Antioxidants, the Hoof and Your Horse

Antioxidants and free radicals are not only important to humans but they play a major role in the health of the horse. Oxidation is a process which occurs in the body, where the proteins, fats and carbohydrates are transformed into energy. As with humans, the same happens in horses as the metabolic process of transformation then creates wastes called free radicals. It is a normal side effect of the oxidation process but this waste product (free radicals) cause cell damage.

The purpose of the antioxidants is to reduce the activity of the free radicals by neutralising them chemically. Sources of Vitamin E and Selenium are good antioxidant substances that do just this.

Vitamin E – essential for the body functions of reproduction, immunity, muscular development, circulatory function, and the nervous system. There are 8 forms of Vitamin E and all can be found in green plant matter. All are a lipid soluble antioxidant the helps maintain the cell membrane integrity and reduce the damage. For horses, this is growing pastures and fresh young green leafy material. As the plant matures, it reduces in the amount of Vitamin E available. This is also true with harvests such as hay. It is known to be a potent antioxidant.

Oils and grain germs also contain very high Vitamin E, although the processes used to extract the Vitamin E can reduce the amount. Cereal grains like corn, oats and barley, do not contain high amounts of vitamin E. Deteriorating feed through silage, moulding hay, heat processes or long term storage also greatly reduce the amount available.

The ideal amount of Vitamin E required by the average horse is still not known and is being researched. There are many variables that impact on the intake such as soils, poor pastures, poor feed supplements. To check how much Vitamin E a horse has in its system can only be truly established through analysis of the plasma in the blood.

Deficiency can be seen in nutritional muscular dystrophy, equine motor neuron disease and degenerative myelopathy. Signs of the deficiency are seen as weight loss (even with good appetite), rough coat and neurological problems. Too much Vitamin E as a toxicity has not been recorded but research is continuing.

Vitamin E works with other chemicals such as Selenium, to improve the cell defence systems. A ‘Good” enzyme called gluthothione peroxide prevents free radicals from forming in the metabolic process and destroys the ‘Bad’ enzymes that degrade cell membrane integrity. Selenium is an essential component in this ‘good’ enzyme. Selenium does have a toxicity level, especially in horses, so care should be taken. Supplementation should be with organic forms.

Symptoms include increased heart rate, listness, salivation, irregular breathing, stiffness, lowered immune system.

Remember :

Vitamin E and Selenium are required for good horse health.

Supplementing Vitamin E can help stimulate the immune system and there is at this stage no know toxicity

Supplementing Selenium should be done with caution. Only use organic forms and always consult a vet. Giving horses vitamins should be done with professional advice and some may interfere with the absorption of nutrients essential to good health.

Anitoxidants can be found in many sources

Feed much needed antioxidants to your horses hoof and see the difference