KER Product Guide

Product Guide

Kentucky Equine Research was founded in 1988 when Joe Pagan, Ph.D., realized that information generated from research did not reach the individuals who needed it most: feed manufacturers and horse owners. Since then the primary focus of the company has been bridging the gap between the research community and horsemen. The company accomplishes this through research, nutritional solutions, and consultation.

Kentucky Equine Research is one of the most prolific private equine nutrition and exercise physiology research companies in the world. The quantity of published research derived from studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research rivals that

Expert Advice Since 1988

of leading universities. In addition to its own research, the company also collaborates with prominent universities to develop and patent products and diagnostic techniques that target specific problems in horses of all ages and uses.

Using these studies as a foundation, KER Targeted Nutrition products were developed to support special dietary needs. The range of products addresses commonplace conditions like obesity and gastrointestinal health as well as complex problems like tying-up and bone demineralization. Backed by science and preferred by veterinarians, KER products are designed with one goal in mind: to optimize the health of your horse.

EquiSport Photo

In addition to the KER Targeted Nutrition supplements, Kentucky Equine Research also offers specialty feeds to address specific needs and management challenges.

Aside from its research efforts, Kentucky Equine Research serves as an industry-wide consultant, working with feed manufacturers worldwide to source novel ingredients and formulate high-quality feeds.

Quick Reference Guide

Find a source or shop online at shop.ker.com

Antioxidant

Nano-E®

Nanodispersed Liquid Natural-Source Vitamin E

Nano-E is a revolutionary natural-source vitamin E supplement for horses. Liposome encapsulation and nanodispersion confer rapid and superior bioavailability for all horses. Vitamin E is an essential component of body-wide antioxidant defenses and plays a vital role in immune, cardiovascular, circulatory, neuromuscular, and reproductive functions.

Features and Benefits

• Vitamin E antioxidant supplement for all types of horses

• Natural-source vitamin E proven more effective than synthetic vitamin E

• Rapidly available so administration may be timed to provide peak antioxidant protection

• Reproductive benefits for breeding stallions and pregnant and lactating broodmares

• Recommended for:

- Race and performance horses

- Horses recovering from illness or injury

- Prior to or following stressful events such as foaling, weaning, or travel

- Horses with neurological or neuromuscular disease

- Horses in confinement or those not consuming fresh green grass

Feeding Recommendations

Preloading: Give 6 to 12 hours prior to a competition or stressful event

Guaranteed Analysis

Nutrient

to 20 mL (3,000 to 5,000 IU)

250 IU d-alpha-tocopherol per mL

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

Give 4 to 12 mL (1,000 to 3,000 IU) daily or as directed by your veterinarian or nutritionist. For additional protection prior to a competition or stressful event, give 12 to 20 mL (3,000 to 5,000 IU) 6 to 12 hours prior. Nano-E may be administered orally or top-dressed onto feed at time of feeding.

Container Size

450 mL (112 servings)

Each water-soluble vitamin E nanoparticle in Nano-E is encapsulated by liposomes, which allow the nanoparticle to mix evenly throughout a water-based environment such as the gastrointestinal tract.

Which Is Best, Natural or Synthetic Vitamin E?

Research has revealed that vitamin E varies in its potency, based on whether it is natural or synthetic. Sources of natural vitamin E more effectively raise serum levels when compared to synthetic.

Elite Advice

“My gelding has always shown signs of muscle soreness and had a hard time recovering after stress. Since adding Nano-E to his diet, I have noticed that his back and topline muscles are not sore. He doesn’t cringe when you reach up to touch his back, and he isn’t showing the signs of chronic sore muscles.”

Kelley Carrington French NBHA World

2020 Fast Time Award

Finals

NBHA Photo

Nano-Q10™

Supplement for Horses in Training

Nano-Q10 is a highly bioavailable form of coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone. Nano-Q10 features advanced nanotechnology to create a rapidly available and absorbed source of coenzyme Q10 that has been shown to be three times more bioavailable than powdered crystalline ubiquinone.

Coenzyme Q10 is involved in numerous reactions in the body, primarily the production of energy, and is found in highest concentrations in mitochondria, where its function is to carry protons and electrons, an essential process in the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the main energy currency used by all cells, including muscle cells. Coenzyme Q10 is also found in cell membranes, where it boosts cell integrity.

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from highly reactive chemicals called free radicals that can damage cells and their DNA. Besides providing direct antioxidant protection, it also improves the antioxidant potential of other antioxidants in the body, like vitamins C and E.

