Baking powder????

[Arniebear]

Hey guys,

rather odd qu but someone told me that giving a horse baking powder (yes regular 29p tescos baking powder!!) helps to reduce muscle issues as it releases the latic acid in thier muscles and get their quicker than things like epsom salts.

has anyone ever heard this before?!!
he said it has had a massive effect on his competition ponies who now no longer suffer with back issues where he was constantly having to get a back person out!

can anyone elighten me as to how this works?!!

thanks im afraid i have nothing to offer!!

 

[Tammytoo]

Never heard of that one! How much did he give?

 

[Nocturnal]

I'd be wary of feeding baking powder - it contains acid and starch, doesn't it? Baking soda (pure bicarbonate of soda) is safe to feed, though, and can be used to buffer acidity in the gut.

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Baking SODA (not POWDER) is supposed to help with lactic acid build up, and is supposed to help with chronic tying up.

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Oops, cross posted!

 

[Arniebear]

ohhhh so baking soda???? LOL

he said he fed i heaped teaspoon once a day

so does it actually work????

 

[Slightly Foxed]

I think so. It used to be (still is??) used in the racing industry. A spoonful does the trick apparently. It's a very old school trick.

 

[Arniebear]

thanks slightly foxed think ill give it go

 

[Tammytoo]

Keep us posted!

 

[Arniebear]

will do

 

[ellie_e]

So im paying £35 for a months supply of this:http://www.feedmark.com/product.asp?product=Opti+Muscle When really I could be using Tesco's own baking soda?!?!!

 

[Fairynuff]

yep!

 

[Above&Beyond]

Baking Soda is used by athletes to reduce lactic acid build up, too. But taken/given in a wrong dosage it can cause indigestion and diarrhoea, so watch out for that!

 

[ellie_e]

Right from now on hes getting cheap and cheerful baking soda

 

[Nickles1973]

Someone I know who drives ponies has had an issue with one his Sec C's for a while. Local vets were stumped so he was refered to AHT in Newmarket for full investigations. £3000 worth of test's later and still nothing could be found! My friend talked to our old semi retired vet and he has suggested that the problem is most likely muscular so to feed his pony baking soda!
That combined with Bowen treatment and said pony seems to be doing well........Think I'll be giving baking soda a go next time my horse seems a bit stiff after a lesson or a hoolie in the field.