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2022-08-09T00:00:00+02:00 2022-08-09T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/strong-hooves Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky The hoof is an important part of the horse's body. A horse cannot sit down for a long period of time like a human being and the horse also lies down significantly less than a human being. It can be concluded that horses spend most of their lives standing on their hooves. Optimal hoof health therefore determines to a large extent the health and well-being of every horse. In this article, we will focus on the topic of hoof health. Anatomy of a horse's hoof Let's start with the rough structure and anatomy of a horse's hoof. The hoof from the outside: Above the hoof lies the fetlock. If you travel from the long pastern bone towards the hoof, you will first encounter the pastern and the pastern flexure. Under these structures the hoof begins with the transition from normal skin and coat to the hoof (horn). The coronet forms this transition. After the coronet follows the hoof / the hoof horn. The bones of the hoof: The three bones that can be counted among the structures of the hoof are: The coffin bone (os ungulare), which lies deep inside the hoof and the short pastern bone (os coronale) , which is mostly already situated above the hoof. The navicular bone (os sesamoideum distale) lies under the short pastern bone and next to/ behind the coffin bone. The bones of the hoof are still quite simple and straightforward. The structure of the various hoof skins and connective tissue is much more complicated. Connective tissue and corium of the hoof: Let's start inside the hoof and work our way out. Inside the hoof lies a thick frog pad. It consists of soft, fibrous connective tissue. Although it is flexible and gives way under stress, it has a firm structure and shape. The frog pad fills the bale pit and forms the familiar frog on the outside, which is clearly visible when the hoof is scraped. Directly adjacent to the frog pad is the bale pad. It has a similar structure and forms the horse's pads upwards-backwards. This is the tissue that is injured by the hind legs or also by the hooves of other horses during a "typical bale kick". The bale area can therefore be protected by the use of bell boots. Anyone who has ever touched a bale on a horse can better imagine the structure of the tissue. The bale pads can be easily pressed in and give way under the pressure of the finger, but the shape is not changed. Another pad is the crown pad. As the name suggests, it is located in the area of the navicular bone and the navicular band, further up on the hoof. The crown pad is located in the area of the navicular band, i.e. in the zone where the hoof and the horse's leg merge. Another structure of the hoof is the corium. Depending on its position and function in the hoof, it can be divided even more precisely. Let's stay with the transition where the horse's leg and hoof merge. This is where the corium is found. This is a very small skin about five millimetres wide. The transition from the normal skin of the horse's leg to the coronal corium of the hoof is formed by the corium. The coronal corium is directly connected to this skin. The coronal corium surrounds the hoof in a ring. Thousands of small villi protrude into the hoof from the coronet corium. The tendons and ligaments of the hoof: In addition, of course, some tendons and ligaments run on and in the hoof. The common extensor tendon running from the front of the leg to the hoof is interesting. From the back of the leg pulling forward to the hoof runs the pastern tendon. Also running along the back is the superficial flexor tendon. It runs deep down to the coronet bone. The deep flexor tendon runs even deeper into the hoof. This tendon runs over the navicular bone and is fused with the coffin bone in the hoof. The hoof from below: Looking at a hoof from below is a familiar sight to most riders due to the daily scraping of the horse's hooves. If you look at the hoof from below, you first see the hoof capsule. This capsule can be further divided into bale pads, sole, frog and hoof wall. The bale pads are located at the rear, upper end of the hoof and are easy to press in. The tissue is more sensitive and gives way under the pressure of the fingers. The bale pads should not be cleaned with a hoof scraper or care should be taken that only the brush on the hoof scraper is used and that the brush is not too hard. Horses can be very sensitive around the bale pads. The frog of the hoof is directly adjacent to the bale pads. The frog runs from the pads down to the centre of the hoof in a small "V" or triangle. Next to the frog are the hoof furrows, which you clean with a hoof scraper. Do not clean the frog with the hoof scraper either, but only use the (soft) brush side for cleaning. Be especially careful with the soft furrow in the middle of the frog, because this area of the hoof is also still quite sensitive and can respond to too rough touch or pressure with a painful reaction. The rest of the hoof consists of the hard sole. It is enclosed by the so-called "white line" and ends with the outer edge, the hoof wall. The hoof mechanism At first glance, a horse's hoof appears very firm and rigid in its movement, but this appearance is deceptive. A hoof can react well to stress/ pressure and even adapt to it in some cases. This reaction is called the hoof mechanism. Every step is perceived by the hoof and triggers a small chain reaction inside. When the horse sets the hoof down, the front edge of the coronet bone is pulled backwards and the bale pads at the back of the hoof are pushed apart. The frog under the hoof comes into contact with the ground and can thus pass on information about the ground via the numerous nerve fibres in the corium. When the hoof breaks away from the ground, the bale pads are pulled together again and a kind of "pump" is created in the hoof. The hoof is supplied with blood through the active movement of the legs and the constant loading and unloading of the hooves - comparable to a sponge under water lying in one hand: When the hoof touches the ground, the sponge in the hand is compressed and the water is pressed out of the sponge. When the hoof leaves the ground, the hand opens and the sponge can soak up water until the hoof hits the ground again. The same effect happens in the horse's hoof with the supply of blood. In motion, however, this process cannot be observed on the hoof because the steps are very fast and the tissues only contract and expand minimally. However, it becomes clear how important movement is for the health of the hooves. Without regular exercise (on different soils) the hooves will have poor blood circulation. Even before any athletic exercise, the horse should walk enough at the beginning to activate the hoof mechanism and to provide sufficient blood supply to the hoof with its surrounding structures. Horse hooves are primarily supplied with blood passively through movement and the "pump system" in the hoof. The foundation of hoof health The foundation of hoof health is largely laid by the basic feed. Feeding can have a huge impact on hoof health. So before feeding supplements for better horn quality, check the basic feed. Mould-free hay and straw should form the basis of every horse's diet. The quality is important. As already mentioned, hay and straw should be free of mould. Why? Because mould is a burden on the liver. This stress can also have an indirect negative effect on the hooves. The same applies when feeding silage. In the best case, no horse should be fed silage, because silage also stresses the liver and intestines and can contribute to deteriorating hoof health. The strain on the liver, stomach and intestines should also be taken into account when administering medication. Regular or prolonged administration of medications such as cortisone, antibiotics or even worm treatments can damage the intestinal flora. Consequently, the quality of the hooves and the growth of the hoof horn can decrease as a result. The basic feed should in any case be covered by hay and not by concentrated feed, such as oats. Excessive amounts of concentrated feed can overacidify the horse's body and thus have a negative effect on hoof health, among other things. The foundation of hoof health is therefore laid with a good basic feed. Healthy hooves also contribute to the detoxification of the organism. Horses get rid of feed and environmental stresses not only through the liver, kidneys, skin and respiratory tract, but also through the hooves. The hooves can be seen in close connection with the skin when it comes to detoxification. If the organism or the metabolism is too heavily loaded or if there is a metabolic disorder, diseases such as thrush, hoof abscesses or a loss of quality of the hoof horn can often be recognized. In the case of severe metabolic disorders or excessive stress on the metabolism, even laminitis can occur. The hoof is therefore the mirror of a healthy or stressed metabolism. The first signs of a faulty or malfunctioning detoxification can be seen on the hooves and thus support the metabolism as quickly as possible. Strong hooves - but how? Everyone wants a horse with strong and robust hooves. If the hooves are healthy, many illnesses such as hoof abscesses, twitchy gait, inflammation of the hoof corium or even a fracture of the coffin bone can be prevented as far as possible. For the time being, it doesn't matter whether the horse runs with hoof shoes or is barefoot. With or without hoof shoes - the hoof should be strong and robust. Nutrients play an important role in hoof health. We would like to take a closer look at these in the following. Biotin Biotin is immediately associated with hooves. In many circles it is considered to be the "hoof vitamin" and can support the growth of the hoof horn and the formation of new hoof horn. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin and belongs to the group of B vitamins. It is absorbed by the horse through the feed and filtered out of the food pulp in the large intestine. Especially green feed such as leaves, grass and clover contain a lot of biotin, so that it is assumed that the horse's need for biotin should be covered if it is kept in a species-appropriate manner. Biotin can only be stored in the body in small quantities. A deficiency usually occurs when horses have insufficient access to green feed or when the intestinal flora is disturbed. As mentioned above, biotin is absorbed in the large intestine. However, if this does not function properly, then it can happen that the biotin from the feed is not absorbed. This closes the circle to the basic feed. If the quality of the basic feed is reduced due to silage feeding or mould contamination, this can have a negative effect on the intestine and as a result biotin is not absorbed or is absorbed only inadequately. A biotin deficiency can develop and the formation of the hoof horn can be negatively affected, so that it is poorer and/ or slower. The symptoms are brittle, short and/ or too soft hooves. Manganese Manganese deficiency is actually rather rare in horses, but it can be a cause of bad hooves. If a manganese deficiency is present, for example due to too much calcium-rich feed, it should be corrected as soon as possible and the feed management should be adjusted. To compensate for the deficiency, Stiefel Mangan Plus can be added. Copper The body needs copper for the stability and resilience of tendons and ligaments. As described above, there are many ligaments and tendons in and around the hoof, so the health and stability of these tendons and ligaments automatically influences the health of the hooves. The copper content in the body therefore also has a secondary effect on the hooves. Sulphur In relation to the hoof, sulphur is important for being converted to keratin in the body. The keratin contributes to the hooves being robust and able to withstand stress. Sulphur or sulphur-containing amino acids are the building blocks from which the body can build/ convert keratin. A deficiency of keratin and thus a deficiency of sulphur, shows itself in brittle hooves with poor horn quality. Most of the time this deficiency is accompanied by other symptoms such as eczema or thin tail and mane hair. In case of these symptoms, the sulphur content in the feed should be increased. Zinc This trace element is involved in a wide variety of metabolic reactions. Nevertheless, a deficiency is not uncommon. Especially at the time of change of coat, the zinc requirement is increased and the risk of a deficiency increases. Zinc helps to build the hoof strong and robust and thus positively supports symptoms such as a horse with twitchy gait. Zinc works closely with copper and manganese in this process, so these nutrients should also be considered. Amino acids (lysine, methionine, cysteine) Sulphur again plays a role in the above amino acids. Methionine and also cysteine, for example, are suppliers of sulphur. Sulphur enables the body to (re)build keratin and strengthen the hoof horn. If the quality of the hoof horn is poor, the sulphur-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine) should always be taken into consideration. If these sulphur-containing proteins are missing, this can lead to delayed and slower hoof growth, among other things. Lysine belongs to the essential amino acids and cannot be produced by the horse's body itself. The horse is therefore dependent on a supplementary feed of lysine. The body cannot remedy a deficiency itself through conversion processes. Lysine also helps to improve the quality of the horn. Vitamin B Excursus on intestinal health What does the intestine have to do with hooves? It has been mentioned several times in this article that the nutrients that are important for horn formation and hoof growth are absorbed in the intestine. If the intestine is disturbed due to incorrect feeding, stress or too long feeding breaks, the important nutrients cannot be absorbed or only partially. It would be very annoying if you put expensive supplementary feed into the horse and it does not work because it does not reach the place where it is supposed to work. On the other hand, one should also consider the general health of the horse. In most cases, hooves are only one of many problems if the cause is a disturbed intestinal flora. Often other symptoms appear, such as eczema, fecal water, colic and/ or poor performance. If the intestine is disturbed, the whole horse is often not well! But there is also a solution for this problem. The horse's intestine can be rebuilt. There are many ways, we recommend the following: Carrying out intestinal rehabilitation An intestinal rehabilitation can be carried out in a 2-week rhythm. This means the following: You start the cure by feeding liquorice root for 2 weeks, followed by a break, also for two weeks. After the 2-week break, you start again with a 2-week dose of liquorice root. In parallel to the liquorice root, you can feed tannins/ bitter herbs such as yarrow, couch grass root or Stiefel Intestinal Herbs and mild herbs such as fennel, aniseed, caraway and thyme for 6 weeks. Tannins and bitter herbs should be fed about 30-50 g per day. Linseed oil and Stiefel Intestinal Herbs can also be fed continuously for 6 weeks. If the horse suffers from fecal water or diarrhoea, you can feed flee seed husks as a supplement to the intestinal rehabilitation. These have the effect of a binding agent in the intestine and can have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract in the case of fecal water and/ or diarrhoea. The dosage should be strictly adhered to, otherwise constipation may occur! Flee seed husks can also be fed for 6 weeks. If the symptoms improve, the dosage should be reduced. An excellent supplement to the flee seed husks is the feeding of biochar. Biochar can also help to alleviate fecal water and flatulence, thus contributing to optimal intestinal health. Likewise, the biochar can have a positive influence on the metabolism and thus in turn support hoof health. Which products can I use to support the hoof health of my horse? We have now learned a lot about the structure, blood circulation and nutrient supply of the hoof. How you can support your horse with hoof problems is explained in the following section. Before you buy any supplementary feed for hoof health, you should ask yourself the following question: Is my horse's intestine healthy? Can it absorb all the nutrients I feed it? Stiefel Biotin Plus Pellet can help to correct a prevailing biotin deficiency so that the elasticity and resistance of the hooves can improve. In addition, Stiefel Biotin Plus Pellet contains methionine, a sulphur-containing amino acid that is important for the formation of connective tissue and thus also for the hoof horn. The body can build keratin from methionine, which is needed to strengthen the hoof horn. Zinc is also contained. The cell metabolism is dependent on zinc, so that the additional feeding of zinc can stimulate the formation of new horn cells. Biotin works best in combination with sulphur-containing amino acids such as cysteine and methionine. Methionine is already included in Stiefel Biotin Plus Pellet. To optimize horn growth, Stiefel Kieselgur can be fed as a combination product. This product contains a high proportion of the sulphur-containing amino acid methionine and also has a high proportion of silica. The silica contained in this product can improve the elasticity of the hooves and help with brittle and dry hooves. In addition, the zinc content of this product can also have a positive effect on horn growth. The vitamin B content in Stiefel Kieselgur can support the metabolism on the one hand and optimize the growth of the hooves on the other. The administration of B vitamins has long been a secret among farriers and hoof care professionals. Stiefel Brewer's Yeast has a particularly high content of B vitamins. Brewer's yeast is often recommended by farriers and veterinarians when horses have poor hoof quality or the hoof horn grows too slowly. Especially at times when the metabolism and digestive tract are challenged, feeding brewer's yeast can support the metabolism as well as the intestines and in turn contribute to better hoof growth and horn quality. In the case of good horn growth but poor hoof quality, a combination with Stiefel Amino Plus is recommended. In addition to methionine, this product contains the amino acid lysine, which can help to improve horn quality. Feeding MSM has also proven to be effective in cases of poor horn quality. The additional