Features and Benefits

• Improves aerobic energy generation

• Protects against exercise-induced muscle damage

• Prevents the overexpression of pro-inflammatory compounds

• Defends against oxidative stress in muscle cells

• Works synergistically with vitamins C and E

• Three times more bioavailable than the crystalline powdered form

Feeding Recommendations

Give

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

7 mL

Container Size

450 mL (64 maintenance doses; 32 loading doses)

Nano-Q10 is three times more bioavailable than ubiquinone powder.

Coenzyme Q10 and ubiquinone are one and the same. When the compound was identified in the late 1950s, it was coined coenzyme Q10, due to its chemical structure. The name ubiquinone was derived from the adjective ubiquitous, a nod to the compound’s widespread distribution in nature.

“The ability to quickly bounce back between phases is so important in eventing. Coenzyme Q10 is a key nutrient for muscle health and recovery. I rely on Nano-Q10 from KER to ensure I’m supporting my winning event horses with the latest in equine nutrition science.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp International Eventer

Elite Advice

Cindy Lawler

DuraPlex ®

Bone Mineralization Supplement

DuraPlex is a proprietary blend of specific proteins, vitamins, and minerals scientifically proven to reduce bone demineralization as well as increase bone mineral density and bone area in performance and growing horses. Studies at Kentucky Equine Research with idle horses showed positive changes in bone quality after just one month of supplementation. DuraPlex was also shown to prevent the natural demineralization that occurs when access to free-choice exercise is restricted such as when young horses enter a training environment or during stall rest due to injury.

Features and Benefits

• Special protein source stimulates bone collagen production while suppressing bone destruction, resulting in an increase in bone density

• Helps maintain healthy bone metabolism, tissue, and structure in performance horses

• Supports bone quality at high-risk times such as when young horses enter race training

• Prevents bone loss at times when bone naturally demineralizes, such as when limited or no turnout is available including stall rest due to injury

• Provides specialized post-surgical nutritional support

Feeding Recommendations

Top-dress on feed. For support of optimal bone health, feed 60 g per day. For horses in need of additional support, feed 120 g per day. For best results, divide between grain meals.

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Bone Demineralization

The equine skeleton engages in a continuous cycle of remodeling that is influenced by nutrition, age, and exercise. Bone density is built and maintained when force or impact is applied. Incremental training, for example, increases bone density in young horses. Periods of confinement, which often are mandated because of injury, are detrimental to bone integrity. Horses are sometimes asked to work strenuously too soon following veterinary-related layoffs when bone is perhaps at its most fragile.

Elite Advice

“I have used DuraPlex for post-surgical cases in need of proper bone support. DuraPlex helped to supply the essential compounds for bone remodeling and repair. It supports the healing process and allows the horse to meet its potential as a performance horse.”

Duncan F. Peters

D.V.M., M.S.

Triacton®

Bone and Digestive Health Support

Triacton is a triple-action supplement designed to improve bone density and support digestive health in horses. The pelleted supplement contains an array of highly bioavailable minerals and vitamins essential for sound skeletal development and maintenance, as well as optimal function of the gastrointestinal tract.

Studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research have demonstrated the positive effects Triacton has on bone density and the buffering capacity of the stomach and hindgut.

Features and Benefits

• Contains a novel source of calcium, shown to be more highly digestible than other forms of the mineral, including calcium carbonate

• Includes an array of other bone-building nutrients, including magnesium, boron, silicone, iodine, zinc, and manganese, as well as vitamins A, C, D, and K, which are important for bone health

• Provides a research-proven stomach buffer while also minimizing the acidity of the hindgut

• Includes yeast for further hindgut support and improved fiber digestion

• Supplies chelated minerals for optimal absorption

• Helps increase bone density in young, growing horses and athletic horses, which is especially important for horses involved in intense training

• Delivers a highly digestible source of minerals and vitamins in an easy-to-feed pellet

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

120 g per day for mature horses

60-120 g to growing horses

Container Sizes

5 kg (41 servings)

12 kg (100 servings)

Bone Density

Studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research with Triacton demonstrated an increase in bone density among Thoroughbreds in race training. Horses receiving 120 grams per day of Triacton for 90 days had a threefold greater increase in dorsal (shin) cortical bone density compared to the horses that received a placebo.

Dorsal

Cortical Bone Density

**treatment difference (p<.05)

Dorsal cannon bone density in Throughbred racehorses.

