The dog rose ‘s small fruits contain substances of vital importance in concentrated form. The bright red rose hips were already available as valuable food for wild horses in autumn and winter, thousands of years ago. There you can find out why our horses’ diet still has an advantage to them.
Now in the autumn you can see them shining in nature everywhere: rose hips, the small, bright red dog rose fruits, about which even a popular children’s song is about. The much-sung “little man” is not only in the forest. Whether on hedges and fences, in bushes or on the edges of forests-the rose hip bushes, which are up to three meters tall, thrive in many places like weeds and are wi
Despite or maybe because of their widespread use, rose hip has long been hardly appreciated. We know today that the little red dog rose fruit is a genuine cornucopia of essential substances:
1. Plenty of Vitamin C
The rosehip’s high vitamin C content has given it the meaningful nickname “Lemon of the North”. In fact, the red fruits contain twenty times more vitamin C than a comparable amount of lemons, which makes them the perfect immune system booster, especially in the cold season.
2. Vital substance cocktail from A to zinc
Apart from vitamin C, rose hips are real vital substance bombs. They contain a whole collection of vital vitamins, from A and E to vitamins of the B complex up to vitamins K and P, as well as high concentrations of beta-carotene and flavonoids. Minerals and trace elements such as calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and zinc are also present in considerable quantities.
3. Natural pain killer for joint problems
In particular, its high content of galactolipids has helped rose hip to become more popular in recent years. The complex compounds of fatty acids and sugar reduce the sensitivity to pain in joint problems and arthrosis and ensure greater mobility. Thanks to their remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, which have been proven several times in studies, rose hips have proven to be effective and completely natural help for horses with arthritis problems.
4. Good for the hooves
Improved hoof growth can sometimes be observed in horses that are regularly fed rose hips. The vital substances it contains increase the blood flow to the capillaries and the skin of the hoof, which has a particularly positive effect on laminitis patients and risk candidates.
5. Shiny fur and flexibility skin
Rose hips are rich in unsaturated fatty acids with an ideal ratio of omega 6 and omega-3 fatty acids. They ensure elastic and dandruff-free skin and a beautiful coat shine.
6. Effective against intestinal parasites
If horses are prone to worms again and again, the rosehip can also serve well here. The reason for this is their hairy kernels, which intestinal parasites do not appreciate at all. They hinder the development of worms and drive them out. At the same time, the natural pectins in the rosehip peel ensure that the intestinal mucosa can regenerate again.
7. Healthy reward for calorie-conscious people
The sour-sweet tasting rose hips are usually eaten by horses. Due to their high percentage of vital substances and their handy size, they are also suitable as a treat for treats – especially for light-feeding horses and those with existing metabolic problems (EMS, Cushing, laminitis).
The ancestors of today’s domestic horses already knew that rose hips are a valuable nutritional supplement. For many millennia, the small red fruits served the wild horses in Europe and Asia as a healthy addition to the menu during the cold season. Even today, horses still eat rose hips directly from the bushes if they have the opportunity to do so on a ride, in the pasture or in the winter run.
If you want to feed your horse rose hips, you can collect them, put them on an absorbent cloth and let them dry in a warm place for several days. It is important to turn the fruits regularly so that they do not start to mold. If that’s too much work for you, you can simply buy rose hips ready. Many feed manufacturers now have the super fruit in their range – dried, crushed or ground as a whole fruit, in powder or pellet form.