Why your horse (probably) doesn’t need a Vitamin B supplement

B-Complex vitamins are very frequently included in supplements and there are so many B vitamin supplements on the market for a range of issues but most commonly nervousness and excitability.

B-Complex vitamins are water soluble meaning that they aren’t stored in the body and that any excess is rapidly excreted in urine. The upside to this is that causing toxicity is almost impossible. The downside, is that if you’re supplementing with more than the horse needs, the kidneys and urinary system have to work harder to get rid of the excess and frankly, you’re wasting money.

The best thing about the B-complex vitamins, is that the microbes in the horse’s hindgut readily synthesise almost all of them. B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin) and B12 (cobalmin) are all synthesised in adequate amounts by hindgut microbes, provided that the microbes are balanced and healthy. The remaining B vitamins, B5 (pantothenic acid) and B9 (folic acid) are readily available in vegetable and forage material.

Vitamin B deficiency in horses is very rare and supplementation should only be necessary in a handful of circumstances (listed below). The microbial population synthesise B vitamins in an optimal balance provided that they’re functioning correctly. If you’re recommended a B vitamin supplement or feed a vitamin B supplement to your horse, it’s important to ask yourself why it might be needed?

If you suspect that less than optimal amounts of B vitamins are being synthesised in the gut, why would that be? The answer is that the microbes aren’t happy. The best way to keep hindgut microbes happy is with plenty of forage – ideally as a constant supply to keep the microbes working, fermenting and getting everything they need in order to do what’s required of them. If the horse is fed sufficient forage and has access to roughage at all times, the microbial population will stay balanced, healthy and highly functional.

So when are B vitamin supplements needed? B vitamin supplements may be necessary during/ following a course of antibiotics, on recovery from other illness such as colic or following surgery. Essentially, supplementation may be needed at times when the digestive system has been challenged or compromised and the microbes are likely to be struggling.

If your horse is excitable or nervous, there are a number of supplements available on the market that do not contain B vitamins but still very effectively target the nervous system to settle any underlying issues. This will help your bank account and your horse! It’s also important to establish the root cause of the problem, which may require some retraining and ground work to help the horse settle.

Bottom line? It’s vital to think about the microbes in your horse’s gut, what they should be doing, what they are doing and how happy and balanced they are. Happy Microbes, Healthy Horse!

Busting the Myth: Turmeric and Pepper

Turmeric is becoming a widely used spice in equine diets and its benefits are undeniable. We know from speaking to our own customers what a difference turmeric in the diet can make, particularly to older horses and those who compete heavily.

As with many things that people gain an awareness of, the complexities are overlooked and misinformation spreads around very quickly. Turmeric is no exception, so we think it’s high time that the misunderstanding around turmeric and pepper be cleared up. We’ll be citing research as we go throughout this article and you can see the full reference list at the end.

We’ve heard it hundreds of times – “Turmeric can’t be absorbed without pepper” or “Pepper is necessary when feeding turmeric”. That is a myth.

It is absolutely not necessary to feed pepper alongside turmeric in order for it to be absorbed.

It is true that turmeric is poorly absorbed by the gut [1]. The reason for that has to do with water solubility[2] Turmeric is not very water soluble, meaning that it moves rapidly to the liver before much of it can be absorbed by the gut into the bloodstream. However, even on its own, turmeric is absorbed to a certain degree and does show promising benefits and effects[3].

In studies using human subjects, the addition of pepper when consuming turmeric, did show a very significant increase in bioavailability of turmeric. The results in animals however, were much less dramatic [4].

Over the years, it has become apparent from the research that the two main ways to enhance bioavailability of turmeric for the average person using it at home, it to add either oil or pepper or both.

How do the additions of these two things actually enhance bioavailability?

By adding pepper, the turmeric still goes to the liver with very little absorption having occurred in the gut. The presence of the pepper then prevents the liver from metabolising the turmeric and breaking it down to be excreted. [2]

When oil is added, the problem of low water-solubility is canceled out. Therefore, the presence of oil when the turmeric reaches the gastrointestinal tract allows the turmeric to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine [5].

The important thing to remember about adding pepper is how it enhances bioavailability. Pepper has the same effect of blocking metabolism and breakdown of many components other than those found in turmeric including a number of medications and other active ingredients in food. In many of those cases, you wouldn’t want to prevent them being metabolised and to remain in the body for an extended period of time. So, if you’re planning to add pepper to your horse’s diet, it is best to consult your vet and proceed with caution, particularly if they’re on any medication.

It is the interference with metabolism caused by pepper that has led us to leave it out of Equi-Liquid GOLD. This doesn’t hamper the ability of the product to be beneficial in any way. If nothing else, the hundreds of testimonials and stories our customers have shared with us about the product are proof that turmeric can be absorbed and incredibly beneficial without pepper!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at enquiries@equinutritive.com or post below 🙂

Research:

[1]Sharma RA, McLelland HR, Hill KA, Ireson CR, Euden SA, Manson MM, Pirmohamed M, Marnett LJ, Gescher AJ & Steward WP. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of oral curcuma extract in patients with colorectal cancer (2001) Clinical Cancer Research, July; 7 (7): 1894 – 900.

[2]Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Newman RA, Aggarwal BB. Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises (2007) Molecular Pharmacology, November – December; 4(6): 807-18

[3] Cheng AL, Hsu CH, Lin JK, Hsu MM, Ho IF, Shen TS, Ko JY, Lin JT, Lin BR, Ming-Shiang W, YU HS, Jee SH, Chen GS, Chen TM, Chen CA, Lai MK, Pu YS, Pan MH, Wang YJ, Tsai CC, Hsieh CY. Phase I clinical Trial of Curcumin, a chemopreventative agent, in patients with high risk or premalignant lesions (2001) Anti Cancer Research. July – August; 21(4b): 2895-900

[4]  Shoba G, Joey D, Joeseph T, Mageed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animal and human volunteers (1998) Planta. Med, May; 64(4): 353-6

[5] Liu A, Lou H, Zhao L, Fan P. Validated LC/MS/MS assay for curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin in rat plasma and application to pharmacokinetic study of phospholipids complex of curcumin (2006) Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Feb 24; 40(3): 720-7

 

Powerful Passionflower

Passionflower is a herb with a wide variety of benefits. The plant bears beautiful flowers that bloom in either pink or purple. In North and Central American traditions, this herb was used for treating insomnia and other sleep disturbances because of its sedative effects.

Generally, nowadays it is considered an excellent herb for managing anxiety, tensions, and improving temperament. This makes it an ideal plant to feed to horses that are nervous or anxious, which is why we’ve included it in our No More Nerves Blend.

Passionflower has other benefits too though, which shouldn’t be overlooked. It has analgesic (pain-relieving) properties as well as anti-spasmodic properties. These elements make it of great use to horses with tight, sore muscles and those that hold tensions habitually.

Passicol, a phytochemical found in passionflower is effective at fighting a variety of bacteria, moulds and yeasts. It is also ideal for helping to manage the temperament of moody mares.

Passionflower is a versatile and powerful herb that can be fed on its own or in conjunction with other herbs. Horses find it appetising and because it is fibrous in nature, it plays a role in maintaining the function and harmony of the gut – what could be more important than that?

Is Passionflower a part of your horse’s diet? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Feeding before and during Travel

Lorry and trailer travel is a situation that doesn’t suit horses too well – they’re confined, have restricted access to roughage, head held at chest height for prolonged periods, have to try and keep their balance as the driver maneuvers turns, roundabouts etc, and finally their visual field is compromised. This all makes for a stressful situation for a horse and increases their risk of developing travel sickness and suffering from gut upset, colic or developing gastric  ulcers.

Recent research has shown that when horses experience stress and anxiety, it results in an increased flow of gastric acid that can result in acid ‘burn’ and reddening of the stomach lining, particularly around the oesophageal inlet. In turn, this can cause a reflux ‘burn’, not to mention a great deal of discomfort.

There are a number of steps you can take to minimise the risk of the above mentioned problems occurring and ensure that the experience of travel is as stress free as possible for your equine.

From twelve to one hour prior to travel, ensure that your horse has had ample opportunity to graze and move about freely, if at all possible. If that isn’t possible, allow them some free time for movement in a round yard or arena and allow them access to ad lib roughage such as hay. Then, 60-30 minutes prior to travel, provide the horse with a small meal of lightly dampened chaff or hay (4 litres) and 3 tablespoons of herb or other ingredient with a high mucilage content, such as chia seeds , fenugreek, irish moss or marshmallow root as this will help to coat and buffer the stomach against acid burn and irritation during travel.

During travel, allow the horse access to hay that is tied below chest height so that they can eat with their airways facing downward. Provide enough hay for them to eat throughout the journey and ensure that it is lightly dampened to reduce dust and debris from entering the airways. Allowing them to eat throughout travel will help to minimise the risk of health problems associated with the journey as well as help to keep their stress in check.

Once arriving at your destination provide the horse with a repeat of the pre-travel meal, which will help to keep their stomach protected and their gut settled and functioning optimally. When returning home, repeat this process again.

**Bonus Benefit: Horses are more settled when they have a routine. By having a consistent pre-travel routine in place, you can help to ensure that they will travel calmly – hopefully arriving at their destination healthy, relaxed and safe.

Happy travelling!!

 

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Seabuckthorn: The Legend, The Science and the Bountiful Benefits

Seabuckthorn has been referenced a long way back in history and there was a wonderful Greek legend about seabuckthorn and horses! The legend says that horses that had been wounded in battle were released by their keepers into the wild to die a natural death (practically unimaginable nowadays!). Horses released into seabuckthorn forests are said to have returned to their keepers from the forests with a beautiful shine to their skin and in perfect health – for having eaten an abundance of seakbuckthorn berries! The Greeks actually called the plant Hippophae Rhamnoides, which translates as “tree that makes horses shine”.

 

So what about Seabucthorn makes it so great, not just the skin and coat but for general health and wellbeing? Well, it contains the elusive and hard to come across Omega 7 fatty acid, found in very few plants. Furthermore, it also contains the other lovely omegas you hear about more regularly – 3, 6 and 9.

But there’s more…Seabuckthorn boasts a very impressive profile of nutrients including polyphenols (which give plants their bright, vibrant colours), antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It’s fair to say that Seabuckthorn packs an incredible nutritional punch!

What benefits does it have for horses though? Seabuckthorn is excellent for horses with problematic guts, who suffer from poor nutrient absorption, have low or compromised immunity, exhibit signs of stress, have allergies and irritations and who lack vitality. And as the Greeks saw for themselves, it results in a healthy, glowing, shiny coat.

Seabuckthorn is a berry that grows on a shrub-like tree. The berries are round and orange – red in colour and the plant thrives in coastal areas. You can find Seabuckthorn growing in Europe, Australia, parts of Asia and the Americas.

When purchasing Seabuckthorn for horses, it is available as a liquid supplement. This normally comprises the pulp, seed and juice of the berries. It’s important to ensure that when purchasing you’re not buying a diluted product but pure Seabuckthorn – this will ensure that your horse gets the true benefit of this remarkable super fruit.

We’re planning for Seabuckthorn to be an important addition to our product range this year as it’s benefits for gut health are in line with our philosophy of a preventative, gut centred approach to equine feeding and nutrition. You can learn more about our current range of products here.

Do you feed Seabuckthorn? Tell us about how it’s helped your horse in the comments below! And if you found this article useful, we’d be very grateful if you were to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and/ or Twitter. 🙂

 

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Why it’s so important to feed from the ground

The conveniences made available to us in caring for and feeding horses make life so much easier, save us money and time and in many cases also help us stay a little cleaner than we otherwise would.

We’ve talked about a convenience item previously (automatic waterers – you can read that post here) and now we think it’s high time we tackle another one.

Hay nets, wall mounted hay racks and elevated feed bins – basically anything that results in a horse not eating from the ground – are our focus here.

