Horse blog and guide

As a natural health tonic and feed supplement based on the high-quality Strath herbal yeast, Equi-Strath supports the organism of the horse with 61 vital nutrients.

Quite how clearly the general health of horses can be improved by supplementing their diet with the Equi-Strath tonic is highlighted by Patricia Schilliger, one of the best long-distance riders in Switzerland, who came fourth as part of the team at the European Championships in 2017 and has held the Swiss speed record over 160 km since the World Championships in 2012: “My experiences with Equi-Strath have been very good. With my horses, the product helps a lot with endurance, regeneration and muscle development. It also helps keep concentration levels high over a long competition. I am absolutely convinced that it is highly effective!”

Particularly on long-distance rides, which are usually completed in the summer months, alongside good training a good supply of the necessary nutrients and vital substances is essential. With the herbal yeast it contains, the tonic offers natural support for the immune system. And it is important for competitors in all disciplines to know that Equi-Strath is absolutely free of prohibited substances, so there is no risk of inadvertent doping.

Horses and hot weather
As a general rule, horses are good at dealing with high temperatures. They originally lived predominantly in relatively treeless steppes and were able to adapt to high sun intensity and high temperatures during the summer. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure a good supply of vitamins and minerals.

Equi-Strath assists here as well by getting horses fit for the warm weather season. The tonic improves vitality, promotes the entire metabolism and boosts the immune system. However, with the welfare of the horse in mind it is advisable – where possible – to avoid riding during the midday heat during the summer months. Early in the morning the temperatures are still pleasant and the air is still fresh from the night before. Training sessions should be completed as early as possible. This is why responsible riders should always look out for shady areas.

Checking fields and pastures
Horse owners should also pay special attention to fields and pastures. Are there enough shady areas? It is always important to make sure that low-ranking animals also have access to shade – either in the form of a permanent shelter or a mobile field shelter.

For the summer months, it all comes down to ensuring that enough water is available. How much water each horse will need depends not only on the temperature and the humidity, but also on the level of activity, the age of the animal and the type of feed used, since e.g. fresh grass contains more water than hay. Green forage contains 70–90% raw water, while for hay this is just around 10–15%. For stable horses, the average daily water consumption equates to three litres of water per kilogram of dry feed substance, which comes to around 20–40 kg per day.
Automatic drinking troughs are preferable to water tanks, as the latter often form an ideal breeding ground for bacteria when it is hot, and the quality of the water can deteriorate quickly due to the growth of algae, making the water foul-smelling and unpalatable. Horses can lose up to 10 litres of fluids per hour due to sweating, which also means that they lose a lot of electrolytes. If the lost fluids are not replaced with drinking water and possibly electrolyte supplements, this will lead to a loss in performance and possibly also follow-up complications.

This is why it is particularly important to make sure that a horse has access to plenty of water during the summer months. However, owners should also keep a careful eye on providing enough vitamins and minerals – and this is where Equi-Strath offers perfect support.

Alexandra Koch