Stunning Steeds

EquiShure®

Time-Released Hindgut Buffer

EquiShure is a digestive health supplement designed for horses suspected of suffering from or at risk for hindgut acidosis. Encapsulation technology ensures targeted release directly in the hindgut. Hindgut acidosis is characterized by a drop in pH caused by microbial fermentation of starches and sugars such as fructans and the resulting accumulation of excessive lactic acid in the hindgut. It is important to maintain a stable hindgut environment with EquiShure to encourage proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Features and Benefits

• Encapsulation technology allows for targeted delivery of sodium bicarbonate to the hindgut and prevents significant changes in blood tCO2 levels

• Stabilizes hindgut pH to reduce the risk of hindgut acidosis and associated disorders

• May improve feed efficiency

• Recommended for horses

- On high-grain diets or grazing lush pasture

- With inappetence or weight loss

- With unexplainable behavioral problems

- With digestive upsets resulting in loose manure

- Prone to recurrent mild colic or laminitis

Feeding Recommendations

Top-dress EquiShure on feed or give orally. Feed 30 to 180 g daily according to the horse’s size and risk for hindgut acidosis. Use the table to determine recommended daily amount based on horse’s grain intake, forage source, and weight. For best results, divide the amount equally among feedings.

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

60 g (30-g scoop included)

Container Sizes

1.25 kg (20 servings)

7.2 kg (120 servings)

18 kg (300 servings)

Causes of Hindgut Acidosis

The two primary triggers for hindgut acidosis are overconsumption of starch-laden concentrates or sugar-rich grasses. When too much starch and sugar is eaten, some bypasses the small intestine, where it is normally digested, and enters the hindgut. As the microorganisms of the hindgut process the starch, pH changes, which can cause damage to the intestinal lining and changes in appetite, feed efficiency, manure, behavior, and performance.

Elite Advice

“In the world of equine sports medicine, the efficiency of the gastrointestinal tract is crucial to success. We routinely use EquiShure for horses that are prone to colic, weight loss, or show signs of digestive upset.”

Jim Hassinger, D.V.M. Hassinger Equine Sports Medicine

RiteTrac ®

Total Digestive Tract Buffer

RiteTrac is a proprietary blend of ingredients designed to support total digestive tract health. Targeted to benefit both the foregut and hindgut of the horse, RiteTrac works in two distinct ways. First, with its combination of fast-acting antacids and coating agents, RiteTrac quickly neutralizes excess gastric acid, protecting the stomach lining and restoring the normal gastric environment. Second, RiteTrac contains EquiShure®, a time-released hindgut buffer designed to act within the cecum and colon by maintaining optimal pH, thereby reducing the risk of hindgut acidosis.

Features and Benefits

• Includes an antacid blend proven effective at elevating gastric pH in horses

• Coating agents provide protection of the gastric mucosa

• Contains EquiShure®, a time-released buffer to neutralize excessive acid in the hindgut

• Aids in maintaining a healthy digestive environment for optimal nutrient absorption

• Combats the increased risk of hindgut acidosis in horses on high-grain diets, grazing lush pasture, or prone to laminitis

• Recommended for prophylactic use during training, showing, transport, weaning, or other stressful events

• Recommended for safe, long-term prophylactic use during training, showing, transport, weaning, or other stressful events

• Often results in improvement of symptoms in horses experiencing loose manure, weight loss, lack of appetite, frequent mild colic, and stereotypical behaviors.

Feeding Recommendations

May be given orally or added to horse’s daily grain ration. Administer 120 g per 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse. For best results, divide between grain meals.

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

120 g (60-g scoop included)

Container Sizes

3 kg (25 servings)

6 kg (50 servings)

18 kg (150 servings)

Emphasis On Digestion

Much importance is placed on gastrointestinal health because optimal digestion ensures efficient conversion of feedstuffs to energy, which in turn fuels growth, performance, and reproduction.

Delicate Destinations: Stomach and Hindgut

Of all the compartments of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach and hindgut are prone to the most problems. Ulceration of the stomach lining affects many horses, sometimes so badly that behavior and performance are compromised. Likewise, shifts in the microbial population of the hindgut due to fluctuating pH often disturb the efficiency of digestion.

Elite Advice

“Johnny has been prone to mild colic for no obvious reason.

As a show horse, he is exposed to stressful conditions, such as travel, intensive training, and shows. On RiteTrac, he hasn’t shown any signs of colic or gastric ulcers, and we are able to compete Grand Prix successfully and stress-free! This horse is healthier and, most importantly, happier than ever!”

