But it all began with animals. 

Imagine a scene some 10,000 years ago - a lonely shepherd tends his flock.  He starts to notice how some of his animals eat certain plants at particular times and very gradually a pattern forms in his mind.  It dawns on him that his animals select plants to medicate themselves!   Their instincts lead them to eat certain plants for medicine. This enlightenment becomes the idea that as those herbs heal his animals then they ought to be able to heal humans as well.

So traditional medicine began with animals teaching man that plants could be used for medicine as well as for food.”

The Natural Horse

“A select group of sleek equine aristocrats gallop in a smooth emerald green pasture surrounded with perfect fences and magnificent shade trees.

Just down the road a handful of hairy ponies stand forlornly in a treeless, dirt yard kept in with sagging electric tapes attached to steel posts.

These scenes are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of how man accommodates horses.  Neither is what the horse wants. Given the choice they would be roaming free across thousands of acres of country, through every imaginable kind of terrain, all the while selecting from hundreds of different plants and grasses to keep themselves healthy and in good condition.

It is only when they are confined to reservations,  that their condition and health starts to decline. Horses, like other animals, now have diseases and ailments mostly unknown in the wild, “caused by man’s ignorance of the unchanging laws of nature and his over-commercialisation of the earth” (2).

The modern horse is expected to run, jump, spin around, trot on the spot, gallop after balls and all manner of athletic endeavours to fit into man’s sports, while at the same time being forced to live in an unnatural state. 

Horses in a natural herd situation will spend half their time grazing, 10% walking, galloping or playing, with the other 40% of their time standing, grooming, rolling, or lying down.

So how can we recreate something closer to nature to keep our horses healthy in mind and body in this day and age?

A significant part of the answer is natural feeding and herbal remedies for prevention and treatment of ailments. Of course humane management and training is high on the list too, as without those ailments are created. “

The VF Natural Diet - Feeding for Optimum Health

“What are the benefits of natural feeds and supplements compared with pre-mixed fast feeds, pellets, “cool” feeds, imported dehydrated feeds and synthetic mineral/vitamin supplements widely advertised? 

The fact is that the horse’s genetic evolution has produced a metabolism that does very well on raw, natural feeds.

Despite the plethora of proprietary feed products promoted in the market place, which confuses many horse owners, natural feeding is becoming more widespread and popular.

The VF Natural Diet provides all the essential nutrients in the form of raw, natural feeds and herbs as well as preventive nutrition.  

It produces the million dollar look without the attendant price tag – horses which are healthy on the inside as well as the outside  – ideal muscle tone and condition, rich, shining coats, tough hooves and balanced energy.

Essential nutrients are required for energy, growth and body maintenance and repair. They include 21 minerals, 13 vitamins, 8 amino acids and 2 essential fatty acids, water, light and a source of energy.

What is meant by preventive nutrition ?

Preventive nutrition promotes disease resistance, prevents illness and disease, stimulates the immune system to prevent and lessen the effects of viral and bacterial attacks, prevents and assists in the treatment of degenerative joint disease, prevents digestive upsets such as colic, laminitis and gastro-intestinal tract ulceration, promotes quicker and more complete recovery from injury or illness and helps to build a resilient nervous system.

Prevention is better and much less expensive than cure.”

© Victoria Ferguson    

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