8/ JUNE 2023 THE RIDER When to Add Dietary Supplements?


that meets these baseline requirements. Once this baseline is met, knowing


what the research says about therapeutic doses is important. For example, if you have your horse on a balanced diet, but their hoof health is still not adequate then you may begin researching a hoof health supplement to include in their daily ration. However, you need to en- sure you are adding a therapeutic dose. Here are recommended steps for


working with a nutritionist to decide on an optimal supplement: STEP 1: Have a nutritionist test your hay to ensure your horse is on a balanced diet. STEP 2: Discuss your nutritional con- cerns with your nutritionist e.g., hoof health, gut health, joint health etc. From there, your nutritionist can use their ex- pertise to recommend an optimal supple- ment.


An Equine Nutrition Series by Madeline Boast,


MSc. Equine Nutrition


The Supplement Industry The equine supplement industry


can be overwhelming! There are a sig- nificant number of options, and there seems to be a supplement for just about everything. As a horse owner, it can be challenging to know which ones are worth the money and which simply aren’t. Research has estimated that over 80% of horse owners include at least one dietary supplement in their horse’s nu- trition program. Unfortunately, it is rare that these decisions are made based on the research. It is more common that it is great advertising or anecdotal evi- dence. There are multiple publications that


try to quantify the perceptions of horse owners regarding dietary supplements. One study found that over 90% of the re- spondents thought that all supplements were tested on horses prior to being launched on the market. Although that would be ideal, the equine nutraceutical industry is not that well-regulated.


Nutrient Requirements and Supple- ments The NRC, 2007 provides nutrition-


ists with the basic nutrient requirements for horses. This includes energy, protein, fat, as well as various vitamins and min- erals. Every horse should be on a diet


The whole picture is extremely im-


portant, and in my professional opinion as a qualified equine nutritionist, accu- rate supplement


recommendations


should be made based on a balanced diet with a hay analysis. This is one of the reasons supplement recommendation packages are not offered through Bal- anced Bay.


Comparing Supplements If we look at two omega-3 supple-


ments and compare their DHA and EPA content based on dose size, supplement #1 has 450 mg and supplement #2 has 6750 mg. That is a significant differ- ence! Another comparison that illus- trates the importance of comparing active ingredient concentrations is two hoof health supplements. The first one advertises 107 mg of biotin per dose, and the second one is only 53.3 mg per dose.


These supplements that are com-


pared are all popular, and commonly used in equine diets here in Ontario. However, you can clearly see that they are not equal. When directly compared it is evident which supplement is more valuable based on the active ingredient concentration. These simple compar- isons can assist you in ensuring that your money is being well spent. At the end of the day, if you are spending money on supplements, and putting the extra effort in to feed them – you should put the time in to make sure it is the best possible op-


tion for your horse.


The Research When browsing websites of supplement brands, look for the citation to published research being included. However, exer- cise caution as anecdotal evidence on supplement websites can frequently be presented in a way that makes it seem as though it was a full research study. Often when this anecdotal evidence is pre- sented there will not be a control group, which is extremely problematic when claims are made based on this type of in- formation. A supplement you are probably fa-


miliar with is the KER EO3 by Ken- tucky Equine Research. This supplement has had in vivo research done which has been able to show posi- tive differences between a group of horses consuming this supplement and a group consuming flax oil: “the study clearly demonstrates that daily intake of EPA and DHA from KER EO-3 signifi- cantly increases red blood cell mem- brane EPA and DHA but that a similar amount of omega-3 in the form of ALA from flax oil does not”. Another example is the supplement


Breathe by Herbs for Horses. This sup- plement has also had in vivo research done. Through this research, they illus- trated that the product was able to safely reduce the elevated respiratory rate in horses with recurrent airway obstruc-


tion. A third example (because why not,


research is fun!!) is a recent in vitro study with the Equine Omega Complete supplement. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory as well as chon- droprotective effects of the supplement on stimulated cartilage explants. Their findings were that the supplement did prevent a significant increase in net GAG loss when the cartilage was stim- ulated and therefore supported the use of Equine Omega Complete. Further re- search is required to prove efficacy in horses, as swine cartilage was used in the study. These citations are listed in the ref-


erence list if you’re interested in reading more! Please note that these are only a couple of the available studies and just because they are included in this article does not mean they are optimal for your horse. Every horse is unique, and at Bal- anced Bay each balanced diet is person- alized to optimally support


their


individual needs. If you have any ques- tions or would like to optimize your horse’s diet, please reach out to Made- line


at


balancedbaynutrition@gmail.com Overall, supplements can be and are often a fantastic addition to the equine diet when there are specific nutritional concerns. However, it is worthwhile seeking out expert advice to ensure you are getting what you’re paying for.