administration of the organic sulphur compound can positively support the sulphur deficiency, which can be the cause of poor hoof quality. Since a zinc deficiency is quite common in horses and zinc is also involved in hoof quality, among other things, a possible deficiency should be remedied as quickly as possible. Stiefel Zink Plus can compensate for a feed-related zinc deficiency and help to improve the quality of the hooves. In the period around the change of coat, this product can also be fed preventively to prevent a possible zinc deficiency. In case of poor hoof growth, Stiefel Meadowsweet can optimize the growth of the hoof horn. Meadowsweet is said to have a circulation-promoting effect, therefore meadowsweet can also promote the circulation of the hooves. Growth can thus be stimulated. Meadowsweet can also help to activate the natural "pump" in the hooves of horses that are resting in boxes. Despite a lack of exercise, the hooves can be supplied with blood more easily. How can I care for the hooves from the outside? The main contribution to good hoof health is support from the inside. If the hoof horn grows back brittle or cracked, it is difficult to fight it only from the outside. It is a bit like a bottomless pit, because bad hoof horn keeps growing back from above, which needs intensive care. Therefore, it makes sense to focus on care from the inside and only do the finishing touches from the outside. Small problems or even additional support do not harm the hoof and can optimize hoof health. Stiefel Herbal Hoof Oil cares for the hooves on a natural basis. Due to the composition of various plant oils, the hooves, frog and coronet are cared for and kept supple - without the hoof becoming soft. Cracks and dry hooves can be prevented with regular application. The natural protective film of the oils can prevent the penetration of pollutants from manure or dung into the hoof. Before application, the hoof, frog and coronet should be cleaned. The oil absorbs particularly well on slightly damp hooves. Stiefel Hoof Balm has a similar effect to Stiefel Herbal Hoof Oil. The balm is easy to apply to the hoof with a brush and covers the entire surface. If applied regularly, Stiefel Hoof Balm can also have a positive effect on the elasticity and condition of the hooves. It can have a moisture-regulating effect, which can protect against cracks and drying out of the hooves. The horse's frog, as described above, is a sensitive area of the horse's body. Unfortunately, this area of the horse is also susceptible to diseases such as scurf or thrush. Stiefel Frog Care can help prevent frog problems and can be used preventively. Thanks to its high content of moisturising substances, provitamin B5 and lavender oil, Stiefel Frog Care gives the hoof what it needs to build up healthy, supple horn material. The liverwort extract contained can help the hoof horn to protect itself against external pollutants. If there is already an acute frog problem, daily application with Stiefel Frog Protect can provide positive support. The frog is exposed to the dirt in the pasture and especially in the stable. No matter how well the box is cared for and bedded, the horses often spend several hours in their box and sometimes stand with their hooves in manure. Stiefel Frog Protect can protect the frog from harmful influences such as ammonia or urine in the box bedding. In addition, the product can care for the hooves and keep them dry in wet weather conditions and muddy ground due to the copper compound it contains. Due to the deep penetration of the product into the frog furrow, a particularly profound effect is achieved. The hoof is exposed to new challenges every day. One of these challenges is the regular visit to the farrier. The hoof is trimmed and possibly an hoof shoe is renewed. This is a very important but also stressful measure for the hooves. If you own a horse that is a bit sensitive as a barefoot, the Stiefel Hoof Hardener can help to make the hoof horn stronger and more robust. Also for horses that are regularly re-shod, Stiefel Hoof Hardener can optimize the fit and hold of the horse shoe. The special crystalline structure of this product can help to strengthen the hoof, especially from the inside out, and "build up" the newly grown hoof horn more robustly. Regular use of the Stiefel Hoof Hardener can make the hoof horn stronger and more resilient. When applying the Stiefel Hoof Hardener daily, make sure the ground is as dry as possible so that the hardener can take effect for a few minutes. With this article, we hope we have been able to shed some light on the phenomenon of the horse's hoof and expand our knowledge about our fascinating four-legged friends, because the hoof is not just a hoof. It is a sensitive and yet robust structure of our horses, which can have an enormous influence on the health of the animals. Fortunately, there are many great tricks and tips on how we can maintain or even improve the quality of hooves. Although we have not specifically addressed hoof diseases such as thrush, scurf, hoof cancer or hoof abscess in this article, every horse owner will be able to benefit from this knowledge, because as the saying of many farriers goes: "No hoof, no horse". Of course, they are right about that! So look carefully when it comes to hoof health ;-) Articles on specific hoof diseases will follow.

2022-07-14T00:00:00+02:00 2022-07-14T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/a-tournament-day Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky The time has come: The first tournament of the year is coming up. The optimal preparation begins a few weeks before the tournament, because the horse should be in top shape when it goes to a tournament. So this article is all about the topic "horse tournament". Training is in full swing, the examination tasks are practiced and talked through several times. The dressage rider knows the lessons to be completed almost by heart. For a jumping test, all possible combinations, distances and routes to the jump are rehearsed again. But there is much more to training than just learning the tasks and jumping sequences, because the focus should always be on the horse's physical and mental condition. Preparation for the start of a competition The horse needs muscular strength and mental power to be able to show its best performance on a tournament day. In order to be able to optimally support a horse's musculature, Stiefel Amino Plus can already be fed in the preparation phase for the tournament. The muscle development and thus significantly the performance of the horse, can be supported with the contained important amino acids. All three essential amino acids are contained in this product and can prepare the horse, better the muscles of the horse, for the athletic effort of the tournament. The muscles are the engine for any movement: Without muscles - no movement. The more powerful a horse is to jump or the more expressive a horse is to present its gait, the more the course of the muscles plays a role. Please note the waiting period of 48 hours. In order to prepare the horse mentally for a show, it makes sense to show the horse different arenas and halls. Maybe there is another stable nearby or you visit your friend with the trailer and your horse. Horses should learn that a different environment means nothing bad for them. Training in a new environment must be practiced so that the horse is not stressed every time it goes on a trailer ride or to a new riding arena. Horses that are particularly susceptible to stress can be helped with Stiefel Mag Plus Liquid. The power mixture can help to minimize stress. Nervous and easily irritated horses can react more calmly to unfamiliar environments and situations with the administration of the liquid. If the horse is stressed, large amounts of magnesium are needed because magnesium, as an antagonist of calcium, can restore increased heart activity to normal. Likewise, when stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released, magnesium is secreted in increased amounts. If the stress level in the horse increases, the consumption and thus the demand for magnesium in the horse's body also increases. A deficiency of magnesium can further exacerbate the effects of stress. The added vitamin B12 can have a strengthening effect on the nerves and promote concentration. The contained L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid whose effect is based on the fact that it is converted into serotonin in the metabolism. It is one of the few amino acids that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Its effect is described as mood-lifting and calming. An undersupply can lead to overstimulation, imbalance and a lack of willingness to perform in stressful situations. When training different new situations, Stiefel Mag Plus Liquid can lower the horse's stress and facilitate show preparation. Please note the waiting period of 48 hours. Stiefel Nerves Herbs can also have a calming effect on the horse. The 100 % natural herbal mixture can help the horse "keep his nerves" in a species-appropriate way. Too much stress should always be prevented in horses as best as possible. Peppermint, lavender and chamomile can have a calming effect on the horse and reduce stress in a natural way. The herbs can also be fed to nervous or stress-prone horses for an extended period of time during preparation for a tournament without any problems. Please note the waiting period of 48 hours. Since the intensity of training usually increases during the preparation phase for a tournament, the feed should also be adapted to the increasing load. Stiefel Rice Germ Oil on the one hand can support muscle build-up through the contained gamma-oryzanol, on the other hand it can contribute to the maintenance or also to the increase of the performance during strenuous training sessions. The preparation and also the tournament day itself are strenuous for a horse's body. The strain should not be underestimated. In order to take full advantage of the positive effect of Stiefel Rice Germ Oil, the oil should be fed for 4-6 weeks, i.e. during the period of preparation for the tournament. The day of the tournament has come The preparations went well and the day of the tournament has come. It is not uncommon for a tournament day to start early in the morning, because before you step onto the show field, there are a few other tasks for horse and rider to do. Of course, appearance always plays a big role. Not only do you want to present a sporting performance, but you also want to present the horse and its appearance in the best possible way. To make sure everything is clean, the horse is groomed and the mane is braided. The tail also requires proper care. To wash the mane, tail or even coat, Stiefel Top Wash is recommended. You can simply wet the desired areas with water and massage in the shampoo. Then rinse thoroughly and with plenty of water. For a larger area, it is best to pour the shampoo into a bucket of water and then massage it in with a soft brush or sponge. Stiefel Top Wash is adapted to the pH-value of the horse and therefore also well tolerated by sensitive horses and/ or eczema horses. The horse now shines like gold. Just quickly put all things in the car, the hay net in the trailer and then you can be on your way. If the horse still doesn't want to go on the trailer, the Stiefel Apple Treats may help to take away the shyness of the scary trailer. And even if the horse loves to go on the trailer, it will be happy about a little treat, because a trailer ride is anything but natural for a horse. In your excitement, don't forget to praise the horse for its work! When you arrive at the tournament, after a few organizational things, you continue with the care of the horse. The hooves still need to be cleaned so they can shine and the tail still needs some shine and volume. Here, too, the Stiefel range offers a good selection. You can clean the hooves with a little water and then let them dry first. In the time you can take care of the tail. An absolute "must have" in every tournament bag is Stiefel Top Shine Aloe Vera. The mane and tail spray can not only have a positive effect on the combability of the long tail hair, it also gives the tail wonderful shine and brings great volume to the hair. The light protective film on the hair can prevent dust from settling on the coat, mane and tail again and protects against renewed knot formation. As just mentioned, you can also use Stiefel Top Shine for the entire body of the horse as well. Simply spray on the horse carefully. Due to the contained aloe vera, the coat is maintained and shines in new gloss. Now the hooves are also dry and still need some shine. For a natural care of the hooves, Stiefel Herbal Hoof Oil is suitable. Due to its oily consistency, it can be applied very well and precisely to the hoof. The nourishing vegetable oils protect the hooves in a natural way and make them look well-groomed and clean. The horse shows its best side visually. Now it is time to test the physical performance. The tournament begins. After the test, of course, you should first praise the horse! When it arrives at the trailer, it will be happy to receive a few treats. So that the legs can regenerate quickly after the test, you can apply Stiefel Horse Cream. Take some Stiefel Horse Cream out of the tub and massage the legs with slow movements. Stiefel Horse Cream is a massage cream with arnica, menthol, rosemary and eucalyptus, which can have a beneficial effect on stressed tendons and joints after strenuous competition. The natural ingredients cool, invigorate and refresh and are also suitable for use on shoulder and back area. Rosemary and arnica are also said to have a soothing effect on pain. After the massage, you can still apply a thicker layer of the cream to the legs and stressed areas of the body, such as shoulders and back, and let it soak in. The horse's body can regenerate and prepare for the next test. Used externally, arnica is not relevant to doping. Mostly the horse stays on the trailer during the break between the examinations. To make the break as pleasant and stress-free as possible, first and foremost there should always be a hay net on the trailer. The natural feeding behavior alleviates stress and above all satisfies hunger. Before loading, please do not forget to give the horse enough water! It is not uncommon for horses to be disturbed by annoying flies and mosquitoes on summer days. So that the horse can rest undisturbed on the trailer, it makes sense to drive away the annoying insects. Stiefel RP1 Insekten-Stop Ultra is a highly effective insect repellent with active tick and insect protection according to biocide regulations with an increased concentration of active ingredients for long-lasting protection. The active ingredient Saltidin® (Icaridin) is almost odorless for us humans and does not bother horse and human with an unpleasant odor. Insects, on the other hand, perceive odors sensory and are deterred by the repellent. The spray can also be used before the test and when warming up to keep mosquitoes and ticks away. If you only want to protect small sensitive areas on the horse, such as the head and ears, or you own a horse that is very sensitive to sprays, the Stiefel RP1 Insect Stop Gel would be a good solution. The gel has the same effect as the spray and can be applied specifically with the fingers or the contained sponge. Since the gel does not contain alcohol, it is perfect for skin sensitive horses and even eczema horses. Once the horse is finished being cared for after the test, it will be happy to have some rest and a hay net on the trailerr. For nervous horses, chewing can have a calming effect and relieve stress. After the short break on the trailer, the preparation for the next test starts. If needed, Stiefel Top Shine and Stiefel Herbal Hoof Oil can be used again. The right care after the tournament At the end of an exhausting day at the tournament, you should always take care of your horse's well-being, both physically and mentally. The joints are stressed during any kind of movement, whether it is show jumping or a dressage competition, so at the end of the tournament day you can take care of the legs with Stiefel Suspension. Stiefel Suspension is a wrapping paste with kaolin, menthol and wintergreen oil for stressed horse legs. Kaolin is a compound of aluminum silicate and water and is one of the white healing clays. Stiefel Suspension can be used to cool stressed joints and tendons. In addition, Stiefel Suspension can also be used as a warm application for muscle tension. The legs can easily be creamed with the paste. If you want to treat other parts of the body to relieve tension, it makes sense to heat the paste a little in warm water beforehand and then apply it to the affected areas. Once the paste is dry, it can be washed off with warm water. The application with the paste represents a small wellness unit after a strenuous tournament day for your horse. If you feel that your horse was stressed and nervous during the show day, you can now feed the Stiefel Nerves Herbs again to help with calming down. The herbs can help the horse to recover quickly and have a restful night. No horse should be put in a stall stressed or nervous after a tournament day. A positive ending is especially important, after all, you certainly want to compete in more tournaments and have a motivated and happy partner by your side. So don't forget the little treat when you say goodbye and thank your horse for its performance. No tournament day is natural for the horse, which at the bottom of its heart is still a flight animal and will remain so. We should always be aware of this. My recipe for a good and healthy supply during a tournament day: Hay or alfalfa cobs Stiefel Stomach Herbs Stiefel Flee Seed Husks Stiefel Linseed Oil Stiefel Rose Hips I mix all the products according to the dosage directions on the packages and boil it all up with warm water to make a watery feed mixture. I divide it into 2-3 portions and feed each portion throughout the day before and between tests. Stiefel Stomach Herbs can help protect the stress-prone stomach. Stiefel Flee Seed Husks can also have a positive effect on the horses' digestion. Stiefel Linseed Oil can promote performance readiness on an intense tournament day and Stiefel Rose Hips are usually just a nice treat for your horse, so that even the biggest feed refusers eat a little bit in stressful situations. Now nothing stands in the way of good preparation and a successful day at the tournament. And don't forget: Be grateful for what your horse does (for you)!

