Q and A
HoofStim
My horse has cracked hooves. Can HoofStim help?
Yes, HoofStim is an ideal dietary supplement for horses with cracked hooves. Hoof problems such as weak wall/sole/horn, cracking and crumbling, can be common in horses as a result of many different environmental factors. HoofStim contains Biotin, Lysine, Methionine and Zinc which are essential for healthy hoof growth. Biotin is a mineral that is found in some grains in the horse’s diet yet in most of these circumstances the mineral is unavailable for use. Supplementation can ensure that your horse is receiving the right amounts of essential nutrients to build and maintain healthy hooves.
Is HoofStim suitable for my horse?
HoofStim is recommended for horses of all ages. It can help young horses to develop and grow healthy hooves from the start. HoofStim is also recommended for horses with dry/cracked/brittle hooves. The combination of ingredients supports the growth and development of many of the vital structures within the hoof. Cracks, weakness or other deformities may be visible at the point of hoof growth relative to a phase of illness/fever/injury. This product is ideal to restore the hoof to full strength and with regular use it can ensure your horse’s hooves continues to grow this way.
Can I give HoofStim to my Laminitic horse?
Yes, this product is suitable to give to laminitic horses, although many nutrition and management factors play key roles in the development of this disease. Laminitis is inflammation of the sensitive structures in the hoof called the lamanie. It is these lamanie that hold the coffin bone tight within the hoof. As a result of the inflammation toxins are secreted which weaken the connections between the coffin bone and the hoof wall. Although the most common causes of laminitis are nutrition/weight related Hoofstim can help to give your horses an extra advantage in the defense against Laminitis, building and maintaining strong healthy hooves. Your horse may also benefit from one of our metabolic supplements (i.e. TheraCalm) to combat this problem from the inside out.
How long will it take to see results?
It is estimated that horse’s hooves grow at a rate of approximately 0.2-0.4 inches a month. With the average horses hoof being 3-4 inches long the entire hoof can grow out (coronet band to toe) in less than 12 months. It is recommended to use HoofStim for a minimum of one year. Once cracks have grown out and hooves strengthened, continuing to regularly supplement your horses diet with HoofStim can ensure your horses maintain strong healthy hooves.
ProEntera
How Does ProEntera work?
In a healthy state the horse is host to billions of micro-bacteria that maintain a delicate balance in the intestine. These bacteria are involved in the digestive process that allow your horse to absorb nutrients from the food ingested. Probiotics can help optimize digestive function for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal problems. ProEntera is veterinary formulated and contains 10-20 times the amount of bacteria when compared with competitor’s products. It is also the only probiotic available that is derived from equine origin.
Will ProEntera work for my horse?
Horses are known for having a particularly sensitive gut. ProEntera can help to manage and keep this balance even in healthy horses. It is also recommended for horses with diarrheal diseases caused by bacterial action, colitis (inflammation of the colon) caused by clostridia bacteria or salmonella, horses under stress or horses recovering from illness. The live bacteria and yeast mean that this supplement is also recommended for prevention and treatment of diarrhea in young foals.
Can I supplement with this product while my horse is still receiving treatment for illness?
Yes. This product is recommended for regular use in healthy horses and for the treatment and prevention of digestive disorders. ProEntera is particularly valuable during/after drug administration as it will aid with the correction of bacterial disruptions that may have occurred due to treatment or drug administration.
How do I supplement Proentra?
A bag of ProEntera contains a 30 day supply. It is premeasured and packaged in individual sachets, each containing the correct amount to dose one horse per day. The sachet can simply be mixed in with the horse’s normal ration.
BioBerry
What is BioBerry and how does it work?
BioBerry is formulated using natural blackberry extract, nature’s most powerful antioxidant. It supports cardiovascular health, normal cell function and eliminates free radical production. The high content of anthocyanins and polyphenols in BioBerry supports normal respiratory functions, similar to the effects of antioxidants in humans.
What type of horse is this product recommended for?
BioBerry can be used by horses of all ages and levels of work. It is recommended for horses with inflammatory conditions of the bowel and reproductive tract and obese horses. It may also help any horse fighting chronic illness, horses under stress or performance horses as these are all prime targets for free radical production. A horse that is exercising hard will have a faster oxidation process resulting in more free radicals being produced. Competition horses and any horse in hard work will greatly benefit from regular supplementation with BioBerry.
How do I feed BioBerry?
It is recommended to feed this supplement at a rate of 1oz (1scoop) to your horse daily. This amount will generally be adequate for most horses. BioBerry supplement can be mixed in with the horse’s normal ration.
