SARCOSHIELD *Organic herbal blend for horses - sarcoid-sensitive, immune-strengthening, skin-supporting
Sarcoids can be one of the most frustrating equine challenges - slow-changing, unpredictable, and often persistent.
Believed to stem from immune imbalance and a latent viral trigger, they call for a calm, consistent, whole-horse approach.
SarcoShield is formulated for horses with sarcoid-sensitive skin or those recovering from sarcoid episodes where long-term immune steadiness and skin resilience are needed. It combines three trusted organic botanicals - barleygrass , rosehips , and Lapacho (Pau D’Arco) - into one convenient, feed-friendly blend to help strengthen natural defences and nurture healthy, resilient, viral-free skin from within.
Inspired by a client experience and the well-known case study from Caroline Ingraham, where a mare self-selected barleygrass and rosehips with remarkable long-term results, this blend offers gentle, steady, realistic support for sarcoid-prone horses.
Why Sarcoids Require a Different Approach
Sarcoids don’t behave like wounds or surface skin problems - and that’s why they require a different mindset.
Although they appear on the skin, sarcoids are widely understood to reflect a systemic immune imbalance linked to a latent viral trigger. This means the visible sarcoid isn’t the root problem - it's simply a surface symptom of something much deeper.
Research has shown:
- BPV (bovine papillomavirus) DNA is found in almost every sarcoid tumour
- It also appears in surrounding “normal” skin
- This helps explain why topical treatments or removal often see recurrence
Because the visible sarcoid is only the surface presentation, the most productive approach is long-term internal support rather than external pressure.
Sarcoids often flare when approached too aggressively, which is why surgical removal or topical treatments can sometimes provoke enlargement or recurrence.
SarcoShield takes a different approach - it's gradual, and supportive.
What SarcoShield is designed to do
Rather than targeting the sarcoid itself, SarcoShield focuses on:
- nourishing immune competence
- supporting healthy skin and connective tissue
- encouraging a calmer, more balanced internal environment
- providing gentle antioxidant and nutrient support
- supporting resilience over the long term
This approach is quiet by design - r eal progress is slow, steady, and often subtle.
What SarcoShield progress typically looks like
Sarcoids rarely show dramatic change - and this is normal. Most owners report:
- long periods where sarcoids remain unchanged
- fewer new sarcoids appearing
- existing sarcoids becoming quieter or less reactive
- gradual flattening or drying over time
- calmer skin behaviour
These steady, almost invisible shifts are often the first signs of success - a sarcoid that is not changing, not inflamed, and not multiplying is actually a very good sign !
Why patience matters
Supporting long-standing immune patterns takes time - the immune system doesn’t recalibrate overnight.
That’s why SarcoShield works best when viewed as:
- a long-term support blend
- fed consistently over months, not weeks
- especially valuable as a preventative or stabilising tool
Many horses benefit from 6–12 months of continuous support, particularly where sarcoids are multiple, recurrent, or long-standing.
The goal - calm, not confrontation
SarcoShield won't force dramatic changes - remember; we're dealing with a very cunning, deeply hidden stealth microbe here. SarcoShield is designed to support the internal conditions to help keep the virus quieter and less reactive.
What it won't do is:
- shrink sarcoids quickly
- act aggressively
- create dramatic overnight change”
Instead, it supports the underlying systems to strengthen immune resilience, so that sarcoids lose their momentum and become less significant over time.
Why people stop too soon
Most people expect a quick, visible reaction - shrinkage, scabbing, discharge, “movement”.
When nothing dramatic happens, they assume it isn’t working. But in sarcoid cases:
- aggressive change often signals irritation, not improvement
- calm stability is the goal, because it means the immune system is no longer being provoked into flare-ups
- long periods of “not much happening” can be a success indicator
SarcoShield is designed to support the horse - not provoke the sarcoid. If nothing dramatic is happening, that may mean the immune system is settling rather than reacting.
For the latest research and updates, see our main
Sarcoids
page.
Composition & Feed Guide
Composition Glossary
- Hordeum spp. (Barleygrass) – Nutrient-dense, rich in chlorophyll, vitamins, and antioxidants that help nourish cellular health and support balanced immune function. Encourages tissue vitality and resilience in skin-challenged horses.
- Tabebuia impetiginosa (Pau D’Arco / Lapacho) – A deeply supportive botanical valued for its immune-balancing and antioxidant properties. Helps maintain healthy internal microbial balance.
- Rosa canina (Rosehips) – A whole-food source of vitamin C, polyphenols, and bioflavonoids that help strengthen immune defences, support healthy collagen, and nourish skin integrity.
Feed Guide
🌿Ground Powder Herb Blend
Human grade, produced to ecological standards and free from agro-chemicals. See our Quality page for Organic Certification Documents.
- Feed 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
- 1 x level 15ml scoop = 10g
Fussy Eater?
Horses sometimes have their own opinions (and strong tastebuds!), so introduce gradually, building up over several days. See our Fussy Eaters guide as we've many helpful tips to make introducing new supplements easier
♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
Energetic Architecture
SarcoShield isn’t a “do something to the sarcoid” product. It’s a long-arc, internal-support formula designed to help maintain resilient, balanced skin and immune function.
Functional categories
- Immune terrain & viral load modulation - Pau D’Arco (Lapacho)
- Cellular nutrition & immune resilence - Barleygrass | Rosehips
- Connective tissue, collagen & antioxidant defence - Rosehips
Functional intent
SarcoShield supports long-term immune recalibration and skin resilience by:
- nourishing immune competence
- supporting healthy tissue quality
- maintaining calm, steady immune responses
- helping the body manage latent viral triggers
- working with the horse’s biology, not against it
This is a gentle, cumulative process - not a quick fix.
SarcoShield works from the inside out, not by pushing the sarcoid. That’s why progress is gentle rather than dramatic - and why long periods of ‘nothing happening’ often mean the immune system is settling - not stalling.
Clinical Considerations / Veterinary Reference
Advisories
- Feed consistently for 6–12 months for best results.
- Suitable as long-term nutritional support for sarcoid-sensitive horses.
Contraindications
- Not suitable for pregnant or nursing mares (hormonally active botanicals).
- Not advised alongside steroid or immune-suppressant medication without veterinary guidance.
- Discontinue during acute illness, fever, or infection until fully stabilised.
Veterinary Reference
If you’re discussing this with your vet, our concise, vet-friendly reference is available for sharing with them.
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