heidi
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,490
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Post by heidi on Nov 25, 2008 22:46:49 GMT 1
Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I don't think my girl moves too badly for an arthritic 26 year old on Tesco's (supposed to be the weediest version) Cider Vinegar! What intersts me too, is that our dogs always want to lick out the CVish feed bowl, but aren't the least bit interested in the non-CV bowl! I find it interesting how many people give supplements, don't think they are really doing any good, but don't like to stop feeding them incase the horse gets worse! I sometimes feel like a witch when doing other people's horses, as they give so many supplements! I think I should be saying "Eye of newt etc etc" as I add them all and stir them in!
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Post by june on Nov 25, 2008 23:06:40 GMT 1
Our lot don't get any supplements. They are fed on Top Spec Balancer, micronised Linseed, a tablespoon of salt and Alfa A Lite. They all look good, have nice shiny coats and are a reasonable weight. This summer polo season we didn't have one horse go lame. Given that the vet estimates that 25% of polo ponies are lame at any one time, I guess we are getting something right.
One of our retired polo ponies reacted very badly to Top Spec Anti Lam. She went very footy to the extent where I was wondering if it was fair to keep her going at the end of last winter. Thankfully I decided to take her off the Anti Lam and within two days she was racing around like a youngster. I really like the Top Spec products but as with everything, they aren't suitable for every horse.
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Post by confidentgal08 on Nov 25, 2008 23:32:22 GMT 1
I feed magnesuim for those spring time days and for the lamantic pony. D+H vits and mins for leisure for those who are a little under the weather. I have used soya for weight gain. Echinachea for the colds, ginsin is also good for stress full occasions . Garlic i have found make my sweet itch mare worse but have found chamomile flowers (on there own) helps
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Post by Susan on Nov 26, 2008 0:02:01 GMT 1
Kelly ref Honey no sugar and water isnt the same Bees do this fab job and turn it around into GREAT product called Honey and sugar and water is not the same.. although sweet.. and lets face it,it still aint expensive.. now different varities vary in quality depending on what bees feed on.. and manuka is the best.. and this is because it is from the teatree bush/tree.. bees feed on their flowers.
It is anti bacterial It is Antiinflammatory It breathes It is sterile It is soothing It is under stated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It will heal cuts and some serious deep ones and the amazing successes in foot abcesses. It deals with burns like you cant beleive.
It helps coughs in horses better then most other treatments..
As I have always thought simple often is best..
So to my first aid kit.. Lavender oil/Arnica/ Honey ( prefer manuka) much more you cant go wrong.. with Kelly in the autumn bees are fed up on sugar syrup to make up for the loss of the honey frames .. the 1st set of honey is made of that.. not as great quality but still had same properties.. ex hubby kept bees... we had lots of hives all over the place..
Those egyptian mummies didnt survive embalmed in it for no reason..
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Post by ProgFrock on Nov 26, 2008 0:05:20 GMT 1
Read a marvellous book recently called 'Bad Science' - very funny too. What a great thread this is! Not only do I gain wisdom on supplements, but I get an idea for one of Damien's Christmas presents. Thanks Kelly! ;D
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Post by Zuzan on Nov 26, 2008 1:00:02 GMT 1
nother vote for micronised linseed... but it's really the nearest Nita gets to "hard feed"...
I,m also chucking in handfulls of Rosehips that I've harvested myself..
small hanfull of the Global herbs Dried Garlic.. particularly like the Global Herbs Garlic as just crushed and dried.
and Equimore No 1 which is basically vit and minerals in form of Various seeds, brewers yeast and seaweed..
I also add table salt to Nita's feed.. that way I know she gets the right amount
I'm big on the seeds / omega oils.. for a multitude of reasons.. good coat, .. and hooves.. hoof wall is made out of the same cells as hair.. so omega oils are also good for hoof wall condition.. particularly in wet conditions.. good for joints, good of brain / mental health... there is also evidence that whole linseed specifically may help protect against the onset of sweetitch... list goes on
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Post by sammos on Nov 26, 2008 9:27:37 GMT 1
Kelly - I echo Susan on the Honey! Trials have been done using sugar syrup and honey see Waitcato Honey Research Unit isn NZ. bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/honey_intro.shtmlInterestingly they are more lyrical about the properties of all honey not just the Manuka. One of the main things that honey does is to release small amounts of peroxide into the area (in tiny targeted amounts to harm bacteria not tissue) to fight infection, it also provided the nutrients for tissue regrowth that sugar does not contain. I believe that Steady Up contains 3-hydroxy-tryptophan which (I think) is an amino group that works on the brain although has poor blood brain passage compared to 5-hydroxy-tryptophan but I am not sure if any products contain that. Tryptophan based products seem to level out the horse more the whole time (almost low grade sedation) wheras magnesium suppliments in theory should only really work where there is abnormal nervous function where they seem to it is stopping the horse getting edgy and wound up for no apparent reason whereas the tryptophans tend to have the effect by improving the horses demenour generally. sx
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Post by nich on Nov 26, 2008 9:28:57 GMT 1
Now this has made me think! Autumn is on Pernamax as she was diagnosed with djd. I am confident that it works as I am taking it myself and my tennis elbow started healing within 2 weeks. i also give her Hilton Herbs equimmune as she is quite infection prone. i might try cutting out the cider vinegar and mag ox to see if I see a difference.
