Gabriella's  informative articles from her RIDE! magazine column: Liver detox, Cavalletti, Use of Vinegar

Spring and Fall: Time to Clean House!

It’s Liver Detox Time.

Fall is the time to clean house in your horse’s body. He’s shedding his summer coat and starting to grow his winter coat. How does this relate to your horse’s liver? Well, it’s impossible for any of this to occur without the liver, for it keeps our horses and us alive by filtering the toxins from our bodies.

Everything horses eat and drink, and 60% of everything we put on them topically is absorbed through the skin and processed by the liver. All those fly sprays, coat shiners, coat coloring enhancers, dewormers, vaccines and other medications take their toll on the horse as the show season wears on. With most of the finals of the breed shows over, give your horse a break from it all with a good detox.

Your horse’s liver weighs approximately 20 pounds (depending on the size of the horse), and is located on the right side of the abdomen. It holds this position in the body by attaching to the diaphragm by five ligaments. The equine liver is much like that of a human, in that is comprised of three sections called lobes. Inside these lobes are canal-like tubes that collect, store, regulate and dispense nutrients, much like semi trucks entering and leaving a large warehouse distribution center. The liver is crucial to many processes and homeostasis (a state of balance and harmony in body function) within your horse’s body.

The liver’s major functions are:

· To convert food and other substances , like supplements into small components that the body can use or store for future use. All food and water must pass through the liver before being broken down and distributed throughout the body. For example, when you feed your horse carrots (high in beta- carotene), the liver converts the beta-carotene into Vitamin A, and places it into storage until needed by the body. In essence, the liver is a virtual storage house for fat-soluble vitamins such as A< D< E and K and also Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin (essential for red blood cell formation). These, along with other essential minerals such as iron and copper are stored within the liver.

· Forming and secreting bile , a green- brownish liquid formed from water, bile pigment, bile salts, a well known phospholipid (foss- foe- lip- id) called lecithin, and cholesterol. Bile is manufactured by the body to raise the pH level in the intestines, resulting in better absorption of nutrients within the body. Bile salts are essential to proper digestion, because they alone have the ability to break down fats and cholesterol.

· Detoxification . As I mentioned earlier, everything your horse (or you) eats passes through the liver. Here toxins, drug, chemical pesticides, preservatives and other sub stances are filtered in an effort to protect or filter the body from materials that would otherwise be poisonous. These filtered substances are dumped into the bile, where they travel via the intestine to be excreted.

East meets West

It is interesting that both Eastern and Western medicine agree that the liver plays the role of director in the body. Western medicine sees the liver directing and nutrients to those places where they are most needed, while traditional Chinese, or Eastern medicine, views the liver as directing energy, or Chi, throughout the body. This includes proper distribution of energy when physical exertion comes into play, and the storage of energy (blood) when not being used.

Given that the liver is key and an essential organ in your horse’s body, from the standpoint of holistic equine health there are four things that are absolutely essential for you to know.

1) Where the liver meridian and its ting point are located. The energetic pathway of the liver or the liver meridian, runs along the inside hind leg, from the coronary band to the groin and oblique muscle area of your horse. It then travels along the abdomen, sending a branch to the liver, before continuing up the body to the diaphragm and ending between the 13^th and 14^th rib. The liver Ting point (the starting point) is located on the coronary band on the inside of the hoof, approximately 1/3 of the way back. (Note: if this location appears to have a bump or the coronary band is pushed upward, or the hair around it is rough or dull, then it is a clear indication of liver meridian imbalance. This point may also indicate imbalance if your shoer can not get the coronary band to even out using good shoeing practices.)

2) How the liver and liver meridian function. Beyond the previously mentioned functions of detoxification and filtration, and energy storage and storage and distribution, the liver has a direct and powerful effect upon proper health and function of muscles, tendons, ligaments, hooves, eyes and reproductive organs. Your horse’s liver affects every part of his body, as your liver does with your body. That’s why if you lose it, you die. Abuse it and you get real sick. Respect it, treat it well and the liver will be your friend.

3) What you can do to keep your horse and his liver working more efficiently. The obvious choice is not to feed toxic foods or those with preservatives, and to provide high-quality water and eliminate as many stress factors as possible. Learning and using the applied kinesiology test point for your horse’s liver can give you good feedback. Proper use of this point will provide clear indications of discomfort, toxification and allergies. As a bonus, you will be able to pinpoint exactly what about your horse’s diet is either enhancing his health or raising havoc.

