FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENDURANCE RIDING
INTERVIEW
CIRO PREDIERI
D
uring the Al Fares Expo held in Dubai I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Ciro Predieri, International Division Director of ACME, an important Italian pharmaceutical company dedicated to the welfare of the horse. In Italy, ACME is a leading company dedicated to the world of horses. The brand is well known for the quality and efficacy of its products. The company was founded almost 30 years ago by two veterinarians, Vider and Giulio Predieri who attended the College of Veterinary Medicine in Parma where they both graduated. ACME was the very first company in Italy to register a medicine entirely dedicated to the horse, the anti- inflammatory called BUTE. Since then, the company devoted its objectives to the welfare of the horse, solving a set of problems often raised by breeders, athletes and veterinarians. Today the brand boasts a complete catalog of products for every need and for every pathology this gorgeous animal could suffer from. Thanks to Ciro Predieri, who is himself a veterinarian, ACME reached the UAE. ACME’s stand was present at
the center of the exhibition area and it was often visited by many guests / clients interested in the company’s portfolio of products. I personally attended Mr. Predieri’s interesting business introduction (we posted a photo on our facebook page) and had the pleasure to spend some time with him and talk about many topics, hence, a nice collaboration between ACME and our magazine. ACME is a well – known brand in Italy and its products are synonymous of efficacy. Your clients have reached excellence in different disciplines. What’s your secret? We are a pharmaceutical company and we do our best in order to satisfy our clients by providing them with fast and effective solutions to their problems, both in terms of medicines and dietary supplements. In fact, in order to produce food and supplements, we adopt the same method used for producing medicines, with an eye to purity and concentration of raw material. This results in finding a faster solution to the problem or in reaching the desired objective. Today’s breeding has selected more and more demanding horses that are ready to deal with tougher and tougher sports performances. For this reason we chose to deal with technical dietary supplements too and not only medicines. Anyway, ACME remains a pharmaceutical company that keeps investing in Research and Development, it never followed ephemeral therapeutics or nutraceuticals trends but it always favored a scientific approach and the cooperation with Universities and Italian / foreign professional colleagues, in order to produce trials of high scientific level and to achieve the registration of original and innovative drugs.
CIRO PREDIERI ACME’S INTERNATIONAL DIVISION DIRECTOR
Text by Luca Giannangeli
Today, many of our trials are published in prestigious international science magazines. Exporting products in the UAE isn’t easy. Will ACME register its medicines and nutraceuticals in the UAE? Our wide set of original products dedicated to horses makes us a very specialized and desirable company in equestrian veterinary medicine in the UAE but also in Europe. Gulf Drug is an accurate partner, very sensitive to therapeutic innovation when it’s effective. Our partner’s intellectual openness is a rare quality in veterinary medicine. I was happy to meet many local experienced freelance professionals free from therapeutic prejudices, hence my enthusiasm. Today ACME is registered in the UAE and, thanks to the cooperation with Gulf Drug too, it has already achieved the registration and free import of many of its drugs and supplements. For this same purpose and through the same method, ACME has secured several partnerships and achieved more product registrations in Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain where it distributes its products by means of local companies. At present other countries are joining too. ACME’s partnership with Sport Evo aims at Endurance Riding. Which product will pave the way? ACME has already come up with many products fit for Endurance. To quote some we have REIDRATA L.D. (long distance), IT – IS pre-race and LACTABOLASE. Actually all our products were born to satisfy our clients’ requests, they are the result that suits the needs of horses and athletes in different sport disciplines. ACME’s complementary feed is available in the UAE’s market but a technical and specialty feed will be soon launched, as it is in our tradition, in regard to Endurance Riding. Through your magazine we could face important topics and a set of problems regarding the sport horse care and management, from the very beginning to the peak of its competitive career. We will propose different solutions in regard to the increased needs of today’s horse athlete. The market is moving towards specialization, for this reason our pharmaceutical chemists with the company’s know – how are in Dubai with us, trying to meet and to satisfy to the best of their ability, the new demands that, in this sport too, keep evolving.
