Magnesium is one of the most commonly used supplements in horses, which when used appropriately, can be significantly beneficial. Yet often little consideration is given to important specifics around the use of this mineral. These generally overlooked nuances can help to determine how effective the magnesium is and if it is actually helpful or harmful to give your horse.

Magnesium plays many vital roles in the body. It is needed for over 300 enzymatic processes. From helping ‘wired’, reactive or anxious horses to reducing inflammation, supporting fertility, promoting bone health, metabolic function, and insulin regulation, magnesium has a wide range of applications.

Because magnesium is a naturally occurring nutrient, it is frequently assumed to be completely safe and free from side effects. Yet in reality, it isn’t quite this simple. Like many other supplements and nutrients, there are many factors which determine the safety and effectiveness of magnesium: how and what it is used for, the quantity of magnesium a horse is given, the duration of supplementation, the form of magnesium used, a horse’s overall diet and intake of other specific nutrients, exercise and activity levels, breed, sweat rate, any health conditions a horse may have, the state of its gastrointestinal health and any medications a horse is on. 

If you’re already supplementing or considering using magnesium for your horse, here are some key things worth considering.

Not all magnesiums are created equal

Magnesium comes in a variety of forms, depending on what it’s bound to. This refers to the chemical structure of the magnesium, not just whether it is in liquid or powdered form. The most commonly used forms of magnesium (which also tend to be the cheapest forms of magnesium) in equine supplements include:

• Magnesium oxide
• Magnesium chloride
• Magnesium sulphate

Each of these forms differs in terms of absorption, bioavailability, and how they interact with the digestive system. Yet they are generally not the most clinically effective forms of magnesium to use.

This matters more than many people realise.

Magnesium can irritate the gut

Some forms of magnesium, particularly at higher doses can irritate the digestive tract.

Clinically, this may present in our horses as:

• loose and/or more frequent manure
• gassiness/excessive passing of wind
• changes in gut comfort and/or signs of mild colic
• worsening of existing digestive sensitivity

This is often dismissed or overlooked, especially if magnesium is being used for behavioural reasons.

Over-supplementation can disrupt the gut microbiome

High doses, poorly absorbed forms of magnesium or long-term over-supplementation may contribute to gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria). This can have wider consequences, including:

Magnesium can help to promote a healthy gut microbiome and reduce gastrointestinal-associated inflammation, but more is not always better.

• negative impacts on immune function
• altered nervous system function
• changes in neurotransmitter production and function

Our horses’ digestive systems can play a significant role in their behaviour, anxiety levels and learning capacity, thanks to the role of the gut-brain axis. Ironically, this means that excessive magnesium use may actually make some horses more reactive or sensitive, not less.

Magnesium can interfere with other essential nutrients, causing relative nutrient deficiencies

Magnesium doesn’t work in isolation. It interacts closely with other minerals including:

• calcium
• phosphorus
• zinc

Excess magnesium can interfere with the absorption and utilisation of these nutrients, which are critical for:

• bone strength and development
• proper neuromuscular function
• healthy immune function
• healthy nervous system function
• reducing oxidation and inflammation 
• muscle, tendon and ligament health

Calcium and zinc in particular, play key roles in the synthesis and function of neurotransmitters such as:

• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• GABA

Imbalances in these neurotransmitters can directly influence behaviour, sensitivity, pain perception, reactivity, learning ability and response to training.

Magnesium and behaviour: not always a simple fix

Magnesium is often used to help calm or relax our horses, and in some cases, when used appropriately it can be most beneficial. When magnesium doesn’t help to address the underlying cause(s) of anxious or excitable behaviour however, the effects of supplementation will be minimal.

The effectiveness of magnesium supplementation will also be minimal and may compound behavioural issues if the delicate balances of other minerals are disrupted, magnesium is overused, poorly bioavailable forms of magnesium are employed, or the gut microbiome is negatively impacted. In these cases behavioural issues may actually worsen rather than improve.

It is important to remember that many things can contribute to adverse behaviour in our horses, and in the vast majority of cases, there are multiple causes at any one time, not just one single factor. Whilst diet, nutrient deficiencies and gut microbiome all play an important part, it would be remiss to overlooked issues such as pain, learned conditioning, side effects of other medications used (if applicable) and other underlying health issues. Supplemental magnesium will be of very limited benefit if the issues causing a horse’s poor behaviour are not properly addressed.

This is why a blanket approach to supplement with magnesium doesn’t always deliver consistent results.

Where magnesium can be highly beneficial

When used appropriately, magnesium can be valuable, particularly in horses with:

Metabolic Challenges

Magnesium plays a role in regulating blood glucose and insulin levels. It can be especially supportive in horses with:

• insulin resistance (IR) or insulin dysregulation (ID)
• equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)
• laminitis or at risk of laminitis

Increased Physical Demand

Horses lose magnesium through sweat, and in the case of broodmares, through their milk. Requirements may increase in:

• horses in intense workloads
• hot and/or humid climates
• lactating mares
• during travel

In these cases, intake may increase in the range of 1.5 to 2 times maintenance levels.

Diet still matters: natural sources of magnesium

Like many minerals, magnesium naturally occurs in feeds commonly given to our horses. Lucerne (alfalfa) hay is a useful natural source of magnesium. Fortified concentrate and balancer feeds have varying levels of magnesium.

However, it is not always quite as simple as relying on feed alone (or even, relying on nutritional information on a feed bag or product label).

Feeds or supplements which contain high levels of calcium (such as lucerne/alfalfa) can inhibit magnesium absorption to some degree. This highlights the importance of looking at the whole diet, not just individual nutrients or feed components, nor relying on feed programs or calculators alone.

Medications can change magnesium requirements

Many commonly used medications in horses can alter magnesium absorption, metabolism, or excretion, meaning their requirements may shift.

These include:

• corticosteroids
• proton pump inhibitors (the include the most commonly used ulcer medications which contain omeprazole)
• antibiotics
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• antihistamines
• clenbuterol  (β2-agonists, which are often sold under names such as Claire Gel, Broncopulmin, Airway Gel, Ventipulmin, Equipulmin, etc).

If your horse is on medication, magnesium supplementation should always be considered more carefully. Dose, form, timing and duration of magnesium supplementation is crucial to take into account.

In summary: use magnesium strategically, not automatically

Magnesium is a powerful and valuable tool in equine nutrition and medicine, but it’s not without its limitations.

Used well, it can support:

• metabolic health
• muscle function
• nervous system balance and in turn, behaviour 
• skeletal health
• fertility
• gastrointestinal (‘gut’) health

Used poorly, it can:

• disrupt gut health
• create mineral imbalances and relative nutrient deficiencies
• contribute to ongoing behavioural issues
• interfere with normal bone development and health

The key is not just whether your horse is supplemented with magnesium, but what their actual requirements for it are. The form of magnesium used to supplement, the reasons to supplement it, the duration of supplementation, factors which increase requirements or interfere with magnesium absorption and metabolism should all be taken into consideration.

Take home message

Good equine nutrition is never about using a single supplement in isolation. Assessing the unique needs of the individual horse in front of you is crucial.

Before supplementing magnesium, it’s always worth asking:

• does my horse actually need it? And if so, how much?
• is the diet balanced overall? And what role would supplemental magnesium potentially play in this?
• could there be deeper underlying causes contributing to the reasons which are prompting me to supplement magnesium?

The safest, most effective and sustainable results come from a thoughtful, tailored approach.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Understanding pain in our horses

The experience of pain is unique to each individual horse and pony: in the way it presents, the intensity, frequency of the pain and how the horse or pony responds to treatment. In recent years, we have come a long way in better understanding the many different physical signs a horse or pony may display to indicate that they are in pain.

Pain seldom appears alone: it can impact a multitude of different aspects in a horse or pony. A horse or pony in pain can concurrently experience changes in behaviour or temperament: this may be one of the first indications which alerts us to the fact our horse or pony is experiencing pain. If the pain is new/acute in nature, these behavioural changes can appear totally out of character. If the pain is chronic/ongoing, the horse or pony may become withdrawn or ‘shut down’ in order to manage their pain. Poor performance, immune health challenges, digestive health issues and compromised fertility may all be associated with pain in our horses and ponies.

To effectively address and relieve pain in our horses and ponies, it is important to consider that pain can be multifaceted and complex. When we think of pain in our horses and ponies, we commonly think of pain which is a result of a direct physical cause. That is, pain that is associated with injury, lameness, poorly fitting tack or saddles, etc. This is what is referred to as ‘somatic pain’.

Yet pain can (and often is) so much more complex than this. Which in part, helps to explain why the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids doesn’t effectively resolve pain in many cases.

Different types of pain respond better to different treatments due to their varying mechanisms, mediators, impact on the brain and inflammatory pathways.

To provide the best pain relief for our horse or pony, an individual, targeted approach is essential. Read on to learn more about the different types of pain our horses and ponies can experience.  

Nociceptive Pain

Nociceptive pain is experienced due to ongoing activation of nociceptors (pain sensing neurones located within body organs and internal cavities). Nociceptive pain is caused by damage to body tissues as a result of trauma and/or inflammation. When we think of pain in our horses and ponies, nociceptive pain is generally the first type of pain that comes to mind.

Nociceptive pain serves as a protective response to injury or potential harm. In cases of chronic pain however, nociceptor activation can remain ongoing, even after healing of damaged tissues is complete and there is no further sign of damage/injury. Accurately identifying and understanding the causes and mechanisms behind this chronic pain in our horses and ponies can be incredibly difficult: an injury may be visibly healed (even on thorough imaging and diagnostic methods), yet the horse is still demonstrating signs of pain.

Nociceptive pain can be further divided into two main categories: somatic pain and visceral pain.

Somatic Pain

Somatic pain has a direct physical cause and arises from the musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, connective tissues) and skin. Osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, ligament injuries, hoof abscesses, cuts and wounds are all examples where a horse or pony may experience somatic pain. It is what many vets, body workers, farriers and other equine health care professionals are often looking for when trying to identify the source of pain. In order to help identify the pain, lameness exams, nerve blocks, imaging (radiographs, MRIs, PET scans, CTs, nuclear scintigraphy etc) may be used.

Yet sometimes our horses and ponies still clearly demonstrate they are in pain, even when these avenues have been exhausted and there seems to be no explainable cause for their pain. So why is this? Despite the best technology, we can’t always see structural issues, so the pain can indeed be somatic in nature, but despite our best efforts, we can’t physically see what is causing the pain. Another reason, which may be overlooked, is the pain they are experiencing may not be somatic pain (or not just somatic pain alone). 

The pain our horses or ponies may be experiencing in this case is likely one (or a combination of) any of the other following types of pain.

Visceral Pain

Visceral pain is pain which originates from internal organs of the body, including the stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys. It may arise due to distension, inflammation or lack of blood supply to internal organs. Colic is a common clinical sign of visceral pain in our horses and ponies. The chronic, inflammatory nature of inflammatory bowel disease may cause visceral pain in some horses and ponies. In many cases we may not be able to visually ‘see’ the source of pain using diagnostic methods, instead relying on history and assessment of clinical signs in the horse or pony. Identifying visceral pain can be even more challenging as it may be masked by other conditions. The discomfort a horse or pony experiences from visceral pain can vary from mild to intense.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is what we commonly think of as ‘nerve pain’. It is caused by nerve damage or dysfunction, resulting in dysregulation of the transmission of nerve signals into the spinal cord. Many causes of neuropathic pain are often linked to excessive inflammation in both the peripheral and central nervous system. Inflammation however, is typically only one element of neuropathic pain. The pathophysiology of neuropathic pain is generally complex and multifactorial, which partly explains why the use of anti-inflammatories and/or rest may only provide minimal relief in many cases.

Central sensitisation

Central sensitisation is pain without identifiable nerve or tissue damage, which makes it challenging to diagnose. This type of pain is thought to result from persistent neuronal dysregulation. It may play an element in cases of neuropathic pain. Some types of neck and back pain without structural pathology may be examples of central sensitisation.

Inflammatory pain

Although somatic pain can definitely be a type of inflammatory pain, immune responses in our horses and ponies can also result in inflammatory pain. This may arise in cases of infection.

Referred pain

Referred pain is pain felt in a different location from the actual source. This form of pain can be challenging to diagnose. An example of referred pain may be highlighted by a horse or pony experiencing problems with its temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or teeth: in such cases, a horse or pony may have referred pain in the neck- with the neck appearing as if it is the source of pain itself.

Psychogenic Pain

Psychogenic pain is physical pain that is caused, increased or prolonged by emotional, mental or behavioural factors, without evidence of physical injury or illness. Psychogenic pain may not yet be commonly recognised as a clinical diagnosis in horses and ponies, but as we understand more about the role of stress, social isolation, anxiety, lack of freedom of movement, insufficient forage in the diet, boredom and frustration in the equine- the role of psychogenic pain should not be overlooked. From a clinical perspective, monitoring and/or observing signs such as heightened reactivity, increased heart rate and/or respiratory rate, stereotypies (wind sucking, cribbing, weaving, box/stall walking, paddock walking) may all be indicative of psychogenic pain.

