Phytotherapy

Green oat grass

Avena sativa (green oat)

Mechanism

Green oat grass (green oat) is the young, green herb of the oat, harvested before grain ripening — not to be confused with the starch-rich oat grain. In traditional phytotherapy, Avena sativa is used as a mild nerve tonic and general supplier of vital nutrients. Robust controlled studies in horses are lacking; the attributed calming-strengthening effect rests on traditional use in humans and experiential knowledge, not on equine efficacy evidence.

Cautions

· Traditional use, no proven efficacy in the horse
· Do not equate green oat herb with the starch-rich oat grain (energy/glycaemia)

Sources

EMA/HMPC Avenae herbaEMA/HMPC — Monographie Avena sativa, Kraut (traditionelle Anwendung)

ESCOPESCOP — Monographie Avenae herba

GfE 2014GfE — Empfehlungen zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von Pferden

Equiterna Score

59/100

solid

Science4.5/10

Practical experience6/10

Safety7.8/10

Overall score scale

high overall75–100solid55–74limited0–54

How the Equiterna Score is built

The Equiterna Score combines three dimensions into a value of 0-100: science (40%), practical experience (30%) and safety (30%). It is transparently derived from evidence level, attributed sources (PubMed/journals), legal classification and cautions. The FEI doping status is shown separately as a competition-law note and does not enter the score. Commissions and vendor relationships have no influence on the score. In addition, the editorial safety rating caps the result: it limits the safety dimension and the overall tier (orange: at most solid). For entries rated red, no score is calculated at all. The rating never raises anything — a green rating does not lift a calculated value.

An editorial assessment of the evidence and safety situation — not a healing claim and not an individual recommendation. It does not replace veterinary advice.

Dosageapprox. 20–40 g dried herb/animal/day (large horse), per manufacturer's instructions

AMG statusComplementary feed

FEI statusNot listed

SafetyVery safe

Evidenceemerging

Frequently asked questions

Is Green oat grass a feed or a veterinary medicine for horses?

Equiterna classes Green oat grass as “Complementary feed”. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009.

Is Green oat grass allowed at FEI competitions?

In the profile, Green oat grass is listed with the FEI status “Not listed”. The current FEI list is authoritative, so please check its latest version.

Which dosage do the sources give for Green oat grass?

Stated in the profile: approx. 20–40 g dried herb/animal/day (large horse), per manufacturer's instructions. This is information from the literature, not an instruction for an individual horse.

Which sources are there for Green oat grass?

The profile cites: EMA/HMPC Avenae herba, ESCOP, and GfE 2014.

Usage note

This content is for information and education. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse shows signs of illness, consult a veterinarian.

“Nothing forced can ever be beautiful.”

Xenophon · On Horsemanship (c. 365 BC)

Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is source-attributed (PubMed, specialist journals, NRC/GfE, EU regulations) and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.

← Compound profiles