The dangers of dehydration and collapse Chapter 1 Text by dr. Giulio Predieri
W
ater represents 65% of a healthy adult horse’s organic components. An adult horse that weighs around 400 kg is made up of 260 L of water while 28 L of blood flow in his circulatory system. The volume of blood plasma has to be kept stable in order to guarantee a good cardiac functionality. Endurance races often cause a certain level of dehydration associated to a reduction of plasma volume followed by a drop of blood pressure and an increase of haematic viscosity. When such changes occur, they increase circulation resistances and can cause heart fatigue that, in extreme cases, could lead to
cardiocirculatory collapse. Dehydration is always dangerous for the body, even when it’s moderate, hence it must never be neglected. A 7% decrease of body water puts the horse’s life in serious danger. In a dehydrated horse, sweat is reduced or blocked in order to save the amount of water left. Reduced sweat causes a considerable organic overheating whose functional consequences on the thermo- regulatory center of the hypothalamus can cause a heatstroke. Dehydration in an endurance horse is fostered by a dry and windy climate, not necessarily hot. A remarkable dehydration can occur even at low temperatures. At high altitudes the body eliminates more water through breathing since the vapour pressure of exhaled air is higher than that of the air in the environment. A lack of liquids and electrolytes (especially sodium, chlorine and potassium) during an endurance race, is a common consequence of dehydration. How can we monitor the horse’s level of dehydration? We will find out in the next issue.
How can we monitor the horse’s level of dehydration? Part 2 Text by dr. Giulio Predieri
I
n the previous issue we dealt with the dangers of dehydration and collapse, in this article we will learn how to monitor the horse’s level of dehydration by measuring its haematocrit or PCV. The haematocrit is the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood. A high haematocrit means that the percentage of red blood cells is above the limits or that the size of red blood cells is bigger than it should be. In this case, a horse’s performance will definitely benefit of such condition. On the other hand, a high haematocrit in horses with a normal number of normal size red blood cells, suggests a state of dehydration that is obviously negative for the performance of your horse.
Causes of low haematocrit: a) A normal number of reduced size red blood cells b) A low number of normal size red blood cells c) A reduced number of small red blood cells All these cases have a negative influence on the horses’s performance. In dehydrated horses symptoms of fatigue arise very quickly: increased heart and breathing rate, muscular cramps, dizziness, disorientation and in more serious cases blackout. In order to properly rehydrate an endurance horse, it must receive water and electrolytes in his nutrition. The quality and quantity of electrolytes deeply influence the amount of absorbed water and the amount of water distributed in the body. 0,9 % of sodium chloride in aqueous solution (isotonic solution) contains the perfect amount of chlorine and sodium necessary to produce the optimal hydration. Unfortunately, isotonic sodium chloride tastes bad and its ingestion alone (without other food), could cause diarrhea. In order to facilitate the consumption of correct quantities of electrolytes in the proportions wanted, ACME has introduced special rehydrators in its complementary feed. This solution eliminates any gastrointestinal side – effect that may occur after the administration of isotonic and hypertonic solutions (to be taken orally).
Slurp Improves intestinal motility and helps eliminate dust and sand from the horse’s intestine.
Slurp The regular consumption of fresh forage guarantees a correct intestinal functionality thanks to a good content of water and digestible fibers. Motor activity during grazing too fosters peristalsis. Stabled equids with limited movement that are fed with dry forage often suffer from constipation. SLURP replaces the “green grazing regime” and produces: - Soluble fibers (plantago psyllium) - Beta – carotene - Vitamin A - Vitamin E - Folic Acid - B vitamins - Yeasts A regular consumption of Slurp in a stabled horse diet, improves intestinal motility and gently stimulates peristalsis, helping to prevent colic due to constipation.
