Fresh Green Pasture an Your Horse

Reviewing an article “Allergy Control through Antioxidants and Digestive Support’ by Jack Gorgan, CN . Expert in tissue mineral balancing in equines and has worked extensively in the fields of biology, biochemistry and nutrition.

He studies the effects of allergy control through effective non-invasive nutritional intervention. But of interest to a horse and the effect on its hoof is his theory of how a horse has abnormal responses when the immune system triggers a response. Those allergy symptoms can show in the horses body in a number of ways such as itching, swollen eyes, coughing, diarrhea etc.

Phytonutrients are a relatively new class of natural compounds being studied for their effects on the body. Mostly on the human body but this study is moving over to the pet and equine industries. These phytonutrients are showing value in their ability to control various aliments and the negative effects on the health of the horse.

Plants naturally produce the phytonutrient compounds in the form of flavonoids, polyphenolics, anthocyanins and carotenoids. These protect from oxidative damage in the body. Citrus fruits, berries, green/red/yellow vegetables and grapes are all rich in antioxidants.

Phytonutrients have the ability to minimise the free radicals which naturally occur as a result of natural chemical reactions in the body. Excess levels of free radicals crease adverse cycle of cellular activity leading to aging, disease and various forms of destruction.

Contributing factors to free radical stress can come from the environment, including pesticides, herbicides, pollution, excessive amounts of exposure to a range of substances. In the horse environment it could be excessive mud, urine, manure on the hoof, substances we place on the hoof which have unnatural compounds.

Vitamins C, E and Beta Carotene are effect scavengers of free radicals. Minerals such as Selenium, Copper, Zinc and Manganese produce enzymes also effective. Particular plants contain high amounts of some or all of these substances.

With this in mind, look at the conditions that our domestic horses are in 12 months of the year. It is not on green lush pasture, therefore an equine diet lacks fresh antioxidant compounds. Most are feed dry hay and grains or pellets of dried hay and grains. Many diets contain highly processed and refined food stuffs. Reduction of the antioxidants in this form of diet is greatly reduced. The modern equine diet is far more pro chronic disease such as inflammation than it was in previous years. This can be attributed to the increased processed feeds or providing feed low in fibre and void of natural viable nutrients sch as phytonutrients and Omega3 fatty acids such as flax seed oil, grape seed oil and dark green leafy plants.

Supplementing the feed with antioxidant rich phytonutrients can efficiently protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals and inflammatory chronic health issues. Antioxidants support the body’s immune system, respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Horses have a highly developed, complicated and sensitive digestive tract which can easily be disrupted through stress. That stress can be in the form of physical, mental, emotional, chemical, toxin, metabolic or nutritional stressors. Each has the ability to compromise the immune system. Once the inflammation starts, the digestion deteriorates and nutrient absorption decrease. As a result, pathogens and toxins enter the bloodstream and increase the risk of other symptoms such as infection or distress (damage).

Apply this theory to how the hoof operates and it is easy to see why damage can occur to the hoof or lameness without a know cause can occur. The horse needs to be feed with the appropriate foods but it also absorbs from the environment.

By applying high antioxidant rich food topically to the surface of the affected area works by feeding the cells at the local level first and improves the integrity of the cell structure.

As part of your Total Well Being for the Equine – Use Hoof Moisturises that nourish the cells without placing harmful chemicals on the hoofs absorptive surface.