Managing inflammation keeps your horse healthy and sound.

While some inflammation is beneficial, too much can lead to health problems.

Recent research has revealed that certain ingredients, when fed in combination with a well-balanced diet, can help to decrease damaging levels of inflammation.

Proper balance keeps systemwide inflammation in check

The omega-3 fatty acids—linolenic acid, EPA and DHA—support lower levels of inflammation throughout your horse’s body. A horse’s diet should be rich in these fatty acids. The omega-6 fatty acids that are commonly found in grains are pro-inflammatory and should be limited in the diet.

The proper balance of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids is essential to good health. Unfortunately, most equine diets are too high in the omega-6 fatty acids and too low in omega-3 fatty acids. Adding omega-3 fatty acids from both plant (linolenic acid) and marine (EPA and DHA) sources will bring a healthy balance back into your horse’s diet.

Researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for many types of horses and ponies: growing horses, broodmares, stallions, performance horses, seniors, and special-needs horses.

Joint inflammation can lead to lameness

The normal wear and tear of an active lifestyle takes its toll on your horse’s joints. Maintaining healthy cartilage and synovial fluid within the joint will decrease inflammation that causes pain, swelling, and the eventual degradation of the joints’ components. Hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and manganese sulfate fed at the proper levels have all been shown to reduce the effects of normal wear and tear, limiting damaging inflammation. These ingredients are recommended for horses of all ages.