2022-06-28T00:00:00+02:00 2022-06-28T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/for-a-healthy-start-in-life Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky If you want to learn more about feeding horses, there are countless reports or books to broaden your knowledge. They deal with the most diverse diseases and special features of feeding. However, the focus of these texts is mostly on the adult sport or leisure horse. But what about young horses? How do you feed a small foal correctly? There is much less information available on this topic. With this article, we want to shed some light on the subject of feeding foals and weanlings. When does feed intake in foals begin? The first feed intake in foals actually starts very quickly and is in form of milk. Normally, the foal stands up shortly after birth and seeks the mare's udder. About 30-90 minutes after birth, the foal should have had its first drink from the mare. In most cases, the foal also instinctively follows the behaviour of seeking the udder. However, it can also happen that humans have to help a little because the foal either does not find the udder or the mare shows defensive reactions during the first drinking attempts. For some mares, the sucking of the foal is an unfamiliar and somewhat unpleasant situation, so they try to keep the foal away from the udder by biting or hitting it. If this behaviour occurs, you can try to hold the mare by the halter and distract her a little while a helper slowly leads the foal to the udder. Of course, caution is always required here: Human and horse should not hurt each other. The mare usually realizes very quickly that sucking the foal is not unpleasant, but benefits both sides. However, if the mare still shows defensive behaviour after several attempts, you should milk the mare by hand and give the foal the milk by bottle as soon as possible. The first feed intake in the form of the mare's milk is particularly important for the young foal. The first milk, the so-called "colostrum", contains many important vitamins, fats and above all the first antibodies to strengthen the foal's immune system as quickly as possible. The birth process is very energy-consuming for a foal, so it needs new energy quickly after birth. The mare's milk will replenish the foal's energy reserves. In addition, the foal is born with a weak immune system and is very susceptible to any pathogens. The colostrum contains a high proportion of antibodies, which are precisely adapted to the mare's environment and thus also to the foal's new environment. Before birth, it is therefore already important that the mare knows the place of birth. If the mare is to have her foal in a box, for example, the box should be thickly filled with bedding and there should be good stable hygiene. However, the hygiene measures should not be overdone either, because the mare should maintain a strong immune system and build up antibodies for the foal. You can re-bed the box daily and remove dung, but should refrain from using disinfectants or other sterile measures. The foal's first feed intake therefore comes directly from the mare and is essential for the foal's development. The colostrum should not be supplemented or even replaced by other substitutes, even in the case of complications around the time of birth or even in the case of complications during suckling! No milk (substitute) product is as good as the first milk of a healthy mare! With a normal course of events and good aftercare, the foal should be drinking milk at regular intervals after about 12 hours without any problems and should already be able to stand securely on its feet. Of course, every feed intake also includes the dropping of faeces. The foal should defecate in small portions within the first 12 hours of feeding. The "meconium" has a firm to tough consistency and often comes after the first feed intake of colostrum. A few figures for a good start into foal life: About 15 minutes after birth the foal starts its first attempts to stand up. 30 - 90 minutes after birth the foal seeks the mare's udder and takes in the vital colostrum. After 12 hours the milk intake should work without problems and the foal can follow the mare's first steps. A foal drinks quite frequently in the first days after birth, but in small amounts. 4 - 7 drinking attempts per hour are normal. The foal drinks about 150 - 200 ml per milk intake. Of course, these are general indications that have to be considered very individually. For example, if the birth process was slow and therefore very strenuous for mare and foal, the first attempts to stand up may be somewhat delayed. If the mare is still young and has her first foal, the first milk intake may also be slower. It is important to give the mare and foal a lot of rest and patience in the first period. If the times differ greatly, a veterinarian should be consulted. Do I have to give the foal additional feed directly after birth? No! Immediately after birth, the foal really only needs, urgently and promptly, the colostrum. By taking in the milk, the newborn gets a lot of antibodies. The antibodies pass through the stomach and enter the foal's intestine. The intestine is special in the first hours after birth because it allows the antibodies from the milk to pass directly into the foal's bloodstream. The possibility of rapid passage from the intestine into the bloodstream will decrease after a few hours, which also explains why the colostrum must be absorbed as quickly as possible. Once the antibodies have reached the foal's blood, they are distributed throughout the body and can protect the young animal from possible infections. The foal has no immune system of its own in the first days of its life, because the immune system has to build up slowly. The foal therefore uses the antibodies from its mother's milk to build up and protect itself. A healthy immune system in the mare therefore directly protects the foal's immune system as well! With regard to the proportion of antibodies in the mare's milk, it is important to ensure that the milk is absorbed as quickly as possible after birth, because the antibody content in the milk decreases again just a few hours after birth. The first milk intake from the foal should take place after 4 hours at the latest. It does not matter whether the foal suckles naturally on the udder or has received the colostrum with the bottle. Attention: As cute as it is, you should only bottle-feed a foal in an emergency! Despite the sweet sight of a young foal, please do not disregard the mare. The needs of some vitamins, trace elements and fats change after birth. The foal needs above all a healthy mother after birth. Please also read up on the mare's health around the time of birth. Please have a look at the article "Pregnancy in horses". Many possible illnesses or symptoms of illness in foals can primarily only be controlled via the mare, because everything the foal takes in during the first few days comes in the form of milk via the mare. Therefore, one should intervene as little as possible in the foal's feeding during the first days. Many deficiencies in a foal can be remedied via the mare and in most cases help both horses at the same time. An example: If the mare has a sodium deficiency, the foal usually also has a sodium deficiency. This sodium deficiency may not be very noticeable in the mare. However, you may observe that the foal does not defecate even after several milk intakes and several hours. This could be a symptom of sodium deficiency. If the mare's sodium deficiency is corrected, more sodium will get into the milk and the foal's deficiency will also be corrected. In the best case, the mare's health is in optimal condition so that no deficiencies can occur in the mare and foal. In case of any (possible) deficiency, however, one should consult a veterinarian or animal health practitioner, because some deficiencies have to be remedied quickly, so that the way via the milk would take too long. So in the first hours and days after birth, the foal needs ONLY milk. The health of the mare is extremely important for the quality of the milk, so you should try to keep the mare's health at an optimal level. Feel free to get tips on this in the article "Pregnancy in horses". Does the foal need additional feed in the next months until weaning? The first hours and days after birth have passed. Does the foal need additional feed now? Can I positively influence its health through feeding? Even in the next weeks and months after birth, the foal needs one thing above all: good quality milk that provides the foal with all the nutrients it needs for growth and further development. Supplementary feeds are not necessary in most cases. In special cases, for example when the mare does not give enough milk, it was a twin birth or the mare as well as the foal suffer from diseases, supplementary feeds can make sense. These supplements are usually very specialized and should always be discussed with a veterinarian or animal health practitioner. Until the foal is weaned, the following rule applies with regard to the foal: "Less is more". Nevertheless, it is possible to do something good for the foal in the first months after birth, namely by supporting the mare optimally and thus ensuring the quality of the mother's milk. But how can you increase the milk yield and quality? By promoting the mare's health. Again, I would like to refer to the blog post "Pregnancy in horses". In this article, I would like to talk very briefly about the mare's intestinal health, because this is decisive for the performance and quality of the milk. In the article on pregnancy we already explained that foals eat their mother's faeces. At first glance, this may seem daunting and wrong, but it is actually totally ingenious, as the foal is born with a sterile intestine free of bacteria. What sounds good at first is a problem for the foal, because without bacteria, no digestion takes place. Both humans and horses have and need thousands of bacteria in their intestines. So the foal is instinctively clever enough to eat its mother's faeces so that bacteria can settle in its intestine. These are not just any bacteria, but those that the mare also needs for her digestion. The settlement of the bacteria in the intestine depends on the food supply: If the mare is standing on a somewhat dry meadow with lots of herbs and grasses, she will have different bacteria in her intestine than a mare standing on a densely overgrown meadow with lots of wet and tall grass. So the foal also gets the bacteria for the intestine with the faeces, which are suitable for its current environment and the food supply. In this case, eating faeces is not "IHHH", but "AHHH excellent". After 4 - 6 months, the foals have built up their own intestinal environment and then also stop eating their mothers' faeces. It quickly becomes clear why the mare's intestine should be intact. If the intestine is not optimally populated with bacteria, it will not be able to work optimally and the important faeces for the foal will not be provided with the right bacteria. The vicious circle of intestinal diseases can therefore start at a very young age, namely through the lack of bacteria from the mare's faeces, which is enormously important for the development of the foal's intestine. The intestine is therefore a very important part of breeding. Only a mare that has a healthy intestine can enable her foal to build up a healthy intestine flora itself. The health of the foal is therefore strongly dependent on the health of the mother. You can support the intestinal health of the lactating mare with the following products: Aniseed Fennel seed Black cumin oil Stiefel Biochar Stiefel Intestinal Herbs If the mare needs a intestine rehabilitation, you can also find a post about this on our blog. Please have a look at the article. There you will find helpful tips on how to support the mare's intestine for optimal milk production. From the time of birth until the day of separation of mare and foal, the focus of feeding is really on the mare's health! The foal was weaned from the mare. How must it be cared for now? At the latest, the time has come when the foal can definitely no longer obtain nutrients, vitamins or antibodies from its mother's milk. The mother mare is now gone and the "little horse" has to look after itself. It must be emphasized that wild horses sometimes let their foals suckle for much longer. The mares sometimes do not wean their foals until the next foal is born. In human management, however, foals are usually weaned much earlier (between 6 and 7 months of age) and thus have to fend for themselves much earlier. Many weanlings first lose weight after separation. The loss of weight is partly due to the stress of separation, but one should also not be put off by the sometimes untypical shape of the young horses. Young horses look misshapen in many phases of their life. Sometimes the legs are too long and the head too big. Sometimes the belly is too fat and the ears are still very small. Yes, the young horse is growing! And like children, this growth usually happens in spurts. So it is normal that a young horse often looks misshapen. Don't worry, this will usually grow back, give your young horse time to develop. In general, it is said that you should keep a young horse a little thinner rather than too fat. Especially after a growth spurt, horses look too thin. As a rule, this thin appearance changes again after a few weeks until the next growth spurt is due. A weanling should neither be fattened nor left extremely hungry. Hay should be available at all times and in sufficient quantity and quality. If the weanlings are standing on a meadow, one should also make sure that there is enough grass and if necessary feed them with hay. Young horses should always be slim but not undernourished. A deficiency condition should not be present at any time during growth. The calcium requirement hardly changes in the transition from foal to weanling, whereas the potassium requirement increases. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure an adequate potassium supply. To meet the calcium needs of a foal, Stiefel Calcium is a "must-have" in every foal owner's feed cupboard, as calcium can no longer be absorbed through the milk after weaning. Stiefel Calcium can help meet the calcium requirements for a healthy and strong bone structure. From the time foal and mare have been separated, additional protein (amino acids) can be fed. In young horses, a lack of proteins can occur, which should be remedied quickly, otherwise secondary diseases such as disturbed hoof and joint growth or poor bone growth can occur. The three essential amino acids for horses are lysine, methionine and cysteine. These vital amino acids should never be deficient, of course, but especially not in the first 9 months of age. Due to their strong growth, young horses have a very high demand for proteins. Especially at the time of the change of feed, when the foals/ weanlings can no longer enjoy their mother's milk and are completely switched to grass and/ or hay in their feeding, a deficiency of amino acids can therefore occur. The supplementation of Stiefel Amino Plus can help to prevent or correct a deficiency. Especially the amino acid lysine, which is usually the first and quickest to become deficient, is proportionately represented as the strongest in the product. During the growth phase, young horses can be supported in building up a healthy skeleton with Stiefel Amino Plus. The weanling's immune system is weakened by the stress of separation from the mare and integration into another herd. It is particularly important that the horse is now supplied with all important minerals so that the organism can build up new antibodies as quickly as possible and the immune system is strengthened again. A good mineral feed is also the cornerstone of a strong immune system. Stiefel Organic-Mineral is also suitable for this phase. This mineral feed contains vital substances that the organism needs, among other things, to build up new antibodies to protect the horse against possible infections. To support the young horse's immune system, you can also feed a small handful of Stiefel Rosehips daily as a treat from your hand or as an activity in the paddock. The rosehips offer variety in the diet and provide high levels of vitamin C. The high vitamin C content can be beneficial to the horse's immune system and can have a positive effect on the horses' immune system. Stiefel Immunity Herbs can support weanlings in any stressful and demanding life situation, as the herbs contained can strengthen the immune system. An intact and strong immune system can fight better against a wide variety of pathogens from the environment. Stiefel Immunity Herbs can also be given preventively before a stressful situation. For example, if you know that new horses will be coming into the herd in a week's time, you can support your horse, or rather the horse's immune system, in advance by giving the herbs. New horses or a new environment always mean stress and new pathogens for the horses. A good solution to strengthen the immune system and at the same time supply the horse with important amino acids (proteins) are Stiefel Hemp Seeds. Hemp seeds are rich in high-quality amino acids, easily digestible proteins, essential trace elements and minerals. The omega-3 fatty acids they contain are in an optimal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for the horse. Due to these high-quality ingredients, Stiefel Hemp Seeds can strengthen the immune system and promote muscle development in a natural way. In general, with foals and young horses one should be careful not to interfere too much with the natural diet of hay, pasture grass and fresh water. The newborn foal gets all vital nutrients through its mother's milk until it is weaned. We like to emphasize the health of the mare again! The health of the mare is decisive for the health of the foal, because the health and well-being of the foal is regulated through the mare's milk. From the time of weaning, the health of the mare no longer determines the health of the foal, because the mother's milk is no longer available. After weaning, the young horse should be closely observed in order to prevent possible deficiencies as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the same applies here: Less is sometimes more. The young horse needs good hay and/ or pasture grass with plenty of opportunities to run around, as well as fresh water and a good mineral feed. These are the cornerstones of healthy horse management at a young age. If there is a deficiency, it must and should always be individually adjusted to the foal in consultation with the veterinarian. Basically, young horses and their digestive tract should not be overly burdened with preventive feeding measures. If there is a deficiency, it should of course be remedied and otherwise one simply watches the young animal patiently on its way from foal to riding horse. Special times that require a lot of observation are: Time of birth and lactation (pay attention to the mare!). The mare can and should be supported in many ways -> observe intestinal rehabilitation, zinc and calcium balance. At the time of weaning -> add mineral feed and strengthen the immune system. At every change of herd or other stressful situations, because stress leads to a weak immune system -> strengthen the immune system. At the time of the change of coat, because this is often when weak points in the supply of minerals and vitamins become apparent -> cover zinc requirements. After weaning, the young horse can be treated like an adult horse in case of possible deficiency symptoms. However, if a disease or deficiency is suspected, a veterinarian and/ or animal health practitioner should always be consulted when choosing the appropriate product. We wish you much success with your own foal and much fun on the journey from foal to riding horse.