TheraCalm
What is TheraCalm and how does it work?
TheraCalm is a metabolic supplement, aimed at managing insulin resistance in horses. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas with the job of targeting the sugars and starches/carbohydrates ingested by the horse. Insulin is produced in response to elevated glucose to transport the sugars from the horse’s blood to the cells for use in many different bodily functions. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells of the body become less sensitive to the insulin produced. This results in the excess production to compensate for this lack of sensitivity. TheraCalm was formulated by both a nutritionist and veterinarian to manage the effects of insulin resistance.
My horse is currently overweight/obese and on a diet aimed at reducing his bodyweight to a healthy level. How could TheraCalm help my horse?
Insulin resistance can be caused due to excess bodyweight and can make corrections more difficult. Supplementing your horse with TheraCalm enhances the effects of insulin and requiring less to be produced. This can have many health benefits on your horse’s health. The hormone insulin can promote fat storage. Supplementation with this product alongside good management practices gives your horse the best chance of reaching an optimum body weight safely.
I do not know if my horse is insulin resistant or not, can I supplement with TheraCalm anyway?
Yes, TheraCalm can be useful for all horses and may help to prevent the onset of insulin resistance, particularly if your horse is naturally an easy keeper. There are some clinical signs that indicate your horse is insulin resistant and will benefit from supplementation of TheraCalm. Clinical signs of insulin resistance : overweight/obesity, fat pockets (usually lumpy) even if the horse is not overweight, cresty neck, poor coat/slow shedding, chronic infections, laminitis or Cushings disease.
Common factors that contribute to insulin resistance: overweight/obese horses, dietary/mineral imbalances, high quality pasture, genetic predisposition (breeds/easy keepers), inadequate exercise or rations high in starches and sugars.
Some of these signs can be associated with other conditions, it is possible to have your vet do blood work to test for elevated glucose/insulin levels.
Can TheraCalm help with horses prone to tying up?
TheraCalm is also effective in reducing hyperactivity in horses which in turn helps maintain normal muscle functions in horses that have a tendency to tie up. Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism is a common cause of tying up in horses. TheraCalm’s interaction with insulin can help to regulate the carbohydrate metabolism, preventing muscle spasms and so aiding in the prevention of tying up.
ArthroGlide
How does ArthroGlide work?
Domestication has led to the horse often being stalled for long hours and then taken out and exercised hard. This can lead to joint inflammation, pain and restricted movement. The specific combination of ingredients in Arthroglide helps maintain synovial fluid to lubricate joints and helps to stabilize the cartilage in the joints.
Should I supplement my young horse to prevent joint problems in the future?
Yes, it is certainly beneficial to use this product in young horses. Horses in regular work/training from a young age are exposed to repetitive stress on joints which can lead to inflammation. Over a long time this can lead to the breakdown of joint cartilage resulting in pain and restricted movement of the joint. 1 oz daily supplementation of ArthroGlide provides the horse with Glucosamine, Hylauronic acid( 100mg), Chondroitin, MSM and Zinc which have the combined effect of preservation of joint fluid and cartilage. This product is unique because it contains all of the important ingredients in correct amounts to help maintain healthy joints in your horse.
Which horses would benefit from ArthroGlide?
ArthroGlide is beneficial to horses of all ages. ArthroGlide can play a role in preventing the damage of joints in young exercising horses but it can also make significant improvements in older horses that may be suffering with arthritis. Many older horses suffer from osterarthritis in their joints, a breakdown of the cartilage between the bones within a joint. ArthroGlide contains the correct combination of readily absorbed Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM which all contribute to stop the cartilage from breaking down and aid in the process of rebuilding the cartilage. Even a modest improvement in the cartilage can have noticeable improvement in older horses.
How is ArthroGlide fed?
It is recommended that 1oz of ArthroGlide be administered to each horse daily. It can be given along with horse’s normal daily ration. This supplement is very palatable to horses and can be easily mixed through any type of feed.
OmegaSential
What is OmegaSential and how does it work?
OmegaSential is one of the supplements in the Omegas category of SportForce products. It contains the correct balance of 3:6:9 omega fatty acids to improve the horse’s health. It also has a 30% omega 3 concentration, which is more than most of the other common fat supplements on the market. OmegaSential is produced with unrefined flaxseed, soybean and canola oils.
Omega 3 fatty acids have been clinically proven to reduce inflammation, increase immune response, improve hormonal balance and reduce oxidative damage during exercise.
