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FEEDLINE……………OCT-NOV 2007 No 49
The augments for proprietary ‘Flex’
supplements have been so compelling and persistent over the last few years it has been
difficult not to accept that if they do not radically help the problem of
stiffness in horses then there is little hope of any better solution. Indeed
for quite sometime such forceful marketing by Vets and experts made us feel
embarrassed to suggest older alternatives, especially when speaking to people
with newly acquired expertise. We were developing an ‘as good as it gets’
attitude. One reason for this was that the feeding of a ‘Flex’ supplement
tended to near exhaust the budget for such things of many ordinary horse owners
thus not leaving financial room for something else that may also help and to
suggest an alternative formula in place of the ‘Flex’ supplements meant not
only flying in the face of fashion but also some quite irrefutable scientific
data. Just recently however more horse owners have been saying they are
prepared to try additions to the regular Glucosamine/MSM supplements and we
have been really surprised by the difference achieved. Particularly successful
has been the formula Stride ‘B’ this
contains the usual Glucosamine etc but also some much older preparations such
as extract of Vanda Roxburghii, a type of Orchid, and a number of gum resins that
have always been good for stiffness in horses. Such results are beginning to
change our attitude the new ideas are good but so were the old ones, maybe the
old can help the new?
Cider Vinegar and Honey is
too well known to talk too long about so suffice to say it is an excellent thing to feed.
Apple cider vinegar works in concert with Honey to raise circulatory calcium
levels and act as a free radical scourer helping rid the body of accumulated
toxins. Honey provides instant and long term energy in a unique pre-digested
form plus a wide range of micronutrients, Orchard Harvest acts as an efficient
digestive and gentle everyday tonic increasing natural immunity and nutrient
assimilation. Orchard Harvest can help maintain joint suppleness strengthens and
heals and helps reinforce the body's defence mechanisms against a threat to
overall health. We cannot say our Cider Vinegar and Honey, which we call
Orchard Harvest, is better than you can make yourself but we do pride ourselves
in doing the job properly making sure that the Honey in always 50% or more. We
would love to say that all the honey we use in Orchard Harvest is Jersey
Produced, or at least British but alas that is not so. French Honey is good
value and instead of a booze run we do a honey run to Granville on the
If the beginning of winter
means that adequate good grazing has gone and adequate good grazing is defined as when an
otherwise healthy horse has little appetite for conserved forage then the requirement
for sufficient Lysine and digestible crude protein must come from forage and
other feeds. This is very possible but if Hay or Haylage is low in protein this
may not occur. Weathered, old and mature hay and indeed late cut haylage are
analysing at around 6 to7% Crude protein DM and will drop 0.5% per month until
February and if fed with a predominantly straw or hay chop or beet pulp which
is no higher in protein it is not possible to meet the requirement for
maintenance of around 9 to 10% crude protein DM in the total diet and will fall
far short of 11% required for maintenance and light work.
It is no strange coincidence
that the most useful feeds fed to horses world wide and that have stood the test of time in affecting
recovery and good health are those ingredients that besides their main forte
are rich in minerals. Climate and supply dictate what we feed to horses and
these days commercialism also plays its part. False motivation behind a fashion
in the horse business are shooting stars at best lingering on attached to a
certain generation, analyse the most lasting feeds from Roman times and before
to the present day and you get the distinct impression that what is most
important involves minerals somewhere or other. Herbs are not exempt from this
Comfrey contains the element Germanium, now under scrutiny for helping cancer
and arthritis, as does Aloe Vera. Ginseng becomes defenceless against virus and
bacteria where there exists a deficiency of Germanium in the soil. Equisetum
and Knotgrass rich in Selenium, Silica and Zinc have been extolled throughout
history and is now offering fresh hopes for tumours and ulcers today. Bamboo
Gum (this is our Arun Powder) famed for its immunity giving properties contains
over 80% available Silica. Yellow Dock, Dandelion, Yarrow and Red Clover with
the advantage of their subsoil penetrating roots, are rich in available Iron
and a whole raft of trace elements. The virtue of Seaweed is in its mineral
content and the famous Shilajit, of which it is said that no curable disease is
not assisted by its use and which was once prehistoric vegetation, most
probably Euphorbia and Equisetum type, is not only rich in available Copper,
Iron etc but Fulvic acid that enables all minerals to be better absorbed.