2022-06-10T00:00:00+02:00 2022-06-10T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/a-shining-performance Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Judith Bauermeister The 2022 show season is in on. An integral part of my stable range is the Top Shine - Coat and Mane Spray by Stiefel. The practical spray bottle makes it easy to use and the formula also gently cares for the horse's hair and coat. Many riders know the following situation: You prepare everything the day before and in the morning you come to the stable and the horse has undone most of your work. Tail and mane are completely knotted and the coat is dusted and dull. Especially when you have to be quick, this is a problem. Top Shine is a real lifesaver. Simply spray on the affected areas, leaving out the saddle and brushing boots location, and brush out and comb through after a short drying time. It not only detangles the mane and tail, but also gives the coat a special shine. Stiefel Top Shine not only cares for the coat, it also forms a protective film that both repels dust and prevents knots from forming. The version with aloe vera is my personal favourite. The aloe vera has an extra caring effect and can also be used on sensitive skin types. Top Shine is not without reason one of Stiefel's bestsellers and has already convinced many customers. The spray bottle is refillable and Top Shine is also available in a 2.5 litre canister. So nothing stands in the way of a brilliant show appearance.

2022-05-20T00:00:00+02:00 2022-05-20T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/pregnancy-in-horses Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky Almost everyone, whether a horse owner or not, thinks a little foal is super cute and sweet. The big eyes and the uncertain gait with the playful curious nature make every heart beat faster. It is not without reason that many mare owners dream of raising their own foal from their mare. In this article, we would like to talk specifically about feeding the mare before, during and after pregnancy. With feeding, you can support and to some extent even control the process of the entire pregnancy. So, if you are thinking of mating your mare, you should not only deal with the issue of pedigree and management, but also look at the issue of feeding. Feeding the mare BEFORE pregnancy Not every mare becomes pregnant immediately at the first attempt. This problem can have many different causes. In this article we would like to go into more detail on feeding and not look further at other possible causes such as stress, incorrect horse management or organic causes, as these have to be analyzed and remedied on a very individual basis. Some mares may have difficulties getting pregnant due to cycle disorders. The administration of chasteberry can help to bring the cycle back into balance and thus increase the chance of pregnancy. Another deficiency that can lead to cycle disorders and/ or an irregular cycle is a deficiency of iodine. The administration of iodine or iodine-containing feed can bring the cycle back into balance. However, caution is advised here, because an over-supply of iodine can lead to goiter formation and/ or malformation of the limbs in the foals. It is therefore best to always consult a veterinarian when giving iodine. Selenium levels should also be determined during pregnancy, as a selenium deficiency can be detrimental to the development of the embryo. Selenium deficiency can also decrease the vitality of the newborn foal. The fertility of the mare can also be optimized with the administration of provitamin B-carotene and vitamin A. The mare's ovaries should also be well supplied, of course. Since the work of the ovaries depends on essential amino acids, the ovaries can be supported with the administration of lysine and methionine and a deficiency can be prevented. If the mare does not become steedy, an increased dose of methionine can help to get her in heat again. Many problems and disorders can already be positively supported BEFORE pregnancy with optimized feeding. The influence of the basic feed, i.e. hay and straw, should not be underestimated, because poor hay and/ or straw quality can also have a negative effect on fertility and in bad cases even lead to an abortion of pregnancy. Good basic feed is therefore just as important as any supplementary feed. Feeding DURING pregnancy The time has come. The vet confirms the pregnancy. The joy is great, but the concern for and the care of the mare's health also grows. The average gestation period for horses is about 320-360 days. The 1st-7th month of pregnancy is called the "down-bearing period" and the 8th-11th month of pregnancy is called the "up-bearing period". In the first 7 months of pregnancy, the mare should always be able to cover her daily basal metabolic rate. This depends on the load of the mare, because even a pregnant mare can and should be moved. The basic requirement should be covered by high-quality hay. In addition, a good mineral feed should not be missing. To counteract abortion and to protect the life of the embryo, the supplementary feeding of B-carotene can be useful. B-carotene can have a positive effect on the production of progesterone. Progesterone is also known as the "pregnancy hormone" and can promote the survival of the embryo in the mare's womb. Feeding in the first 7 months of pregnancy is still quite straightforward and simple. From the 8th month of pregnancy, feed management slowly becomes more demanding. The energy requirement increases with each month of pregnancy. The mare will also eat more, but sometimes she cannot meet her increasing needs despite increased feed intake. Important in the last months of pregnancy are: Calcium and Phosphorus; for fetal bone growth (especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy). The skeletal growth and development of the foetus depend on these minerals. Zinc, selenium, copper; the embryonic development of tendons, ligaments and cartilage are dependent on these trace elements. Vitamin D and K; are also important for skeletal growth. Vitamin D and A; are important for the immune system. If there is a deficiency here, the newborn foals often show a susceptibility to infections and are weak and tired. To ensure that at the time of birth the first milk, the so-called colostrum, already contains all important fat-soluble vitamins and that the foal is supplied with these important vitamins directly from the first suckling, it is recommended to supply the mare with vitamins E, D, K and A BEFORE birth. The vitamins get directly into the mare's milk and can be absorbed by the newborn foal. The absorbed vitamins take over an important protective function in the body of the newborn foal within a few hours. One should always keep in mind that the quality and quantity of the mare's milk can be controlled to a large extent through feeding. To ensure that the mare's milk provides the newborn with enough energy and protein for its start in life, the mare should be fed a high-protein and high-energy diet in the last month of pregnancy. Stiefel Linseed Oil is particularly suitable as a supplementary feed during this time, as it contains important fatty acids. Hemp oil, which is still quite unknown in horse feeding, is also a good feed supplement. It has a very good fatty acid profile and can also support the mare's immune system. If the mare is not able to cover her energy needs completely, you can also feed her grain such as barley or oats. Some mares are also happy to receive a portion of mash. It should be noted that it is better to feed 2-3 smaller portions throughout the day than to give a large portion at once. Always remember: Breast milk is the life source for the newborn foal! 600 kg / KM Calcium Phosphorus Sodium Potassium Chlorine Day 275 37 26 24 26 29 Day 320 59 40 25 26 30 Day 335 72 48 25 27 30 The increase in calcium and phosphorus is most clearly. At the end of gestation, the requirement almost doubles. This is because these two minerals are essential for foetal skeletal growth. A deficiency can lead to malformations or very small foals. Other bulk elements such as potassium and sodium increase only minimally during pregnancy. All the more important is the additional need for essential amino acids. These include lysine, methionine and threonine. Just like before the actual pregnancy, a supplementary feeding of these amino acids can make sense. Should I move my mare during pregnancy? The answer to this question is a quick and simple -YES-. The mare is not sick, the mare is pregnant. A pregnant mare should also be exercised regularly. In the last months of pregnancy, the intensity of exercise should be reduced. If you keep a close eye on your horse, you will quickly notice what exercise is good and what is too much. However, walks, ground work and light work on the lunge line or under a rider are allowed and even desirable. The mare's digestion must be kept in motion in any case and light exercise is beneficial for digestion. The occurrence of colic as well as other complications of the digestive system can be reduced with light, regular exercise. Feeding AFTER birth The time has come: The little foal has been born. Quite instinctively, the mare gets up immediately after birth and takes care of the foal. If the foal is healthy, it should get up within a few minutes (20-90 minutes) and go to the mare's udder all by itself to take in its first milk. After about 12 hours, the foal will take milk all by itself and without complications. Often, it is only now that the foal and the mare are at peace. Both need this rest and should not be constantly disturbed - even if the temptation is of course enormously high. Mare and foal will normally get used to each other very quickly and build up a strong bond. Even if the sight of the cute foal enchants you, you should never forget the health of the mare, because her health also decisively determines the health of the foal. The production of milk is a small, daily high performance work for the mare in which the owners can support her well. Milk production is still relatively low in the first days after birth, but increases quickly. Depending on the mare's condition and expression, the amount of concentrated feed can now be slowly increased and individually adjusted. Too much" is just as unhealthy as "too little", so the amount of concentrate and all other feed supplements should be increased slowly and under good supervision. The basic feed should never be deficient! The mare should always have access to sufficient hay of good quality. A basic feed "ad libitum", i.e. a requirement of hay as much as the mare wants to eat, should be aimed for. Even after birth, supplying the mare with calcium and phosphorus is very important. But also vitamins A, E and D should not be missing from the mare's diet, as in the last months of pregnancy. After birth, the zinc supply also comes into play, because the zinc requirement increases. Even if the mare is standing on the pasture with the foal, a zinc deficiency can occur. Zinc is important for hair and hoof formation, but also an important building block in the immune system of mare and foal. A deficiency should therefore be prevented. If you observe a weak vitality in the foal, possibly in connection with a susceptibility to infections, a selenium deficiency may also be present. It is not uncommon for these symptoms to occur in both mare and foal. Selenium supplementation can help, but should be discussed with a veterinarian or animal health practitioner beforehand. "The intestine - the mirror of health" Okay, but what does this sentence have to do with the mare's pregnancy or even with the foal?! A lot! The intestine, or rather the large intestine, reflects a very large part of the health of our horses in most cases. If the intestine is sick, the horse is sick. If the intestine cannot work at 100 %, many important nutrients are lost and this deficiency can actually lead to infertility. You can put as many great supplementary feeds into the mare: If the intestine is not able to absorb these nutrients, the deficiency cannot be corrected. We have already explained how important certain nutrients are for fertility and also for pregnancy. It is now important to understand that the intestine plays a major role in this issue. A sick (large) intestine cannot only lead to infertility and problems during pregnancy, but also can have a big impact on the health of the foal. If you watch foals, you sometimes see foals eating their mother's faeces. This may seem daunting and wrong at first, but it's actually totally brilliant. The foal is born and has a completely sterile intestine without bacteria. Sounds good at first, but it's not, because without bacteria, digestion doesn't work. Horses, like humans, have and need thousands of bacteria in their intestine. So the foal is instinctively clever enough to eat its mother's faeces so that bacteria can settle in its intestine. These are not just any bacteria, but those that the mare also needs for her digestion. The settlement of bacteria in the intestine depends very much on the food supply. If the mare is standing in a dry meadow with lots of herbs and grasses, she will have different bacteria in her intestine than a mare standing in a thickly overgrown meadow with lots of wet and tall grass. So when the foal eats faeces, it also gets the bacteria for the intestine that fit its current environment and the food supply. In this case, eating faeces is not "IHHH", but "AHHH excellent". After 4- 6 months, the foals have built up their own intestinal environment and then also stop eating their mother's faeces. It quickly becomes clear why the mare's intestine should be intact. If the intestine is not optimally populated with bacteria, it will not be able to work optimally and the important faeces for the foals will not be provided with the right bacteria. The vicious circle of intestinal diseases can therefore start at a very young age, namely through the lack of bacteria from the mare's faeces, which is enormously important for the development of the foal's intestines. Intestinal health is therefore a very important part for breeding and for the desire of a foal. Only a mare that has a healthy intestine can enable her foal to build up a healthy intestine flora. What is the best way to feed my mare before, during and after pregnancy? To return to the previous topic, we will first look at the intestine in feeding, because it should be in the best of health at all times. Here is an overview of products that can support intestinal health: Aniseed Fennel seeds Black cumin oil Liquorice root Stiefel Intestinal Herbs Stiefel Biochar Otherwise you can support the mare BEFORE pregnancy with the following products: Stiefel Chasteberry Stiefel Chasteberry can have a positive effect on the horse's hormonal balance. The cycle can be stabilized and regulated. The fertility of the horse can also be positively influenced. Stiefel Seaweed Meal This iodine-containing supplementary feed can have a regulating effect on the mare's cycle and additionally strengthen the immune system. Stiefel Amino Plus Stiefel Amino Plus can compensate for a lack of lysine and methionine and thus increase fertility. It also contains vitamin A, which can also have a positive effect on fertility. The following products are suitable for feeding the mare DURING pregnancy: Stiefel Amino Plus Can be fed throughout pregnancy to prevent lysine and methionine deficiencies. The need for both amino acids increases especially in the last months of pregnancy. Stiefel Organic-Mineral This mineral feed can counteract mineral deficiencies and should be fed throughout pregnancy. If fed daily, Stiefel Organic-Mineral can supply the horse with all vital substances in very high quality. Stiefel Calcium Especially in the last months of pregnancy, the need for calcium should be covered to ensure a good development of the foal's skeleton. Stiefel Zinc Plus Stiefel Zinc Plus contains not only zinc, but also selenium and copper. It is therefore very suitable to prevent or compensate for a possible deficiency during pregnancy. Especially the tendons and ligaments of the foal can benefit from the administration of Stiefel Zinc Plus. Stiefel Vitamin Liquid Stiefel Vitamin Liquid is a liquid combination of valuable vitamins, trace elements and amino acids and can compensate for feed-related deficiencies of these substances. Stiefel Vitamin Liquid thus represents a useful and high-quality enhancement of the daily basic feed ration of pregnant mares. Stiefel Linseed Oil and Stiefel Hemp Oil Both oils provide the mare with additional energy and have a good fatty acid profile of the vital omega fatty acids. The following products are suitable for feeding AFTER pregnancy and during lactation: Stiefel Amino Plus Stiefel Amino Plus is also very suitable after the birth of the foal to compensate for possible deficiencies in lysine and methionine. Stiefel Calcium Even after birth, the need for calcium is increased, so that the administration of calcium can counteract possible deficiency symptoms. Stiefel Vitamin Liquid Even after birth, the foal needs to be supplied with important vitamins. As it absorbs all nutrients through the mare's milk, the mare should be provided with sufficient vitamins. Stiefel Vitamin Liquid can help with an optimal supply of vitamins for mare and foal. Stiefel Zinc Plus The mare's zinc requirement increases after the foal is born. Rarely can this additional requirement be covered by the basic feed. As zinc takes on many important tasks in the development of the foal, the deficiency should be compensated for as quickly as possible or, in the best case, not occur at all. By feeding zinc, this deficiency can be remedied or treated preventively. Not every mare needs all the products listed. Each mare should be dealt with individually and a suitable feeding plan tailored to the respective mare should be created. With the appropriately selected products, there is hardly anything standing in the way of the desire for a foal. However, if there are any uncertainties in choosing the right products, you should always consult a veterinarian or animal health practitioner. There is always a suitable product for most problems. ☺ Are there also "prohibitions" in feeding that should be noted with a pregnant mare? Most herbs have a positive effect at first, but there are a few exceptions among the herbs that should be kept in mind during pregnancy. Of course, the same always applies to any additional herb you feed - avoid overdosing! Therefore, always follow the instructions on the products. Should you (want to) deviate from this, please always discuss this with a vet or animal healthpractitioner beforehand. For pregnant mares, there are other things to think about in addition. Basil leaves and oregano should never be overdosed, especially towards the end of pregnancy. The herbs can have a labour-inducing effect in higher quantities. Premature birth of the foal must be prevented in any case. Basil is not contained in any of our Stiefel products, oregano can be found in the Stiefel Intestinal Herbs. However, as oregano is only found in small amounts, overdosing should not be possible if you follow the feeding instructions. However, please be sure to consult a veterinarian before feeding. Sage should not be fed in the last weeks of pregnancy because of its possible labour-inducing effect. Thyme should also not be given to pregnant mares. Feeding garlic can change the taste of the mare's milk, so that some foals may react to this taste by refusing milk. So the same applies here: Dose carefully or stop feeding it altogether in the last days of pregnancy and during lactation. In most cases, however, feeding herbs is harmless if you stick to the dosage given. If negative symptoms such as fecal water, colic symptoms or changed behaviour related to pregnancy such as a bulging udder (milk production) or signs of labour appear, the veterinarian should be contacted immediately. Rapid feed changes should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Supplementary feeds should always be fed slowly or "snuck in". Possible side effects can be recognized much more quickly in this form and it is easier to take countermeasures. Here is an overview of the most important principles: Before mating, the mare should be in good nutritional condition. She should be neither too thin nor too fat, as both can lead to complications. During mating the mare should always have a positive energy balance. A negative energy balance can lead to a miscarriage. A sufficient supply of vitamins, especially vitamin E, D, K, A should be ensured. The increasing need for zinc, lysine and methionine should be balanced. All feeds, especially the basic feed hay, should be available in best quality and sufficient quantity. The mare may and should also be exercised during pregnancy. Exercise should always be adapted to the health and status of the pregnancy. The closer the birth, the less intense the exercise should be. Don't forget the intestine!!! ☺ If you keep these points in mind, you are already well positioned in terms of feeding the mare before, during and after pregnancy. Nevertheless, approach the subject of breeding and especially the subject of feeding during breeding and pregnancy very carefully. Many mistakes can be avoided if feeding is optimal and above all adapted to the needs. However, incorrect feeding can also lead to mistakes and complications. Each mare is very individual and should be treated individually, especially when it comes to pregnancy. If you are unsure and/ or have any questions, please consult a veterinarian or animal health practitioner you trust. We keep our fingers crossed for your breeding success and wish you lots of fun and health for the mare and the desired foal.

