MUSCLE SUPPLEMENTS FOR HORSES

WHY IS MUSCLE IMPORTANT FOR A HORSE?

Strong, healthy muscles are vital to keep our horses fit and active, and to help them perform at their best. Regular exercise stimluates muscle growth and helps build muscle strength and stamina. The type of exercise should be adjusted to the horse's capability and the disciplines in which it participates, and the intensity varied day-to-day and built up gradually to allow the muscles to adapt, building strength and stamina while minimising the risk of injury. Cross-training - doing a mix of different types of exercise at different intensities, such as hacking, flatwork or jumping - helps build all round muscle strength.

Skeletal muscle is one of the body's most important stores of protein so it is important to make sure your horse is receiving enough and the right type of protein in the diet, to maintain those muscles.

WHEN TO ADD A MUSCLE SUPPLEMENT TO YOUR HORSE'S DIET

Muscles are in a constant state of turnover (breakdown and repair) so muscle supplements are useful whenever there is an increased demand on the body to build muscle. This could be due to:

• intense training and competition
• increasing exercise levels, such as a young horse coming into training or building fitness at the start of the season
• recovery from a lay off after illness or injury
• disorders that cause muscles loss, such as PPID (Cushing's disease)
• an older horse or one with dental disease struggling to maintain condition

A good quality muscle supplement provides the amino acid building blocks of muscle as well as antioxidants to help neutralise the free radicals produced during exercise and essential fatty acids to support the body's natural anti-inflammatory processes.

WHAT ROLE DOES PROTEIN PLAY IN MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT?

Muscles are made of protein which is made of building blocks called amino acids. The 'essential' amino acids cannot be produced by the horse and have to be provided in the diet. Without enough protein and the right amino acids in the diet, the horse will be unable to build and repair muscles. Good quality muscle supplements are designed to provide these amino acid building blocks of protein, as well as antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help support the body during exercise.

MUSCLE SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT JUST FOR HORSES IN HIGH LEVELS OF WORK

The more active a horse is, the higher the demand for nutrients to help build and repair those hard working muscles. But it is not just exercise that causes increased muscle turnover. Some conditions such as PPID (Cushing's disease) or old age can lead to gradual loss of muscle, and a horse that is recovering from illness or injury may also need to regain topline and condition.

Any horse that needs to build muscle could benefit from the amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids in a good quality muscle supplement to make sure it is geting the nutrients needed.

SPIRULINA FOR HORSES

Spirulina is an algae, considered one of the best plant-based protein sources due to its high protein content and high quality, containing all the 'essential' amino acids. It also provides other useful nutrients such as essential fatty aids and anti-oxidants to support the horse during exercise.