So how can we help a horse or pony in pain?

In any case of a horse or pony experiencing pain, taking a thorough case history and conducting a comprehensive, holistic assessment gives us the best chance to understand the potential causes and contributing factors to their pain. It is important to note that in many cases, whilst clinical signs can be useful to help understand pain better in our horses and ponies, they are often non-specific.

Viewing, managing and treating pain from a holistic perspective gives us the best possible chance of helping our horses and ponies. We are fortunate that a wide range of judiciously employed nutraceuticals, herbal medicines, dietary and management strategies can significantly help horses and ponies who are experiencing pain. Within the scope of herbal medicine and nutraceuticals alone, we have multiple options in the choice of the herbs and nutrients which can be used to best help treat and manage different types of pain.

The treatment approach we take for specific types of pain should be different if we want the pain relief to be truly effective for our horses and ponies and to resolve the source(s) of the pain.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Poor fertility rates or sub-optimal fertility in stallions can be one of the most financially costly and frustrating challenges for breeding studs and managers.

Sometimes the cause(s) of poor fertility rates can be obvious. Yet, more often than not, the contributing factors may not be clear.

Stress is something which can be easily overlooked, yet plays a fundamental role in the reproductive health and performance of stallions. Stress has been found to reduce luteinizing hormone and testosterone pulsing, leading to reduced spermatogenesis and sperm quality.

The presence of stress in a stallion can be deceptive…When we think about stressed horses, we may commonly think of an outwardly anxious horse; a horse who is always alert and ‘on edge’; one who is reactive and sensitive to changes in their environment; who doesn’t settle easily; and who may walk or pace their paddock. Whilst these are all easily recognisable outward signs of stress, a horse can be under significant stress yet paradoxically appear calm and relaxed.

Some less commonly considered sources of stress to our stallions which may impact their fertility include:

• Nutritional deficiencies and/or insufficiencies;
• The side effects of many commonly used medications;
• Irregular feed regimes
• Insufficient grazing and/or provision of roughage in their diet
• Shuttling and extended travel
• Changes in a stallion’s environment
• Pain- some examples include musculoskeletal pain when covering or gastric ulcers
• The presence or absence of other horses in their immediate environment
• Excessively hot environmental conditions

Even the way a stallion is handled can impact his stress levels. On busy studs, it is not uncommon to be in a rush to complete coverings within a certain time frame. If handlers are stressed, anxious, rushing or feeling pressure to complete breeding sessions, this can raise cortisol levels and heart rates in our stallions, leading to a physiological state of stress.

Whilst we certainly can’t control all the factors which contribute to stress in a stallion, there are many aspects which are modifiable through the way we look after and manage our breeding stallions. Furthermore, the strategic use of appropriate nutritional supplements and herbal medicines can help to mitigate some of the negative effects of stress and help improve testosterone levels, sperm count, sperm quality, sperm morphology and progressive forward motility.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Objectives: To describe the successful treatment of two cases of LPE with differing presentations that underwent thorough diagnostic evaluation and failed to respond to conventional therapy. The importance of addressing the gut microbiome- immune system axis is emphasized.

Study design and data collection: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Case details and setting: Case one: a 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with diffuse LPE confirmed by laparoscopic biopsy. Case two: a 12-year-old miniature gelding with diffuse LPE diagnosed by intestinal biopsies and transabdominal ultrasonography. Both horses had undergone repeated extensive physical examinations, gastroscopy (with no lesions evident) as well as complete blood counts and basic metabolic panels. Case two had undergone faecal egg counts and microbial culture. Both horses were resident in Australia. Case one presented with a 15-week history of lethargy and depression, ventral oedema extending from the jaw to the prepuce and daily episodes of mild to severe colic. Colic events were managed with per os administration of flunixin meglumine, but not always successfully. Daily medication consisted of oral dexamethasone, omeprazole and vegetable oil. The horse was also receiving a proprietary GI- specific dietary supplement and had previously been treated with sucralfate. Complications with wound healing following the laparoscopy had necessitated an extended period of hospitalization. Case two presented with sudden onset, profuse watery diarrhoea of 2 years ‘duration; bruxism; intermittent passing of mucus; lethargy and sporadic inappetence for hard feed. At the time of assessment, 8 weeks after LPE diagnosis, the gelding was receiving daily oral doses of dexamethasone, omeprazole and codeine. Previous treatments included a five-day course of benzimidazole followed by single doses of moxidectin and praziquantel; bentonite; yoghurt; oral faecal transplantation; misoprostol; corn oil; psyllium husk; phenylbutazone; sucralfate and antimicrobials (metronidazole and sulfadiazine/trimethoprim).

Intervention: Case one received treatment with an ethanol-based preparation of astragalus, echinacea, chamomile, cramp bark, ginger and liquorice in combination with glutamine, zinc citrate, vitamin D3, slippery elm bark and a multi-strain probiotic. The vegetable oil was stopped immediately. A compound of corydalis, California poppy, valerian and cramp bark was used to manage colic episodes, as required. After 1week, the gelding was weaned off the dexamethasone and omeprazole. The diet was modified to increase dry matter and hard feed meal sizes were reduced while the horse was transitioned to a grain-free diet. Walking exercise was introduced and the owner was encouraged to leave the horse without rugs/ blankets. Case two was administered an ethanol-based blend of goldenseal, meadowsweet, echinacea, corydalis, aniseed and ginger alongside glutamine, zinc citrate, vitamin D3, slippery elm bark and a multi-strain probiotic. Concentrate feed and oaten chaff were withheld temporarily, with lucerne and teff hay quantities increased. Dexamethasone, omeprazole and codeine were gradually curtailed while hand walking was introduced and the pony was left without rugs/blankets.

Results: Case one: 24- h video surveillance confirmed significant reduction in severity and frequency of colic episodes within 2 weeks. The ventral oedema resolved after 4 weeks, with noticeable improvements in perceived energy levels. The gelding has had no recurrence of oedema for 20 months and has been colic-free for 14 months. Competition use has resumed. Case two: within 3 weeks bruxism had ceased, there was a notable improvement in manure density and markedly improved energy levels. After 3 months, faecal output was normal on most days and a grain-free balancer feed and lucerne chaff were introduced, which the pony readily consumed. By 5 months manure density was normal, and has remained so after 2 years.

Main limitations: Biopsies were not repeated after treatment and recovery; efficacy of treatment based on observation of clinical signs; small case numbers.

Conclusion: Chronic LPE, including cases unresponsive to pharmaceutical intervention, can be stabilized and treated successfully by integrating nutraceutical, herbal medicine, dietary and management strategies.

­Ethical animal research: No ethical approval required.

Funding information: None.

Conflict of interest statement: None.

Reference:

Vitale, V. (2022) Inflammatory bowel diseases in horses: What do we know? Equine Vet. Educ. 34, 493–500.  

Published in Equine Veterinary Education Volume 36 | Supplement 13 – Link

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Commonly, the first thing a trainer or owner does is request ‘bloods’ (a full blood count) be taken from the horse. In many cases, a full blood count may yield no significant abnormalities. That however, doesn’t guarantee that a horse is healthy. Nor that the horse isn’t suffering from the lingering consequences of viral infection.

Acute viral pathogens can survive in their latent (inactive) forms driving chronic, and persistent poor performance, impaired recovery and symptoms. This is often not reflected in pathology (blood test) results. Viral infections progress in the body in a multistep process. There is very little that can be done from a pharmaceutical (standard medication) perspective to help a horse recover from post-viral illness.

Fortunately, there are many nutritional supplements and herbal medicines which when employed appropriately, can aid in our horses’ recovery from viral illness. Tailored treatment can aid in promoting optimal health in our horses and help them return to their full athletic potential. Treatment is often targeted at aiding different components of the immune system, whilst concurrently reducing inflammation and supporting antioxidant status.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Whilst we are always aiming to do what is best for our stallions, sometimes commonly used medications, supplements and routine management practices can hinder the very outcomes we are trying to achieve.

One such example is the use of gastric ulcer medications in our stallions- whether for the treatment of existing ulcers or with the belief that the use of such medications will help to prevent gastric ulcers.

The drug omeprazole is considered the gold standard pharmaceutical treatment of equine gastric ulcers- and is the key ingredient of the vast majority of ulcer medications on the market.

Research has demonstrated that omeprazole can reduce male fertility through multiple mechanisms: impaired sperm quality, abnormal sperm morphology, reduced sperm motility and reduced sperm count. Omeprazole may also cause a reduction in serum testosterone levels.

When every pregnancy counts and significant revenue is at stake, critically reviewing the use of such medications should be forefront.

There are other effective alternatives available to aid in healing and/or preventing gastric ulcers in horses. Furthermore, through individualised application, the potential exists to also concurrently significantly enhance stallion fertility and overall health.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

But do probiotics for horses provide any benefit? Do they actually work? And what do we need to be aware of?….

The current research regarding probiotic supplementation in equines is quite limited. Studies have shown mixed results about their use: some probiotics may be beneficial in some cases; some may have adverse effects on the health of our horses. A good example of this is some cases of diarrhoea may be worsened with the use of some types of probiotics.

Yet there are currently so many gaps in our knowledge of the equine gastrointestinal microbiome and so many variables which can influence the effects which probiotics may have in our horses and ponies.

Before using probiotic containing feeds or supplements in our horses, the following points are worth considering.

Some common (yet rarely discussed) limitations/drawbacks of the addition of probiotics for horses in feeds and supplements are:

• Heat exposure. Many (but not all) probiotics for horses are only stable and remain viable within a certain temperature range. If a feed is produced using heat (as many processed feeds are) and the probiotic is exposed to heat during the cooking process, then the probiotic may not survive.

• Similar to the above, certain types of probiotics are incredibly sensitive to temperature. For these types of probiotics, if they are not kept in cool enough conditions (ie refrigeration), then the probiotics may not remain live or viable.

• Before we purchase the probiotic, how do we know the product has been kept in/stored in suitable conditions to allow that probiotic to remain live? Many feeds and supplements sit in warehouses, shipping containers, etc- which are often hot, and in turn, can compromise the integrity and efficacy of the product.

• Many strains of probiotics used in horse products fail to include strain identification. Different strains of probiotics have different therapeutic properties- and don’t necessarily correlate with human probiotic use and benefits.

• Many probiotic products don’t contain a sufficient number of probiotics (furthermore, it is quite common for horse feeds and supplements to not disclose individual counts of probiotics in their products). Without knowing the number of certain strains of probiotics in a product, we don’t have the information necessary to dose the product correctly to be clinically effective.

• Are the probiotics we’re using resistant to stomach acid and bile salts naturally produced by the horse? If not, they have little chance of reaching the hindgut and colonising it adequately.

• Are the probiotics in the formulation able to adhere to the intestinal wall to properly colonise and exert their effects long-term?

• Some probiotics for horses may have the potential to influence the efficacy of certain types of antibiotics.

Whilst probiotics may be beneficial in the prevention, management and/or treatment of specific health conditions in horses, careful consideration needs to be given before using them. Not all probiotics are created equally, and sometimes seemingly innocuous supplements can work against the desired health outcomes we are trying to achieve in our equines.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

But there’s so much more to hoof health than biotin, and if we just focus on one nutrient we miss an important opportunity to help improve not only our horse’s hoof health but their overall health.

It’s also worth remembering that horses with a healthy hindgut microbial population are able to synthesise their own biotin.

Gastrointestinal (GI) health

Poor hoof health can often be indicative of poor gastrointestinal health and/or nutrient deficiencies and/or inadequacies in their diet.

Good gastrointestinal (GI) health in our horses is central to their overall health. The integrity of the cells lining the GI tract, the types and numbers of specific microbes which inhabit the digestive tract and the production of special enzymes within the GI tract all play key roles in many facets of their health.

Long-stem fibre should form the foundation of our horses’ and ponies’ diet: yet fibre intake in many equines falls well below the minimum recommended requirements.  Fibre passes through a horse’s stomach and small intestine undigested, where it reaches the large intestine. Here it undergoes bacterial fermentation by special types of microbes (note: it is normal and healthy for horses to digest fibre in their hindgut, it is not healthy for them to ferment undigested grains and starches). The fermentation of fibre by these microbes results in the production of various substrates important for immune, gastric and nervous system health in our horses. Some of these healthy microbes also produce biotin. A horse with a healthy hindgut microbial population who is fed adequate fibre, can synthesise good levels of biotin needed for hoof health. To read more about the importance of fibre in our horses’ diets, see: Grass, Hay, Fibre and Short Chain Fatty Acids.