If reconstituted with water, SLURP becomes gelatinous and softens the gastroenteric content fostering intestinal transit. By increasing the intestine’s water and digestible fibers content, SLURP acquires a laxative effect working just like an abundant grass meal. SLURP fosters the development of acidophilic flora (physiological), and works against pathogenic bacteria (clostridium, salmonella, colibacillus). SLURP fosters the production of short – chain fatty acids which are important because they are the primary energy source for colon cells. SLURP cleans intestinal mucosa eliminating most toxins produced by pathological fermentation. A regular consumption of SLURP also helps to eliminate dust, sand and other materials that are accidentally swallen with forage and that obstruct the absorption of nutrients and intestinal transit.
RECOMMENDED FOR: - Horses fed on dry food (hay, feed, grain) - Convalescent horses that have recently undergone surgical intervention and need to gradually restart intestinal functionality - Old horses with chewing difficulties - Reducing colic due to constipation and intestinal dismicrobism with wind colic - Handle malabsorption syndrome due to foreign body ingestion (sand, dust, etc.)
THE MOST “RESISTANT FOOD” IN THE WORLD I-Duro is a feed conceived for endurance horses, its purpose is to support a horse’s performance, reduce fatigue, optimize recovery time and prevent / eliminate oxidative stress of skeletal and cardiac muscle. I – Duro produces antioxidants, amino acids, electrolytes, polyunsaturated fatty acids, soy lecithin, L-Carnitine, maltodextrin and soluble fiber (hemicellulose). Let’s analyse how all these components can support the performance of an endurance horse: Selenium and Vitamin E are a body’s most important antioxidant system that helps prevent tissue injury caused by intense training and competition. Thanks to Selenium, Vitamin E and Cysteine, I - Duro blocks free radicals, prevents cell membrane oxidation and eliminates damaged membrane lipids. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) play a very important role in an endurance horse at competitive level, for this reason I-Duro provides the animal with a great quantity of them. If an endurance horse is not supplied with enough sugary food and amino acids during a race, it could experience fatigue after running a distance of 80 km.
Electrolytes supplied by I-Duro prevent and eliminate dehydration of the endurance horse. In order for the endurance horse to properly rehydrate himself, he must take water and electrolytes with his basic nutrition. To facilitate the consumption of the correct quantity of electrolytes in the desired proportions, ACME introduced special rehydrating elements in I-Duro. Fatty acids supply the endurance horse with energy in training sessions and during the competition. The combustion of fatty acids through beta-oxidation avoids production of lactic acid in muscles. I-Duro reaches these objectives because it allows a total digestibility of a remarkable portion of fatty acids achieved thanks to the emulsifying activity of soy lecithin. L-Carnitine produces a great quantity of energy without accumulation of lactic acid. Released energy allows the contraction of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Maltodextrines are produced from the decomposition of cereal starches (corn, oat and wheat) and give an important contribution to the energy required for intense and prolonged exercise. I-Duro was specifically conceived for horses used to work on long distances, it positively effects physical, chemical and metabolic aspects that characterize what is considered the most widespread equestrian sport in the world.
I-Duro
I-DURO
The most “resistant” feed in the world
Reidrata Led
C
ompetition, training, transportation, fever and hostile weather can be the result of loss of liquids and mineral salts causing oxidative stress and degenerating lipid structures of cell membranes. In these cases, thirst can disappear aggravating dehydration. These effects lead to reduced physical and metabolic performance of the horse athlete so it is necessary to stimulate abundant assumption of water and hypotonic saline energy drinks to be protracted till the restoration of the correct level of tissue hydration and the reactivation of detoxifying mechanisms. Generally, pure water is not enough because it has no energy count, lack of electrolytes and no attraction on the tired horse. On the other hand, energy drinks are hypotonic, rich in salts and tasty, furthermore they prevent and overcome metabolic deficiency due to dehydration and extreme fatigue.