2022-05-06T00:00:00+02:00 2022-05-06T00:00:00+02:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/vitamins-and-trace-elements Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB Bye Amelie Kokorsky Two big words. But what is actually behind them? The thing with vitamins Vitamins are among the nutrients. Horses only need very small amounts of vitamins in relation to the amount of hay they eat. Despite these small amounts, it is important that they are available in sufficient form. It is not possible to say in general terms how many vitamins a horse needs, because the requirement varies greatly from vitamin to vitamin. Many vitamins are already contained in the horse's natural feed, such as pasture grass. However, as our horses are nowadays often kept on heavily loaded and/ or grazed pastures, it can happen that the horse gets a vitamin deficiency despite being kept on pasture. At the time of hay feeding over winter, the horse has considerably fewer vitamins available, because many vitamins are lost when the hay is dried. The thing with trace elements For optimal health, however, the horse needs not only vitamins, but also trace elements. Horses also need trace elements in very small quantities. The basic feed of hay and grass already provides some trace elements if the quality of the feed is good. However, this proportion can also be reduced by various factors. Supplementary feeding of trace elements and vitamins can therefore be useful. How do vitamins and trace elements influence the organism? Vitamins and trace elements are involved in countless processes in the horse's organism. A deficiency can therefore also lead to different symptoms and clinical pictures. In order to build stable and resilient bones, the horse needs sufficient calcium. Young horses can often absorb and metabolise calcium very well, whereas in older horses the absorption capacity decreases. Just as important as calcium for the bone structure is zinc for the construction of the hoof horn. A deficiency of zinc is usually also reflected in the largest organ of the horse - the skin. A zinc deficiency can lead to changes in the skin in the form of eczema, thickening of the skin and/ or hair loss. A zinc deficiency can also become noticeable through complications during the change of coat, because it is precisely at this time that there is an increased need for zinc. If this need is not sufficiently covered, it can often be observed that affected horses lose their coat more badly and/ or the new coat grows slower. In combination itching may occur. The horse may have flaky skin and start scratching more. These can be symptoms of a possible zinc deficiency. However, zinc does not work alone in many processes in the body. Especially in the growth of new hoof horn, it needs its "team partners" biotin and methionine to be able to form an optimal and robust hoof horn. Methionine is a particularly important amino acid for horses, which cannot be produced by the horse itself. Essential amino acids must be supplied with the feed in order to be available in sufficient quantities. Another essential amino acid for horses is lysine. Lysine plays a significant role in growth, so lysine is very important especially for foals and young horses. In the development of foals, one should also consider the administration of manganese. A deficiency can lead to growth disorders in young horses, among other things in the limbs. But adult horses can also benefit from manganese as it is involved in the growth of cartilage. A manganese deficit can lead to problems in cartilage metabolism and in acute cases can even be the cause of lameness. The horse as a flight animal is equipped with many muscles in a healthy state. In order for the muscles to work optimally, the horse needs magnesium. During any kind of exercise, whether in competitive sport or during a relaxed ride, muscles need magnesium. Especially in summer, when horses sweat a lot and heavily, the need for magnesium increases, because not only water but also magnesium is lost through sweat. On the subject of muscles, one should also always think of one of the most important muscles in every living creature - the heart. To maintain the health of the heart, the horse needs vitamin E. This vitamin can protect the heart and also all other cells from the so-called oxidative stress. Vitamin E can therefore be called the "vitamin of the muscles". If there is a vitamin E deficiency, the muscles can lose performance. However, performance is not only dependent on vitamin E, but also on vitamin B. There is not only one vitamin B, however but a whole group of B vitamins. Without this vitamin B group, many biochemical processes in the horse's organism cannot take place. Symptoms of a deficiency include poor performance and fatigue, but changes in the skin in the form of eczema or hair loss can also occur. The B vitamins therefore also play a role in the annual change of coat of our four-legged friends. How can I support my horse preventively with vitamins and trace elements? For every horse, a species-appropriate management and a balanced basic supply of good quality hay and/ or grass are of course always important. If these factors are given, the horse's health can be optimized with additional feed. If you have a horse that is prone to bone fractures, over-legs or tendon problems, you can carry out a bone density measurement and, if necessary, consider supplementing the feed with calcium. Stiefel Calcium can be used as a supplementary feed. It can help to compensate for calcium deficiencies. However, supplementary feeding of calcium should also be considered for foals or young horses to promote the growth of strong bones. Not every trace element needs to be deficient before it is given. For some trace elements it is advisable to feed them preventively in certain situations. Zinc is a very good example, because before and during the change of coat the need for zinc increases significantly, so that it can make sense to feed zinc preventively around the time of the change of coat. The early administration of Stiefel Zink Plus can counteract a possible deficiency. However, if the horse is already showing signs of a zinc deficiency such as eczema, hair loss or poor hoof horn, the administration of Stiefel Zink Plus can have a supporting effect. Stiefel Zink Plus contains mainly zinc in the form of zinc chelate, which is particularly well absorbed and metabolised by the horse. As zinc also needs biotin and methionine for the hoof horn formation process, Stiefel Biotin Plus can be fed in addition if the horn quality is poor. All three main components of horn formation are contained in this product and can therefore promote the optimal formation of robust hoof horn. If the horse lacks other important amino acids, Stiefel Amino Plus can be fed. All three essential amino acids are contained in this product, so that a deficiency of amino acids can be prevented or acutely counteracted. Manganese plays an important role in the management and rearing of foals and young horses. Stiefel Mangan Plus can be fed as a supportive measure to prevent deformities in the musculoskeletal system of young animals. But older horses can also benefit from the administration of manganese, as manganese can support the cartilage metabolism and promote the health of the joints. In addition, manganese can have a positive effect on the willingness to perform and the energy balance. Horses suffering from muscle cramps or tremors or psychological changes, such as rapid, excessive excitement or persistent nervousness, suggest a magnesium deficiency, often in combination with a deficiency of the amino acid L-tryptophan. In this case, the administration of Stiefel Mag Plus Liquid is suitable, as the high content of magnesium chloride and L-tryptophan contained can help to alleviate the symptoms. In the case of sport & performance horses, one should always pay attention to a sufficient availability of vitamin E. It is an elementary vitamin when it comes to performance readiness and thus the health of the horse, especially the cells and the heart. Vitamin E deficiency symptoms can be very versatile. In young animals, for example, it can manifest itself in developmental disorders and weakness of the musculature. In broodmares, fertility may be reduced. Frequent infections as well as a weakened immune system can also result from a vitamin E deficiency. In these cases, Stiefel E-Plus or Stiefel E-Power Liquid can be fed as they can help to build antibodies and thus have a positive effect on the horse's health. The symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency can sometimes be similar to the symptoms of a vitamin B deficiency, as a deficiency in the vitamin B group can also lead to tiredness and poor performance, as well as a weak immune system and a poor coat (during the change of coat). To treat or prevent a vitamin B deficiency, you can feed the horse a small portion of Stiefel Brewer's Yeast daily. Especially during the change of coat and at the beginning of the grazing season, brewer's yeast can support the change of coat and the intestinal flora. Stiefel Brewer's Yeast can have a positive effect on the horse's digestion and metabolism due to the valuable B vitamins, minerals and amino acids it contains on a natural basis and thus support feed conversion during the change of coat. Stiefel Kieselgur contains essential vitamin B complexes and, in combination with the zinc content, can support the metabolism, especially the coat change. Deficiencies in vitamin B caused by feeding can also be compensated for with the administration of Stiefel Kieselgur. The daily administration of mineral feed also belongs to the topic of horse feeding and especially to the need for vitamins and trace elements. The foundation of horse feeding is based on the pillars of optimal hay feeding and a good mineral feed. In the daily supplementary feeding, Stiefel Organic-Mineral can help to supply the horse with all vital substances as a preventive measure. In this mineral feed, the trace elements are organically bound and can therefore be quickly and easily absorbed by the horse's body. Stiefel Organic-Mineral has a high bioavailability. The mineral feed is suitable for all types of horses in the breeding, sport and leisure sector and even for horses with weight or metabolic problems. Nevertheless, we would like to emphasise at this point that deficiencies can arise despite daily administration, because special situations in the lives of our horses sometimes also require special feeds. The time of the mare's lactation, the mating season of the stallions or the annually recurring change of coat season are such "special times" when we have to pay special attention to a good and sufficient feeding and in some cases should also resort to suitable supplementary preparations. ATTENTION! Which feed belongs in the feeding trough at which time should always be decided individually, because vitamins and trace elements can also be overdosed. Therefore, each horse should be considered individually when choosing a supplementary feed. The age, the management, the basic feed, the exercise and above all the personal deficiencies should be taken into account and precisely determined. It does not make sense to feed every horse at the stable the same cocktail of high-dosed vitamins and/ or trace elements, because every horse has its very own needs for supplementary feed. If the wrong product is given, overdosing can occur on the one hand and on the other hand it often leads to frustration or disappointment on the part of the owner, because in such cases the expensively purchased supplementary feed does not bring the hoped-for benefit. However, if missing vitamins and/ or trace elements are reliably identified and supplemented with the appropriate product, a positive change is often not long in coming. If you are unsure about choosing the right product, simply consult a veterinarian or anmimal health practitioner you trust. Most of the time you will find a suitable solution for every problem. The same principle of individual choice and dosage for supplementary products also applies to electrolytes. Every horse, regardless of whether it is a high performance or leisure horse, should be supplied with sufficient electrolytes (especially in summer).

