Circulatory Support for Horses in Winter
The importance of added equine circulatory support in the winter months is clear; cold weather can bring out the youthful bucking and romping of horses, but for some horses winter weather can increase stiffness and reluctance to move forward.
Horses need movement. By nature, horses are herd animals who are constantly moving and continually foraging for food. Horses maintained in a herd or turned out 24/7 get basic circulatory support by simply walking and eating. Yet horses who spend eight hours a day or more in a stall may need additional circulatory support to help reduce stiffness in their joints and body.
Horses maintained in a herd or turned out 24/7 get basic circulatory support by simply walking and eating.
Increased circulation improves blood flow throughout the body, which plays a key role in tissue healing and repair. With improved circulation, horses can move more comfortably even in cold weather.
Nutritional circulatory support for nitric oxide production in the body
Nitric oxide is an important signaling molecule. It improves circulatory flow to tissues, joints, organs, and muscles, by widening blood vessels.
One of the key nutrients for nitric oxide production is the amino acid L-Arginine. The body converts L-Arginine into nitric oxide.
Plants and Ingredients for circulation
In nature, plants that contain L-Arginine also contain the essential amino acid L-Lysine. These two amino acids are always together. Some foods are high in Arginine and low in Lysine, and others are high in Lysine and low in Arginine.
Supplements for circulatory support that just provide L-Arginine may not be as effective as supplements containing both Arginine and Lysine.
Foods that are high in Arginine and help support good circulation:
* Pumpkin seeds
* Sesame seeds
* Whole oranges
* Nutritional yeast
* Spirulina
* Oats
Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs:
*Indian Gooseberry – (aka Amla or Amalaki) A patented extract of Amalaki, Capros®, increased nitric oxide production by 50.7% in a recently published study in 2019 (Krawiec).
Indian Gooseberry
*Jiaogulan – (or Poor Man’s Ginseng) used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties (Walls 2017).
Other circulatory supporting ingredients for horses:
These foods and plants do not increase nitric oxide directly, but do assist in vasodilation, helping to widen and relax the smooth muscle cells within the blood vessel walls.
*Turmeric
*Ginger
*Black Pepper
*Hawthorn berry
BioStar’s Circuvate EQ
Combines the arginine-rich foods for nitric oxide production including:
*organic pumpkin seeds
*organic sesame seeds
*yeast flakes
*organic oranges
*Capros®, patented extract from Indian gooseberry and
*organic ginger for vasodilation.
Circuvate EQ can help horses move less stiffly in the winter, support joint flexibility, and assist with tissue repair. Increasing circulation in the body is beneficial for joints, particularly those affected by osteoarthritis. Increasing nitric oxide levels helps to remove damaging waste products, balance the inflammatory response, and support muscles and connective tissues.
Increased circulation will help move blood from the heart to the feet and back to the heart. As the heart beats, blood is sent throughout the body. The heart is the key organ of the circulatory system. The feet are also responsible for sending blood up and back to the heart. Any inflammatory imbalances in the foot will reduce the amount of circulation returning to the rest of the body and the heart.
Maintain healthy hooves with circulatory support.
Nitric oxide helps recirculation by relaxing the smooth muscles, allowing for more blood flow. This is especially important to maintain healthy feet, and to help with foot issues such as navicular syndrome, bursa, bruising and laminitis.
Circuvate EQ helps your horse stay warmer in the cold weather. Circulation in horses, especially older ones, can be improved during the winter months with supplementation that supports better blood flow, as often these horses aren’t moving around as much as in the summer. They can also benefit from the warming aspects of increased circulation, keeping them more comfortable and supple.
Get results this winter with Circuvate EQ!
About the Author: With over 30 years experience in the equine and human supplement industry, Tigger Montague knows nutrition from the synthetic side as well as the whole food side. She started BioStar US in 2006 with formulas she created in her kitchen. Before she started the company, she was an avid rider and competitor with eventing and show jumping, until she got hooked on dressage in the late 1980’s. She has competed on horses she’s owned and trained all the way from training level to Grand Prix.
Although you may see improved hoof growth using Circuvate EQ, try Ultra Hoof EQ for healthier hoof support. Ultra Hoof EQ is the first equine whole food hoof support formula that provides biotin, copper, zinc, and methionine in one of the most bioavailable forms: Food State; bound (chelated) to the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae.
While Circuvate EQ can help horses move less stiffly, Comfort Zone EQ Ultra can provide soothing support with arthritic changes in your horse’s joints as well as with foot discomfort associated with a foot syndrome or navicular disease.
References:
Krawiec S. (2019). Amla supports endothelial function, oxidative stress, and immune health. Nutritional Outlook.
Walls A. (2017). Gynostemma pentaphyllum for AMPK activation. Jiaogulan.org.