REIDRATA LED contains: - Electrolytes - Calcium bioavailability - Branched-chain amino acids - Antioxidant forerunners of glutathione (cysteine, vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium). - Fructose - Maltodextrin - Amylaceous substances - Soluble fibers (psyllium) - Fructose, saccharose and branched-chain amino acids reactivate the metabolism of the nervous system, liver, kidneys and musculature. Maltodextrins have a medium-term energy release, prolonging and intensifying the revitalizing effect of fructose and of branched-chain amino acids.
Reidrata Led A long Energy drink for an instant preparation of hypotonic saline energetic beverages to be administered before, after or during physical activity of the horse athlete.
Fructose, saccharose, branched-chain amino acids, maltodextrins, amylums and soluble fibers gradually release energy satisfying energy needs for prolonged periods while electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, magnesium and chlorine) make systems and organs work properly.
Mix until you reach an homogeneous substance and give instantly.
WHEN TO USE IT - Before, after and during physical activity or before, after and during transportation
COMPOSITION Maltodextrin, wheat middlings, fructose, saccharose, carob flour, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, anhydrous magnesium sulfate, psyllium powder.
- Endurance competitions - Vet gates, at the end of a race or on the way back to the stable. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT USE - Dissolve the contents of a can (800 g) in 10 liters of warm water - Dissolve the contents of half a can (400 g) in at least 5 liters of warm water.
Give the 5 – 10 liter energy drink from 1 to 4 times a day on the basis of the horse’s dehydration level, the intensity of the physical activity, weather conditions and transportation distance.
I-Duro
S.r.L. is an Italian company founded in 1988 by the Predieri brothers. Vilder and Paolo who are both veterinarians, decided to dedicate their lives to the study and realisation of products and medicines for animal welfare. They chose to focus their attention on the horse athlete. Pharmaceutical and clinical research lie at the base of their job, supported by the precious collaboration of public and private research institutes, veterinarians, horse trainers and owners. Thanks to the strong competence of expert specialists and dynamic young graduates who have grown within the company, ACME has achieved an all-round knowledge of the horse athlete, of its world and the set of problems connected to it. ACME Drugs, the production workshop, received authorization from the Italian Board of Health to produce veterinary drugs for the entire European Community. It boasts instruments that are at the forefront of technology and in compliance with recent European GMP regulations. In the past year, a new department for the production of single-use sterile preloaded syringes was completed and today it represents a new excellence of Italian manufacturing. ACME Drugs is also authorized to produce and sell feed supplements and animal feed. Feed and other products dedicated to the welfare of the horse are always tested before sale in order to guarantee the efficacy and quality of raw materials contained by them. ACME’s products can turn horse athletes into champions.
INTERVIEW WITH ACME DOCTORS
Reidrata Led
Where does it all begin? It all begins before birth itself: a well nourished brood mare that receives the appropriate amount of vitamins and mineral microelements through specifically studied formulations will definitely give birth to a foal with a complete muscle and osteocartilaginous tissue. ACME is aware that every equestrian discipline has its specific needs. At first it dealt with trot and flat racing where horses need energy available for immediate use, high biological value proteins and amino acids for the development and strengthening of muscle mass.
Later, vets and owners of endurance horses asked ACME to create appropriate products for their equestrian discipline. What does an endurance horse need? First of all it is important to reduce fatigue, improve recovery time, prevent and eliminate oxidative stress in cardiac and skeletal muscle. What are ACME’s first products for Endurance? The very first products specifically thought for Endurance Riding are Enerfeed and Carniton B12. The first one is pelleted feed rich in lipids, formulated for athlete horses that have to face an intense aerobic activity. Its integration brings a balanced quantity of vitamins and high biological value trace elements that support the horse during sports activity. Carniton B12 is a supplement feed made up of Carnitine and Vitamin B12, it is available in granulated version or paste. It has a trophic effect on skeletal and cardiac muscle and improves lipids’ use of energy during prolonged physical activity. Carniton B12 fosters high performances especially in those cases that require intense and prolonged muscle work like in endurance riding. Another one of our products is Kilotone, an energizing oil for endurance horses high in Omega 3-6 and Vitamins. This oil is emulsionated with soya lecithin to facilitate absorption and Choline that helps its metabolization. Kiloton provides a lot of energy and calories (9000 kcal/kg) and doesn’t produce lactic acid.
