Great Info!!

Great Info!!

Smooth Run Equine is a proud Sponsor of Tomcat Chex

Colostrum Helping Horses in Need

While attending the 2011 NCHA Western Nationals in Ogden Utah, Cutting horse trainer Eric Wisehart had the scare of  his life when his horses were infected with the EHV-1.

After the competition arriving back to his Summer training facility in Colorado,  Eric had three horses with above normal temps, and one horse that tested positive for the neuro strain of EHV-1.

While all horses were receiving round the clock care by Eric and local veterinarians the positive horse was off  their feed and showing severe neurological signs.   Eric began feeding the horses Smooth Colostrum along with their recommended medications.  The 3 horses that had high temps did not suffer neurological symptoms and the horse that was showing neurological symptoms began to get her appetite and strength back after seven difficult days of uncertainty.

Eric feels the colostrum helped  the mare survive and recover faster.  He is also certain that immune systems of the other horses in his barn were supported by the colostrum enabling them to stay strong preventing further infection.   Eric Wisehart states  “I try to have Smooth Colostrum in my barn at all times to help prevent health incidences and boost immune systems in times of need”

Special Needs of Mares

Owning a mare can be one of the most rewarding and frustrating experiences at the same time. Few of us that own mares are not aware of how their disposition and hormone balance are closely linked. It is also reasonably well known that horses with digestive problems can also suffer changes in temperament. So, is there a link between these two conditions? Can hormone changes affect your mare’s digestive tract?

When a mare comes into season she releases various hormones (oestrogens) into the bloodstream to regulate egg development and release, and to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.  During this period the mare’s behavior can change.  She may become irritable or sluggish and easily tired; her appetite may become erratic and she can become extremely sensitive to touch.  She may also exhibit cramping, and restricted movement during work.  Many of these behavioral changes are also clearly seen when digestive balance is upset.

Changes in the acid balance of the gut can be caused by many factors, including hormone changes and imbalances.  There are direct links between blood supply (which carries the hormones released by a mare in season) and digestion, with one of the key digestive juices, bile, carrying waste materials from the blood, plus the products of cholesterol metabolism.

Healthy digestion requires a fine balance of the bacterial population in the intestine, which is crucial to the successful breakdown and absorption of food constituents.  If this balance is upset, through changes in pH or diet, the bacterial population suffers resulting in indigestion.  Symptoms of this poor digestion range from diarrhea or looseness in severe instances to milder stress related behavior, such as discomfort, inconsistency and irritability.  All these symptoms can be reversed by rebalancing the microbial population with a high quality probiotic / digestive enzyme blend and healing herbs to balance the hormones.

Smooth Run Equine’s Smooth Mare contains that high quality probiotic and digestive enzyme blend, along with a synergistic blend of herbs and other critical ingredients specifically addressing hormone imbalances. We also add pure bovine colostrum that directly support the immune system.  The formula helps maintain hormone balance and the digestive bacteria population naturally, re-establishing the correct acidity and digestive health.  Tests in many varied conditions show how establishing the optimum bacterial balance in the gut can have a significant impact on supporting proper gastrointestinal function.

Perhaps then, ‘Moody Mare’ syndrome can in fact be linked to indigestion.  Next time your mare is in season consider whether the hormone release is ultimately upsetting the digestive balance and creating associated behavioral problems. Simply added to the daily feed program for maintenance or administered before and/or during the heat cycle Smooth Mare will ensure the beneficial bacteria population in the gut is at optimum levels, helping to minimize the effects of any changes in blood chemistry from hormone changes.

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Probiotics for Horses: Ideal for Horse Digestion

Almost every article you read about probiotics will tell you that the word itself literally means “for life”. Probiotics are the live beneficial bacterial organisms that contribute to the health and balance of the intestinal tract and because of this, have become an increasingly popular ingredient in horse supplements. The use of probiotics dates back thousands of years. In fact, many people today rely on yogurt with active cultures as their source of probiotics. But what does that mean for the horse owner?

Horses are by definition a repository of good and bad bacteria. Managing the delicate harmony between the two is the key to maintaining good digestive health. The equine athlete, pony, miniature, trail horse or breeding stock all have nutritional requirements that evolved from centuries of grazing in lush pastures. With domestication, most horses now face a diet of processed food, stored hays and grasses provided on intermittent feed schedules. There are few grazing opportunities, especially in winter months. Performance horses are often kept in small stalls year round and rarely turned out. Add to this the use of worming products, rounds of antibiotics or other medications, regular vaccinations and the stress of training you can begin to see that the probability of naturally cultivating an ample source of friendly intestinal flora found in probiotics is unlikely.