Will OmegaSential work for my horse?
OmegaSential is suitable for horses of all ages, breeds and levels of work. This supplement is particularly useful in horses under stress, in hard work and those with digestive disorders. OmegaSential can be used to treat problems in horses and it is also an excellent preventative measure to ensure your horse maintains good health at all times.
How do I feed OmegaSential?
It is recommended to supplement with 2-4 ounces daily for all classes of horses.
HydraBoost
What is HydraBoost and how does it work?
HydraBoost is an electrolyte supplement for your horse. Electrolytes are substances (salts) which maintain the fluid balance within your horse’s body. Sweating is a common way your horse can lose electrolytes and so cause a disruption in the horse. The effects of electrolyte loss are dehydration, muscle stiffness, lethargy and colic symptoms.
HydraBoost is a supplement that replaces lost electrolytes and corrects the fluid balance in the horse’s body. This product has optimum levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium and salt for your horse. It also contains a low content of dextrose compared to competitive products.
When should I give my horse HydraBoost?
Electrolytes should be given to a horse before, during, and after heavy sweating occurs. Horses in hard work will need regular supplementation with electrolytes to ensure they maintain healthy fluid balance. This is vital for competition horses as improper fluid balance and dehydration can have detrimental effects on performance.
During the summer months, even horses standing still can be sweating enough to have significant loss of electrolytes. Fever causing sweating and diarrhea are other common ways the horse’s electrolyte and fluid balance can be disrupted. In these circumstances it is advisable to supplement your horse with HydraBoost.
How do I supplement my horse with HydraBoost?
HydraBoost can be added to your horses feed. It is not advisable to add this product to water. Horses can become dehydrated to the point of diminished thirst and so may not receive sufficient electrolytes if added to water. It is recommended to feed 1oz (1 scoop) per day to horses in light work. 2oz (2 scoops) per day to competition, endurance and medium work. 3-4oz (3-4 scoops) per day to horses in heavy work.
GastriVive
How does GastriVive work?
GastriVive is a supplement developed by Sportforce to help maintain a healthy digestive system in your horse. It is formulated with a comprehensive digestive formula, providing your horse with everything it needs to maintain a healthy gut.
GastriVive is formulated to neutralize gastric acid and buffers (controls the stomach PH) for up to four hours.
Will my horse benefit from supplementation with GastriVive?
Horses are known for having particularly sensitive digestive tracts. Domestication and modern management practices (stall kept horses, feeding only once/twice daily) can easily lead to the development of digestive problems. Ulcers are common in many different types of horses. Supplementation with GastriVive can help to treat and prevent digestive problems in your horse.
Can I give GastriVive to my senior horse?
Yes, GastriVive is ideal for senior horses. It can help to maintain healthy gut function in older horses that are more prone to digestive upsets as a result of the aging process. Gastrivive is also suitable for horses of all ages. Caring for your horse’s digestive health from an early age can help to maintain good digestive function throughout its life.
How do I supplement GastriVive?
It is recommended to give ˝ oz (1 scoop) to your horse twice daily. This amount is suitable for all horses.
MyoBoost
What is MyoBoost and how does it work?
MyoBoost is a unique, all natural vitamin E product. It contains high levels of both alpha and gamma tocopherol, antioxidants, vitamin C and selenium. Vitamin E is required in every horse’s diet and can have effects on many different aspects of their diet. As an antioxidant, MyoBoost can target toxins in the horse’s body. There are many different ways the horse can come to have theses toxins(free radicals) such as; stress, the use of chemicals/drugs or impurities inhaled from the environment. If these toxins were left unchallenged in the horse they can attack the horse’s healthy tissue and cause harm.
Is MyoBoost suitable for my horse?
MyoBoost is suitable for use in horses of all ages and breeds. It can be particularly useful for horses with inflammatory conditions, horses under stress or in hard work. In all of these situations the horse can be at risk for toxins (free radicals) to do damage. Supplementing with MyoBoost can help control and prevent the relative damage.
My horse is prone to tying up, can MyoBoost help?
There are a number of different factors (management + dietary) that can contribute to the horse experiencing symptoms of tying up. Supplementing with MyoBoost can definitely help with horses prone to this condition. The high content on vitamin E and selenium have a direct effect on the cells of the muscles. Tying up may also be a result of an electrolyte imbalance. If so, your horse may also benefit from using SportForce electrolyte, HydraBoost.
How should I supplement my horse with MyoBoost?
MyoBoost should be supplemented at a rate of 2oz per day. This amount is suitable for all horses.