Dr.Vilder Predieri
Dr. Paolo Giulio Predieri
ACME’S ENDURANCE TOUR
I-Duro ACME, the technical support of the 6 stage MiPAAF Endurance circuit, ended its tour on Follonica’s Finals Day. ACME’s purpose was to propagate the knowledge of a healthy/balanced diet and the understanding of the real needs of the endurance horse athlete, employed in this wonderful but demanding discipline. Before taking up this route, ACME deepened its knowledge in order to give birth to two important products specifically meant for equestrian endurance: I-duro and Reidrata Led. The company’s mission is to promote the welfare of the horse: a good and balanced nutrition is definitely one of the most important requisites for a healthy and fit athlete. Nutrition guarantees that physical effort necessary to run 100 km.
During each stage of the circuit, that crossed some of the most beautiful regions of Italy, ACME organized seminars on the evening previous to the race. The seminars were attended by veterinarians, riders and specialists in the field. Photos of several horses, before and after treatment with I-duro, have been compared. The audience was enthusiastic of this new method of study through images and ACME was satisfied of the job carried out throughout this 8 month tour. Results were evident in this endurance season... many Best Condition titles have been awarded to horses fed with ACME products. This clearly shows that good results have been achieved not only from a physical point of view but also in terms of a proportional development of muscle mass, tone and shiny
Reidrata Led coat.Physiological and metabolic parameters are valued at vet gates and during the final vet check at the end of a race. In endurance riding, to reach the finish line first doesn’t mean winning the race in fact, if the horse doesn’t prove to be fit and sound he’s not the winner. This proves that a good nutrition positively affects health. ACME products led to physical and metabolic suitability and guaranteed the best parameters to all horses. This means that all the basic necessities of the horse athlete have been adequately satisfied. 8 long and demanding months for ACME that concluded this experience under the pouring rain in Follonica, always ready and determined to give advices with the same energy showed at the beginning of the tour.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A CORRECT ANTIPARASITIC THERAPY
D
eworming is part of routine horse health care but it is often underestimated in terms of application, precisely because it is a habit. Main equine parasites are roundworms, small and big strongyles, pinworms and gasterophylus, each species has its own particular life cycle and different periodicity. The molecule we choose often doesn’t take into consideration periodicity and parasite type, believing that all drugs are almost alike. To avoid mistakes, you should first rationally plan your yearly therapy with an eye to the parasites’ biological cycle. It is necessary to use different types of molecules with appropriate intervals of administration and accurate weight based dosage. Insufficient vermifuge may not achieve the desired therapeutic effects. With warm temperatures, it is more appropriate to use pyrantel and praziquantel in order to attack pinworms while, in cooler temperatures, it is preferred to use moxidectina to attack encyted larva of small strongyles. With cold temperatures you must use moxidectina and iv-
ermectin to eliminate small strongyles, larva and roundworms. You will achieve many results: efficacy and optimization of drugs, cost containement, colic risk reduction, a healthy horse, pasture protection from contamination and resistance prevention. It is advisable to carry out a global health care and sanitation management based on a regular cleanliness of the environment, disinfestation and vaccination. Healthy horses that graze in paddocks that aren’t overcrowded and where manure is regularly removed, can follow a normal parasite control programme. It is advisable to consult your vet to decide the most appropriate parasite treatment and in order to agree upon a correct planning and possible periodic stool analysis to evaluate treatment efficacy and assay the number and power of parasites in the stable / breeding center. ACME is a made in Italy brand, a leader in the equestrian field, it produces and sells horse anti-parasitic drugs. In these recent years it dedicated itself to epidemiological studies regarding infestations of this species.