Ashley Moore Grand Prix Dressage Rider

Race Recovery™

Racing Optimized Electrolyte

Race Recovery Paste and Powder are innovative electrolyte supplements designed specifically for horses given furosemide. Use of furosemide causes electrolyte loss and imbalance through increased urination. When coupled with the electrolyte losses that occur naturally with sweating, total electrolyte depletion can be significant following intense exercise. Without proper electrolyte replenishment, complete physiological recovery may be delayed, setting the stage for longer intervals between races.

Race Recovery reduces the downtime between bouts of intense exercise by replacing key electrolytes. Research at Kentucky Equine Research found that horses given furosemide require additional supplementation following exertion to maintain optimal electrolyte balance. To have the greatest benefit, electrolytes must be given during specific windows of time after exercise.

Race Recovery provides targeted electrolyte supplementation for intensely worked equine athletes given furosemide, supporting a quick rebound from hard work.

Features and Benefits

• Provides horses exercised on furosemide with targeted electrolyte supplementation

• Ensures complete, optimally timed electrolyte replacement for intensely worked horses

• Includes highly digestible forms of calcium and magnesium, two key minerals

• Palatable paste and powder formulas ensure consumption

Guaranteed Analysis

Race Recovery Paste

Race Recovery Powder

Feeding Recommendations

Administer one tube (60 g) of Race Recovery Paste one to two hours after performance and a second tube four to six hours later. Feed one scoop (60 g) of Race Recovery Powder twice a day mixed thoroughly in feed for at least five days thereafter. Suitable for use as daily electrolyte.

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

60-120 g/day

Container Sizes

Paste: 60-g tubes (one serving)

Powder: 18 kg (300 servings)

Post-Race Pack: 600 g powder, two tubes paste

What Is Furosemide?

Furosemide, a diuretic commonly referred to by the trade names Lasix® or Salix®, is administered to racehorses to reduce the incidence of exerciseinduced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), also known as bleeding. Furosemide inhibits the body’s ability to absorb sodium and chloride, leading to large urinary losses of electrolytes, including calcium, large increases in urine output, and dramatic weight loss.

Elite Advice

“Race Recovery is my preferred electrolyte for horses training and running on Lasix. With Race Recovery, I know my winning horses have the best nutritional support to bounce back and win again.”

Bob Baffert

Two-Time Triple Crown Winning Trainer

Electrolytes

Restore® SR

Slow-Release Electrolyte

Restore SR contains the latest technology in electrolyte therapy, including a proprietary slow-release mechanism that allows sodium to be released gradually into the gastrointestinal tract for sustained absorption. Feeding a concentrated electrolyte dose causes a surge in blood electrolyte levels. However, a concentrated dose also stimulates increased excretion of electrolytes, flushing out the electrolytes you just fed and shortchanging the horse of vital supplementation. When sodium is delivered slowly over a period of time, more is retained and utilized by the body. Restore SR helps horses retain the electrolytes you provide so they can replenish their reserves in the most optimal manner—slowly.

Features and Benefits

• Slowly delivers sodium and other key electrolytes such as chloride, potassium, and magnesium to replace what was lost in sweat

• Reduces the risk of dehydration, muscular weakness, overheating, fatigue, and poor performance

• Sugar-free formula

Feeding Recommendations

Adjust dose according to sweat loss and work intensity. Divide daily amount fed equally among meals and mix well. Feed Restore SR after competition, work, or in any situation in which the horse has sweated. In addition to Restore SR, all horses should have free-choice access to a salt block and water. The following recommendations are for horses with a mature body weight of 1,100 lb (500 kg) and should be adjusted accordingly.

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

30 g (30-g scoop included)

Container Sizes

4.5 kg (150 servings)

18 kg (600 servings)

Should Electrolyte Supplements Contain Dextrose?

Commercial electrolyte products often contain dextrose, which is thought to improve electrolyte uptake in horses. Studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research suggest that adding dextrose to electrolyte mixes does not increase rate of absorption or retention of electrolytes. Dextrose may improve palatability of electrolyte mixes, but highdextrose products supply lower amounts of electrolytes per dose and may be less effective as a result.

Sweat Production

Equine athletes produce copious quantities of sweat during exercise. Endurance horses can easily excrete four gallons of sweat during a competition, making electrolyte supplementation and water intake essential.

Elite Advice

“Restore SR replenishes the electrolytes lost during training and competition with a unique scientific formula that allows maximum absorption and maximum benefits.”