For those of you who compete, it is good to know how the liver and the liver meridian can either hamper or enhance your horse’s performance. Simply detoxifying the horse in spring and fall (around the time of the equinox) and testing for compatible and non-compatible things in your horse’s diet can enhance performance. Think for a moment how you would feel if you had a mild allergy to say, corn oil (which ties up the fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E and K, making them unavailable to the body). Yet everyday, your owner, in an effort to make you shinier for the show season shows up with ol’ corn oil in the bucket of sweet feed. How taxed would your liver be, trying to process unnatural foods and the thing you were allergic too, as well? How would your disposition be? Imagine how your performance would be ¾ lazy, sluggish, stuck, and irritable. That’s why the process of testing for incompatibles, detoxing and keeping your horse’s liver in good condition are so important.

Liver test point

Take a moment to look at the photo of my horse, Penny, and locate the liver test point, which is approximately 5-6 inches in front of the hipbone. Stand toward your horse’s shoulder/barrel for balance or if your horse is small enough, hold a piece of mane (just in case your horse kicks) and the thing you are testing. If the thing you are testing is not available, just picture it clearly in your mind. Using your hand closest to the hindquarters, gently press with your fingertips into the test point with a quick press-release motion. If the liver test point is okay (or clear), you should you should be able to feel softness of the muscle, with no outward reaction from the horse. If the liver is “congested,” taxed or a bit toxic, your horse may show a negative response by backing away or kicking, flinching or dropping the back suddenly. If this occurs, I do not reprimand the horse. These reactions are extremely valuable answers to the question you’ve just asked, "How does your body feel about this particular item or foodstuff?” Even things horses don’t eat, like fly sprays will give some sort of reaction!

Now that you have found this muscle testing point, put it to good use. Begin by systematically testing all you’re your horse’s feedstuff’s- hay, cubes, grain, vitamins and supplements, grass, soil water and treats to get a clear picture of what works in a particular body and what does not. On different days, you can test the weather to discover optimal conditions and times for your horse’s body, and if you show your horse, you can test the response to different show grounds or event areas. Using this method, you can also check for possible drug reactions, such as vaccinations or dewormers.

Remember, vaccinations and dewormers are powerful and should only be given to healthy horses. The liver has to work to process them. If you have a question if something is good for your horse or not, test the liver point. By using this point methodically, you’ll form a clear picture of what your horse is communicating about his diet and surroundings. Herbal dewormers provide a safe alternative to regular dewormer. Try products from Dynamite and Wendall’s Herbs.

Then, if you still have questions or concerns, you can further explore with laboratory analyses of hair, blood, feed, soil and water to uncover the rest of the story. As always, if a medical condition exists or persists, consult your veterinarian.

The liver as an emotional barometer

In many holistic healing circles, the liver is closely related to the emotions held within the body. Related to emotions, an out-of-balance liver often takes the form of mood swing for no apparent reason: anger, irritability, incendiary behavior, and nervous or Type-A personality behaviors. These are not confined to breed or sex. If you are the owner of a cranky gelding or an unpredictable mare, one of the first and most simple things you do is to check the liver test point for a reaction.

Other indications of liver congestion or unbalance may include muscle soreness, sluggishness, digestive problems, allergies, chemical sensitivities, skin problems or a tendency to fatigue easily. “Liver spots,” or patches of discolored hair that may have changed color from the original coat color of the horse are additional indicators. Unfortunately, the skin is the largest organ the body has and one of the last places to show signs of change. If you have spots that have recently occurred, or have noticed that the coat condition has diminished over time, a good detox may be in order for your horse.

Add to the mix other challenges your horse has to live with, such as stress, food additives, dyes BHA, BHT, ethyoxiquin and other preservatives, lack of exercise, lead, mercury or other heavy metals in the soil. All of these lead to pollutants binding at a cellular level with enzymes. The enzymes, whose job is to help enhance cellular function, are rendered useless from these toxins, thus laying a pathway for dysfunction and disease.

Want a healthy horse? Start with a good detox

If your horse has shown sensitivity using the liver test point to one or more of his foodstuffs or products, or if she is sensitive to palpation alone, your horse may be due for a detox. Your horse’s very health and well-being is quite dependent upon this organ.

There are a few simple ways to detox your horse:

1) On your horse’s day off, rest him from all supplements; this practice will allow the body’s natural rhythms, including the liver, to rest and catch up.

