R.E. and Martha's Corner: Equine Health
Saddles | Bits | Leg Wraps | Feeding | Bathing | Trailer Safety

Q:       I have a 12 year old quarter horse that I barrel race with.  He has never had any real
lameness issues and has been sound for the most part.  I just thought it might be a good idea to start him on a joint supplement of some sort as a preventative.  What would you sugguest?

A:       For a horse that age without any pre-existing issues or injuries going on, the Senior Flex
made by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals would be an excellent selection.  It contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, MSM, Ester-C and Yucca, as well as Vitamins A, D and E, along with Probiotics for digestive support.   Another benefit to this product is that it is very cost effective costing approximately $0.87/serving.  It is a great place to start and there is room to move up if you feel that your horse needs more support.  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for the guaranteed analysis:

Senior Flex™ manufactured by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: (1 oz. measure enclosed)
Provide 1 oz. twice daily for the first 21 days.
Reduce to 1oz. daily thereafter for maintenance.

Q:       What is with all the hype these days with hyaluronic acid?  What is it, what does it do and what product(s) do you recommend?

A:       There is no doubt that Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate), commonly referred to as HA, is a vital and major constituent of healthy articular cartilage and synovial fluid.  Its structure is the simplest of all glycosaminoglycans and forms the backbone of proteoglycans.  Hyaluronic acid, which is primarily harvested from rooster combs, is found in connective tissue and manufactured in the synovial membrane.  As a major component of synovial fluid it is also essential for proper nutrient delivery.

Recommended feeding levels range from 30+ mg. up to 200 mg. daily, depending on the stress level or injuries the horse is facing.

Here at the Josey Ranch, we have successfully used MVP’s Hy-Flex for quite some time now.  It is available in both meal and pellet form and contains 30 mg. of HA.  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for the guaranteed analysis:

Hy-Flex™ manufactured by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Provide 1 oz. twice daily for the first 21 days.
Reduce to 1 oz. per day for maintenance.

Q:       My horse has been giving me some pretty solid consistent runs but I think he could be giving me a lot more in his performance.  He just seems like he runs out of gas.  Can you recommend a safe and natural product that can help give my horse the boost I think he needs?

A:       We have seen a real increase in performance since putting our horses on MVP’s Stamin-X product.  It is a combination of highly concentrated wheat germ extract (which is loaded with natural Vitamin E) and brewer’s yeast to enhance stamina and oxygen, along with magnesium, zinc and selenium to support muscle recovery.  It is specifically formulated for barrel and race horses.  We have seen improvements in our times and have really liked that it hasn’t made the horses “hot.”  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for the guaranteed analysis: 

Stamin-X™ manufactured by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE (Adult Horses 900-1,100 lbs):
High performance horses - provide 4 ounces daily. (Enclosed measure approximates 4 ounces).

Q:       My mare has always been a real easy keeper and lately she has developed some fatty deposits around her tail as well as a cresty neck.  She has never foundered but I am concerned that she is on her way.  She gets a small amount of sweet feed and an alfalfa/grass hay mix.  Do you have any suggestions from a nutritional standpoint that can help?  Thanks!

A:      Your mare’s symptoms are a common problem with many horses today.  Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, laminitis, obesity and Cushings disease conditions are closely related.  First and foremost, you need to get her on a diet that is low in carbs and starches and high in fiber and fat.  Timothy or Bermuda grass hay is ideal and little to no grain (beet pulp is a good alternative).  Hay is normally fed at a rate of 1.5% of ideal body weight.  For example, a 1,000 lb. horse x 1.5% = 15 lbs. of hay.  Hay should not contain more than 10% starch/sugar.  You also need to be careful however because over starvation may often cause greater increase to Insulin Resistance.  Given many variables and conditions, consult your veterinarian for specific ration and feeding levels.

            I would recommend looking into MVP’s D-Carb Balance supplement.  It is available in a convenient, easy to feed pellet and is balanced to be fed in lieu of feeding grain with all the essential vitamins and minerals you would in essence be depriving these types of horses with restricting their diets.  It also contains higher levels of Magnesium and Chromium which are two key combatants in helping horses break these sugars down.  It also contains Probiotics for digestive support.  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for the guaranteed analysis:

D-Carb Balance™ manufactured by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Adult Horses (900-1,100 lbs): Provide 2 ounces of D-Carb™ (Balance) twice daily. (Enclosed measure approximates 2 oz.)

