How Can Supplements Help Veterans
As our horses get older they have changing needs so how can we change their supplements to take this into account
As our horses age their needs change so the way we care for them needs to adapt. One of the things we can do is supplement their diet to help with their changing needs so in this article we are looking at how supplements can help.
One of the most obvious signs of ageing is changes in joint mobility and comfort. Two ingredients that can be added into a joint supplement are glucosamine and msm. Glucosamine is used to make hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate and can be found in the bone, cartilage tendons, ligaments and the joint fluid. The glucosamine can slow down the breakdown of cartilage and help maintain joint health so can be beneficial to help with the wear and tear that age brings. Glucosamine is a form of sugar though so if your horse is on a restricted sugar diet it best to avoid this.
MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane,quite the mouthful! This is a form of bio available sulphur and is used in the making of collagen, so not only helps with those wrinkles, it's great for the connective tissues and also helps with the circulation by thinning the blood so has many benefits for the older horse but may not be suitable for horses on diuretics.
As they get older they are also more likely to suffer from degeneration of the joints so providing anti-inflammatories can help with comfort. Three natural ingredients that can be used are boswelia, turmeric and ginger. Boswelia is a tree resin commonly known as frankincense. It is a powerful anti inflammatory that supports the circulation whilst being gentle on the stomach, but is not suitable to be fed during pregnancy. If you plan to breed from a favourite retired mare, it is best to avoid boswelia. Turmeric is an earthy orange spice created by grinding the tubers of the turmeric plant. It contains a substance called curcumin that is an anti inflammatory as well as an anti oxidant that helps protect the bodies cells from free radicals (a natural by product of the breakdown of oxygen in the cells). As turmeric can be an irritant its not always suitable in cases of digestive discomfort. Ginger is a pungent spice that is also made by grinding up the tubers of the plant. Its not as powerful anti inflammatory as the bosweillia or the turmeric but has many other health benefits including being good for digestion, respiration as well as supporting circulation that make it worth considering for the veteran horse. Like the msm it may not be suitable for horses that are on diuretics.
As our horses get older their digestive system are no longer as effective this can lead to them struggling to maintain weight and muscle tone. Providing them with a comprehensive range of vitamins and minerals can help to supplement their diet and make sure that they are receiving all the essential nutrients to help keep them healthy. A pre and pro biotic can also help them to break down and absorb the best from their food. By providing a good source of protein you can help them to maintain their muscle tone as protein is essential for muscle development. Whey protein is a good way of providing this, it is full of amino acids and beneficial to the immune system so is worth considering for the older horse.
The immune system can also become less effective as they get older so giving it a boost can also be good for them. As mentioned above whey protein is a good ingredient for this. Milk thistle can also help. It helps the liver to detox and cleanse which in turn can have immune enhancing properties. It is also high in linoleic acid that can help to balance the hormones and therefore have a calming effect, just because they are old doesn't mean they still can't get up to mischief. It should probably be avoided if your mare is pregnant. Seaweed is considered by some to be a "super food". It is high in nutrients and anti oxidants as well as a good source of protein and amino acids that can help to support immune function. It is also high in iodine that helps with thyroid function (regulates metabolism) so well worth thinking about with the older horse. It also has a side benefit of supporting the adrenal glands so helps the bodies response to stress.
Older horses are also more likely to be prone to metabolic syndromes. Some common ingredients that you may not have considered for supporting this are magnesium and psyllium. Magnesium is commonly used for calming but it also has a wealth of other benefits that can be considered for the older horse including helping with a healthy heart, blood pressure and nerve function. It also helps with regulating blood sugar and metabolism and can help prevent the formation of fat pads. In very rare situations some horses can react to too much magnesium and become too much of a handful so its best to bear this in mind if your horse has reacted badly to a magnesium calmer in the past or if you have magnesium rich grazing. Psyllium is usually given to horses that live on sandy soil as this can help to ease the passage of stubborn matter and prevent the build up of sand in the gut. But this can also moderate glucose response and insulin release so can be very helpful to horses that do suffer from a metabolic issue. Another benefit of psyllium is that it can also soak up excess liquid in the digestive tract so can help with loose stools.
By looking at the big picture we can use a variety of ingredients that can help in multiple ways to improve your horse's comfort and support your horse's health in their golden years.
Picture of Summer enjoying her golden years on a Hack Up bespoke.
