As pure herbivores, horses and donkeys are predestined for the use of medicinal plants.
In 2018 and 2019, we conducted an ethno-veterinary study on Bavarian farms.
A total of 77 interviews were carried out with 101 farmers. Altogether 884 use reports
(URs) were recorded, comprising detailed information about plant species, plant part
used, the manufacturing process for the end product, dosing, administration and therapeutic
intention. Among them, 34 URs (corresponding to 32 herbal remedy reports (HRs)) with
45 different plant species were specifically linked to diseases of equids (23 URs
horses and 11 URs donkeys).
For 23 URs (22 HRs) a single plant was used, 11 URs (10 HRs) were mixtures. The most
frequently mentioned plant species in mixtures were: Calendula officinalis L. (5 URs), Achillea millefolium L. (4 URs) and with each 3 URs: Carum carvi L., Cinnamomum verum J. PRESL, Geranium robertianum L., Plantago lanceolata L., and Pimpinella anisum L. Among the single plant applications, Calendula officinals L. (3 URs) and Urtica dioica L. (3 URs) were mentioned most often.
Apart from cinnamon, the most frequently reported plant species are regionally indigenous.
Except Geranium robertianum L., these plants are well known in the phytotherapeutic use in equids. Geranium robertianum L. is increasingly analyzed chemically due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
activity [1]. Clinical data and especially applications in equids are still lacking.