Q:       My barrel racing mare is extremely moody when she comes into heat and makes for a very difficult time when I want to haul her.  I really do not want to mess with Regu-Mate.  Can you recommend something to help with her hormones?

A:       Those moody mares can certainly be troublesome, especially when you are wanting to show them or ask them to perform.  Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals has a couple of exciting new products to help with this.  Mystic Mare is a pure Raspberry Leaf herbal supplement recommended for mares with hard cycles and to help support a healthy hormonal/nervous system.  It contains 3,780 mg. of pure Raspberry Leaf per serving.  For your more extreme cases, I would recommend the LevelorX.  It contains 5,000 mg. of pure Raspberry Leaf per serving, along with Dong Quai and Chasteberry Extract to help restore female hormonal balance.  It also contains Taurine and Magnesium to help with the anxiety and nervousness we often notice in mares when they are cycling.  You can order these products by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.

Q:       I really like the joint product that I am currently feeding.  However, my horse definitely
has his fair share of “issues” that require some maintenance.  I don’t like giving him bute for long periods of time.  Can you recommend something to help with pain management that is safe to feed long-term?

A:       With the high performance expectation levels of these barrel horses, managing pain and discomfort can be a headache for many barrel racers.  MVP makes a great product called DC-Y, which is a natural herbal to aid in joint function/pain related conditions.  It primarily consists of Devil’s Claw and Yucca, as well as other herbs that have anti-inflammatory and free-radical inhibiting properties.  This is safe to feed long-term and is available in a meal or liquid form.  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for guaranteed analysis:

DC-Y™ mfg. by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Provide 1/2 to 1 ounce daily for maintenance (1-2 ounces for severe conditions). Levels are often doubled for the first 14-21 days, and can be continuously fed at this rate. Safe use in animals intended for breeding has not been determined.

Q:       I have a young horse that is off the track that I plan to futurity on.  He is an extremely hard keeper with a very dull coat.  He gets fed almost twice as much as any other horse in the barn and will just not put on weight.  He has had excellent dental work, is on a very strict de-worming schedule, and we have done blood work on him that has all come back normal.  Given his history of being off the track and his other symptoms, my veterinarian and I have concluded he more than likely has ulcers.  We are going to do the 28-day GastroGard treatment given the severity of his symptoms.  However, do you recommend a daily supplement to help combat (and prevent) this in the future with this horse?

A:       Unfortunately ulcers can be a common problem among barrel racing and race horses.  Diet, exercise and stress are all factors that contribute to this.  One product that many barrel racers seem to sing the praises about is MVP’s Ulcrin.  It contains a highly concentrated dietary source blend of key ingredients that can be added to the ration for horses when conditions exist that are associated with gastric ulcers.  This can be fed along with the GastroGard and should be continued on a daily basis to prevent future flare-ups.  You can order this product by calling United Vet Equine at 1-800-328-6652.  See below for guaranteed analysis:

Ulcrin™ with HA mfg. by Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

Q:       Every year, I get so confused on which vaccines to give along with staying on track with a good de-worming schedule.  Do you have any schedules or charts that are easy to follow, especially when dealing with mares and babies?

A:       Of course you should always consult with your veterinarian, especially if your geographic area has had any outbreaks of anything that you might need extra protection for.  Here is a simple format to follow that will cover the basics.  We order many of our veterinary supplies through United Vet Equine (1-800-328-6652, www.unitedvetequine.com).  They provide a one-stop shop for the majority of our horse needs and they also carry the West Nile Virus vaccine. 

DEWORMING SCHEDULE- FOALS

Months of Age:

1 month: None

2 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

3 month: Ivermectin

4 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

5 month: Ivermectin

6 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

7 month: Ivermectin

8 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

9 month: Ivermectin

10 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

11 month: Ivermectin

12 months: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

DEWORMING SCHEDULE-ADULT HORSES

Months of the Year:

February: Ivermectin or Moxidectin (Quest)

April: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

June: Ivermectin

August: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

October: Ivermectin/Praziquantel or Moxidectin/Praziquantel

December: Pyrantel (Strongid), Panacur or Anthelcide

Recommended Routine Vaccination Schedule – Pleasure Horses

***PHF – If given before May, booster twice (booster in summer). If given after May only vaccinate once.

NOTES: If your horse has never received a particular vaccination before, they will need a booster in 3 – 4 weeks.

If your horse is in a backyard closed herd, respiratory vaccinations may not be necessary.

Recommended Routine Vaccination Schedule – Broodmares