About the author: Madeline Boast completed her master’s in Equine Nutri- tion at the University of Guelph and started an independent nutrition com- pany known as Balanced Bay. She has worked with a variety of equids – from miniature ponies to competing thor- oughbreds. Through Balanced Bay she designs customized balanced nutrition plans that prioritize equine well-being. This includes diets for optimal perform- ance as well as solving complex nutri- tional issues and everything in between. For additional information see www.bal- ancedbay.ca


References: Garland, A., Wierenga, C., McCrae, P., & Pearson, W. (2023). Cartilage-sparing properties of Equine Omega Complete in an organ culture model of cartilage in- flammation. Journal of Equine Veteri-


nary Science, 121, 104165. Hoffman, C. J., Costa, L. R., & Free- man, L. M. (2009). Survey of feeding practices, supplement use, and knowl- edge of equine nutrition among a sub- population of horse owners in New England. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 29(10), 719-726. Murray, J. A. M., Bloxham, C., Kulifay, J., Stevenson, A., & Roberts, J. (2015). Equine nutrition: a survey of perceptions and practices of horse owners undertak- ing a massive open online course in equine nutrition. Journal of Equine Vet- erinary Science, 35(6), 510-517. Murray, J. M. D., Hanna, E., & Hastie, P. (2018). Equine dietary supplements: an insight into their use and perceptions in the Irish equine industry. Irish veteri- nary journal, 71(1), 1-6. Pearson, W. (2021). 127 Equine Nu- traceuticals: Is Science Finally Catching up to Fiction?. Journal of Animal Sci- ence, 99(Suppl 3), 66. Pearson, W., Charch, A., Brewer, D., & Clarke, A. F. (2007). Pilot study investi- gating the ability of an herbal composite to alleviate clinical signs of respiratory dysfunction in horses with recurrent air- way obstruction. Canadian journal of veterinary research, 71(2), 145. Rexford, J. K. (2010). Effects of two dif- ferent dietary sources of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids fatty acids on in- sulin sensitivity, and incorporation into the plasma, red blood cell, and muscle cell in horses (Doctoral dissertation, Colorado State University).


Beyond the Wither Tracing


A Saddle-Fitting Series by Holly Barnett, REMT, CSF Straight Talk: Is Your Saddle Straight?


works with a small team of saddle-fitters


servicing


clients across Canada. For upcoming clinics, educa- tional events and wellness retreats see www.auguste- quine.com.


When was the last gins.


time you gave your saddle a solid once over – checked the stitching, compared the panels, eyeballed the tree points, assessed the tree. Chances are — you’re going to say never. And you’re not alone. It’s not something most think of, we place the saddle on the horse’s back with about as much thought as doing up the seatbelt these days – and that’s where the trouble be-


Saddles are made of


materials that lose integrity over time. The take tremen- dous forces from both horse and rider in all kinds of con- ditions over long periods of time. Wool compresses, stitching fails, leather wears and trees warp. It’s your job to keep an eye on your sad- dle the same way it’s your job to maintain the engine and tires of your car. Another place this


comes up often is purchas- ing used saddles – I’ve been called out to fit hundreds of “new to me” saddles only to have to drop the news they had unknowingly purchased a crooked saddle that wasn’t worth the repairs it required. The


number of


crooked saddles floating around is astounding. Start making it a practice to check


your gear is in good work- ing condition – put a re- minder in your phone to give your saddle a good check every 3 months. Check your billets, your stitching, your leather, your panels, and your tree. Look at it from the front as well as squaring the pommel to the cantle (try resting the pom- mel on your feet and peering


over the cantle in relation for reference to one another) Catch problems before they create problems for your horse. Crooked saddles cause crooked riding and crooked horses. Stay on top of good fit and enjoy the ride.


Holly Barnett is pro-


fessional fitter and equine therapist for over 20 years.


She’s worked with horses of all breeds and riders of all levels


and disciplines


throughout North America. Founder of August Equine, located in Campbellville ON, Holly now focuses on consulting, education, well- ness, and equine advocacy. She is the creator of Saddle Assessment 4 Equine Body- workers


Holly Barnett is a profes- sional saddle fitter and equine therapist for over 20 years. She’s worked with horses of all breeds and rid- ers of all levels and disci- plines throughout North America. Founder of August Equine, located in Campbellville ON, Holly now focuses on high level consulting, education, advo- cacy and is the creator of Saddle Assessment 4 Equine Bodyworkers


(SA4EB)


Holly works with a small team of saddle-fitters serv- icing clients across Canada. For upcoming clinics and educational events


see (SA4EB) and www.augustequine.com.


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