2) Allow access to pesticide-free pasture for several hours each day. If there is no pasture available, you may consider adding a source of chlorophyll (a natural detoxer and building block of healthy blood/hemoglobin). Chlorophyll is available is liquid or powder form derived from kelp, barley, wheat grass, blue-green algae.

3) Using an herbal combination of complimentary herbs works well. Most are available at your local health food store. If you prefer buying a premixed combination, try Dynamite’s Herbal Tonic, Excel or Herbal Green, or Wendall’s Herbal combination for detoxing called Puriphy. Use the liver test point to help you with your selections. If you have questions, please call after 7pm and I would be happy to answer your questions.

Herbal remedies useful for maintaining healthy liver function

Parsley- cleans toxic waste from the liver and tones the body.

Liverwort- strengthens the liver, helps to heal a damaged liver.

Angelica- Eliminates liver toxins and is an excellent tonic for mental and physical harmony.

Chamomile- Destroys toxins in the liver and has strong healing properties.

Gentian- Stimulates the liver, is high in iron and aids digestion.

Goldenrod- Stimulates kidney and liver function.

Wild yam- Good for softening and clearing the liver.

Milk Thistle- Protects, rejuvenates and restores liver function.

Dandelion- Clears liver obstructions and helps break down poisons.

4) From the garden, carrots and beets are powerful vegetables for liver health and maintenance. Packed full of anti-oxidants, such as beta-carotene, and healing flavonoids contained in the orange and red colors, these vegetables are highly compatible with the body. In fact, a story came to my office, which I confirmed, about a horse with moon blindness. After having little success and a lot of frustration with drug therapy, the owner read some information indicating Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene were beneficial in treating similar conditions in people. She began feeding her Paint Horse carrots in increasing increments until it was eating 100 pounds of carrots per week. Much to the owner’s delight, the horse healed and had no further reoccurrence. Seeing her terrific results, several friends tried feeding 75-100 pounds of carrots to horses affected with melanoma and sarcoids, two forms of cancer. The results were outstanding, as the cancers went into remission on those horses, save one Arabian horse who made improvement but not cured. The $6000-per-year drug therapy was reduced to the $10-per-week carrot bill! All these horses were located in Southern California where green pasture salads are rare.

5) For homeopathic solutions, try celadonium magus where pain and tenderness are indicated over the left shoulder, if the mucous membranes are yellow. Hepar Sulph is an excellent remedy for irritability over small thing, suspected hepatic abscesses and cold air irritations. Lycopodium is great for gassy horses, which are identified by abdomens that are noisy after eating, gray-yellow mucous membranes or red urine.

One category of remedies I generally stay away from are beef liver and beef liver extracts and concentrates (Standard Process, remember Mad Cow Disease?). Horses are herbivores and can sense and smell the meat and the emotions, including fear, held within the cell at slaughter.

Results of an effective detox

So how do you know if you did a good job detoxing your horse? Well, unlike some things, the results are pretty obvious. You’ll see a more relaxed attitude in your horse, he or she will be easier to handle and train, and their digestion will seem to improve as they are able to extract optimal nutrition from his food. Most owners notice improvements in energy, vitality and performance, as well as shinier coats and improvements in foot quality and growth. Finally, your horse will have a chance develop a greater disease resistance, stronger immune system and longer natural lifespan.

All of these results are possible. With so many positive aspects, you’ll want to do an herbal detox at least twice per year, in the spring and fall. If you show competitively, a good detox will help with shedding and coat regeneration, as well as provide a little boost of attitude in the “can do” and “want to” areas at the start and end of the show season.

To maintain this level of vibrant health:

1) Learn to listen to your horse’s body signs. These are sometimes subtle but they are always there.

2) Make sure your horse has plenty of fresh water ( well or filtered, if you are on city water; otherwise, your horse may be receiving more contaminants)

3) Avoid large amounts of sugar and sweet feeds. Stick to whole grains as much as possible. A traditional mixture of corn, oats and barley is ideal.

4) Avoid foods that your horse tests negative for or is allergic to.

5) Do not feed the horse large amounts of anything when overtaxed or stressed. She may colic..

6) Choose your food sources wisely. Check for pesticides and noxious weeds. Read the labels,, and talk to your agricultural agent about your local soil and water, especially if you are moving into a new area.

7) Avoid too much protein (an all alfalfa diet will tax the horse’s system in the long run.

8) Avoid constipation by offering grass pasture 9salad).

