has cooled and looks like cream. Pour into a glass jar and let it set. This should last about six months.

Be careful when applying ointments to horses as rubbing too much can cause hair loss and some horses will blister with some ointments. Always patch test first.

Growing your own herbs to make into an ointment for use on your equine friend can be quite a satisfying feeling and can offer a further way of using herbs, apart from as an additive in the feed.

Fury Over Park

National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) is outraged over the horse management plan for Kosciuszko National Park released today.

“The NSW Government has failed in its duty to protect the internationally significant natural values of Kosciuszko National Park and has dealt yet another ecological blow to Kosciuszko National Park,” said Andrew Cox, NPA Executive Officer.

He went on to allege that horses are causing severe ecological damage to the park and that shooting is the best means of removing them. Contrary to public opinion, Mr Cox believes that shooting of horses using RSPCA endorsed protocols has been widely acknowledged as a humane and effective way of removing large numbers of horses. He says that the Government should have taken the opportunity presented after recent devastating bushfires to quickly get on top of the escalating horse issue at a time when the park was highly susceptible to erosion.

“The control methods endorsed in the new plan have removed less than 50 horses since January 2003,” he states.
“The new report clearly spells out the major environmental impacts the horses are causing in Kosciuszko.” He was referring to an interim report of the independent scientific committee advising the Government on the management of Kosciuszko National Park.

The NPA alleges that horses disrupt the ecological balance because of their large size, hard hooves and grazing practices that are different to native animals. Feral horses cause severe erosion on steep slopes, create a network of tracks and trample vegetation and delicate bogs.

Mr Cox continued, “We know that horses cause damage, we know how best to remove them.”

His statement that the NSW Government needs to follow the lead of the ACT Government and put its ecological sustainability rhetoric into practice by getting on with aerial shooting is sure to fire up horse enthusiasts everywhere! Mr Cox can be contacted on 02 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040.