Soybeans superior to lower order vegetable proteins such as linseed also has a
particularly available (as plants go) phosphorus content and lucerne leaves
(Alfalfa) and sainfoin again with their long roots are rich in Calcium.
The mineral ’background’ to ingredients is important.
Of the many new by-products now finding their way into the diet of horses we
predict it will be those that offer that little extra in the form of a
particular mineral or range of minerals that will catch on. The best short feed
of all is good quality Oats. It is interesting that of all the cereals Oats
have the highest content of Iron, Zinc and Manganese of all the grain species.
As often said take away the water content of the horses and all you are left
with is a pile of minerals.
With
one thing and another we were not able to do much to try out a new healing oils formula this
summer gone. The principle of it is that Azadirachta indica oil (Margosa, Noof,
Nimba, Neem etc) can work very well with other healing oils as it exerts effect
at very low application rates. There are five other oils in the formula
including special virgin cold drawn Ricinus communis. This held us up, as when
we finally located a source of the real thing it was dropped on a runway during
delivery, had to go back for repacking and on the way the lorry was set upon by
robbers. When we finally got what we wanted there was little time to try it out
so if any client is interested in doing so this winter please let us know and
we will include a sample when sending other requirements. The formula includes
Azadiracta indica (Neem), Calendula officinalis (Marigold), Ricinus communis,
(Castor), Symphytum officinale (Comfrey), Prunus armeniaca (Apricot kernel) and
if used sparingly will provide a convenient way of helping with Rain
Scald, Dry Mud Fever, Thrush and over
reaction to fly bites and other skin disorders
EMP – 19C Capsules for a good night’s sleep - We have had a lot of requests for repeat
information which we published in a previous edition of FEEDLINE about the
EMP-19C capsules. If you take two Emp-19C Capsules – before going to bed
you get a really deep relaxing sleep. You wake up drowsy and comfortable for a
few minutes as you would do after emerging from a good sleep but you don’t feel
drugged. All morning you have a more serene attitude. The formula also proves
useful for those suffering with IBS and stress can be lessened with their use
during the day. They are safe and non-habit forming and the Ayurvedic
formula we make up has been used for thousands of years. 60 Capsules are £12.13
net through our Trinity Office in
The use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) &
Maglyte proves extremely useful for treating splints and other bony growths in horses. Very
often we are asked to help with the treatment of splints, curbs and other bony
protrusions that horses develop either through a knock, poor confirmation or
rapid growth. We will very often recommend the use of Maglyte at such a time
and coupled with the use of LLLT (also known as Cold Laser) this combination
proves very useful not only in the immediate inflammation stage but also to
reduce the ossification (laying down of bone) which leads to the unsightly and
painful lumps. Maglyte is a mixture of Magnesium Glycine (True low molecular
chelate) and Magnesium Oxide. Magnesium Glycine is absorbed at a rate
significantly superior to other Mg sources (8.8 times greater than Magnesium
Oxide – Weber State University) but does not contain as much of the element as
MgO. It is estimated that the potential for Mg reception in the horse is 60%
upper gut and 40% lower gut. In the upper gut we have little more than 50
minutes in the lower gut some 6 to 8 hours. Mg cannot be stored outside the
cell and is beyond use some 6 to 9 hours post consumption so this combination
suits the prevailing biological circumstances very well especially when fed
twice per day on a routine basis. LLLT raises a flag to the body and asks its
workforce to come back to the sight and carry out repair work and with it
reduce inflammation, increase blood-flow and remove unnecessary calcification.
Within the UK we have a number of contacts who provide an LLLT service, in
Jersey we can offer the LLLT service ourselves, further information on 07797
766 318.
There are a number of horse
owners that prefer to feed their horses as naturally as possible avoiding the feeding of residuals and the
products of elaborate industrial processes. Such a preference for non-compound
feeds is not embraced by the supply industry and such a following makes their
advisors and experts uncomfortable and often reactive. Where a few years ago
passive acceptance of what industry pronounced was the order of the day times
are changing and many horse owners are not inclined to have decisions made for
them by others especially if they suspect they may be working to a different
agenda. In Europe and in the
*Farmers often used the word
“Sweetened” to describe the benefits of applying lime to their fields to
release nutrients and in the fetching of “Wrack” (Seaweed) from the beach after
storms to spread on the steep cÔté fields
in