Trouble Shooting

We are pleased to be able to provide you with information to assist you resolve any problems with your horses.

Problem	Possible Causes	Recommended product	Other useful tips
DULL /DRY/ROUGH COAT	Skin disease and parasites aside, the main nutritional factors affecting skin, hair and coat condition are essential minerals and trace elements, in particular copper, zinc and manganese as well as natural fatty acids. Electrolyte imbalances can also cause a rough coat.	Mineral Supplement at recommended doses Mineral Plus Blocks provided free-choice. Electrolyte 3 at recommended doses	Regular grooming is essential for healthy skin and coat. The addition of 40ml-60ml per day of canola or blended vegetable oil to the diet can also help.
DEHYDRATION	Quite simply is when the amount of water leaving the body (i.e. sweat, urine, manure and breath) is not being adequately replaced. While many people would automatically suggest a lack of electrolytes, an OVERSUPPLY of electrolytes can also cause the problem.	Electrolyte 3 at recommended doses.	Horsepower Electrolyte 3 at recommended doses.
TYING-UP	This is a complex problem that may also have a genetic component. It relates to an imbalance between energy intake and storage as glycogen in the muscles, and energy use -- i.e. workload. Chloride deficiency has been shown to be a contributing factor and adequate levels of minerals and trace elements are also required.	Vitamin E at 2000iu per day for two weeks, then 1000iu daily. Electrolyte 3 at 100g-120g per day for four days, then reduce by half to maintain. Mineral Supplement at recommended doses. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice.	Eliminate oats from the diet. Reduce hard feed by 75% for a few days then gradually increase. Adequate warm-up and cooldown before and after exercise is essential. Return to work needs to be very gradual. Acute / Severe cases require veterinary attention.
MUSCLE SORENESS	Can often be the result of a sub-clinical (minor) case of TYING-UP.		See TYING-UP section above
POOR FERTILITY	Minerals such as copper, zinc and manganese all play a role in fertility. Several studies have also shown Vitamin E and selenium to be crucial.	Mineral Supplement recommended doses. Vitamin E recommended doses. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice.	Studies have shown that obese mares have lower conception rates, so care should be taken to ensure mares donâ��t become too fat.
ANAEMIA	Lack of iron is one of the possible causes of anaemia, however, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese and vitamins are also involved.	Mineral Supplement recommended doses. Mineral Plus Blocks free choice.	Some form of iron supplementation may also be necessary, however, an excess of iron can also lead to anaemia. Pale gums are often a tell-tale sign of an anaemic horse.
NERVOUSNESS/ IRRITABILITY/ TENSE/ AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR	Horse often described as â��Hotâ�� or â��Fizzyâ��. Excess energy intake, not protein, causes the problem â�� particularly if the energy is derived from grain. Imbalances in the diet, such as a lack of Vitamin E and magnesium, can add to the condition.	Electrolyte 3 at 60g-90g per day for a couple of weeks, then cut back by 30%. Vitamin E at 1000iu per day for two weeks and then 500iu per day thereafter. Mineral Supplement at recommended dose. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice	Many horses seem to have intolerance to grains, particularly oats. Eliminating these from the diet can often help. Adding 40g-80g of Epsom salts to the diet daily can also assist, but this should be introduced gradually.
CHEWING WOOD, DIRT, MANURE	Can be a behavioural stable vice caused in part be boredom, however, various mineral and trace-element deficiencies may also be involved. In broad terms, chewing wood is often indicative of a lack of fibre, dirt of a mineral deficiency and eating manure can indicate incomplete gut flora.	Mineral Supplement at recommended dose. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice â�� has the added benefit of giving the horse something to do.	Increase fibre levels in the diet (particularly long fibre such as hay). More time outside in the paddock, preferably with other horses. Jelly cubes or crystals at 30g per day. These contain gelatin, which has sulphur-containing amino acids that may also be lacking.
POOR DOER	Causes can be many and varied. Presuming general health and well-being are adequate, the diet should be checked for required levels of minerals and trace elements. This problem can also be temperament-related, with highly strung, nervous horses often poor doers.	Mineral Supplement at recommended dose. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice.	Check for dental problems. Ensure adequate parasite control -- i.e. drenching. A well-balanced diet is essential. Adequate rugging in colder weather is also necessary. Older horses may require some extra high quality protein such as tick bean or sunflower.
POOR APPETITE	Causes can be many and varied. Traditionally, Vitamin B12 has been used as an appetite stimulant. Horses in work can suffer from electrolyte depletion, which will depress appetite and reduce thirst (thus leading to dehydration).	Electrolyte 3 as per directions. Can also be dissolved in drinking water if the horse is not eating much. Mineral Supplement at recommended dose may also assist. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice.	Check for dental problems. Ulcers can also affect appetite. Liver toxicity e.g from poisonous plants such as Pattersonâ��s Curse, is another potential serious cause of poor appetite. Persistent poor appetite requires veterinary investigation.
POOR HOOF CONDITION/ SHELLY FEET/ CRUMBLY SOLES	Hoof-horn quality is a function of the chemical cross-linking between keratin molecules. The sulphur-containing amino acids biotin and methionine are involved and biotin supplementation is worthwhile â�� but it must be long term. Zinc and manganese are also important.	Mineral Supplement at recommended rates. Mineral Plus Blocks free-choice.	Maintain water repellence with hoof dressings containing lanolin. Treat any fungal infections with appropriate veterinary drugs. Keep the feet as dry and clean as possible, avoid damp, dirty bedding. High-quality protein in the form of sunflower seeds, tick beans etc can also help.
SUPPLEMENTATION FOR PREGNANT AND/OR LACTATING MARES	Mineral and trace-element demands increase with pregnancy, especially during the last two trimesters (seven months) of pregnancy. Several studies have linked developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) in the foal to inadequate mineral intake by the mare during pregnancy. Low copper levels have also been implicated in Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) in foals. However, the causes are many and involve more than just mineral intake, although in almost all circumstances, the provision of mineral supplements during pregnancy is beneficial.		Extensive research and observation has shown beyond doubt that young horses provided with adequate levels of essential minerals grow into sounder, better conformed, more athletic adults.