Supplement suggestions please?

[Shay]

My daughter's 13yr old cob X strained muscles in his neck somehow a few weeks ago and is just now coming back into work from 4 weeks off. (We think he got cast overnight somehow - although he was up in the morning.) This is his 2nd period off work this year as he caught a virus in early Feb and had 6 weeks off then. He is coming back into work OK - but is nappy. Vet, saddler etc etc sure there is no pain he's just trying it on to see if he can go back in the feild for a few weeks!

He is on just under 1 scoop Bailey's No2 per day ( Probably just under 1/2 the reccommended amount as his work load is light at the moment and I don't want him gaining weight. He'd normally be on 2 scoops.) A handful of HiFi light because he'd bolt his food otherwise and soaked hay double netted. Turn out most of the day - but he comes in at about 4 for the night. Ridden 6 days a week - when in work! - but obviously light just at the moment. His weight is fine - but he's a good do-er so I know I have to watch it.

We have used NAF pink powder in the past - mainly becuase they gave huge tubs away free at pony club camp last year! I have also used Ener-G with great success in the past - but more for a bit of oomph at competition and obviously we're not competeing at the moment! He has a free access to a salt & mineral lick.

So what do you think would be good for him just now to help his muscles, and him generally, recover? I'm torn between some sort of echniacea based immune boost, or a devil's claw / whitethorn mobility boost. Or even just a general vit / min supplement. I'd feed the lot - but I know we are always over supplementing our horses!

Answers on a post card please (well - the forum equivalent!) and thanks as always for the help!

 

[lizzi2]

I've used for years now with my mare, a supplement called 'forever freedom' - it's a combination of Glucosamine Sulphate, Chondroitin Sulphate, MSM, Vitamin C and Aloe Vera gel which helps her keep her healthy & reduce any of her aches and pains (has had touch of arthritis before plus ligament sprains in past), which seemed to have been helped by this supplement.

Have tried devils claw and others in past, but this seems a better allround supplement.

 

[TayloredEq]

He is on just under 1 scoop Bailey's No2 per day ( Probably just under 1/2 the reccommended amount as his work load is light at the moment and I don't want him gaining weight. He'd normally be on 2 scoops.) always over supplementing our horses!

QUOTE]

Personally I would start by looking at his feed.

The recommended amount of the number 2 would have been worked out so that your horse got all the required vitamins and minerals. If you don't want the horse to gain weight then I would suggest that you swapped over to something like the stud balancer whilst the work was light. The SB uses a cup as a measure and whilst you would be feeding a lesser quantity your horse would be getting the full amount of vits and mins needed for healing and repair within his body - the majority of the horses we have in for rehab are put onto the SB so they get their vits and mins without weight gain.

Baileys offer a free nutritionist service where they will come out and see your horse in the flesh or alternately you can speak to them at the end of the phone.

I know you mention having had the vet and saddler out but have you also had a chiropractor and a physio to him? It may be that there is still a residual soreness/problem there that needs dealing with.

Another option would be to speak to your vet about putting the pony on bute for a few days. IF it is soft tissue damage then the bute should make it better. Or if it is in his head then there would be no difference.

If it is a muscular problem you could also look at something like the back on track products. These have a ceramic melded into the fabric which reflects heat back into the body in the form of infrared. This in turn stimulates blood flow (which aids healing) and helps to keep the muscles warm, soft and gooey!


Good luck!

 

[paulineh]

A general liver/Kidney pick me up is a good start. This will help any residue from the virus.

There maybe more than just his neck that was strained/pulled as he was ?cast in his box.Getting up other muscles may have been over used.

Give Roger Hatch from "Trinity Consultants" a call his number is 01243551766 he is a wiz went it comes to nutrition etc. He will have something that will work.

I have a mare that that pulled a muscle and Roger put her right.

Pauline

 

[Shay]

Thanks for the reccommedation Paulineh - I'll give him a call.

We have had the osteopath and a sports therapist out to him - I was just trying not to make the first post too long. If it helps we've had the dentist out too. And the farrier - although that was a routine call for re-shoeing. All are satisfied there is no residual pain. He was on bute for about 2 weeks, but the vet advised against continued use as it could mask any slight residual pain and cause him to worsen the injury. All the experts are satisfied there is no pain now - although I suppose it is possible they missed something. They have examined him and seen him under saddle.

I know I am feeding well under spec but we have had problems changing the feed in the past. Bailey's advised that just reducing the level of feed for a few weeks was not a problem given the free access to a salt and mineral lick. That was the preferred option to changing feeds for such a short period of time.

I like the idea of the forever freedom - I'll look it up. Thanks.