A few ?s... help with my senior project!

[whataryder]

This is for my senior project at CSU regarding the use of supplements and alternative therapies in show horses. If you could just take a few moments to post your answers, it would be really helpful to me...

What you show in:
Your age:
Number of horses:

Do you use any supplements in your show horses? If yes, which ones and what changes have you seen while using them. If no, why not?

Do you use any alternative therapies in your show horse? If yes, which ones and what changes have you seen while using them. If no, why not?

As many people as I can get to honestly answer these will be a huge help. Thank you so much! Even no answers to both questions are important

[3kidsandahorse]

I am 41.

I show in adult SP, my girls are undecided. It will be a pleasure division.

Our family has 2 horses, neither of which are on supplements. If you count black oil sunflower seeds (for vanity's sake), then 1 of them is on that.

I'm not sure what alternative therapies you are looking for (chiro, acupuncture, etc). My horse did have a chiro look at her last year and fix a dropped hip. I think it's fixed now.

[NikiP]

Mine is going to be a little vague. At my school we have started using some alternative therapies depending on the horse & it's needs.

Most, we have around 40 +/- horses here, are shown at local shows in western pleasure & the huntseat divisions. We have a few that go to the NRHA.

We normally don't supplement the horses with anything other then meds if necessary & free choice loose minerals.

We had a vet who does chiro/acupunture come out for a demonstration & have now had him out several times since. The first time he came he fixed the pelvis on a couple of our western pleasure QH, they were out of alignment.
- Our Qh mare that's used in reining, she had her pelvis adjusted, her neck adjusted, & using acupunture he treated her for bursitis. The change was insistant with her. Her attitude towards him soften, now she doesn't kick out during lead changes, & she will plant her leg much better in her spins.
- On a hunter TB, a dressage/hunter WB, & a reining/cattle working QH we had rings put in their teeth. This was to fix their cribbing problem. When they go to crib, the rings get in the way slightly & prevents them from being able to crib. The TB has managed to loose his, but all the others have kept them in now for a good 4 months or so.

[whataryder]

Thanks so much to those who have replied. I could definatly use more if there is anyone else who can take a few moments. Thanks!

[rider]

We have lots of horses and I've used a chiropractor on a few of them. The most dramatic result was in one mare I had. She was always very fussy and particular about grooming and saddling. She basically didn't like to be brushed. After her first treatment which included adjusting her spine and some deep electrical massage, she was a different horse. She loved being brushed and would actually lean into me rather than fidget and move away. She also got much better about learning leg aids and flexing--something that would just aggravate her before. I learned than whenever she stopped liking brushing, it was time for an adjustment-usually about two times a year.

[HeirASB]

What you show in: country pleasure, model horse, show pleasure, five gaited pleasure, road pony, pleasure driving
Your age: 25
Number of horses: 4

Do you use any supplements in your show horses? If yes, which ones and what changes have you seen while using them. If no, why not?

Each of mine gets something different, one gets nothing. For one, I use Advance HA + MSM, B-L Solution, and Grand Hoof. He gets the advance for joints, b-l for inflammation/pain, and grand hoof for hooves. Another gets b-l only for pain, and another on u-gard for ulcers. The one of u-gard has stopped having trouble with ulcers. The one on b-l has shown some improvement on pain management. He is an old foundered boy, so he has some issues here and there with pain, and this seems to help. The one on grand hoof/advance/b-l has been moving better, especially off his back end, which he used to hop quite a bit with (arthritis in his hocks), and with the grand hoof, which he has been on for over a year, he is not getting cracks in his hooves anymore, and is not throwing shoes all the time anymore. The last horse, who is on nothing, does not have any issues that would cause her to need supplements.

Do you use any alternative therapies in your show horse? If yes, which ones and what changes have you seen while using them. If no, why not?

I use a chiropractor for all of my horses, and it seems to help keep them more comfortable, and they seem to move better. One has always been particularly stiff to bend one way, and to take leads as well one way of the ring, and I have noticed improvement after his chiropractic visit.

[OverLvl]

what I show in: 5 gaited pleasure
how many horses: 2
my age: 49

Supplements used: Cosequin SP and Farrier's Formula for gaited pleasure horse. Cosequin is a preventative we started last fall - she was sound and continues to have no problems. Trainer has good results with it throughout the barn so I also agreed to put her on it as a preventative. Added Farrier's Formula to try to encourage better hoof growth. Just finished the loading dose - results won't be seen for probably 2 to 3 more months.

Two year old just started his training - nothing added to his feed at this time

[minny68]

What you show in: Western, Hunter, Saddleseat and Driving
Your age: 25
Number of horses: 3

Do you use any supplements in your show horses? Yes, we feed a custom grain mix of cracked oats and currently are a test barn for a new feed supplement not yet available publicly. It has helped really bring out the shine and softness in the coats, and I find the horses retain their energy longer when on it then off. I can find out exactly what it is called and has in it if you are interested.

Do you use any alternative therapies in your show horse? Yes. My trainer has trained in acupressure, we also use equine massage and chiropractics. I find it makes a HUGE difference - especially in my older gelding. He has some old boy stiffness and soreness that sets in, and with acupressure especially he seems to loosen up and stay comfortable. I used to have a half-Arab gelding whose back would go out just behind where the saddle sat and he would go crooked unless he had a chiropractic adjustment done.