|
These could
be the most common cause of disease in horses because almost all pasture is
mineral deficient and most general feeds are formulated to prevent serious
disease and not to ensure first class all round health. The quality of
grains produced today is some 50% inferior to that produced 50 years and more
ago and the need for minerals differs with each individual horse.
Small levels
of mineral deficiency can impair the immune system, increase the healing
times of wounds and make bones, cartilage and ligaments much more prone to
arthritis. More importantly it can make allergies more common. A good
mineral and trace element supplement can go a long way to redressing the
imbalance and improve all round health.
As a rule of
thumb it is important to note that chemically produced minerals are less
easily absorbed and utilised by the body than those in growing plants (feed
grade) and consequently more is required. Even then the quality of the
minerals in plants is far superior and have always formed part of the diet of
wild horses who used to roam the plains with access to a huge variety of
plants and herbs. Many of these herbs are available in dried form for easy
daily use in your horse's feeds and they could be regarded as the 'salad
bowl' for horses. Some chemically produced mineral supplements have been
made more useable by the body and are desbribed as bio-available or chelated.
Fresh
nettle tips (use gloves to pick
them) are full of iron for the blood (essential for pregnant mares) and
vitamin C for the immune system, and probably growing near you. Just wilt
them in boiling water for a minute and use the water plus the nettles to
damp the feed. (They can make an excellant alternative to spinach in your
own diet!)
Rose hips
full of vitamin C to aid the
immune system, can be gathered in the autumn from the hedgerows round your
fields.
Seaweed
especially natural unfarmed Arctic seaweed contains over 47 natural vitamins
and minerals for complete health, but care in feeding to pregnant mares is
called for because the level of iodine is high.
PEGASUS
HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP
Our wide
range of dried herbs for feed grade sources of minerals,vitamins & trace
elements are listed under the
Digestion & Internal Organs, Respiratory System - Breathing, Calming Seasons
& Breeding, Immune System & Unsightly Skin, Minerals, Electrolytes &
Vitamins, Bone Hoof Joints & Muscles, Skin Care & Itchiness sections on
our web site and in our product quide to make choice regarding need easier
to make.
Pegavite+
is a broad spectrum, high
specification balanced mix of equine essential vitamins, minerals and trace
elements that can be fed at levels required for your individual horse's
needs. The constituents have been formulated for Optimum levels of Digested
nutrients for equine requirements. Particularly high in the Vitamin B
complex, Vitamin E, Magnesium and Selenium. |