Chester Weber World Champion Combined Driver

Electrolytes

Restore® Paste

Buffered Electrolyte Supplement

Restore Paste is a carefully formulated paste electrolyte supplement designed to match the composition of sweat. Restore Paste is an easy-to-administer product that includes a buffering agent designed to support gastrointestinal comfort in horses. When horses sweat they lose electrolytes, with the principal losses being chloride, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. If these essential nutrients are not replenished, the consequences may include dehydration, muscular weakness, overheating, fatigue, and poor performance. The composition of Restore Paste mimics that of horse sweat so it replaces what has been lost in sweat.

Features and Benefits

• Easy-to-administer oral paste

• For routine or strategic electrolyte replacement for all horses that sweat

• Supplies sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium to hard-working horses

• Stimulates thirst response and encourages horses to drink

• Non-irritating formula for oral and gastrointestinal comfort

Feeding Recommendations

Administer one tube (60 g) after strenuous activity when the horse has been sweating. For best results during endurance training and competitions, administer full tubes of Restore Paste during the ride at rest stops or at water stops on the trail, and after completion.

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

g (one tube)

Size Available in single tubes and cases of 12

Buffer-Infused Paste

Pastes offer a convenient way to administer electrolytes, especially during a competition. Some performance horses, however, have gastric ulcers, and the salts in electrolytes can further aggravate stomach tissue. Restore Paste includes a stomach buffer to avoid tissue irritation.

Offer Plenty of Water

It may be difficult to realize the volume of fluid lost as the sweat may evaporate before it is even seen. Electrolytes can help prevent dehydration because they will encourage a horse to drink, especially if the horse is not fond of drinking unfamiliar water at show or competition venues. Without adequate water intake, electrolyte supplementation can actually exacerbate dehydration. Therefore, offer plenty of water to any horse given electrolytes.

Elite Advice

“When competing in races that are decided by a hundredth of a second, poor performance from dehydration is not an option. That is why I use KER Restore electrolyte paste before long trips or competition and during events on really hot days. With the added buffering agent and sugar-free formula, I know that my horses are comfortable in the gut.”

Matt Burns Sporting Horse Australia

Prescription Strength Hoof and Coat Conditioner

Bio-Bloom PS is a dual-action supplement designed to promote and maintain healthy hooves and skin from the inside out. Bio-Bloom PS contains biotin, methionine, iodine, and chelated zinc at levels shown to support hoof growth, including development of strong hoof wall. Bio-Bloom PS includes lecithin and essential fatty acids from full-fat soybeans, nutrients that are necessary for production of resilient hoof horn and shiny coats.

Features and Benefits

• Contains biotin, methionine, iodine, and chelated zinc at levels shown to improve and support hoof growth, including development of strong hoof wall

• Produces a soft, shiny coat and healthy growth of mane and tail

• Promotes health of hooves damaged by laminitis, seedy toe, sand cracks, and wet-dry cycles

• Includes essential amino acids and fatty acids, important nutrients for optimal coat condition

Feeding Recommendations

Top-dress on feed. Feed 30 g to 60 g per day to horses and ponies. Feed 60 g per day for treatment of acute hoof damage and coat conditioning. Feed 90 to 120 g to horses recovering from laminitis.

Guaranteed Analysis

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

30 g (30-g scoop included)

Container Sizes

2 kg (66 servings)

10 kg (333 servings)

What Is Biotin?

Biotin is a B-vitamin that, like other B-vitamins, is essential in the conversion of feedstuffs to energy so horses can grow to their genetic potential, perform, and reproduce. The medley of ingredients in Bio-Bloom PS sets it apart from other hoof supplements that contain only biotin.

Biotin: How Much Is Enough?

Research focusing on biotin supplementation as a means of improving hoof quality started in the mid-1980s. Studies have shown that many horses benefit from biotin supplementation, displaying improved hoof quality and accelerated hoof growth.

Elite Advice

“Bio-Bloom provides the necessary strength to combat soft or weak hooves. Strong hooves mean less chance of lameness or soreness, therefore enabling better performance.”

Brook Dobbin Master Farrier

Total Wellness™

Complete Performance Formula

Formulated to promote the overall health and soundness of all classes of horses.

Over 30 years, Kentucky Equine Research has completed thousands of equine ration evaluations and provided advice to horse owners worldwide on how to best nourish their horses, reduce health problems from modern management practices, and address specific concerns.

Based on this experience, the experts at Kentucky Equine Research developed Total Wellness to provide targeted nutritional support for the most commonly identified challenges in a single, easy-to-feed pellet.

• Promote joint health

• Protect cells from oxidative damage

• Support optimal hoof, skin, and coat quality

• Increase forage and nutrient digestibility

Total Wellness makes it easy to support horses’ overall health while maintaining a more simplified feeding program that avoids use of several separate products.

