Not So Sweet Itch – herbal blend for horses during the summer season

Itching? Bothered by rubbing and scratching?

Not So Sweet Itch is a 100% natural herbal blend for horses during the summer season. Hemp seeds, sea buckthorn and herbs bring fatty acids and plant-based variety to the diet.

Not So Sweet Itch contains hemp seeds, brewer's yeast, sea buckthorn, calendula, nettle, chamomile, echinacea and a pinch of love 🧡.

The summer season and skin stress

Summer is an active time for the horse's skin and coat. Heat, moisture, grazing and the increase in insects can burden the skin and coat in various ways.

Many horse owners pay more attention to the composition of the diet during the summer season. Seeds, berries and herbs that are natural foods bring fatty acids and nutrients naturally found in plants to the diet as part of a balanced diet.

Fatty acids as part of skin nutrition

The horse's skin and coat are continuously renewing tissue. The skin's structure naturally contains lipids that are part of the skin's normal surface structure. Fatty acids are an important part of the horse's overall nutrition. Seeds, such as hemp seeds, bring these beneficial fatty acids as well as other nutrients naturally found in plants to the diet.

Fatty acids from seeds and berries

Hemp seeds contain a diverse range of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as protein. Hemp seeds typically contain approximately 30–35% fat and approximately 20–25% protein. The fatty acid composition is characterised by an approximately 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. The seeds also contain small amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which belongs to the omega-6 fatty acids.

Sea buckthorn in herbal-based feeding

Fatty acids are also found in many berries. One of the best-known such berries is sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn naturally contains fatty acids and compounds naturally found in plants. Sea buckthorn berries typically contain approximately 5–9% fat, and the berry's seeds contain a diverse range of omega-3, omega-6, omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids. Sea buckthorn is also one of the few plants that naturally contains omega-7 fatty acids. In addition, sea buckthorn contains carotenoids, which are natural plant pigments and which are also found in animals' skin and coat through the diet.

Hemp seeds and sea buckthorn together form a diverse plant-based fatty acid combination, as both naturally contain several different omega fatty acids.

Key plants in Not So Sweet Itch

Not So Sweet Itch combines seeds, berries and herbs, each with a different nutritional composition.

• hemp seeds → omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

• sea buckthorn → fatty acids and carotenoids

• nettle → minerals and nutrients naturally found in plants

Coat change and skin nutrition

The horse's coat renews naturally according to the seasons. In spring and autumn, coat change can be intense, during which the horse's skin and coat are in active transition.

During such periods, many owners pay particular attention to the variety of the diet. Seeds, berries and herbs bring fatty acids, minerals and other important nutrients to the diet.

Dosage

Horse 500 kg

0,5–1,5 dl per day

1 dl ≈ 30 g

A withdrawal period of 4 days is recommended when competing.
Not recommended for pregnant or lactating mares.

Average nutritional values / 100 g

Metabolisable energy 9,5 MJ/kg, Crude protein 24 %, Crude fat 14 %, Crude fibre 21 %, Ash 6 %, Moisture 8 %, Sugar 3 %

Background information and studies

The significance of plant-based fatty acids in animal nutrition has been examined in several studies. Fatty acids are part of cell membrane structure and the fat composition of food.

Hemp seeds contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), as well as smaller amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These fatty acids are part of the natural fatty acid composition of the seeds.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) is a nutritionally exceptional berry whose oil contains a wide range of fatty acids as well as carotenoids and plant compounds known as polyphenols. Sea buckthorn is also one of the few plants that naturally contains omega-7 fatty acids.

Sea buckthorn berry oil also contains carotenoids, which are natural plant pigments. Carotenoids belong to the antioxidant compounds of plants and are found in many plant-based raw materials.

Studies are used to understand the background information of the product and the known composition of the plants.

References

Ely K. (2023). Hempseed oil as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virginia Tech.

Stance Equitec (2023). Hemp seeds and essential fatty acids in equine nutrition.

US Patent US8470876B2. Fatty acid composition of plant oils including hempseed oil.

Yang B. et al. (2012–2021). Reviews on Hippophaë rhamnoides nutritional composition.

Krejcarová J. et al. (2015). Sea buckthorn as a source of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids.