Description
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Enclosed measure approximates 2 oz based on density of product.)
Adult Horses (900-1,100 lbs): Provide 2 oz daily.
INGREDIENTS:
Magnesium (Mg) is a vital macromineral, and it is becoming increasingly recommended by veterinarians for
various treatments in the horse. Because one of the clinical signs of magnesium deficiency is nervousness, it
is added to many calming supplements. Magnesium helps support a normal inflammatory response.
Magnesium may play a role in insulin resistance and equine metabolic syndrome. Within the muscle calcium
and magnesium work antagonistically — calcium causing muscle contraction and magnesium inducing
relaxation. If there is not enough magnesium, muscles tend to spasm. Although the presence of low magnesium
in the muscle tissue may stem from a genetic disorder rather than dietary quantities, there are reports of
horses that have responded to magnesium supplementation for support of chronic tying-up.
Lysine is an amino acid and the only one for which a requirement in the horse has been established by the NRC. It is an essential amino acid, meaning it must be provided in the diet since the body cannot create enough of its own. Lysine is also a limiting amino acid. This means if it is not present in adequate amounts it limits the body’s ability to make protein. Lysine is important in the formation of collagen (the protein that forms the matrix of bone, cartilage and connective tissue). Lysine supports normal intestinal absorption of calcium and helps reduce the excretion of calcium in the urine.
Methionine is an essential amino acid, meaning it must be provided in the diet since the body cannot create enough of its own. This means if it is not present in adequate amounts it limits the body’s ability to make protein. Methionine can be converted by the body into another sulfur-containing amino acid and cysteine. Because the concentration of both these amino acids is highest in hoof and hair, methionine especially is often included in hoof supplements.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is an antioxidant that plays a pivotal role in neutralizing harmful free radicals. Because of its water-soluble nature, vitamin C can work both inside and outside the cell to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C also helps by regenerating vitamin E. Besides its antioxidant functions, vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis, hormone synthesis, conversion of vitamin D3 to calcitriol, bone calcification, and antihistamine control. Under normal circumstances, horses make their own vitamin C in the liver from glucose. However, transport, “heaves,” old age and endurance exercise have all been shown to decrease blood levels of vitamin C, indicating horses undergoing these particular stresses may benefit from dietary supplementation.
DMG (Dimethylglycine) is a naturally occurring substance in the body and in many foods, but in low
levels. Supplementing with this ingredient makes additional DMG available to cells throughout the
body, where it is involved in energy production processes that use oxygen. DMG is used to support the immune system,
muscle metabolism (especially in horses prone to tying-up), and serve as
an antioxidant.
The Vitamin B family is made up of several compounds that serve many important roles in the body: protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism; energy production; proper nerve cell transmission; and cell reproduction/division (especially rapidly dividing ones such as red blood cells). B-vitamins include: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), and cyanocobalamin (B12). For most of the B vitamins, microorganisms in the large intestine make all the horse needs. Only thiamine and riboflavin have NRC dietary requirements. However, research suggests B vitamin supplementation may be beneficial to stabled horses with little access to fresh pasture, heavily exercising horses, pregnant and lactating mares, horses with GI conditions that may interfere with normal gut flora, and any periods of stress (injury, illness, shipping, old age, etc.).
Zinc (Zn) is a micromineral involved in over 100 enzyme systems ranging from support of connective tissue formation and antioxidants to carbohydrate metabolism and immune system function. It is most recognized for its role in healthy skin
and hooves. Supplementation should be considered because amounts in normal feedstuffs may not meet requirements.
Copper (Cu) is a micro mineral required for production of normal connective tissues including tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone. As a component of many enzyme systems, it is also involved in making Iron available to the body for blood, in producing skin and coat pigments, in proper nerve signaling and in repairing antioxidants. Low copper levels in mares and foals have been implicated in developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) including osteochondrosis.
Selenium is a trace mineral that along with vitamin E function in a partnership that helps to protect body tissues from
free radical damage that occurs during oxidation (the conversion of feedstuffs into energy). While some parts of the country have high levels
of selenium in their soil and therefore the plants that grow there, selenium deficiency has been reported in 46 states.
Therefore, most horses will need supplementation to meet the NRC requirement of 1 mg/day for maintenance. For optimum immune function and exercise recovery, 2 to 3 mg/day is recommended, which is still well below 50 mg/day which may be the upper safe limit. Selenium yeast, the organic form of the mineral, is better absorbed than inorganic selenium selenate or selenite.
Vitamin A is well-known for its role in maintaining healthy vision, especially night vision. However, it is also needed for reproduction, immunity, and normal skeletal development in young growing horses and exercising horses that are remodeling bone. Horses must satisfy their vitamin A requirement from their diet, but only horses on fresh green pasture or high-quality alfalfa are likely to meet that requirement. Horses on grass hay, horses with no access to pasture, or horses that are exercising or breeding probably need supplementation.
Vitamin E is considered the most important antioxidant and works closely with selenium to protect the body from the oxidative stress of exercise, illness and certain medical conditions. Found in high amounts in fresh pasture, levels begin to decay the moment pasture is cut for hay. That is why any horse that does not have access to grass — regardless of its activity level or health — should receive vitamin E supplementation. Horses are not very efficient in storing vitamin E and deficiency may be accelerated if the diet is deficient in selenium. Synthetic vitamin E is bioavailable but studies show that natural vitamin E may be up to 21 ⁄2 times more bioavailable than synthetics.
Vitamin D plays an indirect role in bone growth and maintenance by managing the levels of calcium (Ca) in the body. It controls the absorption of Ca from the intestine, the movement of Ca into and out of bone, and the amount of Ca excreted by the kidneys. While a minimum requirement has been set by the NRC, it is assumed that horses make all the vitamin D they need simply by exposure to sunlight, which converts precursors of vitamin D in the skin to the active form of the vitamin. However, horses kept indoors for prolonged periods, horses fed poor quality hay, very young foals or exercising horses that are remodeling bone may need supplementation. Deficiency causes reduced appetite, slowed growth, physitis in growing horses, bone demineralization (leading to stress fractures and bone deformities), and poor muscle contraction.
Active Dry Yeast: Supports enzyme activity for fiber digestion in the hind gut and provides a direct source of nutrients to nourish good bacteria. Stabilizes digestive flora during periods of stress for overall health and performance.
Probiotics are live microorganisms fed to promote healthy digestive and immune function. When these “good” bugs break down food ingredients that the body normally can’t, they produce energy and vitamins for the body, food for cells in the cecum and colon, and byproducts that keep the “bad” bugs from growing. Research suggests probiotics are useful in repopulating the intestine with “good” bugs after antibiotic use and may benefit certain horses with diarrhea. A common term used for probiotics is direct-fed microbials (DFM).
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