Herbalist helps horses

Sage Meadow Herbs, which produces pure organic herbal formulas for horses and dogs, is owned by herbalist Louie Bartlett and her husband. The supplements address a host of health issues for equines and canines, including joint care, skin and coat, pain relief and digestive balance.

Bartlett comes to her trade by genetics and experience rather than formal training. Her mother was an herbalist, and Bartlett learned from her and has applied that knowledge to her own horses and dogs. She has a growing client list of holistic animal care enthusiasts who supplement their horses' and dogs' diets with Bartlett's formulas.

The herbs are sourced from a facility in Iowa that is certified through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. They are organically produced and come to Bartlett as dried product. She has a mixing room in her home where the herbs are formulated into the blends she offers and packaged into four-pound bags for horse supplements and one-pound bags for canine supplements.

Each bag is blended per order, ensuring a fresh blend each time.

"I don't keep an inventory of blends on the shelf," said Bartlett.

So is there an advantage to feeding herbal supplements for, say, arthritis or digestive health?

Bartlett admits that the evidence pointing to success in holistic health care of animals is largely anecdotal. But the intersection between traditional veterinary care and holistic care need not be set for a collision.

"Complementary and alternative therapies are not a magical cure; rather it is a way to encourage your horse and/or dog's body to function properly and heal itself. It is not often a replacement for veterinary care but rather a complement to it," she said.

The logic behind using herbal supplementation, according to Bartlett, is that animals will self-medicate if the diet allows them to. Domestication usually doesn't enable that, so the herbs supply what the body needs to function in balance.

Bartlett uses a set of formulas devised for each blend, and is also available to consult with the animal owners. Often she finds that observation of an animal in its normal environment helps her customize a formula.

Dosage rates are on the cautious rather than aggressive side of treatment, Bartlett said.

"I haven't had any horses have a problem, but I tell owners to be aware and diligent," she said.

Many owners notice the most dramatic differences in the first few weeks.

Bartlett's own involvement with horses began when she was a teen, participating in 4-H in the early 1980s. It extended into several years as a 4-H leader and manager of boarding facilities. She and her husband now own a small Arabian sport and performance horse breeding farm in addition to Sage Meadow Herbs.

For more information, visit http://www.sagemeadowherbs.com or call 419-0710.