9) Use chemical free products. There are many herbal fly sprays, shampoos and coat conditioners on the market. (If you need information on these, call me)

The actions you take today will have a direct effect upon the health, longevity of your horse tomorrow. As good stewards of horses and all animals, we need to learn and apply what we learn to help everything on the planet around us.

Additional resources:

“Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” by James and Phyllis Balsch;

“Today’s Herbal Health,” by Louise Tenney;

“Treatment of Horses by Homeopathy,” by George Macleod, DVM

If you would like to learn more in depth about these concepts, I offer classes. Please call 805-686-1312 .

Using Grids to Improve Gaits!

I’ve worked with cavalletti all my life, starting with hunters when I was a child. I had a very creative British instructor, Judy Whiting. She had us kids doing every kind of cavalletti and pole combination she could think of so her students and their mounts would be flexible when negotiating jump courses. It was great fun and our show results of numerous blues reflected its effectiveness.

With a little imagination, ordinary jump poles can be turned into super learning devices, showing the horse a new or non-habitual way of moving and becoming more elastic and gymnastic in workouts, which can make an extraordinary difference in their performance. When the horse (or the human) is doing something out of habit, they are generally not thinking. Take an example of driving the car; how many times are we driving down the road, only to awaken after driving a familiar route for 10 or 15 miles and wonder how we got there? If the horse or human can stay in present time and start to think anew about a situation instead of reacting, they start to get somewhere in changing a habit or a pattern. The ultimate goal, no matter what discipline, is a horse that is supple, correct in his given frame and balanced using his motor, the hindquarters. This horse is a pleasure to ride and happy with his work.

Work with ground poles or cavalletti enables the horse to override old patterns of behavior & movement and to learn with understanding. The results of ground pole work are obedience, self-control, focus, self-confidence, balance and coordination to name a few. The horse gains a greater awareness in his being as a result. Jumpers and trail horses benefit through increased hoof-eye coordination. They are effective for dressage horses, encouraging the horse to use his back, bend his joints and to collect and lengthen his gaits. Starting the work from the ground is important. It breaks up the horse’s old habitual patterns and gives them new things to think about. Leading the horse, the rider has an easier time slowing down the horse or asking him to drop his head and relax his topline. If a horse has been experiencing discomfort or offering resistance with a rider in his back, the ground work is particularly valuable. When the horse is taught from the ground, his body stays relaxed while learning patterns of movement and behavior that are desirable later as a riding horse. Everything you do on the ground, including leading the horse, is reflected in the performance under saddle.

I really like the basic ground work from the TTEAM method invented by Linda Tellington-Jones. Here are some ideas and exercises for you to try with your horse.

Be the leader
To facilitate the horse’s proper positioning through the poles, I use a six-foot lead with a 30 inch chain worn over the noseband (to encourage the head to come down so the horse can lengthen and relax his topline), and a stiff dressage whip four feet long, preferably white (they see it better). The whip is used to stroke the horse and gently guide him through the different grids. I use the butt end to stop the horse by gently tapping him on the chest. This action also helps him stop straight through the body and stay light on the lead. While leading the horse through the different combinations of poles, I stay out front of the horse, staying one step ahead of him and lifting my knees so the horse can mimic my actions. If the horse balks, I can touch him with the whip on the side or on top of the croup as a cue to bring him forward. Many horses are very tight in their polls and backs and when they drop their heads and lengthen their toplines they become more comfortable and forward naturally.

Any exercise I do with a horse is very simple at first, and increases with difficulty as the horse shows he understands it. For instance, if a horse is nervous about moving over poles, I might start him out by drawing a line in the dirt. It sounds silly, but I have worked with jumpers that were incapable of stepping over a line in the dirt much less a pole! Once over the panic and calm again, I can proceed to walking over a single pole; more elements can be added as the horse is more comfortable. After he is comfortable slowing down and stopping in the middle of the poles, I may back the horse over poles and through a maze. I work the horse 10-15 minutes over the poles with breaks between each obstacle to give the horse a chance to think about it. I light-heartedly call it my ‘walking meditation’ because it seems to have the same benefits of meditating or another movement discipline called Tai Chi. Every time I ride, I work with the poles a bit during warm up and cool down. During the week, I incorporate using the grids from the ground 1-3 times depending on the age and training of the horse.

