what is the purpose of the chestnut on a horse

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What are the health benefits of horse chestnut?

Top 10 Health Benefits of Horse Chestnut

• Anti-edematous Activity. ...
• Anti-inflammatory. ...
• Venotonic. ...
• Post-Operative Edema. ...
• Hemorrhoids. ...
• Inner Ear Perfusion. ...
• Herb-Drug Interactions. ...
• Side Effects and Toxicity. ...

How much horse chestnut should I take daily?

People with the following conditions should not take horse chestnut: (19)

• Pregnant or nursing mothers (not enough evidence about safety)
• Bleeding disorders (can cause slow clotting)
• Diabetes (may lower blood sugar)
• Digestive problems (could irritate GI tract)
• Latex allergy (those with this allergy may also be allergic to horse chestnut)
• Liver disease (may exacerbate symptoms)
• Kidney disease (may exacerbate symptoms)

More items...

What are the side effects of horse chestnut?

You may not be able to use horse chestnut if you have certain medical conditions, such as:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (horse chestnut can thin your blood);
• diabetes (horse chestnut may cause low blood sugar);
• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a stomach or intestinal disorder;
• congestive heart disease;
• epilepsy;
• asthma;
• migraine headaches; or
• if you are allergic to latex.

What is horse chestnut good for?

What is Horse Chestnut good for? Horse chestnut extract has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve pain and inflammation caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). It may also benefit other health conditions like hemorrhoids and male infertility caused by swollen veins.

Should you remove the chestnut on a horse?

You don't really have to trim them. But if you're so inclined, you can trim them without causing the horse any pain. Don't try to remove them entirely, and don't trim any deeper than skin level or above. Just peel them off layer by layer with your hands or fingernails.

Do chestnuts on horses hurt?

4:275:26What Is A Horse Chestnut or Horse Ergot - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it's a lot more comfortable horse. Now can you peel them off some people grab those and get aMoreAnd it's a lot more comfortable horse. Now can you peel them off some people grab those and get a horse to lift her foot grab the chestnut that'll make him lift his foot well it freaking hurts.

Why do horses chestnuts fall off?

If you don't pay attention to the ergots and chestnuts, they will eventually fall off on their own. They have a crumbly, flaky texture that develops in layers, so as fresh layers form on the horse's leg, the outer ones slip off. But many owners dislike how they look so they cut.

What are the benefits of horse chestnut?

7 Health Benefits of Horse Chestnut ExtractMay relieve symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. ... May treat varicose veins. ... Has potent anti-inflammatory properties. ... May relieve hemorrhoids. ... Has antioxidant properties. ... Contains cancer-fighting compounds. ... May help with male infertility.

Can dogs eat the chestnuts on horses legs?

Horse chestnuts, also known as conkers (seeds of the Aesculus Hippocastanum tree) are toxic to dogs. Never let your dog eat horse chestnuts.

Are horse chestnuts edible?

While cultivated or wild sweet chestnuts are edible, horse chestnuts are toxic, and can cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or throat irritation.

What is the difference between horse chestnut and chestnut?

Edible chestnuts belong to the genus Castanea and are enclosed in sharp, spine-covered burs. The toxic, inedible horse chestnuts have a fleshy, bumpy husk with a wart-covered appearance. Both horse chestnut and edible chestnuts produce a brown nut, but edible chestnuts always have a tassel or point on the nut.

How do you trim a horse's chestnuts?

A general rule of thumb is to avoid pruning horse chestnut trees in early spring to mid-summer and late summer to mid-winter. Better times to prune this specimen are from mid-winter to early spring or mid-spring to mid-summer. Before pruning the tree, consider what you hope to achieve.

Where do chestnuts on horses come from?

The chestnut, the oily, scaly callosity on the inside of some horses' legs, is thought to be a vestigial toe from the prehistoric genus 'Eohippus. ' The horse is truly a creature of mystery. If I ever had the chance, there are so many questions I would like to ask him.

What animal eats horse chestnuts?

There are some animals that can safely eat conkers. These include wild boars and deer. However, they are too toxic for humans to eat and will make people unwell. Strangely, despite the name horse chestnuts, they are also poisonous for horses.

What happens if I eat a horse chestnut?

Raw horse chestnut seed, bark, flower, and leaf contain esculin and are unsafe to use. Signs of esculin poisoning include stomach upset, muscle twitching, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and paralysis. Seek immediate medical attention if you've accidentally consumed raw horse chestnut.

How long does it take for horse chestnuts to work?

It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using horse chestnut. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Are horse chestnuts toxic to horses?

Horse Chestnut Toxic Components Horse chestnut seeds and twigs contain aescin, a complex mixture of saponins, which can be toxic to horses if ingested.

What are chestnuts on horses legs?

A Chestnut is the harder fleshy growth above the knees on the front legs and just below the inside of the hock on the hind legs of our horses. Some people refer to them as 'night eyes'. In days gone by it was thought this was how horses see at night, along with other theories such as the Earth being flat...

What is the chestnut in horses?

The chestnut is thought to correspond to the wrist pad of dogs and cats, or to be a vestigial scent gland similar to those found in some deer and other animals.

How to grow chestnuts for horse show?

Grooming. Chestnuts grow over time, protruding from the surface of the leg. Grooming for horse showing may include peeling or trimming the outer layers to give a neater appearance to the leg; they may peel more easily if softened first with baby oil or moisturizer. If left alone, eventually the chestnut peels naturally.

Where is the night eye on a horse?

The chestnut, also known as a night eye, is a callosity on the body of a horse or other equine, found on the inner side of the leg above the knee on the foreleg and, if present, below the hock on the hind leg.

Do horses have chestnuts?