Many other nutrients are required for healthy hooves: sufficient quality protein (including adequate amounts of the amino acids lysine, methionine and choline read more about the importance of protein here);  copper; zinc; iodine; calcium; selenium; B group vitamins; vitamin E; vitamin C and vitamin D. Some of these need to be provided in a horse’s diet. Others such as B group vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin D a horse can synthesise if given the right conditions. Simply supplementing biotin alone without ensuring other nutrient needs are met is of limited value. All the aforementioned nutrients also play various key roles in other facets of our horses’ and ponies’ health: fertility; metabolism; immune health; joint and musculoskeletal health; neurological function and behaviour.

Anything that interferes with a healthy GI microflora population in our equines, and/or interferes with the integrity of the cells lining the GI tract, in turn influences nutrient absorption and/or metabolism. Ironically, some of the things which interfere with digestive function are often used to help counteract digestive or other health complaints: gastric ulcer medications; antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids to name a few. To learn more about the influence of ulcer medications in relation to the overall health of our horses, visit: Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work.

It’s worth considering the aforementioned aspects before trying to solve an issue such as poor hoof health by adding more supplements to a horse’s diet. If a horse or pony isn’t consuming sufficient fibre or nutrients, and/or is unable to properly digest, absorb or utilise specific nutrients, then adding more supplements to their diet is unlikely to provide an effective solution to the issue at hand.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The availability and use of antimicrobial herbal and pharmaceutical medicines gives us the ability to help our equines live longer, healthier lives. If we want this to continue, however, we need to be incredibly judicious in how we use these treatments.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. Using antimicrobial drugs inappropriately or unnecessarily increases AMR. This means that antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective in helping our horses in conditions they were once effective in helping to resolve.  This can mean that when our horses actually genuinely need such medications to help, our options are more limited.

The largest contributor to AMR is overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents. It can be quite easy to accidentally fall into the trap of using such medications without stopping to give thought to what we are actually doing. For example, we give our horses antibiotics unnecessarily, such as in the case of a horse with a snotty nose (viral infection), which we want to ‘treat’ with antibiotics. Antibiotics are ineffective in the case of viral infections. Or when we routinely deworm our horses on a seasonal basis as opposed to employing strategic deworming, faecal egg sampling and pasture management methods (for example regularly picking up manure, harrowing and/or rotating paddocks). To learn more about deworming, see the article: Drenching/Deworming with Panacur.

In some parts of the world (such as Australia and New Zealand), the use of feed supplements that contain antibiotics is a real concern. An example of this is a product which claims to assist in helping prevent laminitis (claims which are not supported in many other parts of the world) Laminitis ‘Prevention’- But at what cost? Even something as innocent as using anti-fungal washes on any skin condition that we may see on our horses and ponies increases the risk of AMR.

Starting with sound animal husbandry practices such as feeding our horses well-balanced diets which meet key nutrient requirements Nutrient Requirements for Horses: Fortified Feeds and the need for Supplementation; employing good pasture management and stable hygiene practices; avoiding self-prescribing for our horses ‘just-in-case’; and disposing of unused antibiotics and anti-fungals appropriately are all really good places to start to help reduce AMR.

In many instances, appropriately applied and selected nutritional supplements and herbal medicines can be used to effectively prevent, treat or manage health challenges in our equines: sometimes used as stand-alone therapies, other times used in conjunction with standard medications. In both cases, they can help to significantly reduce AMR.

We can also be mindful not to pressure our vets to prescribe medications when they don’t feel it is necessary for our horses and ponies. This is in the best interests of not only our equines, but all animals and humans for the long term.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

For the owner or rider considering taking on an OTTB, careful thought and planning should go into ensuring that the transition from the life of a racehorse to the next phase of the horse’s career is as smooth as possible. Some of the biggest considerations need to be given to changes in the horse’s diet, routine and optimising health parameters. Equipping yourself with knowledge and enlisting the help of suitably qualified professionals can help to realise your horse’s full potential.

Goals and Capabilities as a Rider/Handler

Before even inspecting an OTTB for potential purchase, clearly know what you are wanting in your new horse and your capabilities as a rider. Are you looking for a future show hack with impeccable conformation and looks? Are you looking for a pony club mount that needs to be calm and versatile? Are you looking for a horse with the potential to be a top-class eventer, thereby needing to be very sound, athletic and able to withstand high levels of training? Are you looking to get a cheap yet athletic horse to re-educate and sell on? Knowing the answers to these questions will quickly help to narrow down the horses you inspect for potential purchase and look to undertake a pre-purchase veterinary examination. By clearly knowing your goals, you can save yourself a lot of time and money and are far more likely to choose the most suitable horse.

When taking on an OTTB (particularly one that has come straight from a racing stable environment), honestly assessing your capabilities as a rider is critical. Are you confident and competent enough to safely and effectively manage and deal with an anxious, highly geared horse (whose temperament may or may not change significantly whilst in your care)? Or are you better suited to taking on a more relaxed OTTB or even one that has been off the track for some time and has spent time being re-educated with a different owner? One of the many beauties of OTTBs is that there are so many to choose from and at many different life and career stages- you are bound to find one that suits you perfectly! Be patient and choose wisely.

Vet Check

One of the first things to consider (and often most overlooked) when purchasing an OTTB is getting a thorough vet examination prior to purchase. Musculoskeletal soundness and airway health are two of the most significant considerations. Just like human athletes, racehorses’ bodies are put under strenuous physical demands, with the potential to develop injuries. Due to the hard galloping done by many young horses in training, considerable stress is put on bones, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to soundness issues. A thorough vet examination can help to identify previous injuries or any potential issues which may influence the ability of the horse to be suitable for its intended next career. On radiographic screening (x-ray), many racehorses will have some degree of osteoarthritic changes in their joints. With planning, sound dietary practices and the strategic use of appropriate supplements and management interventions, many of these conditions can be well managed. Furthermore, the fact that many OTTBs transition into their next careers at a relatively young age is advantageous. From a physiological perspective, when given suitable nutrition and support, their body is better able to repair and regenerate than an older horse. Referring back to your goals and what you intend to do with your OTTB is an important consideration here. A past injury in a racehorse which may prevent it from high-level eventing may pose no issues for a horse intended for general pleasure riding.

Suboptimal hoof health is a common finding in the newly transitioning OTTB. This is often due to a combination of poor gastrointestinal (GIT) health (which influences nutrient absorption and the production of essential vitamins such as biotin needed for sound, healthy hooves). For more information on the role of GIT in overall health and the role of nutrition in hoof health see articles: Fibre, Chewing and Gastrointestinal Health; Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work; Hay, Stomach (Gastric) & Hindgut (Colonic) Ulcers; and Beyond Biotin: Optimising Horse Hoof Health.

Routinely being shod in race plates can also compound the problem of poor hoof structure and health. Many racehorses have contracted hooves with under-run heels, long toes and thin soles. Encouragingly, hoof health is an aspect that can readily be turned around in a period of around 8-12 months with appropriate dietary changes and good farriery. Including radiographs of the hooves as part of the pre-purchase examination may be a valuable investment in some horses: x-rays can help to demonstrate what is going on in the hoof and can aid the proactive farrier to trim, shoe and manage the hoof appropriately.

It is important to remember that often racehorses in training will initially go footsore when their shoes are removed and they are left barefoot during a spell. This is especially true of the front feet. Some farriers and owners will choose to keep their horses in shoes. In many cases however, it is advisable for the spelling horse to have an extended period of time being unshod: this helps to positively influence hoof shape and integrity and aids in proper circulation and blood flow to the hooves. Feeding the horse a diet which reduces inflammation, using nutritional supplements (nutraceuticals) and herbal medicine under qualified supervision, and potentially easing the transition to barefoot through the use of padded, removable boots are all beneficial strategies.

Another aspect of the pre-purchase examination should also include an upper airway scope. Respiratory conditions which may be evident when assessing an OTTB include a history of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH, more commonly known as bleeding), airway inflammatory disease, and laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring). The first two can generally be well managed with appropriate feeding and supplementation practices and adopting strategies to minimise the inhalation of air particulate matter and dust.

History

Where possible, finding out as much history about the horse as possible can help to make a smooth transition to the next phase of its career. For a horse coming straight off the track, contact with the trainer and/or stable manager can help provide you with valuable information as to any health or injury concerns with the horse, the dates it was last vaccinated and drenched (de-wormed), any medications and/or supplements it may have been receiving, its current diet and any quirks, habits or temperament considerations to take into account. Having said this, it is also important to remember that when a horse is put in a new environment, some of the aforementioned things may change! For example, a horse that was previously often irritable can become much calmer with a more natural diet and living environment. Similarly, horses which may have been very picky eaters whilst in training often become very good eaters once their GIT health has improved and the stress of the training environment has been removed.

Diet

The majority of diets fed to thoroughbreds in training are not conducive to optimal GIT health and function. Practices vary between trainers and stables, but most often, horses in training are fed two or three large grain and/or concentrate-based meals per day. Grass and/or lucerne hay are often provided in limited amounts. Many trainers do not have the luxury of turning horses out to graze. This puts the horse’s digestive system under strain and increases the likelihood of many health issues including ulceration throughout the GIT (gastric and colonic ulcers), colic, disturbances in the GIT microflora (bacterial balance of the digestive system), hindgut acidosis, suboptimal ability to utilise feed properly and nutritional deficiencies/insufficiencies. The addition of high cortisol levels produced by the horse in response to stress and high-intensity exercise further compromises GIT health and digestive function. To read more about the contributors and effects of stress in our horses see: Stress in Horses: Why it isn’t always obvious.

Horses, by nature, are designed to be constantly moving about and grazing high-fibre roughage. This is important as the stomach of the horse is relatively small in volume and has little capacity to expand. As a result, small amounts of feed which are consumed often are digested much better than the large volume feeds given a couple of times per day. The constant grazing a horse does in its natural environment also ensures that there is a physical buffer in the stomach to protect against the breakdown action of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. These substances are constantly produced in the horse and are essential for proper digestion, as well as immune function. To read more, visit: Ulcers in Horses: The importance of understanding how medications work. Grazing and chewing also stimulate the production of saliva. Saliva serves many important functions in the horse, including releasing bicarbonate ions into the stomach (which also protects the stomach lining, another smart natural mechanism of the horse to protect against ulcers). To learn more about the benefits of grazing, visit: Why Basics Matter: The Importance of Chewing.

Sudden changes in feeding practices (even those that are beneficial to the horse) can increase the risk of colic and other complications. This is thought to be largely attributed to rapid changes in GIT microflora in response to the feed offered. Finding out the horse’s current diet prior to purchasing can help to make smooth transitions to a more fibre-rich feed, whilst ensuring the gut microflora change at an appropriate rate. It is advisable to make the transition of feeds gradual (over a period of 12-14 days) to help best facilitate this.

Whilst horses who come directly out of training will have been maintained on high-energy rations, their relative energy needs during their initial transition into an OTTB will be much lower. Furthermore, if GIT health is optimised as part of their transition (through feeding, management practices and appropriate supplementation), they will be better able to use fibre rich feeds (ie pasture and hay) as energy sources. This is made possible through bacterial fermentation in the hind gut (helpful microbes in the large intestine break fibre down into short-chain/volatile fatty acids, a high source of energy for the horse). It is important to remember that whilst a horse’s actual energy needs may be much lower than when they were in training, their need for specific minerals, vitamins and protein may remain relatively high. Without the excess demands of training and racing the body is in a prime position to help address and heal any niggling injuries, musculoskeletal damage or immune health challenges. To find out more about nutrient requirements and the role of protein for horses visit Nutrient Requirements for Horses: Fortified Feeds and the need for Supplementation; The Importance of Protein. These are commonplace in any athlete involved in demanding sports. To facilitate optimal healing and health, is essential to ensure that the OTTB receives at a minimum the recommended dietary intake of minerals and vitamins, in addition to good quality protein sources. A good quality balancer feed or supplement, in the addition to sufficient pasture, hay and lucerne hay (where appropriate) will help to meet these needs.

Some people find challenges in putting condition on their OTTB and/or the horse being picky with their feed. This is most often due to irritation of GIT, use of ulcer medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ‘bute’ (PBZ), and the diet racehorses are commonly maintained on,. These factors can all significantly compromise gut integrity and health. Add to this the stress of a new environment and the change in the horse’s routine and it can take a little time for the horse to adjust. Whilst the prescription of appropriate nutritional and herbal supplementation can help immensely in these cases, basic management practices including turning the horse out to graze, the provision of sufficient roughage (hay, pasture), and keeping the OTTB  with a sensible paddock mate are all effective starting points owners are encouraged to implement. One of the most common mistakes that can be made when wanting to put weight on a newly acquired OTTB is to continually increase the ration of grain or high-energy concentrate feed, without the provision of sufficient roughage and fibre. This contributes to additional compromises in the integrity of the GIT lining and further shifting the hindgut microflora away from that which promotes the best utilisation of feed and energy. As a result, the cycle of struggling to gain weight is perpetuated, and often leads to frustration as the horse seems to take an extended period of time to ‘let down’ and gain condition. To read more about horse’s who struggle to put on condition, visit the article: HELP! My horse won’t put on body condition.