What measures can be adopted?
Contro i parassiti gastrointestinali del tuo cavallo Grandi Strongili, Piccoli Strongili (Ciatostomi), Tenie
Puoi acquistarlo senza ricetta Nuovo formato per cavalli fino a 700 kg di peso Puoi utilizzarlo durante tutte le fasi della gravidanza e della lattazione Leggere attentamente il foglietto illustrativo. È un medicinale veterinario: chiedi consiglio al tuo veterinario. Tenere fuori dalla portata dei bambini. L’uso scorretto può essere nocivo. Aut. Pub. n° 32/VET/2016
ACME Srl Cavriago (RE) Tel: 0522 941919 tech.info@acmedrugs.com www.acmedrugs.com
HOW TO AVOID
TRANSPORT
STRESS IN HORSES
A
ll horses seem to be stressed by transport, a cause of worry for every rider. Transport stress has several adverse effects on different apparatus: the nervous system, gastrointestinal system and muscular apparatus. In order to reduce transport stress it is necessary to act on several fronts. ACME will give you some advice on how to avoid poor athletic performance and bad shape when competing. First of all you must start preparing your horse before transportation day. If it is a very nervous horse you should first try to calm him down by feeding him with food containing tryptophan like, for example, SEDAMYNE. Tryptophan, helps building proteins and takes part in several chemical reactions... especially in the synthesis of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter mainly responsible for mood regulation. A certain accumulation of serotonin in the central nervous system can reduce excitability of the sport horse. The desired effect is not immediate but more generally it manifests after 3 to 5 days of continual use. It is therefore important to organize a treatment plan a few days before transport. This sort of integration reduces anxiety for noises that could be heard during transportation, without
affecting sport performance and keeping the horses calm, lucid and relaxed. You should always have enough hay during transportation and must absolutely avoid that the horse travels on an empty stomach for too long a time. Hydrochloric acid is constantly produced, if the stomach is empty the acid corrodes it causing ulcer. It is advisable to use hay or better alfalfa, in order to tampon gastric acidity. It is not advisable to use cereals during transportation because they foster metabolic acidosis therefore gastric acidity. In addition to hay, the horse must always have available drinking water. During a long trip or other stressful condition, the horse doesn’t usually drink much and the loss of electrolytes due to transportation can cause strong dehydration that can lead to catastrophic consequences. When the horse is particularly tired or stressed, he isn’t thirsty, so dehydration cannot be compensated by spontaneous water consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to stimulate the horse by giving him rehydration solutions. Rehydration solutions are available in powder or oral paste. ACME has come up with a specific rehydration solution in order to oppose this stressful situa-
ACME Srl - Cavriago (RE) Tel: 0522 941919 tech.info@acmedrugs.com www.acmedrugs.com his muscles. To reduce fatigue and muscle stiffness (due to continue posture change) and in order to improve muscle flexibility and diminish metabolic acidosis, it is advisable to give the horse MUSCOFLEX, a glycine and betaine based product. The elements contained in this supplementary feed fight lactic acid accumulation and neutralize its harmful effects on muscle tissue.
tion: MAX-LYTE. Thanks to the high percentage of electrolytes (50%) and to its oral paste formulation, it guarantees an efficient and prompt rehydration. Furthermore, this product contains additives that protect the stomach, a very important organ for the horse even when it comes to light stress. The last apparatus that must be protected is the muscular apparatus. The horse travels standing on his hooves without a proper balance. In order to adapt to the van’s or trailer’s movements he must use
FATIGUE-REDUCING AND DECONGESTANT PASTES:
for the health of limbs!