2022-03-08T00:00:00+01:00 2022-03-08T00:00:00+01:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/respiratory-diseases-in-horses Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky In this article we will deal with the topic of "coughing" and the disease COPD/ broken wind that is often associated with it. Before we delve deeper into the topic of "coughing", some terms should be explained in more detail, because in the meantime many different terms cure around the topic of "coughing". Some describe exactly the same thing and can be used as synonyms. Others, on the other hand, should be clearly distinguished from each other. Explanation of terms: Term Definition COPD Short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The term was adopted from human medicine. In the actual sense, it is a collective term for lung diseases in which breathing is difficult. In horses, the diseases can now be better classified, so that the term COPD is/ should be used less and less. Equine asthma Collective term covering the spectrum between IAD and RAO. RAO Short for recurrent airway obstruction. There is a clear reduction in performance. The cough is also present at rest. It is a chronic but non-infectious respiratory disease. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be alleviated. IAD Short for inflammatory airway disease. The reduction in performance is not as severe because there are no severe respiratory problems. Occasionally the horse coughs even when resting. A cure is possible in this case, although it is also a chronic respiratory disease - without an infectious cause. IAD is therefore virtually the precursor of RAO. Broken wind Chronic, irreversible (not curable) respiratory disease. Usually there is already damage to the lungs (and heart). Describes the course of RAO with its manifested late effects. In this article, we will therefore no longer speak of COPD, but will increasingly use the terms RAO or IAD. What exactly is RAO/ IAD and what is the difference? Both terms cover chronic respiratory disease in horses. Chronic means that the disease has been present for more than 6 weeks and there is no relief in sight. The symptoms show up on a daily basis. The intensity usually depends on different situations. For example, the symptoms may increase when the horse is in motion and decrease when it is at rest - or the other way round, so that the symptoms only appear after the horse has been in motion and has come to rest. The difference between the two diseases lies primarily in the intensity of the clinical picture. IAD is a chronic respiratory disease in its early stages. Curing the symptoms is much easier and quicker. RAO is also a chronic respiratory disease, but the intensity of the disease is much more pronounced. A cure is only possible to a limited extent. One can try to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible in order to relieve the horse. However, RAO is not completely curable in most cases! How do the diseases develop? The development and thus the causes of IAD and RAO are very similar. In the case of RAO, the disease was only recognized or treated too late, so that the disease is already more advanced. The main cause for the development of a chronic respiratory disease is: Poor horse mangament! Especially in winter, the humidity in some stables is very high. Fearing that the animals might freeze or that the water pipes might ice up, people close windows and doors. This reduces the air circulation and results in high humidity in the barn. In smaller barns, you can see precipitation forming on the windows and walls. One should also not underestimate the release of water via the horses' breath. Horses release a lot of heat and a lot of water into the environment through their breath. Due to the precipitation and the high humidity, mould spores can form and multiply excellently in the wet and cold environment. These moulds can trigger allergies in many horses. In addition, the horses stand in the stalls and hardly move. Breathing is very shallow, so the lungs are not well "ventilated". Mould spores and dust can therefore settle much better in the lungs. Lack of exercise in general is a factor in the development of respiratory diseases. Horses (lungs) are designed for the animal to move continuously. Only in sufficient movement does the horse breathe in and out deeply and thus ventilate the entire lung. If the horse is kept in a box for several hours and during the day in winter only gets a small, perhaps muddy, paddock, the horse will not move enough for optimal ventilation of the lungs. Dust, mould spores and germs can settle in the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases. A box with a window is not enough to increase respiratory activity. Often, however, the symptoms of a respiratory disease are alleviated if the horse is kept in an open stable and is also regularly exercised. Of course, the feed also plays a particularly important role. If you feed your horse hay of poor quality, which is very dusty or even mouldy, this can irritate the respiratory tract enormously. In the long run, this can also lead to respiratory diseases. On the one hand, poor quality feed is of course not good for the entire digestive tract, but on the other hand, one must also take into account the time horses spend eating. Horses spend up to 16 hours a day looking for food. This means they pluck at hay nets, dig in the straw with their nose or get their whole nostrils stuck in the haystack. During this time, the horses ingest dust particles and, in worse cases, even mould spores. These germs can be a great burden on the respiratory tract. The bedding should also be looked at. It is not uncommon for horses to be bedded with musty, sometimes even mouldy straw. As already mentioned, horses also like to dig in their bedding for a few tasty stalks of straw. This is no problem if the straw is of good quality. However, if the straw is mouldy or very dusty, the bedding also pollutes the horses' respiratory tract. In addition, the horses lie on the straw and breathe in the mould spores and/ or dust of the bedding while they rest their heads and/ or nostrils in the straw. As a final point, the connection between the intestine and the lungs is also interesting. If the intestines do not work properly because of possible diseases such as cryptopyrroluria (CPU), important nutrients from the feed cannot be absorbed optimally. Cryptopyrroluria is a metabolic disorder of the horse due to feeding and management errors. It is a very complex disease that can lead to many problems in the horse's metabolism. Feeding and management errors can cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract in CPU. The intestines can become inflamed, which can lead to a lack of sulphur. The lack of sulphur and therefore also a lack of cysteine can lead to problems with the respiratory system such as COPD. The lungs are therefore dependent on a well-functioning intestine. A nutrient deficiency can occur despite good feeding and the best feed quality. The intestine extracts many important nutrients from the food pulp with which the horse's organism can build other building materials for other organs. If the intestine does not work properly, cysteine, for example, cannot be produced or is produced inadequately. The lungs, on the other hand, need the cysteine to be able to form the mucus in the lungs. This mucus is very important, because without it the lungs would dry out. Similar to a mouth without saliva. So without cysteine, the lungs become drier and thus much more susceptible to pathogens. In addition, the horse becomes more sensitive to dust. A so-called "hay allergy" can develop. Attention: Don't forget that the problem lies in the intestine! How can I tell if my horse has IAD/RAO? First of all: Not every horse that coughs for 3-4 days is suffering from a respiratory disease! IAD/ RAO are chronic diseases with, as mentioned above, symptoms that last longer than 6 weeks without interruption. A horse can also have a cold and cough for a few days. But that is another topic. Symptoms can vary greatly in intensity. Some symptoms can be seen from a distance without seeing the horse. Others are difficult to interpret even when looking closely. The leading symptoms of IAD/ RAO are coughing and reduced performance. This brings us to the first problem. Coughing itself is still very easy to recognize. Some horses only cough in certain situations, for example when they are physically exerting themselves or when they come into contact with dust. Other horses already cough chronically and thus also in calm phases. The reduction in performance is already more difficult to interpret. In some horses, the reduction in performance is immediately noticeable. They find it difficult to gallop or to do other physically demanding work. They are very limited in their performance and also in their willingness to perform. Other horses can perform almost normally and the symptoms are still quite mild. They sweat more during physical work and/ or their nostrils are more distended than usual. The breaks between and during training have to be longer so that new strength and literally new "air" is available again. After training, the horses also need longer to recover from the work. Their nostrils are still open after several minutes of pacing and the pulse is/ remains elevated. If you watch the horse's belly very closely, you can see that they have to really pull their belly in when they exhale in order to push the air out of their lungs. In worse cases of RAO, this results in what is called "forced breathing". The horses find it harder to exhale and inhale. The whole breathing process looks like effort and it is! The horses push the air out of their lungs with the help of their abdominal muscles. If this condition persists over a longer period of time and sometimes even during resting phases, the horse develops the "steam groove". The oblique abdominal muscles are then clearly visible and it always seems as if the horse wants to pull in its belly. If such symptoms develop, one can already speak of broken wind. Attention: The horse is really not well in this condition! If you see compressive breathing and/ or steam groove in a horse, you should stop the physical work immediately and walk the horse slowly. In this case, a veterinarian should also be called for help, because there is a risk of circulatory collapse! Nasal discharge is not always recognizable. Many owners always look for nasal discharge in respiratory disease. However, as IAD/ RAO is not a bacterial or viral infection, nasal discharge does not always have to be visible. Most of the time, the horses swallow the nasal discharge so that it does not visibly run out of the nose. If yellow-green nasal discharge is still visible, it should be clarified by a veterinarian, because it is not always primarily unrelated to chronic respiratory diseases. Other diseases may also have developed into IAD/ RAO. Symptoms of IAD/RAO at a glance: Coughing Reduced performance Increased sweating during physical work Flared nostrils during physical work Longer cool-down phase after/ between work phases with only slowly decreasing pulse rate The horse becomes weaker, limp and unmotivated towards physical work Abdominal compression breathing and/ or steam groove on the belly (emergency -> veterinarian!) Circulatory weakness and/ or pale mucous membranes (emergency -> veterinarian!) How can I help my horse if it has IAD/RAO? No matter which form of therapy you want to use, it can only be successful if the triggering factors are minimized as best as possible. This includes the best possible and constant ventilation in the stable in order to keep the humidity and the associated mould spore load low. Draught should not be allowed to develop. In addition, the horses should be kept in the fresh air as long as possible, even in winter. In best case, they should be kept in large, mud-free paddocks with plenty of opportunities for free exercise. But daily exercise with the owner and/ or groom should not be neglected in winter (and also in summer). The horse is dependent on regular exercise. This movement is to a large extent covered by the work with humans. Regular riding, lunging or work from the ground ensure deep breathing and thus vital, deep ventilation of the lungs. Other helpful points for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases that we will not go into in this report are the alternative, additional treatments with magnetic field therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, Schuessler salts, homeopathy, inhalation and hay steaming. The big point of feeding: As mentioned above, hay should be of good quality, i.e. low in dust and not contaminated by mould. The same applies to any kind of bedding. However, one can support horses suffering from IAD/ RAO in many ways with the feed and alleviate the symptoms as best as possible IF the triggering factors are minimized, but in the best case eliminated at all. Many herbs can support the horses' respiratory system. However, a distinction should be made between mucolytic herbs and mucus promoting herbs. Mucolytic herbs should be given when horses have a mucous cough and/ or nasal discharge is seen. The mucus can also be deposited in the lungs or trachea and is not visible at first. Suitable mucolytic herbs are: Stiefel Sage (30-50 g per day) = can have an mucolytic and disinfectant effect. Stiefel Thyme (25-50 g a day) = can relieve irritant coughs Stiefel Ribwort (15-25 g a day) = can help to cough up mucus better Stiefel Camomile (25-50 g a day) = has a calming effect and is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect Stiefel Fennel (30-50 g a day) = can loosen stuck mucus Tip: I mix all the above herbs together at home in a thermos as directed. Then I pour hot, almost boiling water over them and let everything steep for at least 10 minutes. Then I pour the tea AND the herbs over the feed and let it cool down a bit. My horses love it. ☺ If you don't want to feed individual herbs, you can also use herbal mixtures. Stiefel Cough Herbs are suitable here. The herbal mixture contains the most important herbs to have a positive effect on the respiratory tract in the case of postural and feeding-related respiratory complaints. The herbs contained can loosen existing mucus and have a calming effect on the respiratory tract when coughing. The herbs are natural and can be fed over a longer period of time without any problems. Stiefel Broncho Plus is a liquid bronchial elixir, which in most cases is eaten with pleasure by the horses. The extra portion of star anise and quendel, which is also called field thyme, supports the regeneration of the respiratory tract even more intensively. The natural cleaning of the lungs can be effectively stimulated and harmful particles as well as bacteria and dust can be eliminated. If the cough is a dry, irritant cough, it is better to use mucus promoting herbs. Mucus promoting herbs can support the respiratory tract and promote the production of mucus. An absolute "must" for a dry cough is the administration of Liquorice Root. Ideally, Liquorice Root should be fed as a tea. To do this, put the respective amount (10-60 g per day; depending on the horse) in a thermos flask or other container and add at least 200 ml of almost boiling water. Let the mixture of Liquorice Root and water steep for at least 10 minutes and then let it cool down a bit. If the horses don't like the tea, you can mix it with the other feed or soften it with a little mash. It is important that the Liquorice Root itself is also fed! In addition to the tea, the Stiefel Cough Herbs can also be useful for dry coughs. The herbs contained, such as aniseed and caraway, can have an additional calming and antibacterial effect. In dry coughs it is important that the horse is supplied with sufficient sulphur to be able to produce cysteine. Cysteine is needed for the physiological formation of mucus in the lungs. If the sulphur supply is insufficient, the administration of Stiefel MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) can compensate for the lack of sulphur and relieve the dry cough. A dose of 15 g per day for a 500 kg horse is sufficient to promote mucus production in the lungs. In the case of a dry cough and a possible sulphur deficiency, one should always remember the close connection between the lungs and the intestines. As described above, a poorly functioning intestine can also be a trigger for coughing. “Intestinal care" can therefore also play a role in coughing and IAD/ RAO. In order to support the intestines in their daily work, the administration of Liquorice Root tea can have a very positive effect, but also the feeding of other herbs can have a positive influence on the intestinal activity. The tannins in the Stiefel Intestinal Herbs can be used as a supplement to help the intestinal tract absorb important nutrients. In many cases, a general intestinal rehabilitation can help the horse and its intestine. Black cumin is said to have an anti-inflammatory and calming effect. This means that Stiefel Black Cumin can help to relieve the symptoms of both dry coughs and coughs with viscous mucus. Horses prone to allergic coughs in particular can benefit from supplementary feeding of black cumin. Regular feeding can reduce the tendency of the bronchial tubes to spasm, as the black cumin can have an antispasmodic effect. Conclusion COPD is an outdated, general term for respiratory diseases. We now know more and can better and more individually describe and differentiate between equine respiratory diseases. RAO/ IAD are both chronic respiratory diseases with varying degrees of severity, although RAO is no longer completely curable. The symptoms of both diseases are gradual and often start harmlessly, so that close observation of a horse (during physical work) is definitely useful. The symptoms of IAD/ RAO can be alleviated in many cases if the triggering factors, such as high humidity in the stable and/ or poor hay quality, are eliminated, so that the horses can be helped despite the disease! This disease also requires quick and effective action in order to be able to stop the gradual process of chronic respiratory disease in the best possible way. No one wants to have a weak horse that finds it difficult to breathe, because this unattractive sight also leaves us owners and grooms breathless. There are many ways to take a deep breath and now you know some of them. So take a deep breath and get going. ☺

