
Show Notes
Chasteberry is an herbal supplement that is used to support mood balance and hormone health in female and male horses.
The Chastetree berry (Vitex agnus-castus) plant is a shrub that grows in the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The fruits and leaves contain active ingredients that influence hormonal balance in horses.
This herb is purported to support hypothalamus and pituitary function in horses with Cushing’s disease/PPID. Anecdotally, chasteberry is said to help make moody mares easier to handle and may have a calming effect on aggressive stallions or geldings.
Chasteberry is safe to use, with no reported side effects in horses. It is not recommended for pregnant mares because of potential effects on the reproductive system which have not been evaluated in pregnant animals.
This podcast reviews the benefits of chasteberry for horses and highlights its mechanism of action.
Read more: https://madbarn.ca/chasteberry-benefits-for-horses/
_______________________________
Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners and equine practitioners through research, training and education. Visit us at https://madbarn.com for more resources, videos and articles.
More from Mad Barn Academy
Thrush describes an infection that develops in the frog of one or more of the horse’s hooves, caused by a fungal or bacterial pathogen.
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) is a chronic condition in horses that affects connective tissue, including the suspensory ligament and other ligaments and tendons. This painful condition commonly leads to debilitating lameness.
Riding and working with horses poses some inherent risk of danger, but the risk is greater when working with an aggressive or moody horse.
Swayback, or equine lordosis, is characterized by a large dip in the spine of a horse, often resulting in a high wither and severe downwards curve to their topline.
A large, round belly doesn’t always mean your horse is overweight. Some horses have a hay belly that makes them appear pregnant, yet they may struggle to maintain enough body condition to cover their ribs.