The fragile composure of bacteria in the gut is also easily disturbed by changes in weather, stall confinement, altering the diet, and stress. The rigors of competition can cause drastic shifts in the micro flora brought about by the strain of transportation, intense workouts, dehydration and nervousness.

Feeding probiotics help support health by utilizing good bacteria to edge out the effects of the bad bacteria. This balancing act is necessary to maintain maximum digestive efficiency. Providing a consistent level of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract has been proven to help support gastrointestinal health, support the immune system and effectively allow maximum absorption of all other ingredients and nutrients.

When considering the beneficial health effects of probiotics, it’s also important to contemplate the journey through the digestive system that the product must survive in order to be advantageous. The process of digestion begins by grinding the food and mixing it with saliva. It then passes through the esophagus, into the acidic environment of the stomach and finally its destination within the gut. Smooth Run Equine’s probiotics are microencapsulated which allows them to survive oral ingestion, the journey through the stomach and finally reach the intestinal tract where it’s potential can be realized.

Daily use of Smooth Run Equine’s proprietary blend of microencapsulated probiotics, digestive enzymes and colostrum promotes efficient feed utilization and aids digestion while supporting general health, temperament and performance. Our philosophy is simple: What really matters when supplementing your horse is how well he utilizes the ingredients and nutrients you provide.

Colostrum For Horses: Secrets Revealed

For more than 20 years colostrum has been extensively studied and has had over 20,000 scientific studies and research articles performed on one of nature’s most potent and invigorating natural immune factors. Especially those who try it and use it are discovering more health benefits every day.

Colostrum is the pre-milk liquid produced from the mammary glands during the first 24-48 hours after birth. During this short duration of time, the immune factors and the growth factors are still at their peak and contain several times the factors compared to colostrum taken during later milkings.

Colostrum contains over 37 different important natural immune factors and more than 8 growth factors that work with the body to combat illness and promote full health. While the immune factors in colostrum work to fight off disease and protect the body, the growth factors in colostrum work to support optimal health. The factors in colostrum have also shown to help:

• Improve nutrient uptake
• Support bone mass
• Promote Skin Health
• Support memory
• Balance normal blood sugar levels
• Support normal metabolism
• Help maintain normal cognitive function
• Support normal immune function
• COLOSTRUM CAN BE USED WITH ANTIBIOTICS

Colostrum is completely natural unlike antibiotics. In fact antibiotics can actually make us more susceptible to illness. Antibiotics kill all bacteria in our bodies, which not only causes other ailments and side effects, but also throws the body off balance since not all bacteria in the body are bad. By killing all bacteria in our body, it makes our immune system work harder and leaves us more stressed and tired.
Antibiotics are also not naturally occurring. It is another chemical compound added to our list of symptom suppression. It has been proven that more than 80% of the prescriptions written for antibiotics are needless. Viruses cause most colds, sore throats and congestion; antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

With the use of colostrums helps support your immune system naturally is your best defense against illnesses.

COLOSTRUM CAN SUPPORT LEAN MUSCLE MASS, INCREASE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND REDUCE RECOVERY TIME BETWEEN STRENUOUS WORKOUTS

For horses that work out regularly and strenuously, colostrum is a good choice. Not only does it help maintain lean muscle tissue, colostrum helps slow normal protein breakdown and speed up normal protein synthesis. In fact, many body builders say that colostrum is the most beneficial muscle-building agent they have ever used – and it’s completely natural!

Colostrum and Lean Muscle
One of the real problems with achieving muscular development lies not just in harnessing anabolism (growth) but also in reducing catabolism (breakdown.)

Colostrum contains two important compounds which work synergistically to support the building of lean muscle mass. The first of these, called IgF-1, is a small peptide with a more anabolic effect than any known compound. Research has shown that during exercise, 1gF-1 is the signal that triggers muscle cell proliferation. IgF-1 works hand in hand with growth hormone (GH) for the building of lean muscle mass.

COLOSTRUM AIDS METABOLISM FOR A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF FUEL & GREATER ENERGY

In order for your horse to compete successfully, it is important to have both strength and stamina. Anything that will enhance endurance while maximizing fuel is certainly an asset.
During heavy workouts and in times of hunger, the body burns its own protein instead of fat. Studies have shown that colostrum shifts fuel utilization to fat, actually preventing the body from burning glucose for energy. The additional growth factors keep GH levels in the body high enough so that protein (muscle) is not compromised during heavy workouts. It also stimulates glucose transport in the muscle, making more efficient use of the available fuel. Athletes and body builders often report they lose weight while gaining inches.

COLOSTRUM SUPPORTS TISSUE AND MUSCLES
Each time your equine athlete exercises strenuously this causes tiny tears in muscle tissue. The muscle-building factors in colostrum repair this normal damage quickly while strengthening muscles.
The beneficial effects of colostrum extend to nearly every structural cell of the body. In fact, IgF-1 is the best know compound for synthesis and support of cartilage. Other compounds known as Transforming Growth Factors A and B are known for their ability to support the synthesis and repair of RNA and DNA. Colostrum supports equine athletes, on a day- to-day basis within the muscle, to those of a more serious nature.