Down Time

One of the best things you can do as an owner of a newly transitioning OTTB is give it some much needed ‘down time’. The majority of racing stable environments are far removed from what is a natural for the horse. Like humans constantly under work deadlines, family demands and everyday pressures, horses too routinely experience stress. This stress is manifested in many forms, primarily driven by changes in levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can lead to reduced immune function, high levels of inflammation, changes in temperament and behaviour, and reduced capacity to recover). Additionally, the constant physical demands of training and racing can lead to ongoing musculoskeletal ‘niggles’- aches, pains and minor injuries. A period of 4-8 weeks, turned out in the paddock, fed a fibre-rich diet, and not in the demands of work or being fussed with is one of the most beneficial things you can do to help the newly transitioned OTTB. It helps the horse to mentally wind-down, aids in the restoration of GIT health, gives any small niggles the chance to heal, and lets the horse settle into a new environment and freshen up. Just like humans, horses too need holidays. Simply giving them time out before asking new demands from them in their new career, can help them get off to the best start. 

Temperament

A significant (and often highly variable and unpredictable) consideration in the OTTB is temperament. This can be a challenge when acquiring a new horse, as it is difficult to know exactly how much is ingrained behaviour and the horse’s natural tendency, compared to how much it is a result of the environment the horse has been in, the feeding practices and GIT health. An important consideration to note is that 70-80% of the neurotransmitters (the chemicals which influence mood, temperament, behaviour and learning) are produced in the GIT. There are clear links between GIT health and levels of anxiety, mood changes and behaviour. This is useful to take into account: an OTTB which has struggled with compromised gut health in training and may be nervous, edgy or readily spook can change significantly when GIT health is addressed. A combination of appropriate supplementation and feeding, combined with appropriate ‘down time’ can really significantly impact the behaviour of an OTTB for the better. It routinely plays a role in why many horses that are temperamental/nervy/anxious in training become more relaxed away from the stable environment. Keep in mind too, that the actual environment the horse is kept in also plays an important role.

Monitoring and Progress

From a basic health standpoint, once the new OTTB has arrived and settled, it is wise to measure temperature, respiratory and heart rates at roughly the same time each day for a week to establish what is ‘normal’ for your horse. Record these and keep on hand (using the notes section on your mobile phone can be great, otherwise written on a whiteboard or somewhere easily accessible). This information is incredibly helpful in the instance that your horse may become unwell: you know what is ‘normal’ and healthy for your horse, helping to implement appropriate strategies in a timely fashion.

Taking photos of your horse from the side and back (safely), on a fortnightly or monthly basis is a simple tool to monitor body composition changes and progress. The same thing can be done with their hooves front and side-on, in addition to picking the hoof up and taking pictures of the sole and frog. It can be incredibly rewarding to look back over a 4-6 week period and notice the subtle improvement in body condition. Horses can make significant progress in gradual increments, which may be missed when you are seeing the horse on a daily basis. By having photo evidence on hand, you are able to make a more objective assessment. Keep in mind that changes in hoof shape and quality will be much slower to notice: front hooves take a full 8-12 months to grow from the coronary band to the toe.

The majority of horses in training are maintained on a routine drenching (deworming) schedule. Given our current state of understanding in relation to resistance to worming products, it makes sense to adopt a strategic drenching approach. In order to implement this safely and effectively, taking routine faecal samples to be sent off for testing are encouraged. Doing this at the commencement of ownership can help to provide guidance to the most effective drenching requirements of your horse. For more information on drenching/deworming visit the article Drenching/Deworming with Panacur.

Conclusion

Like most worthwhile things in life, effectively transitioning a racehorse to an accomplished OTTB takes time and patience! Knowing your capabilities as a rider and having clear goals as to what you want to achieve with your new mount are important starting points. Enlisting the expertise of suitably qualified professionals and equipping yourself with the knowledge of best practices can help make for a smooth and rewarding journey. Choosing an OTTB can make for one of the most gratifying experiences as a horse owner and rider. Careful consideration, planning and attention to detail can ensure you give your horse every chance to excel in its new phase of life.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The cause(s) of IBD are not fully understood, however, it is thought that abnormal immune responses to bacterial, viral, parasitic, and/or dietary antigens play a key role. 

One such dietary allergen which has been highlighted is gluten, a protein which causes intestinal damage to people who suffer from coeliac disease. In recent years, gliadin (a component of gluten) has been reported to increase the permeability of the small intestinal mucosa and cause concurrent intestinal inflammation associated with IBD in the horse.

The key takeaway points from this are that diet can and does play an essential role in the health of the horse- beyond merely providing energy to fuel their work, growth and metabolic processes. 
As with any health condition in the horse (especially IBD), diet needs to be addressed for effective treatment/management of the condition in the horse. If the allergen remains in the diet, then inflammation and intestinal damage persists, despite treatment.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Providing our horses and ponies with multi mineral licks (also often referred to as balancer licks, mineral blocks, vitamin licks, etc) may appear to be an easy solution to this, with the belief that horses who have access to them will have their basic daily mineral and vitamin needs met. It is common to be under the impression that horses will consume these licks in accordance to their needs.

If only it was so simple!

With the exception of salt, there is very little research to suggest that horses seek out specific minerals in accordance to what their body needs. Most horses seek to consume these licks due to the flavours or sweeteners added, or out of boredom.

We can’t control how much of these licks our horses consume, nor can we accurately measure their mineral intake from the consumption of these. Some horses may fall well short of key mineral requirements if we rely on them to consume mineral blocks to meet their needs. Other horses who consume the licks more readily may have an excessive intake of particular nutrients. It’s important to be aware that consuming excessively high levels of particular minerals can have health effects just as undesirable as consuming inadequate amounts of specific minerals.

If horses are indeed being driven to consume the lick due to a need of more salt in their diet, then no control exists over the quantities of the other minerals they are ingesting, as the very nature of these products combines all minerals in a set formulation.

Whilst mineral licks often look and smell appealing to us, this is commonly attributed to them containing dyes, fillers and sweeteners: things we don’t want to be feeding our horses. Another drawback of their use are the adverse effects they can have on a horse’s dentition. Many horses grind the blocks down with their teeth. This can result in unhealthy wear and damage to their teeth.

Whilst ensuring our horses’ and ponies’ have their baseline mineral and vitamin needs met, using mineral licks is unlikely to be very helpful in achieving this. A much better and more accurate way to meet and gauge our horses’ intakes of key essential nutrients is to feed a high quality and suitably formulated balancer feed, fortified feed or mineral supplement. These should be fed in appropriate quantities to meet the individual horse’s daily needs in relation to age, workload and reproductive stage (if applicable).

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

In many cases, the source of pain in our horses can be diagnosed and attributed to a specific injury or degenerative process such as osteoarthritis. Yet the pain itself rarely occurs in isolation. Other physiological changes occur which influence the sensations our horses experience and their perception of pain.

In the case of acute injury in our horses (think muscle, tendon or ligament damage) there is associated inflammation and commonly oedema (swelling). There are also changes in the types and balances of neurotransmitters produced (chemicals which influence temperament, mood, behaviour and pain perception) and alterations in cortisol levels. These initial changes occur to help the body facilitate healing of the damaged tissue- and to a certain extent are desirable and necessary.

When injury or inflammation becomes prolonged however, the body’s responses become dysregulated. What started out as a normal healing response becomes dysfunctional and can lead to chronic pain and tissue degeneration. Further alterations in neurotransmitter production and function occur- resulting in heightened pain perception in our horses. There is often a concurrent increased production of neurotransmitters associated with anxiety: think of the horse in pain who is always on edge. The anxiety experienced with chronic pain can lead to the experience of greater pain intensity: physiologic changes within the neurological system cause a phenomenon of central sensitisation to pain. Furthermore, stress and anxiety can promote the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, which cause further damage to tissue and more pain.

Contrastingly, it is common to see horses in chronic pain who experience depression. These are the horses which become withdrawn. The ones who you can look at their eye and know they are not ok. As a result of chronic pain, neural pathways in the brain change. Even when tissue damage is resolved, our horses can still experience real pain. The use of NSAIDs cannot help with this.

In the case of injuries- particularly those that are long-standing, horses can ‘guard’ the painful area, hold excessive tension in muscle, fascia and other tissues and change their biomechanics and movement patterns to cope with the pain. Appropriate body work and rehabilitation exercises are an important part of an integrated approach to help facilitate healing and prevent further compensation or injury moving forward.

Pain and inflammation may contribute to certain nutritional deficiencies and/or insufficiencies in our horses and ponies. This is particularly true of chronic pain. Both excesses and insufficiencies of specific nutrients can also increase pain perception and inflammation and are a key consideration to address.

Whilst providing appropriate pain relief is absolutely paramount when indicated, it is important to remember that in many cases, the use of anti-inflammatories alone will not adequately address all the causes of the pain. We also need to be aware of the changes these drugs make to the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract and associated microflora, which in turn influence inflammation, pain perception and systemic health (to read more see articles: Inflammation & Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories in Horses; Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Recovery). 

Effectively helping horses or ponies in pain, particularly long-standing or chronic pain should encompass a multi-faceted approach. Addressing neural pathway involvement should be a primary consideration, in addition to identifying and rectifying imbalances in specific neurotransmitters. Appropriately prescribed herbal medicines and nutraceuticals can help to facilitate this. The role of nutrition in the equine suffering from pain is also important: ensuring that no nutritional excesses, deficiencies, or insufficiencies are increasing their pain experience. Where appropriate, body work and rehabilitation exercises should also be incorporated. Unless the causes of pain are properly addressed, our horses will potentially continue to go through the cycles of discomfort. Understanding how and why the pain has occurred is important to help effectively treat and resolve it.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

What we know from current research is that simply giving our horses tryptophan as a supplement doesn’t help promote calm behaviour- in fact, it may do the very opposite. Low doses of tryptophan given to horses actually promotes excitement, whilst high doses have been shown to reduce endurance capacity and cause haemolytic anaemia. In either case, hardly helping with overall health and performance.

The reasons for the effects of tryptophan supplementation on horses are likely multifaceted. We know that responses to tryptophan are species dependent- whilst it can be helpful in humans and some animal species, the same cannot be said for horses.

It is important to remember that very few nutrients act in isolation. For tryptophan to be converted to serotonin, it has to go through several metabolic processes. Each of these processes requires key nutrients to facilitate the conversion. Without sufficient nutrient levels and good gastrointestinal health to facilitate this, the conversion and metabolism of tryptophan are effected.

We also need to remember, like many facets of health- there is a sweet spot between not too little and not too much. The same is true for serotonin- too little, and our horses can be anxious, too much and they can become agitated.

The take-home message is that whilst some supplements can be incredibly useful, not all are. We can better promote healthy neurotransmitter levels (such as serotonin) by ensuring our horses are receiving a balanced diet providing all key nutrients in appropriate quantities and forms. Additionally, we want to ensure that we’re promoting optimal gastrointestinal health, as this in turn helps to facilitate both healthy nutrient production and neurotransmitter levels.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Horses and ponies are able to synthesise (make) their own vitamin B12 when they have a healthy balance of hindgut microflora, sufficient fibre in their diet and a suitable mineral intake- particularly adequate dietary cobalt.

What is commonly overlooked is the fact that injectable vitamin B12 is rapidly and nearly completely excreted via bile into a horse’s manure. In essence- they can’t use or absorb this form of B12…it just makes for expensive poo!

Having a healthy digestive system is incredibly important in our horses and ponies to promote many facets of their health: good hoof quality and growth, optimal metabolic and immune function, the production of neurotransmitters (natural chemicals) which help to promote calm behaviour and reducing inflammation.

The production of optimal levels of vitamin B12 to aid in athletic performance are just another reason why we need to focus on sound feeding and management practices and the judicious use of medications in order to promote good gastrointestinal and overall health. It is also an important reminder that we often just can’t out supplement poor dietary practices.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The horse or pony prone to laminitis can be a challenge to keep healthy. Poorly managed or severe episodes of laminitis can lead to devastating consequences. Diligence and modification to the diet and management regime of a horse or pony at risk of or with laminitis are required to prevent further deterioration or episodes of the condition and keep the equine in the best health possible. If a supplement on the market claimed to prevent acute episodes of feed related laminitis AND didn’t require changes in the way we feed and manage our horses and ponies, then surely that would be great? On the surface, maybe, but when we understand about HOW such a product possibly prevents laminitis and the potential long-term health repercussions, then stopping to reconsider its use is certainly warranted. Especially when one of the leading equine veterinary authorities in the world completely ban its use.

One widely promoted and used product on the market contains the active ingredient Virginiamycin. Virginiamycin is an ANTIBIOTIC.