Feeding Recommendations

Top-dress 60 g per day on horse’s grain ration or 30 g per day for ponies. For best results, split into two feedings. Enclosed scoop holds 30 g.

Guaranteed Analysis

Nutrient

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

30-60 g/day

Container Sizes

4 kg (66 servings)

10 kg (166 servings)

Promote Joint Health

Total Wellness is enhanced with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate play key roles in the synthesis of synovial fluid and the major components of the articular cartilage matrix. Laboratory studies have illustrated the effectiveness of chondroitin sulfate in inhibiting the enzymes associated with inflammation and tissue destruction. MSM, a derivative of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), is a bioavailable source of sulfur and is important in relieving pain and inflammation. All three of these compounds have been provided at optimal levels to support normal joint health.

Support Optimal Hoof, Skin, and Coat Quality

Total Wellness contains added biotin, a water-soluble B vitamin essential for the maintenance of connective tissue found in skin, hooves, and hair. Ground flax has also been included to provide a source of essential fatty acids, which play a key role in maintaining a healthy hair coat as well as supporting other important systems in the body.

Protect Cells from Oxidative Damage

Vitamin E is a critically important nutrient for all horses but is especially important for exercise, reproduction, and for horses at risk of certain neurological diseases. Horses with limited access to fresh green forage have a greater need for supplemental vitamin E since the nutrient quickly becomes depleted in stored forages. Vitamin E can be obtained from natural or synthetic sources but the chemical structure and bioavailability of each is different. Studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research have shown the natural form of the vitamin to be 56% more bioavailable compared to the synthetic source.

Elite Advice

Stunning Steeds

“This is one of my favorite supplements. It keeps my horses covered across the board: gut health, joint health, hoof and coat health, immunity, and more!”

Alex Simpson Professional Barrel Racer

Synovate HA

Liquid Sodium Hyaluronate

Maintaining proper joint health is an important factor in the longevity of a horse’s performance career. The nutrient-rich synovial fluid is a vital component that fills the joint capsule to aid in smooth passage of one bone over another and to absorb shock from high-impact work. Sodium hyaluronate is a glycosaminoglycan that is an important structural component of joint cartilage and is responsible for the viscosity (thickness) of the synovial fluid. Synovate HA helps manage joint health proactively by preventing the loss of hyaluronic acid.

Features and Benefits

• Delivers high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate in an easy-to-administer liquid

• Hyaluronic acid plays a vital role in maintaining the health of connective tissue and optimizing normal joint function

• Contributes significantly to maintenance of cartilage health and elasticity, joint fluid viscoelasticity, and lubrication of the entire joint mechanism

• Contains anti-inflammatory properties, which are useful for high-motion joints

• Assists with supporting equine athletes through the rigors of training and competition

• Provides the nutrients that match the known attributes of hyaluronic acid found in the horse’s body

• Synovate HA uses a fermentation source of sodium hyaluronate derived from nonanimal substrates

Feeding Recommendations

For maintenance, give 0.5 oz (15 mL) per 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse per day in feed or orally. For a loading or pre-competition dose (optional), give 1 oz (30 mL) per 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse in feed or orally once daily for 7-10 days.

Guaranteed Analysis

Active Ingredient Per 30 mL

Hyaluronic acid* 200 mg

*Molecular weight: 1-1.25 million daltons

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

0.5 oz (15 mL)

Container Sizes

32 oz (64 servings)

1 gallon (256 servings)

Research Summary

Research trials at Kentucky Equine Research demonstrated the efficacy of Synovate HA supplementation for horses in training.

Hyaluronic acid plays a vital role in maintaining the health of connective tissue and optimizing normal joint function. Horses fed Synovate HA showed significant increases in serum hyaluronic acid (HA) levels compared to baseline samples and the non-supplemented horses. In treadmill studies, horses supplemented with Synovate HA also took longer strides, indicating greater joint comfort.

Stride length (gallop)

Elite Advice

“My older horses have never gone better. Synovate HA smells great and the horses seem to really enjoy it. It’s very palatable. You know if you put Synovate in their feed, they are going to eat it!”

Liz Halliday-Sharp International Eventer

Mark Barrett Photo

KER-Flex ®

Joint Health Supplement

Progressive degeneration of joints is commonplace, especially in hard-working horses, and degenerative joint disease limits the careers of many performance horses. By the time clinical signs of joint disease are evident, damage has already occurred. Protect your horse with KER-Flex, an oral joint supplement developed by Kentucky Equine Research.

