Question
I am hauling my horses—one in his late 20s, the other in his early teens—to my new home, nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) away. What supplements would you recommend to decrease the stress of long-distance travel?
Answer
Long-distance hauling can definitely take a toll on horses, which is why many people take preventative measures to maintain digestive health and immunity.
Let’s begin with the gastrointestinal health. Excess gastric acid can become a problem in horses that do not eat well while traveling, leaving the gastric lining at risk for ulceration. Stress alone can be problematic for the stomach. Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor that is designed to stop acid production, making it more effective than most over-the-counter supplements. Starting omeprazole a few days prior to travel and continuing until several days after the trip is the best bet at reducing the risk of gastric ulcers.
The other part of the digestive tract to consider and protect is the hindgut. Supplementation with a hindgut buffer can help to maintain a balanced pH environment, reducing the risk of hindgut acidosis resulting from stress or diet changes. EquiShure is a time-released buffer that neutralizes excess acid in the hindgut, thereby protecting the delicate balance of beneficial microorganisms and reducing the risk of subclinical acidosis.
If you have the opportunity to take hay from the previous location to the new locale, mix some of it with the new hay for a few days. This will allow the microbial population to adjust gradually to the change in forage. Having EquiShure in the diet during this time will help support dietary changes. I suggest starting EquiShure prior to the move and using it for both horses for a week or two after arrival at the new farm. If your senior horse struggles with weight maintenance or experiences poor digestion, he would benefit from daily EquiShure supplementation.
To support the immune system and minimize risk of illness, you may consider adding antioxidant support with vitamin E about 12 hours prior to travel. Providing for peak vitamin E levels during times of stress will help the body fight damaging free radicals and boost immunity. Nano-E is a liquid vitamin E that uses nanodispersion technology to provide the most bioavailable vitamin E. Supplementing 3,000-5,000 IU of Nano•E is ideal for times of stress.
Last, be sure to keep the horses hydrated by offering water frequently. Using an electrolyte, such as Restore Paste, once you arrive will help to encourage horses to drink and replenish losses from the trip.
Australian horse owners should look for these research-proven products.