2022-02-15T00:00:00+01:00 2022-02-15T00:00:00+01:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/help-my-horse-is-too-fat Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB A report on EMS - Equine Metabolic Syndrome By Amelie Kokorsky The disease EMS or Equine Metabolic Syndrome has not been known in science and medicine for very long. Nevertheless, due to the increasing number of illnesses / this syndrome, it is a common diagnosis among "horse people". In almost every stable there are one or more horses living with the diagnosis of EMS. In this report we want to talk about this syndrome and take a closer look at the possible causes, symptoms and treatment methods. What is Equine Metabolic Syndrome and how can it develop? EMS is the derailment of the metabolism. The metabolism of diseased horses therefore works differently than the metabolism of healthy horses. In fact, humans and the management and feeding of the steppe animal horse introduced by humans are the actual cause of Equine Metabolic Syndrome. The cause for the development of EMS can therefore actually be explained quite simply: In the past, it was very rare to see a fat horse. In general, horses were mostly seen in the field, pulling a plough or under a rider. The only stood in the stable or on the pasture for a few hours or for a night's rest. There was also very little to eat, because the farmers had to work hard for the hay or buy it at a high price. So they saved on feed. Additional feed such as muesli, beet pulp, mash or treats were only given in very rare cases, for example, when something was left over from the harvest or when the apple on the tree had a brown spot. The horses, like wild horses today, had to work a lot for their food and cover long distances or work long days. Nowadays, the daily routine of our horses looks different. Mostly our horses have access to hay or haylage all day long. In addition, there is a large portion of muesli and/ or mash in the morning and evening. When the rider enters the stable, we give them apples, carrots and/ or treats. The amount of daily exercise is usually rather low. Many riders underestimate the stamina and athletic performance of their four-legged friend. Often the horses are under- rather than overstrained, both mentally and physically. EMS can develop from the interaction of an oversupply of feed and a lack of exercise. This is why EMS is often called "the prosperity disease" of horses. With our loving management, our horses are sometimes "too well off". The body gets too many nutrients from the feed that are available too quickly and builds up fat stores. The main cause for the development of EMS is therefore the management or the lack of exercise and the inappropriate feeding of the horses. How do I recognize EMS? The leading symptom of EMS is obesity! Tip: Seek professional advice. It is often difficult to make a general statement about possible obesity based on a horse's individual body shape. Some horses are much broader and more muscular than others and therefore appear fat very quickly. Other horses are anatomically very slim, but are fed far too thickly because they otherwise look too thin in many eyes. To determine a healthy body shape, it is therefore better to get a second opinion from a veterinarian and/ or animal health practitioner. The common thing about obesity is its "invisibility" in some horses. Many horses get fat deposits on the ridge of the neck and above the base of the tail. Fat deposits can also develop on the hose pocket or udder. These features can still be seen quite easily with the naked eye. However, if the fat forms inside the horse, i.e. around the organs, it becomes much more difficult to recognize the symptoms. Excessive fat cells can disturb the balance of the metabolism. Due to the excessive fat storage, the horses become increasingly sluggish and lazy. They want to move less; a lack of performance occurs. The drop in performance is usually first noticed by the owners and/ or grooms. In addition, it is noticeable that the animals no longer seem to get full and could eat all the time. Other accompanying symptoms of EMS can be insulin resistance (diabetes), laminitis and/ or respiratory diseases. However, these are separate diseases, which are favoured by EMS and often occur in combination with each other. If EMS is suspected, it is best to consult a veterinarian and/ or animal health practitioner as soon as possible in order to prevent consequential damage as best as possible. What happens in my horse's body when it has EMS? The origin of this disease lies in the hormonal system. The hormonal system, whether in humans or horses, is quite complicated. You can compare it to a spider's web and the spider that goes with it. The spider monitors and controls everything that happens in the web. It decides who enters the web and how the web should be built up and dismantled every day. In the hormone system, the spider is the hypothalamus, which controls individual hormones and thus regulates many (metabolic) processes in the body. Nothing happens in the body without the hypothalamus "noticing" it. Hardly anything happens on the spider's web (in the body) without the spider (the hypothalamus) noticing it. The almost transparent threads of the spider system can be equated with the many hundreds of hormones and enzymes in our body. They are all interconnected and thus also strongly dependent on each other. If a fibre in the web is missing and a hole is created, this affects the stability of the entire web. Metabolism also works in this way. If too much or too little of a hormone is produced, it leads to malfunctions at many points in the entire metabolism. In EMS, the hormone insulin plays a particularly important role. For this reason, EMS is also often called "horse diabetes". After a high-sugar meal, the pancreas secretes insulin. This is a good thing, because insulin lowers the blood sugar level. The sugar from the food should not float in the blood of our horses, but reach the cells where it is needed as an energy supplier. The sugar from the blood should therefore be transported to the muscles. Insulin opens the doors at the muscle cell, so to speak, and allows the sugar to enter the muscle cell. There, the horses need the sugar as an energy supplier, among other things for daily exercise. The liver can also open the doors for sugar and serves as a store for the sugar. With the release of insulin, the sugar is distributed and the blood sugar level drops again. However, if we feed the horse too many quickly available carbohydrates, sugar constantly enters the blood, so that the blood sugar level rises sharply. As a result, insulin is released again and the sugar is distributed in the cell. However, if this process happens too often, the muscle cells and also the liver cells are "full" of sugar and cannot absorb any more sugar from the blood. The problem: the blood sugar level remains high and the muscle and liver cells no longer react to the "door opener" insulin. Insulin resistance develops, which can lead to equine diabetes (EMS). The constant oversupply of sugar (energy) then leads to fat storage. The next problem arises. Fat cells can cause a lot of chaos and thus a lot of damage to the metabolism. Fat cells behave like drops of water that constantly fall on our spider web. The whole system is set in motion and the spider is always on alert. This movement sets metabolic processes in motion that are actually not at all desirable or can be detrimental to health. The fat cells can release messenger substances that start inflammatory processes in the body. The immune system is constantly challenged by the inflammatory processes and in the long run the immune system can be weakened. Fat cells also have an effect on the adrenal cortex. Fat cells can stimulate the adrenal cortex to release cortisol. Cortisol is the antagonist to insulin and is actually needed when blood sugar levels are low, as cortisol makes blood sugar levels rise. A release of cortisol at this moment makes no sense at all and can therefore be seen as a "fault in the system". But the vicious circle is now well and truly underway. The whole spider's web is in motion because of the many drops of water that fall on the web. As a result, the spider no longer comes to rest and the web gradually becomes more and more unstable and can break. If we apply this example to the metabolism of horses, it may become clear why EMS should not be considered harmless. The metabolism of horses suffering from EMS is strongly altered, which can lead to many secondary diseases such as laminitis. How can I support my horse with EMS? The crucial point in the occurrence of EMS is the optimal management of feeding and exercise. Horses suffering from EMS should be under strict feed control and exercised regularly, as far as health permits, in all three gaits. It is important to start the feed change slowly and not to radically change or even reduce the feed from one day to the next. A pure change of feed to straw can be very dangerous and is definitely not effective! At the beginning, all quickly available carbohydrates should be reduced as much as possible. This means feeding the horse as little carrots, apples, treats or muesli as possible. Then you slowly change the basic feed, i.e. the hay. There are several methods, some of which can be combined. On the one hand, the hay can be stuffed into hay nets so that the horse is busy eating for longer and eats much more slowly. In addition, the hay can be watered beforehand. Mixing in some straw is also a good way to reduce rapidly available carbohydrates and still provide the horse with enough feed. Starvation or provoking long feeding breaks should be avoided in any case! Grazing on lush grass pastures should no longer take place and instead grazing on grazed pastures should be resorted to. Once a horse has suffered from EMS, it will most likely remain susceptible to metabolic diseases, in terms of "adiposity" or obesity, for the rest of its life. A check on optimal feed management should therefore be carried out at regular intervals. There may be some risks involved in changing the feed, but these can be counteracted with skill. Watering the hay can cause important minerals to be "washed" out of the hay. In order to ensure an optimal supply of minerals, the horse should be provided with a suitable mineral feed. For example, Stiefel Organic-Mineral is a grain-free mineral feed that balances the horse's mineral balance. By mixing in straw and reducing quickly available carbohydrates in a controlled, slow manner, it can happen that important proteins are also cut from the horse's feed plan. To ensure that the four-legged friend is still supplied with sufficient protein, the horse can be fed Stiefel Amino Plus daily. Stiefel Amino Plus can support muscle development and maintain performance due to the essential amino acids it contains, even though the horse is accustomed to a low feed dose at the same time. With the onset of the diet, some "waste products" of the metabolism accumulate in the body. These are metabolised by the liver, among others. In order to optimally support the liver during the change of diet, the daily administration of selected herbs can be a sensible addition to the diet. Stiefel Liver Herbs contain a combination of herbs that contain bitter and tannic substances that can support liver function. As explained above, the liver can suffer greatly from EMS because of the constant overload of sugar and the insulin resistance that can occur at the end. In order to rebalance the receptors for insulin on the liver, the administration of Stiefel Liver Herbs can be very useful, as these contain milk thistle and black cumin seeds, among other things, which can help regenerate the liver cells. The regulation of blood sugar levels can be improved with a functioning liver. The "waste products" mentioned above, which are produced during feed conversion and fat breakdown, not only pass through the liver, but also through the kidneys in the end. Optimal kidney function is therefore also important. Stiefel Kidney Herbs can help support kidney function naturally and promote the elimination of the "waste products". Due to the high proportion of fatty tissue, inflammatory reactions can occur in the horse's organism as a result of the release of "wrong" messenger substances. These inflammations can put additional strain on the horse's immune system. If the immune system is weakening, Stiefel Immunity Herbs, Stiefel Rosehips and Stiefel Echinacea can strengthen the horse's defenses and provide positive support in combating the inflammatory processes. In terms of training, interval training is particularly suitable for stimulating the fat metabolism. However, most horses have to be accustomed to this type of training slowly. At the end, one should create short intensive phases in trot and canter work, which alternate with walk phases. The intensity and duration of the strenuous training phases can be increased over time. However, the walk phases should never be reduced completely, as it is precisely these phases in interval training that are important for fat loss. Conclusion EMS is becoming more and more common these days. However, in most cases it is a disease where the human is the trigger. Therefore, it is often up to the human being to help the horse in the best possible way by changing the factors mentioned. There are many ways and possibilities to fight EMS. You definitely do not have to accept this syndrome and think that it is hopeless. Rethink the feed and change the training! This will lay the foundation for a better future. So go to the stable - starting today, something will change.

2022-01-28T00:00:00+01:00 2022-01-28T00:00:00+01:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/arthrosis-in-horses Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB Arthrosis - what is it? The word "arthrosis" is heard again and again when talking to owners or grooms of older horses, because older horses in particular are often affected by arthrosis. But what exactly is behind this disease? Arthrosis is generally understood to be a progressive, degenerative joint disease, which can be divided into different stages. The joints and their structures - the cartilage and the bones of the affected joint - are involved in this disease. In most cases, the joint space and the surrounding ligaments are also affected. It is important to know: Arthrosis is irreversible. This means that once it has started, it cannot be reversed! At first glance, this sounds very bad and hopeless, but it is by no means hopeless. It is possible to help the affected animal! As described above, arthrosis can be divided into different stages and thus determine how bad and advanced the arthrosis is. Regardless of the degree, it is important to slow down the progression of the arthrosis and help the horse to relieve the pain. If an arthrosis disease is still at the very beginning, it is hardly recognized by many riders and owners because the symptoms are only very slight or not noticeable at all. Most of the time, the horse only shows very small signs of change that are quickly overlooked. It is precisely these signs that we want to explain, because this is exactly the degree of arthrosis where one can still best help and support. Tip: Arthrosis first describes "only" the degenerative change of a joint and its involved structures. If it is an (additional) inflammation, it is called arthritis. Arthrosis = degenerative change of the affected joint and surrounding structures. Arthritis = inflammation of the joint Most arthroses only become noticeable when the horse are obviously in pain and express it. One of the most common symptoms is lameness and/ or a clammy, stiff gait at the beginning of riding. The horse's mobility is restricted. With such symptoms, the arthrosis is already somewhat advanced. But even at this degree, there are still many ways to help the horse! Tip: The degree of arthrosis is classified according to the involvement and disease of the affected joint and its structures. If the cartilage is still very well preserved and the joint space has its physiological width, this is referred to as grade I. If the cartilage is already worn away and shows small fissures or holes, the classification grade - depending on the severity - becomes higher. In the highest degree of arthrosis, there is hardly any cartilage mass left. There is a very small joint space and the bone ends of the joint can already rub against each other. Our task as pet owners is to keep the degree of arthrosis as low as possible and to slow down the process as much as possible. YES, this is possible! How does arthrosis develop? The development and thus the causes of arthrosis are very versatile. This is already clear from the definition of arthrosis, because almost every type of degenerative change in a joint is arthrosis. The causes can therefore come from the most diverse areas, from horse management to feeding to (athletic) exercise. Even young horses can develop arthrosis. In this case, the feeding of the mother (the mare) and the feeding of the foal itself play a major role. Due to the altered and/ or faulty development of the foal, arthrosis can already occur at a very young age. Once the horse is fully grown, it is possible to hear the diagnosis "joint chip" or OCD (short for osteochondrosis) during an examination. This joint disease also falls under the category of arthrosis, as it involves changes to/ in the joint. With "joint chips" and/ or OCD, the causes are also very diverse. The most common causes are accidents and feeding errors or incorrect movement as well as loading of the horse. Regardless of the type of arthrosis, we will now take a closer look at the main causes: Horse management From birth, the horse's attitude is an important factor for the correct development of the young horse. Even foals should have enough exercise and be able to move freely over a wide area. The tendons and ligaments are stressed in a natural way and the skeleton can develop according to its age. If foals or young horses stand in too small or cramped spaces, the natural regular movement is missing. The lack of exercise can lead to poor development of tendons and ligaments and too much stress on the joints. The risk of developing arthrosis at an early age is high. Older horses and especially "seniors" should also have enough space to run free every day to be able to move around in an age-appropriate way. Different ground conditions, a dry shelter and a damp-free place to lie down and sleep should be provided. Exercise Regular exercise is of fundamental importance for the horse's musculoskeletal system. You can imagine the cartilage in the joint like a sponge. If you lay the sponge on its side without moving it, it will dry out and become hard and cracked over time. If we were to hold it in our hands, we would hardly be able to squeeze it and it would hardly yield to the pressure of our fingers. However, if we move the sponge in water every day, it soaks up and becomes very soft. It lies comfortably in the hand and can flexibly adapt to all movements. We have "nourished" the sponge with water through our movements, so to speak, and thus preserved its function. If we now relate this example to the cartilage in the joint, whose function is to cushion loads and protect the bones from pressure and tensile loads, the importance of movement quickly becomes clear here too. If the horse moves regularly, the cartilage is "nourished" with blood and minerals through movement so that it remains smooth and flexible and can perform its buffer function in the joint. It is important to understand that any kind of excessive rest, but also any kind of excessive stress, can damage the cartilage and thus the joint. Standing for hours is just as damaging as heavy exertion for hours. Tip: A cartilage needs about 15-20 minutes until it has reached its full buffer function. Warming up before exercise is therefore extremely important to avoid possible damage to tendons, ligaments and cartilage and thus protect the horse as best as possible from the risk of arthrosis. Feeding As with almost every disease, feeding also plays a major role in arthrosis. Only if the horse is fed a healthy diet it can develop according to its age and build up all the necessary structures for later stress. Even when the horse is fully grown, it constantly needs new "building blocks" to build up or renew muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. The horse's musculoskeletal system never stands still. We can't see it from the outside, but the horse is constantly rebuilding its body - and that's a good thing! Our four-legged friends are excellent at adapting to new conditions. For example, if we increase the training, the horse will automatically build up more muscle mass and strengthen the bones. If we warm up our horse well before every training, the cartilage is sufficiently "nourished" and its function is maintained. If the horse is injured, the body will immediately start to replace and/ or rebuild the "broken part". For all these processes, however, the organism of our horses must be well supplied, otherwise it cannot perform these processes or can only do so inadequately. If the horse is not sufficiently supplied with important nutrients, a feed-related deficiency can lead to the restructuring and rebuilding processes in the body running too slowly or incorrectly - the consequence: diseases can develop in the musculoskeletal system. Optimal feeding can therefore also go a long way towards protecting the horse from possible diseases of the musculoskeletal system and thus also from arthrosis. How do I recognise arthrosis? The symptoms of arthrosis are at least as varied as the causes themselves. Each type of arthrosis can have different effects on the horse. In addition, every horse reacts differently. Nevertheless, there are guiding symptoms that every owner can look out for and that can give an indication of the disease. As already explained, arthrosis can be divided into different stages, whereby arthrosis in the early stages is an incidental finding, as the horses usually do not yet have too much pain and the symptoms are very slight. A regular check-up of the joints by a veterinarian, alternative practitioner or osteopath makes sense in any case and with any horse, at the latest, however, when you can observe the following symptoms in your horse: Changed gait The horse changes its gait. It does not always have to be lame. Maybe the horse steps a little shorter at the walk (the horse takes smaller steps than usual) or it no longer jumps as well at the canter (the canter jump becomes flatter). The horse walks "sensitive" Walking sensitive means that the horse shows different gaits on different surfaces. If the ground is too hard, the horses often walk reluctantly or very stiffly. If the ground is too deep, the horses are clearly unmotivated and do not want to/ can not muster any strength. The horse has to walk a while before it can take up load ​​​​​​​The horse needs longer to loosen up and to develop a swinging, springy gait from an initially somewhat stiff step. Difficulty in taking up load The horse finds it significantly more difficult to take up load. It shortens its steps and prefers to walk with small, quick steps rather than with large, ground-covering steps. The short step is easier on the joints and is therefore making it more comfortable for the horse. If the arthrosis is in the hindquarters, the horse may walk "downhill". This means that the horse either lifts its head further up or stretches its nostrils towards the ground. Walking through the neck is difficult for the horse because in this posture it has to put weight on the hind legs, which may cause pain. Avoiding tight turns and quick changes of pace Tight turns put a lot of stress on the joints involved. If arthrosis is present, the horse will try as hard as possible to avoid pain and will therefore be reluctant to run in tight turns, such as a volt. Rapid changes of pace, such as walk-canter transitions, also put increased strain on the joints, so that the transitions also become unpopular with the horse. ​​​​​​​Impaired rhythm and lameness If the horse shows lameness or imprecision of rhythm, especially in the warm-up phase, this can be an indication of arthrosis. The horse "limps" a little or you can see that it does not want to step properly on one leg. Short steps at the beginning of the exercise are a leading symptom. This means that the tact impurity and/ or lameness become less after the horse is warmed up for the following exercise. In the beginning you can tact impurity and/ or lameness clearly, towards the end hardly at all. The list of symptoms could of course be extended at will, but in this case it is about the leading symptoms that can give every owner and carer an indication of a possible (development of) arthrosis. However, the symptoms listed above can also indicate other diseases, so that clarification with a veterinarian, alternative practitioner or osteopath is recommended in any case! Tip: Arthrosis is in most cases very weather-dependent, so that the symptoms are more noticeable in wet and cold weather than in warm weather. The reaction to such weather changes is also an indication of a possible arthrosis. What can I do against arthrosis? Now the time has come. The symptoms have been recognized and a firm diagnosis has been made: The horse has arthrosis. But what is the best way to help the horse now? Of course, the diagnosis of arthrosis is not a nice thing to hear, but the fact that there are many possibilities to help the horse is even better. In the following, we will concentrate only on the point of feeding and leave out all other, numerous therapy possibilities. The point of feeding alone will arouse enthusiasm and hope. Devil's claw ​​​​​​​Devil's claw is a root that can help with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect that can relieve the pain of arthrosis. However, devil's claw needs about two weeks before it can show its effect. It therefore makes sense to feed it for at least 6-8 weeks. If the horse responds well to devil's claw and the symptoms of arthrosis subside, the root can be fed for a longer period without any problems. Especially when arthritis, an inflammation of the joint, is present, the administration of devil's claw can be supportive. In case of arthrosis, devil's claw is a "must-have" in the horse's pharmacy. Green-lipped mussel powder The connective tissue, and thus the important component of cartilage, also wants to be nourished. The cartilage prefers glycosaminoglycans, which are contained in the green-lipped mussel, for its supply. Green-lipped mussel powder can therefore help to supply the cartilage with important nutrients and maintain its buffer function in the joints to protect against possible signs of wear. Rosehips Due to their high vitamin C content, rosehips can not only strengthen the horse's immune system, but also have a positive effect on arthrosis. Ginger Arthrosis is known to occur in episodes. In an acute episode, the administration of ginger can inhibit the inflammation and the acute pain can be relieved. However, ginger should only be given during the acute phases of arthrosis and should not be given permanently. Ginger should be given for a maximum of 6 weeks at a time. Caution: Devil's claw and ginger should not be fed together, as their reactions in the body are opposed to each other. If you feed ginger for a short acute period, you should take a short break from devil's claw. Linseed oil The all-round talent linseed oil can also help with arthrosis/ arthritis. Linseed oil contains a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids, which are said to have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect. Stiefel Arthro Liquid Stiefel Arthro Liquid with liquid devil's claw and artichoke can have a positive effect on joint, tendon and cartilage problems and thus support the entire musculoskeletal system. Especially in the case of chronic or acute joint problems, Stiefel Arthro Liquid can provide relief. Stiefel Arthro Plus Stiefel Arthro Plus contains a special blend of New Zealand green-lipped mussel powder, a herbal mixture with devil's claw and balanced vitamins and can therefore positively support both joints and tendons of the horse. Stiefel Arthro Plus can promote healthy movement and positively influence the synovial fluid in the joints. With this list, one quickly realizes that there are many ways to help a horse suffering from arthrosis. Arthrosis cannot be reversed and unfortunately it cannot be cured. Nevertheless, one should not simply accept this disease passively, but work actively to stop the process of arthrosis as best as possible. So cheer up, arthrosis is treatable! The horse will thank you for it.

2021-12-22T00:00:00+01:00 2021-12-22T00:00:00+01:00 https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB/info/horse-health/oil-in-horse-feeding Stiefel uk@stiefel.store https://www.stiefel.store/en-GB By Amelie Kokorsky Does feeding horses with oil make sense? One should not answer this question too quickly or sweepingly with a "yes" or "no", because the topic of oil in horse feeding is very complex and should therefore first be examined in detail. Therefore, we first take a look at the anatomy of the horse. In detail, a look at the digestion and its associated digestive organs. The liver and gall bladder play an important role in the digestion of oil. The liver produces bile, which is needed for the digestion of fats and thus for the digestion of oils. The liver releases the bile produced into the gallbladder via the bile ducts. Bile is therefore stored in the gallbladder. If a fat-rich food pulp now enters the small intestine, the gallbladder is emptied and the bile is released into the small intestine. Fat digestion begins. However, horses have the peculiarity that they do NOT have a gall bladder. This means that no bile can be stored. For the horse as a steppe animal and "permanent eater" this is actually not a problem at all. On the one hand, the horse constantly eats many small portions throughout the day, so that large feed portions are rather rare. On the other hand, fats are rarely found in the natural diet of horses. The grasses and seeds that the horse eats regularly on pastures and in hay do contain oils, but only in very small quantities and, due to the constant intake of food, only in very small portions. The horse does not need a gall bladder if it is fed in a healthy and species-appropriate way. Evolutionarily, the gall bladder has regressed without causing digestive problems. The horse's liver produces bile, which then passes through the bile ducts directly into the small intestine, where it can fulfil its function in the digestion of fats. When the horse ingests food, this process is started and small amounts of bile are continuously released into the small intestine without any storage being possible or necessary. Some animals can even adapt the production of bile and the concentration of bile to the food they are fed. For example, if a dog is given a high-fat diet for a long period of time, the mechanism of bile production and the release of bile into the small intestine will be adapted. This adaptation process does not take place in the same way in horses - even after years of excessive oil feeding, no adaptation mechanism will take place. So if you feed the horse too much high-fat feed by adding large amounts of oil to the feed, the oil may not be digested properly in the small intestine and continue into the large intestine. Since the horse's large intestine is not designed for a high-fat food mush, this can lead to digestion problems in the large intestine. So we can already conclude that the amount of oil seems to play an important role. Despite the initially deterrent effect of oil in horse feeding, I would not like to answer the question posed at the beginning with a "no", because the administration of oil also has many positive sides. So the concrete answer to this question is still a little while in coming. What does the horse need oils for? In the circle of horse owners, especially at the beginning of winter, one hears the words: "It is getting colder and my horse needs more energy to keep warm, so I feed him oil". From this statement one could conclude that oil feeding can help the horse to provide more energy. However, this statement should be viewed with great caution. A horse can hardly gain energy from oils. Horses cover most of their energy needs by breaking down fibres in the large intestine, i.e. by eating hay and grass. This process of energy production can even be optimized when roughage is scarce. For example, if you feed a horse 10 kg of hay a day and exercise it in small amounts, it will not lose weight in the first period if you increase the training workload. The organism will break down the fibres more effectively and thus get more energy from the same amount of hay. If the amount of food supplied would not be enough, the horse will start to "convert" its muscles into energy. The horse thus loses muscle and gains energy. However, this process should never be provoked! If horses convert fats into energy, this can be very dangerous for the animal. However, this process actually only takes place when there is too little roughage available and the animal is severely lacking in energy. Therefore, the horse should always have enough roughage available. So oils are not primarily used for energy production. But what are they used for then? The horse uses the oils to build up hormones and new tissue and to protect the organs. Oil is primarily used as "building material". Oils are therefore not calculated in the energy balance. Most oils have a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are important for the horse's health. The structure of a single cell is very complex, so in this report we will only go into the superficial and simply explained function of oils on the cell. Oils can improve the elasticity of the blood cells and thus increase the flow rate. A good flow rate of blood cells is important for fitness and performance, for example. An elastic cell, whether a liver cell or a nerve cell, can have a positive effect on the animal's general well-being. Oils contain omega-6 fatty acids, which are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect - a particularly important and valuable point of oil feeding. Some vitamins are purely fat-soluble and therefore depend on the fatty acid for digestion. In addition, fatty acids can act like a "protective cushion" for organs and nervous system. Which oils can be used in horse feeding? There are many different oils on the market that are also used in horse feeding. The following is a list of some oils that are very popular with riders: Linseed oil = High content of omega-3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linoleic acid to improve skin, coat and aid digestion. Hemp oil = Good ratio of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. In addition, the oil contains (alpha-) linoleic and gamma-linoleic acids, which can have a positive influence on the horse's defense system. Rice germ oil = Contains gamma oryzanol, which can be used to support muscle development. It is also quite tasteless and is tolerated by the horse in the feed. Milk thistle oil = Contains silymarin, which can have a positive effect on the regeneration of liver cells. Can also strengthen the functioning of the liver Black cumin oil = Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The oil can have a stimulating effect on the immune system. But many seeds and nuts also contain fatty acids and valuable oils. The seeds can be used in the same way as the oils in horse feed. Seeds and nuts also have many positive features. Especially the two classics are suitable: Linseed or Linseed granulate = Can have positive effects on skin and coat. Compared to linseed oil, linseed granulate has a low fat content. Rosehip = The seeds of the rosehip contain oils. The rosehip is a good supplier of vitamin C and can support the immune system. For which diseases or symptoms can oils support the horse's health? Feeding oils can have a positive effect on the health of some diseases. Linseed oil can have a positive effect on the horse's skin and coat quality due to its valuable ingredients and contribute to a healthy and well-functioning digestion. The effect of linseed oil on the horse's respiratory system is also particularly impressive. The fatty acids contained can positively influence the smallest lung units, the alveoli. This can improve the lung function. Especially horses with COPD/COB can benefit from linseed oil. Since lung diseases in particular are also associated with inflammation, linseed oil can also have an anti-inflammatory effect here. Horses that have respiratory problems are often extremely sensitive to dust. The owners often go to great lengths to prevent every conceivable possibility of coming into contact with dust. When giving concentrated feed, many owners forget about the dust content of concentrated feed, such as the dust in oats. Giving just a few drops of oil can help bind the dust in the feed and minimize the "dust load". In polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), the supply of carbohydrates in the horse's feed ration must be reduced. As the horse still needs to meet its energy requirements, feeding oil can make sense. The energy requirement can be partly covered with oil if the carbohydrate intake of hay and/or pasture grass is reduced. However, an increased administration of oil should always be carried out under observation and consultation of a veterinarian and/ or animal health practitioner, as such feeding deviates from the actual recommendation and is an exception. Liver diseases are steadily increasing in today's horses, so that the liver should be supported in its countless functions/ tasks. One can support the liver with suitable herbs, but also the administration of milk thistle oil can have a positive effect on the liver activity and the regeneration of the liver cells. Many horses that suffer from eczema and/ or have an immune deficiency can be helped with the administration of black cumin oil. The oil can help to stimulate the immune system and thereby improve the body's immune defense. Of course, a strong immune system can also fight eczema much better and the symptoms can be relieved. Black seed oil is also said to have a positive effect on the respiratory system and can therefore be used to support respiratory problems. Again the question: Does feeding horses with oil make sense? Now that we have looked at the subject of oil in horse feed in great detail, it is easier to answer the question of whether it makes sense to feed oil to horses. The answer is: YES, the use of oil in horse feed makes sense. As the first chapter makes clear, one should definitely strictly adhere to the feeding guidelines! Too much oil in the horse's feed can otherwise very quickly have a negative effect on the digestive tract and thus on the horse's overall health. However, if oils are used wisely and with caution, owners and horses can benefit from the many positive effects of the various oils. No matter what sex, age or breed, a suitable oil can be found for almost any horse. Although we have only mentioned a very small selection of diseases, it is clear that the administration of oil can even help to support the healing process. So take a little time and find the right oil for your horse. Used skilfully, it can add value to your horses' daily feed. A few drops can optimize the health, condition, nervous strength and well-being of our four-legged friends. If you have any doubts or questions about the selection or dosage, consult your veterinarian and/ or trusted animal health practitioner or feed advisor. There is usually a suitable solution and oil for every problem ;)