It is well known, researched and demonstrated that antibiotics have an adverse impact on gut health through several mechanisms. They kill off not only ‘bad’ but ‘good’ bacteria which play many essential roles in our horses’ and ponies’ digestive systems. Amongst other functions, these healthful bacteria help to break down the fibre in hay and roughage to produce ‘cool’ energy for our horses; they produce substances which play a role in preserving the lining of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) helping to reduce inflammation and protect against ulceration; they produce B group vitamins, biotin and vitamin K- essential for energy production, hoof health, reproductive health, bone health and strength, and recovery from exercise to name a few; they are intimately involved in the production of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers which influence our horses’ moods, temperament, behaviour, gut motility, etc); and these helpful bacteria also play a crucial role in proper and healthy immune function. Furthermore, compositions of specific ‘good’ GIT microflora have been shown to play an important role in metabolism, blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity: all which may have a protective effect in the horse or pony at risk of insulin resistance (IR) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). It is well known that horses with IR and/or EMS are at an increased risk of laminitis.

Antibiotics are also known to increase intestinal paracellular permeability and promote intestinal barrier dysfunction- sometimes referred to as ‘leaky gut’. Episodes of laminitis are commonly a sequelae of the above.

Through the use of antibiotics, bacteria (both ‘good’ and ‘bad’) are kept in check (although with increasing antibiotic use and levels of antimicrobial resistance eliminating the ‘bad’ bacteria is becoming increasingly more difficult) thereby keeping some of the triggering factors to laminitis episodes at bay.

We KNOW that diet has a significant influence in the majority of cases of laminitis. We also know that the integrity of the GIT lining also plays a paramount role. In horses with poor digestive health (which is common and can be caused by many factors- visit the Articles section on Optim Equine’s website to read more) high grain/carbohydrate diets have been shown to change bacterial populations (to non-favourable bacteria) in the hindgut. These bacteria produce lactic acid through fermentation, damaging the GIT lining and contributing to a cascade of events that can result in laminitis. In theory, as long as the horse is kept on this antibiotic, rapid shifts in gut microflora which may precede laminitis are less likely to occur. Therefore helping to ‘prevent’ it.

There are a few issues with this. The constant use of antibiotics actually impairs the integrity of the gut lining through several mechanisms. One of the many supportive roles of ‘healthy’ bacteria are to protect and promote a healthy GIT lining. Part of this mechanism involves reducing intestinal inflammation.

Secondly, when a horse comes off the ‘supplement’ (medication) unless strategic dietary practices are implemented, the microflora balance will more likely default to an unhealthy one as a consequence of the use of antibiotics…thereby actually further increasing their risk of future episodes of laminitis than before they were on the supplement in the first place. Keep in mind too that antibiotics also degrade the protective barrier function of the intestinal lining. 

Then we’ve got the nutritional consequences as a result in shifts in GIT microflora. Horses on antibiotics are now lacking the beneficial bacteria to help them properly digest and utilise fibre as an energy source, in addition to the myriad of roles those healthy bacteria play in overall health and performance as outlined previously.

Virginiamycin has been completely banned for animal use in the UK since 2014. This alone should ring alarm bells! The antibiotic was banned as it posed a risk to increased development of antimicrobial resistance. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) also found no robust evidence that Founderguard prevents laminitis. They supported that this condition can be managed though animal husbandry and pasture management. They declared the use of Founderguard in horses no longer justified. Globally, we need to recognise the very real problem of antimicrobial resistance and responsible prescribing of antimicrobials in the veterinary profession. As the pathology which drives laminitis is not caused by bacterial infection, we must ask ourselves is the use of antibiotics in this instance responsible? 

We have the opportunity to support healthy GIT microflora, promote healthy GIT integrity and feed our horses so they are able to perform at their best and be in the best of overall health and help prevent laminitis. This is largely dependent not only what we feed our horses, but how we feed them too. It also involves looking at the way we use routine medications in our horses and incorporating alternative strategies to minimise unnecessary use and addressing the side effects they cause when they are required…

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Selenium is a nutrient which has a relatively low safe upper limit range. High intakes (through diet and/or supplementation) can result in toxicity and even death in severe cases.

Many parts of the world have soils that are notoriously deficient in selenium- and thus the pastures and feeds grown for horses in them are also low in selenium. This has led to selenium being a commonly added mineral to horse feeds and many supplements.

Selenium comes in two main forms: organic and inorganic. Organic selenium has been demonstrated to have superior absorption, tissue uptake and ability to enhance antioxidant status compared to inorganic selenium. This is attributed to selenomethionine, the effective organic part of organic selenium.

One of the most popular sources of selenium used in horse feeds and supplements is selenium yeast (produced by them is the micro-organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Although selenium yeast contains high levels of organic selenium, not all of it is in the form of selenomethionine. Research has demonstrated that there are significant limitations in using selenium yeast to help achieve good selenium uptake and stores in the body. Although the product should in theory contain a certain amount of organic selenium on paper, the actual amount of organic selenium in the form of selenomethionine provided by selenium-containing yeast is often far less. A large percentage of the selenium provided by selenium-containing yeast is in a poorly absorbed inorganic form. This means that your horse is potentially utilising much less selenium than what is written on the label and may well be falling short of their requirements. Not all feeds and supplements use this form of selenium- so it is incredibly valuable to ascertain not only the amount of selenium in a product but also the form it is in. Seemingly minor details in feed and supplement formulations can have profound influences on our horse’s health and wellbeing.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Successful rehabilitation should certainly address physical aspects (farriery, bodywork, laser and other therapies where appropriate), management factors (restricted turnout, etc if relevant) and graduated exercise and training. Yet one of the most influential factors in a horse’s successful recovery is its nutrition- something which is often given very little consideration.

One of the primary concerns for many owners, trainers and riders are to stop their injured horse from getting overly fat- particularly in an extended layoff. As a result, many people understandably cut their horse’s feed right back. However, during the initial phases of healing post-injury- a horse’s energy and nutrient requirements are actually elevated. Healing of the body is an energy-requiring process. Structurally, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments need specific nutrients to ensure their optimal repair and integrity.  Thus, drastically cutting both their energy and nutrient intake can significantly impair, delay or compromise healing. It is important to note, however, that a horse’s energy and nutrient requirements will change throughout its recovery. After the initial phases of healing have occurred, there is generally a decrease in energy needs. Depending on the type of injury, nutrient needs (for example certain minerals, vitamins and specific nutraceuticals) often remain elevated beyond normal.  This is where it is important to adjust a horse’s diet so that it still receives proper nutrition for continued good health, whilst also ensuring that it doesn’t get too heavy. In terms of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly of the lower limbs, weight is an important factor. More weight equates to more force going through the limbs, which can compromise healing. A healthy balance needs to be achieved between appropriate weight given the phase of recovery, whilst ensuring optimal nutritional intake.

Nutritional requirements are further compounded by the medications used in many cases of illness or injuries in our horses. Anti-Inflammatory drugs including NSAIDs such as phenylbutazone (‘bute’) and flunixin interfere with our horse’s ability to synthesise B group vitamins (including biotin) and vitamin K (essential for proper bone and connective tissue healing). They also adversely impact a horse’s gut microflora, which in turn is likely to result in increased production of inflammatory mediators (thus more inflammation, despite the use of anti-inflammatories). The effects of corticosteroids on nutritional status are more complex than NSAIDs: they are known to reduce the absorption and/or increase the excretion and/or impact on the metabolism of important nutrients essential for optimal healing. Some of these nutrients include magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium and selenium.

Antibiotics also significantly influence the nutritional status of the horse. Through changes in gut microflora in the horse- the production of B group vitamins and vitamin K are compromised. Some classes of antibiotics also interfere with the normal metabolism of vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Similar to NSAIDs, they may also influence the production of inflammatory mediators through changes in gut microflora.

Ulcer treatments are another commonly used medication in the horse recovering from illness or injury.  Those containing key active constituents of omeprazole (the ‘gold standard’ ulcer medications on the market) or ranitidine, drastically reduce the uptake of minerals essential for healing- including calcium and magnesium. These medications also may influence the production of inflammatory mediators: their mechanism of halting or drastically reducing hydrochloric acid production significantly changes the environment needed to promote healthy gut microflora in the horse.

So the effect of such medications during injury or illness is a double whammy: a horse already has increased nutrient requirements to properly heal AND many of these critical nutrients are at decreased levels because of the use of such medications.

Whilst pharmaceutical drugs are certainly indicated in the recovery from many illnesses and injuries, their use needs to be judicious. When they are used, the appropriate supplementation of specific nutrients is critical to firstly compensate for what is altered through medication use, and secondly to meet the body’s elevated needs of certain nutrients essential for optimal healing.

Illness or injury in the horse can be used as a most valuable opportunity to review your horse’s feeding, supplementation, management and riding practices. Whilst many injuries and accidents are unavoidable- there are plenty where appropriate dietary and supplementation practices tailored to the individual horse may have helped to prevent or reduce the severity of the setback. The same may be said of the review of medications used in the horse where relevant. These factors, combined with appropriately structured training and competition (which includes ‘down periods’ and rest days), farriery, and bodywork are keys to keeping our horses healthy, sound and well.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Many regions in the world have low iodine levels in the soil. Iodine deficient soils are most common in inland regions, mountainous areas, land that frequently floods, and on occasion, some coastal regions. Unless horse diets are adequately supplemented, horses that graze on pastures in these regions and/or consume hay and feed crops grown in these areas, are likely to fall well short of their minimal iodine requirements. Research has also demonstrated reduced uptake of iodine by pastures which have been grown with high levels of nitrogen fertilisers, even in soils with otherwise reasonable iodine levels.

Like many minerals however, too much iodine can be just as problematic as too little iodine. This can easily occur when our horses are given multiple supplements, and/or feeding inappropriate quantities of fortified feeds. An innocent mistake commonly made in relation to iodine supplementation is the use of seaweed supplements. In many cases, this can result in excessive iodine intake.

Many clinical signs and health consequences of iodine excess often mimic those of iodine deficiency. An important reminder that more is not better, and supplementing without taking specific details into account can be detrimental to horse health, fertility, metabolic function, growth and development.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The Oestrus Cycle in the Mare

Horses are seasonal breeders: that is, they are programmed to mate and become pregnant at certain times of the year. Over the winter months, the majority of mares (particularly those in temperate climates) are anoestrus- meaning they don’t cycle. As daylight hours increase over the spring and leading into the summer, hormonal changes occur in the body, acting as a stimulus for them to become reproductively active. Nutrition and climate also play an important role in influencing a mare’s oestrus cycle. Some mares appear to cycle all-year round (this is more likely in far-north Australia).

Early in spring, as a mare transitions from aneostrus to cycling, the timing of when she comes into heat may be prolonged or erratic, with accompanying unpredictable behaviour. As the season progresses, the mare’s cycle should become more regular: having three week cycles. The average oestrus cycle of a mare is 21 days, which can be divided into two distinct phases: the oestrous phase (when a mare is ‘in heat’ and receptive to a stallion; and the dioestrous phase (when a mare is generally not receptive to a stallion). The oestrous phase usually lasts somewhere between 5-7days. At this time, the hormone oestrogen is at a high level, and this is the period often associated with changes in behaviour in susceptible mares. The dioestrous phase is generally lasts for 14-16 days, characterised by high levels of the hormone progesterone and a mare generally having little or no receptivity to a stallion.

It is these two female sex hormones- oestrogen and progesterone which strongly influence behaviour patterns demonstrated by many mares and fillies during the breeding season. Most commonly, a mare who is susceptible to displaying ‘mareish’ behaviour will demonstrate this behaviour during the oestrous phase, in associating with elevated oestrogen levels. It is important to remember though that there are always exceptions to this- especially in mare’s/fillies who have erratic cycles.

Important Considerations

Before concluding that a mare or filly’s behaviour patterns are purely related to her oestrus cycle, it is important to ensure that there are no significant other contributing factors. As in all animals, horse behaviour is comprised of several components, including: innate (genetic); learned (environmental); pain-associated behaviour; and sexual (hormonal). Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember that some behavioural problems are the results of genetics, injury/illness, poor training and/or past bad experiences.

Additionally, some diseases can result in behaviour that appears very similar to what many mares experience during the breeding cycle. An ovarian tumour can cause consistently high levels of oestrogen, which may cause the mare to be constantly ‘in season’. Bladder infections can cause a mare to raise her tail and urinate frequently; and injury, nerve impingement or arthritis in the spine or hind legs can result in a mare frequently squatting down. These are all signs that may be typical of a mare in season, with only subtle differences. For these reasons, ongoing behavioural issues should be thoroughly investigated by a vet to rule out illness or injury.

Natural strategies and treatments to managing behaviour in the oestrous cycle

For the healthy mare whose signs are purely related to hormonal changes (having excluded other conditions/reasons mentioned above), there are many useful dietary, nutritional and herbal strategies which can be employed.