A
horse that runs over long distances is easily subject to limb fatigue due to physical effort and continuous ground impact. Therefore, it is advisable to use fatigue-reducing or decongestant pastes to soothe pain and swelling of joints, ligaments and tendons. What types of fatigue-reducing pastes are there? There are two types of pastes: one is used to soothe, thanks to the content of menthol and eucalyptol like Antiphlogistine, the other helps remove exudates and endotoxines, it works with an osmotic and adsorbing effect, fostering lymphatic drainage. Artoxine, for example, is a fatigue-reducing paste made of water, aluminosilicates and borates, it is included in the category of the so-called clay minarals. How to choose the most appropriate fatigue-reducing paste It all depends on the result one wishes to achieve and on the horse’s limb condition. If the limbs present some sort of injury, it is not advisable to use pastes containing essential oils and Menthol because they increase skin irritability. Therefore, it is very important to read the components of a paste carefully before use. Whereas Artoxine contains borates, disinfectants that can be used on damaged skin too. How to use fatigue-reducing pastes It is necessary to spread a layer of paste (a thin or 1 cm layer) according to the desired effect. It is advisable to cover it with raw paper and then
apply a rest bandage. After 6-12 hours, remove the bandage and rinse with water to get rid of the paste. Never use newspapers, ink contains metals that could be absorbed by the skin. Many people advise to remove the paste with a brush, but only water can clean it perfectly, furthermore it doesn’t irritate damaged skin and its jet has a massaging effect. When to apply the transparent film over the paste You use the film to prevent the paste from drying out too fast (it depends on the climate and on how long it takes you to spread the paste on the limbs). Otherwise you can use it on the sole, to achieve a softening effect, without the
ACME Srl - Cavriago (RE) Tel: 0522 941919 tech.info@acmedrugs.com www.acmedrugs.com
film you would produce the opposite effect. You can use the same method for sole bruising, in this case Artoxine has an adsorption effect that can break the abscess and drain pus, the exudate. Why use ACME’s fatigue-reducing pastes 30 years ago ACME started studying and making products for the welfare of the horse; the creation of two different fatigue-reducing and decongestant products for the limbs proves that this is an important matter. It is necessary to use high quality substances, field studies, correct application and users’ feedbacks. The wrong paste doesn’t solve the problem and can perpetuate inflammatory events.
Horse management
in cold weather or winter
H
ealth and well-being of horse athletes can be strongly affected by winter’s climate change. Horses are animals that usually tolerate cold weather and naturally bear the wind and low temperatures. However, it is important to adopt some precautions in order to guarantee a peaceful winter season to your horse. First of all, you should increase its calorie intake through feed ration in order to guarantee more energy. The simplest way would be to increase hay quantity or to add some alfalfa. To increase energy you could also boost the quantity of cereal but being careful not to exceed the advised amount of starch. In fact, a surplus of complex sugars could lead to muscle and metabolic disorders or laminitis, that is exactly why it is preferable to choose fats, especially in the form of long chain polyunsaturated fats (KILOTONE). As food ration increases, especially when it comes to fodder, it is very important to favor water consumption to avoid costipation and colic. This can be done by giving your horse mineral salts (REIDRATA) or ready to use mashes (SLURP) that are administered with warm water and which task is to regulate intestinal activity. To improve fiber and starch digestion it is appropriate to add Saccharomices cerevisiae, a yeast that reactivates the physiological conditions of the intestine (REPLAY). In order to fully satisfy your horse’s basic necessities, it is advisable to give it a greater supply of Vitamin C against oxidative stress and to strengthen the immune system in cold weather. If you administer ascorbic acid (CITRUM C) supplements to your horse, these will definitely fight against the deficits of the immune system or the excessive production of free radicals. Lastly, to provide additional heat, it is advisable to cover your horse with appropriate blankets of the right size. The blankets must be made of light or heavier, waterproof or breathable fabric according to environmental temperature.
ACME Srl - Cavriago (RE) Tel: 0522 941919 tech.info@acmedrugs.com www.acmedrugs.com