I'm not including my SS enduro-complete or Top Spec Senior as I see them as feed/balancer.
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Post by chrissiew on Nov 26, 2008 12:07:07 GMT 1
Not a fan of SS Eclipse or Top Spec, but do think Benevit is a good all round vit/min supplement.
I think whilst some horses can cope with no additions, others do need them - just like people. The difference in soundness for my mare post tendon injury on and off Cosequin joint supplement is amazing (and that's after years on Cortaflex which I now believe did not a lot for her).
I am a huge supporter of Silver Lining Herbs - they 100% made the difference between Minnie being rock crunching sound (pre tendon injury) and still on grass and not when she had no shoes and even back in shoes I still use them. Plus their Valerian based calmer is extremely good.
For my sister's boy, Blue Chip is the only thing that keeps him in good steady condition - off it he is a poor doer, on it he is a good doer - believe me we have tested it a fair few times and it is definitely the Blue Chip that makes the difference - he didn't even put weight on when not on Blue Chip, but on tons of conditioning feed!!! However, again he has some recognised medical conditions (thyroid) that he needs help with.
I did find Equimins Hoofmender Plus good stuff when Mins was barefoot too for foot growth - that definitely made a difference
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Post by ponyseeker on Nov 26, 2008 13:09:15 GMT 1
Can I ask what you would suggest for my two new ponies - fairly new to keeping equines and feel a bit overwhelmed by the choice!! One is a 5 month old new forest and the other an 18 month old dartmoor. I am aware that they probably don't need anything extra - as several of you have said, it is probably -in most cases- to make us feel we are doing something, therefore making us feel good. I like the sound of micronised linseed and perhaps something to boost minerals as I don't have a lot of grazing so supplement with adlib hay and at the moment am just giving foal food to youngest and coarse mix to older one ( just handful each morning and night) I have just added handful of hifi lite as well. Are top-spec and blue chip similar in what they set out to do ? Do they contain magnesium in a useful amount to save giving it seperately as although it sounds beneficial I don't want to overload their system. Any advice will be so much appreciated.
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HeatherL*
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,929
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Post by HeatherL* on Nov 26, 2008 13:42:20 GMT 1
Bella just has Top Spec Comprehensive Balancer, Alfa A and Linseed Oil (might switch to micronised Linseed though after reading this thread). I think her condition speaks for itself, she has a glossy coat winter and summer, her feet are fantastic (hard little bare feet) and she's never had a sick or sorry day since I bought two years ago. I'm now touching wood furiously as I must have just tempted fate to the extreme!
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dingbat
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Posts: 2,481
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Post by dingbat on Nov 26, 2008 14:22:07 GMT 1
i wouldnt touch top spec products again, since its the only thing that i've ever had completely disagree with my horse. Made him more footy AND gave him loose droppings. i ended up cutting everything else out before finding out it was that (was on no grass at the time).
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Post by arabmania on Nov 26, 2008 18:51:08 GMT 1
I feed magnesuim for those spring time days and for the lamantic pony. D+H vits and mins for leisure for those who are a little under the weather. I have used soya for weight gain. Echinachea for the colds, ginsin is also good for stress full occasions . Garlic i have found make my sweet itch mare worse but have found chamomile flowers (on there own) helps garlic is something that i have always used but this is the 3rd non recommendation that i have come across in a matter of days! i have always used it as an anti midgey deterrent and also to ward off colds etc., when you say you found camomile flowers on their own helped, helped what? i am genuinely interested as i am always looking for views on natural ways of feeding our beloved neddies.
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Post by ba on Nov 26, 2008 19:01:13 GMT 1
Any info/thoughts on NAF pink powder?
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Post by june on Nov 26, 2008 19:03:48 GMT 1
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