 

Horses have evolved to eat from ground level. The fact that they do so is not a stand alone element of how they function but is very neatly woven in with many parts of their well being.

Allow me to explain…

When horses are turned out and grazing, eating from the ground, they are chewing almost constantly. For every several chews, they take a step and over the course of the day walk several kilometres. This helps their muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints to stay supple, mobile and gently active. Eating from the ground also allows for any dust or debris that might be in the air to stay out of the respiratory tract because their nostrils are in a downward position, allowing gravity to work its magic. As they chew with their heads down, their jaw functions as it should to allow for optimal mastication (chewing) and preparation of the bolus that will go to their stomachs to continue digestion. This in turn allows for adequate saliva production, which then plays an important role in buffering the stomach from acid.

Another element of good digestion and gut function comes from the fact that when a horse is eating from the ground, the muscles of the neck, throat and back are stretched out into an elongated position. This not only allows the muscles of the back to remain strong and supple, preventing tension and problems associated with muscle shortening, but also allows for the correct muscular movements required to get the constant stream of food from the mouth to the stomach.

As you can see, the simple act of biting and chewing is linked with numerous elements, not just around digestion but many other parts of the body. When feed is placed above ground level the entire process of consuming and digesting food is disrupted. The jaw doesn’t chew as efficiently, the horse can inhale dust and debris, often from the feed itself and be unable to rid the respiratory tract of those irritants. Muscles in the back, neck and throat are shortened and tightened, less saliva is produced and the initial stages of digestion are off to a poor start.

Adding to this is the fact that in many cases, or at least part of the time horses are not truly ‘grazing’, as in moving whilst they eat and so the benefits of moving their bodies as they pick and chew grass are lost.

If your horse is kept or fed indoors, it’s important that as much of the natural eating process as possible is maintained and the best way to do that is to allow them to eat from ground level.

Many horse owners are concerned with wastage or the horse consuming bedding as it gets mixed with the feed or hay. There are many products on the market varying in price that facilitate feeding from ground level within a stable, yard, or paddock. Some of these include the Harmony Hay Feeder or the Hay Bar (not recommendations, just products we are aware of) and there are many more than just those two.

I recommend using a soft rubber tub for providing hard feed, placed on the ground to allow the horse to stretch down into the natural position when eating.

If possible, refrain from hay nets and hay racks that will keep horses eating for a prolonged period of time in the undesirable ‘head up’ position.

What are your thoughts? Do you feed your horse from the ground or at chest height? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments 🙂

Rosehip in the Equine Diet

Rosehip would have to be one of my favourite herbs for feeding to horses. It’s teeming with goodness, very palatable and the difference you notice in a horse is usually significant and comes about fairly quickly.

The best benefits of Rosehip that make it perfect for adding to the equine diet are:

• Rich in vitamins – A, B1, B2, B3, C and K
• High in bioflavinoids (anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory) carotenoids and tannins
• High in calcium, phosphorous, silica, magnesium and copper

 

This brilliant combination of benefits helps with a whole range of problems such as inflammation in the gut, allergies, a weakened immune system and damaged tissue. Even better, the vitamin C present in Rosehip will help to prevent illness and compromises to the immune system as well as promote healthy hoof growth.

Rosehip comes in powder form, as actual dried flower or in granulated form. Any of the above are suitable for consumption by horses and they are generally happy to consume Rosehip as its mild, fragrant flavour isn’t at all offensive.

Rosehip features in a number of our products at EquiNutritive because of its varied and abundant properties that boost and maintain health and well being. You’ll find Rosehip in our Spring, Autumn and Summer blends. We’ll be adding to our product range this year and will incorporate Rosehip into even more products – testament to its value!

If there’s a way for you to incorporate Rosehip into your horses diet, we recommend doing so, so that you can both enjoy the benefits it has to offer.

Have you supplemented your horse’s diet with Rosehip? If so, share your experience of doing so in the comments below –  we’d love to hear your story 🙂

5 Must Haves for the Feed Room

Feeding and equine nutrition today is complex. Theoretically it shouldn’t be as the principles behind feeding horses for sound health are very simple. But with modern day horse keeping practices producing a range of potential problems and horses working harder than ever, the balancing act is becoming more and more challenging.