The Labrynth
I use different configurations of poles set up in varying patterns to address a range of behavior or movement problems. The foremost is the labyrinth, a simple maze set on the ground with six poles. Four of the poles form a box with two openings diagonal to each other; the other the other two poles are laid inside the box parallel to each other. The benefits of leading a horse through the labyrinth include learning obedience and self-control, balance, focus and overcoming fear of poles. When I have a candidate who is afraid of poles or cannot bend, I spread them apart at first to make it less intimidating to the horse. By breaking the lessons into smaller pieces, the horse has a better chance of understanding what I want of him and being successful at it. I will the horse into the maze and have him stop at each corner and after each turn, it gives him time to breathe and think about it. He learns to control himself by not barging or falling forward. It has been noted in several different experiments using electro neurological equipment that the horse releases beta waves (the brains waves of thinking) while negotiating the turns of the maze. Variations of use include backing through, ground driving and riding through the maze.

The Star
Comprised of three to five poles arranged in a semi-circular fashion and raised at the hub, the star is an excellent tool to improve flexibility and balance while at the same time bending the horse. It can be used as a building block to make the canter more ridable or corners more balanced. Work through the star from the ground first, then ground drive or ride through. As a variation, have the horse stop in the middle briefly, then resume the walk as a test of his balance and patience.

Cavalletti
One of the most beneficial exercises for horses to strengthen and free the shoulder, back and haunch are working over raised poles. I use four cavalletti raised 6-12 inches arranged at walk length (about 2 1/2 ft apart) or trot length (4 1/2 ft apart). Simply walk over these at first and you will notice a marvelous swimming motion the horse makes to get through the cavalletti. Several passes will relax and loosen the horse before strenuous exercise starts. After warm up, use the cavalletti as a strength and coordination builder at trot. A hint here, the horse who favors one posting or trot diagonal more than the other is a good candidate for cavalletti to even out the trot.

Pick up sticks
Just when the horse was getting used to poles placed linearly, we are going to mess it all up! I randomly place 4-6 poles on the ground haphazardly overlapping to teach the horse balance, focus and confidence. This configuration makes him think where he is going to put his feet in order to get through the poles. After a time or two through, I have the horse stop and stand in the midst of the sticks to teach him to wait and be patient. I have found this to be a good lesson when the inevitable problem of being stuck somehow comes up for the horse. They tend to panic less and listen to the handler more.

Poles raised at one end
Use this configuration by raising one side with a block, tire, bucket or bale, either alternating the raised ends or raising the poles on one side. Place the poles about four and a half feet apart to begin with. This exercise helps the horse to differentiate movement from right and left sides, is useful for horses who stumble as it helps to free up tight backs, shoulders and hips. You can ground drive or ride through as well.

Materials for grid set
Poles can be standard length jump poles which can be picked up new or second hand from stables moving or going out of business. Round fence poles also work quite well for all the obstacles except the labyrinth which works best with 10 - 12 foot poles as a matter of maneuverability around the corners.

I have a set of 10 foot 3 inch wide PVC poles I travel with to demonstrations. They are light to move around by comparison to the wood poles, stay ever white so the horses can see them and they travel well in the back of my suburban. Not having to paint the poles is a big plus as well. To stabilize the poles against rolling, I got some T joints which are removable. If this sounds like the right pole for you, make sure you buy the heavier duty schedule 40, as it will last longer in the sun.

PVC Bloc training sets are a lot of fun to work with, they adjust easily are light and you are only limited by your imagination. Wood blocks ’pared out’ also work for raising the ends of the poles, as do buckets, 55 gallon barrels and hay bales.
Negotiating poles and cavalletti give the young or green horse clear parameters for movement while staying relaxed.
I’ve noticed that knowledge picked from this segment of education carries over to other areas, such as loading your horse into a trailer. For the advanced horse the strengthening and suppling aspects combined with relaxation are tremendous benefits when grids are used as a cross training exercise.

Gabriella Valsecchi specializes in neuromuscular bodywork, focusing on soft tissue injuries and designing alternative training and healing programs for horses, dogs and cats. She helps enhance horse-owner partnerships through better education, training and health, and is available for seminars and private sessions. Call Gabriella at 805-686-1312 , or e-mail to gabriellaval@gmail.com.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Here’s a versatile tool that does everything from increase feed efficiency to kill weeds around the barn. Used as early as 400 bc by Hippocrates (father of medicine), to treat his patients, apple cider vinegar (ACV) gained reputation as a germ killer and a dressing for wounds. Apple cider vinegar is inexpensive, easy to use and really works well.

