Quite a few e-mails back there was discussion about the benefits of apple cider vinegar for horses. Would someone get back to me with some of those benefits. I know that it's good for keeping bugs at bay. I would like to know more benefits. Thanks. Seneca1

I'm not sure of all the benefits, but I know if you rinse them with it after their bath, in addition to keeping bugs off as you said, it cuts any soap residue that might not have gotten rinsed completely. That will keep them from itching, plus it smells better than plain vinegar which has the same effect(minus the smell of course). I have heard there are other benefits, but I'm not sure what they are.

I haven't used it myself, but after reading what Hilary Page Self says in 'A Modern Horse Herbal', I think I will try it.
The following is paraphrased from her book:

It can be used externally as an antiseptic for conditions like ringworm & as an astringent to reduce sweet itch irritation - add 2 TBSP to 1 litre/2 pints water.
Internally - add 10 tsp/50 ml per day to feed or water - good for cleansing blood impurities, reducing calcification in joints & arteries, & improving overall health.

It's good for arthristis. People can drink it and it will help their arthritis too.

I almost forgot about that. It also works for treating rainrot. Mix equal parts listerine, vinegar(plain or apple cider), and water. Spray it on or wash the horse in it and after even 1 treatment, you can see it starting to clear up. Within a week of use, the rainrot is usually gone. The vinegar dries out the moisture that the bacteria feeds on while the listerine is an antiseptic to kill the bacteria. The water dilutes it so it doesn't burn the skin.

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I'm not sure of all the benefits, but I know if you rinse them with it after their bath, in addition to keeping bugs off...

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Many years ago I was fishing from a dock on the St. John's River, south of Jacksonville, Florida and being eaten alive by mosquitoes. A crusty old "Cracker" fisherman next to me was totally bug-free. I asked what he was using to repell the mosquitoes and he said "vinegar".

"You spray it on?" I asked. "Nope. You drink it" he answered. "About a pint a day. It gets in your blood and they don't bite you."

I started taking the dour drink one teaspoon at a time and worked my way up to taking long pulls directly from the bottle. About two weeks later I was on the dock again, still swatting mosquitoes, when my native advisor arrived with his tackle box in hand. "How long does it take for that vinegar to kick in" I asked? Laughing aloud, he pulled a can of 'Jungle Strength OFF!' from his tackle box and muttered something about stupid Yankee snowbirds.
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I mix a cup of apple vinegar with the horse's daily grain ration for a shinny coat and add a gallon to their water trough to ward off algae growth. And, occasionally, when no one is looking, I take a long pull on the bottle myself. To this day, my blood still has the Ph level of a Yellowstone sulphur mud bog. And my coat is noticeably shinnier, too. ~FH

Ah, FH, ROFL!
That so made my day!

At my house, we buy apple cider vinegar by the gallon. We use it mixed with Skin So Soft and water for fly repellant. We add it to their water trough and buckets to keep the grime away. The horses like it and it keeps them fly free and shiny. It is also said to help with the intestinal tract. And I have to say that one of my boys seemed to be prone to belly upsets until we started the ACV. Maybe Coincidence but I don't want to stop to find out.

My dad drinks orange juice and vinegar (not sure if it is apple cider or not) every morning to help clear his sinuses. I know that has nothing to do with the horses, but I thought it was worth sharing! lol I don't think I could drink any vinegar myself!