When considering and formulating a fitness programme for your horse, it is important to understand that there is never a ‘one size fits all approach.’ Every horse, their capabilities and their limits will each be different. There are many ways to encourage your horse to get a spring in their step and one of these ways is through utilising food supplements. This article will discuss some of the available dietary supplements for your equine friend.
Just like human athletes, horses must be physically fit in order to perform to their maximum
As horse owners, you will have a desired level of fitness for your horse which may be different to others. For example, you may aim for your horse to be comfortable during leisurely hacks or you may need them to be able to sustain more intense exercise such as show jumping competitions, endurance, or eventing.
Below lists and discusses some of the available equine supplements designed to improve overall equine health and fitness:
Synovium Prefit
This dietary supplement contains balanced vitamins and minerals, and is intended primarily for horses in heavy training or high-stress (e.g. when travelling). Additionally, it contains 5mg of biotin (Vitamin B7) and feeding this supplement is designed to help to maintain a healthy hoof quality. You can find it on our website, here: https://cura-pet.co.uk/product/synovium-prefit/
Synovium Red and Gold
Intended to act as an energy boost for horses, it aims to give them the spark they need when building their fitness. Red and Gold is rich in a range of B Vitamins, which collectively play an important role in helping the body to use and store energy from carbohydrates and fats. This helps to turn nutrients into energy which is valuable when building equine fitness. Available over on our website: https://cura-pet.co.uk/product/synovium-red-and-gold/
Synovium Nutravet This supplement comes in a liquid pump bottle and has the unique aim of neutralising lactic acid after exercise. Synovium Nutravet contains sodium citrate and citric acid, which can act as a “buffer”, reducing increases in blood acidity. Athletic horses receiving high levels of work are at risk of ‘tying up,’ also known as exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome (ERS). The affected horses experience painful muscle cramps, usually in their back and hindquarters. Synovium Nutravet aims to neutralise the excessive build-up of lactic acidosis after exercise. The supplement is designed to help with a faster recovery, meaning that the equine athlete can return to exercise as quickly as possible. Click the link to find this product on our website: https://cura-pet.co.uk/product/synovium-neutravet/
Synovium Clay & Cool
While not really a “supplement”, this topical product is directly applied to horse’s legs before or after exercise. If you are an equine enthusiast, you may have seen athletic horses with unnatural white legs during competitions – well, this is usually the clay that has been applied to their legs prior to the event. Synovium Clay & Cool contains clay, salt, aluminium silicate, natural thyme oil, glycerine and purified water. It is designed for easy application, and the thyme oil component is designed to makes it suitable to apply on dry or cracked skin. Applying synovium clay and cool acts as a great way to cool the horse’s legs, which supports the recovery of tendons and ligaments following exercise. Clay & Cool can be found on our website: https://cura-pet.co.uk/product/synovium-clay-cool/
Remember, supplements can be valuable but aren’t a quick fix!
In addition to using the above supplements which are designed to support your horse with their growing level of fitness, there are many other factors which need to be taken into careful consideration. Any mammal (including both humans and horses!) that is trying to build their level of fitness must do this gradually with a set timeline, as increasing fitness too quickly can easily lead to negative outcomes such as injuries etc.
Horse owners who are aiming to focus on their horse’s exercise routines should also incorporate scheduled rests – just like us, they need their recovery period in order to enhance their performance. Furthermore, good nutrition and feeding is vital and remains one of the most important elements of equine fitness. Some people still follow the phrase ‘you get out what you put in.’
Speak to your Vet or equine nutritionist to discuss what type of nutrition your horse requires, as this is often tailored depending on each individual. For example, equines in high intensity work are often fed ‘heated’ feeds to account for their high energy demands.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are many areas to focus on when trying to build equine fitness ready for spring. These areas can be enhanced by adding in equine supplements which are specifically designed to improve equine fitness and recovery.