COLOSTRUM HELPS WITH NUTRIENT UPTAKE
Colostrum helps heal the lining of the small intestine where nutrient absorption takes place. Not only does this enhance nutrient uptake, but it also seals out invading organisms which otherwise slip through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. This accounts for the boost in effeciency when you or your horse receives colostrum.

Colostrum benefits the athlete in so many ways that it is quickly gaining popularity – especially amongst those who prefer to stay with natural substances.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU START TAKING PURE COLOSTRUM?
Depending on how much colostrum you begin giving your horse and how old your horse is, depends on what may be experienced when you first introduce the body to colostrum. The following is some information on what to expect when giving your horse colostrum:
Colostrum begins working immediately.

Colostrum begins its work by being absorbed into the bowel mucosa. It begins there, which provides benefits throughout the body. You should notice your horse beginning to feel better right away.

When taken at the recommended rate of 10,000 ~ 20,000 mg (10~20 grams) per day for your horse, you should often see a difference in a week. However, each horse is unique and some stresses that have been endured may mean that benefits will not come immediately. The long-term benefits of colostrum are definitely worth any minor wait you may experience.

How much colostrum should you give?
The optimal amount of colostrum will vary from individual to individual and will depend on the reasons receiving colostrum. Factors to consider are age and overall health.

Many people build up to a higher dosage for a period of time and then reduce to a maintenance level when the desired effects are received. More colostrum can be taken during times of stress to move through the symptoms quickly. Colostrum has no known risks and contains no toxicity levels so that you can provide as much as you want without side effects. There have never been any reported side effects from taking too much.

When should you give colostrum?
Colostrum is best taken on an empty stomach. It is made up of large protein chains, which are designed to pass through the stomach and be released in the small intestines. As we know it can be difficult to feel your horse on a schedule such as this, but when there is food in the stomach, it may not be as adequately digested and food in the intestinal tract can compete with the colostrum for binding sites, making it not as effective as with an empty stomach.

Papaya For Horses: Great for Horse Ulcer Treatment

Papaya is great for horse ulcer treatment

Since digestive health plays such an important role in our horses’ health and happiness, and since we’ve focused so much on ulcers recently, below is a highly educational article by Gillian Clissold on beneficial properties of papaya on digestion. Enjoy!
 
The Role of Papaya in Smooth Run Equine’s GASTRO SMOOTH

Papaya aids digestion in part by increasing mucous secretion in the mouth, esophagus and stomach. In some cases, a horse that had been turning its nose up at food starts eating within moments of the administration of papaya. There seems to be what could be called a “reverse Pavlovian response”. The horse’s mouth waters, so it feels the urge to eat.
 
Even more importantly, papaya initiates a thickening of the horse’s natural stomach lining which, provides protection against excess acid. It both gives damaged tissues a chance to heal, and helps prevent new horse ulcers or EGUS. In horses moving vigorously (race horses, eventers, endurance horses) the esophageal mucous protection can help keep reflux from damaging the esophagus. In an equine ulcer study published in the March 2005 issue of The Horse Journal, “rapid relief within three to five days” was reported. The same study reported that the other major natural products for digestive problems, herbal blends, worked considerably more slowly.
 
In one case a weanling with severe ulcers and a bloated stomach did not respond to expensive pharmaceuticals but did recover to papaya. A race horse that had such severe ulcers it could not race, even after many weeks on an acid reducing pharmaceutical, had a clear endoscopic exam after three weeks on papaya, and then won a stakes race.
 
Unlike most of the conventional horse ulcer treatment options (Ulcer Guard, Gastro Guard, etc.), papaya is safe for long-term use. The calcium/magnesium antacid type products work by neutralizing acid and coating the stomach wall with a chalky protective layer. However, if they are used over an extended period, resulting high levels of magnesium can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Low calcium levels can cause nervousness, bone changes, weak and aching muscles and abnormal heart rhythms. The expensive pharmaceuticals which reduce acid production are great for most acute ulcer symptoms. However, acid is needed to control and modify bacteria in the gut. If the acid levels are low for many months, “bad” bacteria, particularly Salmonella, can overpopulate the digestive tract and create conditions for colic. Furthermore, prolonged low acid levels can cause poor absorption of vitamin B12, inefficient utilization of dietary protein, food allergies, bloating and foul manure.
 