The majority of domestic horses have chestnuts on all four legs, as does the Przewalski's horse, but a few horse breeds are reported to lack chestnuts on the hind legs. These include: Banker horse (most individuals) Caspian pony (some individuals) Icelandic horse (most individuals)

Do chestnuts need pictures?

For purposes of identification some breed registries require photographs of them among other individual characteristics. However, because chestnuts grow over time and horse grooms often peel or trim off the outer layers for neatness, their appearance is subject to change.

Is a chestnut a vestigial toe?

It is believed to be a vestigial toe, and along with the ergot form the three toes of some other extinct Equidae. Darren Naish dissents from this belief, noting that the chestnut is "not associated with the metacarpus or metatarsus, the only places where digits occur.".

How to treat a horse with chestnuts?

During regular grooming, peel off excessive growth. If your horse begins to bleed at the site of the chestnut, apply antiseptic. Follow the application of antiseptic with a water-resistant and breathable seal of liquid bandage, Both chestnuts and ergots can be taken care of with just your hands without much pain.

Where do chestnuts appear on horses?

The chestnuts typically appear on your horse’s front legs just above the knee and just below the hock on its rear legs. They can seem quite large or be small, but most are scratchy, flat, and devoid of hair. Much like a snowflake, a horses’ chestnut pattern is unique in every horse.

What are horse c hestnuts and ergots?

They routinely ask why does he have them and what are they for. So I decided to do some research to provide an answer. Horse c hestnuts and ergots are callous on a horse’s legs. Chestnuts are believed to be remnants of an extra toe lost through evolution. They are flat and crusty areas devoid of hair. Ergots are callous growths located ...

What is the condition of a horse with laminitis?

Laminitis is the tissue bandings’ inflammatory condition that may be recurrent for the individual horses. You can use the following process to take care of the horse’s chestnuts: Apply petroleum jelly on the surface of the chestnuts before and after trimming or peeling the chestnuts.

What is the origin of chestnuts?

Some scientific studies indicate chestnuts and ergots are inherited from the earlier species of the multi-toed horse known as the “Equidae. ” These types of horses are descendants of the “ Eohippus. ” a modern period ancestor of around 40 million years ago with vestigial toes. Researchers believe horses evolved slowly, ...

Where are ergots on horses?

Ergots are callous growths located at the bottom of the horse’s fetlock, often covered by hair. Chestnuts and ergots are, for the most part, cosmetic and typically require very little attention. However, it’s beneficial to have an in-depth knowledge of horses if you have to answer your child’s questions. Grooming gloves are useful to wear ...

What horse breeds don't have chestnuts?

Most horses have chestnuts on all four legs, including the last known “wild horse” breed, the Przewalski, but there are a few horse breeds that don’t have any chestnuts on their legs: Caspian pony. Banker horse. Icelandic horse.

What is horse chestnut extract used for?

Historically, horse chestnut seed extract was used for joint pain, bladder and gastrointestinal problems, fever, leg cramps, and other conditions.

Is horse chestnut oil safe?

Standardized horse chestnut seed extracts, from which this component has been removed, appear to be safe for short-term use. Horse chestnut seed extracts are generally well tolerated but may cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and digestive upsets in some people.

Can chestnut seed extract help with CVI?

A 2012 systematic review of 17 studies suggested that horse chestnut seed extract can improve symptoms of CVI. Results from one of these studies suggested that horse chestnut seed extract may be as effective as wearing compression stockings.

Why do people take horse chestnuts?

This information applies to Aesculus hippocastanum only. Horse chestnut seed extracts are most commonly taken by mouth to treat poor circulation that can cause the legs to swell (chronic venous insufficiency or CVI).

What is horse chestnut?

Horse chestnut is a tree. Its seed, bark, flower, and leaves are used to make medicine. Horse chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause death if eaten raw. Be careful not to confuse Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) with Aesculus californica (California buckeye) or Aesculus glabra (Ohio buckeye).

How long does horse chestnut extract take to get pregnant?

Early research shows that taking horse chestnut seed extract twice daily for 2 months increases sperm density, but does not improve sperm movement, in men with fertility problems.

Does chestnut oil lower blood sugar?

Horse chestnut might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking horse chestnut along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Is horse chestnut safe to take?

When given as a shot: There isn't enough reliable information to know if horse chestnut is safe. It might cause side effects such as liver and kidney problems. Special Precautions and Warnings. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking the raw seed, bark, flower or leaf is UNSAFE and can lead to death.

Does horse chestnut affect lithium?

Lithium interacts with HORSE CHESTNUT. Horse chestnut might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic.". Taking horse chestnut might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects.

Can chestnuts cause bowel problems?

Bleeding disorders: Horse chestnut might slow blood clotting. Taking horse chestnut might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders. Digestion problems: Horse chestnut seeds and bark can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Don't use it if you have a bowel or stomach disorder.

Where are chestnuts on a horse?

Chestnuts appear on the front legs of a horse above the knee, or on the back legs of a horse below the hock. They can be large or very small. Some people call horse chestnuts "night eyes.". Ergots are found on the back of a horse's fetlock on all four legs, but they are usually covered with hair and can't be seen unless the hair is parted.

What is the size of a horse chestnut?

A horse chestnut. This chestnut is about the size of a woman's thumb. Chestnuts can range from the size of a small fingernail to a couple of inches long or longer.

Where are ergots on horses?

Ergots. In the photo below the yellow circles indicate where ergots are on a horse's legs. Ergots can be found on both the front and back legs. They are small growths on the back of the fetlock, and are usually covered by hair like on the horse in the photo. When you feel an ergot, they feel a lot like an eraser on the end of a wooden pencil.

Overview

Distribution among equines

Grooming

See also

External links