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The unnatural lifestyle of many sport horses can cause intestinal problems like colic, poor absorption of nutrients, and ulcers. Racehorses and top show jumpers or eventing horses have ulcers more often than not. This affects total health as well as performance, so owners and trainers cannot afford to ignore this problem. Equine inflammation management supplements can really help in both prevention and alleviation.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A major factor is that valuable athletes are often confined to stalls and fed large amounts of grain. They need the calories and energy grains provide, and horses often injure themselves during turn-out when they are 'high' from grain. However, this is a departure from what is natural for a horse. They are made to graze twenty-four hours a day and move around freely - and, for the most part, quietly.
When a horse grazes, it chews the roughage and mixes it with alkaline saliva. In order to digest the constant supply of roughage, the horse secretes stomach acid continually. This is good when roughage is always available but can cause problems when it is limited. When there is no protective mass of roughage in the stomach, the acids can damage the intestinal lining.
This damage causes inflammation of the stomach wall, and eventually open sores - ulcers - form. Many experts think, as well, that all inflammation stems from the digestive tract. This means that improper feeding can be the original cause of muscle, leg, and foot problems. Just as humans address their arthritis with dietary changes and supplements, horseowners can take this approach, too.
Alfalfa is a healthy herb, sold as tea, tablets, or powder in health food stores. Horses love alfalfa hay and will eat it readily. Owners and trainers should make sure there are no sharp sticks in the hay, which can perforate weak spots in the stomach lining. An option is to rely on soaked alfalfa cubes to add this nutrition and bulk to the horse's diet.
Stress reduction is vital. Horses are herd animals and should be turned out with others or at least kept in a stall where they can see other horses. Research shows that horses do best without radios being left on and without lights on at night. Minerals are calming and should be supplemented if pasture or hay is deficient. Familiar surroundings are important, and horses that travel to shows are under additional stress. If hay consumption must be limited, 'slow-feeder' nets can minimize times when no roughage is available.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A major factor is that valuable athletes are often confined to stalls and fed large amounts of grain. They need the calories and energy grains provide, and horses often injure themselves during turn-out when they are 'high' from grain. However, this is a departure from what is natural for a horse. They are made to graze twenty-four hours a day and move around freely - and, for the most part, quietly.
When a horse grazes, it chews the roughage and mixes it with alkaline saliva. In order to digest the constant supply of roughage, the horse secretes stomach acid continually. This is good when roughage is always available but can cause problems when it is limited. When there is no protective mass of roughage in the stomach, the acids can damage the intestinal lining.
This damage causes inflammation of the stomach wall, and eventually open sores - ulcers - form. Many experts think, as well, that all inflammation stems from the digestive tract. This means that improper feeding can be the original cause of muscle, leg, and foot problems. Just as humans address their arthritis with dietary changes and supplements, horseowners can take this approach, too.
Alfalfa is a healthy herb, sold as tea, tablets, or powder in health food stores. Horses love alfalfa hay and will eat it readily. Owners and trainers should make sure there are no sharp sticks in the hay, which can perforate weak spots in the stomach lining. An option is to rely on soaked alfalfa cubes to add this nutrition and bulk to the horse's diet.
Stress reduction is vital. Horses are herd animals and should be turned out with others or at least kept in a stall where they can see other horses. Research shows that horses do best without radios being left on and without lights on at night. Minerals are calming and should be supplemented if pasture or hay is deficient. Familiar surroundings are important, and horses that travel to shows are under additional stress. If hay consumption must be limited, 'slow-feeder' nets can minimize times when no roughage is available.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
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You can get a summary of important factors to keep in mind when choosing a supplier of equine inflammation management supplements at http://www.naviculardisease.com right now.
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