Features and Benefits

• Suitable for all classes of horses engaged in various types of exercise

• Contains high-quality joint support compounds glucosamine HCl and chondroitin sulfate, as well as MSM and hyaluronic acid, in a palatable powdered formula to provide broad-spectrum support of joint health

• Aids in maintenance of joint integrity and minimizes wear and tear on joints

• Works to reduce cartilage damage and stimulate cartilage repair

• May lead to reduced frequency of or need for injectable joint therapies

• Recommended for older, arthritic horses to slow progression of arthritis and help promote a comfortable future

Feeding Recommendations

For horses in light to moderate work, add 15 g to daily grain ration. Horses in heavy work or those in need of additional joint protection should receive 30 g daily. A loading dose of 30 g per day may be added to daily grain ration for 14 days.

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

15 g (15-g scoop included)

Container Size

1 kg (66 servings)

Does My Horse Need Joint Support?

Horses engaged in daily or near-daily exercise are prone to arthritis and other joint-related issues, just as human athletes are. To minimize wear and tear on joints and to prolong a useful and active life, joint supplementation is recommended.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate: What Are They?

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are common ingredients in joint supplements. Anecdotal evidence suggests that using these two compounds together provides greater positive effect than using either individually. Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in healthy cartilage, and it serves as a building block for chondroitin sulfate.

Elite Advice

“KER-Flex has more active ingredient than other oral joint supplements–you get more bang for your buck.”

Dom Schramm Upper-Level Eventer

DHA and EPA Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplement

EO-3 is a rich source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA in a palatable liquid form. EO-3 can be fed to all classes of horses including foals, breeding stock, and performance horses to improve the critical ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 in the diet, provide preferential precursors for production of less inflammatory local hormones, and regulate gene expression to positively affect insulin sensitivity.

Features and Benefits

• Palatable, highly refined fish oil with research-proven minty apple flavor

• Improves glucose tolerance

• Strengthens immune function

• Increases red blood cell flexibility, which reduces the risk of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage

• Enhances bone metabolism and development

• Benefits of DHA- and EPA-mediated inflammatory response include reduction in joint inflammation, allergic reactivity, and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

• Reproductive benefits include improved fertility improved colostrum quality, enhanced passive transfer of antibodies to foals, and increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability

Feeding Recommendations

Add 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 mL) to the feed. For best results, introduce EO-3 to the ration gradually over a period of 5 to 10 days.

Guaranteed Analysis

NEW FLAVOR!

New minty apple EO-3 is four times as palatable as the original. Along with a research-proven flavor update, a more highly refined base oil eliminates compounds that can increase fish odors over time, without altering beneficial fatty acids.

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

1 oz (30 mL)

Container Sizes

32 oz (32 servings)

1 gallon (128 servings)

5 gallon (640 servings)

Marine-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Best

Fish oils are direct sources of DHA and EPA, which are the most useful omega-3 fatty acids in terms of conferring health benefits. Flaxseed, on the other hand, contains ALA, which must then be converted to DHA and EPA, a complicated and inefficient process. For optimal omega-3 supplementation, use a marine-derived source.

EO-3 is sourced from menhaden, a plentiful species of algae-eating fish, purchased from a single provider with active environmental certification.

Elite Advice

“Everything in my trailer gets EO-3! Omega-3s are great preventative measures for bleeders as they help to make the red blood cells more pliable. They also help with overall inflammation. EO-3 contains the two most bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA.”

Kaylee Gallino Champion Barrel Racer

Micro-Max ™

Micronutrient Supplement for Mature Horses

Micro-Max is a low-intake concentrated source of vitamins and minerals for mature horses. Micro-Max is ideal for horses that maintain body weight on diets composed entirely of forage or forage and small amounts of concentrate.

Obesity is a growing problem among horses and ponies, and is related to a number of health concerns, including exercise intolerance, joint problems, and metabolic disorders. In order to keep horses in moderate body weight, they are often given rations with insufficient vitamin and mineral fortification. This is sometimes the case when fortified feeds are fed at levels below their recommended feeding rates.

The use of Micro-Max ensures that all vitamin and mineral requirements of mature horses and ponies are satisfied. Because of its low feeding rate, Micro-Max can be fed by itself or mixed with a concentrate.