It is of upmost importance to remind owners/riders of mares and fillies that many of these horses who experience sensitivity to physical touch during their cycle are actually experiencing some degree of pain or cramping, similar to many human women! Hence some care and compassion are called for, and appropriately addressing and rectifying this through the use of nutritional and herbal strategies is invaluable.

Dietary and  management strategies aim at reducing excessive oestrogen levels during the oestrous period- thereby helping to reduce classic signs associated with the dominance of this hormone. Keeping a mare at a healthy weight and avoiding becoming overly fat is one of the first considerations. Fat tissue itself acts as an endocrine organ (meaning it produces hormones), and commonly results in the production of high oestrogen levels and inflammatory mediators, thereby aggravating behavioural symptoms, in addition to cramping and pain. Another important dietary consideration is keeping the mare/filly on a nutritional program which stabilises blood-glucose levels, thereby keeping the levels of insulin (another hormone) balanced. Generally, a diet which is high in roughage and low in refined grains, starches and added sugars can help to meet all of the above goals. Ensuring the diet has sufficiently high omega-3 fatty acids and proportionally lower levels of omega-6 fatty acids is important. For the horse with high energy requirements, additional sources of healthy fats may be used to meet these needs. The importance of balancing feed intake with appropriate exercise cannot be over-stated: physical activity plays an important part in weight management; regulating blood glucose and insulin levels; and keeping inflammatory mediators at healthy levels. Cooked and/or crushed linseed is a beautiful addition to the diet: helping to balance inflammatory mediator levels; providing a rich source of dietary lignans (which can help to reduce excessive oestrogen levels); and helping to promote a healthy coat and skin (thanks to the high oil content).

Nutritional supplements can be a most valuable addition on several fronts when aiming to promote health and happiness in the hormonal mare! Strategic use of appropriate nutrients can help to reduce inflammation; minimise spasm and cramping; and optimise blood glucose and insulin levels. Depending on the individual horse, these can include: high quality fish oils; magnesium; B group vitamins; vitamin C and chromium. As with any nutritional supplementation, professional consultation should be sought to ensure safety and efficacy.

Herbal medicines are a most effective form of treatment in holistically managing a hormonal mare. When prescribed appropriately, herbs such as Vitex and White Peony can help to regulate a mare’s cycle, aiding in  ‘normalising’ behaviour, balancing oestrogen and progesterone levels and reducing spasmodic cramping and associated sensitivity to touch (think of the mare who hates her flanks being touched or leg pressure applied when in season). Additionally, the herbs Ginger, Sarsaparilla  and Cramp Bark are incredibly effective at modulating inflammation, cramping and associated pain when in season. For the mare who still remains somewhat edgy and irritated, Chamomile, Vervain and Valerian can be incredibly useful. As with any herbal prescription, seek professional, qualified advice to ensure the safety, efficacy and appropriate use of such herbs. In particular, the use of hormone modulating herbs (such as several of those mentioned above) need to be strictly monitored. Several of the herbs previously mentioned also have restricted use in some forms of competition.

Mares and fillies can be some of the toughest and most competitive horses. A little understanding of the oestrus cycle, how to best manage it, and effective strategies for those horses that become ‘out of sorts’ during this time can go a long way to achieving the results you are after, not to mention having a happier, more co-operative horse!

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Joint Structure

The equine lower limb joints are a type of joint known as a synovial joint. Of the three types of joints found in the equine skeleton, synovial joints are the most likely to suffer from disease and injury due to their high degree of activity and relative strain and repeated load they undertake.

Synovial joints consist of two bone ends covered by articular cartilage. Healthy articular cartilage is important for enabling frictionless movement of the joint. Articular cartilage is comprised of a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) and highly specialised cells called chondrocytes. The ECM is primarily composed of water, collagen and specific proteins called proteoglycans. It also contains other proteins to a lesser extent.

Cartilage is surrounded by soft tissue, including ligaments and a fibrous supporting joint capsule, which provides both structural integrity and stability. Lining the joint capsule is a layer called the synovial membrane. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid, which provides lubrication within the joint itself.

Joint cartilage does not have a blood or nerve supply and relies on the synovial fluid for the nutrition of its cells, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and collagen contained in its structural surface tissue and joint matrix material. Healthy synovial fluid is highly viscous and lubricates the cartilage surface, minimising friction within the joint. It also serves an an important ‘barrier’ to minimise the influx of damaging inflammatory enzymes which are released in response to joint injury. It is most important to note that joint cartilage does not regenerate- it is only able to repair itself to a limited degree after being damaged.

Joint Injury

Abnormal loading, overloading and sprain forces physically disrupt joint structural components, and are generally the initiating factors of joint injuries. High impact and repeated overloading on joints results in reduced concussion absorbing capacity of cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. These both become less resilient and more brittle, making them less able to withstand loading and recover between exercise. Injury to joint cartilage surfaces if often the initiating factor in ongoing joint deterioration and eventual joint breakdown. In exercising horses, the direct mechanical stress from concussion and repetitive overloading leads to physical damage of the joint cartilage; erosion of the cartilage by inflammatory enzymes; or collapse of the underlying subchondral bone support structures. Inflammatory enzymes dilute the nutritional and lubricating function of synovial joint fluid and damage the cartilage surface, setting up a cycle of progressive deterioration of the joint.

Signs and Symptoms of Joint Disease

Early signs of joint unsoundness include:

• Stiffness and a longer warm-up time when starting exercise
• A ‘scratchy’ gait
• Heat in the effected joint(s)
• Swelling of the effected joint(s)
• Favoured resting of effected leg(s) after exercise

How to Avoid/Manage Joint Disease

Whilst there are some known contributing factors to joint disease, which to some extent are unavoidable (such as conformational abnormalities and genetic defects), there are many practical applications that can be employed to reduce the incidence and severity of joint disease, and effectively manage existing cases.

Riding/Exercise Factors

Undertaking a progressively loading exercise program is important- especially when bringing a horse back into work from a spell or when starting a young horse into a training program. It is helpful to liken exercising a horse to undertaking a fitness regime yourself: you wouldn’t go from months of doing no exercise to undertaking full marathon training in a week! Gentle, incremental increases in exercise properly condition the body and help to protect against injury. Excessive muscle fatigue results in compromised movement, altering biomechanics and potentially increasing the load placed on joints. Remember that competition is a significant stress too- so ensure horses are properly fit for events.

It is also extremely important to consider the role of weight in joint injury- both the body condition of the horse and the rider. The more weight a horse has to carry, the more force is put through the joints and the increased subsequent wear and tear. Additionally, heavy loads placed on the limbs interferes with normal nutritional function in the joints: the rebound of cartilage and joint fluid redistribution that provides nutrition to the cartilage layer is less able to recover.

Avoid working your horse on overly compacted (hard) surfaces- as these result in excessive concussive forces being put through the joints. On the other end of the spectrum, avoid working in overly soft, deep surfaces, as these can strain the ligaments surrounding the joints.

Always ensure to adequately warm-up your horse before moving into demanding exercise. This optimises blood flow, and ensures muscles, tendons and ligaments are ready for the impending activity.

Management Practices

Regularly check your horse’s joints for signs of swelling, warmth and restricted mobility. The use of magnetic pastern and fetlock wraps in stabled horses may help to promote improved blood supply to the joints and hence facilitate the repair process.

Hoof Maintenance

Another highly preventable contributor to joint disease is hoof imbalance. Allowing a horse’s toes to grow too long and/or having low or uneven heels alters biomechanics and puts undue stress through joints. The importance of good farriery cannot be emphasised enough. Ensure that the horse remains on a regular trimming and shoeing (where appropriate) schedule. Although this is individual for each horse, every four weeks is generally an acceptable period of time.

Medications

Different oral, intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and intra-articular medications may all be used in the treatment and/or management of joint disease- with variable effects and results. The repeated use of NSAIDs (such as ‘bute’) and intra-articular corticosteroid injections are not advisable. ^[1]Studies have shown that even a single intra-articular steroid injection can cause irreversible damage to articular cartilage and underlying bone.

Pentosan polysulphate (commonly sold as Cartrophen, Athropen or Pentosan Equine) may help to prevent joint degeneration through several mechanisms: stimulating cartilage repair; promoting healthy synovial fluid and exerting a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Hyaluronate (such as Halo) is given IV to horses to help promote healthy synovial fluid, thereby helping to minimise joint friction and damage, and limiting the influx of inflammatory enzymes which degrade cartilage.

Joint medications should always be prescribed by your veterinarian, ensuring the most suitable treatment regime for your horse, correct dosage rate, and correct route of administration are employed.

Dietary Factors

The importance of diet in joint conditions cannot be underestimated. Diets which contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids without significant omega-3 fatty acids (such as many high fat ‘cool energy’ feeds and oils) promote inflammation. Additionally, unbalanced high-starch diets can significantly contribute to the deterioration of joint health. Diet must also be considered alongside exercise in the effective weight management of the horse (as discussed previously).

Nutritional Supplementation

Therapeutically, there are many nutrients which are extremely helpful in minimising inflammation and hence destruction of the joint; promoting optimal bone matrix composition; promoting collagen synthesis; repairing joint cartilage; and protecting against oxidative damage. Nutrients such as B group vitamins; Vitamins C, D, E; Chondroitin; Glucosamine; Zinc; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Calcium; and Copper all have important therapeutic roles. Due to their specific actions, potential for nutrient toxicity and imbalances, and specific dosage ranges, these supplements should only be prescribed according to professional recommendation and tailored to each individual horse’s needs. Oral hyaluronic acid (HA) supplements (not to be confused with HA injections) are becoming increasingly popular, however, their bioavailability (how much the horse can absorb and subsequently use) and efficacy is questionable.

Herbal Medicine

The principle aims of herbal treatment in joint disease are to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage to joints; and promote circulation to the joints. The judicious use of specific herbs to provide significant pain relief is also commonly employed- but this must be part of a holistic plan. Some of the most commonly used herbs for joint problems in horses include: Devil’s Claw; Boswellia; Tumeric and Guaiacum. As with nutritional supplements, herbs should only be used under the guidance of a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner. This ensures safe and effective prescribing. Furthermore, it is important to note that some herbs have restrictions upon use in competition.

Conclusion

Joint health is one of the most significant concerns in working horses. Management, exercise, nutritional and therapeutic factors all play an important role in the prevention and management of joint disease. It is important to note that much pre-existing damage in joints is irreversible, hence the importance of preventative measures. In horses with joint disease, appropriate management and therapeutic interventions can minimise further damage and promote optimal health, wellbeing and performance.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Supplements. They can be a contentious topic. Yet nearly all horse owners, trainers and riders use them at some stage in one form or another on their equines. As a naturopath, I am sometimes asked that if a horse is fed ‘properly’ then does it really need supplements? The answer is both no and yes! Horses have evolved to live outdoors, on natural land which hasn’t been over-farmed and/or over-grazed, eating a diet of natural forage and plant matter, roaming considerable distances each day, with their primary stress in life to stay alive and outrunning predators. In this case, there would be little need for supplementation. Today’s horses however, generally live in stark contrast to this: most often they spend time in small areas of turnout (many spend considerable time in stables), having minimal access to pasture (which is often over-grazed, and in some cases tried to be compensated by commercial fertilisers); exposed to toxic metabolites such as medications and environmental chemicals (insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, xeno-oestrogens); expected to be trucked all around the countryside to events; exposed to stressful situations; undertaking rigorous activity through training and competition events; often eating highly refined and processed diets; living outside of a natural herd environment; and in many cases developing illnesses, injuries and diseases, often as a direct result of these practices. It is for these reasons that yes- most horses will benefit immensely from appropriate supplementation, even more so if we want our horse to enjoy the very best of health and perform to their full potential.

Types of supplements

Supplements most commonly come in oral or injectable forms. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on those taken orally (either eaten or syringed directly into the mouth). Equine supplements can fall under several broad categories:

General nutritional – most commonly complex vitamin and mineral supplements (similar to multivitamins for humans). The vast majority of processed equine feeds also have extensive vitamin and mineral fortification, so this should be taken into account too.

Single or specific combination nutritional – examples include mineral supplements (such as magnesium) and vitamin supplements (such as vitamin E) or combinations (such as selenium + vitamin E).

Supplements for specific conditions – may be a combination of nutritional and/or herbal products. Supplements for joint health; gastric health; immune health; metabolic health; calming supplements; hoof growth and strength; and ‘blood tonics’ commonly fall under this category.

Herbal – may be dried herbs, tablets, powders or liquid products. Sometimes individual herbs (such as chamomile) or a combination of products (for example an ‘immune mix’ containing Korean Ginseng and Echinacea).

Homeopathic – prescribed in pillules or drops, this form of therapy isbased on the concept of ‘like cures like’. It is guided by the principle that minute concentrations of a particular toxin cure the very same symptoms it would cause in larger doses. Homeopathic remedies contain no traceable amount of the original substance (ie homeopathic arnica does not contain any measurable amount of arnica or its active constituents).