Papaya is also useful in conjunction with administration of certain medicines. Many barn managers “prep” the horse with a half dose of papaya to trigger extra mucous in the digestive tract lining just before they administer an anti-inflammatory capable of damaging the stomach lining. They then administer the anti-inflammatory, and follow up with another half dose of papaya to wash away the foul taste of the medicine.
 
Similarly, endurance riders and eventers who give electrolytes to their mounts mix the powder with papaya before administering. The extra mucous triggered by the papaya protects the mouth, esophagus and stomach from the caustic burn of frequent electrolyte administrations.
 
The mucous producing characteristic of papaya is complemented by the enzyme it contains, papain. Papain is the main active ingredient in meat tenderizer. It closely resembles the
digestive enzyme pepsin. Old horses benefit from papaya because its enzyme breaks down what their less efficient digestive tract can’t and they gain weight. Papaya also helps foals who get “scours” when the hormones in their mother’s milk changes during the first heat presents the foal’s digestive tract with a new challenge, for which it does not have the appropriate microbe population. The papain enzyme picks up where the foal’s own system is insufficient.
 
Weaning is a stressful time, too. Not only are foals anxious (creating conditions for an ulcer), but they must deal with a change in diet, for which they may not have the correct balance of gut “bugs”. In addition to the papaya induced ulcer-preventative mucous secretion, the papain helps weanlings digest new diets while their gut microbes are adjusting.
 
Cribbing often decreases when horses have papaya daily. Cribbing incidence at weaning is drastically reduced, and about half of adult cribbers also reduce or cease the habit. While most positive effects of papaya are evident in a week, in the case of a confirmed cribber, it can take up to a month for improvement.
(Cribbing associated with stomach pain or missing nutrients is most responsive to papaya.)
 
Similarly, when antibiotics kill good gut bacteria, leaving the digestive tract unable to sufficiently break down food, diarrhea results. Papaya picks up where the bacteria leave off, and antibiotic-induced diarrhea can improve.
 
When horses get diarrhea during trailering, it can in part be due to anxiety-induced changes in gut motility not allowing absorption. The papain enzyme helps break down the food in the limited time it is in the gut and may reduce the diarrhea.
 
A final important characteristic of papaya is its taste and consistency. It has the viscosity of tomato ketchup, and is extremely sweet. This makes it ideal for camouflaging unpleasant medicines. One racehorse trainer wasted several hundred dollars of expensive antibiotics, which his horse spit out on the walls, before he realized that the horse would happily swallow the dose if it were mixed with papaya. Horses who need extra salt in hot weather, but refuse it in their food, lap it up if it’s mixed in papaya.
 
Papaya apparently tasted so good to one horse that he grabbed a bottle left close to his stall, chewed off the cap and licked up the resulting spill. Another owner found that if he approached the fence with a dosing syringe full of the fruit, his horse would immediately gallop over.
 
Papaya is also a mild “blood thinner”. The increased circulation associated with the slight anticoagulant effect may account for the very shiny coats and high incidence of dapples that many horses on papaya enjoy. Some caretakers also report an improvement in joint health as well. Papaya should not be administered to a horse that is on an anticoagulant already, as there may be an additive affect. Some stages of pregnancy can be complicated by bleeding, so it is unwise to administer papaya to a mare who is pregnant or who is about to be bred.
 
Finally, some papaya-fed horses become quieter and accept training more readily. Papaya contains no tranquilizer, so it must be that a horse with a more comfortable digestive tract is happier.

Gastro Smooth from Smooth Run Equine

Gastro Smooth was developed to be a proactive and preventative approach for achieving optimum health in the equine gastrointestinal tract.  Many health issues begin with an imbalance in this delicate system so with years of research behind us by our gifted microbiologist, Smooth Run Equine has developed this specialized formula to nurture, balance, replenish and support the entire gastrointestinal tract of our cherished equine partners.

We begin with a proprietary blend of microencapsulated probiotics, digestive enzymes and a therapeutic dose of 100% pure bovine colostrum. Together with amino acids, beta glucan, yucca, vitamins, minerals and other key ingredients this foundation sets the stage for efficient digestion and enables proper assimilation of essential nutrients.  Unlike many horse digestion supplements, Gastro Smooth supports the restoration of essential ‘good’ bacteria which in turn supports healing and ultimately good health.

Papaya, chamomile, ginger and kelp finish off this remarkable formula assuring good, wholesome nutrition.  Each of these ingredients was chosen for their amazing powers in soothing and balancing the delicate equine gut. 

Gastro Smooth is recommended for symptoms of gastric distress which may include; reduction in feed intake, loose stools, irritability, colic symptoms, etc.  Gastro Smooth is essential during periods of stress from injury or illness, de-worming, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment and medications in general.  Although these items are necessary at times they can contribute to the breakdown of essential flora and good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Many competitive customers consider this formula indispensable while on the road ensuring their horse’s comfort away from home.