Fenugreek powder is a well-known spice in many cuisines around the world. But recently, its use as a horse feed supplement has become widely prevalent among horse keepers, and for all the good reasons. Fenugreek powder has many medicinal properties and nutritional values that prevent ailments and ensure equine health.

What is more surprising is that this bitter-sweet spice has a flavour that horses love. Studies show that horses have a human-like palate and like eating flavourful meals. Among several food items like banana and cherry, fenugreek powder is the favourite flavour of horses.

If your equine is fussy on meal times, try adding a tablespoon or two of fenugreek powder to their feed. It will not only increase the palatability of their food but also gives myriads health benefits. In this post, we have enlisted eight amazing health benefits of fenugreek powder for your equine.

All about fenugreek powder

Fenugreek powder is a ground version of fenugreek seeds, which comes from the Trigonella foenum-graecum plant. This annual plant is native to the Mediterranean, Europe, and Asia. The ground fenugreek seeds were mostly used to thicken the curries and infuse appealing flavours. 

However, it has also been used as a medicine for its various therapeutic properties. Fenugreek packs many nutrients and compounds that help alleviate various ailments, not only in humans but in horses as well.

Fenugreek has similar effects on equines as humans. They are known to regulate blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol, relieve pain, and provide anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Besides this, fenugreek powder offers many health benefits that keep your studs and mares healthy.

Benefits of using fenugreek powder for your horse

Stomach ulcers

Stomach ulcers are common among horses, especially the performance equines. Almost 60% of horses suffer from stomach ulcers at any point in their life. Fenugreek powder, soaked in water, forms mucilage, which can soothe the stomach.

Mucilage works by lining up on stomach walls, creating a protective barrier between digestive juices and ulcers. As a result, horses get relief from the pain, while the anti-inflammatory and healing properties of fenugreek help cure the ulcer.

Absorbs endotoxins

Fenugreek also helps detoxify a horse’s body by absorbing endotoxins. When it moves further in the digestive tract, it absorbs endotoxins, a part of bacteria’s cell wall, flushing them out through bodily substances like urine and faeces.

This benefits horses with leaky guts and bacterial infection when bacteria die off to help with waste removal.

Reduce glucose

Fenugreek’s effects on glucose and insulin are well known. Many human and rate studies have found it useful for slowing glucose absorption and improving insulin sensitivity. So, adding fenugreek powder to a horse's diet can help reduce blood glucose and keep your equine healthy.

Helps with cold arthritis

Since performance horses have the most active lifestyle, cold arthritis is a common problem. And cold weather worsens the symptoms of arthritis. As a result, horses experience pain and stiffness in muscles and joints during the winter season.

Fenugreek has an array of flavonoids like quercetin and steroidal saponins that can reduce pain in horses and help them keep active.

Heals wounds

Fenugreek has antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties, which help reduce bacterial infection and promote wound healing. Fenugreek powder can be used as a poultice to reduce infections, boils, or inflamed skin. For this, mix some powder with boiling water and let it cool down before applying it to the affected area.

Increase milk production

Fenugreek is known for increasing milk production in lactating mothers. The ground powder can be given to lactating mares after foal birth. But avoid giving it to pregnant females because human studies have revealed that it can cause a range of congenital malfunctions, including hydrocephalus, anencephaly, and spina bifida.

Keeps heart healthy

Fenugreek also reduces cholesterol in arteries, which results in a healthy heart. Research conducted on human and animal models revealed that fenugreek reduces bad cholesterol and regulates good cholesterol in the blood. So, regular consumption of this spice lowers the chances of artery blockage and heart disease.

Summing up

Fenugreek powder is a popular spice that not just flavours our food but also pleases the palates of horses. Feeding fenugreek powder to your horse has so many benefits.

It soothes and heals stomach ulcers, detoxifies the body, lowers glucose level, alleviates pain associated with cold arthritis, heals wound and inflamed skin, increases milk production in lactating mares, and keeps the heart healthy by lowering cholesterol.

If you want to reap all these health benefits of fenugreek powder, make them a staple ingredient in your horse feed, and I bet your equine will love it.For regular consumption, you would need an abundant supply in bulk, so consider purchasing bulk fenugreek powder from spice wholesalers in South Africa. You can find them online or ask other horse keepers where they get their fenugreek powder supply from.