Caring for horses is not as easy as many horseowners think. Especially for animals under heavy work, there are many factors that can contribute to problems. Equine athletes, such as racehorses or eventing stars, can develop debilitating and even life-threatening ulcers, for example. Equine inflammation management supplements can be of great benefit in both prevention and treatment.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A horse is designed to consume roughage constantly. Horses in the field graze almost all the time, although they take some time out for sleeping. Horses under work, however, many eat more grain than hay. They require more calories and energy that is normal for a horse, and grain is the only way to satisfy this need. However, when hay or pasture is limited, this can cause problems.
Horses need a plentiful and continuous supply of roughage. Chewing up grass or hay stimulates the flow of alkaline saliva, which balances the stomach acid which horses secrete (also on a continuous basis). The mass of roughage in the stomach protects the stomach lining from these acids, which can be harmful during hours-long periods of emptiness. Grain makes the system more acid and requires less chewing, as well.
What does this have to do with inflammation? Well, ulcers are caused by inflammation in the digestive tract. In fact, most problems originate with inflammatory responses in this core system. This is why arthritis in humans is often addressed with dietary changes. Supplements are preferable to NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs) because the drugs often used to treat body soreness or lameness can aggravate ulcerous conditions.
Horses love the legume alfalfa, and feeding alfalfa hay is recommended for ulcers. The owner should be careful to find very soft hay, free of sharp sticks which can perforate a damaged intestinal wall. It might be wise to shake out the hay, so you're feeding mostly leaves, or to substitute soaked alfalfa cubes. These are good sources of roughage.
Minimize stall confinement if possible, and allow the animals access to mixed pasture. If this is not feasible, horses should at least be able to see other horses, since they are herd animals by nature. This will lower stress, as do familiar surroundings and companions. Research shows that silence and natural darkness are stress-relieving. Using a slow-feeder net can help even over-weight horses have hay in front of them most of the day and night.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
Horses under stress - which includes things like heavy work, stall confinement, and travel to strange places - often develop ulcers in a relatively short time. As many as eighty percent of these athletes may have these sores in their stomach lining. This potential problem must not be dismissed lightly; as in most cases of physical response to stress, a strong program of nutrition can help prevent something that can be hard to cure.
A horse is designed to consume roughage constantly. Horses in the field graze almost all the time, although they take some time out for sleeping. Horses under work, however, many eat more grain than hay. They require more calories and energy that is normal for a horse, and grain is the only way to satisfy this need. However, when hay or pasture is limited, this can cause problems.
Horses need a plentiful and continuous supply of roughage. Chewing up grass or hay stimulates the flow of alkaline saliva, which balances the stomach acid which horses secrete (also on a continuous basis). The mass of roughage in the stomach protects the stomach lining from these acids, which can be harmful during hours-long periods of emptiness. Grain makes the system more acid and requires less chewing, as well.
What does this have to do with inflammation? Well, ulcers are caused by inflammation in the digestive tract. In fact, most problems originate with inflammatory responses in this core system. This is why arthritis in humans is often addressed with dietary changes. Supplements are preferable to NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs) because the drugs often used to treat body soreness or lameness can aggravate ulcerous conditions.
Horses love the legume alfalfa, and feeding alfalfa hay is recommended for ulcers. The owner should be careful to find very soft hay, free of sharp sticks which can perforate a damaged intestinal wall. It might be wise to shake out the hay, so you're feeding mostly leaves, or to substitute soaked alfalfa cubes. These are good sources of roughage.
Minimize stall confinement if possible, and allow the animals access to mixed pasture. If this is not feasible, horses should at least be able to see other horses, since they are herd animals by nature. This will lower stress, as do familiar surroundings and companions. Research shows that silence and natural darkness are stress-relieving. Using a slow-feeder net can help even over-weight horses have hay in front of them most of the day and night.
There are many anti-inflammatory herbs that have been shown to be gentle on the stomach. Tumeric and boswellia help with swelling and soreness; they reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well. Normalizing the horse's lifestyle as much as possible and supplementing with nutritive herbs and minerals can help keep an athlete going strong.
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You can get a summary of important factors to keep in mind when choosing a supplier of equine inflammation management supplements at http://www.naviculardisease.com right now.
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