There are a range of ways that feeding and supplementing horses can be simplified and perfected and it all begins with the tools you have in your feed room.

Here is our list of 5 must haves for the feed room to make for simplified, accurate, healthy and balanced feeding of your horse/s.

1. Scales – Ok, we acknowledge that the vast majority of horse owners are not going to have scales in their feed room and even if they do, they’re unlikely to use them every time. However, something that equates to scales will suffice. It’s important that you know how much of any product you are giving your horse by weight. You probably feed ‘a scoop of this’, ‘2 scoops of that’ etc. How much does each scoop weigh? When you first introduce a new product, weigh it out using scales and in accordance with the feeding guidelines on the bag. Then mark the spot on the scoop or measuring cup you use that the weighed out amount comes to. This precision will ensure more accurate, appropriate and cost-effective feeding.

 

2. A hay -feeding container – By that we don’t mean a hay net. Horses have evolved to eat from ground level and should always eat from the ground to ensure optimal digestion, prevent muscular problems and to stop irritants from entering the respiratory system with no way of being removed. Of course, you can feed hay straight onto the ground, particularly if your horse is turned out. But if your horse is stabled at feed time and tends to make a mess by walking their hay through their bedding and other similar antics, some kind of container will be needed. There are a whole range of products that are suited from this ranging widely in size, price and functionality. Something as basic as an open tyre feed bin will get the job done, but if you want something a little more complex, then products such as the Harmony Hay Feeder and the Hay Bar are options to explore.

3. Metal Feed Containers – Metal bins and containers are hands down the best thing around for protecting feed from contamination, pests and damp. They might be a little more expensive than your average plastic tub but they’re worth it for what they’ll save you in spoiled feed over time. They’re also durable and hardy and usually well secured/ fastened – perfect for keeping equine escapees out!

 

4. Scissors – This is a given and I’m sure almost all of you reading this will have scissors in your feed room. The number 1 use for scissors though is for cutting the nutritional information from the empty feed bags as well as the batch information (if it’s in a different area). When you empty your fed bags into your feed containers, ensure you hold onto that vital information in case you need to make any adjustments to the diet, your horse requires veterinary attention or in the event that there is a recall of the product. Make sure you finish one bag of feed entirely before adding a new bag to the container so as not to mix feed from different batches.

 

5. Light – This seems obvious but many feed rooms either lack any light at all or are very poorly lit. This makes it hard to examine the feed and its quality. Good lighting will allow you to properly assess the feed as you’re handling it and ensure that it is not contaminated, mouldy or compromised in any other way.

“The principles behind feeding horses for sound health are very simple.”

There you have it – our top 5 must haves for your feed room. Which do you already have in place and which are you missing? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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3 Reasons to get rid of your automatic waterers

The first and most important point to make in this post, is that water is a nutrient – the most important and vital nutrient that your horse requires. In my years of working with and around horses, I’ve found the regard for water amongst horse owners to be nowhere near high enough. Then along came automatic waterers…

You love them, right? Oh the convenience!  No more lugging buckets of water into the stable, or running hose pipes down the stable block. No more turning the tap on 2 miles up the road, racing down to the field to check that it’s running and then racing back up again before the vessel overflows. Gone are the days of your horse making a wild, frivolous game of the water tub in the stable, hammering away at ice covering an old bath tub full of water in the field (not the nicest way to spend a winters morning, I admit) and worrying about whether or not your horse has enough water.

The problem is that water becomes that thing you don’t need to worry about. The thing you don’t need to think about. The thing that takes care of itself. Here are the top 3 reasons that I believe the convenience of automatic waterers really isn’t worth it.