Choosing a supplement- Important Considerations

Purpose for use

When choosing supplements to use, it is of key importance to remember that supplements should not replace a balanced diet. The first step is to evaluate and optimise dietary practices. There are instances where supplements are needed to correct shortfalls in nutrient requirements in an otherwise balanced diet, but they are not an excuse to continue poor feeding practices. An example of appropriate supplementation to correct a dietary shortfallth is the use of selenium in horses maintained on pasture in selenium deficient soils.

Supplements should also not be used to replace poor management practices. A classic example of this is the overuse of ‘nerve/calming’ supplements. Before using such a supplement, the following needs to be asked and addressed: does the horse have good gastric health; is the horse being exercised frequently; is the horse in pain; does the saddle fit correctly; do the horse and rider capabilities match; is the rider relaxed when riding? Without addressing primary root causes, truly effective results will never be obtained. Any benefit derived from the supplement will be a poor ‘band-aid’ fix.

When selecting a supplement, the question needs to be asked ‘why are you adding it?’. Was it because someone said ‘your horse needs it’ or ‘its good for them?’ Supplements added to the diet should only be done when you can confidently answer the question as to why you are using them, with specific modes of action and therapeutic goals to be achieved.

Horses with elevated requirements beyond dietary intake.

Horses at risk of, or with specific health conditions may require elevated levels of nutrients to help optimise health. For example, a horse with insulin resistance (IR) may benefit greatly from appropriate magnesium and/or chromium supplementation to help increase insulin receptor sensitivity and thereby reduce and stabilise blood glucose levels.

Another classic example is a horse with an active infection. The need for particular nutrients during times of infection (such as zinc and vitamin C) are elevated, and the judicious use of indicated supplements can help to hasten and improve recovery from illness.

Interactions

Most nutrients and herbs have the ability to interact with other nutrients, drugs and herbs to some degree. Some of these interactions are beneficial (for example, the use of pre and probiotics together to optimise microflora colonisation), some are harmful, and some negate the benefit of each other (concurrently feeding iron and zinc supplements, which impairs the absorption and uptake of both minerals). For this reason, it is vitally important to seek professional advice when using herbs, minerals and medications: both to minimise risk, and optimise efficacy and safety.

How/when they are given

Some supplements are most readily available to the horse when given in conjunction with feed (for example vitamin E is best absorbed when given with a fat source in the feed), others are best given away from main meals (for example glutamine). Following specific guidelines for individual nutrients allows optimal therapeutic and nutritional effect to be achieved.

Contraindicating conditions

The use of some nutrients is contraindicated/unadvisable in certain circumstances- as it may slow recovery or put the horse at risk of harm. An example is the use of iron supplements during infection or inflammatory conditions, which may worsen or prolong the infection and/or inflammation.

Quality

Supplements given to a horse should always be from a respectable and trusted source, with clearly labelled packaging and full list of ingredients- stating both their form and quantity. This is especially important with herbal and combination products. Supplements which don’t meet this criteria should not be used.

Available nutrients per serve

A very important consideration is how much of the actual nutrient(s)/herb a horse receives per serve of the product. Unfortunately, many products contain such small doses of the actual active constituent they are advertised to have (for example the actual amount of magnesium in a magnesium product) that they are of minimal if any therapeutic benefit to the horse. Another common example of this are expensive products such as omega-3 oils. These products often contain high amounts of vegetable and other omega-6 containing oils (which promote rather than reduce inflammation).

Bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to the actual amount of a nutrient that can be digested and utilised. For example, a product may contain 400mg of elemental zinc. Zinc may be found in many forms including: zinc chelate; zinc proteinate; zinc sulphate; zinc citrate to name just a few! The amount of zinc which the horse is actually able to absorb and metabolise depends largely on what form that zinc is in. Therefore, if the product mentioned in the example above contains a poorly bioavailable source of zinc, the actual amount the horse is able to use is far less than the 400mg.

Toxicity

Some minerals and fat-soluble vitamins have the potential to be harmful (and even fatal) when given incorrectly and/or in large doses. This is especially important to consider when giving fortified feeds, then additionally feeding supplements. The importance of correctly measuring supplements cannot be overstated.

Absorption

A supplement can only be effective if it is absorbed and metabolised properly. This depends on horse having good gastric health. It also means supplements must be given under conditions that allow for absorption (ie a horse on an ulcer medication will not be able to properly utilise supplements fed at the same time!)

Summary

The appropriate use of many supplements can provide outstanding results in a myriad of health parameters in the equine. In order to ensure safety and optimise efficacy all supplements should:

• Have a clear and definite reason for use in the diet
• Have a clear timeline for use in the diet
• Contain highly bioavailable ingredients in therapeutic dose amounts
• Be clearly labelled stating exact ingredients, quantities and dosage rates
• Be used in conjunction with holistic feeding and management practices- NOT used to replace them!
• Be given under conditions which optimise absorption and metabolism
• Be prescribed under qualified guidance and tailored to each individual horse’s needs.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Clinical signs of ER vary, depending on the severity of the condition. Symptoms of tying up can occur during exercise, and are most commonly exhibited within two hours of completing exercise. The classic picture of a horse effected by ER is that of one with an increasingly short, stiffened stride during exercise, then being very reluctant or unable to move after exercise. Many adopt an unusual stance, looking as though they wish to urinate. The muscles of the hindquarters are usually the most severely effected: being firm, painful and cramping. Other signs such as profuse sweating and elevated heart, temperature and respiratory rate are commonly part of the ER picture. Many horses will paw the ground with their front legs. In severe cases, horses will pass a red-brown coloured urine (known as myoglobinuria). This occurs due to the extensive damage of muscle fibres leaking myoglobin (a muscle protein) into the blood, which is then subsequently excreted through the kidneys.

Classification

Based on current understanding of tying up, horses can be classified into two different types:

• Sporadic ER: these horses experience generalised signs of tying up on rare occasion;
• Chronic ER: these horses experience repeated episodes of tying up, with the first occurrence usually at a young age.

Some research suggests that a third type exists: Subclinical tying up. These horses do not exhibit severe clinical signs, but may have an associated loss of performance, poor finishing ability (in races), pain over the effected muscle(s) and subtle gait abnormalities.

Recent research differentiates between two distinct types of Chronic ER: Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomylosis (RER) in which there is a defect in the mechanism of muscle contraction; and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), a disorder which results in excessive carbohydrate storage in muscles.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ER and RER is based on a history, or current clinical signs of stiffness and muscle pain after exercise, combined with confirmation by elevated blood enzyme levels of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

Contributing and risk factors

Current understanding of tying up suggests that there are multiple potential causes and contributing factors associated with ER. Those which result in a case of tying up will vary between individual horses, and most horses who experience ER will be sensitive to a combination of different factors. These include:

• Exercising beyond current fitness level
• Hormonal influences
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Various vitamin and mineral deficiencies/insufficiencies
• Long periods of travel
• Rest days
• Fillies: Fillies have four times the risk compared to geldings
• Age: the incidence of ER generally decreases as a horse ages
• Nervous disposition
• Genetic predisposition
• High grain/high starch diet
• Altered carbohydrate metabolism
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Hypothyroidism
• Dehydration
• Viral infection
• Medication use (for example corticosteroids)

Prevention and Management Strategies

As with any health condition in a horse, a holistic approach which covers nutritional, exercise, management and supplementation practices is the most effective approach to preventing and managing ER episodes.

Exercise

Ensuring a horse is properly fit for the competition/exercise it is about to undertake is one of the first considerations in relation to tying up, particularly sporadic ER. Although self explanatory, it is amazing how often horses are taken to competitions with minimal riding and conditioning prior to the event.

Horses which have suffered a prior episode of tying up are best exercised on a daily basis, following a consistent, structured program. Complete rest days are best avoided. This does not have to mean they are ridden daily: hand-walking and longeing are also suitable.

Ensure that a thorough warm-up and cool down are completed before and after ridden work at home and competitions- this helps stimulate oxygen delivery to prepare the muscles for exercise, and reducing lactic acid levels in muscle tissue.

Management

The incidence of tying up episodes can be reduced by effective management practices. Keeping a horse turned out in a paddock (as opposed to stabled) is preferable, as this encourages natural, incidental movement. Avoiding situations and environments which unnecessarily stir-up a horse is also important. Horses which become unduly anxious or excited experience fluctuations in cortisol levels, which further disrupt other hormone levels in the body, increasing the risk of tying up.

Travel

Many competitions are associated with travelling long distances to and from the event, thus providing important opportunities to adopt practices which may help prevent tying up. Ensure horses are properly hydrated before and after travel, and offered electrolytes when travelling long journeys and/or in hot weather. At a minimum, horses should have free access to a pure salt lick (such as a Himalayan salt block). When arriving at the competition, it is advisable to handwalk the horse for a minimum of 15-20 minutes upon unloading (also remember to do this upon arrival back home after the competition!). When travel involves overnight stays away from home, turnout in a

medium sized yard (as opposed to a small yard or stable), which the horse can freely walk around in is most preferable. It is important to ensure that at completion of competition, horses are cooled down properly before being loaded to travel home.

Diet

In many cases, easily implemented dietary changes can have a most profound impact on horses susceptible to tying up. One of the first steps is to significantly reduce grain intake, substituting with fat sources to meet the horse’s energy requirements.  Ensure that the horse is also receiving a minimum of 1.5% of its body weight in forage daily, this is important for the provision of energy, stabilising blood glucose and in turn hormonal levels and optimising health of the gastrointestinal tract.

The inclusion of free access to salt in the diet is important, as most feeds are generally very low in sodium chloride.

Nutritional Supplementation

Despite the wide availability and use of fortified feeds, the judicial use of specifically indicated nutritional supplements is most beneficial for horses susceptible to ER. Electrolytes (potassium, sodium and chloride), magnesium, calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, chromium and selected amino acids may all help to prevent tying up. Each of these nutrients plays specific roles in the body. When supplementing a horse, it is essential to seek professional advice, both for your horse’s safety and in the best financial interests of you as the owner! No horse should ever be on a cocktail of supplements: each therapeutic given to the horse should have a clear role and timeline for its indicated use. It is of vital importance to know that specific nutrients can be toxic in high doses; the bioavailability (how much of the supplement a horse can absorb and use) varies dramatically between supplement brands and forms; and some nutrients compete for absorption, therefore decreasing the amount available for the horse’s body to use.

Herbal Therapy

Herbal medicine offers a valuable toolbox of therapeutic options for the horse susceptible to tying up. Suitable herbs can effectively aid in naturally regulating hormonal levels; relaxing muscles; promoting increased blood flow to muscles and removal of lactic acid and metabolic by-products from the muscles; balancing electrolyte levels; and supporting immune function.

As with nutritional supplementation, it is important to seek the guidance of a fully qualified professional when using herbal therapies. For both safety and efficacy, the selection of appropriate herbs, using pure unadulterated extracts, in suitable doses for each horse is essential. Furthermore, some herbs have restricted use in competition and are swabbable.

Conclusion

Despite being the most common muscle disorder of exercising horses, ER is a condition which the occurrence of can be reduced by effectively implementing a holistic approach. Adopting appropriate exercise, management, dietary and supplementation regimes are vital factors in the horse at risk of tying up.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The quality of these supplements and ingredients contained within them vary greatly. Many contain nutritional and/or herbal constituents such as: magnesium, tryptophan, B group vitamins, chamomile and valerian.

But do these actually work?….

Supplementation is only advisable where there is an understanding of how they will help achieve specific therapeutic treatment aims. They should not be used to replace poor management practices. Before using a calming supplement, the following needs to be asked and addressed: does the horse have good gastric health; is the horse being exercised frequently; is the horse in pain; does the saddle fit correctly; do the horse and rider capabilities match; is the rider relaxed when riding? Without addressing primary root causes, truly effective results will never be obtained by any supplement. Any benefit derived from the supplement will be a poor ‘band-aid’ fix.

For a supplement to be truly effective, it needs to be given in sufficient quantities (often, to achieve a therapeutic effect, the actual amount of the supplement required by the horse is much greater than the dose suggested on the label.) It also needs to be given in a form which the horse can readily digest, absorb and metabolise. It needs to contain sufficient ‘active constituents’ (the actual parts of the supplement which exert a biological effect). Many commonly available products, (especially those with herbal ingredients), actually have minute amounts of these very important active constituents.

For racehorses and performance horses/ponies competing at a high level, the use of specific herbs are not permitted in competition. Many of these herbs are those commonly used in calming products.

When selecting a supplement, the question needs to be asked ‘why are you adding it?’. Have you adequately identified and addressed all possible reasons as to why you feel your horse needs it?

Supplements should only be added to the diet when you can confidently answer the questions: why you are using them; what specific modes of action they are targeting; and what therapeutic goals will they achieve?