Features and Benefits

• Low-intake source of vitamins and minerals

• Includes minerals that have been chelated or proteinated, which increases their digestibility and allows horses to derive maximum benefit from them

• Fulfills the vitamin and mineral requirements of horses and ponies on all-forage diets or that consume less than the recommended daily amount of fortified feeds

• Features yeast culture to enhance digestion of fiber and other nutrients

• Contains natural-source vitamin E

• Pelleted with an alfalfa base for great palatability; soy free

Feeding Recommendations

Feed 120 g per day to horses or 60 g per day to ponies that consume rations consisting of forage only or those consuming forage and unfortified grains. For horses and ponies consuming a fortified feed at less than the recommended daily rate, use this product proportionally (e.g., if a horse is fed half of the recommended feeding rate of a fortified concentrate, feed half of the recommended amount of Micro-Max).

Serving and Container Sizes

Serving Size

60-120 g (60-g scoop included)

Container Sizes

4.5 kg (37 to 75 servings)

13.6 kg (113 to 225 servings)

Are You Feeding Enough?

If you’re feeding less than 5 lb (2.3 kg) of fortified feed per day, your horse’s diet may be lacking critical nutrients. Horses on low-intake or all-forage diets should be fed a well-formulated vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure optimal nutrition.

RE-LEVE®

Veterinarian-Recommended Feed for Horses Requiring a Low-Starch Diet

RE-LEVE is appropriate for any health condition in which a low-starch diet is recommended. Specifically, a low-starch diet may be beneficial for horses prone to the following muscular disorders and metabolic syndromes.

• Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM or EPSM)

• Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER)

These metabolic problems may be triggered or exacerbated by the consumption of soluble carbohydrates found in diets that contain typical concentrates.

RE-LEVE maintains its energy density by relying on fat and fermentable fibers rather than starch sources for the majority of its calories. Alternative energy sources such as high-fat stabilized rice bran along with super fibers beet pulp and soybean hulls provide highly digestible and readily available energy.

Feeding Recommendations

Feed at a rate of 2.5-8 kg (6-18 lb) per day depending on the level of work as well as the size and body condition of the horse. RE-LEVE should be fed with good-quality hay equaling at least 1.0-1.5% of the horse’s body weight per day. Replace the horse’s current grain ration with an equivalent amount of RE-LEVE.

If feeding less than 6 lb of RE-LEVE, fortify with low-intake micronutrient supplement Micro-Max or All-Phase ration balancer.

Typical Analysis

Nutritional Management

Replacing a traditional grain ration with RE-LEVE and providing regular daily turnout and exercise are key components in the prevention of PSSM, EPSM, and RER as well as the management of specific metabolic diseases.

Recommendations for Exercise

For optimum results, dietary modifications must be combined with regular exercise for PSSM, EPSM, and RER horses. After an episode of tying-up, a brief period of stall rest is usually sufficient to allow stiffness to subside. The best results are seen if horses are returned cautiously to exercise as soon as they are able to move in relative comfort. Most horses will tolerate a gradual increase to previous levels of exercise and will benefit from as much daily turnout as possible. Although individual results vary, improvement in muscle problems should be evident starting at one to four weeks after dietary changes and daily exercise are implemented.

Elite Advice

Stunning Steeds

“RE-LEVE has been of tremendous benefit to Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, and warmbloods that suffer from tying-up. Our studies found that RE-LEVE provided the best relief from muscle stiffness and soreness when combined with regular daily exercise.”

Stephanie Valberg, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM Director, Equine Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory, MSU Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Feed

All-Phase®

Ration Balancer Pellet

All-Phase® is a highly digestible source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. This ration balancer pellet is formulated to provide required levels of micronutrients at a low intake. All-Phase is fortified with KER micronutrients to include natural-source vitamin E, chelated trace minerals, B vitamins, biotin, yeast culture, and organic selenium.

The true advantage of using a balancer pellet such as All-Phase is that the horse owner can meet the horse’s requirement for protein, vitamins, and minerals and control the amount of energy supplied to the horse without having to worry if the horse is getting too much.

A balancer pellet can be used three ways: (1) alone as a low-calorie source of protein, vitamins, and minerals; (2) combined with straight grains for a no-molasses feed; or (3) as a top-dress for a concentrate fed at less than the recommended feeding rate.

If fed properly, a balancer pellet such as All-Phase can give peace of mind that all of the horses on a farm receive the nutrients needed to grow, perform, or reproduce.

Feeding Directions

All-Phase is designed to be fed in combination with forage, with or without unfortified cereal grains, and at a rate of 1-2 pounds per 1,000 pounds of body weight per day, depending on the intensity of the work, and size and body condition of the horse. When fed with a small amount of another fortified feed, less may be required.

All-Phase provides flexibility in customizing the nutritional management of individual horses.

Stunning Steeds

Mark Barrett Photo