Helen Peppe
Depending on the disciplines in which you show your horse, the rules may vary as to what you can and cannot use to support your horse's health.
For instance, the United States Equestrian Federation prohibits giving show horses anything that's given with the intent to alter the horse's performance, be it through pain control or temperament adjustment. Urine and blood tests are the norm at most top-ranked shows, regardless of discipline, to rule out the use of many drugs and medicinal herbs.
Luckily, there are ways to support your horse's health at a show without infringing on show rules. Different holistic health items I routinely carry with me when I travel with my horses, specifically items that are "safe" for horses to take while at a show, are presented here.
MOOD AND TEMPERAMENT
Valerian isn't a legal substance at most shows because it is considered to be a sedative. If you normally feed your horse a valerian-based product, like Relax Blend from Equilite, for calmness, at a show you might consider using the following substitutes:
- Homeopathic chamomile and nux vomica
- Rescue Remedy flower essence
- Extra prebiotics and probiotics (acidophilus and bifidus)
None of these therapies will make a horse calmer than his normal temperament, but all will reduce any extra anxiety caused by showing. For instance, stress from showing will often cause the bacterial flora of the horse's digestive tract to change, and this can cause discomfort and make a horse nervous. Probiotics are a natural way to bring back the balance and help a horse feel better.
SORENESS AND INJURIES
If your horse becomes sore or injured at a show, using medicinal herbs like devil's claw is often against the rules. Instead, reach for these items to reduce inflammation and speed recovery:
- Homeopathic arnica
- Simplexity Essentials (blue-green algae, enzymes, and probiotics)
- Simplexity Super Sprouts and Algae and Super Q10
- Liniment (without band substances) for topical application
- Formula 11 liniment for topical application
- XanGo mangosteen juice or Tahitian Noni
- Draw solution
None of these ingredients will show up if your horse gets tested at the show, and all help to reduce inflammation, support healing, and help keep your horse comfortable. For horses who regularly get one or more of these products as part of their daily regimen, I recommend doubling the dosage at shows. For instance, I will frequently double the dosage of Essentials at a show because they are an excellent source of antioxidants.
DIGESTIVE SUPPORT
Colic and digestive upset are always concerns at horse shows, especially for the Five-Element horse types who tend toward nervousness. For these horses, legal feed additives include:
- Homeopathic chamomile and nux vomica
- Simplexity enzymes
- Pre- and probiotics
- Aloe vera juice plus slippery elm bark
- SUCCEED paste
- Green clay
Nervous horses being managed holistically probably already get some of these ingredients added to their feed regularly. At a show, I find it useful to give an extra dose of a digestive support product like Stomach Soother just before the horse is ridden. Doubling up on your horse's maintenance dose of digestive products also ensures digestive health and helps keep your horse calm.
Courtesy of Madalyn Ward, DVM, www.holistichorsekeeping.com