What is it?-

Made from whole apples in a fermentation process, apple cider vinegar contains beneficial acids and enzymes that are the body’s catalysts in many functions. Traditional apple cider vinegar comes from apple juice that is pre-filtered or from apples that have been fermented with all of the skins and pulp still in the mix and then filtered after the process is complete. Beware of imposters such as apple flavored vinegar, as it is not the same thing and will not be effective. Apple flavored vinegar lacks the benefits of enzymes and other biocatalysts that real unpasteurized apple cider vinegar contains. Apple Cider Vinegar's vitamin content includes Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Provitamin beta-carotene, Vitamin P (bioflavonoids). Apple Cider Vinegar also contains minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon, fluorine. All and all, 90 different organic substances can be measured in ACV.

A myriad of everyday uses and benefits-

ACV readily lends itself to every day use. It is non toxic and readily available. In the 1950’s, Dr. D. C. Jarvis researched uses of ACV with farm animals in Vermont. His results are outlined in his book, “Folk Medicine .”

-Use it as a top dress for grain, ACV helps break down foodstuffs and make supplement powders stick to the grain.

-When used in drinking water, it excellent for hiding the taste city water when traveling to events away from home.

-It works great as a topical treatment for the skin. Try apple cider vinegar when the skin is itchy or flaky.

-Use as a final rinse on the tail, ACV helps minimize the crusty skin build up on the tail root and makes hair shine.

-For hooves with thrush, use full strength right on the hoof. It is completely non-toxic but will take care of smelly thrush in a hurry.

Some specific uses include:

Skin-

For overall skin health ACV helps with fungus and bacterial infections when applied directly to the skin because it has antibiotic and antiseptic properties. Works great as a flea dip and eliminates odors from the skin. With a pH of 3, ACV helps to normalize the pH of the skin by lowering it to an acceptable range (pH 4-6). It’s funny how the inside of the body wants to have more of a neutral pH and the outside of the body would like a more acid environment. Alkalizing soaps leave skin stripped vulnerable to outside attack. ACV also works as an internal insect repellent. Fleas and mosquitoes are naturally repelled when ACV is taken internally. ACV is converted into B1 vitamin in the hindgut during the digestion process, which repels insects as it is excreted through the skin.

Liniment-

I had the opportunity to ACV as a liniment on a horse that had broken its withers in a pasture accident. Arriving at the barn one morning, I glanced out to see an odd sight. A young horse standing in her pasture wasstanding in what I thought was an odd position. Upon closer investigation, I discovered her wither were strangely mis-shapen and surrounded by tremendous swelling. I called the vet who was already out on another emergency. I remembered I had a freshly opened apple cider vinegar in the feed area. I grabbed the gallon and poured a small amount at a time over the area keeping it moist with the vinegar until the vet arrived 90 minutes later. During the wait, the swelling had by reduced by at least half. I have had similar experiences with swelling in legs. It’s amazing how the swelling goes down right before your very eyes.

Colts versus Fillies-

ACV has long been touted as enhancement for mares to have more fillies born. Along with feeding 2 ounces daily before the breeding season begins, use ACV as a douche, 3 ounces to a pint of filtered water 2 days before breeding to increase the chances of having a filly. If you want a colt, douche the mare with baking soda and water.

Weeds-

Tired of looking at those mounting spring weeds? Give apple cider vinegar a try. It’s non-toxic and very effective. Just put it in your sprayer and spray. It is most effective on young weeds as the y emerging. However it works on older weeds if the vinegar is strong enough. Try vinegar that is 5% acetic acid. Using both timely mowing and vinegar treatments on the problem weeds, even thistles, you can be organically healthy on your farm! The Horse Journal reviewed vinegar as a weed killer if you would like further reading. Also the magazine Acres, USA, is an excellent source for natural solutions to common gardening problems.

Sources of vinegar-

All vinegars are not created equally!

Some vinegars are actually white vinegar with apple flavoring- avoid those. The next level is pasteurized or distilled apple cider vinegars, which are available from the grocery store. These are biologically inactive and are good for killing weeds. The next level of vinegars is the organic and biologically active. These have the health benefits I have described above. Bragg’s or other organic/ natural vinegar can be obtained from the health food store. Dynamite Specialty Products makes an ultra strong organic vinegar that can be used to spruce up store bought vinegars or used solely by itself. To enliven a pasteurized vinegar, add a cup of organic vinegar to a gallon of the pasteurized vinegar and let sit for 2 weeks or until cloudy.

References-

The Vinegar Book , Emily Thacker

The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats , Diane Stein

Acres, USA

The Horse Journal