Specifically indicated nutrients and herbs can be extremely valuable to use in some cases of anxious or stressed horses. The correct selection and and application of appropriate herbs and nutrients is key to efficacy: always remembering that they do not replace good feeding, riding and management practices.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Whenever any medication is used, the systemic effects the drug has on the horse should always be considered.

Adverse effects of glucocorticoids are well known, yet we don’t always stop to think what this can mean for the horse in front of us. The immunosuppressive effect of this class of drugs has been demonstrated to predispose horses to bacterial and/or fungal infections, decrease wound healing and increase the risk of insulin-resistant laminitis. Other less severe but important adverse effects include muscle wasting, hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose levels), polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst) and gastric ulcers.

Corticosteroids also effect the nutritional status of the horse, as they influence the synthesis, absorption and/or excretion of key nutrients including: zinc, magnesium, calcium, selenium, vitamin C and vitamin D.

Horses receiving glucocorticoids are known to have decreased immune response to infection and vaccines. Whilst some conditions may necessitate the use of these drugs, in the best interests of the horse’s health, performance (physical and/or reproductive) and wellbeing- addressing WHY the drugs are needed in the first place is paramount. Should the use of glucocorticoids be strongly indicated, then concurrently addressing specific nutrient requirements is paramount.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

A vital consideration in bone and joint health is bone density. Bone density refers to the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue and plays a significant factor in bone strength and durability (and hence resistance to injury).

Many factors influence bone density- and many of these factors can be positively or negatively influenced by feeding, management practices and medication use. Put simply, owners and caretakers of horses have the ability to positively or negatively influence the bone density and hence resilience and strength of a horse’s bones….

Sufficient minerals and vitamins in a horse’s diet, in appropriate proportions are important. These include (but are not limited to): calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin D, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin K. Appropriate energy availability is also crucial in helping ensure adequate bone development.

Many medications have the ability to negatively influence bone density through various mechanisms: increasing the excretion of key minerals needed for bone structure; altering the gastrointestinal microflora balance (in turn impairing the body’s ability to synthesise some key vitamins needed for bone health); and altering the absorption of essential minerals for bone health.

Keeping horses in stables/box stalls is an often overlooked consideration in regards to bone health. Several studies have documented a substantial decrease in bone mineral content in horses kept in stables/ box stalls.

Think about foals, weanlings and yearlings, confined to stables in order to ‘keep them out of the elements’ or for sales preparations. These horses are going through crucial stages of bone development and laying down bone mass. The practice of keeping them stabled may hamper their ability to be strong, resilient performance horses.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The habit can negatively effect a wide range of horse health parameters, resulting in conditions such as dental disorders (wear of incisors); temporohyoid joint damage; poor performance; weight loss; colic; and diminished learning.

From a holistic perspective, many factors may contribute to the development of wind-sucking. Much emphasis is deservedly placed on diet and management. Research in recent years has highlighted higher levels of oxidative stress in horses which wind-suck.

Continuing along the oxidative stress theory, recent research has demonstrated wind-suckers to have lower serum levels of selenium. Selenium is an essential trace mineral which plays many important biological roles in the equine: one of these being its role as a potent antioxidant.

Whilst selenium must be considered, supplementing selenium without looking at and addressing the horse’s overall health, nutrition and management is not recommended. Selenium is a nutrient which has a low threshold for toxicity, and should only be supplemented judiciously.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Research strongly suggests that selenium may help to prevent tying-up in certain cases. When prescribed appropriately, selenium has been demonstrated to improve performance, stamina and muscle strength in the equine.

Australian soils and pastures are generally low in selenium, particularly those that are: acidic or sandy; have a high clover content; have heavy or long-term fertiliser application; have high amounts of rainfall.

Many people are unaware that an excess intake of selenium is extremely toxic. Whilst soils and pastures may be low in this nutrient, the widespread use of fortified feeds and supplements ‘self-prescribed’ by well meaning owners to their horses may result in inadvertent over-dosing.

Supplementation of any nutrient should be strategic and well indicated, encompassing a holistic approach. Be smart…. seek professional advice to OPTIMise your horse’s health…

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Vitamin D is produced by the horse when their skin is exposed to sufficient sunlight. Rugging a horse interferes with this natural process. Whilst forages do contain some vitamin D- it is not in a readily bioavailable form for the horse to use. 

Adequate Vitamin D is essential for optimal bone health and strength, immune function and modulating inflammation levels. Studies have even shown adequate vitamin D to play an important role in preventing inflammatory airway disease.

Whilst supplementation of this nutrient in a highly bioavailable form and in appropriate dosages can be crucial to make up shortfalls in the horse, naturally exposing our horses to the sun in the first instance is a free and logical step to take to help optimise their health.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

The equine hoof constitutes a complex arrangement of connective tissues, nerves, cartilage, bone, and blood supply. It relies on important nutritional building blocks for strength and integrity.

When most people think of promoting hoof health they turn to biotin supplements. Whilst supplementing biotin can certainly be beneficial, having healthy, sound hooves in our horses is far more than complex than just adding this nutrient. The roles of vitamin A, zinc, selenium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, copper and essential fatty acids are often overlooked or forgotten. Add to this the fact that many of these nutrients compete with each other for absorption; some have critical levels at which they become toxic to the horse; and depending on the forms these nutrients are in, have varying levels of bioavailability.

In addition to the actual nutrients in the horse’s diet, the horse must have healthy GIT function to enable absorption, metabolism and utilisation of these critical nutrients. There is limited value in adding an expensive hoof supplement to the diet of a horse who is unable to properly absorb the nutrients contained in it.

As with all equine health issues, nutrition is just one key element. Excellent farriery and management practices are also important determinants of hoof health.

Take the guess work out of optimising your horse’s hoof and overall health. Let OPTIM EQUINE do the hard work for you- so you can reap the rewards (and take the credit!)

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

There is a vast difference between SUSTAINING NORMAL HEALTH and being in OPTIMAL HEALTH. The requirements also do not take into account elevated nutrient requirements the body may have during states of illness, injury, inflammation, poor gastrointestinal health or undue stress. Without these increased requirements being met, the restoration of health and optimal healing becomes extremely challenging. Add to this the depletion of nutrients due to interactions with conventional pharmaceuticals and/or increased excretion due to the action of such medications.

This is where strategic nutrient supplementation becomes extremely valuable. Knowing which nutrient(s) to use; what dose to use and how long for; drug and nutrient interactions; factors which influence absorption; and the most bioavailable forms of nutrients are just some of the many important considerations.

Do yourself and your horse a favour. OPTIMise their health, wellbeing, recovery and performance

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Recent research has highlighted that sufficient vitamin D is essential to optimise intestinal uptake of magnesium. This is a very important consideration, especially for those horses who spend much time stabled, rugged or in climates where UV exposure is low (think of temperate winter climates).

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

One of the key guiding principles of naturopathy is treating each patient as an individual. In developing effective treatment plans for the horse, having a comprehensive understanding of any health conditions relevant to the horse is important, and indeed the most important part of this is addressing the pathophysiological pathways involved in these health issues. Yet, we mustn’t lose sight of the horse in the disease… Each horse is an individual, and the factors which have contributed to them developing an illness and/or injury will differ, sometimes only subtly, between horses. This means that two horses with the same medically diagnosed condition may be prescribed different herbs and nutrients. A good example of this may be two sub-fertile stallions. One may be an ageing stallion with naturally declining testosterone levels, the other a younger stallion with poor sperm morphology. The factors contributing to their outcome of poor fertility are very different. Therefore, effective treatment will be very different for both stallions, and helps to partly explain why their is no one herb, nutrient or remedy which is the ‘cure’ for all…

OPTIMise your horse’s health, wellbeing and performance. Let OPTIM Equine help you and your horse.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Whilst no nutritional supplement will prevent estrus in the mare/filly: signs, symptoms and behaviour may be able to be preferentially modified. Modulating specific hormonal, neurotransmitter and inflammatory pathways and correcting nutritional insufficiencies can have a significant impact. This is a key area where therapeutic nutritional intervention differs distinctly in just meeting a horse’s daily nutrient requirements.

Time and energy can be wasted on being angry/frustrated by the current rulings, or minds can be opened to explore other options, gaining knowledge and tools to use to one’s advantage. 

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Whilst iron deficiency in humans is an all too common problem, in our horses it is fairly rare. When it occurs, it is not usually due to an insufficient intake of iron in the diet. Instead it generally occurs due to low-grade, longterm blood loss (the causes of which deserve to be written about in a separate post). Losing large amounts of blood in an acute injury/health complication are also a cause.

One of the most commonly seen scenarios I see in practice is when trainers and riders give horses iron supplements in response to a horse performing poorly or a horse which has had an infection (viral or bacterial).  Iron is perhaps the most important micronutrient required for bacteria to proliferate and cause disease. Viruses also depend on iron in order to efficiently replicate.

It is important to remember too that iron is needed by inflammatory cells. Any condition a horse has where there is significant inflammation (Equine Asthma, placentitis, sesamoiditis, ligament or tendon damage, endometritis- just a few examples!) could be further worsened by iron supplementation.

Takeaway messages:

• By supplementing iron in the poor performing horse/horse that has a ‘virus’ or infection, or any significant inflammatory process, chances are you are making the condition worse.
• ‘Natural’ supplements aren’t always safe/appropriate/indicated
• Get professional advice to help identify and address the cause(s) of the poor performance/challenging health condition in your horse.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Administering more or a higher concentration of antibiotics is ineffective and compounds the problem, likely contributing to further antimicrobial resistance.

The goals in treating biofilm associated infection are multifaceted. Whilst conventional approaches largely focus on ‘killing’ the pathogenic bacteria, the biofilm MUST be disrupted for any antimicrobial treatment to be effective.

Furthermore, effective treatment involves repopulating the vaginal tract with bacteria and microbes which provide a line of defence against pathogenic bacteria, inhibiting pathogenic bacterial (and/or fungal) colonisation and releasing byproducts which help to prevent pathogens adhering to the endometrial lining.

Judiciously employed specific herbal medicines and nutraceuticals can play an invaluable role in helping achieve successful outcomes.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Vitamin K is known to be essential for bone mineralisation and calcium metabolism and improves bone calcification. Evidence suggests that vitamin K also improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, preventing insulin resistance.

The importance of promoting optimal GIT health in the equine must not be overlooked. The influence of GIT health is systemic. Yet another reason for looking at each horse holistically, evaluating and treating each horse as an individual.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

If you aren’t providing supplemental salt to your horse or pony’s diet, they are most likely falling short of their needs. Although many processed feeds and balancers contain sodium and chloride, they are generally very low in these minerals and fail to meet a horse’s daily requirements of them.

Sodium and chloride each play crucial roles within the body. Sodium is involved in central nervous system function (including nerve impulse transmission), transporting numerous substances such as glucose across cell membranes, and muscle cell activation. In addition, it is a key electrolyte involved in maintaining body fluids’ acid-base balance and osmotic pressure regulation.
Similarly, chloride plays an important role in acid-base and osmotic regulation. Chloride additionally is essential for normal digestive function in the horse, being a component of bile and hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Sometimes the simplest inclusions in a horse’s diet make the most significant difference.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

For topline to be developed – both exercise and diet need to be addressed. Furthermore, the state of a horse’s gastrointestinal (GI) health needs to be such that it can effectively digest, absorb and metabolise the foods and nutrients it is fed to fuel muscle cell growth and repair.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

More obvious ridges, grooves, or bulges in the hoof wall may be signs of a health problem that occurred at some time in the past few months. Illness which has resulted in temperature, infection, or inflammation changes blood flow and has the potential to affect hoof growth. The ingestion of toxic plants, spoiled feeds, excessive (toxic) intake of particular nutrients (even those that are essential for normal health) and any poisonous substance that influences a horse’s metabolism may result in hoof ridges. These defined grooves in the hoof wall are also common in horses who have suffered from laminitis, with the ridges to take on a V-like appearance toward the toe in chronic cases.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.

Turmeric, it’s the ‘wonder’ natural supplement many horse people have been self-prescribing for their horses. Most commonly used for its anti-inflammatory properties, very few, if any horse people stop to consider the quality of their turmeric.

Given that turmeric is widely available in powdered form makes it susceptible to being mixed with lower cost ingredients. Research has shown a large proportion of turmeric available on the market to be mixed with different species of the same genus; artificial colours and dyes (which are banned in many countries); heavy metals (such as lead); chalk and synthetic turmeric. Thus, instead of helping your horse by adding turmeric to his diet, you may be promoting more inflammation and oxidative stress and increasing their exposure to harmful substances.

As with any supplement (natural or otherwise), be sure to employ expert advice to determine whether the supplement is both appropriate for your horse and safe. Used for anti-inflammatory and medicinal purposes, turmeric should contain measurable quantities of curcuminoids (the most extensively studied active constituents of the herb); it should undergo independent third party testing, and should have proof of its bioavailability.

Optim Equine

Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.

As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.