1. When there’s an automatic waterer in place, we stop checking the trough (as much). – Some will stop checking the trough at all. Many though, will stop checking water as frequently and most won’t check it daily any longer. Daily checks are essential to ensure that nothing has fallen, crawled or otherwise strayed into your horses’ drinking vessel. If a barn critter has made its way in there, the water will be understandably unappealing to the horse. Other problems can occur too – bedding kicked up into the bowl, a blockage preventing the water from refilling or filling up to a suitable level. If you’re only checking water every 2-3 days, your horse could go 2 -3 days without water!

2. You have no idea how much your horse is actually drinking –  Horses generally drink between 25 and 50 litres of water a day. This will increase in hot weather or following heavy exercise. Knowing how much water your horse drinks when it is healthy and well is a very important tool for being able determine when your horse is unwell. For many health problems, altered water consumption is an early sign/ symptom. Without the ability to spot that symptom, you may not recognise the problem until it has  worsened substantially. Knowing your horses ‘normal water intake’ is as important as knowing their other ‘normal data’, such as resting heart rate, respiration rate etc.

3. Automatic doesn’t mean glitch-free  – There are countless problems that can occur with automatic waterers. Some of those problems have been listed above such as overflowing bowls or blockages. But here are some others

• burst pipes
• frozen pipes
• electricity causing electric shocks to horse when drinking (due to issues with piping installation or bent pipes coming in contact with wires or electric fencing)
• fire risk if using a heated system

Many horse owners swear by their automatic waterers and wouldn’t consider changing, which is certainly fair enough. For me, the pros don’t outweigh the cons, and I stick with buckets and the extra workload. The main take-away point from this is that if using automatic waterers, one should be more vigilant, not less. Check the water frequently and consistently, regularly clean out the waterer and ensure your horse is comfortably and willingly using the system!

What are your experiences with automatic waterers? Do you love them or hate them? Share your thoughts below 🙂

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The Ins and Outs of Body Condition Scoring Your Horse

Body Condition Scoring is an important and often overlooked element of horse care. It is important to know and understand the condition that your horse is in, where it sits on a scale and what any potential changes might mean, either good or bad. Drastic and unintended changes in body condition score (BCS) are cause for concern. Sometimes however, the changes that are occurring to a horses condition aren’t noticed until they have become drastic. By regularly and actively monitoring your horse’s body condition score, you will be able to more readily and swiftly pick up on any potential health problems and ensure that your horse is at an ideal and healthy condition year round.

I recommend photographing your horse (standing square) on a regular basis and using that as a tool to monitor condition.

Many horse owners make the mistake of thinking that their horse is in an ideal condition when in fact they are overweight. Using a formal body condition scoring system will assist you in identifying the condition of your horse objectively and assessing whether they need to lose or gain weight – or if they’re just right the way they are.

I recommend photographing your horse (standing square) on a regular basis and using that as a tool to monitor condition. Alternatively, set a reminder in your phone or your diary to check the BCS at regular intervals and then record the ‘score’ in a notebook for making a quick and easy comparison when necessary.

What do you mean by regular intervals, you ask?  This really depends on the horse. If you have a horse with a health problem or ongoing condition, or an elderly horse, weekly monitoring is advisable. For horses in good health and without any chronic issues or causes for concern, body condition scoring should be done monthly during Spring, Summer and Autumn and then fortnightly during the Winter.

The value of knowing the actual BCS of your horse is huge.

There are two main body condition scoring systems. One is the 0-5 system and the other is the Henneke system, which is uses a scale from 1-9. Personally, I prefer the 0-5 scale as I find it easy to get bogged down in unnecessary detail with the Henneke scale. The 0-5 is the one most commonly used in the UK, whilst the Henneke scale is generally more broadly used in the US. Below are images outlining the two scales. They each define the points on the scales and give guidelines as to what each point on the scale represents.

Image 1: The 0-5 Scale

Image 2: The Henneke Scale

The value of knowing the actual BCS of your horse is huge. It is a powerful and simple resource for monitoring many elements of equine health and once you get into the habit of regularly BCSing your horse, it will become a quick and simple process – start today!

Are you already BCSing your horse regularly? Tell us about it and how you find the process benefits your horse management process in the comments below.

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Image 2 sourced from:

http: //riverroadveterinary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Henneker.jpg